1
|
Sparacino H, Stepenuck KF, Hurley SE. Understanding reduced salt practices used by commercial snow removal businesses in the Lake Champlain Basin: A mixed methods analysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119957. [PMID: 38171133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Holden Sparacino
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources - University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Dr, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
| | - Kristine F Stepenuck
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Dr, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
| | - Stephanie E Hurley
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences - University of Vermont, 221 Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Dr., Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Robson BJ, Lewis S, Kroon F, Fabricius K, Warne M, Wolanski E. Jon Brodie Memorial: The sources, fates and consequences of pollutants in tropical shelf systems. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 179:113669. [PMID: 35468473 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Robson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Australia.
| | - Stephen Lewis
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Eric Wolanski
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sediment Prediction in the Great Barrier Reef using Vision Transformer with finite element analysis. Neural Netw 2022; 152:311-321. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2022.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
4
|
Renwick A, Dynes R, Johnstone P, King W, Holt L, Penelope J. Balancing the push and pull factors of land-use change: a New Zealand case study. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE 2022; 22:17. [PMID: 35125959 PMCID: PMC8802747 DOI: 10.1007/s10113-021-01865-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED New Zealand is increasingly facing environmental and social challenges associated with its current land-use choices. There is therefore a drive to find ways to continue to add value to its primary sectors, which are of significant economic value to the country whilst at the same time mitigating the externalities associated with the use of land in primary production. Next-generation systems (NGS) are identified as potentially being able to address these challenges. Through the application of a multi-criteria decision making tool, this paper identifies the factors that are important to individual land managers in terms of choice of land-use and how these factors may act as barriers or facilitators of change. By examining land-use change as a combination of push and pull factors between alternative systems, this paper highlights the complex and context specific nature of decision-making at the individual land-manager level and the importance of risk perceptions. It argues that simply pushing land managers away from land-uses that have "undesirable" characteristics through regulation is unlikely to lead to a sustainable transition without the existence of viable alternatives. There is a need to balance increasing the risk of current land-uses whilst at the same time reducing the risk of transitioning to next-generation systems. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10113-021-01865-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Renwick
- Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | - Jemma Penelope
- Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Eberhard R, Coggan A, Jarvis D, Hamman E, Taylor B, Baresi U, Vella K, Dean AJ, Deane F, Helmstedt K, Mayfield H. Understanding the effectiveness of policy instruments to encourage adoption of farming practices to improve water quality for the Great Barrier Reef. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112793. [PMID: 34385021 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Governments in Australia and internationally are experimenting with policy instruments to facilitate the adoption of farming practices with reduced environmental impacts. The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) is one such case, where sustained efforts over 20 years have yielded insufficient progress towards targets to reduce the impacts of agriculture on water quality in downstream marine ecosystems. We present a critical review of policy instruments as implemented in Great Barrier Reef catchments. We catalogue the evolving mix of policy instruments employed in reef programs, and examine evidence of the effectiveness of agricultural extension, financial incentives, and direct regulation of farming practices. There is little robust evidence to assess instrument effectiveness, in part due to the evolving mix of the instruments employed, weak program evaluation and heterogeneity of agricultural enterprises. We identify the need to improve the understanding of instrument fit to landholders and enterprises. We recommend a modelling approach to clarify pathways to impact and guide improved policy evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Eberhard
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
| | - Anthea Coggan
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Diane Jarvis
- College of Business, Law and Governance, James Cook University, Australia
| | - Evan Hamman
- School of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Bruce Taylor
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Umberto Baresi
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Karen Vella
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Angela J Dean
- Centre for the Environment, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Felicity Deane
- School of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Kate Helmstedt
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Helen Mayfield
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Biggs JS, Everingham Y, Skocaj DM, Schroeder BL, Sexton J, Thorburn PJ. The potential for refining nitrogen fertiliser management through accounting for climate impacts: An exploratory study for the Tully region. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 170:112664. [PMID: 34217051 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the precision of nitrogen (N) fertiliser management in cropping systems is integral to increasing the environmental and economic sustainability of cropping. In a simulation study, we found that natural variability in year-to-year climate had a major effect on optimum N fertiliser rates for sugarcane in the Tully region of north-eastern Australia, where N discharges pose high risks to Great Barrier Reef ecosystems. There were interactions between climate and other factors affecting crop growth that made optimum N rates field-specific. The regional average optimum N fertiliser rate was substantially lower than current industry guidelines. Likewise, simulated N losses to the environment at optimum N fertiliser rates were substantially lower than the simulated losses at current industry fertiliser guidelines. Dissolved N discharged from rivers is related to fertiliser applications. If the reductions in N applications identified in the study occurred in the Tully region, the reduction in dissolved N discharges from rivers in the region would almost meet current water quality improvement targets. Whilst there were many assumptions made in this exploratory study, and there are many steps between the study and a practically implemented dynamic N fertiliser recommendation system, the potential environmental benefits justify field validation and further development of the concepts identified in the study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J S Biggs
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia.
| | - Y Everingham
- Centre for Tropical Environmental & Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - D M Skocaj
- Sugar Research Australia Limited, PO Box 566, Tully 4854, Australia
| | - B L Schroeder
- University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia
| | - J Sexton
- Centre for Tropical Environmental & Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - P J Thorburn
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Davis AM, Webster AJ, Fitch P, Fielke S, Taylor BM, Morris S, Thorburn PJ. The changing face of science communication, technology, extension and improved decision-making at the farm-water quality interface. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 169:112534. [PMID: 34225212 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, significant advances have been made in understanding the generation, fates and consequences of water quality pollutants in the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. However, skepticism and lack of trust in water quality science by farming stakeholders has emerged as a significant challenge. The ongoing failures of both compulsory and particularly voluntary practices to improve land management and reduce diffuse agricultural pollution from the Great Barrier Reef catchment underlines the need for more effective communication of water quality issues at appropriate decision-making scales to landholders. Using recent Great Barrier Reef catchment experiences as examples, we highlight several emerging themes and opportunities in using technology to better communicate land use-water quality impacts and delivery of actionable knowledge to farmers, specifically supporting decision-making, behavior change, and the spatial identification of nutrient generation 'hotspots' in intensive agriculture catchments. We also make recommendations for co-designed monitoring-extension platforms involving farmers, governments, researchers, and related agencies, to cut across stakeholder skepticism, and achieve desired water quality and ecosystem outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Davis
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|