How would big data support societal development and environmental sustainability? Insights and practices

The theme of this Special Volume (SV) focuses on improving natural resource management and human health to ensure sustainable societal development. Natural resources have been exploited unduly regardless of the consequences, which has resulted in inappropriate management natural resources and has caused severe environmental degradation. Contributions in this SV addressed improved environmental management, utilization, and allocation of natural resources; evaluation of sustainable natural resource management; pollution prevention and treatment; and evaluation and suggestions for improved natural resource-related policies. The authors presented an inspiring panorama of the initiatives that have been developed throughout the world for sustainable natural resource management and improve societal development. Theoretically, new approaches to bridge the gaps between the economic development and environmental protection were increasingly dominant. Empirically, many of the papers provided case studies of regions in China and other regions. The authorship reflected growing collaboration between researchers from many different countries or universities. While the great diversity of contributions on the topic reflected the wealth of insights generated on the topic in recent years, there is much more that must be done to achieve societal sustainability in natural resource management. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.