Riparian Ecological Infrastructures: Potential for Biodiversity-Related Ecosystem Services in Mediterranean Human-Dominated Landscapes

Riparian Ecological Infrastructures are networks of natural and semi-natural riparian areas located in human-dominated landscapes, crucial in supporting processes that directly or indirectly benefit humans or enhance social welfare. In this study, we developed a novel multimetric index, termed Habitat Ecological Infrastructure’s Diversity Index (HEIDI), to quantify the potential of Riparian Ecological Infrastructures in supporting biodiversity, and related ecosystem services, in three managed landscapes: Intensive Agriculture, Extensive Agriculture, and Forest Production. Metrics describing the structure, composition, and management of riparian vegetation and associated habitats were used to derive the potential of Riparian Ecological Infrastructures in supporting three distinct biological dispersal groups: short-range dispersers (ants), medium-range dispersers (pollinators), and long-range dispersers (birds, bats, and non-flying small mammals). The composition of floristic resources, assessed by identifying trees and shrubs at the species and genus level, and herbaceous plants at the family level, was used as a proxy to evaluate the potential of Riparian Ecological Infrastructures in promoting seed dispersal and pollination ecosystem services provided by the three biological communities. Our research evidenced that Riparian Ecological Infrastructures located in the Forest Production and Intensive Agriculture landscapes exhibited the highest and lowest potential for biodiversity-related ecosystem services, respectively. The Forest Production landscape revealed higher suitability of forage resources for short- and medium-range dispersers and a higher landscape coverage by Riparian Ecological Infrastructures, resulting in more potential to create ecological corridors and to provide ecosystem services. The Riparian Ecological Infrastructures located in the Extensive Agriculture landscape seemed to be particularly relevant for supporting long-ranges dispersers, despite providing less habitat for the biological communities. Land-use systems in the proximity of Riparian Ecological Infrastructures should be sustainably managed to promote riparian vegetation composition and structural quality, as well as the riparian width, safeguarding biodiversity, and the sustainable provision of biodiversity-related ecosystem services.

Explore Your Local Biodiversity – How School Grounds Evoke Visions of Sustainability

Biodiversity and sustainability are key words of modern nature-of-science teaching. While most studies use rather abstract examples for biodiversity loss, we focused on habitats that students are familiar with. Our module was developed to deepen the understanding of domestic botanical ecosystems by having students work with and on designated pasture areas. The economic implications of sustainability were addressed by contrasting intensive and extensive agriculture, as well as by touching upon topics such as organic labels and modern agriculture. By focusing on domestic ecosystems within everyday contexts, combined with digital teaching methods, we successfully increased individual knowledge levels when taking before-and-after participation scores into account. Based on these results, we conclude that our approach to using different forms of pasture on the school grounds is a promising way to improve students’ understanding of the economic and ecological implications of sustainability.

Water Physico-Chemical Characteristics of the Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, Rwanda

Rwanda possesses multiple lakes, whose properties were rarely described. The present study assessed physico-chemical characteristics of water in Burera and Ruhondo lakes located in highly populated area with steep slopes, which are under extensive agriculture, thus water quality monitoring is important. Both lakes were alkaline with high content of Mg, while Ruhondo had higher electrical conductivity than Burera. Phosphorus and nitrogen exceeded Class III EPA standards indicating that both lakes are at risk of eutrophication. Keywords: water quality, lakes Burera and Ruhondo, Rwanda

City’s periphery, between urban segregation and extensive agriculture. Case Ituzaingó anexo, Córdoba, Argentina

El barrio Ituzaingó Anexo está ubicado en la periferia sureste de la ciudad de Córdoba. Hace dieciséis años, la lucha de un grupo de madres visibilizó el conflicto ambiental que aún viven. Tal hecho, se hizo evidente al identificar enfermedades y muertes causadas por los efectos ambientales de los agrotóxicos en la producción de soja transgénica. En este trabajo, nos preguntamos de qué manera quienes deciden sobre la ciudad también son responsables de los daños ambientales producidos en este sector de la sociedad, a partir de comprender la relación del barrio con la configuración de la ciudad. Para esto, analizamos el surgimiento de Ituzaingó Anexo como barrio obrero en la expansión industrial de la ciudad y posteriormente el inicio del modelo productivo de agricultura extensiva. Haciendo énfasis en la incompatibilidad de usos habilitados por la zonificación en la planificación de la ciudad, y los efectos de segregación urbana y ambiental. The Ituzaingó Anexo neighborhood is located on the Córdoba’s city southeast periphery. Sixteen years ago, the struggle of a mother’s group made visible the environmental conflict that they still live through. This fact became evident when they identified diseases and deaths caused by the environmental effects of agrotoxics in the production of transgenic soybeans. In this work, we wonder how those who decide about the city are also responsible for the environmental damage produced in this sector of society, understanding the relationship of the neighborhood with the configuration of the city. In this way, we analyze the creation of Ituzaingó Anexo as a working class neighborhood in the industrial expansion of the city and later the beginning of the productive model of expansive agriculture. Emphasizing the incompa tibility of uses enabled by zoning in the planning of the city, and the effects of urban and environmental segregation.

STUDY OF THE AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION IN EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE SEMIARID REGION OF CÓRDOBA, ARGENTINA

Extensive agriculture in the semi-arid region of Córdoba, Argentina, generated anintense degradation of the biophysical environment, a decrease in ecosystem selfregulationmechanisms, a considerable reduction of agrodiversity and the loss ofassociated environmental services. The physical-biological responses of differentagroecological practices were evaluated for ten years in permanent macroplotslocated in three agricultural systems in order to study the transition towards moresustainable systems, which can be extrapolated to the rural area of central Córdoba.This process generated local information compatible with the farmers’ technology.The results showed that winter cover crops allowed good weed control. Althoughthey affected the soil water content, they did not produce significant differences insummer crop yields and they increased the level of surface organic carbon, thusmitigating the edaphic densification processes caused by no till farming in themedium term. Crop rotation contributed with more organic carbon to the system.Open-pollinated maize varieties produced a good yield of grains and biomass, evenin years of marked water deficits, showing their adaptation to semi-arid conditionsand their good plasticity. Fertilization with vermicompost in reduced dosesincreased grain yields and biomass production. The integrated management ofthese practices improved the balance and biological interdependencies thatfavoured biotic regulation between phytophagous and predatory arthropodpopulations as well as the regulation of spring weed populations.

Le couvert forestier en Côte d’Ivoire : une analyse critique de la situation de gestion des forêts (classées, parcs et réserves)

Preserving the forest is a "vital" action for maintaining the climate balance and promoting eco-tourism. The history mentions that the Ivorian forests played an important role in the dynamics of the development of the country because they sheltered a great diversity floristic and wildlife. Unfortunately, from 16 million hectares at the beginning of the last century (1900), the dense rainforest increased to 9 million hectares in 1965 and 3 million hectares in 1991. Today, it is estimated at about 2.5 million hectares. This situation is attributable to extensive agriculture based on the technique of shifting cultivation, the overexploitation of the forest with timber and wood energy and bush fires. Moreover, the phenomenon of forest infiltration with regard to the occupation or colonization of forest areas, particularly in the south-west of the country by migrants to build houses and / or villages, is an important factor in the disappearance of the forest. Also, successive crises that the country has experienced since 1999 until 2010 (post-election), with periods of tension, have led to mass displacements of populations. This regrouping of the populations in turn caused the clearing of the forest areas for their relocation. Thus, from the analysis of the situation of forest pressure in Côte d'Ivoire, the Ministry in charge of the management of the Ivorian forest cover indicates that the accelerated rate of destruction of Ivorian forests has today reached an estimated average of 450,000 hectares a year. The forest situation is catastrophic, if corrective measures are not taken and put into effect, the forest cover is supposed to disappear around 2040. The present work attempts to contribute to the level of reflection undertaken to improve the management of the sector. Résumé: Préserver la forêt est une action « vitale » pour le maintien de l’équilibre climatique et la promotion de l’éco-tourisme. L’histoire mentionne que les forêts ivoiriennes ont joué un rôle important dans la dynamique du développement du pays car elles abritaient une grande diversité floristique et faunique. Malheureusement, de 16 millions d’hectares au début du siècle dernier (année 1900), la forêt dense humide est passée à 9 millions d’hectares en 1965 et à 3 millions d’hectares en 1991. Aujourd’hui, elle est estimée à environ 2,5 millions d’hectares. Cette situation est imputable à l’agriculture extensive basée sur la technique des cultures itinérantes sur brûlis, la surexploitation de la forêt en bois d’œuvre et bois énergie et les feux de brousse. Par ailleurs, le phénomène de l’infiltration des forêts au regard de l’occupation ou la colonisation des zones forestières notamment du Sud-Ouest du pays par des migrants pour bâtir les habitations et/ou des villages est un facteur important de la disparition du couvert forestier.Egalement, les crises successives qu’a connues le pays depuis 1999 jusqu’en 2010 (post-électorale), populations. Ce regroupement des populations à son tour, a occasionné le défrichement des zones forestières pour leur relocalisation. Ainsi, de l’analyse de la situation des pressions sur les forêts en Côte d’Ivoire, le ministère en charge de la gestion du couvert forestier ivoirien indique que le rythme accéléré de destruction des forêts ivoiriennes a atteint de nos jours une moyenne estimée à 450.000 hectares par an. La situation des forêts est catastrophique, si des mesures correctives ne sont pas entreprises et mises en vigueur, le couvert forestier doit en principe disparaitre vers 2040. Le présent travail tente d’apporter sa contribution au niveau des réflexions engagées pour améliorer la gestion du secteur. Mots clés : forêts classées, parcs et réserves, gestion du couvert forestier, Côte d’Ivoire

Plant communities of the cultivated fields of the Podlaski Przełom Bugu mesoregion. Part 1. Cereal communities

Characteristic of plant communities developing in the cereal cultivations of the Podlaski Przełom Bugu mesoregion is presented in the paper. This agricultural region is partially situated in the borders of the ,,Podlaski Przełom Bugu" Landscape Park. Extensive agriculture as well as large soil and microclimatic diversity resulted in occurrence of rich, floristically differentiated agrocoenoses. Three associations from the alliance <i>Aperion spicae</i>-<i>venti</i> were noted in the studied area. Association <i>Vicietum tetraspermae</i> was the most common and inner differentiated. Four subassociations: <i>Vicietum tetraspermae scleranthetosum</i>, <i>Vicietum tetraspermae myosotidetosum</i>, <i>Vicietum tetraspermae typicum</i>, <i>Vicietum tetraspermae consolidetosum</i> and 18 lower syntaxonomic units were distinguished. Plots of <i>Papaveretum argemones</i>, differentiated into 3 subassociations: <i>Papaveretum argemones scleranthetosum</i>, <i>Papaveretum argemones typicum</i> and <i>Papaveretum argemones consolidetosum</i> were noted seldom in the studied area. In the central part of the Podlaski Przełom Bugu mesoregion occurrence of a single plots of <i>Arnoserido</i>-<i>Scleranthetum</i> was noted.