https://www.iraneiat.ir/ Environment and Development en daily 1 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238689.html Sustainability in development -particularly in natural resource and rangeland management- covers ecological, economic, social, and cultural dimensions. This study evaluates the sustainability status of summer rangelands in Fars Province, Iran. A set of four main indicators of rangeland sustainability were identified through a literature review and expert interviews: (1) Climate and Hydrology (H), (2) Plant Production (P), (3) Soil (S), and (4) Human (A). A structured questionnaire was developed and tested. Its validity was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was supported by a Cronbach’s alpha value above 0.7. Field data were collected in the Kham-Namdan summer rangeland of Eqlid County, a representative area of summer rangelands in Fars Province. Respondents included specialists, managers, and local stakeholders familiar with the environmental and socio-economic context. Data were analyzed using Boolean logic and Microsoft Excel software. Results showed that the Kham-Namdan rangeland is currently in an unsustainable condition. The human indicator, especially the economic sub-indicator, had the strongest effect on overall sustainability and was identified as a major pressure on the ecosystem. This study proposes a practical framework with four main indicators and 27 operational sub-indicators. The framework can support continuous monitoring, evaluation, and planning for sustainable rangeland management in Fars Province. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238695.html Geotourism is a form of tourism that causes the geographical growth and stability of the region, its environment, culture, historical and aesthetic heritage, and also improves the lives of the residents of that region. The development of rural geotourism as a new branch of rural tourism is a strategy for popularizing earth sciences, rural geotourism seeks to revive cultural components and integrate them with geological attractions. The purpose of this research is to identify the geotourism capacities of the border villages in the northern regions of Ardabil using Kobalikova and Fiolet models. For this purpose, three geo-tourist villages including Ultan village, Barzandgarmi Castle, and Ajirlo were selected. The results of Kubalikova model showed that according to the experts, Ajirlu village got the highest score with (3.79) and Barzandgarmi Castle village got the lowest score with (3.03). Also, according to the experts, Oltan village got the highest score (10.61) and Ajirlo village got the lowest score (7.59) in the Violet model. Therefore, it is concluded that based on the evaluation models, Ultan and Ajirlu region have high geotourism potentials to identify the regions. Finally, it is suggested to use new and updated software as well as artificial intelligence for the development of the region in future studies. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_235018.html In the contemporary world, environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources have garnered unprecedented attention, presenting significant challenges to societies. This study aims to investigate the impact of environmental leadership on environmental behaviors through the mediating roles of green culture, environmental management, and strategic social responsibility within knowledge-based companies at Mashhad Science and Technology Park.The research population consisted of 500 employees from these companies. Using Morgan's table and a convenience sampling method, a sample of 217 participants was selected. The data collection instrument was Fan and Chong's (2023) standard 52-item questionnaire. Content validity was confirmed by expert approval, while construct validity was assessed through convergent and discriminant validity. Reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability, both exceeding the 0.7 threshold. Data were analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM) with PLS3 software.The results demonstrated that environmental leadership has a positive and significant effect on the environmental and financial behaviors of employees, mediated by green culture, environmental management, and strategic social responsibility. Additionally, the direct impacts of environmental leadership and environmental behavior on financial behavior were also confirmed to be significant. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238700.html Content analysis is a valuable method for uncovering diverse research perspectives and identifying gaps within a specific field of knowledge. This qualitative study employs a grounded theory approach, following the methodology of Strauss and Corbin (1990), to synthesize existing research on the sustainable development of the Urmia Lake watershed. A purposeful sampling strategy, informed by the work of Sandelowski and Barroso (2007) on qualitative research synthesis, was used to select literature. The final analysis is framed using Pierre Bourdoeu's sociological theory.Data were collected through a systematic literature search of the Magiran database, using relevant keywords. The analysis reveals that a primary driver in the literature is authors' concern over environmental challenges in the watershed, which functions as a form of symbolic capital. Within this context, sustainable development emerges as the central category of action. This central category is influenced by two main factors: on one hand, a scientology field where technology is positioned as social capital, and on the other hand, an expertise field where scientism functions as economic capital. These conditions motivate authors to propose specific strategies to achieve desired outcomes.In essence, the authors' core motivation is rooted in their cultural capital. Through publication, they convert a portion of this specifically, their embodied cultural capital—into institutional cultural capital. The anticipated outcome of this process is the subsequent transformation of this institutional capital into symbolic capital, enhancing their standing and influence within the academic and environmental fields.    https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238702.html Today, due to the lack of suitable structural models for enhancing productivity and occupant comfort through the optimal use of climatic factors in buildings, many climatically inappropriate and sometimes contradictory models are being used in construction. The present research seeks architectural points related to the use of hot and dry climatic factors in the traditional design of the Boroujerdiha House in Kashan. In this context, the study aims to identify specific design strategies that consider natural energy sources. Consequently, a descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, utilizing planimetric description tables to present the climatic features as well as the traditional design of the Boroujerdiha House. This research was conducted on three sections of the house: the summer residence, the winter residence, and the courtyard (central area). The traditional design solutions and their application in the Boroujerdiha House in Kashan outline strategies for environmentally friendly architectural design. The obtained results indicated that climatic factors such as topography, the seasonal orientation of the residence, and sunlight regulation can be applied in the design of building forms, including spatial organization, landscape and vegetation, building materials, and technical installations. For designing and constructing sustainable structures in the dry climate of Isfahan, attention to the local ecology is essential. In addition to utilizing traditional architectural solutions, the use of renewable resources such as solar, water, and wind energy can play an effective role in optimizing energy consumption and reducing environmental impacts. This approach can be applied in the design of residential homes, office buildings, and urban service centers.  https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238705.html This study investigates the impact of market orientation and green entrepreneurship orientation on the venture performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with opportunity recognition as a mediating variable. The research is applied in purpose and survey-based in its implementation method. The statistical population consisted of managers of SMEs in Mashhad. Using Klein's rule of thumb, a sample size of 210 was determined (10 times the 21 questionnaire items). Data were collected using standard questionnaires from Habib (2020) and Anwar et al. (2022). Face validity was assessed by experts, while convergent and discriminant validity were confirmed through factor analysis. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability, with an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.924, indicating high reliability.Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS3 software. The results demonstrated that both market orientation and green entrepreneurship orientation have a significant positive effect on opportunity recognition. Furthermore, opportunity recognition and green market orientation were found to significantly enhance venture performance. Finally, the mediating role of opportunity recognition in the relationship between market orientation/green entrepreneurship orientation and venture performance was also confirmed to be significant. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238710.html This study seeks to develop a framework for evaluating scenarios and forecasting future water resource conditions. This framework simultaneously assesses the impact of various policies on water resources, society, economy, and the environment of the watershed and water resources, thereby establishing a reliable foundation for future research. To identify relevant literature, scientific databases—including Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and the Google Scholar search engine—were searched for publications from 2010 to 2024. In this study, water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) research methods were broadly categorized into two types based on their objectives. The objective of Type I methods is to calculate the population or economic scale that water resources can support based on water supply and demand. These methods include the Conventional Trend Method (CTM), Recursive Dynamic Simulation (DSR), the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework, and TOPSIS. The objective of Type II methods is to assess regional WRCC and validate the potential for water resource development. This category includes Comprehensive Evaluation (CE), Multi-Objective Model Analysis (MOMA), System Dynamics (SD), the Relative Water Resource Carrying Capacity Model, the Integrated Water Resource Carrying Capacity Model, the System Dynamics Model, and the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method. The results indicate that, although various methods exist for estimating WRCC, the majority of the methods used are outdated, and more complex new methods and technologies are lacking. Specifically, the analysis revealed that the indicators, scientific accuracy, and comprehensiveness of the evaluation criteria in current research methods are insufficient and require improvement.  https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238712.html Marine protected areas (MPAs) are designated by governments and other institutions to restrict access to marine environments to increase the resilience of fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs to disturbances, even when threats occur outside their geographic boundaries. In this study, quantitative information on protected areas in the Persian Gulf (PG) was reviewed and their effectiveness in protecting coral ecosystems as a vulnerable faunal taxon to human disturbances was examined. For this purpose, the geographical extent of marine protected areas in the PG was extracted from the Global Database of Protected Areas and supplemented with information on protected areas from the Iranian Department of Environment (DOE). Then, the percentage of spatial overlap of coral habitats with the network of MPA in the PG was calculated. Based on the analyses, there are 28 protected areas throughout the PG, all or part of which are located at sea. Their marine sector covers less than 7% of the PG, with half of these areas having an effective area of less than 100 Km2. After Oman with 70%, Bahrain with 18% provides the highest relative protection of the PG. Also, only 27% of the coral reefs of the PG are protected by the network of MPAs. According to the results, the marine protected areas in the PG are not sufficiently effective in protecting marine biodiversity in terms of their size and representativeness, and to achieve the target of 30% protection by 2030, the network of MPAs needs to be expanded by identifying ecologically important areas of the PG. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238714.html The extensive impacts of climate change are increasingly affecting human societies and ecosystems, with urban environments being particularly vulnerable. These impacts include a rise in the intensity and frequency of hazards such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and storms, which pose significant threats to cities as primary centers of population and economic activity. Addressing these risks requires not only preventive measures but also the development of robust adaptation strategies and the enhancement of urban resilience. Such resilience equips cities to effectively respond to disruptions, minimize damage, and sustain functionality and sustainability during crises. Urban resilience has emerged as a central concept in contemporary urban management, describing the capacity of cities to withstand, adapt to, and recover from both natural and human-induced crises. However, assessing urban resilience remains a complex challenge due to multiple factors, including the absence of a comprehensive and standardized definition, limited access to accurate and sufficient data, the inherent complexity and interdependencies of urban systems, and insufficient coordination among relevant institutions and organizations. This study examines these challenges and proposes strategies to enhance urban resilience to climate-related hazards. Key recommendations include leveraging advanced technologies for smart crisis management, strengthening social and infrastructural capacities, raising public awareness through education, and fostering improved cross-sectoral collaboration and integrated policymaking. The findings underscore that by addressing these obstacles and adopting holistic approaches, cities can enhance their resilience to current crises while improving preparedness for future challenges. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238716.html This review paper elucidates the emerging concept of geosystem services. Geosystem services complement ecosystem services by focusing on abiotic components and environmental services. This concept, modeled after ecosystem services, provides a detailed and comprehensive examination of the importance of ecosystem functions and their role in sustaining human life and well-being. It is also proposed as a means to fully evaluate the diversity of the Earth's surface and subsurface. The subsurface not only serves as the foundation for all human infrastructure and offers opportunities for creating better living environments, but also it is a multifunctional natural resource. Beyond providing physical space, the subsurface can, for example, supply and store water, energy, and materials, provide habitats for ecosystems, support surface life, and act as a repository for cultural and geological heritage. Conceptualizing geosystem services as a potential approach to improving the assessment of ecosystems and their services has garnered increasing attention. Therefore, this study aims to explore the definitions and concepts of geosystem services and their role in subsurface planning and consideration of underground ecosystems. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238718.html Green infrastructures, as an innovative concept in urban development, contribute significantly to improving the quality of the environment. However, these developments can also bring ecosystem damages that have received less attention. This article aims to systematically review the scientific literature on identifying ecosystem damages of green infrastructures and their range of effects on the environment and hydrological conditions, and aims to provide a classification and introduction of these disservices, to help researchers in identifying, assessing their effects, and reducing them. This research uses two specific methodological frameworks, the first stage of which uses the scientometric method and relies on the PRISMA protocol to search scientific databases and select articles. In the second stage, the meta-synthesis methodological framework is used to qualitatively examine the content of the articles. In the first stage, 1388 articles were reviewed, and 115 articles were evaluated for content for qualitative review. The results show that the ecosystem disservices of green infrastructure can include health, environmental, economic and social problems. This issue needs more attention in urban studies and planning. The results of the study of the damages associated with green infrastructure highlight the importance of comprehensive attention to the negative and positive aspects of green infrastructure development in environmental policy-making. Therefore, adopting appropriate and balanced approaches and policies to reduce the ecosystem damage of green infrastructure is essential.  https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_238719.html The main objective of the present study is to design and validate a model to improve the educational qualifications of health, safety, and environment (HSE) officials in the country's steel industry factories. For this purpose, the research is applied in terms of purpose. To carry out this research, a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) exploratory approach has been used. In the quantitative part, a descriptive survey method has been used, and in the qualitative part, a descriptive- analytical method has been used. The statistical population of the qualitative part included theoretical and empirical experts, who were selected according to the saturation principle and the purposive sampling method, 19 interviewees, and also in the quantitative part, the statistical population included all HSE officials in the country's steel industry (530 people), who were selected using the method of calculating the minimum sample size in factor analysis, in which 223 officials were selected. The data collection method in the qualitative part was semi-structured interviews, and in the quantitative part, researcher-made questionnaires derived from the findings of the qualitative part were used to assess the validity of the model from the perspective of the participants in the qualitative part and also from the perspective of the respondents in the quantitative part, and the validity and reliability of the tool were examined and confirmed in both qualitative and quantitative parts. The data analysis method in the qualitative part included content analysis with MaxQDA-V2018 software, and in the quantitative part included statistical description (description of demographic characteristics and description of research variables) and statistical analysis (confirmatory factor analysis and one-sample t-test) of the data with SPSS-V27 and SmartPLS-V3 software. The educational qualifications of the officials (HSE) of the country's steel industry factories include 174 concept codes, 19 focal categories, and 4 key categories ("general and professional knowledge", "attitude", "skills", and "psychological and behavioral factors"). The HSE training model for steel mills in the country has increased the knowledge, awareness, attitude, and skills of HSE managers, which has resulted in the preservation and maintenance of the environment in the workplace, which has led to increased sustainable development, reduced occupational accidents and diseases, and the preservation of personal and public health. The HSE training model is designed to be useful for all HSE managers in companies and other similar industries. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_239919.html Rapid population growth and economic pressures have intensified demands on natural resources, highlighting the importance of sustainable development and optimal management of natural and human resources. Agricultural waste, particularly pistachio shells, represents a significant environmental and economic challenge, especially in Iran, a major global producer of pistachios. Mismanagement of this abundant waste not only leads to severe environmental issues like soil and water contamination but also results in the loss of potentially valuable resources. Pistachio shells contain significant amounts of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants, known for their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Global experiences, such as the successful use of fruit waste in India and China, highlight the potential of agricultural byproducts as sustainable economic resources. However, despite laboratory studies confirming the biological potential of pistachio shells, extensive industrial application remains limited in Iran. This review comprehensively examines past studies focusing on the extraction methods of bioactive compounds from pistachio shells, emphasizing innovative technologies like supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and nanotechnology-based processes. Additionally, it proposes the novel idea of utilizing nanotechnology to develop organic and eco-friendly cosmetic products from pistachio waste. By leveraging these modern techniques, the initiative aims not only to mitigate environmental pollution but also to introduce sustainable, profitable, and internationally competitive cosmetic products. Ultimately, this approach presents an opportunity to enhance environmental sustainability and foster economic growth, demonstrating the high potential of agricultural waste in the circular economy model.  https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_233363.html Abstract: This study aims to examine the role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Ecosystem Services Assessment in achieving sustainable tourism. The research is based on a systematic review of reputable scientific sources (2010–2024) and employs an integrated analytical approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Within this framework, advanced EIA methodologies—including Ecological Footprint analysis, the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework for assessing the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental dimensions of tourism, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and the InVEST and DPSIR models—were analyzed. The findings indicate that integrating these tools into tourism planning processes enables a more accurate assessment of impacts on ecosystem services. Key challenges identified include the lack of integrated data, insufficient participation of local communities, and conflicts between economic and environmental objectives. Proposed solutions encompass the economic valuation of ecosystem services, application of advanced monitoring technologies, strengthening of legal frameworks, and the design of participatory management programs. The results highlight the necessity of adopting an integrated approach to assess the cumulative impacts of tourism and embedding sustainability criteria throughout all stages of development. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_234318.html Today, with the growing population and increasing waste production, recycling has become one of the most important solutions for environmental protection. This process not only helps reduce the destruction of natural resources but also mitigates environmental pollution. The use of recycled materials in various industries, including road construction, is an effective solution for sustainable environmental development. Research shows that incorporating recycled materials into asphalt mixtures can enhance their mechanical properties and durability. In addition to lowering road production and maintenance costs, this approach reduces the consumption of natural resources and prevents the accumulation of industrial and construction waste in the environment. From an economic perspective, processing recycled materials typically requires less energy and cost than extracting and processing raw materials, leading to significant savings. Moreover, this method can create new job opportunities in waste management and recycled material production. However, using these materials also presents challenges. For instance, proper mixing and standardization of recycled materials in asphalt mixtures are crucial, as excessive amounts of certain materials may negatively affect asphalt performance. Therefore, there is a growing need for extensive research and the development of specific standards for their use. The aim of this research is to investigate the application and role of recycled materials in asphalt and their contribution to sustainable environmental development. https://www.iraneiat.ir/article_239394.html Protected areas are defined as spaces that are expected to protect ecosystems and species from the destructive effects of human activities. However, the increasing depth of anthropogenic impacts such as illegal fishing, hunting, logging, road construction, mining and neglect of land management have significantly reduced the sustainability of these areas. The Jajrud Protected Area is one of the country's protected areas that has faced instability due to problems such as land grabbing and encroachment by various organizations, settlement construction, destruction of vegetation and land use change, dam construction, and military maneuvers. In this research, an attempt has been made to help achieve sustainability in the Jajrud Protected Area by utilizing a good governance approach. The method of this research is causal and documentary and survey methods have been used to collect data. For this purpose, a structured questionnaire has been used to collect the data required for the research. The reliability of the data obtained from the questionnaire was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was based on quantitative methods (descriptive and inferential statistical tests) such as examining the mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation calculated for each of the research variables. Spearman correlation test was used to examine the correlation between good governance and sustainability. The findings of this study show that the status of good governance in the study area is weak based on the Likert scale and the level of sustainability is also weak. The results of sustainability indicate a poor state of socio-cultural, economic-institutional, and environmental-physical dimensions. The results of good governance also indicate that the three variables of accountability, responsibility, and transparency have an average state. The variables of participation, rule of law, justice, collective agreement, effectiveness, and intelligence also have a weak status. The research findings indicate that there is a positive and direct relationship between the approach to good governance and sustainability in the study area with an intensity of 0.198.