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Marine seaweeds, characterised by high-valued bioactive compounds, are used worldwide for several applications, including human food, animal feed, pharmaceutics and cosmetics, bioplastics, agricultural fertilisers, biofuels, and others. Seaweed production can be carried out through different approaches, from on-land or sea-based cultivation to the harvesting of wild stocks. The latter can be of particular importance in the case of seasonal algal over-proliferations, often caused by eutrophic conditions associated with intensive human industrial activities, and which wreak havoc with ecosystem functioning and hinder economic activities. In Europe, Italy experiences seaweed blooms in several coastal basins, such as the Lagoon of Venice and the Lagoon of Orbetello (Tuscany). Here, the proliferating seaweed represents a disturbance to the natural ecosystem and to local business and touristic activities. These biomasses hold no economic value in the country and are systemically removed and disposed of. Re-purposing the biomass to produce seaweed-derived commercial goods would provide benefits for the environment and local economic activities while promoting a sustainable business within a Circular Economy framework and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals number 12 (‘Responsible consumption and production’), and number 14 (‘Life under water’), among others.

This paper aims to inform the readers an overview of expected impacts of sea level rise (SLR) and climate change on rice crops area, yield and the urgent need to build climate responsive infrastructures to a coastal district, Alappuzha – a high-risk area which is already under mean sea level (MSL). This research carried out to understand the realities and impacts with respect to the exposures of rise in SLR and possible inundation extent of crop land. The extreme precipitation events have caused crop loss and damage, numerous casualties and enormous economic loss in this district during the recent past and project the likely impacts under anticipated climate change.

Global sea levels have already been risen noticeably as a result of climate change, and this trend is anticipated to continue. To reflect on the research objectives, the paper projects a climate change scenario analysis and impact assessment on the major crop grown, i.e. rice, using a crop simulation model, DSSAT 4.7 as the first part of the study. QGIS 3.28 version and Erdas Imagine software were used for land use land cover analysis and to delineate possible inundation in the major land use land cover, especially in agriculture area under SLR scenario. It points out the need to equip the district urgently with climate responsive agriculture strategies as majority of the area comes under 10 mts of elevation as per the Sentinel 2 data. For better adapting to the current and future climate change impacts in the aspects of built environment such as early warnings in farm sector in particular and forests, urban water management, transportation systems, building construction and operation and land use planning in general. Climate change is no longer a policy issue alone; now it is a common man’s nightmare. For a coastal state like Kerala, extreme climate events during 2018 and 2019 and 2021 have posed substantial impacts and damages on the environment and society. The impacts hit the vulnerable communities in multiple ways.

From the analysis, it was revealed that there is an increasing trend in rainfall observed over the past three decades in Alappuzha district. It is projected that day and night time temperatures may increase in Alappuzha by 2.5°C and 2.6°C by 2100, respectively, under RCP 4.5. With unchecked pollution or emission reduction actions, warming may further rise and hence the median projection when SLR reaches 2.4 meters (8 ft) at Alappuzha to Cochin coast is 2130s. The possible inundation analysis shows that around 53.48% of the coastal agriculture land may be likely inundated if SLR is only with mitigation measures such as extreme carbon cuts, SLR rise can be delayed till 2200. Alappuzha is known as the rice bowl of Kerala; however, it is highly exposed to climate vulnerability in terms of its unique environmental geographical settings like coastal wetlands, lagoons and sand beaches. DSSAT simulations shows that Uma rice, a major ruling variety in the region, may have yield reductions of up to 13% in the near century for Alappuzha.

This paper in general explains the projected climate change perspectives for Alappuzha, a climate change hotspot of Kerala with respect to SLR and coastal agriculture. and a review of the progression of DRR in the built environment and mainstreaming CCA and DRR by government and other agencies in the state.

This study underscores the urgent need for climate-responsive agricultural strategies in Alappuzha, Kerala, due to anticipated sea level rise, climate change, and land use changes. Equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools to adapt is essential for ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods. Implementing climate-resilient practices and technologies will help mitigate adverse effects on rice crops, promoting economic stability and resilience in the region. Involving local stakeholders in the adaptation process is crucial, as their participation can enhance collaboration, increase awareness, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, making the transition smoother and more effective.

It is the responsibility of the scientific community to inform the knowledge gained for the benefit of the society, especially on criticality of altering the existing land use pattern and building climate resilient coastal infrastructures. Studies such as this can stand as basis for implementing planned adaption actions. This is to conclude that instead of working in silos, mainstreaming climate change adaptation holistically across sectors is very necessary at this crucial hour. Participatory action plans and policies involving all local stakeholders can strengthen awareness and fasten the learning processes for adaptation including managed retreats.

At present, there are no specific studies, on the impacts of climate change and SLR on rice cropping systems in the district which specifically inform how to mainstream adaptation in the agriculture strategies in low lying coastal zones of Alappuzha.

Current evidence indicates that humans and animals are at increased risk of multiple health challenges due to microplastic (MP) profusion. However, mitigation is constrained by inadequate scientific data, further aggravated by the lack of evidence in many African countries. This review therefore synthesized evidence on the current extent of MP pollution in Africa and the analytical techniques for reporting.

A literature search was undertaken in research databases. Medical subject headings (MeSH) terms and keywords were used in the literature search. The authors found 38 studies from 10 countries that met the inclusion criteria.

Marine organisms had MPs prevalence ranging from 19% to 100%, whereas sediments and water samples had between 77 and 100%. The most common and dominant polymers included polypropylene and polyethylene.

This review shows that most studies still use methods that are prone to human errors. Therefore, the concentration of MPs is likely underestimated, even though the authors’ prevalence evaluations show MPs are still largely pervasive across multiple environmental matrices. Also, the study reveals significant spatial disparity in MP research across the African continent, showing the need for further research in other African countries.

Even though some reviews have assessed MPs pollution in Africa, they have not evaluated sample prevalence, which is necessary to understand not only concentration but pervasiveness across the continent. Secondly, this study delves deeper into various methods of sampling, extraction and analysis of MPs, as well as limitations and relevant recommendations.

Mangrove forests are one of the most bio-diverse and productive wetland environments on earth. However, these unique tropical forest environments that occupy coastal areas are among the most threatened habitats globally. These threats include logging, conversion of land for agriculture and mariculture and degradation due to pollution over the past 50 years. The large population of resilient mangroves occupying the Turneffe Atoll area in Belize faces growing anthropogenic threats such as permanent clearing of land for housing, infrastructural development and pollution and natural factors (climate change). Given the few formal studies done to evaluate mangrove resilience at Turneffe Atoll, the purpose of this study was to evaluate mangrove resilience and nursery functions in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR).

Mangrove fish abundance and forest structure was assessed by means of a visual census and the point-centred quarter method (PCQM) for 11 sites that span across conservation and general use zones.

This study found that the more resilient mangroves (lower vulnerability ranks, higher standing biomass and higher fish biomass and abundance) exist in general use zones and warrant the need for improved mangrove conservation measures for these areas by Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA).

Limitations of the methods for data collection included accessibility within mangrove forests stands when establishing PCQM, observer bias among data collectors, sites without surrounding mangroves were not captured to serve as a true control group and poor visibility underwater affected the estimation of fish species and size. The timeline for this research was only three months based on available funding, and no follow-up study was done to make a true comparison.

The findings of this research have a guiding role in the formulation of conservation measures such as better waste management, a robust framework for mangrove management, a communication strategy to guide public awareness and long-term monitoring surveys.

Sustainable Development Goal 14 of the United Nations aims to ‘conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’. To achieve this goal, we must rebuild the marine life-support systems that provide society with the many advantages of a healthy ocean. Therefore, countries worldwide have been using Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to restore, create, or protect habitats and ecosystems. Palau was one of the first countries to use MPAs as a tool to develop biodiversity within its exclusive economic zone. On 22 October 2015, Palau placed approximately 80% of its maritime territory in a network of locally monitored MPAs, which has now shown a population increase in stationary and migratory fish species. This movement towards a MPA was intentional and because of increased pressure from tourism and the increasing incursion of foreign fishing vessels in Palauan territorial waters. Since countries worldwide are using and looking towards MPAs, secondary protection projects are becoming more and more popular. This chapter highlights the practical implementations and results in Palau, how to theoretically apply this within the Greater North Sea in combination with Windmill Farms, and how the Marine Strategy Framework Directive stimulates these practices.

The chapter contains an in-depth analysis of contemporary risks confronting terrestrial ecosystems and examines prominent strategies for biodiversity preservation, sustainable tourism, and ecological management. Agroforestry parks and ecological corridors emerge as central mechanisms for safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing habitat connectivity. The chapter delves also into the urgent task of combating desertification, exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable practices, with a particular emphasis on the challenges inherent in the realm of tourism. Within the context of tourism, the chapter identifies nature and adventure tourism as catalysts for fostering biodiversity conservation through emotive engagement, thereby stimulating visitor support for conservation policies. The imperative of sustainable tourism practices, underscored by a dedicated commitment to attenuating adverse impacts while optimizing positive outcomes, assumes paramount importance in this pursuit. The chapter underscores the strategic significance of managing visitor influxes, exemplified by techniques such as access limitations and temporal restrictions, as a key approach to mitigate issues of overcrowding and ecological deterioration.

This study intend to investigate a theoretical model looking at how particular tourist emotions, such as “joy,” “love,” and “positive surprise,” might predict their behavior by looking at how satisfied they are with their whole experience when visiting spas, and to examine the relationship of emotional experience, destination image, satisfaction and intention to revisit for spa tourism.

A sample of 345 individuals who traveled to Alleppey as domestic tourists participated in the research study. A non-probability (purposive) sampling method in this study. The structural model was analyzed using Structural Equation modeling (SEM), and the path coefficients were examined to test the hypotheses.

The results supported the hypotheses, indicating that specific emotions, image of the destination, and satisfaction significantly impacted tourists' intentions to revisit Alleppey as a spa tourism destination. This study demonstrated that “emotions of joy, love, and positive surprise” have a considerable influence on the image of the destination and satisfaction. The findings reveal a substantial correlation between satisfaction and behavioral intention (“Intention to revisit”). The research suggests that a higher degree of satisfaction would encourage visitors to revisit the location.

The research suggests that a higher degree of satisfaction would encourage visitors to revisit the location. This research offers vital information for developing, planning, and putting into practice tourism policies in the spa tourism sector. This article focuses on domestic travelers who travel to Alleppey, so the conclusions may not be relevant to research utilizing foreign tourists.

According to the literature study, and to the authors` knowledge, only limited number of studies that look at spa tourism from a wellness perspective. Additionally, Alleppey is used in the study as the study’s setting, providing insight into the visitor experiences of this expanding spa tourism business. This study gives understanding about how emotional experience predicts behavioral intentions.

Studies examining public insecurity and tourism tend to develop their research from the tourist's perspective, thereby focusing on its consequences, which insufficiently and poorly contribute to the development process. With that in mind, the purpose of this study is to discuss the root causes of public insecurity and the urban development process surrounding tourism dynamics in Brazil's northeast region.

The complexity method was used to collect both documentary and normative data to understand the reality beyond the data on accommodations and vertical real estate developments over time. These data were organized in ArcGIS (version 10.5) and are discussed within the context of urban development, public insecurity and tourism theories.

The results of this study demonstrate that the relationship between tourism and public insecurity is rooted in discussions surrounding the urban development process, remodeled by the physical and symbolic dimensions surrounding the production of space. Nevertheless, the symbolism of tourism is not a constant when it comes to socio-spatial changes but rather acts as a physical and secondary dynamic throughout the entire reconfiguration process.

The findings of this study indicate that this study can be used for the elaboration of security policies in tourist destinations in Latin America that present high levels of violence, considering the discourses at implementing urban legislation.