|
|
Ellison, D.; Morris, C. E.; Locatelli, B.; Sheil, D.; Cohen, J.; Murdiyarso, D.; Gutierrez, V.; Noordwijk, M. V.; Creed, I. F.; Pokorny, J.; Gaveau, D.; Spracklen, D. V.; Tobella, A. B.; Ilstedt, U.; Teuling, A. J.; Gebrehiwot, S. G.; Sands, D. C.; Muys, B.; Verbist, B.; Springgay, E.; Sugandi, Y.; Sullivan, C. A.
Forest-driven water and energy cycles are poorly integrated into regional, national, continental and global decision-making on climate change adaptation, mitigation, land use and water management
. This constrains humanity’s ability to protect our planet’s climate and life-sustaining functions. The substantial body of research we review reveals that forest, water and energy interactions provide the foundations for carbon storage, for cooling terrestrial surfaces and for distributing water resources. Forests and trees must be recognized as prime regulators within the water, energy and carbon cycles. If these functions are ignored, planners will be unable to assess, adapt to or mitigate the impacts of changing land cover and climate. Our call to action targets a reversal of paradigms, from a carbon-centric model to one that treats the hydrologic and climate-cooling effects of trees and forests as the first order of priority. For reasons of sustainability, carbon storage must remain a secondary, though valuable, by-product. The effects of tree cover on climate at local, regional and continental scales offer benefits that demand wider recognition. The forest- and tree-centered research insights we review and analyze provide a knowledge-base for improving plans, policies and actions. Our understanding of how trees and forests influence water, energy and carbon cycles has important implications, both for the structure of planning, management and governance institutions, as well as for how trees and forests might be used to improve sustainability, adaptation and mitigation efforts
Read More
|
|
|
This report outlines how climate change is expected to have serious environmental, economic, and social impacts in South Africa
. It states that rural farmers, whose livelihoods depend on the use of natural resources, are likely to bear the brunt of adverse impacts. The research uses a "bottom-up" approach to gain insights from the farmers themselves based on a farm household survey collected from 794 households in the Limpopo River Basin of South Africa for the farming season 2004-2005.
Findings from the paper show that the following variables influence farmer perceptions of climate adaptation:
- household size - large household will be more willing to choose other adaptations such as soil conservation techniques, chemical treatments that are labour-intensive especially in small-scale farming which involves household labour;
- farming experience - experienced farmers have an increased likelihood of using portfolio diversification, changing planting dates, and changing the amount of land under production;
- wealth - wealthier households are more willing to adapt by changing their planting dates;
- farm size - large-scale farmers are more likely to adapt because they have more capital and resources. Therefore, they can easily invest in irrigation technologies, which demand high investment costs;
- soil fertility - the perception of having highly fertile soil increases the probability that farmers will change their amount of land under cultivation;
- access to extension services - farmers who have access to extension services are more likely to be aware of changing climatic conditions and to have knowledge of the various management practices that they can use to adapt to changes in climatic conditions;
- tenure - having secure property rights increases the probability of farmers to adapt by 9 percent. with proper property rights, farmers may be able change their amount of land under cultivation to adjust to new climatic conditions.
The paper concludes that household size, farming experience, wealth, access to credit, access to water, tenure rights, off-farm activities, and access to extension are the main factors that enhance farmer adaptive capacity to climate change. The author emphasizes that governments should design policies that address these factors
Read More
|
|
|
This paper examines the consequences of climate change and rising bioenergy demand for sustainable development, food security and nutrition throughout the lifecycle
. It also explores the implications of climate change and rising bioenergy demand for nutrition and analyses potential strategies for cultivation of bioenergy crops that can contribute to poverty reduction, food security and sustainable natural resource management.
The authors discuss that efforts to assure food security and good nutrition in the face of current climate change challenges must continue to place the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as internationally agreed-upon development targets at the centre of human endeavour. Some of the key issues noted include:
- mitigation of negative impacts of biofuels - steps to assure that biofuel development is pro-poor, environment friendly and supports food security and nutrition;
- the need for direct nutrition improvement programmes towards reaching the MDGs;
- the impacts of female education in increasing in food availability.
A series of recommendations are produced. These include:
- it remains essential to accelerate progress in reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition while mitigating risk and protecting the environment;
- civil society organisations have a key role to play in a rights-based approach which engages affected stakeholders as active participants in this process;
- agriculture, food and nutrition issues need to be placed onto national and international climate change agendas in order to devise effective and pro-poor policies. The expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 offers an opportunity to bring these issues to the table;
- adaptation is a key factor to address the impacts climate change will have on food production and food insecurity;
- developing country governments should give high priority to implementing proven nutrition interventions on a national scale and international donor agencies should substantially increase support for efforts to improve nutrition;
- due to the complexity of the determinants of malnutrition, research and information on the links between climate change-related food insecurity and malnutrition are necessary.
Read More
|
|
|
Climate scientists agree that the world’s climate is changing
. The effects of global climate change will pose many challenges to the environment, economies, and communities of both California and Nevada over the coming decades. For example, by mid-century spring snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is projected to decline by 25 to 40 percent. Toward the end of the century, losses could reach 75 to 90 percent. The depletion of snowpack is alarming because the Sierra Nevada is home to 24 major watersheds that provide up to 65% of California’s developed water supply and almost all of Northern Nevada’s
Read More
|
|
|
|
email alert
or subscribe to the 
RSS feed.
