Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arjun Srivathsa, Divya Vasudev, Tanaya Nair, Stotra Chakrabarti, Pranav Chanchani, Ruth DeFries, Arpit Deomurari, Sutirtha Dutta, Dipankar Ghose, Varun R. Goswami, Rajat Nayak, Amrita Neelakantan, Prachi Thatte, Srinivas Vaidyanathan, Madhu Verma, Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Mahesh Sankaran, Uma Ramakrishnan
Summary: Biodiversity conservation and human well-being are closely linked, but the mismatch in planning and implementing these priorities has led to biodiversity loss and declining quality of life. India, with a large population, has very little land effectively protected for conservation. Landscape-level conservation planning, combining land-sharing and land-sparing approaches, is necessary.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mitchell W. Serota, Kristin J. Barker, Laura C. Gigliotti, Samantha M. L. Maher, Avery L. Shawler, Gabriel R. Zuckerman, Wenjing Xu, Guadalupe Verta, Elizabeth Templin, Chelsea L. Andreozzi, Arthur D. Middleton
Summary: Conservation biologists have found that including local stakeholders in wildlife restoration programs can improve the success rate. A study of case studies from the IUCN's reintroduction program showed that including human dimensions as objectives in translocation planning can lead to better wildlife population outcomes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tzu-Wei Joy Tseng, Brian E. Robinson, Marc F. Bellemare, Ariel BenYishay, Allen Blackman, Timothy Boucher, Malcolm Childress, Margaret B. Holland, Timm Kroeger, Benjamin Linkow, Moustapha Diop, Lisa Naughton, Thomas Rudel, Jolyne Sanjak, Priya Shyamsundar, Peter Veit, William Sunderlin, Wei Zhang, Yuta J. Masuda
Summary: Land tenure security is increasingly recognized as a crucial element for advancing global sustainable development agendas. The majority of studies show that improved land tenure security has positive impacts on human well-being and environmental outcomes. More research is needed to understand the effects of non-technical interventions and rights devolution in informing future land policy efforts and accelerating sustainable development.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Margot P. van de Weijer, Perline A. Demange, Dirk H. M. Pelt, Meike Bartels, Michel G. Nivard
Summary: This study examines the associations between educational duration and well-being, anxiety and mood disorders, and cardiovascular health. The results suggest that these associations are more likely due to confounding or bias rather than a true causal effect of education. The study emphasizes the importance of using multiple methods to enhance our understanding of the causal consequences of educational duration.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Fernando Bruna
Summary: This study uses European Social Survey data and a scale of human values to investigate the impact of human values on subjective well-being, finding significant effects of regional and national factors on life satisfaction. The study also reveals some results that differ from previous research in the field.
SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brittany Novick, Josephine Crouch, Abrar Ahmad, Rodiansyah, Muflihati, Siti Masitoh Kartikawati, Sudaryanti, Novia Sagita, Adam E. Miller
Summary: There is a growing recognition that impactful management systems in conservation must be locally-led and consider a wide range of factors. This research evaluates the outcomes of an integrated initiative in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The results suggest that locally-led approaches can achieve positive outcomes for biodiversity and human well-being.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiangdan Piao, Shunsuke Managi
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between donations for environment sustainability and emotional well-being. The results show that people engaged in donations and volunteering are more likely to experience positive emotions and less likely to experience negative emotions.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
J. C. Fisher, M. Dallimer, K. N. Irvine, S. G. Aizlewood, G. E. Austen, R. D. Fish, P. M. King, Z. G. Davies
Summary: People depend on functioning ecosystems for essential services that support human health and well-being, making biodiversity loss a significant concern. Understanding the species and traits that contribute to well-being responses is a critical question. This study analyzes a database of species' effect traits and their impacts on various types of well-being.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nandini Karunamuni, Ikuyo Imayama, Dharshini Goonetilleke
Summary: This article introduces the updated theoretical model of the biopsychosocial (BPS) model: the BPS-Pathways model, which examines the interrelationships among biological, psychological, and social factors and their impact pathways on health and illness. By studying these pathways, explanations and understandings of subjective well-being and objective physical health outcomes can be provided.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Erica S. Spatz, Brita Roy, Carley Riley, Dan Witters, Jeph Herrin
Summary: This study found that higher levels of well-being were associated with lower cardiovascular disease mortality rates in the US, even after controlling for structural and population health factors. The results suggest that well-being may be an important focus for improving cardiovascular health.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matthew Jurjonas, Christopher A. May, Bradley Cardinale, Stephanie Kyriakakis, Douglas R. Pearsall, Patrick J. Doran
Summary: Traditionally, ecosystem restoration has focused on ecological indicators to determine success. However, there is growing interest in the impact of restoration on people and communities. Research has shown positive socio-ecological links between restoration and human well-being indicators. As a result, the United Nations has declared the "Decade of Ecosystem Restoration" and set goals to promote socio-ecological goals in restoration. Despite this, there is a lack of information on how restoration practitioners consider well-being, as many programs only require ecological goals. A case study of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative found that almost half of the projects set a human well-being goal, and the majority believed they reached it. These findings suggest that restoration may have unseen benefits for both people and nature, and it is recommended that restoration programs adopt a socio-ecological approach to document the full extent of their outcomes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chao Li, Shunsuke Managi
Summary: The study found that in Japan, urban land, water, and grassland are positively related to human well-being, while bare land is negatively associated. A 1 m2 increase in the area of urban land per capita in a city is equivalent to an about 346 USD increase in the individual annual income of all the people in the city.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chuan Liao, James T. Erbaugh, Allison C. Kelly, Arun Agrawal
Summary: This research systematically reviews household energy transitions in Lower and Middle Income Countries (L&MICs) and identifies factors such as education, income, asset holdings, and credit and subsidy programs associated with clean energy adoption. The adoption of clean energy likely facilitates a suite of socioeconomic benefits in L&MICs.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Domenic Romanello, Katharine E. T. Thompson, Cortni Borgerson, Jeanne Mathilde Randriamanetsy, Niaina Nirina Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa, Mamy Yves Andrianantenaina, Theofrico Alexander Razafindrahasy, Claire Surkis, Patricia C. Wright, Katheryn C. Twiss, Rebecca J. Lewis
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between poverty and lemur hunting and consumption in Madagascar. The results show high levels of poverty and widespread lemur hunting and consumption, but no significant relationship between the two. Future research should explore other contributing factors and test the effectiveness of livestock interventions near Kirindy Mitea National Park.
Article
Ecology
Joel Methorst, Katrin Rehdanz, Thomas Mueller, Bernd Hansjuergens, Aletta Bonn, Katrin Boehning-Gaese
Summary: This study found a positive correlation between bird species richness in Europe and life satisfaction, with a similar magnitude of influence as income. The study suggests that both direct multisensory experiences with birds and beneficial landscape properties may be pathways through which bird species richness influences human well-being. The results highlight the critical role of species diversity in promoting human well-being and suggest that management actions for the protection of birds and their habitats can benefit humans.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Eales, A. Bethel, T. Galloway, P. Hopkinson, K. Morrissey, R. E. Short, R. Garside
Summary: This review of reviews identifies various health risks associated with exposure to phthalates, including impacts on reproductive, neurological, and respiratory health. Recommendations for future research include considering exposure measures, confounders, and impacts on female reproductive systems.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eleanor J. Sterling, Amanda Sigouin, Erin Betley, Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, Jennifer N. Solomon, Kimberley Landrigan, Ana L. Porzecanski, Nora Bynum, Bailey Cadena, Samantha H. Cheng, Kaylin R. Clements, Ryan Finchum, Mallory Geresy, Andres Gomez, Martha Groom, Thirza A. C. Loffeld, Daniel C. Miller, Domoina Rakotobe, Madhu Rao, Ryan Roberts, Xoco Anna Shinbrot, Erin Willigan, Megan S. Jones
Summary: The study found that evaluation of capacity development interventions in conservation mainly focused on changes in knowledge, behavior, and attitude, with few studies assessing conservation outcomes. Only a minority of studies used a systems approach, and external factors influencing intervention efficacy were often overlooked.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Xoco A. Shinbrot, Kelly W. Jones, Jennifer Solomon, Miriam Ramos Escobedo
Summary: Citizen science has a positive impact on individual behavioral outcomes in the Global South, motivating volunteers to engage in activist behaviors. Understanding how to design and implement future citizen science projects is crucial for maximizing the benefits of participation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samantha H. Cheng, Sebastien Costedoat, Eleanor J. Sterling, Catherine Chamberlain, Arundhati Jagadish, Peter Lichtenthal, A. Justin Nowakowski, Auset Taylor, Jen Tinsman, Steven W. J. Canty, Margaret B. Holland, Kelly W. Jones, Morena Mills, David Morales-Hidalgo, Starry Sprenkle-Hyppolite, Meredith Wiggins, Michael B. Mascia, Carlos L. Munoz Brenes
Summary: Natural climate solutions (NCS), which involve conserving, restoring, and modifying ecosystems to increase carbon storage or avoid GHG emissions, are considered important for climate change mitigation. This study aims to map the current state and methods used in NCS interventions in tropical and sub-tropical terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting knowledge gaps.
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Andrew S. Pullin, Samantha H. Cheng, Josephine D'Urban Jackson, Jacqualyn Eales, Ida Envall, Salamatu J. Fada, Geoff K. Frampton, Meagan Harper, Andrew N. Kadykalo, Christian Kohl, Ko Konno, Barbara Livoreil, Dakis-Yaoba Ouedraogo, Bethan C. O'Leary, George Pullin, Nicola Randall, Rebecca Rees, Adrienne Smith, Romain Sordello, Eleanor J. Sterling, Will M. Twardek, Paul Woodcock
Summary: Accurate, unbiased and concise synthesis of available evidence is crucial for effective environmental policy and management decisions. However, most recently published evidence syntheses lack reliability and transparency, with only those following guidance and standards achieving higher assessment ratings. Improvement in evaluation criteria and reporting standards is needed to enhance the quality of environmental evidence syntheses.
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isobel Catherine Stanton, Alison Bethel, Anne Frances Clare Leonard, William Hugo Gaze, Ruth Garside
Summary: This study created two systematic maps summarizing the global transmission of antibiotic resistance from the natural environment to humans and the state of antibiotic resistance in the UK environment. The results showed that consumption/ingestion was the most studied transmission route and E. coli was the most highly studied bacterium. The research focus was mainly on aquatic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jo Thompson Coon, Noreen Orr, Liz Shaw, Harriet Hunt, Ruth Garside, Michael Nunns, Alke Groppel-Wegener, Becky Whear
Summary: This article describes the experience of using creative communication tools, discusses their advantages and challenges, and highlights the additional benefits of these methods within project processes.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geography
Theresa Selfa, Andres M. Urcuqui-Bustamante, Diana Cordoba, V. Sophie Avila-Foucat, Erin C. Pischke, Kelly W. Jones, Mariana Z. Nava-Lopez, David M. Torrez
Summary: This study examines how local actors in Veracruz, Mexico respond to and modify payment for hydrological services (PHS) programs, using an actor-oriented approach. It argues that situated knowledge about land uses and socioecological conditions, as well as norms of equity and fairness, play central roles in empowering social actors to alter and reshape PHS programs to better meet local conditions and needs.
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kathryn A. Powlen, Jonathan Salerno, Kelly W. Jones, Michael C. Gavin
Summary: Protected areas (PAs) are effective in confronting forest conversion and biodiversity loss. However, conventional modeling assumptions limit the understanding of the drivers of deforestation. This study used random forest regression to identify the strongest predictors of deforestation in PAs in Mexico, considering nonlinear relationships and higher order interactions. Socioeconomic drivers and biophysical conditions were found to be stronger predictors of forest loss than PA characteristics. The results can guide the allocation of PA resources and help protect vulnerable biodiversity areas.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Development Studies
Bethlehem A. Abebe, Kelly W. Jones
Summary: The study found slightly negative perceptions of all three dimensions of equity across all communities. Women and poorer households had more negative perceptions of distributive equity. Social capital impacted all three dimensions of equity, with the largest impact on procedural and recognition equity. Finally, communities with power-sharing mechanisms in a CBC model had higher perceived equity.
SOCIETY & NATURAL RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
James L. Chamberlain, Kelly W. Jones
Summary: This study used public participatory GIS methods to measure ecosystem service values and overlay them with maps of wildfire hazard. The findings showed that regulating ecosystem services, such as water quality, biodiversity/habitat, and air quality, along with recreation and aesthetics, were highly valued. These values overlapped significantly with wildfire hazard, suggesting that this non-monetary mapping approach could provide a more participatory method for incorporating people's preferences into wildfire risk mitigation decisions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kathryn. A. A. Powlen, Kelly. W. W. Jones, Elva Ivonne Bustamante Moreno, Maira Abigail Ortiz Cordero, Jennifer. N. N. Solomon, Michael. C. C. Gavin
Summary: Protected areas have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and other unforeseen events, leading to significant changes in management capacity, monitoring, tourism, and an increase in non-compliant activities. The study emphasizes the importance of short-term relief plans to support vulnerable communities dependent on tourism, as well as increasing access to technology and technical capacity for better management during future crises.
Article
Economics
Kelly W. Jones, Sergio M. Lopez-Ramirez, Robert H. Manson, V. Sophie Avila-Foucat
Summary: Payments for watershed services (PWS) programs have been implemented in Mexico to protect and restore ecosystems and watershed services. Factors such as forest conservation opportunity costs, wealth, institutional capacity, collective land tenure, and presence of non-state actors influence the emergence and persistence of user-financed PWS programs. Municipalities with lower opportunity costs of forest conservation, higher wealth and institutional capacity, and involvement of non-governmental organizations or water utilities are more likely to have successful PWS programs.
WATER RESOURCES AND ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samantha H. Cheng, Sebastien Costedoat, Amanda Sigouin, Gabriel F. Calistro, Catherine J. Chamberlain, Peter Lichtenthal, Morena Mills, A. Justin Nowakowski, Eleanor J. Sterling, Jen Tinsman, Meredith Wiggins, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Steven W. J. Canty, Allison Fritts-Penniman, Arundhati Jagadish, Kelly Jones, Michael B. Mascia, Ana Porzecanski, Chris Zganjar, Carlos L. Munoz Brenes
Summary: The systematic map assesses the evidence base on the links between nature-based interventions (NbIs) and climate change mitigation, social, and ecological outcomes in tropical and subtropical regions. 948 articles were included in the map, and the majority of the evidence examined the links between protection, natural resource management, and restoration interventions with changes to land condition, land cover, and/or land use as proxy outcomes for climate change mitigation. However, there was a knowledge gap in measuring changes in GHG emissions across all intervention types, and the evidence base often lacked studies with causal linkages and appropriate experimental designs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelly W. Jones, Julie Padowski, Melinda Morgan, Jaishri Srinivasan
Summary: Expanding climate-adaptation in wildfire-prone watersheds requires innovative partnerships and funding. Water utilities have a role to play in this effort, but their engagement in wildfire mitigation is currently limited. Providing more wildfire risk assessments and collaborating with water utilities operating on federal lands can increase their involvement in wildfire mitigation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)