Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient in agriculture; however, lack of reporting makes its supply chain a black box. By using literature synthesis on the P challenge, we identify four areas where the reporting process is problematic: P reserves and resources; P losses along the supply chain; P externalities; and access to data. We find that in these areas, the reporting system is inconsistent, inaccurate, incomplete, fragmented and nontransparent. We use systems analysis to discuss implications of reporting on the sustainability of the P supply chain. We find that reporting is essential for the achievement of global P governance and the human right to adequate food. It can also inform decision makers and other impacted stakeholders on policies on agriculture, food security, pollution and international conflict. An improved P reporting process also allows a better evaluation of global sustainability commitments such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Wetlands are complex social-ecological systems, which provide both important habitat for species, and multiple tangible and intangible benefits for people. Sustaining long-term benefits through restoration, conservation, and sustainable use is often linked to integrative and adaptive approaches to wetlands management. Such approaches assume democratic ideals, and require multilevel, multisector, and multiactor participation in governance and management arrangements. How then can functional wetlands be restored and sustainably managed as social-ecological systems in strongly state-centric, top-down governance contexts, such as in former Soviet republics? Using three case studies of wetland restoration and management for ecosystem functionality, biodiversity conservation, and human livelihoods, we employ a complex systems approach to analyze key governance and management dynamics underpinning initiatives toward sustainable wetlands in Belarus. We identified five core processes, namely, planning, garnering stakeholder support, obtaining key inputs (financial, human, material, technological, fixed capital), implementing core activities, and integrating learning and knowledge cycles. Key constraints concerned institutional hierarchies, onerous regulations, "negativism," and financing difficulties. Strategies relating to perception management, risk mitigation, and learning are identified as key to enabling beneficial feedback loops relating to core processes. Although path-dependent societal dynamics of the Soviet era continue to influence wetland systems, combinations of social and ecological crises created windows of opportunity for active participation among nongovernmental actors. Major opportunities for enabling emergent management approaches included identification of confluences of interest amongst stakeholders, as well as the continued mutual integration of Belarus with the international community.
Contribution/Originality: This study contributes in the existing literature on critical raw materials. It uses logical methodology-system dynamics (CLD)-to understand social and economic drivers for phosphore and Indium. This methodology could be helpful for the economists who work on Economy of natural resources or Economy of Environment. 1. INTRODUCTION Raw materials are crucial to the world economy and essential to maintaining our welfare. They underpin industry and support the modern technology we use daily, such as smartphones, computers, and the harvest of the green economy. Securing reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern for both developed and developing countries. To address this challenge, many countries and international institutions have created a list of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) or commissioned a predictive analysis of future metal demand to support the transition to a low carbon future (IEA, 2015; World Bank, 2016). Historically, the concept of critical raw materials has mainly been developed by government agencies and has been triggered by concerns over supply shortages or market price spikes in crisis years. For example, at the end of
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