The intensifying global challenge of groundwater depletion driven by climate variability, urban expansion, and unsustainable extraction has elevated the strategic importance of water harvesting (WH) and groundwater recharge (GWR) as integral components of sustainable water resource management. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of 587 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Scopus database and published between years 2019 and 2024. Employing VOSviewer and the bibliometrix R-package, the analysis mapped publication dynamics, co-authorship patterns, citation structures, and thematic evolutions in the WH and GWR research landscapes. The findings revealed four dominant thematic clusters, i.e., rainwater harvesting for climate adaptation, recharge estimation methodologies, geospatial and remote sensing applications, and interdisciplinary managed aquifer recharge (MAR) frameworks. India, China, and the United States emerged as the most prolific contributors in these topics although significant geographic and thematic imbalances persist, particularly in underrepresented yet water-stressed regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia. Despite methodological progress in Geographic Information System (GIS) based modeling and tracer techniques, the integration of artificial intelligence, socio-hydrological modeling, and participatory governance points to future research direction. To advance global groundwater sustainability and resilience, this review highlights critical knowledge gaps and proposes a strategic research agenda emphasizing hybrid recharge systems, AI-enhanced decision support tools, and socially inclusive implementation pathways.

The influence of anthropogenic activities on carbon sequestration within the Borgu and Zugurma sectors of Kainji Lake National Park, Niger State, Nigeria, was quantitatively assessed using a multidisciplinary approach. Forest carbon stocks were estimated across land use types through biometric forest inventory techniques, direct biomass sampling, and subsequent laboratory analyses. Variations in ecological parameters and carbon distribution were statistically evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test. Results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity between the two sectors. Borgu exhibited a higher mean tree density (142 trees ha⁻¹) and canopy cover (48%) compared to Zugurma (74 trees ha⁻¹; 22%), indicative of greater vegetation structural integrity. Species diversity, measured using the Shannon-Wiener index, was also higher in Borgu (H’ = 2.96) than in Zugurma (H’ = 1.84). Major anthropogenic drivers—including logging, deforestation, and livestock grazing—were identified, with recorded activity intensities reaching 94% in Borgu and 75.5% in Zugurma. Temporal analysis of carbon stock distribution from 1990 to 2040 demonstrated a projected decline exceeding 75% in zones with initially very high carbon storage, primarily attributable to continued land degradation. The degradation of forest structure and reduction in biomass suggest a substantial loss in the park’s carbon sink capacity and associated ecosystem services. These findings underscore the urgent need for ecologically informed land-use strategies, including targeted reforestation, conservation of carbon-dense and ecologically dominant tree species, and the enforcement of sustainable land management policies. Such interventions are essential for restoring carbon sequestration potential and safeguarding biodiversity in West African savannah ecosystems.

A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted to examine the evolution of scientific research on climate change and drought from 2013 to 2023. A dataset comprising 28,950 peer-reviewed publications was compiled from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, followed by rigorous data cleaning and standardization procedures. Analytical tools, including VOSviewer and CiteSpace, were employed to map keyword co-occurrence networks, author collaborations, and citation dynamics. The results revealed that co-authorship patterns were characterized by extensive global collaboration, with the United States (7,565 publications; 99,657 citations) and China (5,552 publications; 36,207 citations) identified as the leading contributors. Prominent institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1,945 publications) emerged as central nodes within international research networks. Keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted dominant thematic clusters, including “ecosystem responses” (12,212 occurrences), “water availability,” and “climate models”, indicating strong interdisciplinary linkages across environmental, agricultural, and geoscientific domains. Citation analysis pinpointed highly influential journals, with Science of the Total Environment (756 publications in 2013) and Water (Switzerland) (484 in 2014) noted for their substantial academic impact. Notable authors, such as J.J. Camarero (148 documents), were recognized for sustained scholarly contributions. A marked upward trend in publication volume was observed, with annual outputs increasing by 230%, from 1,394 documents in 2013 to 4,597 in 2023, reflecting intensified global attention on climate-induced drought. Funding analysis showed that 22,630 publications acknowledged financial support, predominantly from agencies such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Subject area distribution revealed a concentration in environmental sciences (28.5%), agricultural sciences (23.7%), and earth sciences (14.4%), underscoring the multifaceted nature of drought-related climate research. Network visualizations further demonstrated that the United States held the highest total link strength (5,240), followed by China (3,520), suggesting leadership in collaborative intensity. The integration of citation frequencies, publication trends, and thematic evolution provided a robust framework for identifying existing research gaps, informing mitigation strategies, and guiding science-based policy development. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing climate-related drought through enhanced international cooperation and the application of advanced modeling frameworks, while also illustrating the evolving structure of this research domain over the past decade.

Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (DT-SACCOs) have been recognized globally as pivotal financial institutions that facilitate economic development and financial inclusion. Despite this significance, 35.55% of DT-SACCOs in Kenya have been reported as financially unsustainable, a condition attributed primarily to deficient cash management practices. On average, four Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs) are delicensed annually due to financial distress, raising substantive concerns regarding the sector's sustainability. This study was undertaken to investigate the extent to which firm size moderates the relationship between cash management practices and financial sustainability within Kenyan DT-SACCOs. Grounded in cash management theory, the research adopted a positivist paradigm and employed a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 176 finance managers representing 176 licensed DT-SACCOs constituted the study population. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample of 122 respondents was determined, with data collected through structured questionnaires yielding a 98% response rate. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied in the data analysis. A statistically significant positive relationship between cash management practices and financial sustainability was identified (p = 0.001). Moreover, an increase in the Nagelkerke R² statistic indicated that firm size exerted a moderating effect on this relationship. It is recommended that DT-SACCOs prioritize the adoption of integrated digital treasury management systems to centralize and automate cash operations, including collections, disbursements, reconciliation, and liquidity monitoring, thereby enhancing financial resilience and long-term sustainability.

The transition to renewable energy sources (RES) for electricity generation has gained significant momentum due to environmental and sustainability concerns. However, the high initial costs associated with RES implementation remain a critical barrier, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). To address this challenge, a cost-effective optimization framework for the hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) was proposed, integrating advanced decision-making methodologies. The study focused on a case study of an MSME in a rural village in Ludhiana, Punjab, where the feasibility of various HRES configurations was evaluated using HOMER Pro software. The optimization process aims to minimize key financial metrics, including net present cost (NPC), operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of critical parameters such as diesel prices, inflation rates, and system constraints. To rank the HRES configurations, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach is employed, combining the Method based on the Removal Effects of Criteria (MEREC) for weight determination and the Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to Compromise Solution (MARCOS) for system ranking. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework effectively identifies the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable HRES configuration, providing a robust decision-making tool for MSMEs. This study not only contributes to the growing body of knowledge on RES optimization but also offers practical insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to promote renewable energy adoption in small-scale industrial settings.

The adoption of electronic documents (e-documents) in logistics has emerged as a critical component for enhancing efficiency, reducing operational costs, and contributing to environmental sustainability. However, despite its numerous advantages, the transition from traditional paper-based systems to e-documents has been sluggish, hindered by a range of barriers including legal and regulatory constraints, lack of standardization, and insufficient system interoperability. This study aims to identify and analyze these barriers, propose relevant policy measures to mitigate them, and evaluate the most effective policy for promoting widespread adoption. Four primary policy strategies were proposed to address the challenges of e-documents in logistics. These policies were assessed using multi-criteria analysis, incorporating fuzzy Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and Axial-Distance-Based Aggregated Measurement (ADAM) methods, to rank their effectiveness in overcoming adoption barriers. The results indicate that the policy ensuring full compliance with regulatory and documentation requirements, through a harmonized approach, offers the most significant potential for driving the adoption of e-documents. This policy emphasizes standardization and mandates compliance, fostering a more robust and efficient transition to digital systems. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the policy measures that can most effectively support the expansion of e-documents in logistics, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability and operational excellence of the sector.

The excessive application of agrochemicals has resulted in significant workplace exposure for agriculturists and environmental interaction for the general public, particularly in communities adjacent to agricultural zones. Such exposure is associated with detrimental health effects, including mutagenic and cytotoxic impacts. Agrochemical contamination frequently occurs through water, especially in rural villages where conventional water treatment systems are not designed to address these specific contaminants. The efficacy of activated carbon was investigated in this study as an adsorbent for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from contaminated water. The concentration of 2,4-D in water samples was quantified using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy at a wavelength of 283 nm. Preliminary adsorption experiments identified pH 2 as the optimal condition for 2,4-D uptake. The adsorption kinetics were best described by the Elovich model, with an equilibrium time of 480 minutes. Equilibrium studies revealed that three isotherm models—Redlich-Peterson, Temkin, and Toth—effectively represented the experimental data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 252.8 mg/g. The findings underscore the potential of activated carbon as a cost-effective and straightforward treatment method for the removal of 2,4-D from drinking water, particularly in rural areas lacking access to advanced water treatment infrastructure.