Aug 2026· Water· Vol 18, pp. 2059· 0 citations· 38 references
Abstract
Integrated watershed sustainability assessments are still incipient in Ecuador, where scarce and heterogeneous data are limiting factors. This study introduces the Watershed Sustainability Index (WSI) to the Chibunga Basin in Chimborazo, Ecuador, marking its first application in this region. A key aspect of this study is the development of a clear and reproducible method for applying the index, particularly in inter-Andean basins where data are limited. The four dimensions—Hydrology, Environment, Life, and Policy—were assessed through the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework by combining secondary statistics, field sampling, GIS land-use analysis, and a two-round Delphi consultation with ten experts to operationalize the institutional (Policy) component. The basin scored 0.38 (low sustainability), with a critical Hydrology dimension (0.08), poor Policy dimension (0.33), moderate–low Life dimension (0.42), and moderate Environment dimension (0.67). The central finding goes beyond these scores: the operationalized PSR framework pinpointed where the management cycle breaks down in practice. Systematically null response scores reveal that unsustainability stems from the failure to translate an existing regulatory framework into formal institutional action, rather than from regulatory absence or physical water scarcity alone, further constrained by unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. The procedure turns the WSI from a scoring tool into a diagnostic one, providing a replicable reference for data-scarce Andean basins.
Achieving integrated water resources management at all levels, as called for by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.5, requires assessment tools that operate at the local administrative scale. However, watershed sustainability assessments are mostly conducted at the whole-basin or provincial scale, which masks the spatial disparities that matter for local water management. This study develops a sub-district-scale Watershed Sustainability Index (WSI) for the Nong Han Basin, Thailand, by integrating the HELP framework (Hydrology, Environment, Life, and Policy) with the Pressure–State–Response structure, a calibrated QSWAT hydrological model, and spatial analysis in a geographic information system, covering 25 sub-districts. The results show that the basin has a moderate-to-high level of sustainability, with a mean WSI of 0.620: 18 sub-districts are classified as high and 7 as moderate, and none fall into the low category. The Life and Hydrology dimensions are the strongest, whereas the Policy dimension is the limiting factor in most sub-districts. This limitation arises from a low Response component (0.19) rather than from a lack of institutional capacity, as confirmed by the finding that sub-districts with low and high policy scores differ only in the Policy dimension. The apparently uniform aggregate index, combined with the high disparity among dimensional scores, confirms the value of diagnosis at the sub-district scale. The proposed framework translates the assessment results into spatial prioritization, an agency-linked decision matrix, and an intervention typology, thereby supporting evidence-based water management by local administrative organizations.
J. Supakosol, H. Prasanchum, Somphinith Muangthong et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
Waste management is an increasingly pressing environmental challenge driven by population growth and urbanization. While landfills are essential for waste disposal, many in Indonesia have had to close due to ongoing issues, such as Sarimukti Landfill. This study analyzed the sustainability of Sarimukti Landfill by examining five dimensions: operational, technical, financial, institutional, regulatory, and community participation. Data was collected from landfill management, the Environmental Agency, and local communities served by the landfill. Multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) was used to identify key sustainability factors. The results indicated that the community participation dimension had the highest sustainability index at 61.4 (moderately sustainable), followed by institutional at 58.5, financial at 57.4, regulatory at 57.0, and operational technical at 54.0. The study also estimated the community’s Ability to Pay for waste fees at IDR 51,161. In contrast, the average of Willingness to Pay was calculated at IDR 36,367 and it was influenced by education, occupation, and waste management behaviour by applying the Contingent Valuation Method analysis and Multiple Linear Regression method. These findings offer valuable insights for the Sarimukti Landfill Management Unit, emphasizing the need to prioritize community engagement. This includes employing residents in landfill management, promoting the percentage of residents practicing the 3R principles before waste is taken to the landfill, and encouraging community participation in landfill management awareness programs to enhance sustainability.
Assessing the sustainability of stressed wetland ecosystems requires transitioning from reductionist paradigms to frameworks that structurally integrate heterogeneous ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional variables. To bridge the methodological divide between qualitative appraisals and quantitative modeling, this study develops a five-dimensional hierarchical framework and applies the Absolute Measurement Analytic Hierarchy Process to evaluate the sustainability of the Zrebar Wetland (a Ramsar site in Iran). Structured judgments elicited from an expert panel (n = 28) were transformed into normalized utility values within a [0, 1] interval to compute the Comprehensive Evaluation Index (CEI). Systemic architecture analysis reveals a hierarchy: at the macro level, the environmental dimension exerts the paramount strategic influence (W = 0.344), while at the micro level, 'land use change and regional development' operates as the most critical global indicator (W = 0.079). Despite these structural priorities, the empirical evaluation yielded a CEI of 0.367, placing the ecosystem strictly at the critical threshold of "unstable." The primary analytical contribution of this research lies in diagnosing a severe "performance gap": variables bearing the highest strategic weights (e.g., land use change, soil and sediment health) recorded the lowest empirical scores, with 66.7% of critical metrics falling into a highly unfavorable state. This structural paradox demonstrates that without cross-sectoral regulation and rigid developmental boundaries, localized social capacities remain inadequate to arrest hydro-geomorphological degradation. Ultimately, enhancing ecological sustainability requires a transition from centralized, fragmented management to a polycentric governance model.
Behzad Ranjbar, Rohollah Rezaei, James T. Anderson· Wetlands Ecology and Managem...· 0 citations
The management of mangrove areas is often hindered by the lack of integrated information regarding the ecological conditions and the social aspects of the surrounding communities, as previous studies tend to evaluate both aspects separately. Viability assessment addresses ecological conditions and sources of threats, while sustainability emphasizes multidimensional management strategies. The integration of both is important to bridge ecological diagnosis with long-term management. The research was conducted on the Sausu Tambu mangrove ecosystem by integrating Conservation Action Planning (CAP) and Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries Sustainability (Rapfish). The methodological novelty lies in the two-step matrix that sequentially crosses the viability and threat scores of CAP with the sustainability index of Rapfish, resulting in a final status that reflects the ecological condition and institutional social capacity in an integrated manner. The findings show that this area has nine types of mangroves. The viability is rated as fair, and the threats are rated as medium, which assigns it a vulnerable CAP status. The ecological and social domains of Rapfish are at a moderate level (57.85% and 53.90%), while the institutional domain is slightly lower (49.64%). The intersection of the CAP status with the Rapfish index still results in a final vulnerable status. Actionable conservation strategies include the establishment of management bodies for village mangroves, formulation of village regulations, periodic planting and monitoring, environmental awareness and pride campaigns, inter-party cooperation, and community economic empowerment. These results have consequences for long-term coastal governance and support the Sustainable Development Goals, especially for ocean ecosystems through the protection of coastal habitats and for land ecosystems through the management of mangrove vegetation and biodiversity. The findings can also be used as a model for evaluating other small mangrove areas in Indonesia and tropical coastlines.
A. Rizal, Muh. Saleh Nurdin, S. N. Mallombasang· Journal of Multidisciplinary...· 0 citations
Floods are among the most destructive natural hazards affecting Mediterranean watersheds, causing significant envi - ronmental, economic, and social impacts. This study aims to assess flood vulnerability in the Oued Bounouara Water - shed (northeastern Algeria) by integrating geographic information systems (GIS) and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Seven flood-conditioning factors, namely altitude, slope, precipitation, land use, lithology, stream proximity, and flow accumulation, were weighted using the AHP method and integrated through a GIS-based weighted overlay approach to produce a flood vulnerability map. The resulting map classified the watershed into five vulnerability classes and revealed that approximately 34% of the study area falls within the high and very high vulnerability categories, mainly concentrated in the western sector and along the main hydrographic network. The predictive per - formance of the model was evaluated using an independent validation database consisting of 360 reference points, including 180 documented flood occurrence points and 180 non-flood points compiled from civil protection records, municipal archives, historical reports, previous technical documents, and field investigations. Validation results dem - onstrated that the proposed GIS–AHP model achieved good predictive capability, with 100% of the documented flood occurrences located within the high and very high vulnerability classes. The success rate curve (SRC) analysis produced an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.795, indicating good predictive performance, while the success curve area ratio (SCAR = 2.94) confirmed a strong concentration of flood occurrences within highly vulnerable ar - eas. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrated the robustness of the model under moderate variations in the thematic weights. The proposed GIS–AHP framework provides a reliable, transparent, and transferable approach for flood vulnerability assessment and represents an effective decision-support tool for land-use planning, flood mitigation, infrastructure management, and disaster risk reduction in Mediterranean watersheds and other data-scarce regions.
Benoudina Nouha Amira, Djeghar Aida, T. E. El Khalil et al.· Ecological Engineering &...· 0 citations
Rapid urban growth, tourism pressure, and ecological sensitivity pose significant challenges to solid waste management in coastal districts. Alappuzha District of Kerala state of India, characterized by the Vembanad-Kol Ramsar wetland system, dense backwater networks, and recurrent flooding, represents a complex setting where conventional landfill siting approaches are often inadequate. This study applies and refines a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework integrated with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify suitable landfill sites in Alappuzha District, with emphasis on methodological transparency in a hydrologically constrained coastal environment. Ten criteria were integrated into the spatial model: distance from water bodies, settlements, road networks, agricultural land, and plantation areas; flood-prone areas; slope; groundwater depth; soil permeability; and population density. Seven primary environmental criteria were evaluated using expert-based pairwise comparisons (n = 12) following the AHP protocol (Consistency Ratio, CR = 0.003), while groundwater depth, soil permeability, and population density were incorporated through a structured supplementary elicitation process involving the same expert panel. Standardized criteria layers were integrated using a weighted-overlay approach in ArcGIS, and model stability was evaluated through sensitivity analysis applying ± 15% variation in criterion weights. Only 51.0 km² (3.6%) of the district was classified as moderately to highly suitable for landfill siting, reflecting substantial hydrological, hydrogeological, and environmental constraints. Three candidate sites ranging from 2.1 to 4.8 hectares were identified in Cherthala and Chengannur taluks, all requiring field verification and statutory Environmental Impact Assessment before implementation. Sensitivity analysis indicated strong model stability (Spearman's r ≥ 0.88) across all perturbation scenarios. This study refines GIS-MCDA-based landfill suitability assessment for flood-prone coastal environments and provides a transferable framework for hydrologically constrained regions where comparable spatial datasets are available.
Shinov Paitonpatrick, S. N. Dar· Scientific Reports· 0 citations