Ecology, Economy and Society–the INSEE Journal

Diversity, Scale, and Context in Environmental Governance

Sudha Vasan — 2025-01-28

De jure and De facto Land Management Approaches of Forest Officials

Nita Shashidharan — 2025-01-28

Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment

Malabika Biswas Roy — 2025-01-28

Constructed wetlands (CWs) mimic natural wetland processes and are designed primarily for wastewater treatment. Their cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency have made them popular globally. In the present study, the online Scopus database was used to identify 4407 documents related to CWs from 1991 to 2020 and bibliometric analysis was conducted. Among these, 209 publications were highly cited (>100 times), constituting 5.1% of all publications. VOSviewer software was used to conduct citation network analyses, which revealed a steady increase in annual publications on the topic over time. The United States, China, and the Czech Republic produced the highest number of highly cited publications. Notably, the journal Ecological Engineering received the most citations, followed by Water Research and Water Science and Technology. The literature analysis explored CW design, the role of macrophytes and microorganisms, organic pollutant and nutrient removal processes, and operation and maintenance. Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis are commonly used plant species in CWs. Despite their efficacy and cost-efficiency, challenges such as difficulties in procuring land, conducting regular maintenance, and raising public awareness persist. Further research and innovation are crucial for maximizing CW applications in wastewater treatment in the modern era.

An Indian perspective on One Health prescriptions

Madhuri Ramesh — 2025-01-28

This commentary offers a critical engagement with the Environment–Health Nexus Policy Guide released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2022–23. We find that it strikes a hitherto-elusive balance between concerns centred on human and environmental health. It can be also credited with adopting an intersectoral approach—essential for addressing current and emerging infectious diseases, especially those of zoonotic origin. We contend that it does not adequately engage with the implementation challenges faced by countries with resource constraints or dense human populations, such as those in South Asia, and typified by India. We hope that a perspective from India will help the global policy discussions on One Health to diversify itself.

Fisheries Livelihoods and Governance

Merlyn Maria Antony — 2025-01-28

Navigating Environmental Crisis

Shailesh Kumar — 2025-01-28

Managing the Commons

Kishore Dhavala — 2025-01-28

Scenario of Solid Waste Management in Indian Cities

Poulomee Ghosh — 2025-01-28

The quantum of solid waste generated by the world is growing with increasing development and changing lifestyles, making waste management a daunting challenge. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, of India, along with initiatives by the Smart City Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, are pivotal in encouraging sustainable waste management. This paper establishes progress, gaps, and ground realities in solid waste management (SWM) in three of the best-performing cities in India. The paper first documents trends and practices in SWM in the three cities and then cross-checks the ground scenario through a primary survey of 322 citizens. The results show that all three cities have experienced improvements in SWM following government initiatives. Segregation of waste is the dominant protocol, and all three cities show a positive trend. The decentralization of wet waste treatment and sorting processes has facilitated material recovery. Centralized facilities, such as the waste-to-energy plant in Vishakhapatnam, the compressed biogas plant in Pune, and the biomethanation plant in Tirupati, are adding economic value to the system. Effective segregation and recovery have enabled scientific disposal, and advances have been made in the redemption of former dumpsites, with complete success in Tirupati.

Addressing Depletion in Alluvial Aquifers

Partik Kumar — 2025-01-28

India has one of the highest rates of groundwater extraction in the world, with depletion rates increasingly becoming a concern. The vast alluvial aquifers of the Indo-Gangetic Plain are vital for the country’s food security and livelihoods of millions. However, abstraction far exceeds natural recharge, resulting in a gradual decline. The hard-rock aquifers of peninsular India are also subjected to over-exploitation. But in these low-storage aquifers, it manifests as seasonal emptying and filling. In recent years, policy attention has shifted from supply-side approaches such as watershed management to demand-side measures such as participatory groundwater management under Atal Bhujal Yojana. However, the current strategies do not account for differences in geology. We argue that the management processes that worked in peninsular Indian hard-rock systems may not be suitable for alluvial aquifers, so a different approach is needed. To make this case, we draw on Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development framework for the management of common-pool resources. We argue that the characteristics of groundwater resources, the socioeconomic attributes of uses and users, and the rules governing use framed by existing institutions and agrarian policies are the distinguishing features to be considered in building solutions for alluvial aquifers.

Methodological Accounting of the Ecosystem Services Benefits of Community-based Restoration

Sony Baral — 2025-01-28

Ecosystem services are important for human well-being; yet, their valuation poses significant challenges, particularly in the context of benefit–cost analyses (BCA) for ecosystem restoration. This is because most ecosystem services are not bought or sold directly on the market. This study systematically reviews the cost and benefit parameters used in BCA and highlights the limitations in accounting for the social benefits of community-based forest restoration programmes. Of a total of 500 research articles, 41 met our inclusion criteria, with only 11 focusing on community-managed projects. The analysis reveals that transaction costs are often underrepresented, while timber resources and carbon sequestration are prioritized. Common valuation methods include the direct market price approach (46%) and benefit transfer (63%). The economic analysis shows a higher median benefit–cost ratio for general forest management projects (2.24) compared to community-managed programmes (1.65). These findings underscore the need to refine BCA variables and enhance economic efficiency in community forest restoration efforts.