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Sustainable Natural Resource Management

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 102872

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
Interests: sustainable natural resource management; governance; public policy; innovation systems; forestry; fisheries; food security, community-based approaches; sustainable development; social-ecological systems; networks; complexity; resilience; regulatory science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

2050: A world in crisis? Scientific research is increasingly predicting that within the next 30 years, our global human population will exceed 9 billion people; food, energy, and other resource shortages will lead to riots and political destabilization; we will have exceeded the 2° C threshold for dangerous global warming causing widespread drought and desertification; global ocean fisheries will collapse; significant deforestation and mass species extinctions will have occurred; society will be facing enormous social and economic burdens due to the obesity and overweight epidemic; 75 percent of the world’s population will be experiencing freshwater scarcity; and there will be interstate military conflicts over access to food and water resources. While such ‘doomsday‘ scenarios may not all come to pass, the urgency of realizing integrated and sustainable natural resource management praxis has never been greater. However, how can understandings of sustainability be more meaningfully and realistically operationalized in the day-to-day management and governance of our precious natural resource systems, systems that are inextricably connected to human identities, cultures, quality of life, and general wellbeing?

This Special Issue seeks to identify pragmatic approaches to institutionalizing sustainable natural resource management, policy, and governance in different contexts internationally. The focus is on renewable natural resources, “including biotic (such as biomass, plants, and animals) and abiotic (such as freshwater, fresh air, soil fertility, and elements like carbon and nitrogen), that can be regenerated or replaced by ecological processes on a relevant timescale (Hens and Quynh, 2008). Renewable natural resource systems include fisheries, forestry, foods, medicines, tourism, agriculture, renewable energy, and water. Recognizing that such systems are inherently interlinked deeply challenges our social, ecological, and physical boundaries, necessitating more networked and open approaches to research and governance. Empirical research papers offering novel insights for public policy across institutional, organizational, and disciplinary boundaries are particularly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Gordon M. Hickey
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable natural resource management
  • renewable resources
  • social-ecological systems
  • sustainable rural livelihoods
  • innovation ecosystems
  • inter-institutional dynamics
  • impact assessment
  • risk governance
  • community-based approaches
  • network governance
  • environmental change
  • gendered approaches
  • sustainability transitions

Published Papers (24 papers)

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18 pages, 2918 KiB  
Article
Wood-Logging Process Management in Eastern Amazonia (Brazil)
by Killian S. Lima, Ana C. Meira Castro, J. Santos Baptista and Ulisses Silva
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7571; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12187571 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3019
Abstract
In this work, the wood-logging process of four federal conservation units (FCUs) in the Eastern Amazonia forest are described and compared. The approach focused on on-site observation of activities and tasks performed during the process. As an outcome, it was observed that companies [...] Read more.
In this work, the wood-logging process of four federal conservation units (FCUs) in the Eastern Amazonia forest are described and compared. The approach focused on on-site observation of activities and tasks performed during the process. As an outcome, it was observed that companies implement activities similarly, regardless of their specific know-how. The most significant difference was identified in the cross-cutting operation, which is carried out in several steps and which interferes with the efficiency of the activity and the exposure of workers to occupational risks. The use of geographic information systems (GIS) during planning and management activities, and the use of modern machinery equipped with safety devices, in combination with workers’ theoretic and practical continuous training, were identified as crucial measures that assure operational efficiency in the four companies assessed. Seeking to contribute to the sustainable development of the Amazon forest, a generic model for wood logging is proposed, which brings together best practices identified in the companies studied and makes it possible to obtain the best benefit at the lowest workers’ exposure to the risk of occupational accidents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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16 pages, 494 KiB  
Article
Mass Media Reporting and Illicit Harvesting of Russian Crab: Implications for Sustainable Fishery
by Andrey Belov and Genrietta Soboleva
Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6626; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12166626 - 16 Aug 2020
Viewed by 2123
Abstract
Existing methods of combating the shadow economy do not always give reliable results. This is particularly true for the illegal use of renewable natural resources. In some parts of the Northwest Pacific basin, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has become an issue [...] Read more.
Existing methods of combating the shadow economy do not always give reliable results. This is particularly true for the illegal use of renewable natural resources. In some parts of the Northwest Pacific basin, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has become an issue of growing concern for the sustainability of resource management, ecology, and the social environment. Many factors combine to produce these harmful phenomena. The complex legal rights for shared natural marine resources, the weak capacity of state institutions, and the lack of international cooperation between exporters and importers are all relevant. These factors can be eliminated by supplementing the “traditional” analysis of the shadow economy with new data mined from the media. For the crab harvesting regions of Russia, long-lasting benefits can be achieved through improvements in governance, accountability, and public awareness, or more specifically, through extensive mass media coverage of relevant topics. We argue that in the Russian Pacific, levels of illegal crab harvesting and smuggling correlates closely to the frequency of media references. The results suggest possible applications of mass media analysis: developing additional metrics for the dynamics of shadow economies; and the formulation of effective policy recommendations for sustainable fishing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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24 pages, 1436 KiB  
Article
Governance and Power Dynamics in a Small-Scale Hilsa Shad (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishery: A Case Study from Bangladesh
by Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder, Aili Pyhälä, Md. Abdul Wahab, Simo Sarkki, Petra Schneider and Mohammad Mahmudul Islam
Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5738; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12145738 - 16 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4028
Abstract
This paper considers the hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery of southern Bangladesh as a case study regarding governance and power dynamics at play in a small-scale fishery, and the relevance of these for the sustainable management of coastal fisheries. Qualitative methods, [...] Read more.
This paper considers the hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery of southern Bangladesh as a case study regarding governance and power dynamics at play in a small-scale fishery, and the relevance of these for the sustainable management of coastal fisheries. Qualitative methods, involving in-depth individual interviews (n = 128) and focus group discussions (n = 8) with key stakeholders in the hilsa fishery, were used to capture multiple perspectives on governance from those in different positions in the relative power structures studied, while facilitating insightful discussions and reflections. The analysis here is based on a power cube framework along three power dimensions (levels, spaces, and forms) in Bangladesh’s hilsa fishery. The study displays an imbalance in the present hilsa governance structure, with some stakeholders exercising more power than others, sidelining small-scale fishers, and encouraging increasing illegal fishing levels that ultimately harm both the fisheries and those dependent on them. To overcome this, we propose a co-management system that can play a vital role in equalizing power asymmetry among hilsa fishery stakeholders and ensure effective hilsa fishery governance. Our results suggest that recognizing analyzed power dynamics has substantial implications for the planning and implementation of such co-management and the long-term sustainability of the hilsa fishery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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16 pages, 2696 KiB  
Article
What Determines Indigenous Chepang Farmers’ Swidden Land-Use Decisions in the Central Hill Districts of Nepal?
by Sharif A. Mukul and Anja Byg
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5326; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12135326 - 01 Jul 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3150
Abstract
Swidden or shifting cultivation is a widespread yet controversial land-use in the tropical forest–agriculture frontier. In recent years, the extent of land under swidden and the people who rely on it for subsistence and income have declined. We report swidden land-use changes in [...] Read more.
Swidden or shifting cultivation is a widespread yet controversial land-use in the tropical forest–agriculture frontier. In recent years, the extent of land under swidden and the people who rely on it for subsistence and income have declined. We report swidden land-use changes in two central hill districts of Nepal by indigenous Chepang communities—a stronghold of swidden cultivation in mountainous Nepal. Despite a common trend of swidden decline, as in other parts of South and Southeast Asia, we found that swidden is important in the life and livelihoods of smallholder rural Chepang farmers in the area. Swidden cultivation was found to be more important to farmers with limited off-farm opportunities and in areas where alternative land-uses were scarce. We discuss biophysical, socio-economic, institutional, and other key drivers affecting farmers’ decision to shift away from or continue with swidden in the area. Using linear mixed effect models, we also examined households’ attributes that may expedite swidden decisions in the area. Our study recommends greater access to alternative land-use(s) and other income-generating options for the wellbeing of smallholder indigenous Chepang farmers, as well as the sustainability of this age-old land-use practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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14 pages, 5413 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Non-Use Value of Important Agricultural Heritage System: Case of Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zengcheng) in Guangdong, China
by Fei Zhao and Min Huang
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3638; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12093638 - 01 May 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2524
Abstract
For the past decade, Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHSs) have become research hotspots because of their rapidly increasing number. The non-use value is an important part of the value of an IAHS, and if ignored, the total value of an IAHS may be [...] Read more.
For the past decade, Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHSs) have become research hotspots because of their rapidly increasing number. The non-use value is an important part of the value of an IAHS, and if ignored, the total value of an IAHS may be underestimated in part. Litchi is native to southern China, and its farming system is an important agricultural heritage with Chinese characteristics and global influence. In this context, the present study attempts to investigate the willingness to pay (WTP) of local residents and assess the non-use value of the Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zengcheng) in Guangdong, China. To this aim, a survey was implemented on four sites in Zengcheng with the application of the contingent valuation method (CVM). Based on the analysis of 458 questionnaires, the WTP rate of residents in the heritage site is 66.6%, and the mean WTP is 62.5 Chinese yuan (CNY) per year. The total non-use value of the Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zengcheng) is 49.9 million CNY. The option, bequest, and existence values in 2018 are estimated to be 20.1, 13.7, and 16.1 million CNY, respectively. Results of the logistic regression analysis indicate that variables of age, education level, financial burden, and heritage value cognition are significant factors of WTP for protecting litchi heritage. Compared with similar studies in China, the mean WTP and positive payment rate in this study are at a medium level. Resource attributes and local cultures may have significant impacts on the composition and estimate of the non-use value of an IAHS. The results of this study can be beneficial to the dynamic conservation and adaptive management of IAHSs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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11 pages, 1246 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Water Use Considering Three Hungarian Dairy Farms
by Virág Nagypál, Edit Mikó and Cecilia Hodúr
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12083145 - 14 Apr 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2765
Abstract
Sustainable water management is one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century as availability of fresh water resources is under depletion. Growing population, extreme weather conditions (drought, fire, flood), and increasing global food demand all result in higher water consumption by humans. [...] Read more.
Sustainable water management is one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century as availability of fresh water resources is under depletion. Growing population, extreme weather conditions (drought, fire, flood), and increasing global food demand all result in higher water consumption by humans. Assessing qualitative and quantitative deterioration of fresh water supplies is crucial in water scarcity areas. By identifying blue, green and grey water components, water use can be assessed in a more comprehensive way. Water use assessment on a dairy farm is influenced by several factors such as chosen breed, herd size, keeping, feeding and milking technology. Productivity level of milking cows, amount of daily milking and type of litter (straw or liquid manure) have impact on water use by technology and cattle. If these factors are assessed and their proportion within the total water use is identified or calculated, dairy farmers are able to analyze water management precisely and shift to more sustainable solutions. The aim of this research is to analyze and to compare the impact of different keeping systems, i.e., traditional and modern, and milking technologies, i.e., robotic milking system, parallel and polygon parlors, on the water use of dairy farms to give a guide to dairy experts and to find opportunities where water recycling/reuse might be applicable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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19 pages, 2453 KiB  
Article
Designing Innovative Management for Cultivated Biodiversity: Lessons from a Pioneering Collaboration between French Farmers, Facilitators and Researchers around Participatory Bread Wheat Breeding
by Elsa T. Berthet, Sara Bosshardt, Lise Malicet-Chebbah, Gaëlle van Frank, Benoit Weil, Blanche Segrestin, Pierre Rivière, Léa Bernard, Elodie Baritaux and Isabelle Goldringer
Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 605; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12020605 - 14 Jan 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3369
Abstract
The industrialization of farming has significantly threatened cultivated biodiversity. Participatory breeding endeavours to overcome this issue by enabling farmers to select a wide range of crop varieties in different conditions, and to foster genetic mixing through seed exchanges, crosses or mixtures. This necessitates [...] Read more.
The industrialization of farming has significantly threatened cultivated biodiversity. Participatory breeding endeavours to overcome this issue by enabling farmers to select a wide range of crop varieties in different conditions, and to foster genetic mixing through seed exchanges, crosses or mixtures. This necessitates the design of new forms of coordination and organization for the farmers and partners involved. This article reports on an ongoing initiative, aiming to facilitate the participatory design of such forms of coordination and organization. It first outlines the method used (Knowledge–Concept–Proposals or KCP), and how it has been tailored to this highly decentralized context involving politically engaged actors on a quest for autonomy. It then presents the exploratory results of the first two workshops: these include group consolidation, the sharing of heterogeneous knowledge, the generation of innovative ideas, and the elaboration of preliminary projects. Finally, this empirical case is compared with other initiatives supporting the participatory design of natural resource management strategies and tools. Its key original dimensions and benefits are that the workshop protocol is replicable, the data produced can be easily exploited, and it allows for testing hypotheses in the field of design science. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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21 pages, 1697 KiB  
Article
Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation
by Colleen M. Eidt, Laxmi P. Pant and Gordon M. Hickey
Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 461; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12020461 - 07 Jan 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5127
Abstract
Within agricultural innovation systems (AIS), various stakeholder groups inevitably interpret ‘innovation’ from their own vantage point of privilege and power. In rural developing areas where small-scale and subsistence farming systems support livelihoods, dominant policy actors often focus heavily on participatory modernization and commercialization [...] Read more.
Within agricultural innovation systems (AIS), various stakeholder groups inevitably interpret ‘innovation’ from their own vantage point of privilege and power. In rural developing areas where small-scale and subsistence farming systems support livelihoods, dominant policy actors often focus heavily on participatory modernization and commercialization initiatives to enhance productivity, access, and quality. However, existing social hierarchies may undermine the potential of such initiatives to promote inclusive and sustainable farmer-driven innovation. Focusing on the chronically food insecure smallholder agricultural systems operating in Yatta Sub-county, Eastern Kenya, this paper explores how power dynamics between stakeholders can influence, and can be influenced by, participatory agricultural innovation initiatives. Findings suggest that there are often significant disparities in access to, and control over, platform resources between smallholder farmers and other stakeholder groups, resulting in large asymmetries. We discuss how these power dynamics may increase the risk of agricultural intervention, further marginalizing already disempowered groups and reinforcing power hierarchies to the detriment of smallholders. This study highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the institutional contexts that facilitate and maintain relationships of power within agricultural innovation systems, as well as the complexities associated with promoting transformational agricultural innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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18 pages, 4790 KiB  
Article
Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy
by Nicola Dal Ferro, Carlo Camarotto, Ilaria Piccoli, Antonio Berti, Jane Mills and Francesco Morari
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 378; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010378 - 02 Jan 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2936
Abstract
A transition from conventional to more sustainable soil management measures (SMMs) is required to reverse the current soil organic matter (SOM) losses in the agroecosystems. Despite the innovations and technologies that are available to prevent SOM decline, top–down knowledge transfer schemes that incentivize [...] Read more.
A transition from conventional to more sustainable soil management measures (SMMs) is required to reverse the current soil organic matter (SOM) losses in the agroecosystems. Despite the innovations and technologies that are available to prevent SOM decline, top–down knowledge transfer schemes that incentivize a certain measure are often ineffective. Here, we discuss relevant outcomes from a participatory approach where researchers, farmers, practitioners and government officials have discussed opportunities and barriers around SMM application to prevent SOM decline. Within a series of workshops, stakeholders identified, scored, and selected SMMs to field-tests and evaluated the benefits and drawbacks from their application. Results showed that the stakeholders recognized the need for innovations, although they valued the most promising SMM as already available continuous soil cover and conservation agriculture. In contrast, more innovative SMMs, such as biochar use and the variable rate application of organic amendments through precision farming, were the least valued, suggesting that people’s resistance to new technologies is often governed by the socio-cultural perception of them that goes beyond the economic and technological aspects. The valuation of benefits and drawbacks by stakeholders on trialed measures emphasized that stakeholders’ perspective about soil management is a combination of economic, environmental, and socio-cultural aspects, thus corroborating the need for transdisciplinary bottom–up approaches to prevent SOM depletion and increase soil rehabilitation and SOM content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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24 pages, 887 KiB  
Article
Responsible Agricultural Mechanization Innovation for the Sustainable Development of Nepal’s Hillside Farming System
by Rachana Devkota, Laxmi Prasad Pant, Hom Nath Gartaula, Kirit Patel, Devendra Gauchan, Helen Hambly-Odame, Balaram Thapa and Manish N. Raizada
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 374; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010374 - 02 Jan 2020
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 10994
Abstract
Agricultural mechanization in developing countries has taken at least two contested innovation pathways—the “incumbent trajectory” that promotes industrial agriculture, and an “alternative pathway” that supports small-scale mechanization for sustainable development of hillside farming systems. Although both pathways can potentially reduce human and animal [...] Read more.
Agricultural mechanization in developing countries has taken at least two contested innovation pathways—the “incumbent trajectory” that promotes industrial agriculture, and an “alternative pathway” that supports small-scale mechanization for sustainable development of hillside farming systems. Although both pathways can potentially reduce human and animal drudgery, the body of literature that assesses the sustainability impacts of these mechanization pathways in the local ecological, socio-economic, cultural, and historical contexts of hillside farms is either nonexistent or under-theorized. This paper addresses this missing literature by examining the case of Nepal’s first Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Policy 2014 (AMPP) using a conceptual framework of what will be defined as “responsible innovation”. The historical context of this assessment involves the incumbent trajectory of mechanization in the country since the late 1960s that neglected smallholder farms located in the hills and mountains and biased mechanization policy for flat areas only. Findings from this study suggest that the AMPP addressed issues for smallholder production, including gender inequality, exclusion of smallholder farmers, and biophysical challenges associated with hillside farming systems, but it remains unclear whether and how the policy promotes small-scale agricultural mechanization for sustainable development of agriculture in the hills and mountains of Nepal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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13 pages, 220 KiB  
Article
Short Comments on the Application of Criteria for Identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs)
by Hao Huang, Dongmei Tang, Bin Chen, Weiwen Li, Danyun Ou, Lei Wang and Lina An
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 130; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010130 - 23 Dec 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2159
Abstract
In 2008, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted seven criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) for biodiversity conservation. Nine international workshops were held in which 209 areas and 38 potential areas were identified as meeting the EBSA criteria. This [...] Read more.
In 2008, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted seven criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) for biodiversity conservation. Nine international workshops were held in which 209 areas and 38 potential areas were identified as meeting the EBSA criteria. This study analyzes the 209 identified areas and reveals that the use of the seven criteria in different workshops differed, so their scores are therefore not quantifiable. Furthermore, descriptions specific to criteria regarding areas having “special importance for the life-history stages of species” accounted for only 1.44% of the overall descriptions. Most descriptions regarding “vulnerability, fragility, sensitivity, or slow recovery” were almost contributed by the “importance of threatened, endangered, or declining species and/or habitats”. These three criteria were based on scientific evidences and have been widely accepted by the public. Therefore, we would suggest the criteria of “special importance for the life-history stages of species” and the criteria of “vulnerability, fragility, sensitivity, or slow recovery” need further investigation for biodiversity conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
18 pages, 6465 KiB  
Article
China Eco-Wisdom: A Review of Sustainability of Agricultural Heritage Systems on Aquatic-Ecological Conservation
by Maolin Li, Yongxun Zhang, Ming Xu, Lulu He, Longteng Liu and Qisheng Tang
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 60; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010060 - 19 Dec 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3436
Abstract
The multiple problems of modern agriculture urge people to probe into sustainability of the traditional agriculture. As important representatives of Chinese traditional agriculture, the agricultural heritage systems on aquatic-ecological conservation (AHSAEC) are confronting threats and urgently needs to be protected. In this study, [...] Read more.
The multiple problems of modern agriculture urge people to probe into sustainability of the traditional agriculture. As important representatives of Chinese traditional agriculture, the agricultural heritage systems on aquatic-ecological conservation (AHSAEC) are confronting threats and urgently needs to be protected. In this study, the functions and value of the AHSAECs are analyzed by multi-disciplinary methods including system analysis methods based on the review of old books and modern scientific research literature, and the nature of their sustainability are discussed, and the countermeasures against their current unsustainability are proposed. The results show that AHSAECs derive from the simple eco-agriculture models such as the Taihu Lake multi-industry compound ecoagriculture model in historical periods. These systems can integrate farming, forestry, animal husbandry, and aquaculture and make them a sustainable recycling system. Thus, they have strong ecological stability, rich cultural connotation, and good comprehensive benefits. Traditional eco-wisdom from Chinese traditional culture is the power to promote the sustainability and high-quality development of these systems. The key eco-wisdom of AHSAECs is to integrate aquaculture with livestock and poultry breeding and planting through the harmless treatment and recycling of agricultural wastes, which is conducive to the aquatic ecosystem conservation and sustainable resources utilization. Nowadays, it is urgent to preserve the eco-wisdom by establishing ecological museums to realize the productive protection and inheriting development of the heritage systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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19 pages, 1121 KiB  
Article
Social Factors Affecting Sustainable Shark Conservation and Management in Belize
by Stephanie M. Sabbagh and Gordon M. Hickey
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 40; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010040 - 19 Dec 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4580
Abstract
Predatory sharks contribute to healthy coral reef ecosystems; however their populations are declining. This paper explores some of the important social factors affecting shark conservation outcomes in Belize through a qualitative analysis of the shark-related activities, attitudes and perceptions among local stakeholders and [...] Read more.
Predatory sharks contribute to healthy coral reef ecosystems; however their populations are declining. This paper explores some of the important social factors affecting shark conservation outcomes in Belize through a qualitative analysis of the shark-related activities, attitudes and perceptions among local stakeholders and their perceived relative ability to influence shark conservation policies. Drawing on key informant interviews and focus groups, respondents suggested that considerable demand for shark meat originates from markets in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, especially during Lent, driving larger-scale shark fishing operations within Belize waters. Different stakeholders reported a wide range of uses for shark products, and reported diverging perceptions concerning the status and value of shark populations in Belize, with conflicting attitudes towards their conservation. Such conflicting perceptions among stakeholders can pose a serious challenge to sustainable shark conservation and management, and ultimately undermine collaborative governance objectives. Belize shark conservation issues likely need to be addressed at the scale of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, perhaps by taking a transboundary approach that better accounts for the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders from Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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18 pages, 888 KiB  
Article
Trusting the People and the System. The Interrelation Between Interpersonal and Institutional Trust in Collective Action for Agri-Environmental Management
by Jasper R. de Vries, Eva van der Zee, Raoul Beunen, Rianne Kat and Peter H. Feindt
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7022; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11247022 - 09 Dec 2019
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5835
Abstract
Agri-environmental schemes have been introduced in numerous countries to combat biodiversity loss in agrarian landscapes that are important for both food production and biodiversity. The successful operation of such schemes depends strongly upon trust between actors involved, as well as trust in institutions [...] Read more.
Agri-environmental schemes have been introduced in numerous countries to combat biodiversity loss in agrarian landscapes that are important for both food production and biodiversity. The successful operation of such schemes depends strongly upon trust between actors involved, as well as trust in institutions that govern these schemes. However, the interplay between interpersonal and institutional trust in the context of collective action for agri-environmental management is not well understood. To address this question, we explore the case of agri-environmental management in the province of Drenthe (in The Netherlands), where a new policy model was implemented. This case shows how both institutional design and institutional performance critically influence trust dynamics. Under the old policy model, farmers struggled with auditing and control, which fostered mistrust and hampered collective action. Under the new model, a landscape approach, more responsibilities were delegated to farmers, and more room was created for interaction, which fostered trust both between actors and in institutions. Based on our findings, we conclude that institutional designs that reflect trust in the actors can foster interpersonal and institutional trust that, in turn, facilitates collective action. However, old arrangements can also create path dependencies that limit trust development and impede collective action for agri-environmental management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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26 pages, 5331 KiB  
Article
Institutional Innovation for Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from Salt Marsh Restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada
by H. M. Tuihedur Rahman, Kate Sherren and Danika van Proosdij
Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6735; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11236735 - 27 Nov 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4160
Abstract
Sea-levels have been rising at a faster rate than expected. Because of the maladaptive outcomes of engineering-based hard coastal protection infrastructure, policy makers are looking for alternative adaptation approaches to buffer against coastal flooding—commonly known as nature-based coastal adaptation (NbCA). However, how to [...] Read more.
Sea-levels have been rising at a faster rate than expected. Because of the maladaptive outcomes of engineering-based hard coastal protection infrastructure, policy makers are looking for alternative adaptation approaches to buffer against coastal flooding—commonly known as nature-based coastal adaptation (NbCA). However, how to implement NbCA under an institutional structure demonstrating ‘inertia’ to alternative adaptation approaches is a question that seeks scientific attention. Building on a case study derived from a highly climate-vulnerable Canadian province, this study shows how the entrepreneurial use of scientific information and institutional opportunities helped institutional actors overcome the inertia. Drawing on secondary document analysis and primary qualitative data, this study offers five key lessons to institutional actors aiming at implementing NbCA: (i) develop knowledge networks to help avoid uncertainty; (ii) identify and utilize opportunities within existing institutions; (iii) distribute roles and responsibilities among actors based on their capacity to mobilize required resources; (iv) provide entrepreneurial actors with decision-making autonomy for developing agreed-upon rules and norms; and (v) facilitate repeated interactions among institutional actors to develop a collaborative network among them. This study, therefore, helps us to understand how to implement a relatively new adaptation option by building trust-based networks among diverse and relevant institutional actors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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23 pages, 3617 KiB  
Article
Trust and Influence in the Gulf of Mexico’s Fishery Public Management Network
by Anthony Lima, Dongkyu Kim, Andrew M. Song, Gordon M. Hickey and Owen Temby
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 6090; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11216090 - 01 Nov 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3441
Abstract
Sustainable fishery management is a complex multi-sectoral challenge requiring substantial interagency coordination, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. While scholars of public management network theory and natural resource management have identified trust as one of the key ideational network properties that facilitates such interaction, relatively [...] Read more.
Sustainable fishery management is a complex multi-sectoral challenge requiring substantial interagency coordination, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. While scholars of public management network theory and natural resource management have identified trust as one of the key ideational network properties that facilitates such interaction, relatively few studies have operationalized and measured the multiple dimensions of trust and their influence on collaboration. This article presents the results of an exploratory study examining the Gulf of Mexico fishery management network comprised of more than 30 stakeholder organizations. Using an empirically validated survey instrument, the distribution of four types of trust, three gradations of influence, and the degree of formality and informality in actor communications were assessed across the fishery public management network. The analysis reveals generally low levels of interorganizational procedural trust and a high degree of network fragmentation along the international border. Civil servants based at U.S. organizations reported nearly no interactions with Mexican agencies, and vice versa. Rational (calculative) trust was the most important in bringing about reported change in other organizations, while dispositional distrust and affinitive (relational) trust also had significant effects. The results suggest that, although transactional interorganizational relationships prevail in Gulf of Mexico fishery governance, well-developed professional relationships contribute meaningfully to the reported success of public fishery network management and warrants further policy attention in order to help ensure sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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17 pages, 933 KiB  
Article
Simple Soil Tests for On-Site Evaluation of Soil Health in Orchards
by Esther O. Thomsen, Jennifer R. Reeve, Catherine M. Culumber, Diane G. Alston, Robert Newhall and Grant Cardon
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 6009; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11216009 - 29 Oct 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4982
Abstract
Standard commercial soil tests typically quantify nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, and salinity. These factors alone are not sufficient to predict the long-term effects of management on soil health. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness and use of simple physical, [...] Read more.
Standard commercial soil tests typically quantify nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, and salinity. These factors alone are not sufficient to predict the long-term effects of management on soil health. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness and use of simple physical, biological, and chemical soil health indicator tests that can be completed on-site. Analyses were conducted on soil samples collected from three experimental peach orchards located on the Utah State Horticultural Research Farm in Kaysville, Utah. All simple tests were correlated to comparable lab analyses using Pearson’s correlation. The highest positive correlations were found between Solvita® respiration, and microbial biomass (R = 0.88), followed by our modified slake test and microbial biomass (R = 0.83). Both Berlese funnel and pit count methods of estimating soil macro-organism diversity were fairly predictive of soil health. Overall, simple commercially available chemical tests were weak indicators of soil nutrient concentrations compared to laboratory tests. Modified slake tests, Solvita® respiration and soil organism biodiversity counts may be efficient and cost-effective tools for monitoring soil health on-site. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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20 pages, 1839 KiB  
Article
Investigating Perceptions of Land Issues in a Threatened Landscape in Northern Cambodia
by Emilie Beauchamp, Tom Clements and E. J. Milner-Gulland
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 5881; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11215881 - 23 Oct 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2555
Abstract
Land governance highly affects rural communities’ well-being in landscapes where land and its access are contested. This includes sites with high land pressures from development, but also from conservation interventions. In fact, local people’s motivations for sustainably managing their resources is highly tied [...] Read more.
Land governance highly affects rural communities’ well-being in landscapes where land and its access are contested. This includes sites with high land pressures from development, but also from conservation interventions. In fact, local people’s motivations for sustainably managing their resources is highly tied to their perceptions of security, trust and participation in land management regimes. Understanding these perceptions is essential to ensure the internal legitimacy and sustainability of conservation interventions, especially in areas where development changes are fast paced. This paper presents an analysis of household perceptions of land issues in 20 villages across different conservation and development contexts in Northern Cambodia. We assess whether conservation and development interventions, as economic land concessions, influence perceptions of land issues in control and treatment sites by modelling five key perception indicators. We find that household characteristics rather than village contexts are the main factors influencing the perceptions of land issues. Interventions also affect perceptions, especially with regards to the negative effect of development pressures and population growth. While large-scale protected areas do not calm insecurity about land issues, some village-based payment for environmental services projects do. Ultimately, evidence from perception studies can help address current concerns and shape future conservation activities sustainably. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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18 pages, 2601 KiB  
Article
Farmers’ Satisfaction and its Influencing Factors in the Policy of Economic Compensation for Cultivated Land Protection: A Case Study in Chengdu, China
by Dongyang Xiao, Haipeng Niu, Liangxin Fan, Suxia Zhao and Hongxuan Yan
Sustainability 2019, 11(20), 5787; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11205787 - 18 Oct 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3126
Abstract
With the rapid progress of urbanization, the loss of cultivated land has attracted great attention worldwide, and economic compensation is one of the incentives commonly used by the governments to enhance farmers’ enthusiasm in protecting cultivated land. In recent years, although various economic [...] Read more.
With the rapid progress of urbanization, the loss of cultivated land has attracted great attention worldwide, and economic compensation is one of the incentives commonly used by the governments to enhance farmers’ enthusiasm in protecting cultivated land. In recent years, although various economic compensation modes have been implemented by the Chinese government, such modes are still experimental and exploratory. Thus, designing and implementing a national economic compensation mode is urgent to effectively protect the quantity and quality of cultivated land. This study focuses on the mode of cultivated land protection fund (CLPF) in Chengdu, which is the earliest mode of the implementation of economic compensation in China in 2008. First, we analyzed the farmers’ satisfaction with the CLPF through a face-to-face interview with 296 farmers in Chengdu. Then, we used the path analysis method to identify the influencing factors of farmers’ satisfaction from the characteristics of farmers and the policy. Results show that the CLPF was generally supported by farmers. Nevertheless, room for improvement still exists. Particularly, farmers’ satisfaction was low in the design of the government’s supervision management of the CLPF. Farmers’ satisfaction with compensation standard, funding use requirement, and the government’s supervision management were remarkably affected by factors, including farmers’ educational level, cultivated land area, total annual agricultural income, farmers’ knowledge of the CLPF, farmers’ recognition of the value of the CLPF, and farmers’ perception of the changes in household economics. Particularly, the direct influence of farmers’ perception of the changes in household economics was the most important. Finally, we proposed the recommendations for constructing a national economic compensation mode for cultivated land protection. Our results have certain guiding significance for promoting the sustainable development of cultivated land protection policies by means of economic incentives in China and other countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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21 pages, 4527 KiB  
Article
Fish Communities, Habitat Use, and Human Pressures in the Upper Volta Basin, Burkina Faso, West Africa
by Paul Meulenbroek, Sebastian Stranzl, Adama Oueda, Jan Sendzimir, Komandan Mano, Idrissa Kabore, Raymond Ouedraogo and Andreas Melcher
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5444; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11195444 - 01 Oct 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3256
Abstract
Human pressures and loss of natural fish habitats led to a decline in fish populations in terms of abundances, biodiversity, and average size in sub-Sahelian Burkina Faso. Little knowledge exists about fish assemblages regarding their composition, their habitat preferences, or their sensitivity to [...] Read more.
Human pressures and loss of natural fish habitats led to a decline in fish populations in terms of abundances, biodiversity, and average size in sub-Sahelian Burkina Faso. Little knowledge exists about fish assemblages regarding their composition, their habitat preferences, or their sensitivity to or tolerance of human pressures. This research provides the first data-driven basis for sustainably managing fish and associated aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Surveys in four different regions sampled 18,000 specimens from 69 species during the dry season. Fish communities, available abiotic habitat conditions, habitat use, and human pressures were assessed and analyzed. Fish communities cluster into four distinct types, each dominated by either Cichlidae, Clariidae, Cyprinidae, or Alestidae and accompanied by specific other families and genera of fish. Habitat preferences of four key species (Labeo coubie, Bagrus bajad, Chelaethiops bibie, and Lates niloticus) were linked to ecological habitat conditions. Results show that physical parameters influence fish community composition and abundances and, when indexed according to pressure type, are linked to responses in fish metrics. Relative abundance either dropped (Mormyridae) or increased (Cichlidae, Cyprinidae) with rising pressure intensity, and some sentinel taxa (Auchenoglanis, Hydrocynus) were only found in low-pressure sites. The outcomes of this study provide basic knowledge of habitat availability, habitat use by fish, species associations, and human pressures and therefore provide the basis for effective conservation and management of fish populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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13 pages, 519 KiB  
Article
Investigating Gaps in Perception of Wildlife between Urban and Rural Inhabitants: Empirical Evidence from Japan
by Eri Kato, Yuki Yano and Yasuo Ohe
Sustainability 2019, 11(17), 4516; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11174516 - 21 Aug 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3266
Abstract
A decline in natural resource management by rural communities has significantly contributed to human–wildlife conflicts, especially crop-raiding, in Japan. Collaborative wildlife management between existing rural stakeholders and new urban stakeholders is essential to address this problem. However, differences in the perception regarding wildlife [...] Read more.
A decline in natural resource management by rural communities has significantly contributed to human–wildlife conflicts, especially crop-raiding, in Japan. Collaborative wildlife management between existing rural stakeholders and new urban stakeholders is essential to address this problem. However, differences in the perception regarding wildlife exist between rural populations, which have ample direct experience with wildlife, and urban populations, which lack direct experience with wildlife. Consequently, this gap in perception can potentially lead to conflicts between stakeholders during collaborative wildlife management. In this study, content analysis, which has been extensively employed to analyze qualitative data, was performed to elucidate the differences in perception of wildlife between urban and rural stakeholders. An online survey was conducted in December 2016 to understand the perception of wildlife by stakeholders, in which 1401 responses were received. The results indicate that the urban individuals did not have a comprehensive understanding of wildlife and any positive views were primarily abstract. Conversely, rural individuals had diverse perceptions, both positive and negative. Therefore, a novel perceptual gap-narrowing approach based on staged interactions with the rural environment, is suggested. Introduction to rural issues through field-based experiences to urban stakeholders is likely to the narrow gaps in perception between urban and rural stakeholders, in order to allow for efficient and collaborative wildlife management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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20 pages, 2069 KiB  
Article
Estimating Sustainable Harvest Rates for European Hare (Lepus Europaeus) Populations
by Stéphanie C. Schai-Braun, Christine Kowalczyk, Erich Klansek and Klaus Hackländer
Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2837; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11102837 - 18 May 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3430
Abstract
Hunting quotas are used to manage populations of game species in order to ensure sustainable exploitation. However, unpredictable climatic events may interact with hunting. We established a population model for European hares (Lepus europaeus) in Lower Austria. We compared the sustainability [...] Read more.
Hunting quotas are used to manage populations of game species in order to ensure sustainable exploitation. However, unpredictable climatic events may interact with hunting. We established a population model for European hares (Lepus europaeus) in Lower Austria. We compared the sustainability of voluntary quotas used by hunters—which are derived from hare-specific guidelines—with the actual numbers of hares shot and our recommended quotas for hares, which have been derived from climate and population modeling. We used population modeling based on vital rates and densities to adjust our recommended quotas in order to achieve sustainable harvest. The survival of age classes 1 and 3 had the highest impact on the population growth rate. Population viability analysis showed that a recommended quota with a harvest rate of 10% was sustainable for population densities of 45 hares/km2, and that the threshold for hunting should be raised from 10 hares/km2 so that hare populations with <15 hares/km2 are not hunted. The recommended quota outperformed the voluntary hunting quota, since more hares could be harvested sustainably. Age Class 1 survival was strongly linked with weather: a single year with unfavorable weather conditions (low precipitation) negatively affected population densities. Game species, including the European hare, face increasingly frequent weather extremes due to climate change, so hunting quotas need to be sensitive to frequent population fluctuations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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Review

Jump to: Research

26 pages, 881 KiB  
Review
An Analytical Framework for Assessing Context-Specific Rural Livelihood Vulnerability
by H.M. Tuihedur Rahman and Gordon M. Hickey
Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5654; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12145654 - 14 Jul 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3997
Abstract
Reviewing both conceptual and empirical studies on climate vulnerability and adaptation assessment, this paper offers an analytical framework to help better understand how context-specific adaptation strategies could be developed. The framework systematically assembles the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and the Vulnerability Assessment frameworks to [...] Read more.
Reviewing both conceptual and empirical studies on climate vulnerability and adaptation assessment, this paper offers an analytical framework to help better understand how context-specific adaptation strategies could be developed. The framework systematically assembles the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and the Vulnerability Assessment frameworks to develop its structural and analytical components. The resulting five-step approach involves: (i) identification of context along with understanding what aspect of vulnerability need to be studied; (ii) assessment of livelihood exposure to climate impacts involving both community perspectives and meteorological data-based climate forecasts; (iii) characterization of available capital asset usages to help buffer climate sensitivity; (iv) analysis of formal and informal institutional impetus to enhance adaptive capacity; and (v) evaluation of gaps between context-specific vulnerability and institutional and policy responses to avoid maladaptive trajectories. Drawing on published research and policy documentation, we apply the framework to the livelihood systems operating in the northeastern floodplain community of Bangladesh to demonstrate the utility of the approach and then discuss its potential to inform adaptation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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17 pages, 548 KiB  
Review
Integrating UAV Technology in an Ecological Monitoring System for Community Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania
by Lazaro J. Mangewa, Patrick A. Ndakidemi and Linus K. Munishi
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 6116; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11216116 - 03 Nov 2019
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 11115
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have recently emerged as a new remote sensing aerial platform, and they are seemingly advancing real-time data generation. Nonetheless, considerable uncertainties remain in the extent to which wildlife managers can integrate UAVs into ecological monitoring systems for wildlife and [...] Read more.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have recently emerged as a new remote sensing aerial platform, and they are seemingly advancing real-time data generation. Nonetheless, considerable uncertainties remain in the extent to which wildlife managers can integrate UAVs into ecological monitoring systems for wildlife and their habitats. In this review, we discuss the recent progress and gaps in UAV use in wildlife conservation and management. The review notes that there is scanty information on UAV use in ecological monitoring of medium-to-large mammals found in groups in heterogeneous habitats. We also explore the need and extent to which the technology can be integrated into ecological monitoring systems for mammals in heterogeneous habitats and in topographically-challenging community wildlife-management areas, as a complementary platform to the traditional techniques. Based on its ability to provide high-resolution images in real-time, further experiments on its wider use in the ecological monitoring of wildlife on a spatiotemporal scale are important. The experimentation outputs will make the UAV a very reliable remote sensing platform that addresses the challenges facing conventional techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Natural Resource Management)
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