Theme : Sustainable Practices for a Greener Future
PhD Scholar, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Ecotourism seeks to enhance the conservation of biodiversity, and prioritizes education regarding ecosystems, wildlife, and local cultures. It aims to elevate the welfare of local communities through economic advantages and the promotion of cultural heritage. The ecotourism sector has currently been evolving in Chilika wetland in India given its unique characteristics of biodiversity and local livelihood. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India's east coast and has been designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance since 1981. It is imperative to thoroughly examine the impact of ecotourism on the various livelihood capitals and its effect on the resilience and long-term sustainability of local communities. Therefore, the objective of the study is to analyze the effects of ecotourism development on the livelihoods of the Chilika wetland. To address the objective, the SL (Sustainable Livelihood) method has been used that foster key attributes of sustainability. The assets of SL framework primarily consist of natural capital (biodiversity quality, water quality, and proximity to ecotourism sites), social capital (social networks, skill training, membership, and community engagement), human capital (health, education, and family size), physical capital (housing area, access to water, electricity, public transport, and tourism infrastructure such as boats and fishing equipment), and financial capital (average annual income, income sources, and access to loans). In the case of methodology, stratified random sampling has been employed to identify the locations, followed by basic random sampling to choose the respondents. Cochran's formula has been utilized to determine the sample size (385). All responders are thereafter categorized based on their participation in ecotourism activities. The first category comprises respondents who are not engaged in ecotourism activities, the second category includes those who are partially engaged, and the third category consists of individuals who are fully engaged in ecotourism activities. The entropy method is employed to ascertain weights and compute the Livelihood Capital Index (LCI). Multinomial logistic regression is employed to ascertain the impact of livelihood capital on livelihood types. When comparing LCI values, households engaged in ecotourism—whether fully or partially—exhibit an increase in natural, financial, and social capital, while experiencing a decline in human and physical capital, in contrast to households not involved in tourism. The data indicate that individuals completely engaged in ecotourism have experienced improvements in biodiversity and water quality, access to essential livelihood amenities, income, social networking, and skills relative to traditional households. Households partially engaged in tourism exhibit statistically significant improvements in biodiversity quality, family labour, tourism infrastructure, and income compared to those entirely uninvolved in ecotourism. The study recommends that local governments and communities should explore alternative tourism resources and ecotourism activities to address the inherent seasonality issue in ecotourism. Diversifying the ecotourism sector will offer multiple livelihoods, especially for conventional and partially engaged households in ecotourism. Moreover, all household types can collaborate to enhance the scale, elevate service quality, and improve tourism infrastructure quality. Enhancing the ecotourism monitoring and management system, together with refining the laws and regulations, will further augment the sector's administration.
Keywords: Ecotourism, Livelihood, Biodiversity, Sustainability, Wetland
Faculty of Engineering, Mahendradatta University Bali
The concept of the Traditional wantilan building has been known by the Balinese people starting in the Royal era, where the first wantilan concept found has reached the age of fifty years. The concept of a wantilan structure system is still maintained by the Balinese people to this day because it is seen as a being able to provides thermal comfort in a wide span room without using an artificial air conditioning system. The concept of the wantilan building uses a traditional conception that called "baong capung" with overlapping roofs. Wantilan in the Taman Ayun Temple is one of the heritage buildings of the Mengwi Kingdom which until now is still functioned for various activities. This study examines the extent to which the concept of green architecture is applied to traditional wantilan buildings. What are the basic structural principles used by the ancestors of the Balinese people in the manufacture of wantilan buildings so that they can make natural air circulation flow throughout the building. The research method includes direct observation, interviews with temple leaders, literature studies, and assessments of green architectural principles applied to the wantilan building of Taman Ayun Temple. The extent of the use of natural energy sources, how the building responds to the site, the source and cycle of materials in the building, health and comfort in the space and environmental management. The results of this study show that green architecture has been implemented very well, the thermal comfort in this building is very comfortable. The air humidity varies due to the geographical location of Taman Ayun Temple which has high rainfall. In addition to temperature and humidity factors, the type and material of the building greatly affect thermal comfort. Based on the analysis of building conditions, the results of the building condition index were obtained by 80%. The "baong capung" structure system with overlapping roofs is the main key in the process of air circulation throughout the building. The existence of this building shows that the concept of green architecture has been applied by the ancestors of the Balinese people since the Royal era, more than fifty years. The basic principles and concepts of this structural system are a just cultural heritage of green architecture that should be preserved by the younger generation of today's successors.
Keywords: Green architecture, wantilan, traditional Balinese architecture
Faculty of Agriculture, Pattimura University, Maluku Province, Indonesia
An important impact of climate change is the disruption of the agricultural sector, which is a threat to the food supply for the world's population which will continue to increase in the future. Therefore, food security in every country is important and needs to be prioritized in agricultural development. This research aims to provide an understanding of sago forest conservation to deal with climate change through measuring the biomass content and C-Stock of Sago forests. The methodology used is determining the characteristics of the Sago forest habitat (determining the type and hydraulic conductivity of the soil) and assessing biomass and C-Stock through cutting Sago trees at various growth stages, weighing the wet weight and dry weight of each fraction, calculating the Top Root Ratio, and determining starch yield. The results of research in the field showed four types of soil: Fluvic Gleisol, District, Hydric and Oxic Cambisole. C-Stock is 26.99 tonnes per hectare with a Top-Root Ratio of 636%, which means above ground biomass (AGB) is six times more than below ground biomass (BGB). The dry Sago flour produced ranges from 490.3–571.8 kg per tree and the potential is relatively varied. This is due to differences in forest structure and composition, as well as habitat and environment. Sago tree felling is still occurring on a very small scale but initial signs of disturbance have emerged in hydrological conditions and fluctuations in water levels or puddles of water in the soil profile. Thus, considering the vital role of Sago forests in dealing with climate change, conservation efforts need to be increased. This needs to be done, among other things, by minimizing the occurrence of conversion of Sago forests to other uses, especially for the expansion of grain crops on a large scale. If the Sago forest is converted into rice fields, there will be disruption to the Sago forest ecosystem and will result in drought in the area.
Keywords: sago forest, climate change, biomass, food security, conservation
IIS [deemed to be university], Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Arctic is a unique habitat covering a vast area of 16 million sq. km. is going to have its first ice free day by 2027, thereby converting the white wonderland into a Blue briny. A 12% decadal reduction of sea ice is an unprecedented event which scientists claim to be inevitable. Climatologists reveal that over 90% of the old ice is melted and what we have today is new ice, which is 5 years old or more, which makes melting more expeditious. Winter and spring blocking events, heat waves in the Arctic, increased hydrocarbon emissions are at fault. Due to the sensitive topography of the region and escalation by the ‘Albedo Effect’, the region is melting 4 times faster than the global average. Despite the shocking statistics, Arctic falls short to get the global spotlight and universal anthropogenic attention. One of the reasons responsible is the region’s remote location. Other is Arctic-ambition on the part of countries. An ice-free arctic would mean new routes for travel, cutting time and money for ships by up to 75%, connecting East Asia and Europe, extraction of rare earth metals, oil and natural gas resources, thereby facilitating more commercial exploitation. Yet another factor is that an immediate effect would be felt by the indigenous communities and they do not have adequate representation at the international platforms, even after being home to about 4 million people across 8 Arctic countries. The conflict-ridden era has turbo-charged militarisation in the region and hampered progress on Arctic emergency. This study analyses the reasons of Arctic-Alienation and the necessity of integrating this essential vista into the mainstream, considering the same as a global ecological crisis and taking collective actions, if not, the world will witness the demise of this frigid pole.
Keywords: arctic, alienation, ice, anthropogenic, international.
Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, Iloilo Province, Philippines
The study was conducted to determine the most effective mulching material for weed suppression and enhancing the growth and yield of pechay (Brassica rappa pekinensis). This research was carried out at Iloilo State College of Fisheries-Dingle Campus, Dingle, Iloilo, in Iloilo Province, utilizing a total area of 20 square meters organized in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The experiment included four treatments: Treatment A (Control), Treatment B (Rice Straw), Treatment C (Sawdust), and Treatment D (Plastic Mulch), each replicated four times. The results demonstrated that Treatment B, employing rice straw as the mulching material, was significantly superior to the other treatments across all evaluated parameters. Specifically, it produced the highest pechay yield, averaging 0.80 kgs, compared to Treatment C (Sawdust) at 0.69 kgs, Treatment A (Control) at 0.68 kgs, and Treatment D (Plastic Mulch) at 0.65 kgs. Additionally, Treatment B significantly enhanced growth metrics, including average plant height and leaf count, measured at ten (10), twenty (20), and thirty (30) days post-transplant, consistently outperforming the other treatments. Furthermore, rice straw mulch was also effective in weed suppression, showing significantly lower weed presence than Treatments A, C, and D at all assessment intervals. In conclusion, the findings affirm that rice straw mulch not only significantly improves the yield of pechay but also enhances growth parameters and effectively suppresses weeds compared to other mulching materials. The study recommends further exploration of organic mulching options, particularly during dry planting seasons, and advocates for applying organic mulch only after crops have become fully established to maximize benefits.
Keywords: Mulching, Weed Suppression, Growth Enhancement, Pechay, Brassica rapa pekinensis
Founder and CEO of Global Climate Change Foundation (GCCF)
Green innovation has become a crucial driver in the transition toward sustainable development in today's rapidly evolving world. As environmental concerns continue to rise, businesses, governments, and researchers are seeking novel solutions to address pressing ecological challenges while promoting economic growth. This paper explores the concept of green innovation, its importance, and the role it plays in mitigating climate change, reducing resource consumption, and fostering the development of eco-friendly technologies. Green innovation is not just about creating environmentally friendly products; it encompasses a holistic approach that integrates environmental consciousness into all aspects of innovation, including process improvements, business models, and consumer engagement. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, the paper highlights key drivers of green innovation, such as governmental policies, consumer demand for sustainable products, and advances in green technologies. It also identifies barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of green innovations, including high initial costs, lack of regulatory frameworks, and insufficient research and development. Moreover, the paper delves into the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green innovation, demonstrating its potential to create new markets, improve quality of life, and reduce environmental degradation. The study further examines the role of industries such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green manufacturing in advancing green innovation. These sectors are at the forefront of integrating sustainable practices into their operations, thereby leading the way for future innovations. Lastly, the paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and research institutions, to foster an ecosystem conducive to the growth of green innovations. In conclusion, green innovation is indispensable for achieving long-term sustainability goals. It not only offers solutions to environmental challenges but also drives economic growth through the creation of new technologies, business models, and markets. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, and researchers must prioritize green innovation to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
Keywords: Green innovation, sustainable development, eco-friendly technologies, environmental challenges, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, business models, climate change.
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