Case Studies in the Environment

Banff National Park (BNP) is Canada’s oldest national park and a very popular one, with both year-round residents and millions of annual visitors. In turn, this means there are several busy road and rail transportation routes throughout the park. These factors can have a number of negative effects on local wildlife. The wildlife crossing structures of the Trans-Canada Highway in BNP have become a key conservation tool to conserve biodiversity in the park and beyond. As the first large-scale operation of highway mitigation of its kind in North America, it is a perfect case for understanding the conservation value of highway overpasses and underpasses for a variety of wildlife species including both large and small mammals. It was determined from the research that there is a vast majority of information available for large mammals compared to small mammals. Small mammals used the crossing structures to avoid predators, while large mammals used the crossing structures to avoid humans. The design of the structure was extremely influential on its effectiveness with black bears and cougars preferring narrow bridges with cover, elk preferring wide, open bridges, and smaller mammals, such as weasels, snowshoe hares, and some mice preferring culverts with vegetation cover.

Lauren Stewart

Bryson Russell

Evan Zelig

Gaurang Patel

Kaitlin Stack Whitney

Wildlife Crossing Design Influences Effectiveness for Small and Large Mammals in Banff National Park

班夫国家公园野生动物通道设计对小型和大型哺乳动物有效性的影响

Household water insecurity is a global problem; one not escaped by residents of high-income nations. In this article, we review a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project conducted in Flint, MI, to document grassroots narratives about the impacts of water insecurity on the lives of women. In 2014, Flint residents found themselves connected to modern water infrastructure that delivered potable water contaminated by lead and pathogens. Through a photovoice method, participating women documented how experiences of water insecurity continues to impact their lives many years after state authorities declared the water crisis to be over. This study adds to a growing literature that highlights how the “adequateness” of water quality is not a stable or self-evident condition for there are different frameworks for water cleanliness, safety, and risk. With attention to methodology, this case study emphasizes the importance of legitimizing the embodied experience of participants through research design and implementation. This CBPR project contributes to the existing toolbox of methods for studying household water insecurity by complementing the growing literature on security metrics with a narrative-focused approach to documenting women’s lived experiences of water insecurity. Finally, the article invites readers to consider how and to what degree to mobilize participatory approaches to understand conditions and lived experiences of resource insecurity without further stigmatizing or exploiting impacted communities.

Lucero Radonic

Cara Jacob

Rowenn Kalman

E. Yvonne Lewis

Questionable Quality

可疑的质量

There is a growing recognition that climate change is a global challenge that requires urgent action. Excessive emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are one of the main reasons for the problem. The more GHGs are released into the atmosphere, the more the sun’s heat can be captured by those gases, leading to global warming and other ripple effects. Many countries and companies have begun to take steps to reduce their emissions. Carbon management is a method that enables them to control the release of GHGs. This report will focus on Canada’s largest bank, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and examine the firm’s carbon management practices towards achieving zero net emissions. This company is strongly involved with other companies’ business through financing and investment as a financial institution, indicating that it has a responsibility for both its own carbon emissions and emissions by companies which it finances or invests. The firm’s emissions mainly come from infrastructure, purchased electricity, business travel, the use of products, employee commuting, financing and investment. This company’s strategy to be carbon neutral consists of the following main pillars: making operations more efficient, helping clients with the transition to net zero, and responsible financing and investment. This report evaluates the carbon management practice of the RBC, suggesting that it needs more implementation of plans and more detailed data collection and analysis regarding its emissions to achieve the goal of net zero.

Marina Suzuki

Paul Dargusch

Genia Hill

Evaluating Carbon Management Practices of Royal Bank of Canada

评估加拿大皇家银行的碳管理实践

As the major group of herbivorous insects, moths are highly significant in natural ecosystems. In collaboration with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) multipurpose National Forest Inventory (NFI) survey, this study investigates the species richness, distribution and community composition of Geometrid moths (Lepidoptera) in PNG’s tropical forests and analyses environmental drivers of the geometrid community structure. By providing a baseline assessment of an important order of insects that can serve as an indicator for broader biodiversity, this study informs how biodiversity assessments can be better integrated into the planning of forest conservation initiatives, particularly those related to REDD+ and forest carbon offset developments. The research was conducted over 3 years at 38 NFI clusters throughout six provinces: Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Morobe, Madang and West New Britain and Central Province. Moths were collected from dusk to before midnight (18:00 h to 22:00 h) using a manual light trapping method for four nights per site, with a total of 152 light trap samples. Results included a total of 11,830 specimens from 1,108 morphological species from lowland and montane forests in disturbed (degraded and/or logged) and primary forests. Elevation and forest disturbance are the main variables that influence the distribution of species. Species richness was low in montane undisturbed forests compared with lowland (disturbed and primary) forests and montane disturbed forests. Species similarity between light trap samples tends to decrease as elevation increases. Geometrid moth species were arranged into two main orders of community composition according to the forest types: montane (disturbed and/or primary) forests species and lowland (disturbed and/or primary forest) species as per the samples.

Jason Paliau

Alfred Mani

Lui Napa

Cassey Uvau

Steven Sau

Robert Kiapranis

Fabio Attorre

Vojtěch Novotný

Geometrid Moth Species Richness, Distribution and Community Composition in Different Forest Types of Papua New Guinea

巴布亚新几内亚不同森林类型中的尺蛾物种丰富度、分布及群落组成

The 2018 performance event, Cherry River, Where the Rivers Mix, designed by Indigenous scholar, Dr. Shane Doyle, a member of the Apsaalooke Crow community, in collaboration with artist Mary Ellen Strom, a founder of the nonprofit Mountain Time Arts program, endeavored to address the surging environmental problems associated with water in Montana. Drought and water scarcity impacts a diverse population, including Indigenous communities and the life of nonhuman plant and animals beyond the urban and rural populace of landowners, ranchers, and farmers. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared a federal emergency of drought disaster in a majority of Montana’s counties, and the recent disappearance of glaciers at Glacier National Park is of great concern. Doyle and Strom sought the opportunity to foster relationships and greater dialogue among regional constituencies, particularly among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and they were successful in raising awareness regarding the need for equitable water use and conservation. Cherry River brought an audience of local people to the banks of the Missouri River Headwaters, where the Gallatin, the Jefferson, and the Madison rivers converge to present a mix of American music—Crow and Northern Cree singing, Métis violin, Big Band Jazz. The sound of the music of the rivers, however, was the all-encompassing engagement for those who attended. Drought and environmental crisis impels us to think more broadly about the role of the arts and humanities in environmental studies. Can the arts and performance contribute a different model for environmental advocacy, acknowledge a different perspective for understanding ecologies, and therefore expand the transdisciplinary process for engaging in environmental studies?

Jane Chin Davidson

Cherry River: Art, Music, and Indigenous Stakeholders of Water Advocacy in Montana

樱桃河：《艺术、音乐与蒙大拿州水资源倡导中的原住民利益相关者》

Communities have a critical role in encouraging practices that lead to the making of a sustainable community. Sustainability is a major concern in the contemporary world of depleting resources. The study brings out how people of a community perceive sustainability and to pinpoint areas that need improvement. Our synthesis underscores the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic factors in achieving a sustainable community, as articulated by prominent scholars. We extend this discourse by presenting a comprehensive framework that encapsulates essential components, including quality of life, environmental stewardship, affordable housing, sustainable transport, economic prosperity, and resource optimization. By incorporating diverse perspectives, this work contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable community development, emphasizing the importance of holistic considerations and balanced approaches. Data collection was done using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods of literature review and online survey questionnaires. The findings prove that although most community members are aware of sustainability-related issues, there exist areas that need additional education and awareness-creation. The study delves into the sustainability of the city assessed through the satisfaction level of its habitants taking into account the components of sustainable community. Respondents are mostly satisfied with the social and environmental aspects. Corruption and business run by immigrants are major problems affecting the economic sustainability of the community. Findings of the study provide valuable insights into community perceptions of sustainability and useful in the promotion of future sustainability initiatives and policies.

Emeline Renthlei

Abraham George

James L. T. Thanga

Sustainable Community and Development: A Perception Study in Aizawl City

可持续社区与发展：艾藻尔市感知研究

The present work analyzes several aspects related to the environmental impacts that Elon Musk’s company Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has had on Cameron County, Texas. Utilizing prior studies, we will focus on how the power elite impact policy at the federal, state, and local levels, specifically regarding SpaceX’s arrival to Cameron County as well as environmental policy concerning the activities at the SpaceX Starbase facility, located on Boca Chica Beach, Texas. The present analysis uses data from semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders including government officials, developers, environmentalists, and other activists in order to understand the connections between the global and local power elites. A survey of Cameron County residents will also be used to determine their experience with environmental effects resulting from SpaceX activities.

Michelle Keck

Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera

A Power Elite Alliance and Local Environmental Policy: Elon Musk in Cameron County

权力精英联盟与地方环境政策：《埃隆·马斯克在卡梅伦县》

One of the dominant ethics of natural resource management (NRM), and arguably Western culture, is consequentialism, which evaluates the ethical merit of decisions based solely on consequences or outcomes of those decisions. When used in NRM, this ethic is largely applied as the default, without interrogation of whether it is appropriate or useful. In this case study, we examine the intersections of consequentialism, decision psychology, and fire response in the United States. We explore how trying to maximize beneficial outcomes creates dilemmas for fire managers who must make decisions despite considerable risk and uncertainty about outcomes. Consequentialism as a guiding ethic may exacerbate risk aversion and fire suppression and ultimately contributes to a dilemma, wherein fire managers trying to reduce negative outcomes may increase the probability of negative outcomes (via catastrophic wildfire) in the long run. In place of consequentialism, we explore how virtue ethics in fire response and moral pluralism may ultimately better support the goals of risk management and positive outcomes. From this case study, readers will gain insight on the challenges of applying ethical theory to current natural resource issues, the way cognitive biases can affect decision-making, and alternative ethics to the dominant consequentialist system in NRM.

Claire Rapp

Michael Paul Nelson

Wildland Fire Response in the United States: The Limitations of Consequentialist Ethics When Making Decisions Under Risk and Uncertainty

美国荒地火灾应对：在风险和不确定性下决策时后果主义伦理的局限性

Phosphorus is a growing water quality concern in agricultural landscapes. Sources of agricultural phosphorus include synthetic fertilizers and manure application that support crop growth. These sources lead to excess phosphorus in adjacent waterways causing harm to aquatic communities and to human health. Phosphorus is transported downstream contributing to larger pollution issues including the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Conservation practices called Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been developed to manage agricultural phosphorus pollution. One common BMP is a riparian, or streamside, buffer. This BMP allows for the reestablishment of vegetation between an agricultural field and adjacent waterway. Riparian buffers act as a filter strip and are effective for nitrogen, sedimentation, and erosion control. The efficacy of these practices to manage phosphorus, however, is less clear, notably regarding dissolved phosphorus. Dissolved phosphorus is highly bioavailable and ready for plant uptake, contributing to pollution from rapid algae growth. A saturated buffer is a specific type of riparian buffer known to be effective for nitrogen and particulate phosphorus removal, but in some cases has been shown to contribute to dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) pollution. Through field data collection, the aim of this case study is to document DRP contributions from a saturated buffer field research site located in Southern Minnesota. In addition, this study documents the drivers of DRP contributions including soil characteristics, microbial community structure, and flooding. Results from the work demonstrate the need to account for dissolved phosphorus in meeting water quality goals through the implementation of agricultural BMPs.

Laura J. Bender

Chris Lenhart

Dissolved Phosphorus Contributions From a Southern Minnesota Saturated Buffer Field Site: Agricultural Best Management Practices and Dissolved Phosphorus Loss

明尼苏达州南部饱和缓冲带场地溶解磷的贡献：农业最佳管理实践与溶解磷流失

Contemporary environmental challenges require that decision-makers can think critically, integrate new information, and recognize their own biases. This manuscript focuses on the importance of case studies in facilitating critical thinking within the field of environmental studies and sciences, especially as it relates to higher education. Critical thinking skills are central to environmental problem-solving and can be improved through the use of case studies. After dissecting the construction of a particularly effective case study, the manuscript goes on to chronicle instances where case study examination could have engendered more positive outcomes. Ultimately, case studies can dislodge ourselves from our preconceived notions and open the door to a wider range of environmental solutions.

Jennifer Bernstein

Challenging Preconceptions: Case Studies as a Tool for Critical Thinking in Environmental Studies and Sciences

挑战先入之见：环境研究与科学中的批判性思维工具——案例研究

Abbreviation	Case Stud. Environ.
Journal Impact	0.64
Quartiles(Global)	ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES(Q4)

Publication Information	Publisher: University of California Press，Publishing cycle: ，Journal Type: journal，Open Access Journals: No
Basic data	Year of publication: 2017，Proportion of original research papers: 100.00%，Self Citation Rate:25.00%， Gold OA Rate: 0.00%

Case Studies in the Environment

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