Article
Environmental Sciences
Joy Rumbidzai Mangachena, Catherine Marina Pickering
Summary: In a study analyzing tweets about seven South African national parks, it was found that most of the discourse related to management, including topics such as biodiversity, tourism, natural attractions, and crime and safety. While the majority of Tweeters were from South Africa, users from other African countries, the USA, and the UK also participated in discussions. The emotions expressed in tweets were mainly positive, with most tweets coming from individual accounts.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Godwell Nhamo, Kaitano Dube, Lazarus Chapungu, David Chikodzi
Summary: Globally, national parks contribute to tourism and conservation, but their carbon risk is often overlooked. This study examines how South African National Parks (SANParks) seeks to transition to net zero in its park operations. The study found that South African national parks have primarily carbon-intensive tourism facilities, but steps are being taken to respond to the pillars of NetZero emissions by 2050.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Paulina A. Phophe, Mmoto L. Masubelele
Summary: Nature-based conservation management estates are considered natural solutions to climate change, but they may still result in greenhouse gas emissions in daily operations. This study focused on South African National Parks (SANParks) and highlighted the carbon footprint of their activities, recommending ways to reduce emissions and achieve zero energy emissions. The research found that most emissions from SANParks came from electricity and fuel usage, suggesting a need for sustainable energy practices to meet future climate targets.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kevin M. Coldrey, Jane K. Turpie, Guy Midgley, Simon Scheiter, Lee Hannah, Patrick R. Roehrdanz, Wendy B. Foden
Summary: Climate change poses challenges to the ability of protected areas to achieve their goals. To address this, a framework for assessing protected area vulnerability to climate change was developed, considering the potential impacts on species, habitats, and resource use. The adaptability of protected areas to these threats was determined by evaluating management effectiveness, adjacent land use, and financial resilience. By scoring these categories, users can obtain vulnerability scores and rankings specific to each protected area.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yilin Zhao, Stephen Sheppard, Zhenkai Sun, Zezhou Hao, Jiali Jin, Zitong Bai, Qi Bian, Cheng Wang
Summary: Urban foresters are managing the challenge of urban biodiversity loss through long-term monitoring and planning, and are exploring the use of soundscape assessment in urban ecological monitoring. This study aimed to understand the relationship between soundscape and physical environment in highly urbanized areas. The results showed the importance of habitat vegetation structure for acoustic diversity, and suggested that soundscape approaches can track changes in bird songs and ecosystem conditions, providing a way to inform adaptive planning and management strategies for maintaining or enhancing biodiversity.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Po-Yu Wang, Kevin Lyons, Tamara Young
Summary: This paper examines the perspectives of adventure tour operators on adventure tourism in New South Wales national parks and finds that they play various roles, including facilitators of escape and stewards of the natural environment, based on their concerns for clients, the natural environment and their businesses.
CURRENT ISSUES IN TOURISM
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mary Nkosi, Fhumulani I. Mathivha, John O. Odiyo
Summary: South Africa is a water-scarce country facing domestic water supply challenges, with land use changes significantly impacting water resources, requiring better integrated strategic approaches and behavior change.
Article
Economics
Samuel Ziem Bonye, Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh, Vivian Nsiah
Summary: In recent decades, sustainable forest resource management through state-community collaboration has become the focus of resource management discussions. In Ghana, forest reserves are declining due to poaching and encroachment by fringe communities. This study aims to fill the literature gap by examining the dynamics of community-state collaboration in forest resource management in the Mole National Park. The study finds that power manipulation, limited community engagement, placation, and a centralized approach to park management are issues affecting the management and sustainability of the park. The study recommends collaborative management and equity in resource benefit sharing for sustainable forest resource management.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brian W. Miller, Gregor W. Schuurman, Amy J. Symstad, Amber N. Runyon, Brecken C. Robb
Summary: The impacts of climate change on natural and cultural resources are extensive and complex. To address the uncertainties, scenario planning has been used as an effective approach to support resource conservation. Participatory climate change scenario planning projects have shown to increase participant confidence and engagement, and the integration of scenarios into strategic actions helps mitigate the impacts of climate change effectively.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhenhua Zang, Zhiqiang Guo, Xinyue Fan, Mei Han, Ao Du, Weihua Xu, Zhiyun Ouyang
Summary: The pilot national parks in China have achieved improved representativeness and management effectiveness through range expansion, institution streamlining, and cohesive management. Compared with existing protected areas, the pilot national parks have increased in size and demonstrated positive results in protecting typical ecosystems, biodiversity priority areas, and key areas of ecosystem services. Additionally, they have effectively reduced human disturbance and improved management effectiveness through necessary relocation and enhanced land management.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Samuel Ziem Bonye, Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh, Vivian Nsiah
Summary: 'Protecting' natural resources as a policy intervention for biodiversity conservation has both positive and negative impacts. The Mole National Park in Ghana has brought both benefits and conflicts to the fringe communities. A study on community perception and livelihood sustainability revealed that the denial of access to the park's natural resources has been a major source of contention, highlighting the importance of community-led management and equal distribution of benefits for sustainable forest resource management.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Beatriz C. Afonso, Lourens H. Swanepoel, Beatriz P. Rosa, Tiago A. Marques, Luis M. Rosalino, Margarida Santos-Reis, Goncalo Curveira-Santos
Summary: Wildlife ecological patterns are influenced by both environmental factors and landscape-management schemes. Small mammal communities in southern Africa are impacted by different management contexts, with smaller species showing higher relative abundance in game reserves. However, overall rodent abundance is negatively affected by ungulate presence and human disturbance, indicating that management priorities across land uses can impact wildlife communities differently.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Kaitano Dube, Godwell Nhamo, David Chikodzi, Lazarus Chapungu
Summary: There is an increasing risk of flooding in many parts of Africa and globally due to climate variability and extreme weather events. Floods are important for biodiversity conservation in semi-arid regions, but threaten tourism infrastructure. This study maps flood hotspots in South African national parks, finding that most hotspots are in Kruger National Park, and recommends solutions to manage flood risks.
JOURNAL OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM-RESEARCH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Soumik Bhattacharya, Swarupa Das, Sandipan Das, Mahesh Kalashetty, Sumedh R. Warghat
Summary: Geospatial methods combined with multi-influencing factors were used to determine potential groundwater zones in Purulia District, Eastern India. The study generated a groundwater prospect map with different zones, providing valuable information for future research and groundwater development planning.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Weiwei Wang, Xianli Wang, Wanli Wu, Futao Guo, Jane Park, Guangyu Wang
Summary: This study investigated the burn severity in the Canadian Rocky Mountain region using satellite imagery. It found that fuel type had the most significant influence on burn severity, while topography, vegetation, and climate had equal contributions. The study also predicted the burn severity potential in different areas and highlighted the effectiveness of fire management in local communities.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)