Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests. The importance of NTFPs for sustaining rural livelihoods, fostering rural poverty alleviation, enhancing biodiversity conservation, and facilitating rural economic growth is well known in Nepal. In spite of these facts, NTFPs have not received the sustained and systematic support. With the gradual rise in population, unsustainable harvesting and depletion of resources, sustainable management of NTFPs has become a challenge. Similarly, the increasing global demand of NTFPs leads to over-exploitation of these resources that further leads to dwindling and adversely affecting the biodiversity. In this context, this paper intends to explore and analyze the conservation status, prospects and challenges for efficient and sustainable management of NTFPs in the context of Nepal.

The purpose of this article is to identify the problems associated with the tourism resource utilization in mountainous communities of Ukraine. Developing tourism at local level is a priority in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, especially in the context of decentralization process in Ukraine. A survey was conducted involving the managers of hospitality establishments during the "active" tourist season from July to August 2019. Main parameters selected for this inquiry included the water consumption (in the form of drainage), solid waste disposal, and the quantum of electricity consumed. Data of water consumption (drainage), consumed electricity, and solid waste disposal in the surveyed hospitality establishments reflects proportional growth of the tourism manifesting accommodated tourists, capacity, and category of the hospitality establishments. On priority, identified problems of resource utilization encompass waste management, water supply, sewerage, energy supply and incom ing tourist flows. Quantitative forecasting of environmental load to be exerted by tourism development is necessary when planning resource utilization and livelihood systems of mountainous communities.

Agricultural sector is a mainstay of farmers’ livelihoods in Ethiopia. Maize is a largest crop being grown in Ethiopia; however, currently, yield gaps are the challenges faced by the producers. This study has an objective of identifying the determinants of maize production of smallholder farmers. Data were collected from 200 farmers living in the selected kebeles (communes) of Meta district in the East Hararge zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. The collected data was analyzed using multiple linear regression model. The result showed that the production of maize was influenced by several factors. Non-farm activity had a positive impact on the production of maize. Thus, the farmers who had money from non-farm sources utilized these additional incomes as inputs to gain more maize production. The cultivated areas of land have a positive influence on the higher yields of maize. The maize crop production of smallholder farmers was negatively affected by Development Agent’s office. The study suggests that policy makers should encourage the current maize production by supplying improved seeds and fertilizers, which tend to support improving the smallholder farms.

From the second half of the 19th century until the beginning of the World War I, there was significant economic advancement in all sectors of farm management in the territory of Galicia (Halychyna), which was under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during that period of history. This paper focuses on the impact of popular scientific extension, one of the key criteria for communicating the latest economic management techniques at that time. This allowed the region, which was significantly behind the other regions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire during that period, to progress economically. There was a breakthrough in methods and approaches to farm management during the studied period. The processes of mechanization, novel tillage techniques and land reclamation were introduced. Agricultural processing industry started to develop intensively. A serious consideration has been given to selective breeding of animals, which had a positive impact on the livestock rearing development. All these aspects have led to a significant improvement in the industry’s performance.

This study is devoted to the two major hydro-ecosystems of the Carpathian region in Ukraine, the Dniester and Danube Rivers. For the first time, the patterns of changes in the ecosystems’ quality parameters were established by means of developing functional dependences among the ecological standard values of the composite quality indicators of natural waters and the river length and terrain altitude. Using the statistical processing of the data, the quality monitoring of the upper reaches of Dniester and Danube ecosystems in the Ukrainian Carpathians was conducted for the period from 2001 to 2019. The data on the Composite Potential Quality Indicators standard values was gathered for the heights of the Carpathian region: at 50 m interval for the altitude up to 1,000 m, and at 100 m interval for more than 1,000 m altitude. The acquired dependencies can be used as the territorial background standard values of the ecological indicators of basin ecosystems. It will help to scientifically substantiate the ecologically safe values of the anthropogenic pressure.

Non-timber forest products are the major source of income for mountainous countries like Nepal. This article attempts to explore a case of traded non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Jajarkot district and its contribution to the economy. Collection of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) and resin tapping are some of the major sources of employment for a large number of rural people. 53 different types of NTFPs are traded from the Jajarkot district. Local people collect these NTFPs from the forest and export them within and outside the district mainly to India and China. Jajarkot district on average exported 1,590,681.72 kg NTFPs worth NRs. 3,819,271.6 (equivalent to USD 32,081.88) from the year 2015 to 2020 to the national economy through royalty. NRs. 2,246,719.4 (equivalent to USD 18,872.44) per year came from MAPs and NRs. 1,572,552.2 (equivalent to USD 13,209.4) from resin during the years 2015 to 2020. If this district could produce all the commonly available NTFPs in a large scale, then there would be a high possibility of transforming the current unviable economy into a practical and vibrant economy. A proper inventory, identification and sustainable harvesting, are essential to promote and conserve these NTFPs.

In this article, a number of demographic factors influencing the processes of sustainable economic development in particular context of tourism in the Carpathian Euroregion have been analyzed. It is generally articulated that tourism is one of the priority economic activities recommended for this region. The socio-demographic changes can be a driving force for creating and solving existing and future socio-economic problems. A comparative analysis of socio-demographic indicators such as birth rate, mortality, median age of population, average life expectancy, migration processes, etc. has been carried out for five countries constituting the Carpathian Euroregion. It is observed that demographic trends have become persistently negative with long-term consequences, they are manifested in low life expectancy, high mortality, rapidly ageing population. The public policy in Carpathian Euroregion should be aimed at enha ncing social development, reviving the family and serving the interests of people. It is impossible to solve these problems without overcoming poverty, income growth, impro ving the welfare of the entire population and reforming the labour market.

The study focuses on the economic loss of agricultural production and livestock population in Tamil Nadu due to sago industrial pollution. Primary data was obtained from 413 households. A larger number of sago processing industries in identified villages belonging to taluks, namely Salem, Mettur and Attur, were sampled to estimate the loss of agricultural production and livestock population. The outcome of the research recommends improving the health of the ecosystem and managing sago effluents.

This article is based on a study aimed to determine physiochemical parameters, fecal coliform, total coliforms, heterotrophic plate count, arsenic, iron and lead of water to evaluate their effects on human health. Analysis was carried out on tube-well water collected from Nalitabari township of Sherpur District in Bangladesh. The dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity and electrical conductivity were in the ranges of 4.30 to 7.30 ppm, 350 to 792 mg/l, 0.2 to 0.5%, and 715 to 1,970 µS/cm. The pH values were slightly lesser or more than permissible value. Due to the vicinity to the latrines, 17 tube-wells’ water was contaminated by fecal coliforms. The highest heterotrophic plate count was 7.5×103 cfu/ml in ward-8 of the town. Eschericia coli and Vibrio cholerae were identified in ratio of 30.56% and 18.06%, respectively, in the tube-well water, resulting into diarrhea among children. About 6.94% of tube-well water was contaminated with arsenic. 3.25% and 4.5% respondents were suffering from skin diseases and headache, respectively. So, an alternative source of drinking water should be arranged for a better public health of present and next generations.

Global food security largely depends on the crop yield increase, so the study of the yield-limiting factors of potato (the second bread) is a pressing issue today. This study determines the contribution of the agroecological factors, namely, bioclimatic variables, soil indicators, and factors of landscape diversity, to the variation in potato yields. Conducted in Polissya and Forest-steppe zones of Ukraine during 1991–2017, this study has not only addressed the relationship between ecological determinants and potato yields, but also considered crop yields as a dynamic system. The dynamics of potato yields from the mid-1990s to the present is described by a log-logistic model. There are statistically significant regression dependencies between potato yield parameters and agroecological factors. Potato yield is dependent on the diversity of landscape cover. The relationship between yield parameters and landscape-ecological diversity is non-linear, which determines the presence of optimal landscape structure for the highest potato yields. Among climatic factors, the continental climate is of the greatest importance for potato yield. The high sensitivity of potato yield parameters to soil indices was found, and mostly the soil texture components (silt content), which largely determines the potato yield spatial variation.

The recreational load is an important factor in transforming the living conditions of living organisms in the urban environment. This article examines the role of recreation as a driver of the changing habitat of soil micromolluscs in the park environment in an urban landscape. The hypothesis that recreational exposure changes the hierarchical organization of the spatial distribution of the micromollusc community was tested. An experimental polygon was located in Novooleksandrivskiy Park (Melitopol, Ukraine) and represented 7 transects with 18 test points in each. The set of soil properties explained 24.7% of the variation in the mollusc community. The distance from trees was able to explain 6.8% of mollusc community variation. The distance from recreational pathways was able to explain 12.2% of the variation in the mollusc community. The spatial eigenfunctions were able to explain 54.2% of mollusc community variation. The spatial patterns of variation in the structure of the assemblage of molluscs were found to be due to various causes. Thus, the broad-scale component was due to the distance from trees and the distance fro m the recreational pathways and was associated with the variability of soil penetration resistance, aggregate structure, electrical conductivity, soil moisture and density. The recreational load is the cause of this pattern formation. In turn, the medium-scale component reflected the influence of soil aggregate composition on the mollus? community and components independent of soil properties. The fine-scale component reflected the variability of the mollusc community, which was independent of soil properties.

The concept of a farmer producer company (FPC) has emerged as an inclusive concept to address the issues of farmers, especially, small, and marginal farmers. The present study is to examine the impact of farmer producer companies on small and marginal farmers. 150 small and marginal farmers were chosen through multi-stage stratified random sampling in the Osmanabad district of Maharashtra state, India to assess the impact. It was found that the farmers organized under FPCs in the study area are not getting adequate support from the FPCs. It was also found that services provided by FPCs like marketing, value addition, technological services and pre-harvest services were satisfactory, while agricultural advisory services, capacity building and credit access services were poor. A model ACITM (Agriculture Advisory, Capacity Building, Technological and Marketing Services) is suggested to be executed by the FPCDN (Farmer Producer Companies Development Network) – a development network consortium for addressing FPCs problems and strengthening the FPCs.

The Ukrainian Carpathians is the territory with a great threat of floods. This is due to natural and climatic conditions of this region, which is characterized by mountainous terrain, high density of hydrological network and a significant amount of precipitation. Amount of precipitation here ranges from 600 mm on plains to 1,600 mm on mountain tops. The main factors of floods occurrence are excessive precipitation, low water permeability of soil and a high proportion of low-permeability rocks (flysch layers with a predominance of clay layers). Therefore, catastrophic floods in the region were also observed in previous centuries, when the anthropogenic impact on the environment, including forest ecosystems, was not comparable with the current one. Any flood is characterized by a period of development, a period of its critical (maximum) intensity and a period of decline. In the present paper, based on the use of methods for approximating the curves and the results of experimental studies of flood waters, a method of mathematical description and forecasting of the flood development is suggested. The recommended direction of further research may be related to the development of experimental means to determine the parameters that affect the process of flood formation.

The present article is the outcome of a study carried out to assess the existing condition, spatio-temporal changes and socio-environmental quality of four parks and six playgrounds in Bogura town of Bangladesh from January to June 2018. A questionnaire survey involving 150 respondents was carried out addressing environment, management, pattern, amenity, welfare and people’s reliability of the parks and playgrounds. The total area of parks and playgrounds has decreased by 8.09% and 14.19%, respectively, in last a decade. Qualitative assessment indicates that Kalitola Park is in very bad condition, while Shibbati Children’s Park and Shaheed Khokon Park are in good condition, and Pouro Edward Park is in moderate condition. The Ulka and Brindabonpara Playgrounds are in good condition, whereas MS Club and Altafunnessa Playgrounds are in moderate condition, and Dhorompur and Medical Playgrounds are in bad condition. The study has also shown that environment, pattern, beauty, welfare and people’s reliability indicators set the parks and playgrounds between moderate and good condition; however, managerial and institutional indicators and amenity indicator need improvement. It is recommended that a proper planning, management and accessibility of open spaces of Bogura town should be ensured.

By signing the Aarhus Convention and the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine has committed itself to adapting domestic legislation conforming European standards concerning environmental impact assessment. To fulfill international obligations, the Law “On Environmental Impact Assessment” was adopted by Ukraine. However, under this law of Ukraine, not all objects and activities having impact on the environment are assessed for their environmental impact, but only those having a significant impact on the environment are assessed. The aim of this article is to analyse the legislation of Ukraine on environmental impact assessment, and to compare it with the EU legislation. Special attention is paid to the judicial practice being adopted while implementing the said law. With the help of a case study, the shortcomings of the Ukrainian legislation are analysed and highlighted.

This paper provides a theoretical analysis of environmental consciousness in terms of its defining features, structural dimensions and types. More specifically, it explores the correlation between the anthropocentric/ecocentric perspective and sustainable household practices and interactions with the natural world. Another focus is the underlying dimensions of environmental consciousness such as environmental sensitivity, sustainable consumption, environmental concern and commitment to act pro-environmentally. Ecological crisis is examined through the lens of spirituality, value orientations, attitudes, worldviews and environmental consciousness. Among the other issues addressed are effective environmental literacy programs through school-family partnership and the driving forces of pro-environmental behaviour.

Tropical forests are a global biodiversity centre providing enormous ecosystem services to the humankind. The present study was undertaken to examine and analyze the phytosociology and regeneration status of tree species in 39 permanent preservation plots spread across 22 different forest sub-types in Madhya Pradesh, India. A total of 975 quadrats were laid with a sampling intensity of 2.42% of the total area under study. 109 tree species were recorded. Density range varied from 516 individuals/hectare (ind/ha) in southern tropical dry deciduous forests to 3,412 ind/ha in dry grassland forests. Most of the forest sub-types showed log normal distribution owing to relatively high species richness, diversity and evenness, but a low dominance. Out of 62,228 live stems recorded, 68.52% were poles followed by saplings (26.39%), young trees (5.01%) and mature trees (0.08%). The result also showed high seedling density in each forest sub-type ranging from 1,040 ind/ha to 51,124 ind/ha, indicating a healthy population of mature reproducing adults. The diameter distribution in all the forest sub-types showed negative slope and followed the classic inverse J-shaped curve frequently observed in natural forests. Most of the forest sub-types in these preservation plots are regenerating successfully owing to the absolute protection given to the studied sites. It is recommended to study carbon sequestration in these permanent preservation plots over a time, which will inform climate policymakers about the true potential of Indian tropical forests as carbon sink.

The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. There is no single way to implement the ecosystem approach, as it depends on local, provincial, national, regional or global conditions. The North Eastern Region (NER) of India represents three geographies (East Himalayas, Brahmaputra Valley, and North East Hills) and covers about 7.7 percent of the total geographic area of India. Around 56 percent of the cultivated area of the NER is under low altitude (valley or lowland), 33 percent under mid-altitude (flat upland), and the rest under high altitude (upland terrace). The environment, local conditions, socio-economic and socio-cultural life of different tribal communities and the rituals associated with agricultural practices have developed many Indigenous farming systems, which have in-built eco-friendly systems for conservation, preservation and utilization of natural resources. However, with the passage of time, some of these practices have been further refined and modified to cater the location specific present day needs for conservation of natural resources, particularly soil and water resources. The present article is to discuss some important ecosystem approaches/traditional practices followed in the North Eastern Region with recent innovations to make agriculture more efficient and more sustainable.

Medicinal plants have always served people, primarily for the treatment of various diseases. In parallel with the development of human civilization, medicinal herb growth is evolving simultaneously. First of all, it involves the cultivation of medicinal plants, which is socially significant, economically viable, and export-oriented area of production world over. However, in some countries, particularly in Ukraine, this industry is in its infancy and needs consistent action for its development. This article reveals the socio-economic significance of medicinal plants being grown, some advantages and disadvantages of cultivated medicinal plants compared to wild relatives, the main restraining factors of its development, and comparison of key problems and opportunities for effective development of the industry in the future in Ukraine through using SWOT analysis. In particular, the article develops a scale for determining the levels of strengths and weaknesses, and a scale for assessing the importance of external opportunities and threats. It also presents a strengths and weaknesses of medicinal plants in Ukraine, and potential external opportunities and threats.

Evidently, a globalized society causes global environmental crises. Undoubtedly, survival of human life on the planet Earth is threatened. Is there any connection between globalization, environmental crises and psychological manifestations? What are the psychological perspectives linking the ecological damages from local to the global scale? This article explores such intricate relationships and discusses the implications. The underlying principal cause is human’s unending greed to acquire maximum materials and power to control the planet and entire humanity. The greed is believed to be a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. The greedy people are supposed to have biological, psychological and sociological drives. Evidently, global destruction of the ecosystems and natural environment are directly or indirectly linked to unprecedented chronic human greed and self-indulgence. Undoubtedly, unencumbered chronic greed of a few elite institutions led by top capitalists has put the entire planet in havoc and infiltrated widespread sufferings at the global scale. Conclusively, psychological basis of environmental problems has a sociological and socio-historical scope within the frame of globalization. Psychological account of the environmental crisis is explained subsequently in this article followed by a case study of deforestation of Carpathian Mountains staged by a greedy Austrian man.