Rakesh Tiwari

University of Leeds ·  Ecology and Global Change Group (EGC)

Microclimate differences in water availability can diversify seasonal water use and photosynthetic strategies among co-occurring tropical tree species, especially in forests with strongly seasonal climates. We studied a tropical forest site in the Western Ghats, India, and characterised seasonal differences in photosynthetic CO 2 assimilation rates...

Land regions are warming rapidly. While in a warming world at extra-tropical latitudes vegetation adapted to higher temperatures may move in from lower latitudes this is not possible in the tropics. Thus, the limits of plant functioning will determine the nature and composition of future vegetation. The most temperature sensitive component of photo...

Tropical forests are experiencing unprecedented high temperature conditions due to climate change that could limit their photosynthetic functions. We studied the high temperature sensitivity of photosynthesis in a rainforest site in southern Amazonia, where some of the highest temperatures and most rapid warming in the Tropics have been recorded. T...

Factorial experiments of combined warming and elevated CO2 are rarely performed but essential for our understanding of plant physiological responses to climate change. Studies of tropical species are particularly lacking, hence we grew juvenile trees of Alchornea glandulosa under conditions of elevated temperature (+1.5 °C, eT) and elevated CO2 (+4...

With a growing human and livestock population, there is tremendous pressure on the natural resources and they are being continuous exploited. Gaining an understanding of the status of resources and the drivers of change would aid in better planning and management, particularly at the village level. Given the vast resources, multitude of issues and...

We describe a modified manual closed-chamber approach with detachable lid and vertically stackable chambers for sampling followed by simultaneous analysis of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) for measuring greenhouse gas flux from rice and upland cropping systems in peninsular India. A meta-analysis of leading internationally/regionally recomme...

Studies reporting agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data from tropical upland crops or the climate adaptation and mitigation potential of farming practices that involve nutrient management and/or organic farming are very limited in number. We developed alternate groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) farming practices for rainfed kharif (South-we...

How much of India’s vast wasteland can be used for growing plants such as eucalyptus and Jatropha? As land demands have increased, the sustainable use of marginal lands has become increasingly important. In India about 47 million hectares, or 15 percent of the total geographical area, is classified as wastelands. Here we assess the climate and land...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to estimate carbon mitigation impacts of project activities in a community forestry project in Andhra Pradesh, India. Measurement and quantification of carbon stocks, monitoring of these stocks over time and projections using models is necessary for assessing the climate change mitigation potential or impacts...

Application of irrigation tank sediments (silt), was assessed for its effect on cropland soil fertility. Nutrient value was assessed to enable evaluation of the ecosystem service value of the sediment application process to cropland. Samples were collected from selected villages of Chitradurga district, Karnataka. Croplands with and without silt ap...

Indian village ecosystems are diverse with respect to population pressures, agricultural activities and production, livestock composition, energy sources, economics and infrastructural capabilities. Natural resource degradation is a major global concern and the factors and processes leading to degradation are regional and scale up from the micro le...

The activities undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Chitradurga district, Karnataka, were assessed for their potential to enhance and provide environmental services. Key programmes implemented in 20 villages during 2009 were studied using rapid scientific assessment methods. An indicator approach was adopte...

Climate change vulnerability profiles are developed at the district level for agriculture, water and forest sectors for the North East region of India for the current and projected future climates. An index-based approach was used where a set of indicators that represent key sectors of vulnerability (agriculture, forest, water) is selected using th...

The activities undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Chitradurga district, Karnataka, were assessed for their potential to enhance and provide environmental services. Key programmes implemented in 20 villages during 2009 were studied using rapid scientific assessment methods. An indicator approach was adopte...

Climate change is projected to lead to shift of forest types leading to irreversible damage to forests by rendering several species extinct and potentially affecting the livelihoods of local communities and the economy. Approximately 47% and 42% of tropical dry deciduous grids are projected to undergo shifts under A2 and B2 SRES scenarios respectiv...

Knowledge of recent changes in land use, driving forces and implications of changes in the context of sustainable development is limited. This study analyses the changes in spatial patterns of land use including crop diversity, the drivers and implications of changes in 11 village ecosystems of southern India. Data obtained from existing maps, land...

Forests play a critical role in addressing climate change concerns in the broader context of global change and sustainable development. Forests are linked to climate change in three ways. i) Forests are a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; ii) Forests offer mitigation opportunities to stabilise GHG concentrations; iii) Forests are impacted b...