Article
Ecology
C. Dionisio Perez-Blanco, Francesco Sapino, Pablo Saiz-Santiago
Summary: In water buyback programs, a public institution buys water from willing sellers at low prices and sells a fraction of it at high prices, using the excess reacquired water for environmental restoration. A price discrimination water bank is proposed, where the public institution leverages its market position to match the reserve price of every buyer or seller, thus transforming the consumer and producer surpluses into public revenues without negatively impacting economic efficiency. The performance of this water bank is illustrated using an ensemble model applied to the Upper Douro sub-basin, showing lower cost and higher productive surplus compared to a conventional water bank.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Rafael G. Ramos, Marluce da Cruz Scarabello, Wanderson Costa, Pedro R. Andrade, Aline Soterroni, Fernando M. Ramos
Summary: This paper proposes a downscaling method for land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) models, using a mathematical programming approach to disaggregate multi-layered land-use change projections while respecting a range of constraints. The method is calibrated and validated with MapBiomas data and successfully predicts land-use at a finer resolution. It is also applied to future projections for 2050. This paper advances the state-of-the-art in LULCC modeling by introducing a mathematical programming approach with spatial effects, allowing flexibility in the number and type of layers and constraints.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Management
Daniel Gartner, Joe Viana, Bahman Rostami Tabar, Dominik Pforringer, Gunther Edenharter
Summary: This article investigates a real problem in hospitals and proposes a mathematical model and decision support tool to optimize material resource planning, reducing costs and ensuring the safety of hospital services. The results show that using reusable devices can contain operational costs and provide prediction and decision support capabilities.
JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONAL RESEARCH SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Lingyue Li, Zhixin Qi, Shi Xian, Dong Yao
Summary: Agricultural land resources are crucial for food and agricultural sustainability in China, but strict land use control does not prevent erosion by urban sprawl. Research on agricultural land conversion in Chongqing shows that the conversion is mainly concentrated in the main city area and its surroundings, with a more even spatial distribution at the county/district scale compared to the town/village scale. The study highlights the need for tangible approaches for a sustainable rural-urban transformation.
Article
Environmental Studies
Christina Moulogianni, Thomas Bournaris
Summary: The study examines the impacts of RDP measures on the sustainability of agricultural holdings, finding positive economic effects but negative social and environmental impacts. The results highlight the significant role of impact assessment in aiding policymakers' understanding of their policies' effects.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tianran Ding, Bernhard Steubing, Wouter M. J. Achten
Summary: The territorial life cycle assessment framework is used to assess the environmental impacts and services of land-use planning scenarios. The framework is combined with multi-objective optimization (MOO) to automatically generate optimal planning scenarios, considering trade-offs among objectives and constraints. Geographic Information System (GIS) is used for spatial assessment. An illustrative case study in Belgium tests the integrated method's ability to propose optimal land-use planning for bioenergy production. The study reveals competition of land uses, trade-offs among impact categories, and potential impacts on other territories. The integrated tool has the potential to assist policymakers in decision-making for sustainable land use.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tianran Ding, Wouter M. J. Achten
Summary: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is commonly used to assess large-scale systems for policymaking. However, most studies focus on static evaluation and overlook the dynamic nature of policy implementation. This study develops a dynamic territorial LCA approach by combining agent-based modeling (ABM) and territorial LCA. A case study in the Wallonia region of Belgium is conducted to demonstrate the framework, using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to assess site-specific environmental impacts. The results highlight the importance of considering spatial and temporal dynamics in land-use planning.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Nyi-Nyi Htun, Diego Rojo, Jeroen Ooge, Robin De Croon, Aikaterini Kasimati, Katrien Verbert
Summary: Decision support systems (DSSs) in agriculture are gaining popularity, but there are limitations in their design and evaluation. To address these gaps, we developed web-based DSSs and evaluated them with domain experts, achieving positive results.
Article
Environmental Studies
Hui Xiang, Yinhua Ma, Rongrong Zhang, Hongji Chen, Qingyuan Yang
Summary: The study focuses on the agricultural land use in Xiangxi, utilizing various indicators and models to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution trends and future scenarios. The results show a decrease in agricultural land, particularly in the south regions. It is recommended to strengthen the scientific management and rational utilization of agricultural land for sustainable development.
Article
Agronomy
Shuping Wang, Qian Tan, Tianyuan Zhang, Tong Zhang
Summary: This study developed an interval credibility-constrained positive mathematical programming (ICPMP) method for simulating the impacts of water management policies. It improved upon traditional methods by incorporating uncertain information and reproducing actual situations. The ICPMP method was applied to an agricultural water management problem in northwestern China. Results showed that it generated more reliable results and provided in-depth analysis of trade-offs between violation risk and system benefits.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Athanasios Petsakos, Stelios Rozakis
Summary: This article discusses the calibration of risk programming models using Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP) and provides criticism on a recent study, highlighting the limitations and issues with the comparison design and emphasizing the need for advancements in PMP for policy analysis.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Rilong Fei, Ziyi Lin, Joseph Chunga
Summary: The study indicates that China's agricultural land efficiency is generally low, with a decreasing trend from east to central and west. Provinces that engage in land transfer have higher land use efficiency, highlighting the severity of land tension in China. Furthermore, land transfer may lead to a decrease in income for agricultural workers, sacrificing the interests of agricultural operators.
Article
Environmental Studies
Giacomo Ravaioli, Tiago Domingos, Ricardo F. M. Teixeira
Summary: Agent-based models (ABMs) are not widely used by policymakers for simulating the behaviour of agricultural agents in response to land use (LU) policy. LU ABMs mainly rely on pre-defined behavioural rules at the individual farmers' level and prioritize explanatory purposes over predictive purposes. We propose a framework to develop data-driven ABMs for agricultural LU by integrating machine learning (ML) algorithms to learn agents' behavioural rules from data, which can provide novel insights and improve the ability of ABMs to predict policy outcomes at the micro-level.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Min Zhou, Yuxiang Ma, Jiating Tu, Mengcheng Wang
Summary: With the improvement of urbanization and the expansion of cities, the problems of unreasonable land development and utilization become more prominent, posing risks to the ecological environment. By combining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with urban land use, this study utilizes mathematical and spatial simulation models to optimize future land-use demands and expansion scenarios. The results provide guidance for sustainable urban development.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Ali Akbar Barati, Hossein Azadi, Juergen Scheffran
Summary: Agricultural land fragmentation is a major challenge for developing countries like Iran, impacting agricultural production, food security, and more. In Iran, the issue involves farmers and the government, and a strategic game model based on players' preferences can be used to evaluate decision-making. The study reveals that farmers tend to fragment land despite it not being their dominant strategy, highlighting the need for tailored strategies based on various factors.
Article
Forestry
Dagm Abate, Jose G. Borges, Susete Marques, Vladimir Bushenkov
Summary: The conversion of fertile croplands to Eucalyptus woodlots in Ethiopian highlands raises concerns related to food production, water resources, carbon and other ecosystem services. This study analyzes the tradeoffs between economic gains from harvesting Eucalyptus timber and food production, carbon and water use, and provides alternative optimal Pareto-front points for decision makers.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mengistie Kindu, Trang Le Ngoc Mai, Logan Robert Bingham, Jose G. Borges, Jens Abildtrup, Thomas Knoke
Summary: This paper reviews the latest scientific knowledge on auctioning approaches for ecosystem services (ES). The results show that most academic work focuses on reverse auctions, but there are also forward and mixed mechanisms. The authors critically analyze the advantages and challenges for each approach and emphasize the importance of addressing transaction costs and accessibility for participants and agencies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ivanete Daga Cielo, Marcia Carla Pereira Ribeiro, Weimar Freire da Rocha Junior, Rui Manuel de Sousa Fragoso, Carla Maria Schmidt
Summary: The growth of Brazilian agribusiness has sparked interest in researching the repurposing of agricultural waste and reducing its negative environmental impacts. This study analyzes the governance structure for bioenergy generation through swine farming waste in business models implemented in the Western Region of Parana, Brazil. The findings show the evolution of business models, changes in governance structure, and improvements in contractual models. It is inferred that the sector needs to establish an institutional setting to mitigate legal insecurities and uncertainties.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Antonio A. C. Vieira, Jose Rui Figueira, Rui Fragoso
Summary: Sustainable Supply Chain Network Design (SCND) is a complex challenge that requires trade-offs and integration of risk management. This study proposes a Simulation-Based Decision Support System (SBDSS) and analyzes different wine Supply Chain (SC) configurations under risk and sustainability objectives. The results show that the proposed method provides a set of Pareto-front solutions considering sustainability and risk.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tesfay Gidey, Emiru Birhane, Ashenafi Manaye, Hailemariam Kassa, Tesfay Atsbha, Negasi Solomon, Hadgu Hishe, Aklilu Negussie, Petr Madera, Jose G. Borges
Summary: This study used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model to prioritize criteria and alternative strategies for the conservation of the globally endangered Dracaena ombet. Stakeholders in the Desa'a dry Afromontane forest were involved in the study. The study identified the minimum cut-off strategy as the best alternative strategy for sustainable conservation, with the ecological criterion being deemed the most essential factor.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Flavio Ferraz Vieira, Manuela Oliveira, Marco Aurelio Sanfins, Eugenio Garcao, Hariprasad Dasari, Venkata Dodla, G. C. Satyanarayana, Joaquim Costa, Jose G. Borges
Summary: Extreme temperatures have a direct impact on extreme atmospheric events and can be addressed by estimating and anticipating maximum temperature occurrences. This research focuses on analyzing maximum temperature trends in 543 microregions in India between 1951 and 2020. The results show that 27% of microregions experienced maximum temperatures above 45°C in at least one year, and 80% of microregions had maximum temperatures above 40°C. The model developed predicts that in 20 years, at least one occurrence of maximum temperature above 45°C would happen in 15.83% of microregions, increasing to 21.54% in 50 years.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Patrick Huber, Mikko Kurttila, Teppo Hujala, Bernhard Wolfslehner, Mariola Sanchez-Gonzalez, Maria Pasalodos-Tato, Sergio de-Miguel, Jose Antonio Bonet, Marlene Marques, Jose G. Borges, Cristian Mihai Enescu, Lucian Dinca, Harald Vacik
Summary: The forest-based sector plays a significant role in supporting Europe's transition to a more integrated and bio-based circular economy. Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have great potential to diversify the forest bioeconomy, providing additional income and ecological benefits. However, there is a lack of attention and knowledge regarding the socio-economic relevance of NWFPs, which hinders forest-based decision making. This study investigates the future potential of 38 NWFPs through multi-criteria analysis and highlights the opportunities for forest owners to focus on the joint production of wood and non-wood resources.
Article
Agronomy
Thyago Brito, Rui Fragoso, Leovigildo Santos, Jose Antonio Martins, Anabela Afonso Fernandes Silva, Jose Aranha
Summary: Brazil has become the world's largest soybean producer and exporter, and the state of Para has emerged as a new agricultural frontier. This research aims to measure the environmental effects of the soybean supply chain in two production poles in the state of Para, Brazil. It also determines the most efficient route for transportation.
Article
Environmental Studies
Ana Trigo, Ana Marta-Costa, Rui Fragoso
Summary: Assessment tools are important for supporting the transition towards sustainability, but there is a lack of tools specifically designed for evaluating winegrowing systems. This study aims to identify suitable tools for winegrowing and found seven instruments, including one specifically developed for viticulture and two for vineyard management practices.
Article
Business
Rui Fragoso, Vanessa Scazziota, Luiz Guerrazzi, Rui Quaresma, Jorge Casas Novas
Summary: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of motivating and contextual factors on the relationship between innovation ambidexterity and firm performance. The results indicate a positive relationship between ambidexterity and firm performance, and this relationship is moderated by motivating factors, number of co-owners, and normative and cognitive institutions. The findings offer important insights for promoting entrepreneurial education and contribute to the existing theory by exploring the role of individual and contextual factors in the relationship between ambidexterity and firm performance.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Michel T. Q. M. Assis, Markus Tuempel, Maria Raquel Lucas, Maria Jose M. Rainho
Summary: During a qualitative research on trust, informality spontaneously emerged as a theme in most interviews in a mariculture chain in southern Brazil. The presence of informality is still quite prevalent worldwide, especially in emerging and developing countries, and this was confirmed in the studied supply chain. Factors such as family labor, low educational level of entrepreneurs, lack of adequate supervision, and cultural aspects contribute to the persistence of informality. The situation of informality is hindering the development and sustainability of the local supply chain.
Article
Environmental Studies
Goran Krsnik, Sonia Reyes-Paecke, Keith M. Reynolds, Jordi Garcia-Gonzalo, Jose Ramon Gonzalez Olabarria
Summary: This study evaluated alternative methods for comparing the provision of ecosystem services in urban areas, highlighting the impact of the chosen method on the ability to compare outcomes. The aim is to improve management actions in urban green areas, reduce environmental inequality, and ensure satisfactory human well-being.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Goran Krsnik, Keith M. Reynolds, Philip Murphy, Steve Paplanus, Jordi Garcia-Gonzalo, Jose Ramon Gonzalez Olabarria
Summary: Managing forest lands using a multi-functional approach is essential for maintaining or improving specific benefits while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. This study assesses the provision of multiple forest ecosystem services and uses a decision model to identify the most suitable forest use for each stand in Catalonia. The results highlight the importance of considering social, protective, and productive uses in developing management strategies.
GEOGRAPHY AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Abdulelah Altamimi, Constantino Lagoa, Jose G. Borges, Marc E. McDill, C. P. Andriotis, K. G. Papakonstantinou
Summary: This paper proposes a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) approach for forest management, aiming to track the dynamics of large-scale forests and prevent/mitigate wildfire risks. By designing a spatial Markov Decision Process (MDP) model and using off-policy actor-critic with experience replay, the approach shows good scalability for providing forest management plans. It outperforms a genetic algorithm (GA) and achieves identical results as the exact MDP solution for low dimensional models.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Rui Fragoso, Antonio A. C. Vieira
Summary: Wine is an integral part of the economy and culture of many countries, but there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the efficiency of wine companies in Portugal, one of the main wine producers. This study evaluates the efficiency of wine companies using a four-step approach and suggests specific measures to improve efficiency.
RESULTS IN ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Economics
Sara Lorenzini, Nadia von Jacobi
Summary: This paper fills the gap in the literature on polycentric governance by focusing on the micro-processes of conflict that precede its establishment. Through a comparative analysis of four case studies, the authors find that conflict can lead to negotiations and the eventual establishment of common procedural rules, which can sustain polycentric governance.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Hubert Palus, Lenka Marcinekova, Jaroslav Salka
Summary: The complexity and comprehensiveness of sustainability issues in forest certification schemes require knowledge based and transparent decision-making processes, which involve open and multi-stakeholder participation. This study examines the latest PEFC national sustainable forest management standard revision process in Slovakia from the viewpoint of stakeholder participation. The results highlight the importance of stakeholder understanding, trust, and satisfaction in the effectiveness of the revision process.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Nicholas Palaschuk, Jason Gauthier, Ryan Bullock
Summary: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are important for the spiritual and cultural identity of Indigenous communities, but current forest policies in Canada do not adequately protect these resources. This research used a participatory approach and community interviews to document local criteria, elements, and values related to NTFP development and conservation. The resulting framework can guide decision making and promote socio-economic benefits for the Missanabie Cree First Nation.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Laila Berning, Metodi Sotirov
Summary: This paper analyzes the coalition politics driven by beliefs and interests in the new European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). The study identifies pro-regulation and contra-regulation coalitions and highlights the strategic alliance formed between pro-EUDR business actors and other pro-coalitions. Despite opposition from a weaker contra-regulation coalition, the EUDR was ultimately institutionalized as a compromise solution accommodating different beliefs and interests of state and non-state actors.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Mehwish Zuberi, Michael Spies, Jonas o. Nielsen
Summary: Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in agrarian value chains in the Global South, but they are often neglected in technology-oriented agricultural interventions. However, they face challenges such as lack of resources, established crop rotation patterns, and market and climatic factors.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
James Chamberlain, Carsten Smith-Hall
Summary: More countries are adopting novel approaches to transition to a forest-based bioeconomy, which can address global challenges such as sustainable forest management, poverty alleviation, and climate change mitigation. Utilizing non-timber forest products is crucial for the realization of a forest-based bioeconomy.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Keith Barney
Summary: The social impacts of industrial wood plantations in Southeast Asia, specifically in Laos, are debated. This study finds that under certain conditions, these plantations can positively contribute to local livelihoods, but there are still issues of land dispossession and inadequate compensation.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
