Rima Mekdaschi Studer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Rima Mekdaschi Studer
Frontiers in sustainable food systems, Aug 18, 2022
integrating both biophysical and socioeconomic information in a multi-level participatory process... more integrating both biophysical and socioeconomic information in a multi-level participatory process to identify the actions and responsibilities of various stakeholders and ensure sustainable management of limited natural resources and improved livelihoods for all.
EGUGA, Apr 1, 2015
Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources is crucial for maintaining the basis for our liveli... more Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources is crucial for maintaining the basis for our livelihoods. With threats from climate change, disputes over water, biodiversity loss, competing claims on land, and migration increasing worldwide, the demands for sustainable land management (SLM) practices will only increase in the future. For years already, various national and international organizations (GOs, NGOs, donors, research institutes, etc.) have been working on alternative forms of land management. And numerous land users worldwide-especially small farmers-have been testing, adapting, and refining new and better ways of managing land. All too often, however, the resulting SLM knowledge has not been sufficiently evaluated, documented and shared. Among other things, this has often prevented valuable SLM knowledge from being channelled into evidence-based decision-making processes. Indeed, proper knowledge management is crucial for SLM to reach its full potential. Since more than 20 years, the international WOCAT network documents and promotes SLM through its global platform. As a whole, the WOCAT methodology comprises tools for documenting, evaluating, and assessing the impact of SLM practices, as well as for knowledge sharing, analysis and use for decision support in the field, at the planning level, and in scaling up identified good practices. In early 2014, WOCAT's growth and ongoing improvement culminated in its being officially recognized by the UNCCD as the primary recommended database for SLM best practices. Over the years, the WOCAT network confirmed that SLM helps to prevent desertification, to increase biodiversity, enhance food security and to make people less vulnerable to the effects of climate variability and change. In addition, it plays an important role in mitigating climate change through improving soil organic matter and increasing vegetation cover. In-depth assessments of SLM practices from desertification sites enabled an evaluation of how SLM addresses prevalent dryland threats. The impacts mentioned most were diversified and enhanced production and better management of water and soil degradation, whether through water harvesting, improving soil moisture, or reducing runoff. Among others, favourable local-scale cost-benefit relationships of SLM practices play a crucial role in their adoption. An economic analysis from the WOCAT database showed that land users perceive a large majority of the technologies as having benefits that outweigh costs in the long term. The high investment costs associated with some practices may constitute a barrier to adoption, however, where appropriate, short-term support for land users can help to promote these practices. The increased global concerns on climate change, disaster risks and food security redirect attention to, and trigger more funds for SLM. To provide the necessary evidence-based rationale for investing in SLM and to reinforce expert and land users assessments of SLM impacts, more field research using inter-and transdisciplinary approaches is needed. This includes developing methods to quantify and value ecosystem services, both on-site and off-site, and assess the resilience of SLM practices, as currently aimed at within the EU FP7 projects CASCADE and RECARE.
Abstract A large share of land/natural resource degradation is a result of poor land and water ma... more Abstract A large share of land/natural resource degradation is a result of poor land and water management at all levels. For years, research and various national and international organizations have been working on issues of land degradation and alternative forms of land management. Land users worldwide have been testing, adapting, and refining new and better ways of managing land more sustainably. However, there has been relatively little documentation or evidence of the range of benefits generated by SLM. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCATt) is one of the first programmes to promote better documentation and use of knowledge on SLM in response to land degradation. WOCAT and its network partners have developed a set of comprehensive, standardized tools and a global platform for documenting, assessing and sharing SLM knowledge to support decision making at all levels (farm, planning and policy). The constant need for adapting land management to a rapidly changing and complex world with continued and newly emerging demands calls for continuous and proper knowledge management.
‘where the land is greener’ looks at soil and water conservation from a global perspective. In to... more ‘where the land is greener’ looks at soil and water conservation from a global perspective. In total, 42 soil and water conservation technologies and 28 approaches are described – each fully illustrated with photographs, graphs and line drawings – as applied in case studies in more than 20 countries around the world. This unique presentation of case studies draws on WOCAT’s extensive database, gathered in over 12 years of field experience. The book is intended as a prototype for national and regional compilations of sustainable land management practices a practical – instrument for making field knowledge available to decision makers. Various land use categories are covered, from crop farming to grazing and forestry. The technologies presented range from terrace-building to agroforestry systems; from rehabilitation of common pastures to conservation agriculture; from Vermiculture to water harvesting. Several of these technologies are already well-established successes – others are innovative, relatively unknown, but full of promise. Descriptions of the various technologies are complemented by studies of the ‘approaches’ that have underpinned their development and dissemination. Some of these approaches were developed specifically for individual projects; others developed and spread spontaneously in fascinating processes that offer a new perspective for development policy. In addition to the case studies, the book includes two analytical sections on the technologies and approaches under study. By identifying common elements of success, these analyses offer hope for productive conservation efforts at the local level with simultaneous global environmental benefits. Policy pointers for decision makers and donors offer a new impetus for further investment – to make the land greener.
Ce livre est l'ouvrage de référence des connaissances de la plateforme TerrAfrica, préparé à l'in... more Ce livre est l'ouvrage de référence des connaissances de la plateforme TerrAfrica, préparé à l'initiative de l'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) et financé par le Fonds à effet de levier de TerrAfrica qui regroupe nombre de donateurs, la Banque mondiale (BM), la FAO, la Direction du développement et de la coopération suisse (DDC) et le Panorama mondial des approches et technologies de conservation (WOCAT). Ces directives ont été préparées par Hanspeter Liniger, Rima Mekdaschi Studer, Christine Hauert et Mats Gurtner ; elles ont été initiées et coordonnées par Dominique Lantieri de la FAO, éditées dans la version originale en anglais par William Critchley, CIS, VU-Université d'Amsterdam, avec le soutien, les contributions techniques et la relecture de Steve Danyo de la Banque mondiale et de Sally Bunning de la FAO. Les directives sont basées sur un processus itératif qui puise dans l'expérience collective des personnes et des institutions, à la fois en Afrique et à l'extérieur. Elles ont été rédigées avec le conseil, la coopération et l'assistance des nombreux contributeurs qui défendent la GDT comme le moyen d'assurer les conditions d'existence en respectant l'environnement et de manière résiliente au climat. Les groupes de GDT, sous leur forme actuelle, n'auraient pas pu être rédigés sans la révision et les apports techniques des personnes ressources suivantes : Gestion intégrée de la fertilité des sols :
delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the priority need, accomplishments and responsibiliti... more delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the priority need, accomplishments and responsibilities of international organisations, governments, networks, practitioners and land users to secure ecologically sustainable development, with specific reference to the accomplishment within South Africa and the WOCAT network, as a fundamental building block in endeavours addressing global food security and food production. The Share Fair day was continued with an opening speech by Hanspeter Liniger, WOCAT Secretariat on achievements and challenges using WOCAT for decision support. After that the 1 st topic session started on "Innovative SLM technologies and approaches in view of food security, climate change resilience, and disaster risk reduction". The session was opened by a keynote presentation by Professor Mary Scholes, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa on "Climate change and climate smart agriculture". The keynote presentation was followed by various input presentations by countries such as WOTR
Introduction PART 1 Research evidence in support of sustainable land management CHAPTER 1 Local l... more Introduction PART 1 Research evidence in support of sustainable land management CHAPTER 1 Local land management-the soil, vegetation, water and climate nexus 1.1 Integrated management of agricultural production systems 1.2 Managing irrigation and fertilization 1.3 Eco-engineering 1.4 Adapted livestock management 1.5 Managing natural and semi-natural systems Conclusions CHAPTER 2 Landscape management-adapting to climate change 2.1 Land and water management in river basins 2.2 Riparian forest and water quality management 2.3 Coastal zone management and ECO-DRR Conclusions CHAPTER 3 Mitigating climate change 3.1 Developing nationwide strategies for climate change mitigation 3.2 Preventing land conversion 3.3 Reversing land conversion 3.4 Restoring wetlands and organic soils 3.5 Reducing emissions from agricultural practices Conclusions CHAPTER 4 Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems 4.1 Managing protected areas 4.2 Paying for ecosystem services Conclusions 4 Making sense of research for sustainable land management CHAPTER 5 Bridging gaps between research and practice 5.1 Awareness-raising: communicating complexity 5.2 Capacity building 5.3 Framework conditions and governance 5.4 Use of Knowledge 5.5. Stakeholder integration/ co-production of knowledge Conclusions CHAPTER 6 The contribution of research 6.1 Tools and methods: the ways and means of conducting research 6.2 Impact-the role of research projects within the region and beyond 6.3 Framework conditions for implementation-oriented research: flexible and long-term Conclusions CHAPTER 7 Conclusions and key messages The basis of land management Sustainable Land Management and the role of research Synergies and trade-offs in SLM Implementation-oriented research Framework conditions for implementation-oriented research Framework conditions for SLM implementation Outlook PART 2 Case studies ANNE X BMBF-SLM Programme and the regional research projects References and supporting material Glossary of terms List of abbreviations Making sense of research for sustainable land management
Geographisches Institut der Universität Bern eBooks, 2011
Land uses addressed Cropland: Land used for cultivation of crops (annual and perennial) e.g. fiel... more Land uses addressed Cropland: Land used for cultivation of crops (annual and perennial) e.g. field crops, vegetables, fodder crops, orchards, etc. Grazing land: Land used for animal production e.g. natural or seminatural grasslands, open woodlands, improved or planted pastures. Forests / woodlands: land used mainly for wood production, other forest products, recreation, protection e.g. natural forests, plantations, afforestations, etc.
Analysis of apple production in Switzerland has shown that studies on the dynamics of subsystems ... more Analysis of apple production in Switzerland has shown that studies on the dynamics of subsystems create the most useful base to optimize agricultural production systems. Therefore, the interactions between insect herbivores and their host, with special attention to stress factors such as water and nutrient deficiencies, are studied extensively at the Institute of Plant Sciences at the ETH, Zurich. The influence of different levels of water supply on the subsystem of apple plants (Malus domestica Borkh., cv. 'Golden Delicious') with green apple aphids (Aphis pomi De Geer)(Hemiptera: Aphididae) was examined for the first time in this study. Effects of different water regimes on plant growth and on physiological plant parameters, on aphid population dynamics, as well as on the feedback of aphids on their host were studied. Apple plants, which were multiplied by tissue culture, were subjected to different levels of water supply OF^:-0.05,-0.70,-1.20,-1.60 and-2.15 MPa) using the intermittent drying cycle technique. The experiments were conducted with potted plants grown in a soil mix under controlled environmental conditions (22/17°C day/night temperatures, 18:6 light/dark regime, 55-60% RH, 400-450 umol/rrftsec PPFD). Plants reached a maximum size of 1.3 m. The effects of water stress on plant growth and on the development of aphid populations was described by relating age-specific life table and population parameters of aphids as well as density-dependent population characteristics with plant growth and plant physiological parameters such as shoot length, total leaf area, plant water relations and phloem sap quality. Water stress decreased the plants' carrying capacity for aphid populations. The characteristics of the phloem sap were identified as the most important factors influencing the population development of aphids. The concentration and composition of the phloem sap changed with water stress, with leaf position (i.e. leafs stage of maturity), and with infestation by aphids. II The size (per plant) and density (per leaf and per unit of shoot length) of aphid populations decreased significantly with an increase in water stress. Although the concentration of amino acids in the phloem sap increased with water stress, the amino acid to carbohydrate ratio decreased up to 10-fold, rendering the quality of the phloem sap less favorable for aphid feeding. Asparagine, the major amino acid detected in the phloem sap of apple plants (68-77% relative content in apical and growing leaves), was identified as a factor determining population development of A. pomi. The relative content of asparagine in the phloem significantly decreased with water stress. A higher amino acid content in the phloem of the apex and young, growing leaves and a lower carbohydrate to nitrogen ratio, as well as higher relative contents of asparagine compared with the phloem of mature leaves, explain the preference of the green apple aphid for young tissue and the faster development of aphids on young leaves. Therefore, young apple trees and actively growing plant parts are most threatened by green apple aphid infestation. The study presented here confirmed that aphids can exert an appreciable sink effect on plants by increasing transport of solutes to feeding sites, and that this sink effect is correlated with the size of an aphid colony. It could be demonstrated that the phloem sap of plants which were previously infested with aphids contained significantly higher asparagine and much lower sorbitol compared with phloem collected from uninfested plants, proving that aphids altered the composition of the phloem sap to favor their nutrition. Plants grown under conditions of water stress were shown to adjust osmotically by actively accumulating solutes. The critical moisture level for a signifi¬ cant reduction in plant growth developed below Y^, =-0.69 MPa for plants which were not infested with aphids. An infestation with aphids, however, was demonstrated to affect the plants' ability to adjust osmotJcally by the drain of assimilates and solutes needed for active osmotic adjustment, shifting the critical moisture level for plants infested with aphids to Y^>-0.69 MPa. In this critical moisture range plants were shown to be particularly sensitive to an infestation with aphids. Under unlimited water supply, plants were able to compensate for the losses in assimilates withdrawn by aphids, possibly due to a positive feedback on photosynthesis caused by an additional sink and/or due to degeneration and mobilization of metabolites. Ill Population parameters (mean generation time, intrinsic rate of natural increase, and days for populations to double), the components of the intrinsic rate of increase (development and pre-reproductive times, percent immature mortality, and fecundity) and population characteristics (size and density) of A. pomi were assessed using two approaches: the age-specific life table and the density-dependent population approach. Under conditions of water stress, development and pre-reproductive time of aphids as well as generation and doubling time of populations were shorter than in the well-watered treatment. Net reproduction rate (i.e. cumulative fecundity) significantly increased with water stress, whereas the intrinsic rate of natural increase was not significantly affected by drought stress. The size and density of aphid populations, however, was significantly reduced on water stressed plants. The interrelationship of various factors regulating aphid population, therefore, may not necessarily all apply at different population densities. Leer-Vide-Empty The effects of water stress on plant traits and their potential relevance to insect performance, especially of phloem sucking insects, will be briefly reviewed: 1.2.1 Plant Growth Many processes involved in plant growth, including cell enlargement, cell wall synthesis and protein synthesis are extremely sensitive to water deficit. A reduction in plant size is the most common result of water stress, because cell enlargement is the process most sensitive to water deficit Significantly less tissue will be produced and thus made available to insect herbivores if water stress occurs during the active growth phase of a plant (Hsiao, 1973; Gershenzon, 1984; Mattson and Haack, 1987; Holtzer et al., 1988). Total leaf area decreases appreciably with an increase in water deficiency, thereby decreasing photosynthetically active surfaces (Mattson and Haack, 1987). 1.2.2 Plant Nutritional Quality The availability of organic nitrogen (amino acids, amides and related compounds) has been shown to be a critical, if not limiting, factor in the population growth of many insect herbivores and in particular of phloem feeders such as aphids. Nitrogen metabolism is among the processes most sensitive to water deficit (Hsiao et al., 1976). In general, water stress disturbs nitrogen metabolism in such a way that protein contents decrease while amino acids increase in concentration. The observed increase in amino acid content results from protein hydrolysis as well as from reduced plant growth, i.e. reduced protein synthesis and hence utilization of amino acids. This may lead to a qualitative improvement of the nutritional base of aphids. Photosynthesis, translocation of photosynthates, partitioning of photosynthate between sugars and starch, rate of hydrolysis of starch, and respiration are all affected by water stress and lead to changes in carbohydrate metabolism (Kramer, 1983 cf. Mattson and Haack, 1987). There is little evidence, however, that the effects of water stress on carbohydrate availability play a direct role in the growth of insect populations (e.g. Holtzer et al., 1988). Not just the presence and absolute concentration of a specific nutritional element can improve the aphids diet; also the ratios of these nutrients may be just as important (nutritional-balance)(Mattson and Haack, 1987). A wide variety of plant secondary metabolites, also found in the phloem of plants (e.g. phenols and flavanoids), have been shown to function as chemical defenses in plants against insect herbivores. Gershenzon (1984) concluded, that water stress significantly alters the amounts of defensive compounds such as cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, alkaloids, and terpenoids present in plants. 1.2.3 Plant Water Potential Osmotic adjustment is a mechanism by which water stressed plants lower the osmotic potential by dehydrating (passive) and/or accumulating solutes in cells (active) and thereby maintaining turgor. Some of the solutes responsible for osmotic adjustment are soluble carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, amino acids, organic acids, and inorganic ions (Morgan, 1984). Many of the solutes 2 Effects of Water Stress on Population Dynamics of the Green Apple Aphid: Life Table Analysis 2.1 Water content (%) Exp. 1 Exp. 2 Control 70.80 a 99.84 x (±6.68) (±4.93) 25.56 a 38.45 x (±2.61) (±2.32) 64.06 a 61.80 x (±0.48) (±0.54) Moderate 46.78 b 90.82 xy (±4.88) (±4.64) 17.62 b 37.57 xy (±1.98) (±2.07) 62.50 b 58.75 y (±0.32) (±0.46) Severe 33.37 b 76.34 y (±2.95) (±5.70) 13.23 b 31.45y (±1.25) (±2.47) 60.42 c 58.71 y (±0.61) (±0.96) Exp. 1:8 replicates; Exp. 2:16 replicates (except moderate: 14 replicates) means in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P 4 0.05).
Land
Land is both a source and a sink of carbon dioxide (CO2), the chief greenhouse gas. Through susta... more Land is both a source and a sink of carbon dioxide (CO2), the chief greenhouse gas. Through sustainable land management (SLM), it can capture extra CO2 and store it as carbon in vegetation and soil. SLM can also reduce CO2 emissions from the land. Thus, SLM is viewed as the key land-based solution for climate change mitigation. Yet, SLM also provides effective climate change (CC) adaptation practices—such as agroforestry, mulching and water harvesting—which confer resilience, and simultaneously help secure production. This is especially valuable for land users in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) who depend on rainfed agriculture. They are amongst the poorest on Earth and the most vulnerable to CC impacts, despite their minimal carbon footprint. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) manages the Global SLM Database: this holds a rich and ever-growing collection of SLM practices. Analysis of the database for rainfed SSA sheds light on which SLM technologies are...
University of Sarajevo; Facultiy of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2020
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Land degradation and desertification affect around one-third of the land used for agriculture, un... more Land degradation and desertification affect around one-third of the land used for agriculture, undermining productivity, and farmers' livelihoods, and resilience. People in rainfed and dryland areas are the most vulnerable to the environmental and social impacts of degradation, yet opportunities to expand agricultural areas in order to meet the needs of an ever-growing population are limited and/or not feasible. On the bright side, there are opportunities to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation (LD), however, it will require identifying areas that are suited to implement sustainable land management (SLM) practices and create an enabling environment that encourages such initiatives. In Morocco, latest available data from 2015 showed that 19 percent of its land over the total land area is degraded. In order to assess the level of degradation in rainfed landscapes of Morocco and identify the appropriate technological solutions in response to the driving forces and pressures, ...
Much research has focused on desertification and land degradation assessments without putting suf... more Much research has focused on desertification and land degradation assessments without putting sufficient emphasis on prevention and mitigation, although the concept of sustainable land management (SLM) is increasingly being acknowledged. A variety of SLM measures have already been applied at the local level, but they are rarely adequately recognised, evaluated, shared or used for decision support. WOCAT (World Overview of Technologies and Approaches) has developed an internationally recognised, standardised methodology to document and evaluate SLM technologies and approaches, including spatial distribution, allowing the sharing of SLM knowledge worldwide. The recent methodological integration into a participatory process allows now analysing and using this knowledge for decision support at the local and national level. The use of the WOCAT tools stimulates evaluation (self-evaluation as well as learning from comparing experiences) within SLM initiatives where all too often there is ...
Frontiers in sustainable food systems, Aug 18, 2022
integrating both biophysical and socioeconomic information in a multi-level participatory process... more integrating both biophysical and socioeconomic information in a multi-level participatory process to identify the actions and responsibilities of various stakeholders and ensure sustainable management of limited natural resources and improved livelihoods for all.
EGUGA, Apr 1, 2015
Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources is crucial for maintaining the basis for our liveli... more Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources is crucial for maintaining the basis for our livelihoods. With threats from climate change, disputes over water, biodiversity loss, competing claims on land, and migration increasing worldwide, the demands for sustainable land management (SLM) practices will only increase in the future. For years already, various national and international organizations (GOs, NGOs, donors, research institutes, etc.) have been working on alternative forms of land management. And numerous land users worldwide-especially small farmers-have been testing, adapting, and refining new and better ways of managing land. All too often, however, the resulting SLM knowledge has not been sufficiently evaluated, documented and shared. Among other things, this has often prevented valuable SLM knowledge from being channelled into evidence-based decision-making processes. Indeed, proper knowledge management is crucial for SLM to reach its full potential. Since more than 20 years, the international WOCAT network documents and promotes SLM through its global platform. As a whole, the WOCAT methodology comprises tools for documenting, evaluating, and assessing the impact of SLM practices, as well as for knowledge sharing, analysis and use for decision support in the field, at the planning level, and in scaling up identified good practices. In early 2014, WOCAT's growth and ongoing improvement culminated in its being officially recognized by the UNCCD as the primary recommended database for SLM best practices. Over the years, the WOCAT network confirmed that SLM helps to prevent desertification, to increase biodiversity, enhance food security and to make people less vulnerable to the effects of climate variability and change. In addition, it plays an important role in mitigating climate change through improving soil organic matter and increasing vegetation cover. In-depth assessments of SLM practices from desertification sites enabled an evaluation of how SLM addresses prevalent dryland threats. The impacts mentioned most were diversified and enhanced production and better management of water and soil degradation, whether through water harvesting, improving soil moisture, or reducing runoff. Among others, favourable local-scale cost-benefit relationships of SLM practices play a crucial role in their adoption. An economic analysis from the WOCAT database showed that land users perceive a large majority of the technologies as having benefits that outweigh costs in the long term. The high investment costs associated with some practices may constitute a barrier to adoption, however, where appropriate, short-term support for land users can help to promote these practices. The increased global concerns on climate change, disaster risks and food security redirect attention to, and trigger more funds for SLM. To provide the necessary evidence-based rationale for investing in SLM and to reinforce expert and land users assessments of SLM impacts, more field research using inter-and transdisciplinary approaches is needed. This includes developing methods to quantify and value ecosystem services, both on-site and off-site, and assess the resilience of SLM practices, as currently aimed at within the EU FP7 projects CASCADE and RECARE.
Abstract A large share of land/natural resource degradation is a result of poor land and water ma... more Abstract A large share of land/natural resource degradation is a result of poor land and water management at all levels. For years, research and various national and international organizations have been working on issues of land degradation and alternative forms of land management. Land users worldwide have been testing, adapting, and refining new and better ways of managing land more sustainably. However, there has been relatively little documentation or evidence of the range of benefits generated by SLM. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCATt) is one of the first programmes to promote better documentation and use of knowledge on SLM in response to land degradation. WOCAT and its network partners have developed a set of comprehensive, standardized tools and a global platform for documenting, assessing and sharing SLM knowledge to support decision making at all levels (farm, planning and policy). The constant need for adapting land management to a rapidly changing and complex world with continued and newly emerging demands calls for continuous and proper knowledge management.
‘where the land is greener’ looks at soil and water conservation from a global perspective. In to... more ‘where the land is greener’ looks at soil and water conservation from a global perspective. In total, 42 soil and water conservation technologies and 28 approaches are described – each fully illustrated with photographs, graphs and line drawings – as applied in case studies in more than 20 countries around the world. This unique presentation of case studies draws on WOCAT’s extensive database, gathered in over 12 years of field experience. The book is intended as a prototype for national and regional compilations of sustainable land management practices a practical – instrument for making field knowledge available to decision makers. Various land use categories are covered, from crop farming to grazing and forestry. The technologies presented range from terrace-building to agroforestry systems; from rehabilitation of common pastures to conservation agriculture; from Vermiculture to water harvesting. Several of these technologies are already well-established successes – others are innovative, relatively unknown, but full of promise. Descriptions of the various technologies are complemented by studies of the ‘approaches’ that have underpinned their development and dissemination. Some of these approaches were developed specifically for individual projects; others developed and spread spontaneously in fascinating processes that offer a new perspective for development policy. In addition to the case studies, the book includes two analytical sections on the technologies and approaches under study. By identifying common elements of success, these analyses offer hope for productive conservation efforts at the local level with simultaneous global environmental benefits. Policy pointers for decision makers and donors offer a new impetus for further investment – to make the land greener.
Ce livre est l'ouvrage de référence des connaissances de la plateforme TerrAfrica, préparé à l'in... more Ce livre est l'ouvrage de référence des connaissances de la plateforme TerrAfrica, préparé à l'initiative de l'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) et financé par le Fonds à effet de levier de TerrAfrica qui regroupe nombre de donateurs, la Banque mondiale (BM), la FAO, la Direction du développement et de la coopération suisse (DDC) et le Panorama mondial des approches et technologies de conservation (WOCAT). Ces directives ont été préparées par Hanspeter Liniger, Rima Mekdaschi Studer, Christine Hauert et Mats Gurtner ; elles ont été initiées et coordonnées par Dominique Lantieri de la FAO, éditées dans la version originale en anglais par William Critchley, CIS, VU-Université d'Amsterdam, avec le soutien, les contributions techniques et la relecture de Steve Danyo de la Banque mondiale et de Sally Bunning de la FAO. Les directives sont basées sur un processus itératif qui puise dans l'expérience collective des personnes et des institutions, à la fois en Afrique et à l'extérieur. Elles ont été rédigées avec le conseil, la coopération et l'assistance des nombreux contributeurs qui défendent la GDT comme le moyen d'assurer les conditions d'existence en respectant l'environnement et de manière résiliente au climat. Les groupes de GDT, sous leur forme actuelle, n'auraient pas pu être rédigés sans la révision et les apports techniques des personnes ressources suivantes : Gestion intégrée de la fertilité des sols :
delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the priority need, accomplishments and responsibiliti... more delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the priority need, accomplishments and responsibilities of international organisations, governments, networks, practitioners and land users to secure ecologically sustainable development, with specific reference to the accomplishment within South Africa and the WOCAT network, as a fundamental building block in endeavours addressing global food security and food production. The Share Fair day was continued with an opening speech by Hanspeter Liniger, WOCAT Secretariat on achievements and challenges using WOCAT for decision support. After that the 1 st topic session started on "Innovative SLM technologies and approaches in view of food security, climate change resilience, and disaster risk reduction". The session was opened by a keynote presentation by Professor Mary Scholes, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa on "Climate change and climate smart agriculture". The keynote presentation was followed by various input presentations by countries such as WOTR
Introduction PART 1 Research evidence in support of sustainable land management CHAPTER 1 Local l... more Introduction PART 1 Research evidence in support of sustainable land management CHAPTER 1 Local land management-the soil, vegetation, water and climate nexus 1.1 Integrated management of agricultural production systems 1.2 Managing irrigation and fertilization 1.3 Eco-engineering 1.4 Adapted livestock management 1.5 Managing natural and semi-natural systems Conclusions CHAPTER 2 Landscape management-adapting to climate change 2.1 Land and water management in river basins 2.2 Riparian forest and water quality management 2.3 Coastal zone management and ECO-DRR Conclusions CHAPTER 3 Mitigating climate change 3.1 Developing nationwide strategies for climate change mitigation 3.2 Preventing land conversion 3.3 Reversing land conversion 3.4 Restoring wetlands and organic soils 3.5 Reducing emissions from agricultural practices Conclusions CHAPTER 4 Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems 4.1 Managing protected areas 4.2 Paying for ecosystem services Conclusions 4 Making sense of research for sustainable land management CHAPTER 5 Bridging gaps between research and practice 5.1 Awareness-raising: communicating complexity 5.2 Capacity building 5.3 Framework conditions and governance 5.4 Use of Knowledge 5.5. Stakeholder integration/ co-production of knowledge Conclusions CHAPTER 6 The contribution of research 6.1 Tools and methods: the ways and means of conducting research 6.2 Impact-the role of research projects within the region and beyond 6.3 Framework conditions for implementation-oriented research: flexible and long-term Conclusions CHAPTER 7 Conclusions and key messages The basis of land management Sustainable Land Management and the role of research Synergies and trade-offs in SLM Implementation-oriented research Framework conditions for implementation-oriented research Framework conditions for SLM implementation Outlook PART 2 Case studies ANNE X BMBF-SLM Programme and the regional research projects References and supporting material Glossary of terms List of abbreviations Making sense of research for sustainable land management
Geographisches Institut der Universität Bern eBooks, 2011
Land uses addressed Cropland: Land used for cultivation of crops (annual and perennial) e.g. fiel... more Land uses addressed Cropland: Land used for cultivation of crops (annual and perennial) e.g. field crops, vegetables, fodder crops, orchards, etc. Grazing land: Land used for animal production e.g. natural or seminatural grasslands, open woodlands, improved or planted pastures. Forests / woodlands: land used mainly for wood production, other forest products, recreation, protection e.g. natural forests, plantations, afforestations, etc.
Analysis of apple production in Switzerland has shown that studies on the dynamics of subsystems ... more Analysis of apple production in Switzerland has shown that studies on the dynamics of subsystems create the most useful base to optimize agricultural production systems. Therefore, the interactions between insect herbivores and their host, with special attention to stress factors such as water and nutrient deficiencies, are studied extensively at the Institute of Plant Sciences at the ETH, Zurich. The influence of different levels of water supply on the subsystem of apple plants (Malus domestica Borkh., cv. 'Golden Delicious') with green apple aphids (Aphis pomi De Geer)(Hemiptera: Aphididae) was examined for the first time in this study. Effects of different water regimes on plant growth and on physiological plant parameters, on aphid population dynamics, as well as on the feedback of aphids on their host were studied. Apple plants, which were multiplied by tissue culture, were subjected to different levels of water supply OF^:-0.05,-0.70,-1.20,-1.60 and-2.15 MPa) using the intermittent drying cycle technique. The experiments were conducted with potted plants grown in a soil mix under controlled environmental conditions (22/17°C day/night temperatures, 18:6 light/dark regime, 55-60% RH, 400-450 umol/rrftsec PPFD). Plants reached a maximum size of 1.3 m. The effects of water stress on plant growth and on the development of aphid populations was described by relating age-specific life table and population parameters of aphids as well as density-dependent population characteristics with plant growth and plant physiological parameters such as shoot length, total leaf area, plant water relations and phloem sap quality. Water stress decreased the plants' carrying capacity for aphid populations. The characteristics of the phloem sap were identified as the most important factors influencing the population development of aphids. The concentration and composition of the phloem sap changed with water stress, with leaf position (i.e. leafs stage of maturity), and with infestation by aphids. II The size (per plant) and density (per leaf and per unit of shoot length) of aphid populations decreased significantly with an increase in water stress. Although the concentration of amino acids in the phloem sap increased with water stress, the amino acid to carbohydrate ratio decreased up to 10-fold, rendering the quality of the phloem sap less favorable for aphid feeding. Asparagine, the major amino acid detected in the phloem sap of apple plants (68-77% relative content in apical and growing leaves), was identified as a factor determining population development of A. pomi. The relative content of asparagine in the phloem significantly decreased with water stress. A higher amino acid content in the phloem of the apex and young, growing leaves and a lower carbohydrate to nitrogen ratio, as well as higher relative contents of asparagine compared with the phloem of mature leaves, explain the preference of the green apple aphid for young tissue and the faster development of aphids on young leaves. Therefore, young apple trees and actively growing plant parts are most threatened by green apple aphid infestation. The study presented here confirmed that aphids can exert an appreciable sink effect on plants by increasing transport of solutes to feeding sites, and that this sink effect is correlated with the size of an aphid colony. It could be demonstrated that the phloem sap of plants which were previously infested with aphids contained significantly higher asparagine and much lower sorbitol compared with phloem collected from uninfested plants, proving that aphids altered the composition of the phloem sap to favor their nutrition. Plants grown under conditions of water stress were shown to adjust osmotically by actively accumulating solutes. The critical moisture level for a signifi¬ cant reduction in plant growth developed below Y^, =-0.69 MPa for plants which were not infested with aphids. An infestation with aphids, however, was demonstrated to affect the plants' ability to adjust osmotJcally by the drain of assimilates and solutes needed for active osmotic adjustment, shifting the critical moisture level for plants infested with aphids to Y^>-0.69 MPa. In this critical moisture range plants were shown to be particularly sensitive to an infestation with aphids. Under unlimited water supply, plants were able to compensate for the losses in assimilates withdrawn by aphids, possibly due to a positive feedback on photosynthesis caused by an additional sink and/or due to degeneration and mobilization of metabolites. Ill Population parameters (mean generation time, intrinsic rate of natural increase, and days for populations to double), the components of the intrinsic rate of increase (development and pre-reproductive times, percent immature mortality, and fecundity) and population characteristics (size and density) of A. pomi were assessed using two approaches: the age-specific life table and the density-dependent population approach. Under conditions of water stress, development and pre-reproductive time of aphids as well as generation and doubling time of populations were shorter than in the well-watered treatment. Net reproduction rate (i.e. cumulative fecundity) significantly increased with water stress, whereas the intrinsic rate of natural increase was not significantly affected by drought stress. The size and density of aphid populations, however, was significantly reduced on water stressed plants. The interrelationship of various factors regulating aphid population, therefore, may not necessarily all apply at different population densities. Leer-Vide-Empty The effects of water stress on plant traits and their potential relevance to insect performance, especially of phloem sucking insects, will be briefly reviewed: 1.2.1 Plant Growth Many processes involved in plant growth, including cell enlargement, cell wall synthesis and protein synthesis are extremely sensitive to water deficit. A reduction in plant size is the most common result of water stress, because cell enlargement is the process most sensitive to water deficit Significantly less tissue will be produced and thus made available to insect herbivores if water stress occurs during the active growth phase of a plant (Hsiao, 1973; Gershenzon, 1984; Mattson and Haack, 1987; Holtzer et al., 1988). Total leaf area decreases appreciably with an increase in water deficiency, thereby decreasing photosynthetically active surfaces (Mattson and Haack, 1987). 1.2.2 Plant Nutritional Quality The availability of organic nitrogen (amino acids, amides and related compounds) has been shown to be a critical, if not limiting, factor in the population growth of many insect herbivores and in particular of phloem feeders such as aphids. Nitrogen metabolism is among the processes most sensitive to water deficit (Hsiao et al., 1976). In general, water stress disturbs nitrogen metabolism in such a way that protein contents decrease while amino acids increase in concentration. The observed increase in amino acid content results from protein hydrolysis as well as from reduced plant growth, i.e. reduced protein synthesis and hence utilization of amino acids. This may lead to a qualitative improvement of the nutritional base of aphids. Photosynthesis, translocation of photosynthates, partitioning of photosynthate between sugars and starch, rate of hydrolysis of starch, and respiration are all affected by water stress and lead to changes in carbohydrate metabolism (Kramer, 1983 cf. Mattson and Haack, 1987). There is little evidence, however, that the effects of water stress on carbohydrate availability play a direct role in the growth of insect populations (e.g. Holtzer et al., 1988). Not just the presence and absolute concentration of a specific nutritional element can improve the aphids diet; also the ratios of these nutrients may be just as important (nutritional-balance)(Mattson and Haack, 1987). A wide variety of plant secondary metabolites, also found in the phloem of plants (e.g. phenols and flavanoids), have been shown to function as chemical defenses in plants against insect herbivores. Gershenzon (1984) concluded, that water stress significantly alters the amounts of defensive compounds such as cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, alkaloids, and terpenoids present in plants. 1.2.3 Plant Water Potential Osmotic adjustment is a mechanism by which water stressed plants lower the osmotic potential by dehydrating (passive) and/or accumulating solutes in cells (active) and thereby maintaining turgor. Some of the solutes responsible for osmotic adjustment are soluble carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, amino acids, organic acids, and inorganic ions (Morgan, 1984). Many of the solutes 2 Effects of Water Stress on Population Dynamics of the Green Apple Aphid: Life Table Analysis 2.1 Water content (%) Exp. 1 Exp. 2 Control 70.80 a 99.84 x (±6.68) (±4.93) 25.56 a 38.45 x (±2.61) (±2.32) 64.06 a 61.80 x (±0.48) (±0.54) Moderate 46.78 b 90.82 xy (±4.88) (±4.64) 17.62 b 37.57 xy (±1.98) (±2.07) 62.50 b 58.75 y (±0.32) (±0.46) Severe 33.37 b 76.34 y (±2.95) (±5.70) 13.23 b 31.45y (±1.25) (±2.47) 60.42 c 58.71 y (±0.61) (±0.96) Exp. 1:8 replicates; Exp. 2:16 replicates (except moderate: 14 replicates) means in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P 4 0.05).
Land
Land is both a source and a sink of carbon dioxide (CO2), the chief greenhouse gas. Through susta... more Land is both a source and a sink of carbon dioxide (CO2), the chief greenhouse gas. Through sustainable land management (SLM), it can capture extra CO2 and store it as carbon in vegetation and soil. SLM can also reduce CO2 emissions from the land. Thus, SLM is viewed as the key land-based solution for climate change mitigation. Yet, SLM also provides effective climate change (CC) adaptation practices—such as agroforestry, mulching and water harvesting—which confer resilience, and simultaneously help secure production. This is especially valuable for land users in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) who depend on rainfed agriculture. They are amongst the poorest on Earth and the most vulnerable to CC impacts, despite their minimal carbon footprint. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) manages the Global SLM Database: this holds a rich and ever-growing collection of SLM practices. Analysis of the database for rainfed SSA sheds light on which SLM technologies are...
University of Sarajevo; Facultiy of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2020
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Land degradation and desertification affect around one-third of the land used for agriculture, un... more Land degradation and desertification affect around one-third of the land used for agriculture, undermining productivity, and farmers' livelihoods, and resilience. People in rainfed and dryland areas are the most vulnerable to the environmental and social impacts of degradation, yet opportunities to expand agricultural areas in order to meet the needs of an ever-growing population are limited and/or not feasible. On the bright side, there are opportunities to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation (LD), however, it will require identifying areas that are suited to implement sustainable land management (SLM) practices and create an enabling environment that encourages such initiatives. In Morocco, latest available data from 2015 showed that 19 percent of its land over the total land area is degraded. In order to assess the level of degradation in rainfed landscapes of Morocco and identify the appropriate technological solutions in response to the driving forces and pressures, ...
Much research has focused on desertification and land degradation assessments without putting suf... more Much research has focused on desertification and land degradation assessments without putting sufficient emphasis on prevention and mitigation, although the concept of sustainable land management (SLM) is increasingly being acknowledged. A variety of SLM measures have already been applied at the local level, but they are rarely adequately recognised, evaluated, shared or used for decision support. WOCAT (World Overview of Technologies and Approaches) has developed an internationally recognised, standardised methodology to document and evaluate SLM technologies and approaches, including spatial distribution, allowing the sharing of SLM knowledge worldwide. The recent methodological integration into a participatory process allows now analysing and using this knowledge for decision support at the local and national level. The use of the WOCAT tools stimulates evaluation (self-evaluation as well as learning from comparing experiences) within SLM initiatives where all too often there is ...