Search results for " sustainable management"

Where are we now with global forest regulation and governance? Insights from a 'Global Public Goods' Perspective

2016

Even if an encouraging tendency has recently been observed towards a reduction in the rates of global deforestation, the extent and quality of forests continue to decline in many regions of the world, with alarming consequences on the functioning of global hydrological cycles, the conservation of the world's biological diversity, and the fight against climate change. Against this background, the aim of the present article is to investigate the weaknesses of, and the areas for improvement in, the current framework of global forest governance, through an analysis conducted using the lens of the concept of «global public goods» as transposed into, and shaped by, two competing theoretical appro…

ECOSYSTEM MODELING FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

2015

Setting new coordinates in modeling in order to ensure sustainable development in the context of the Europe 2020 strategy requirements / Horizon 2020 is a priority for protecting natural resources. The current challenges are in identifying the key aspects of IT processes, economic and ecosystem problems to ensure sustainable development. The main objectives are: a. understanding that creation and dissemination of complex system are the basic factors of economic growth; b. modeling ecosystem should take into account a strategy based on memetic engineering, bounded rationality and "Just in time" decisions. Among the conclusions: a. ecosystem modeling should take into account a strategy that s…

Antiviral capacity of sanitizers against infectious viruses in process water from the produce industry under batch and continuous conditions

2023

The presence of human enteric viruses in produce has extensively been reported. However, the significance of the quality of process water (PW) used by the produce industry and the viral inactivation capacity of water disinfection agents used to maintain the microbiological quality of PW has received limited attention. This study evaluates the antiviral disinfection efficacy of chlorine, chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and peracetic acid (PAA) at recommended operational limits in PW using hepatitis A virus (HAV), the cultivable norovirus surrogate, murine norovirus (MNV-1), and MS2 coliphages. Defined commodity representative crops (baby leaves, bell peppers, and the vegetable mix of tomatoes, cucum…

Sustainability and tourist flow networks: a mean field bi-level optimization approach

The widespread acknowledgement of tourism as a strategic pillar for economic growth and development has boosted competitiveness among tourist destinations. This concept has been greatly emphasized during the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Nevertheless, the massive presence of tourists imposes the challenge of adopting sustainable tourism practices to balance economic prosperity opportunities with potential threats to the environment and local communities. There are many definitions for sustainability, but the most effective one is ``the capacity to endure'' [Emel et al, 1997]: from an economic perspective this leads to find an equilibrium between short and long-term objectives so that to…

Complexity Theory for a New Managerial Paradigm: A Research Framework

2015

In this work, we supply a theoretical framework of how organizations can embed complexity management and sustainable development into their policies and actions. The proposed framework may lead to a new management paradigm, attempting to link the main concepts of complexity theory, change management, knowledge management, sustainable development, and cybernetics. We highlight how the processes of organizational change have occurred as a result of the move to adapt to the changes in the various global and international business environments and how this transformation has led to the shift toward the present innovation economy. We also point how organizational change needs to deal with sustai…

Il progetto ECONET-COHAST: Strategie per la conservazione degli habitat costieri di Torre Manfria (Sicilia merid.)

2007

The coexistence of several lithological substrata, together with particular geomorphologic and climatic features, are determining the exceptional floristic and faunistic interest of the coastal trait between Gela and Torre Manfria. In order to preserve and enhance coastal habitats, such area has been chosen as case-study in the Interreg project ECONET-COHAST, which involves six partners from four EU countries (Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta). In this paper, the main features of the area are described and the approach followed in order to implement conservation strategies accounting for the local development exigencies is illustrated. © Società Italiana di Scienza della Vegetazione.

Sustainable Weed, Disease and Pest Management in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

2015

As for all other crops, in MAPs as well, weeds, diseases and pests are important yield-reducing factors, which may severely curtain biomass production and, that is maybe more important, may affect several qualitative aspects of production. Research about this topic is generally lacking, for two main reasons: the first is that MAPs are generally grown on rather limited areas, and the incidence of specific pests and diseases rarely takes a relevance outside rather narrow boundaries. The second reason is that the economical importance of MAPs is much lower than that ascribed to the “major” crops, which the bigger efforts of research are addressed to. In the changing scenario of latter years, h…

Can the certification of cork management agroforestry system in Sicily help to relaunch its future management?

2019

The economic importance of cork oak forests is mainly attributable to the role of provisioning non-timber forest products. The history of human management of these cork oaks stands make them a perfect example of agroforestry system, which surface is totally included in the Mediterranean-climate zones with more than 2.3 million hectares. In Sicily, the surface covered by cork forests amounts to about 15,000 ha but the most of this area is not affected by cultural practices. The cultural abandonment of many cork oak stands threatens their survival because of the close link between the conservation of cork stands and its use for productive purposes. The abandonment reasons are related to poor …

Vertisols and cambisols had contrasting short term greenhouse gas responses to crop residue management

2020

In sustainable agriculture crop residues management should consider the interactions between soil and residue properties, which can affect the decomposition and global greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission. Through a laboratory experiment, we investigated the effect of the management (incorporation and surface placement) of wheat and faba bean residues on their decomposition and CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from two soils, a Chromic Vertisol and an Eutric Cambisol. In the Vertisol, wheat residues increased the CO2 emission more than faba bean when left on the surface whereas no differences among residues were observed when incorporated. In the Cambisol, faba bean emitted more than wheat when left …

Agricultural advances

2013

CT3 ; Département E.A. ; SOFIA; Agricultural advances