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Steering the restoration of degraded agroecosystems during the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Abstract
Agroecosystems are the largest human-natural coupled production system covering ~40% of the planet earth and provide essential ecosystem services for a good quality of life and human wellbeing. The sustainable management of agroecosystems are therefore essential for meeting the food, fuel, fiber, and fodder demands of the rapidly growing human population. Agroecosystems also play a key role in trace gases emission, and also affect the quality and usage of life-supporting resources such as air, water, soil etc. Though the sustainable management of agroecosystems are imperative for achieving UN-Sustainable Development Goals, they are frequently under degradation due to multiple drivers of changes such as unsustainable land-use practices, biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change, etc. Therefore, cordial efforts at national, regional and global levels are essential for managing agroecosystems to meet out the global goals and also the targets of the United Nations- Decade o-n Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). Here we opined various strategies for restoring degraded agroecosystems for sustainable development including the adoption of emerging paradigms such as micro-agriculture, urban agriculture, and landless agriculture for averting the mounting pressure on agroecosystems for the benefit of both people and the planet.
... Moreover, agrochemicals cause environmental degradation and harm human well-being (Arthur et al., 2000;Moncaster et al., 2000;Wimalawansa & Wimalawansa, 2014). In contrast, agriculture provides the lifeline for humans and the environment (Altieri et al., 1983;Cervantes-Godoy & Dewbre, 2010;Dubey et al., 2021;Wezel et al., 2014). Tropical agro-ecosystems are specifically important since tropics have optimum conditions for agricultural production with large verities of products. ...
... Furthermore, the rapid population growth leading to increasing food demand, urbanisation, and clearance of agricultural lands further challenge tropical agriculture (DeFries et al., 2004;Peterson et al., 2018). In this context, achieving Sustainable Development Goals becomes a challenge since preserving agriculture sustainability while fulfilling human and environmental sustainability (Dubey et al., 2021). ...
... Hence, agro-ecosystem resilience, including tropical agro-ecosystems, has become a key priority in many international agendas (Andres & Bhullar, 2016;Dubey et al., 2021). For example, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement promote sustainable agricultural practices which minimise environmental damages while maximising agricultural output for communities. ...
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Air Temperature on Drought Hazard in Sri
Lanka: with Special Reference to Hambantota District
... It has been estimated that agriculture alone accounts for the largest water usage (~70%) (Walter et al., 2017) and leads to the largest non-point sources of pollution due to the rampant use of agrochemicals like pesticides and fertilisers (Rhind, 2009). Hence, the validation of promising cultivation practices for saving critical natural resources like water is essential and indeed the need of the hour (Dubey et al., 2022). Also, the adoption of suitable cultivation practices that stimulate the soil microbiota (Elhaissoufi et al., 2021), innate endurance and tolerance of crops against pests and diseases, floods, submergence, and water lodging, etc. is also important for food production under the changing climatic conditions (Khatoon et al., 2020;Harindintwali et al., 2021;Maroli et al., 2021;Thompson et al., 2022). ...
... In order to feed a rapidly growing population, especially in developing nations, food production would need to almost double (www.fao.org). However, on one hand, increasing population and resultant land-use changes (especially for urbanisation and other developmental activities) reduce the per-capita land availability for agriculture (Zuo et al., 2018), whereas intensive cultivation practices reduce the quality of soil and thereby the agricultural yield, including rice production (Dubey et al., 2022). On the other hand, erratic weather events such as changing rainfall patterns, droughts, flooding, submergence, occurrence and prevalence of newer pests and diseases, etc., undermine the productivity of rice (Wheeler and Braun, 2013). ...
... Innovative rice cultivation practices are being reported from different rice cultivating regions across the world. These practices include providing smallholder farming communities with science-and evidence-based management practices such as dry direct seeded rice cultivation to help them cope with challenges (Alam et al., 2018;Cui et al., 2018;Ishfaq et al., 2020), sustainable intensification (Zuo et al., 2018), investigating the synergistic effects of nutrients (Ji et al., 2021), deploying modern molecular tools for improving desirable traits in rice i.e., improving seed germination, growth, yield, tolerance, and nutritional quality Reddy et al., 2021;Ayaad et al., 2021), engineering soil microbiome by co-inoculation of plant-growth promoting microorganisms (Kumar and Dubey, 2020), adoption of organic and resource conserving practices (Dubey et al., 2022), farm mechanization (https://www.irri.org/mechanization-and-postharvest) and engineering of the soil microbiome. ...
-Enhancing the productivity of rainfed crops, especially rice, while coping with climate adversities and saving critical natural resources is essential for ensuring the food and nutrition security of a growing population. With this context, the present study was undertaken to validate promising farm innovation and adaptation practices used by small-medium landholding farmers for rice cultivation in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), north India, as well as to examine the sustainability of innovative practices for large-scale adoption. For this, a 3-year study comprising extensive field surveys and experiments was undertaken to compare single transplantation (ST) and double transplantation (DT) in rice along with organic addition (farm-yard manure, FYM) on crop growth, yield, climate resilience, soil quality, and overall sustainability i.e., social (women involvements and labour productivity), environmental (water productivity and nutrient use efficiency), and economic (benefit:cost ratio) dimensions of sustainability. Field experiments were conducted in triplicate using two local rice varieties (MotiNP-360 and Sampurna Kaveri) in two agroclimatic zones, namely the middle Gangetic plains and the Vindhyan zone, in the Mirzapur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The DT practices of rice with and without farm yard manure (FYM) (replacing at a dose of 25% NPK) were evaluated over conventional methods of rice cultivation (i.e., ST, as control) and analysis was done periodically. The DT practice improved growth (p < 0.05), percent fertile tiller and grain (p < 0.05), and rice yield (15-20% higher than ST), while also improving soil quality, yield indices, water and labour productivity, and the benefit-cost ratio. The DT practice also resulted in early maturity (10-15 days earlier than ST), created more labour days for women, decreased lodging and pest/disease incidence, as well as a subsequent reduction in the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and associated environmental costs. Importantly, the residual effects of FYM application significantly improved (p < 0.05) the grain yield in subsequent years of cropping. Optimizing DT cultivation practices, preferably with FYM input for various agro-climatic regions, is essential for large-scale sustainable rice production under changing climatic conditions.
... Moreover, agrochemicals cause environmental degradation and harm human well-being (Arthur et al., 2000;Moncaster et al., 2000;Wimalawansa & Wimalawansa, 2014). In contrast, agriculture provides the lifeline for humans and the environment (Altieri et al., 1983;Cervantes-Godoy & Dewbre, 2010;Dubey et al., 2021;Wezel et al., 2014). Tropical agro-ecosystems are specifically important since tropics have optimum conditions for agricultural production with large verities of products. ...
... Furthermore, the rapid population growth leading to increasing food demand, urbanisation, and clearance of agricultural lands further challenge tropical agriculture (DeFries et al., 2004;Peterson et al., 2018). In this context, achieving Sustainable Development Goals becomes a challenge since preserving agriculture sustainability while fulfilling human and environmental sustainability (Dubey et al., 2021). ...
... Hence, agro-ecosystem resilience, including tropical agro-ecosystems, has become a key priority in many international agendas (Andres & Bhullar, 2016;Dubey et al., 2021). For example, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement promote sustainable agricultural practices which minimise environmental damages while maximising agricultural output for communities. ...
... Moreover, agrochemicals cause environmental degradation and harm human well-being (Arthur et al., 2000;Moncaster et al., 2000;Wimalawansa & Wimalawansa, 2014). In contrast, agriculture provides the lifeline for humans and the environment (Altieri et al., 1983;Cervantes-Godoy & Dewbre, 2010;Dubey et al., 2021;Wezel et al., 2014). Tropical agro-ecosystems are specifically important since tropics have optimum conditions for agricultural production with large verities of products. ...
... Furthermore, the rapid population growth leading to increasing food demand, urbanisation, and clearance of agricultural lands further challenge tropical agriculture (DeFries et al., 2004;Peterson et al., 2018). In this context, achieving Sustainable Development Goals becomes a challenge since preserving agriculture sustainability while fulfilling human and environmental sustainability (Dubey et al., 2021). ...
... Hence, agro-ecosystem resilience, including tropical agro-ecosystems, has become a key priority in many international agendas (Andres & Bhullar, 2016;Dubey et al., 2021). For example, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement promote sustainable agricultural practices which minimise environmental damages while maximising agricultural output for communities. ...
... These groups are crucial for assessing the contribution of birds to ecosystem services in agroecosystems [16,49]. Additionally, the results affirm the vital role of native vegetation around vineyards in conserving native bird species and providing essential ecosystem services [29,50]. ...
... Assessing bird communities in modified landscapes is crucial for ecological conservation [51]. Insectivorous birds benefit from native vegetation in vineyards, with other studies showing that nest boxes enhance predation services [29,50,52]. Granivores and omnivores, which are more abundant at edges, impact seed dynamics and grape yields, necessitating further research on their ecological roles [53,54]. ...
Agricultural landscapes significantly impact biodiversity, particularly within vineyard ecosystems where the configuration of native vegetation and vineyard edges plays a pivotal role. This study investigated the structure of bird communities across vineyards, their edges, and adjacent native vegetation, utilizing generalized linear mixed models to analyze the influence of surrounding land covers at varying scales of 100 m and 1000 m radii across these three landscape types on bird richness and abundance and functional groups. The results highlight that native vegetation is crucial for supporting endemic bird species, with 41% of all observed species found across all three habitat types and a significant 66.7% shared between native vegetation and edge habitats. In particular, insectivores and carnivores, key to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision, showed higher abundances in areas with extensive native vegetation, underscoring its vital role in maintaining ecological functions. Edges not only enhanced the general bird richness and abundance but also served as crucial habitats for granivores and omnivores, influencing ecosystem dynamics through changes in the trophic guild community structure. These findings underscore the importance of conserving native vegetation within vineyard landscapes to foster a diverse avian community that contributes to enhancing ecosystem services. These results provide an opportunity to intensify restoration initiatives on vineyard edges and enhance our understanding of how certain species adapt to agriculture. This can be considered a vital nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture, promoting biodiversity conservation alongside productive agroecological practices in vineyard ecosystems.
... Given that agroecosystems cover about 38% of the global land area and are responsible for 34% of global greenhouse gases emissions, 70% of global freshwater usage, and the largest non-point sources of pollution, it is imperative that we adopt clean, green, and sustainable production practices to keep food production within planetary boundaries (Rockstrom et al. 2009;Crippa et al. 2021;Dubey et al. 2021a). Additionally, since agricultural systems often act as transitional zones between urban, rural, and wild/protected areas, maintaining species diversity in agroecosystems is crucial, especially the diversity of pollinators and other critical organisms, to ensure the health and diversity of nearby ecosystems (Dubey et al. 2021b). However, modern agriculture, which relies on high-input resources and monocropping, has led to a reduction in agrobiodiversity in various agroecological regions of the world. ...
... On the other hand, exploring the agricultural and nutritional potential of untapped wild plant species provides numerous options for crop diversification and subsequent dietary diversification. Therefore, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices based on crop diversification and multiple cropping systems, primarily with the help of wild and neglected plants, will increase species diversity and agroecosystem resilience (Dubey et al. 2021b). As wild plants possess better adaptation traits and climate resilience than modern crop varieties, their sustainable utilization would be advantageous for directly or indirectly achieving various SDGs, such as no poverty (SDG:1), zero hunger (SDG:2), good health and wellbeing (SDG-3), responsible consumption and production (SDG:12), climate action (SDG-13), and life on land (SDG-14) . ...
... Prioritizing attention to food security, energy, and water is crucial to achieving sustainable development in countries that are highly dependent on commodity and food price developments [1][2][3]. A closer look at the statistical analysis, reveals that worldwide livestock foods are thought to double by 2050 [4,5]. ...
... Nevertheless, many restrictions can affect the production of forage, such as the long growing season, unavailability of land, uncertainty about rainfall, water scarcity, and natural disasters [7]. Due to the limitations of conventional forage cultivation, hydroponic technology is emerging as an alternative to forage farming, especially for livestock [8][9][10], that provides a suitable choice to meet the growing needs of farm animals [2,11]. The soilless greenhouse guarantees a significant reduction in labor costs, space, and water requirements, assuring the freshness and good palatability of the forage. ...
Supplying the heating and cooling needs of a soilless vertical farming system for an intensive and sheltered fodder production system is explored. This paper describes a full system consisting of a Hydroponic Greenhouse (HG), a freshwater tank, and a Multi-Level Pipes Exchanger System (ML_PESys). The ML_PESys warrants the conditioning of the HG and operates in two modes: summer mode during hot periods and winter mode during cold periods, by activating the optimal number of layers. In this work, a dynamic modeling and experimental approach are followed to examine the thermo-energetic setting of the hydroponic greenhouse. Furthermore, an energetic balance is performed to substantiate the chosen model and uphold its validation. The hydroponic greenhouse is heated via a solar water system composed mainly of two evacuated tube solar collectors and cooled with freshwater. An experimental case study is conducted to examine the effect of conditioning on the greenhouse microclimate and its effects on forage growth and productivity. An HGH-Sim model was also used to substantiate the ML_PESys performance in both summer and winter. After validating the model, the numerical results showed an increase in nighttime temperature of between 5 and 6 °C during the test period and a diurnal temperature drop of about 6 °C throughout the warm period. The cooling process was only done in the daytime. The benefit of this application is to increase plant height and get more yield. Compared to traditional feed, hydroponic fodder improves health and reduces feed requirements for livestock. The novelty of this research refers to presenting a new approach aiming to ensure the energy supply of a hydroponic greenhouse for forage crops including a new methodology and new observation. This study brings out the effect of implementing the innovative environmentally friendly conditioning system not only in ensuring the energy supply of a hydroponic greenhouse but also in improving the feed length and the harvest yield.
... Cost-effective and proven approaches exist that can be applied now to improve soil C without compromising soil productivity (Dubey et al., 2021). Tree or shrub plantations or protection of naturally surviving trees is called agroforestry (adopted in Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Morrocco, Turkey). ...
Desertification threatens land integrity, social stability, and sustainable global economic development. Between 1982 and 2015, 6% of the world's drylands experienced desertification because of unsustainable land use practices exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change. Despite initiating several global and regional projects to control desertification actively, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) failed to achieve its land restoration goals. Therefore, this paper thoroughly examines the primary factors contributing to desertification, identifies the obstacles impeding control efforts, and presents effective solutions to combat this pressing issue. Poor policy and awareness about desertification, institutional gaps, social and cultural barriers, limited access to credit and modern technologies, lack of standardization, and inconsistent estimates of desertification extent were the main constraints hindering the desertification control efforts. However, implementing several crucial approaches could effectively address the challenge of global desertification. The capacity building, education, and training should be more comprehensive for local communities, but land managers, government officials, and development planners should be part of this. Local and indigenous knowledge should be integrated with scientific knowledge to get a better harvest against desertification. Sustainable land management practices could enhance soil productivity and advanced technology (remote sensing, digital maps, machine learning approaches and data mining) could help standardize procedures and accurately assess the extent of desertification. Different approaches can stabilize soil against wind and water erosion, such as bio-cementing and biocrust formation. Converting degraded areas into green spaces can create about 10 million green jobs and foster a green economy in developing countries. Finally, to achieve aspirant land restoration targets and sustainable development goals (SDGs), it is imperative to carry out comprehensive research on desertification, utilizing sound and modern scientific knowledge by investing in research institutes and training the next generation of researchers. K E Y W O R D S aridity, climate change, desertification, ecosystem functioning, food security, land degradation, sustainable development goals
... The multi-functionality of biochar creates a comprehensive framework that integrates a method to valorize low-value woody biomass, which could be a crucial component for effectively executing the sustainability model Lehmann et al., 2003;Rodriguez Franco et al., 2024;Singh et al., 2022). Biochar has been widely reported to be an excellent material for achieving sustainability in forest soil that has been degraded by wildfire, mining, and other catastrophic soil disturbances (Dubey et al., 2021;Ghosh & Maiti, 2021). For example, Guayasamín et al. (2024) reported an increase in 23%-19% tree growth by biochar produced from forest waste biomass on tropical Amazonian Ecuador forest soil. ...
Forest management activities that are intended to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire generate low‐value woody biomass, which is often piled and open‐burned for disposal. This leads to greenhouse gas emissions, long‐lasting burn scars, air pollution, and increased risk of escaped prescribed fire. Converting low‐value biomass into biochar can be a promising avenue for advancing forest sustainability and carbon neutrality. Biochar can be produced either in a centralized facility or by using place‐based techniques that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and generate a high‐carbon product with diverse applications. This review explores the multifaceted roles of biochar produced from low‐value biomass during forest restoration activities in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation. First, the ecological benefits are evaluated, including soil restoration, nutrient cycling, and vegetation enhancement, which are pivotal for restoring post‐disturbance forest health and enhancing resilience to future disturbance. Second, we evaluate the role of biochar in carbon sequestration and carbon neutrality objectives, which also foster sustainable soil practices and sustainable forest management. In addition, we highlight biochar markets, commercialization, and carbon credit interactions as emerging mechanisms to incentivize biomass utilization for biochar. The integration of biochar made from low‐value woody residues from forest restoration can enhance restoration strategies, engage stakeholders in sustainable land management practices, and mitigate environmental problems while enhancing the resilience of forest ecosystems to future disturbances. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging low‐value woody biomass for biochar production as a strategic resource for achieving comprehensive forest restoration goals and fostering sustainable development in forested landscapes.
... It is a well-known fact that carbon sequestration can be achieved by agricultural practices (Schahczenski and Hill 2009); as India is agriculturally based, the carbon sequestration potential in India needs to be analyzed in detail, especially for the long-term future. The agroecosystems are evolving and important to understand with the response to climate change (Dubey et al. 2016(Dubey et al. , 2020aSarkar et al. 2020); here, the climate models may provide an insight into the future carbon dynamics. Many of the earth system models have been evaluated across the globe, like BCC_CSM1. ...
Carbon sequestration refers to the fixing of carbon in the soil, vegetation, oceans, etc., out of which soil is considered an important sink for carbon. CO2 flux between the soil and atmosphere has a great impact on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Earth System models (ESM) are extensively used for the assessment of climate change on regional and global scales. The present study aims to assess the change in carbon storage in various sinks of carbon from ESM of Coupled Models Inter-comparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) under the past and future time periods using the CanESM2 model data. The present study shows the spatio-temporal trend of carbon sequestration in soil, vegetation, and litter under different representative concentration pathways in the near (2031–2060) and far future (2061–2100). Changes in net ecosystem productivity (NEP) are also analyzed for past and future time periods. The ESM outputs will help the scientific community to understand the carbon flux and fate of carbon sequestration under changing climate.
... These predicaments act as impediments to the sustainable progress of rural socio-economic development (Berg et al., 2023;Dogan et al., 2022). Rural ecological restoration emerges as a pivotal instrument for ameliorating these ecological predicaments, concurrently playing a vital role in the endeavor to cultivate environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing rural communities (Alves-Pinto et al., 2017;Dubey et al., 2021). However, it is worth noting that rural ecological restoration is marked by protracted outcomes and substantial expenditures (Rachel et al., 2021). ...
Benefit evaluation furnishes a valuable reference for the formulation and execution of rural ecological restoration policies. This paper employs choice experiment and multinomial logit model to dissect rural residents' ecological restoration preference. The paper gauges the benefit associated with rural ecological restoration within the "Study Site" and crafts a benefit transfer model to prognosticate the benefit within the "Policy Site." The results show that rural residents exhibit a preference for ecological restoration, albeit with variations in preference across distinct regions. Specifically, based on the results within the "Study Site," the upsurge in benefit stemming from ecological restoration in Haikou, Dongfang, Lingshui, and Qiongzhong amounts to 414.541 CNY, 467.625 CNY, 619.374 CNY, and 491.463 CNY per household, respectively. Utilizing the benefit transfer model to prognosticate the benefit variations within the "Policy Site," the ultimate evaluation indicates that ecological restoration in Hainan can confer a cumulative benefit of 719.7 million CNY upon the residents. These findings serve as a pivotal point of reference for the advancement of rural ecological restoration within tropical regions.
... Its agencies, PNUMA and FAO, promoted several meetings and programs aiming to propagate guidelines for reforestation actions in urban and natural systems. Such initiatives might assist cities to reach the Sustainable Development Goals and the accomplishment of the Agenda 2030 (Dubey et al., 2021). ...
São Paulo city has three municipal nurseries for the distribution of urban tree specimens that meet the demand for its public landscape projects and increase in tree covering. One of them (Manequinho Lopes) receives tree seedlings from the environmental compensation processes contracted with the Municipal Secretariat for Green and Environment (MSGE). This paper aimed to evaluate the scenario of tree biodiversity received between July 2013 and July 2018 by the Manequinho Lopes nursery, as a measure of environmental compensation. The results indicated that 144,727 tree seedlings were received by the nursery, with approximately 80% of the total belonging to only 30 species, half of them belonging to only 10 different groups. We found just two predominated families: Myrtaceae and Bignoniaceae, highlighting a biotic homogenization risk. Regarding ecological attributes, it was found that 33% of the species were zoochoric, 16% autochorous and 22% anemochoric. Most of them were non-endangered specimens.
Keywords
Green areas; Native species; Green infrastructure; Environment; Nurseries
... Approximately 95% of the world's food supply is generated from soil, which also offers additional benefits such as biomass production, safeguarding natural resources, and conserving biodiversity (Ferrira et al., 2022). The processes of soil degradation, because of industrial and agricultural activities, along with increasing urbanization, lead to a decline in soil functions and ecosystem services (Dubey et al., 2020;Hendawy et al., 2019). The heavy metals, such as Zn, Fe, Cu, Mo, and Mn, play essential roles in trace amounts for plants, animals, and microbes. ...
Introduction: Soil pollution directly impacts food quality and the lives of both humans and animals. The concentration of heavy metals in Egypt’s drain-side soils is rising, which is detrimental to the quality of the soil and crops. The key to reducing the detrimental effects on the ecosystem is having accurate maps of the spatial distribution of heavy metals and the subsequent use of environmentally sustainable remediation approaches. The objective of this work is to assess soil contamination utilizing spatial mapping of heavy metals, determine contamination levels using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and calculate both the contamination severity and the potential for bioremediation in the soils surrounding the main drain of Bahr El-Baqar. Furthermore, evaluating the capacity of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and “Actinomycetes) to degrade heavy elements in the soil.
Methodology: 146 soil sample locations were randomly selected near the Bahr El-Baqar drain to examine the degree of soil pollution Ordinary Kriging (OK), method was used to map and analyze the spatial distribution of soil contamination by seven heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Ni). Modified contamination degree (mCd) and PCA were used to assess the research area’s soil pollution levels. The process involved isolating, identifying, and classifying the microorganisms present in the soil of the study area. The study findings showed that variography suggested the Stable model effectively matched pH, SOM, and Cd values. Furthermore, the exponential model proved suitable for predicting Fe, Pb and Ni, while the spherical model was appropriate for Ni, Cr, and Zn.
Results: The study revealed three levels of contamination, with an extremely high degree (EHDC) affecting approximately 97.49% of the area. The EHDC exhibited average concentrations of heavy metals: 79.23 ± 17.81 for Cr, 20,014.08 ± 4545.91 for Fe, 201.31 ± 112.97 for Zn, 1.33 ± 1.37 for Cd, 40.96 ± 26.36 for Pb, 211.47 ± 13.96 for As, and 46.15 ± 9.72 for Ni. Isolation and identification of microorganisms showed a significant influence on the breakdown of both organic and inorganic pollutants in the environment. The study demonstrated exceptionally high removal efficiency for As and Cr, with a removal efficiency reached 100%, achieved by Rhizopus oryzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus thuringiensis.
Conclusion: This study has designated management zones for soil contamination by mapping soil pollutants, geo-identified them, and found potential microorganisms that could significantly reduce soil pollution levels.
... Approximately 95% of the world's food supply is generated from soil, which also offers additional benefits such as biomass production, safeguarding natural resources, and conserving biodiversity (Ferrira et al., 2022). The processes of soil degradation, because of industrial and agricultural activities, along with increasing urbanization, lead to a decline in soil functions and ecosystem services (Dubey et al., 2020;Hendawy et al., 2019). The heavy metals, such as Zn, Fe, Cu, Mo, and Mn, play essential roles in trace amounts for plants, animals, and microbes. ...
... The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, urging nations to achive sustainable ecological management and fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (Cowie et al., 2018;Lu et al., 2019;Peng et al., 2020;Dubey et al., 2021;Koh et al., 2021). Ecological restoration serves as a direct and adaptive countermeasure to the deterioration and depletion of ecosystems, finding extensive application across arid global terrains (Aronson et al., 2020;Zou et al., 2020;Yao et al., 2021). ...
... The United Nations has designated 2021-2030 as the decade of ecological restoration, and in the coming years, the restoration of degraded natural ecosystems will receive more attention (Dubey et al., 2021). Therefore, the greatest naturebased solutions to the twin concerns of global climate change and biodiversity loss include restoration of degraded forest landscapes, protection of extant natural forests, and plantation of human-modified landscapes (Keith et al., 2021;. ...
Concise efforts are required to manage forest ecosystems to achieve the global goals envisioned for the UN Decade (2021–2030) of Ecosystem Restoration targets. Among various global drivers of forest degradation, anthropogenic stresses may contribute to the long-persisting impact on vegetation dynamics and are one of the major impediments to the successful restoration of forest ecosystems at the local and regional scales. The research was focused on elucidating how anthropogenic disturbances influenced the forest composition, diversity, and phytosociological attributes of high-elevation forests of the Himalayas. Based on the intensity of anthropogenic stress and location, three differently disturbed sites i.e., Severely Disturbed (SD), Moderately Disturbed (MD), and Low Disturbed (LD) forest sites were selected. A random sampling method was used to record the vegetation parameters of the forest stands. Multivariate PAST software ver. 3.14 was employed to observe the relationship between ecological variables and plant communities. The results showed significant differences in vegetation composition between the forest types. Data collected revealed that composition, diversity, and phytosociological attributes (basal area) were decreased with the increase of anthropogenic stress. SD forest sites exhibited (3.1) times more deforestation rate than MD site (2.08) and declined with decreasing disturbance levels. Anthropogenic stress affected vegetation patterns and associations among plant communities, according to the Principal Component Analysis ordination. The study's findings generated empirical data that could be used to guide the restoration of degraded ecosystems to meet global goals as well as the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration targets (2021–2030) for forest management and the sustainable development of mountainous regions
... Land degradation is defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) as 'the reduction or loss of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rain fed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands resulting from a combination of pressures, including land use and management practices' (Steenmans 2017). The land degradation neutrality (LDN) target is regarded as an important measure to address global ecosystem degradation and achieve SDGs (Aronson et al. 2020;Cowie et al. 2018;Dubey et al. 2021;Lu et al. 2019). ...
Remote sensing technology plays a critical role in evaluating large-scale ecological restoration efforts. However, previous studies tend to focus on specific aspects of ecological restoration, such as water conservation, vegetation restoration, or land rehabilitation. As a sustainable development demonstration city in China, Taiyuan has undertaken numerous ecological projects to mitigate environmental degradation caused by its long-standing energy-driven economic expansion. To comprehensively evaluate Taiyuan’s ecological restoration efforts, this study used remote sensing technology to assess its progress from the SDGs perspectives, such as water conservation (SDG 6.3.2), air quality improvement (SDG 11.6.2), and ecosystem preservation (SDG 6.6.1, 15.1.1, 15.3.1, 15.4.2). Firstly, ecological restoration indicators were selected from the aforementioned SDGs perspectives. Secondly, a new vegetation growth condition index (VGCI) was developed to accurately monitor changes in vegetation growth. Finally, Taiyuan’s ecological restoration efforts were evaluated based on the selected indicators. The results showed that Taiyuan has made significant progress in ecological restoration, including improved water and air quality, increased forest coverage, and restored mine’s vegetation, likely due to its ecological projects. This study provides a useful framework for evaluating ecological restoration efforts and advancing sustainability goals.
... Protected areas (PAs) are important repositories of biodiversity and play a key role in supporting socio-ecological and cultural progress of human societies, including the livelihood of local communities living near these nature areas [5]. Recently, the role of PAs in providing life-supporting ecosystem goods and services has received increasing research attention [6,7]. The traditional communities have historically met their basic livelihood needs using local biological resources on a sustainable basis from the PAs [8]. ...
The ethnic communities living near Protected Areas (PAs) are critically dependent on medicinal plants for their healthcare. Although several ethnomedicinal studies are available from the Himalaya, yet the quantitative studies focusing on PAs in this region are largely overlooked. In this study, we aimed to document ethnomedicinal plants of Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary in Kashmir Himalaya. We conducted systematic field survey in the study area during 2020–21 to collect primary data from 110 participants through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The data was analysed using ethnobotany indices and Pearson’s correlation. We recorded 64 plant species used against eight human disease categories, including first time ethnomedicinal reports from the region. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most dominant families and herbs were the dominant lifeforms. The most common plant part used were leaves, and decoction the main method of preparation. Plant species with the highest relative frequency of citation was Achillea millifolium (0.83). Informant consensus factor for each disease category ranged from 0.94 to 0.97. We found a strong positive correlation between participants’ age and citations (r = 0.85), but a negative correlation between the participants’ education status and citations (r = -0.11). Our results revealed that the younger generation possesses the least ethnomedicinal information. The species with high use values and fidelity level need prioritization in phytochemical and pharmaceutical studies. Our findings highlight that PAs, in addition to their prime importance in biodiversity conservation, play a pivotal role in providing the healthcare provisioning ecosystem services to the ethnic communities.
... Such undertakings improve the ecological integrity of damaged ecosystems, which is key in their resilience to climate change and also ensures smooth recovery of watersheds against future effects of climate variations. Specific measures recommended for restoration include renewal of wetland flows by removing barriers, removal of exotic species and applying lime in acidified rivers to neutralize them (Dubey et al. 2021). Interbasin transfers, draining of flooded areas and recharging aquifers also ameliorate restoration of water ecosystems and their sustainability. ...
The focus of this chapter was to explore the challenges that prevent rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from realizing universal water access. Findings showed that many waterpoints to acquire groundwater using handpumps had been installed in the region over the last two decades to provide access to improved water services. However, the waterpoints have had unsafe water based on its smell, taste and odor over time and in some cases, other waterpoints have had reduced levels of water or even dried up. The trend was attributable to poor water infrastructural development and maintenance, poor financing of the rural water sector due to the area’s spatial and disperse nature as well as climate change effects of extended drought and seasonal variations. Consequently, the waterpoints are not useful to water users who seek for other alternative but unsafe water sources. The gendered water system where women and girls spend majority of educational and working time fetching water from waterpoints at long distances and in harsh topographies impended water access in the region. Moving forward, policy and cultural modifications are essential in deconstructing gendered water roles and in enhancing water funding in rural SSA for bettered access to the commodity.KeywordsGendered waterInfrastructurePollutionRural areasSub-Saharan AfricaWater challenges
... Such undertakings improve the ecological integrity of damaged ecosystems, which is key in their resilience to climate change and also ensures smooth recovery of watersheds against future effects of climate variations. Specific measures recommended for restoration include renewal of wetland flows by removing barriers, removal of exotic species and applying lime in acidified rivers to neutralize them (Dubey et al. 2021). Interbasin transfers, draining of flooded areas and recharging aquifers also ameliorate restoration of water ecosystems and their sustainability. ...
This chapter explored the sources of water used by sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for drinking and ways in which users access it. The total amount of renewable water in SSA was reported to be more than 8, 200 cubic kilometers annually (km3/year) mainly sourced from the western and central areas of the region near the Gulf of Guinea. Surface- and ground-water were the main sources of water. The region was endowed with some of the largest surface water sources globally, which covered more than 100 km2 of its land area. Groundwater water sources were estimated at 660,000 km2, which is 100 times more compared to the surface waters of the region. Compared to surface water, groundwater was underexploited except in Djibouti and Mauritania. Access to water was through improved and unimproved water services. Improved services were common in urban areas unlike the unimproved services in rural SSA. To improve water access in the region, the need to invest more finances in infrastructure to develop, harness, store, supply and distribute the commodity to users was recommended.KeywordsGroundwaterLakesRiversSub-Saharan AfricaSurface waterWater access
... Such undertakings improve the ecological integrity of damaged ecosystems, which is key in their resilience to climate change and also ensures smooth recovery of watersheds against future effects of climate variations. Specific measures recommended for restoration include renewal of wetland flows by removing barriers, removal of exotic species and applying lime in acidified rivers to neutralize them (Dubey et al. 2021). Interbasin transfers, draining of flooded areas and recharging aquifers also ameliorate restoration of water ecosystems and their sustainability. ...
... A growing body of studies on tropical forest recovery are analyzing the changes of stand-age-dependent forest attributes, such as biotic (i.e., tree community diversity, composition, and structure) and abiotic factors (i.e., chemical, and physical soil properties), in secondary succession compared to old-growth forests without disturbances (Poorter et al., 2016;Rozendaal et al., 2019). However, Amazon forest restoration strategies depend critically on integrative approaches (i.e., Dubey et al., 2020;Villa et al., 2021) and the understanding of multiple dimensions of diversity in tree communities (i.e., beyond species number), which can reveal the high conservation value in human-modified tropical landscapes forests (Pausas and Verdú, 2010;Tucker et al., 2017;Santo-Silva et al., 2018). We presume that sustainable soil management (organic agriculture, agroforestry) as the main predictor can determine the conservation of tree species diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic). ...
Understanding the phylogenetic diversity and structure of woody communities can explain how deterministic or stochastic processes drive a forest community assembly. This study assessed the tree community's phylogenetic diversity and structure during secondary succession after shifting cultivation (SC) in the Northern Amazon Forest. We hypothesized that soil-mediated filtering, rather than habitat filtering based on stand age and neutrality-based stochastic processes, determines phylogenetic diversity and structure of woody community along Amazon Forest succession after SC. We used forest inventory data from 45 plots across three sites representing second-growth forests (SG) having stand ages after shifting cultivation (e.g., 5, 10, 15, and 20 years old) and an old-growth reference forest (> 100 years old, OG). We tested different linear mixed-effects models to determine the main effects of soil-mediated filtering (i.e., nutrients and soil texture) and stand age on phylo-genetic metrics. Phylogenetic diversity (PD) showed a significant difference between SG and OG: the highest PD was found in OG, whereas the lowest PD was found during the initial successional stage. We found a trend of phylogenetic structure promoted by soil attributes; the variability of soil texture mainly explained most of the variation of phylogenetic diversity and structure. Stand age did not demonstrate a significant influence on phylogenetic metrics across any of the tested models. Higher soil fertility may favor the growth of species from multiple distant clades, increasing phylogenetic diversity and reducing phylogenetic clustering. However, SC may affect the fertility content in silt soils of OG and generate soils with a high proportion of sand and low fertility in SG. Thus, our study demonstrates that soil-mediated abiotic filtering shapes the phylogenetic structure and diversity of tree communities along Amazon forest succession due to deterministic processes rather than stand age and neutrality-based stochastic processes.
... Soil is a non-renewable resource that supports life on Earth by providing about 95% of global food production and offering other services like biomass production, securing natural resources, and maintaining biodiversity [1]. Yet, rapid urbanization and intensive industrial and agricultural activities accelerate degradation processes that diminish soil functions and ecosystem services [2]. Soil pollution is a chemical deterioration linked to the spread, accumulation, and negative biological or toxic effects of a substance on soils [3]. ...
This work is a novel trial to integrate geostatistics with fuzzy logic under the geographic information system (GIS) environment to model soil pollution. Soil samples from seventy-one soil profiles in the northern Nile Delta, Egypt, and were analyzed for total concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Metal distribution maps were generated using ordinary kriging methods. They were normalized by linear and non-linear fuzzy membership functions (FMFs) and overlain by fuzzy operators (And, OR, Sum, Product, and Gamma). The final maps were validated using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The best-fitted semivariogram models were Gaussian for Cd, Pb, and Ni, circular for Co and Zn, and exponential for Cu. The ROC and AUC analysis revealed that the non-linear FMFs were more effective than the linear functions for modeling soil pollution. Overall, the highest AUC value (0.866; very good accuracy) resulted from applying the fuzzy Sum overly to the non-linearly normalized layers, implying the superiority of this model for decision-making in the studied area. Accordingly, 92% of the investigated soils were severely polluted. Our study would increase insight into soil metal pollution on a regional scale, especially in arid regions.
... In fact, the unavailability of high-quality forage affects deeply the cattle production and reproduction [3]. The production of forage is influenced by several limitations as the unavailability of land, the scarcity of water, the uncertainty of rainfall as well as natural disasters [4]. The mentioned restrictions of conventional forage cultivation make the hydroponic technology an attractive alternative to forage farming, especially for livestock [5], [6]. ...
... This study uses structural equation modeling to consider these interactions and identifies the most important warning indicators of each stage of degradation. It is necessary to determine the severity of deviation of degraded ecosystems from desired status using the most important indicators in order to restore them (Dong et al., 2020;Dubey et al., 2021). The method presented in this study determines degradation by combining important indicators as well as the position of each ecosystem according to the intensity of their changes at each degradation stage. ...
Land degradation threatens the social welfare of human societies. In order to identify the most important indicators for land degradation assessment, this article quantified 36 vegetation and soil indicators. Ecosystem condition was determined based on the ecosystem threats using the InVEST habitat quality model, dividing the region to five degradation classes, i.e., negligible, little, medium, high, and very high degradation classes. The structural equation modeling showed that vegetation indicators were more important than soil indicators for land degradation assessment. Climate had a significant mediation on the relationships between soil and vegetation indicators and degradation (P < 0.05). Warning indicators were identified for each degradation stage. The mean changes of degradation indicators were 18, 35, 56, and 78% in little, medium, high, and very high degradation classes, respectively. Cold and semi-arid climates were more influenced by vegetation indicators which had the most variations in the early stages of degradation. Warm and arid regions were more affected by soil indicators, which had the most variations in the high and very high degradation stages. This approach provides comprehensive and necessary information about the condition of ecosystems by determining the severity of degradation in an area, the most important warning indicators of degradation, and the deviation of ecosystems from normal condition at each degradation classes, which helps a lot to managers to choose appropriate restoration plans.
... Inorganic fertilizers are important sources of plant nutrients for increasing sustainable food production to feed the rapidly growing global population [6,7]. Fertilizers such as urea (for N), diammonium phosphate (for N and P), and muriate of potash (for K) provide only primary nutrients, and excessive use of agrochemicals leads to devastating environmental impacts [8]. To get higher benefits in terms of crop yield and nutrient use efficiency The physical properties of the experimental soil were also analyzed by adopting standard procedures. ...
Two-year field experiments were conducted to study the effect of different levels of inorganic fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), and bio-inoculants on wheat productivity and profitability. Results specified that judicious application of inorganic fertilizers, FYM, and bio-inoculants significantly increased the productivity and profitability of wheat. Data suggested that the aggregate levels of fertilizer up to 100% NPK ha⁻¹ resulted in significant increases in all growth attributes, grain yield (+206%), straw yield (+177%), and harvest index (+7%) as compared to control. Meanwhile, plots with the application of 10 t ha⁻¹ FYM significantly (p < 0.05) increased grain yield (+26%) and straw yield (+22%) as compared to the control. Similarly, significant enhancement in grain and straw yields was observed with the application of PGPR + VAM over no-inoculation. Results showed that the significantly higher grain and straw yield attained by application of 75% NPK fertilizer + 10 t ha⁻¹ FYM was at par with the application of 100% NPK fertilizer alone. Further, net returns (profitability) and B:C ratio (2.37) were significantly higher with fertilization with 75% NPK + 10 t ha⁻¹ FYM along with PGPR + VAM as compared to 100% NPK alone. Overall, it can be concluded that the combination of 75% NPK and 10 t ha⁻¹ FYM along with PGPR + VAM represented the optimum for net return and B:C ratio and reduced (25%) dose of NPK as compared to the rest of the treatment combinations.
... Recent studies also show that earth-tipping points are closer to their limits and LD has accelerated due to anthropogenic pressures on natural resources including soil and water (Rockström et al. 2009;Steffen et al. 2015;Olsson et al. 2019;Gerten et al. 2020). Recently, LD was made a priority by the United Nations (UN) with the Sustainable Development Goal 15 "Life on land", the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) program (Gilbey et al. 2019), and the UN decade on ecosystem restoration program (2021-2030) (Dubey et al. 2021). In the Mediterranean region, severe LD can impede productive agriculture development (Borrelli et al. 2016;Panagos et al. 2015;Raclot et al. 2018) which is likely to be exacerbated by climate change Borrelli et al. 2020). ...
Scenarios serve science by testing the sensitivity of a system and/or society to adapt to the future. In this study, we present a new land use scenario methodology called ScenaLand. This methodology aims to develop plausible and contrasting land use and management (LUM) scenarios, useful to explore how LUM (e.g. soil and water conservation techniques) may affect ecosystem services under global change in a wide range of environments. ScenaLand is a method for constructing narrative and spatially explicit land use scenarios that are useful for end-users and impact modellers. This method is innovative because it merges literature and expert knowledge, and its low data requirement makes it easy to be implemented in the context of inter-site comparison, including global change projections. ScenaLand was developed and tested on six different Mediterranean agroecological and socio-economic contexts during the MASCC research project (Mediterranean agricultural soil conservation under global change). The method first highlights the socioeconomic trends of each study site including emerging trends such as new government laws, LUM techniques through a qualitative survey addressed to local experts. Then, the method includes a ranking of driving factors, a matrix about land use evolution, and soil and water conservation techniques. ScenaLand also includes a framework to develop narratives along with two priority axes (contextualized to environmental protection vs. land productivity in this study). In the context of this research project, four contrasting scenarios are proposed: S1
(business-as-usual), S2 (market-oriented), S3 (environmental protection), and S4 (sustainable). Land use maps are then built with the creation of LUM allocation rules based on agroecological zoning. ScenaLand resulted in a robust and easy method to apply with the creation of 24 contrasted scenarios. These scenarios come not only with narratives but also with spatially explicit maps that are potentially used by impact modellers and other end-users. The last part of our study discusses the way the method can be implemented including a comparison between sites and the possibilities to implement ScenaLand in other contexts.
... Second, looking for fuel diversification solutions so that in the future our country will not depend on fossil fuels whose availability is dwindling. Third, developing new and renewable fuels that have the potential to become a competitive advantage for Indonesia in the international market (20). With the awareness that petroleum as the main source of transportation fuel in Indonesia is running low and the price of oil is high in the world, the development of renewable energy sources must be carried out. ...
Sustainable agriculture is the management and conservation of natural resources, oriented to technological and institutional changes carried out in such a way as to ensure the fulfillment and satisfaction of human needs in a sustainable manner for present and future generations. Food independence is the ability of the state and nation to produce diverse food from within the country which can ensure the fulfillment of sufficient food needs. Basically the food must be available at all times and to be able to meet the criteria for food security. Food availability is determined by 3 main aspects, namely production (quantity), distribution (accessibility), and consumption (nutritious and safe). In addition, renewable energy can come from agricultural materials. The energy crisis that occurs today is caused by an imbalance in the demand for energy that continues to increase with energy supply that is dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas. This dependence is a serious threat to the world because of the known depletion of petroleum reserves, the instability of oil prices, and the pollution of greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels. The energy crisis will result in losses, both material and immaterial, such as loss of investor and consumer confidence, hampered creativity, inefficiency, and the risk of social unrest. The solution that is usually offered to overcome the energy crisis that occurs is the development and use of alternative energy sources, one of which is biofuels or biofuels.
... Agroecosystem restoration should be considered for purposes beyond food production (192). The phytotechnology toolbox discussed in this paper includes a variety of management options for restoring soil functions and services provided by agroecosystems. ...
Phytotechnology has traditionally been considered as a tool to remediate contaminated soils. While phytotechnology has been generally defined as the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving plants, the practical applications go far beyond restoring contaminated land. This review aims to broaden the way we think about phytotechnologies while highlighting how these living technologies can restore, conserve and regenerate the multiple functions and ecosystem services provided by the soil, particularly in the context of agroecosystems. At first, the main problems of soil degradation in agroecosystems are shortly underlined. Subsequently, the importance of plants and their living roots as engines of restoration are reviewed. This paper demonstrates the importance of root traits and functions for soil restoration. It also demonstrates that plant and root diversity together with perenniality are key component of an efficient soil restoration process. Then, a phytotechnology toolbox which includes three pillars for agroecosystems restoration is presented. The three pillars are agricultural practices and land management (1), rhizosphere engineering (2) and ecological intensification (3). This paper also highlights the importance of developing targeted phytotechnology-based restoration strategies developed from root functions and knowledge of rhizosphere processes. More work is needed to evaluate the potential benefits of incorporating phytotechnology-based restoration strategies in the context of grain or vegetable crop productions as most of the studies for agroecosystem restoration strategies were intended to mimic natural prairies.
... gement/202111/nature-based-solutions-must-be-credible-mea surable-and-inclusive-iucn; Sarkar et al. 2021a). Adaptive soil management practices help in increasing the ecosystem services and acheive the UN-Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) that are directly (no poverty, good health and well-being, life on land, etc.) or indirectly (clean water and sanitation, reduced inequalities, climate action, etc.) related agroecosystem management (Dubey et al. 2021). ...
Biotic stress management through bio-priming is a common practice among the farmers of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. However, this indigenous technology is less explored for the sustainable management of soil resources. Therefore, field-based experiments (2016–17 and 2017–18) were conducted in Varanasi to evaluate the combined effect of seedling bio-priming and fertilization on biochemical properties, microbiological properties, and fertility of red cabbage soil at harvest. Based on the farmers’ fertilization practice, the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) of N:P2O5:K2O were applied @ 120:60:60 kg ha⁻¹. Three compatible bio-agents, viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis were applied alone and in combination with 75% RDF. The effect of treatment combinations was also analyzed for carbon (C) mineralization by conducting an incubation experiment for 90 days. Bio-priming treatments recorded a higher richness of soil microflora and soil fertility than control and sole application of chemical fertilizers. Application of 75% RDF + T. harzianum + P. fluorescens resulted in highest urease and cellulase activities and soil organic C. Inclusion of dual-species bacterial consortium (P. fluorescens and B. subtilis) in integrated system resulted in highest dehydrogenase activity and available P. These priming agents also exhibited significantly higher CO2 fluxes and C mineralization in our incubation study. A microbial consortium of T. harzianum and B. subtilis increased the microbial biomass C and available K. Although application of triple-species consortium improved C mineralization in laboratory conditions, the positive effects lowered down in field conditions. As a bottom-up approach, customization of bio-priming technology among farmers will help in attaining the UN-Sustainable Development Goals.
... Agroecosystems represent ~40% of terrestrial systems, play a pivotal role in trace gases emission and influence the quality and usage of critical natural resources including water, soil, biodiversity etc. Though sustainable management of agroecosystems are essential for attaining the UN-SDGs, they are constantly under threat due to multiple drivers of changes such as pollution, climate change, unsustainable land-use practices etc. (Dubey et al., 2021a(Dubey et al., , 2021b. Therefore, cordial efforts at national, regional and global levels are crucial for managing agroecosystems to meet the UN-SDGs while reducing non-point source of pollution, protecting biodiversity, and other vital natural resources (Fig. 1). ...
This editorial article provides a brief overview of various articles published in the Special Issue: Managing Agroecosystems for Food and Nutrition Security.
... Global warming and climate change impacts on humankind have spurred interest in enhancing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration in the terrestrial ecosystems [1]. Human activities induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is the key cause for climate irregularities [2] which is severely affecting agricultural productivity [3,4] in the form of salinity, drought, waterlogging, high temperature, toxicity, etc. [5]. About 22% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions are contributed by agriculture and its allied sectors [6]. ...
Conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification (CASI) technologies comprising zero-tillage with crop residue retention (>30%) on the soil surface, diversified cropping systems, and balanced nutrient management are recognized as operative and efficacious strategies to ensure food security in the parts of South Asia. The present investigation was a component of CASI technologies undertaken in the farmers’ field of Malda (old alluvial Inceptisol) Coochbehar (recent alluvial Entisol) district, West Bengal (subtropical eastern India). This study was conducted to evaluate the short-term impact of contrasting tillage (zero and conventional) and cropping systems (rice–wheat and rice–maize) on total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions, viz., labile pool-1 (LP1), labile pool-2 (LP2) and recalcitrant carbon (RC) fractions after 4-year trial of conservation agriculture (CA) in the old and recent alluvial soils. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm), and thus, our study was focused on two factors, viz., cropping system and tillage. Results pointed that TOC along with LP1, LP2, and RC fractions under rice–maize (RM) cropping system were significantly (p<0.05) greater (15–35%) over rice–wheat (RW) system as a result of higher residue biomass addition. Zero-tillage (ZT) improved the C fractions by 10–20% over conventional tillage (CT) in all aspects. TOC and its fractions were observed to be greater under the ZT system in the topmost soil depths (0–5 and 5–10 cm), but the same system failed to improve these at 10–20 cm. Interestingly, the CT increased all the fractions at 10–20 cm depth due to the incorporation of crop residues. The concentration of TOC along with its fractions decreased with increasing soil depth was evident. Comparatively, all the C fractions, including TOC were maximum in soils from Malda sites as compared to Coochbehar sites because of a higher amount of residue biomass application, higher clay content, and greater background content of C in these soils. All the studied C fractions showed a significant correlation (r = >0.635; p<0.01) with TOC among all the soil depths in both the districts but the relationship with soil texture showed some interesting results. TOC fractions were significantly correlated (p<0.01) with clay particles indicating that its higher stabilization with clay in old alluvial Inceptisol (Malda); while in recent alluvial Entisol (Coochbehar), sand particle showed its strong relation with TOC fractions. Higher stratification ratio (SR) in the ZT system suggested that the concentration of TOC and its fractions are confined to the upper soil layers whereas in the case of CT, by and large, the distribution of these was comparatively high in subsequent soil depths due to residue incorporation effect. The concentration of C fractions in soils followed the order: TOC > RC > LP2 > LP1. The present investigation concluded that ZT under the RM system increases the turnover rates of C in both soil types but the amount of clay influences the stabilization/storage of C.
Manganese ore, as an important strategic metal resource for the country, was subject to unreasonable mining practices and outdated smelting technologies in early China, leading to severe ecological damage in mining areas. This study examines the trends in vegetation cover change in the historical manganese mining areas of Yongzhou under the influence of policy, providing technical references for mitigating the ecological impact of these legacy mining areas and offering a basis for adjusting mine restoration policies. This paper takes the manganese mining area in Yongzhou City, Hunan Province as a case study and selects multiple periods of Landsat satellite images from 2000 to 2023. By calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Fractional Vegetation Coverage (FVC), the spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of vegetation coverage in the Yongzhou manganese mining area from 2000 to 2023 were analyzed. The analysis results show that, in terms of time, from 2000 to 2012, the vegetation coverage in the manganese mining area decreased from 0.58 to 0.21, while from 2013 to 2023, it gradually recovered from 0.21 to 0.40. From a spatial perspective, in areas where artificial reclamation was conducted, the vegetation was mainly mildly and moderately degraded, while in areas where no artificial restoration was carried out, significant vegetation degradation was observed. Mining activities were the primary anthropogenic driving force behind the decrease in vegetation coverage, while effective ecological protection projects and proactive policy guidance were the main anthropogenic driving forces behind the increase in vegetation coverage in the mining area.
Este trabajo tiene como objetivo estimar las áreas agrícolas con riesgo de inundación
en una zona agrícola, basado en delimitar y caracterizar la cuenca, calibrar el modelo
hidrológico con datos meteorológicos e hidrométricos históricos observados, calibrar el
modelo hidráulico para definir áreas con posible riesgo de inundación, la evaluación del
riesgo agrícola y finalmente elaborar un mapa de riesgo de las zonas agrícolas.
El desarrollo de la investigación consistió en cuatro grandes fases: recopilación de
información, modelación hidrológica con el software HEC HMS, modelación hidráulica
con el software Iber y el análisis agrícola, que en conjunto nos permitieron obtener el
criterio de riesgo y generar los mapas de riesgo.
analizan la historia ambiental de la
Comarca Lagunera de los últimos 150 años. Examinan cómo la transformación de las
obras de riego como la construcción de presas y la perforación de pozos, producto de las políticas públicas han deteriorado el ambiente y han afectado a la población, los suelos, las plantas y los animales. Reportan que antes de la construcción de presas se utilizó la técnica de entarquinamiento en cajas de agua que favorecen la infiltración del agua; luego se construyeron las presas de almacenamiento y finalmente la extracción de aguas subterráneas con pozos profundos causando abatimiento de las aguas, desecación de la laguna y manantiales y presencia de arsénico en aguas de consumo humano. Lo anterior llevó a la tecnificación del riego de aguas subterráneas que provocó costos crecientes de energía y, por otro lado, presencia de arsénico. Concluyen que las políticas públicas y la legislación no han dotado de suficientes herramientas o han sido equivocadas para evitar el abatimiento del acuífero
analizan el papel que desempeñan los regantes a nivel de una acequia comunitaria frente a la participación de los usuarios en una Asociación Civil en un módulo de un Distrito de Riego. Las
autoras describen la infraestructura para la distribución del agua del módulo por medio de niveles y subniveles desde la presa hasta las parcelas, las escalas de medición del agua, la planeación para la distribución del agua y las cadenas cortas para la distribución de agua, diferenciando el modelo comunitario del modelo burocrático en los que participan diferentes actores. Concluyen que, en el módulo de estudio, en el modelo comunitario son importantes la comunicación y la organización de los implicados basados en la cultura, mientras que en la política de los DR existe un discurso técnico, político y económico
Natural regeneration after mining activities depends largely on the soil seed bank (SSB) and aboveground vegetation (AGV) richness and composition. We evaluated the species diversity pattern of the SSB and AGV on soil and technosol across second‐growth Atlantic Forests (SGFs) after mining tailings deposition in Mariana, southeastern Brazil. Two second‐growth Atlantic seasonal semideciduous forests of different stand ages were selected: a 3‐year‐old stand of SGF re‐growing on tailings (SGF tailings) and a 30‐year‐old stand of native reference forest not affected by tailings (SGF nontailings). Overall, the results showed significant differences in forest attributes (species richness and composition) in the SSB and AGV between the two forest patches evaluated (SGF tailings and SGF nontailings). Moreover, both nonzoochoric and zoochoric dispersed species of AGV showed significant differences between second‐growth forests, with higher variability of community‐weighted mean in SGF tailings. The result shows smaller differences in species richness between forest types for both SBB (ranging 85 and 90 species) and AGV (~55 species). Despite the time difference between the secondary forest and the absence of zoochoric species in the tailings seed bank, the AGV that are re‐growing on mining tailings presented a high proportion of zoochoric species. This pattern of species richness and community composition variability observed in the technosol seed bank, and AGV that are re‐growing after the deposition of mining tailings are important recovery indicators for plant communities affected.
Novel ecosystems are places where a return to a previously observed ecosystem state is unlikely. In arid grasslands, such transformations are caused by legacies of land overgrazing or changes in land connectivity. Transformed ecosystems persist due to uncertain climate futures or other anthropogenic effects. Although novel ecosystems often provide valuable services, public land managers have given relatively little attention to the idea that effective stewardship of novel ecosystems may require novel assemblages of people. To address this gap, we examine whether management partnerships that involve agricultural and wildlife interests in restoration are sufficiently attuned to stakeholders invested in retaining unbuilt environment– or open spaces. We use qualitative approaches to analyze perceptions of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in the southern New Mexico landscape. Next, we analyze responses to spatial interviewing exercises focused on relational values to the landscape to examine perceptions related to landscape-level ecosystem patterns. Results offer insight into why thinking about when ecosystem service bundling may lead to creative tension between Restoration Partners and Open Space Stakeholders. Primarily, Restoration Partners comment on the negative impact recreation can have on the land. Yet Open Space Stakeholders envision recreationalists as a key steward of the ecological trajectory of the landscape. Relational value mapping results reveal that the values expressed among Restoration Partners and Open Space Stakeholders are similar when thinking ecologically but hold incommensurate economic and cultural perceptions.
Context
Local residents’ environmental perceptions (EPs) of changes in environmental contexts are important for assessing ecological restoration programs and sustainable environmental management. Cross-scale research is necessary to understand the law of universality in ecological restoration. However, most studies have failed to analyse the indirect effects of environmental contexts on local residents’ EPs at the landscape level and have lacked cross-scale analysis of regional differences.
Objectives
The goal is to determine the regional heterogeneity of the direct and indirect impacts of landscape-level environmental contexts and individual-level characteristics on rural residents’ EPs.
Methods
We conducted a transect survey that included the eastern, middle, and western regions in China’s drylands, which have experienced ecological restoration. Multilevel linear models (MLMs) were applied to analyze the direct and indirect key driving factors at the individual level and the landscape level on rural residents’ EPs.
Results
Changes in the landscape-level environmental context can have indirect effects on both single EPs (i.e., perceptions of vegetation, humidity, sandy weather, soil quality, summer temperature, and precipitation) and composite EPs. The EPs are influenced by different landscape-level variables among the east, middle and west of China's drylands. For instances, humidity perception was influenced by precipitation only in the high aridity of western and middle regions; composite EPs were most indirectly impacted by vegetation.
Conclusions
These findings have important implications for understanding how landscape-level environmental contexts affect EPs; and they can inform differentiated assessments of ecological restoration programs in China’s drylands.
In this chapter, recommendations to improve water management in sub-Saharan Africa towards universal access to the commodity were discussed. This was done with the precognition that the region is yet to make substantive progress in reference to sustainable development goal 6. Findings showed the need for the region to improve resilience to climate change through the use of smart tools to predict effects of the phenomenon to water quantities and via scenario-based predictions and planning. In water ecosystems, which were vulnerable to overexploitation and quality deterioration, the need to protect them was noted as stimulatory to their ability to meet water needs of the population. The use of decentralized water governance systems that were adaptive to uncertainty, engaged stakeholders including locals, private and public sectors was also discussed as synergistic to integrated water resources management. Additionally, better financing of the water infrastructure was recommended to enable better supply, distribution and development of water resources even with climate change pressures especially to the underserved.KeywordsClimate changePoliciesSDG 6Sub-Saharan AfricaWater managementWater Prices
In the last few decades, the deficiency of sulfur (S) has been noticed in the agricultural soils of India. Meanwhile, researchers reported that S plays a significant role in the productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). For the quantification of S response, a long-term field experiment was started at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram, India. In total, 7 nutrient supply options were applied, i.e., organic, mineral fertilizer in the combination of integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), and IPNS + berseem (B)/IPNS + cowpea (C) in the S availability of the soil in the RWCS. The results showed that the highest contribution in S availability by the total S (39%) is followed by the organic S (35%), sodium bicarbonate extractable sulfur (NaHCO 3 -ES; 7%), heat-soluble sulfur (SS; 7%), water-soluble sulfur (WSS; 4%), available S (4%), and inorganic S (4%) under different long-term nutrient supply options of RWCS. The continuous application of organic fertilizer and various IPNS options, such as the inclusion of pulses, significantly improved all S fractions in the soil and also offers an additional benefit in terms of sustainability of production and soil health as compared to the inorganic fertilizer fields. Overall, the results showed that IPNS showed its superiority over the rest of the treatment. The results also supported that the inclusion of pulses gives a further gain in terms of sulfur availability in soil systems under RWCS.
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is a unique geographical unit on the earth with abundant habitat types and biological species and has an inimitable role and status—Ecological Security Barrier and Asian Water Tower. Its development has far-reaching impacts on the surrounding areas, countries and even the world. Understanding the overall development capacity and status of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is essential to implementing the ecosystem protection strategy while balancing the needs of people in western China. Integrating ecosystem dynamics, resource consumption changes and resource utilization levels from systems view can inform management strategies and decisions for sustainable development on the Plateau. This study constructs a comprehensive development capacity index to reveal the real sustainability and to grasp how the socioeconomic system evolves in this unique geographical unit by integrating ecological capacity diversity, ecological footprint diversity, and resources efficiencies. From 2000 to 2020, the comprehensive development capacity of the QTP increased by 4.37 times. Most regions undergo improvements in the comprehensive development capacity. By 2020, except Ganzi and Ali, all other regions surpass the medium-level development capacity. We discuss the spatiotemporal characteristics of comprehensive development capacity and the reasons leading to these changes, and put forward targeted measures to promote sustainable development.
Agroecological interventions are imperative for boosting agricultural productivity and soil fertility while increasing profitability of subsistence farmers in low-income countries by replacing synthetic fertilizers. With this context, the present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of animal manures (sheep and poultry manure) and plant residue-based organic amendments (rice husk biochar and sugarcane pressmud) on soil quality, nutrient uptake and balance, yield, and sustainability of rice-wheat cropping in alluvial (rainfed) and red lateritic soil (dryland) of middle Gangetic plains (Narayanpur) and Vindhyan region (Rajgarh) of Mirzapur district in eastern UP. The field experiments were conducted for three years at the above two sites and amendments were done at a rate by replacing 30% standard recommended doses of fertilizer (RDF) for rice-wheat cropping system. Field trials were conducted with the 100% RDF as control, and 70% RDF with sheep manure, poultry manure, rice-husk biochar and sugarcane pressmud in a randomized block design. The organic amendments were done during the rice cultivation stage and the residual effect was observed during the subsequent wheat cultivation. Though soil organic carbon (SOC) was found to show significant (p ≥ 0.05) increase in biochar amended plots, animal manures followed by pressmud showed year wise increase in both SOC and microbial biomass carbon. In rainfed areas, plant growth and yield attributes for both rice and wheat were at par in amendments than control while in dryland, the 100% RDF showed better performance during the first year, after that amended plot showed better performance. All amendments resulted in higher benefit: cost ratio except biochar addition in Narayanpur, whereas in Rajgarh, the poultry manure resulted in significant improvement in benefit: cost ratio from second year onward. Our study advocates that validation of suitable amendment packages based on organic inputs are imperative for improving the yield, soil quality and nutrient balance of rice-wheat cropping system and thereby attaining the UN-SDGs at the village/local level.
The book explores soil carbon sequestration, the impact of deforestation on climate change, vulnerability risk for climate and ecological life, socioeconomic impacts, and strategies for the mitigation of future climatic impacts. The theme of the Special Issue extends across terrestrial ecosystems, environmental policy domains (e.g., REDD+ and the Paris Agreement), environmental applications (e.g., urbanization, agroforestry, and intensive LULC changes), and carbon credit generated worldwide (both voluntary and through compliance). This Special Issue is highly useful for environmentalists, water resource planners and managers, and policymakers in understanding the potential of carbon sequestration on a regional and global scale and, further, the medium-/long-term impacts on socioeconomic development resulting from its implementation via climate change modeling.
As florestas amazônicas estocam enormes quantidades de carbono. Atualmente, o aumento do seu desmatamento no Brasil tem contribuído negativamente para mudanças climáticas em escalas continental e global. O município de São Félix do Xingu-PA localiza-se em fronteira agropecuária que anualmente registra dentre as maiores taxas nacionais de desmatamento, onde a floresta é convertida principalmente em pastagens. Além do gado, a economia rural se baseia na cacauicultura, predominantemente por agricultores familiares que adotam sistemas agroflorestais com cacau (SAF-cacau). Com o mercado em alta, o SAF-cacau é apontado como uma alternativa econômica de baixo carbono para recomposição florestal de áreas com pastagens. Este estudo de caso tem como objetivo elucidar a capacidade de estoque de carbono acima do solo em SAF-cacau, comparado com pastagem e floresta. Coletamos dados de estrutura da vegetação arbórea para os três tipos de uso e ocupação do solo em 18 áreas, instalando duas parcelas de 10 x 100 m em cada área (3,6 ha amostrados). Usando equações alométricas, nossos resultados demonstraram que o estoque de carbono estimado para os SAF-cacau nas fases inicial e secundária de sombreamento é de 12 e 35 vezes superior ao pasto, respectivamente. No entanto, as florestas chegam a ter mais de 6 vezes o carbono estocado pelo SAF-cacau em fase secundária. Concluímos que o SAF-cacau possui significativo incremento de carbono ao longo dos anos e pode ser uma atividade produtiva potencial para recomposição florestal associada a este serviço ambiental, mas ações para proteção e conservação de florestas nativas devem ser mutuamente reforçadas.
Significance
Wheat is the most important food crop worldwide, grown across millions of hectares. Wheat yields in the field are usually low and vary with weather, soil, and crop management practices. We show that yields for wheat grown in indoor vertical farms under optimized growing conditions would be several hundred times higher than yields in the field due to higher yields, several harvests per year, and vertically stacked layers. Wheat grown indoors would use less land than field-grown wheat, be independent of climate, reuse most water, exclude pests and diseases, and have no nutrient losses to the environment. However, given the high energy costs for artificial lighting and capital costs, it is unlikely to be economically competitive with current market prices.
Environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and climate change threaten the stability of our planet. Inappropriate approaches to food production interact with hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. These approaches, in turn, enhance social deprivation and limit rural development, both of which are drivers of economic migration and civil conflict. Exacerbated by population growth, food systems lie at the heart of these global issues. Here, a planet-proofing approach developed in Africa is presented that illustrates that it is possible to diversify and rehabilitate degraded farmland with species producing highly nutritious and marketable traditional foods in ways that improve food production by conventional staple food crops. Furthermore, it rebuilds agroecological functions and creates new local business opportunities to kick-start rural economies and enhance social well-being. Together, these benefits promote livelihoods and social justice, the mitigation of and/or adaptation to climate change, and the provision of wildlife habitat. This approach offers a highly adaptable model that enhances past investments in the Green Revolution in ways that address both the environmental and social constraints limiting both mainstream agriculture in Africa — and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals globally. Rehabilitation of degraded farmlands can have diverse benefits for sustainability, supporting rural livelihoods, economies, society and culture, as well as contributing to food security. A long-established agroforestry programme in Cameroon illustrates these benefits.
Ensuring the food and nutritional demand of the ever-growing human population is a major sustainability challenge for humanity in this Anthropocene. The cultivation of climate resilient, adaptive and underutilized wild crops along with modern crop varieties is proposed as an innovative strategy for managing future agricultural production under the changing environmental conditions. Such underutilized and neglected wild crops have been recently projected by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations as ‘future smart crops’ as they are not only hardy, and resilient to changing climatic conditions, but also rich in nutrients. They need only minimal care and input, and therefore, they can be easily grown in degraded and nutrient-poor soil also. Moreover, they can be used for improving the adaptive traits of modern crops. The contribution of such neglected, and underutilized crops and their wild relatives to global food production is estimated to be around 115–120 billion US$ per annum. Therefore, the exploitation of such lesser utilized and yet to be used wild crops is highly significant for climate resilient agriculture and thereby providing a good quality of life to one and all. Here we provide four steps, namely: (i) exploring the unexplored, (ii) refining the unrefined traits, (iii) cultivating the uncultivated, and (iv) popularizing the unpopular for the sustainable utilization of such wild crops as a resilient strategy for ensuring food and nutritional security and also urge the timely adoption of suitable frameworks for the large-scale exploitation of such wild species for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The food system is a major driver of climate change, changes in land use, depletion of freshwater resources, and pollution of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems through excessive nitrogen and phosphorus inputs. Here we show that between 2010 and 2050, as a result of expected changes in population and income levels, the environmental effects of the food system could increase by 50–90% in the absence of technological changes and dedicated mitigation measures, reaching levels that are beyond the planetary boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity. We analyse several options for reducing the environmental effects of the food system, including dietary changes towards healthier, more plant-based diets, improvements in technologies and management, and reductions in food loss and waste. We find that no single measure is enough to keep these effects within all planetary boundaries simultaneously, and that a synergistic combination of measures will be needed to sufficiently mitigate the projected increase in environmental pressures.
A part of scientific knowledge that aims to promote sustainable development consists in management principles of complex systems. Its implementation requires a precise understanding of the situation of action and of the actors’ involvement in the situation. It can no longer be thought of in terms of transfer. Successful implementation relies on changing the ways of understanding and valuing the local context, as well as the actors’ practices. Transdisciplinary approaches are proposed to facilitate mutual learning between researchers and local actors that lead to a better understanding of the action situation. We explore the benefits of such approaches and their implications for those involved in the field of agroecology. Agroecology is based on the implementation of scientific principles that aim to make agriculture more sustainable. These include the creation of agricultural production based on biodiversity. Analysis of three case studies concerning the biodiversification of forage production shows that implementation is not getting farmers involved in the researcher’s project but rather that researcher’s intentions find a place in the farmer’s projects. Researchers adapt their scientific production to the farmer’s needs while farmers review their goals and means as a result of these interactions. The result is a better understanding of the situation to be transformed by both researchers and farmers. This new insight justifies making implementation an integral part of the scientific approach. However, both researchers and farmers committed to the situation need to be ready to leave their comfort zone.
The effects of climate change on crop and terrestrial food production are evident in several regions of the world (high confidence). Negative impacts of climate trends have been more common than positive ones. {Figures 7-2, 7-7} Positive trends are evident in some highlatitude regions (high confidence). Since AR4, there have been several periods of rapid food and cereal price increases following climate extremes in key producing regions, indicating a sensitivity of current markets to climate extremes, among other factors. {Figure 7-3, Table 18-3} Several of these climate extremes were made more likely as the result of anthropogenic emissions (medium confidence). {Table 18-3}.
Protected areas (PAs) aim to protect multiple ecosystem services. However, not all are well protected. For the first time, using published carbon and forest loss maps, we estimate carbon emissions in large forest PAs in tropical countries (N = 2018). We found 36 ± 16 Pg C stored in PA trees, representing 14.5% of all tropical forest biomass carbon. However the PAs lost forest at a mean rate of 0.18% yr⁻¹ from 2000–2012. Lower protection status areas experienced higher forest losses (e.g. 0.39% yr⁻¹ in IUCN cat III), yet even highest status areas lost 0.13% yr⁻¹ (IUCN Cat I). Emissions were not evenly distributed: 80% of emissions derived from 8.3% of PAs (112 ± 49.5 Tg CO2 yr⁻¹; n = 171). Unsurprisingly the largest emissions derived from PAs that started with the greatest total forest area; accounting for starting forest area and relating that to carbon lost using a linear model (r² = 0.41), we found 1.1% outlying PAs (residuals >2σ; N = 23), representing 1.3% of the total PA forest area, yet causing 27.3% of all PA emissions. These results suggest PAs have been a successful means of protecting biomass carbon, yet a subset causing a disproportionately high share of emissions should be an urgent priority for management interventions.
Protected areas are widely considered essential for biodiversity conservation. However, few global studies have demonstrated that protection benefits a broad range of species. Here, using a new global biodiversity database with unprecedented geographic and taxonomic coverage, we compare four biodiversity measures at sites sampled in multiple land uses inside and outside protected areas. Globally, species richness is 10.6% higher and abundance 14.5% higher in samples taken inside protected areas compared with samples taken outside, but neither rarefaction-based richness nor endemicity differ significantly. Importantly, we show that the positive effects of protection are mostly attributable to differences in land use between protected and unprotected sites. Nonetheless, even within some human-dominated land uses, species richness and abundance are higher in protected sites. Our results reinforce the global importance of protected areas but suggest that protection does not consistently benefit species with small ranges or increase the variety of ecological niches.
Significance
Many plants and animals will need to move large distances to track preferred climates, but fragmentation and barriers limit their movements. We asked to what degree and where species will be able to track suitable climates. We demonstrate that only 41% of US natural land area is currently connected enough to allow species to track preferred temperatures as the planet warms over the next 100 years. If corridors allowed movement between all natural areas, species living in 65% of natural area could track their current climates, allowing them to adjust to 2.7 °C more temperature change. The greatest benefits result from connecting low-lying natural areas, especially in the southeastern United States. Facilitating movement will be crucial for preventing biodiversity losses.
More than 100 countries pledged to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Richards et al., 2015a) in the 2015 Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Yet technical information about how much mitigation is needed in the sector versus how much is feasible remains poor. We identify a preliminary global target for reducing emissions from agriculture of ~1 GtCO2e/yr by 2030 to limit warming in 2100 to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Yet plausible agricultural development pathways with mitigation co-benefits deliver only 21 to 40% of needed mitigation. The target indicates that more transformative technical and policy options will be needed, such as methane inhibitors and finance for new practices. A more comprehensive target for the 2°C limit should be developed to include soil carbon and agriculture-related mitigation options. Excluding agricultural emissions from mitigation targets and plans will increase the cost of mitigation in other sectors or reduce the feasibility of meeting the 2°C limit.
More than 100 countries pledged to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Richards et al., 2015a) in the 2015 Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Yet technical information about how much mitigation is needed in the sector versus how much is feasible remains poor. We identify a preliminary global target for reducing emissions from agriculture of ~1 GtCO2e/yr by 2030 to limit warming in 2100 to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Yet plausible agricultural development pathways with mitigation co-benefits deliver only 21 to 40% of needed mitigation. The target indicates that more transformative technical and policy options will be needed, such as methane inhibitors and finance for new practices. A more comprehensive target for the 2°C limit should be developed to include soil carbon and agriculture-related mitigation options. Excluding agricultural emissions from mitigation targets and plans will increase the cost of mitigation in other sectors or reduce the feasibility of meeting the 2°C limit.
Sustainable food production for a rapidly growing global population is a major challenge of this century. In order to meet the demand for food production, an additional land area of 2.7–4.9 Mha year−1 will be required for agriculture. However, one-third of arable lands are already contaminated; therefore, the use of polluted lands will have to feature highly in modern agriculture. The use of such lands comes, however, with additional challenges, and suitable agrotechnological interventions are essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of relevant production system. There are also other issues to consider, such as cost–benefit analysis, the possible entry of pollutants into the phytoproducts, certification and marketing of such products, in order to achieve the large-scale exploitation of polluted lands. The present article addresses the sustainability challenges of crop production from polluted lands and briefly outlines the plausible strategies for using polluted lands for sustainable agricultural extensification.
Plant landraces represent heterogeneous, local adaptations of domesticated species. and thereby provide genetic resources that meet current and new challenges for farming in stressful environments. These local ecotypes canm show variable phenology and low-to-moderate edible yield, but are often highlymnutritious. The main contributions of landraces to plant breeding have been traits for more efficient nutrient uptake and utilization, as well as useful genes for adaptation to stressful environments such as water stress, salinity, and high temperatures. We propose that a systematic landrace evaluation may define patterns of diversity, which will facilitate identifying alleles for enhancing yield and abiotic stress adaptation, thus raising the productivity and stability of staple crops in vulnerable environments.
Recent shifts in agricultural practices have resulted in altered pesticide use patterns, land use intensification, and landscape simplification, all of which threaten biodiversity in and near farms. Pests are major challenges to food security, and responses to pests can represent unintended socioeconomic and environmental costs. Characteristics of the ecological community influence pest populations, but the nature of these interactions remains poorly understood within realistic community complexities and on operating farms. We examine how species diversity and the topology of linkages in species' abundances affect pest abundance on maize farms across the Northern Great Plains. Our results show that increased species diversity, community evenness, and linkage strength and network centrality within a biological network all correlate with significantly reduced pest populations. This supports the assertion that reduced biological complexity on farms is associated with increased pest populations and provides a further justification for diversification of agroecosystems to improve the profitability, safety, and sustainability of food production systems. Bioinventories as comprehensive as the one conducted here are conspicuously absent for most agroecosystems but provide an important baseline for community and ecosystem ecology and the effects of food production on local biodiversity and ecosystem function. Network analyses of abundance correlations of entire communities (rather than focal interactions, for example, trophic interactions) can reveal key network characteristics, especially the importance and nature of network centrality, which aid in understanding how these communities function.
Historically, farmers and hunter-gatherers relied directly on ecosystem services, which they both exploited and enjoyed. Urban populations still rely on ecosystems, but prioritize non-ecosystem services (socioeconomic). Population growth and densification increase the scale and change the nature of both ecosystem- and non-ecosystem-service supply and demand, weakening direct feedbacks between ecosystems and societies and potentially pushing social-ecological systems into traps that can lead to collapse. The interacting and mutually reinforcing processes of technological change, population growth and urbanization contribute to over-exploitation of ecosystems through complex feedbacks that have important implications for sustainable resource use.
Increasing population and consumption are placing unprecedented demands on agriculture and natural resources. Today, approximately a billion people are chronically malnourished while our agricultural systems are concurrently degrading land, water, biodiversity and climate on a global scale. To meet the world's future food security and sustainability needs, food production must grow substantially while, at the same time, agriculture's environmental footprint must shrink dramatically. Here we analyse solutions to this dilemma, showing that tremendous progress could be made by halting agricultural expansion, closing 'yield gaps' on underperforming lands, increasing cropping efficiency, shifting diets and reducing waste. Together, these strategies could double food production while greatly reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture.
The question of how to meet rising food demand at the least cost to biodiversity requires the evaluation of two contrasting
alternatives: land sharing, which integrates both objectives on the same land; and land sparing, in which high-yield farming
is combined with protecting natural habitats from conversion to agriculture. To test these alternatives, we compared crop
yields and densities of bird and tree species across gradients of agricultural intensity in southwest Ghana and northern India.
More species were negatively affected by agriculture than benefited from it, particularly among species with small global
ranges. For both taxa in both countries, land sparing is a more promising strategy for minimizing negative impacts of food
production, at both current and anticipated future levels of production.
The Convention on Biological Diversity's 2020 targets are an improvement over the 2010 target, but they could be strengthened.
Agricultural ecosystems provide humans with food, forage, bioenergy and pharmaceuticals and are essential to human wellbeing. These systems rely on ecosystem services provided by natural ecosystems, including pollination, biological pest control, maintenance of soil structure and fertility, nutrient cycling and hydrological services. Preliminary assessments indicate that the value of these ecosystem services to agriculture is enormous and often underappreciated. Agroecosystems also produce a variety of ecosystem services, such as regulation of soil and water quality, carbon sequestration, support for biodiversity and cultural services. Depending on management practices, agriculture can also be the source of numerous disservices, including loss of wildlife habitat, nutrient runoff, sedimentation of waterways, greenhouse gas emissions, and pesticide poisoning of humans and non-target species. The tradeoffs that may occur between provisioning services and other ecosystem services and disservices should be evaluated in terms of spatial scale, temporal scale and reversibility. As more effective methods for valuing ecosystem services become available, the potential for 'win-win' scenarios increases. Under all scenarios, appropriate agricultural management practices are critical to realizing the benefits of ecosystem services and reducing disservices from agricultural activities.
This book explores several adaptive agricultural practices from around the world to fulfill current and future agricultural demands for food security due to the challenges posed by climate change and growing global population. Readers will discover how farmers adapt to environmental changes by adopting various agronomic practices at crop, farm and landscape levels. Particular attention is given to systemic and transformational adaptation strategies employed by farmers such as mulching, organic farming and crop diversification. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book that provides insights on how crops can build up resilience against periods of drought, high salinity, disasters such as floods, and diseases. The policy implications and future prospects of these adaptation strategies are also addressed. Environmental and plant scientists, agronomists and researchers in climate sciences will find this book interesting.
By 2050, it is estimated that 70% of the world's population will live in urban areas. This growth in cities creates a demand for fresh produce to ensure a healthy population, produce that often has to travel a long way to reach the consumer, not only losing quality and nutrition along the way, but also requiring a significant fossil fuel cost for transportation and storage. The average plate of food will travel over 2400 km before it reaches your plate. There is potential within District heating (DH) areas to move farming indoors and into the heart of the urban environment. Vertical hydroponic farming (VHF) offers many advantages over conventional farming including more efficient water and land use, and vastly reduced transport costs if it is performed in the urban area. For this model to become economically sustainable however, it must be intelligently integrated into existing urban infrastructure. A mutually beneficial relationship with DH is possible whereby VHFs are integrated to feed back into the DH system, lower the return temperature in line with 4th Generation District Heating guidelines, and reduce CO 2 emissions in food and energy production.
Global land resources are under severe threat due to pollution and unsustainable land use practices. Restoring degraded land is imperative for regaining ecosystem services, such as biodiversity maintenance and nutrient and water cycling, and to meet the food, feed, fuel, and fibre requirements of present and future generations. While bioremediation is acknowledged as a promising technology for restoring polluted and degraded lands, its field potential is limited for various reasons. However, recent biotechnological advancements, including producing efficient microbial consortia, applying enzymes with higher degrees of specificity, and designing plants with specific microbial partners, are opening new prospects in remediation technology. This review provides insights into such promising ways to harness biotechnology as ecofriendly methods for remediation and restoration.
Wild and heirloom plants are giving major crop varieties, and the global food system, a genetic makeover.
As holiday feasts begin, Laura Lawson surveys the fruitful history of urban farming.
Wild and managed pollinators provide a wide range of benefits to society in terms of contributions to food security, farmer and beekeeper livelihoods, social and cultural values, as well as the maintenance of wider biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Pollinators face numerous threats, including changes in land-use and management intensity, climate change, pesticides and genetically modified crops, pollinator management and pathogens, and invasive alien species. There are well-documented declines in some wild and managed pollinators in several regions of the world. However, many effective policy and management responses can be implemented to safeguard pollinators and sustain pollination services.
Agrochemicals used to meet the needs of a rapidly growing human population can deteriorate the quality of ecosystems and are not affordable to farmers in low-resource environments. Here, we propose the use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) as a tool for sustainable food production without compromising ecosystems services.
Functional trait research has led to greater understanding of the impacts of biodiversity in ecosystems. Yet, functional trait approaches have not been widely applied to agroecosystems and understanding of the importance of agrobiodiversity remains limited to a few ecosystem processes and services. To improve this understanding, we argue here for a functional trait approach to agroecology that adopts recent advances in trait research for multitrophic and spatially heterogeneous ecosystems. We suggest that trait values should be measured across environmental conditions and agricultural management regimes to predict how ecosystem services vary with farm practices and environment. This knowledge should be used to develop management strategies that can be easily implemented by farmers to manage agriculture to provide multiple ecosystem services.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Long overlooked in parts of Africa, indigenous greens are now capturing attention for their nutritional and environmental benefits.
The existence of so great a diversity of species on Earth remains
a mystery, the solution to which may also explain why and how biodiversity
influences the functioning of ecosystems. The answer may lie in quantifying
the trade-offs that organisms face in dealing with the constraints of their
environment. Societal responses to the loss of biodiversity also involve trade-offs,
and the elaboration of these will be essential in developing wiser environmental
ethics and policy.
Domesticating the undomesticated for global food and nutritional security: four steps
- A Singh
- P K Dubey
- R Chaurasia
- R K Dubey
- K K Pandey
- G S Singh
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Permaculture and bio-intensive micro-agriculture: the Bec Hellouin farm model
- C Hervé-Gruyer
Hervé-Gruyer, C., 2019. Permaculture and bio-intensive micro-agriculture: the Bec
Hellouin farm model. Field Actions Sci. Rep. 20, 74-77.
Super vegetables: long overlooked in parts of Africa, indigenous greens are now capturing attention for their nutritional and environmental benefits
- Cernansky
Sustainability of crop production from polluted lands
- P C Abhilash
- V Tripathi
- S A Edirisi
- R K Dubey
- M Bakshi
- P K Dubey
- H B Singh
- S D Ebbs
Abhilash, P.C., Tripathi, V., Edirisi, S.A., Dubey, R.K., Bakshi, M., Dubey, P.K., Singh, H.
B., Ebbs, S.D., 2016a. Sustainability of crop production from polluted lands. Energy
Ecol. Environ. 1, 54-65.
Biotechnological advances for restoring degraded lands for sustainable development
- V Tripathi
- S A Edirisi
- V K Gupta
- P C Abhilash
Tripathi, V., Edirisi, S.A., Gupta, V.K., Abhilash, P.C., 2017. Biotechnological advances
for restoring degraded lands for sustainable development. Trends Biotechnol. 35,
847-859.
Integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture into city-level climate change strategies. Cities and Climate Change Initiative
- Un-Habitat
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change strategies. Cities and Climate Change Initiative, UN-Habitat.