scholarly journals Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1284
Author(s):  
George N. Zaimes ◽  
Valasia Iakovoglou ◽  
Dimitrios Syropoulos ◽  
Dimitrios Kaltsas ◽  
Dimitrios Avtzis
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Nestos River ◽  
The Mediterranean

The riparian areas of the Mediterranean are unique but face many pressures from anthropogenic and climate change impacts. They have very rich and diverse plant communities as a result of the dynamic fluvio-geomorphologic conditions of the Mediterranean streams. In this study, the riparian areas of two adjacent mountainous tributaries (Arkoudorema and Vathirema) of the Nestos River were studied. To assess the condition of riparian areas holistically, diverse measurements are required. This is why fluvio-geomorphologic (in the field and with GIS), vegetation (surveys and visual protocols) and ground-dwelling insect (pitfall traps and indices) measurements were taken along an elevational gradient. The results of all three methodologies draw to similar conclusions, with Vathirema sub-watershed riparian areas being in better condition than Arkoudoreama. This was expected, since Vathirema has less anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the riparian areas in higher elevations were in better condition for the same reason. To implement integrated water resources management plans, fluvio-geomorphologic and biological (e.g., vegetation and insects) datasets are required to provide a holistic view on the watershed and riparian area conditions. For the studied sub-watersheds, we recommend these measurements to continue, to record the current anthropogenic pressures and based on this information to suggest best management practices that will secure long-term sustainability.

scholarly journals Modelling Mediterranean agro-ecosystems by including agricultural trees in the LPJmL model

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 4997-5040 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fader ◽  
W. von Bloh ◽  
S. Shi ◽  
A. Bondeau ◽  
W. Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Ecosystem Model ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Agricultural Yields ◽  
Fodder Grasses

Abstract. Climate and land use change in the Mediterranean region is expected to affect natural and agricultural ecosystems by decreases in precipitation, increases in temperature as well as biodiversity loss and anthropogenic degradation of natural resources. Demographic growth in the Eastern and Southern shores will require increases in food production and put additional pressure on agro-ecosystems and water resources. Coping with these challenges requires informed decisions that, in turn, require assessments by means of a comprehensive agro-ecosystem and hydrological model. This study presents the inclusion of 10 Mediterranean agricultural plants, mainly perennial crops, in an agro-ecosystem model (LPJmL): nut trees, date palms, citrus trees, orchards, olive trees, grapes, cotton, potatoes, vegetables and fodder grasses. The model was successfully tested in three model outputs: agricultural yields, irrigation requirements and soil carbon density. With the development presented in this study, LPJmL is now able to simulate in good detail and mechanistically the functioning of Mediterranean agriculture with a comprehensive representation of ecophysiological processes for all vegetation types (natural and agricultural) and in a consistent framework that produces estimates of carbon, agricultural and hydrological variables for the entire Mediterranean basin. This development pave the way for further model extensions aiming at the representation of alternative agro-ecosystems (e.g. agroforestry), and opens the door for a large number of applications in the Mediterranean region, for example assessments on the consequences of land use transitions, the influence of management practices and climate change impacts.

scholarly journals Toward Best Management Practices for Ecological Corridors

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Andrew Gregory ◽  
Emma Spence ◽  
Paul Beier ◽  
Emily Garding
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Lines ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Scientific Management ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Ecological Corridors ◽  
Available Information

Ecological corridors are one of the best, and possibly only viable, management tools to maintain biodiversity at large scales and to allow species, and ecological processes, to track climate change. This document has been assembled as a summary of the best available information about managing these systems. Our aim with this paper is to provide managers with a convenient guidance document and tool to assist in applying scientific management principles to management of corridors. We do not cover issues related to corridor design or political buy in, but focus on how a corridor should be managed once it has been established. The first part of our paper outlines the history and value of ecological corridors. We next describe our methodologies for developing this guidance document. We then summarize the information about the impacts of linear features on corridors and strategies for dealing with them—specifically, we focus on the effects of roads, canals, security fences, and transmission lines. Following the description of effects, we provide a summary of the best practices for managing the impacts of linear barriers. Globally, many corridors are established in the flood plains of stream and rivers and occur in riparian areas associated with surface waters. Therefore, we next provide guidance on how to manage corridors that occur in riparian areas. We then segue into corridors and the urban/suburban environment, and summarize strategies for dealing with urban development within corridors. The final major anthropic land use that may affect corridor management is cultivation and grazing agriculture. We end this review by identifying gaps in knowledge pertaining to how best to manage corridors.

scholarly journals Modelling Mediterranean agro-ecosystems by including agricultural trees in the LPJmL model

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 3545-3561 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fader ◽  
W. von Bloh ◽  
S. Shi ◽  
A. Bondeau ◽  
W. Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Ecosystem Model ◽  
Socioeconomic Changes ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Agricultural Yields

Abstract. In the Mediterranean region, climate and land use change are expected to impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems by warming, reduced rainfall, direct degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity loss. Human population growth and socioeconomic changes, notably on the eastern and southern shores, will require increases in food production and put additional pressure on agro-ecosystems and water resources. Coping with these challenges requires informed decisions that, in turn, require assessments by means of a comprehensive agro-ecosystem and hydrological model. This study presents the inclusion of 10 Mediterranean agricultural plants, mainly perennial crops, in an agro-ecosystem model (Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land – LPJmL): nut trees, date palms, citrus trees, orchards, olive trees, grapes, cotton, potatoes, vegetables and fodder grasses. The model was successfully tested in three model outputs: agricultural yields, irrigation requirements and soil carbon density. With the development presented in this study, LPJmL is now able to simulate in good detail and mechanistically the functioning of Mediterranean agriculture with a comprehensive representation of ecophysiological processes for all vegetation types (natural and agricultural) and in a consistent framework that produces estimates of carbon, agricultural and hydrological variables for the entire Mediterranean basin. This development paves the way for further model extensions aiming at the representation of alternative agro-ecosystems (e.g. agroforestry), and opens the door for a large number of applications in the Mediterranean region, for example assessments of the consequences of land use transitions, the influence of management practices and climate change impacts.

scholarly journals Hard-Bottom Megabenthic Communities of a Chilean Fjord System: Sentinels for Climate Change?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Betti ◽  
Francesco Enrichetti ◽  
Giorgio Bavestrello ◽  
Andrea Costa ◽  
Alessandra Moreni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Marine Fauna ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Fjord System ◽  
Underwater Photography ◽  
Environmental Status

Chilean Patagonia hosts one of the extensive fjord systems in the world, spanning more than 1,600 km between 41 and 55°S, and with a complex geomorphology and hydrography that supports rich and unique assemblages of marine fauna. The biodiversity of benthic organisms is possibly further enhanced by the geographic position of the region that extends far south into subantarctic waters. However, we currently lack an exhaustive picture of the zonation and ecological functioning of the benthic communities within Chilean fjords. The present study provides a detailed examination of the hard substrata megabenthic communities inhabiting the Puyuhuapi and Jacaf fjord system, in the Aysén Region of Chile. Fifty-nine stations scattered along these fjords were explored through SCUBA diving surveys, at depths between 5 and 30 m, and 16 stations were characterized in terms of benthic cover and diversity using replicated underwater photography. Ten hard bottom megabenthic communities were identified within the fjords, with some communities newly described for this region. Community composition varied both along-fjord, and with depth, and was apparently driven by variation in environmental properties. Our characterization of these fjord communities improves overall knowledge of the functioning of the fjords, and provides a useful baseline against which future anthropogenic pressures can be assessed. Future shifts in bathymetric and geographical distributions might indicate detrimental effects of climate changes, and we therefore propose that characteristic communities could be adopted as “sentinels” for overall environmental status of these unique fjord ecosystems. In this regard, detailed mapping of the distribution of megabenthic communities can provide a fundamental tool that assists in best management practices for these ecosystems.

scholarly journals Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REED+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1336
Author(s):  
Bolier Torres ◽  
David Eche ◽  
Yenny Torres ◽  
Carlos Bravo ◽  
Christian Velasco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Local Livelihoods ◽  
Ecuadorian Amazon ◽  
Reduce Emissions

Deforestation is a severe threat to diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR). To mitigate deforestation, it is necessary to know the relevant stakeholders’ roles and interactions and deepen our knowledge of the local livelihoods, objectives, potentials, limitations, and “rights of being” among farms, as well as the best management practices (BMPs). In this study, our aim was to identify and assess livestock BMPs along an elevational gradient to foster sustainable production and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). This approach could be environmentally and economically beneficial. Data were collected from 167 households along three elevational gradients, as well as from 15 interviews held among a multidisciplinary panel of key stakeholders and researchers in the EAR. The results showed that most of the Kichwa population lives in the medium zone, which features a larger agricultural and forest surface. Conversely, in the lower and upper areas, livestock predominates, where the upper area is specialized in milk production and the lower area in dual-purpose cattle (meat and dairy). The stakeholder assessment provided several key results: (a) social, structural, and technical factors have complementary effects on BMP adoption; (b) the sixteen assessed BMPs facilitated the implementation of existing financial incentive programs and enabled public–private partnerships to develop REDD+ projects. The policy implications of implementing these approaches are also discussed.

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