This paper aims to investigate local communities’ participation in eco-tourism projects by using the community of Situ Cisanti located in Tarumajaya Village, West Java as a case. Data were gathered through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation analysis. Observations and in-depth interviews were conducted simultaneously for two months, from September to October 2021. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 informants from the elements; village government officials of Tarumajaya, Perhutani, and local communities who participated in the Situ Cisanti eco-tourism project, which was completed through a documents analysis. According to the findings, local community participation in Situ Cisanti eco-tourism consists of conservation and economic participation. Conservation participation is demonstrated by their participation in restoration and greening activities such as reforestation, etc. in Situ Cisanti and its surroundings, whereas economic participation is demonstrated by the establishment of stalls, culinary, coffee, souvenir, and homestay businesses as a result of Situ Cisanti eco-tourism. Furthermore, the existence of this eco-tourism has empowered women because new business opportunities that arise are not only run by men but also by women. As a result, this study implies that the participation of local eco-tourism communities not only has an impact on empowering conservation knowledge and economics, but it can also imply women empowerment.

Purpose: The level of the environment is gradually declining, especially with regard to the serious problem of solid waste. Solid waste segregation-at-source is seen as the most essential approach to helping the natural environment minimize the amount of waste generated before being transferred to waste disposal sites and landfills in many rapidly growing towns and cities in developing countries. However, a number of previous environmental-based research have focused only on the general scope of recycling, sustainable development, and the purchase intention for sustainable food products. This situation has led to useful and relevant information on the research scope of households’ intention to segregate solid waste at source, which remains largely unanswered. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to provide a literature review to develop a novel theoretical framework in understanding the determinants of households’ intention to practise solid waste segregation-at-source. Theoretical framework: The study provides a detailed explanation of the application of the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Fietkau-Kessel Model, the Focus Theory of Normative Conduct, and the Value-Basis Theory to predict the relationship between attitude, subjective norms, environmental concerns, and environmental knowledge of households on intention to practise solid waste segregation-at-source. Design/methodology/approach: This research is descriptive in nature. Findings: A better understanding of the potential mediator and moderator is needed to contribute to the body of knowledge on the causal relationship between the studied variables. In conclusion, the researchers discuss how the framework can be used to address future research implications as more evidence emerges. Research, practical and social implications: The current study is expected to broaden previous research in order to improve general understanding of attitudes and subjective norms towards the specific research scope of solid waste segregation-at-source.

We studied the role of industry-academic collaboration (IAC) in the enhancement of educational opportunities and outcomes under the digital driven Industry 4.0 using research and development, the patenting of products/knowledge, curriculum development, and artificial intelligence as proxies for IAC. Relevant conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literature were reviewed to provide a background for this research. The investigator used mainly principal (primary) data from a sample of 230 respondents. The primary statistics were acquired through a questionnaire. The statistics were evaluated using the structural equation model (SEM) and Stata version 13.0 as the statistical software. The findings indicate that the direct total effect of Artificial intelligence (Aint) on educational opportunities (EduOp) is substantial (Coef. 0.2519916) and statistically significant (p < 0.05), implying that changes in Aint have a pronounced influence on EduOp. Additionally, considering the indirect effects through intermediate variables, Research and Development (Res_dev) and Product Patenting (Patenting) play crucial roles, exhibiting significant indirect effects on EduOp. Res_dev exhibits a negative indirect effect (Coef = −0.009969, p = 0.000) suggesting that increased research and development may dampen the impact of Aint on EduOp against a priori expectation while Patenting has a positive indirect effect (Coef = 0.146621, p = 0.000), indicating that innovation, as reflected by patenting, amplifies the effect of Aint on EduOp. Notably, Curriculum development (Curr_dev) demonstrates a remarkable positive indirect effect (Coef = 0.8079605, p = 0.000) underscoring the strong role of current development activities in enhancing the influence of Aint on EduOp. The study contributes to knowledge on the effective deployment of artificial intelligence, which has been shown to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes under the digital driven Industry 4.0 in the study area.

The coupling coordination degree model is used to analyze the change law of the inherent coupling relationship between the forest economy and the ecological environment system in Heilongjiang Province from 2006 to 2018 and its causes. The results show that by combining the coupling relationship with the relative priority of under-forest economic development, the coupling relationship change can be divided into three stages, the coupling coordination degree from 2006 to 2009 is mainly on the verge of imbalance, and the under-forest economic development lags behind the development of the ecological environment. From 2010 to 2012, the coupling coordination degree changed from the reluctant coupling stage to the stage on the verge of imbalance, and the forest economy was ahead of the ecological environment development. From 2013 to 2018, the degree of coupling and coordination was in the reluctant coupling stage, and the under-forest economy and the ecological environment continued to develop in synchronize and in harmony. Therefore, according to the research results, it is proposed to establish the principle of ecological priority, adhere to the development of characteristics, improve the level of science and technology, and rationally develop the under-forest economic industry, so as to promote the coupling and coordinated development of the under-forest economy and ecological environment system in Heilongjiang Province.

Distributed biomass energy technology has strong adaptability to the types of raw materials, flexible project scale, can meet the needs of special users, better economy in small scale, easier commercial development, in line with the characteristics of biomass resources and China’s national conditions. The distributed utilization of biomass energy mainly includes biomass briquette fuel and biogas. The key technologies include biomass briquette fuel processing and combustion, large and medium-sized biogas engineering technology, biomass gasification pyrolysis and gas utilization. At present, China’s distributed biomass energy technology is mainly in the stage of technological improvement and application demonstration. It is expected that by 2030, most of the key technologies will be basically mature and have the conditions for industrialization. The main development direction of China’s distributed biomass energy industry is the replacement of traditional coal-fired gas, urban/rural clean living energy supply, and rural ecological environmental protection. The pollution caused by burning coal/fuel oil, and at the same time centering on the national new urbanization strategy, provide sustainable clean energy for the construction of new rural areas, and improve the level of rural ecological and environmental protection. At present, the main bottleneck restricting the development of distributed biomass energy industry is economy and reliability. The state should increase investment in technological innovation and policy support, convert the environmental and social benefits of biomass energy into cost benefits, and promote biomass energy. The development of the industry can be distributed and utilized.