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Climate effects of managed boreal forests
Get PDFBoreal forests are considered as a global carbon (C) sink and are utilized for climate-change mitigation. Judging the climate impact of a forest solely on its C balance might leave an incomplete picture, since forest-climate feedbacks are also caused by various other biophysical and biogeochemical processes, e.g., albedo effects. Previous research showed a high importance of albedo effects in the boreal zone compared to other biomes, mainly due to the presence of snow.
This study quantifies the net climate effect of a forest in boreal North Sweden by considering its C and albedo dynamics. For this purpose, remotely sensed high spatial resolution albedo and ground-based C balance data were combined into a radiative forcing (RF) model. The results suggest a distinct age-related albedo pattern and the possibility of using age as a proxy for successional biophysical changes in the forest landscape. Moreover, C-flux-induced climate cooling (75% of total RF) was found to overrule albedo-induced warming (25% of total RF), which challenges previous research. The findings point towards the need for biome-specific forest management practices to yield maximum climate cooling potentials.
Keywords: Boreal Forests Climate Effect, Remotely Sensed Albedo, Age-Albedo pattern, C-flux Radiative Forcing
Naturebased coastal protection in Nyhamnen : a dynamic transition between land and sea
Get PDFKonsekvenserna av klimatförändringar kan innebära en planetarisk kris. Därför finns det inom hållbar stadsutveckling ett behov för hur vi kan arbeta med naturens resurser istället för emot dem. Den här studien har utgångspunkten att undersöka möjligheten för hur Naturebased solutions (NBS) kan implementeras i en Land-sea Interface (LSI) kontext, för att främja ett hållbart kustskydd i ett urbant sammanhang. I fråga om att undersöka möjligheten har nyutvecklingen av Nyhamnen i Malmö studerats som en fallstudie. Som delar av fallstudien har en teoriutredning, platsanalys och dokumentanalys genomförts för att förstå den organisatoriska styrningen av kustområden och undersöka möjligheterna för att implementera NBS och LSI i kustskydsplanering i Nyhamnen. Det som framhävs i studien är att även om koncepten om NBS och LSI delvis finns integrerade i Malmö stads kustskyddsplanering för Nyhamnen, används inte begreppen och lösningarna i den utsträckning som vore möjlig. Vidare framhålls det att planeringen av Nyhamnen inte frångår en traditionell kustskyddsplanering med en prioritering av att använda hårda kustskydd istället för NBS. Ytterligare uppmärksammas även bristen av ett ramverk för styrningen av kustområden, då kommuner saknar förhållningsdirektiv till Länsstyrelsernas riskhanteringsplaner. Slutligen har rekommendationer för fortsatt vidareutvecklande av ett hållbart kustskydd tagits fram.The consequences of climate change could lead to a planetary crisis. Therefore, within sustainable urban development there is a need to operate toward working with natural resources instead of against them. The standpoint of this study has been to investigate the possibility of how Naturebased solutions (NBS) can be implemented in the Land-sea Interface (LSI), to promote sustainable coastal protection in an urban context. In terms of investigating that possibility, the new development of Nyhamnen in Malmö has been used as a case study. As parts of the case study, a theory investigation, site analysis and a document analysis has been carried out to understand the organizational management of coastal areas and to investigate the possibilities for implementing NBS and LSI in coastal protection planning in Nyhamnen. What is highlighted in the study is that even though the concepts of NBS and LSI are partially integrated in Malmö city’s strategy for coastal protection in Nyhamnen, the concepts and solutions are not used to the extent that could be feasible. In addition, it is emphasized that the planning of Nyhamnen does not depart from traditional planning of coastal defenses, with a priority of using hard coastal solutions instead of NBS. Furthermore, attention is also drawn to the lack of a framework for management of coastal areas. As due to the uncertainty of conclusiveness for municipalities, in relation to the country administrations risk management plans. Finally, recommendations for further development of sustainable coastal protection have been presented
Assessing the Eco-efficiency of Swedish Crop Farms and the Role of Subsidies : a Directional Distance Function Approach
Get PDFThe agriculture sector’s contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its increasing vulnerability to the effects of climate change warrants assessments considering not only on-farm productivity but also the industry’s environmental sustainability. Utilizing the concept of eco-efficiency, this study analyzes the environmental performance of Swedish crop farms by incorporating farm-level GHG emissions as an undesirable output in the production function. Eco-efficiency is the term used to describe production with efficient use of resources while reducing environmental damage. Using panel data from the Swedish Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) spanning from 2009 to 2020, GHG emissions at the farm level are quantified. Contrasting usual non-parametric eco-efficiency methods, a parametric estimation of an output-oriented directional distance function (DDF) is employed via a stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to ascertain farmers’ potential to simultaneously enhance farm net-value added (FNVA) while decreasing GHG emissions. Further analysis is conducted to investigate any potential effects of the common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies on eco-efficiency levels. Results reveal that Swedish crop farmers emit an average of 295 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, predominantly from nitrous oxide (N2O) due to fertilizer use. These farmers are highly eco-efficient at an average level of 0.90, suggesting that they can concurrently increase FNVA and decrease emissions by 10%. Investigating the factors affecting eco-inefficiency, it is found that crop and environmental subsidies significantly lead to reduced efficiency. Meanwhile, results suggest that the implementation of the 2013 CAP reform, and increased crop diversification foster more eco-efficient practices. From these findings, implications, and conclusions are drawn, which offer valuable insights for policymakers
Regeneration with fencing : effects of fencing on natural regeneration in deciduous forest in three Scanian nature reserves
Get PDFÄdellövskogens artsammansättning styrs av flera naturliga processer, en av dessa processer är viltbete. Bete kan leda till att trädslagsfördelningen förändras och att föryngring blir problematiskt, speciellt i områden med stora viltstammar och för de mer betesbegärliga trädarterna. Skog som under en längre tid utsätts för högt betestryck kan av denna anledning komma att helt ändra struktur och utseende då få eller inga träd får en chans att bli vuxna och växa in i krontaket. För att dessa utsatta skogar ska gå att föryngra är det vanligt att hägn, som stänger ute viltet och därmed stoppar betesskador, används.
Studiens syfte är bygga vidare på den kunskap som finns kring den kortsiktiga inverkan bete från vilt har på trädföryngring samt att få större förståelse för effekterna som hägn kan ha på skogens struktur och artsammansättning. Detta genom att jämföra naturlig föryngring, skyddad av hägn med oskyddad föryngring som utsatts för bete. Detta har studerats i naturreservaten Hästhagen, Fyledalen och Maltesholm. De tre naturreservaten är belägna i Skåne och har, jämfört med varandra, ett varierande betestryck. Varje reservat har 20 provytor vardera. Provytorna har storleken 7 x 7 m varav hälften är inhägnade och den andra hälften saknar hägn och fungerar som kontrollytor. Hägnen och kontrollytorna är utlagda i direkt anslutning till varandra i par. Studien genomfördes genom inventering av provytorna som sedan jämfördes med inventeringsresultat från samma provytor från 2019. Inom varje provyta räknades alla vedväxter med en höjd över 10 cm. Dessa artbestämdes, höjden mättes och det noterades om de blivit betade under senaste året eller ej.
Resultaten visar att bete i stor utsträckning påverkar föryngringen i ädellövskog och att effekten av hägn har en positiv inverkan på plantors överlevnad. Tydligast syns detta i Maltesholm där betestrycket är högt. Inom kontrollytorna påträffades ett fåtal plantor medan det inom hägnen påträffades tusentals. Även en tydlig höjdtillväxt för bok- och askplantor kan konstateras inom hägnen. I Hästhagen och Fyledalen, som har ett lägre betestryck, saknas signifikanta skillnader för antalet plantor mellan hägn och kontrollytor. I Hästhagen kan effekter i höjdtillväxt konstateras för bokplantor inom de hägnade områdena då dessa är signifikant högre än i kontrollytorna. Slutsatsen av denna studie är att mindre hägn kan ha en avgörande effekt för överlevnaden av plantor i områden där betestrycket är högt medan det i områden med lägre betestryck verkar saknar denna funktion.The composition of deciduous forests is controlled by several natural processes, one of these processes is browsing by ungulates. Browsing can change the distribution of tree species and make regeneration problematic, especially in areas with large populations of ungulates and for the more palatable tree species. For this reason, forests that are exposed to high levels of browsing for prolonged periods of time can completely change their structure and appearance, as few or no trees get a chance to grow into the canopy and become old. For these vulnerable forests to be regenerated, it is common practice that fences are used that completely shut out animals and cancel browsing damages.
The purpose of this research is to study the effects that browsing has on the structure and composition of deciduous forest. This is done by comparing natural regeneration in plots protected by fences with plots exposed to browsing. This has been studied in the nature reserves Hästhagen, Fyledalen and Maltesholm. The reserves are all located in Sweden in the county of Scania and have, compared to each other, varying intensities of browsing. Each reserve has 20 paired sample plots each. These plots are 7 x 7 m in size, one of which is fenced, the other unfenced which serves as a control area. Fenced and unfenced plots were placed in pairs near one another. This study was carried out by an inventory of the plots, which were then compared with inventory results from the same plots in 2019. Within each plot, all woody plant seedlings with a height above 10 cm were included. For each one of these seedlings the species was determined, height above ground was measured and it was noted if the seedlings were browsed or not in the recent year.
The results show that browsing has a great impact on regeneration in deciduous forest and that the effect of fencing has a positive impact on seedling survival. This can clearly be seen in Maltesholm, where the browsing intensity has been high. A few seedlings were found within the control plots, while thousands were found within the fenced plots. A clear increase in height for beech and ash seedlings could be observed within the fenced plots. In Hästhagen and Fyledalen, which have lower browsing pressure, this effect cannot be ascertained as there is no significant difference between the control area and the fenced area for the number of seedlings. In Hästhagen, effects in height growth can be observed for beech seedlings inside the fenced plots as they are significantly taller than in the control plots. The conclusion of this study is that fencing can have a decisive effect on the survival of tree seedlings in areas with high browsing pressure, in areas with lower browsing pressure this effect seems to be absent
The establishment and test of a marteloscope in Vätteskogen, Skinnskatteberg
Get PDFIdag ökar intresset för alternativa skogsskötselmetoder till trakthyggesbruket, och ny kunskap om dessa metoder publiceras med allt högre frekvens av forskarkåren. För att implementera nya metoder i praktiken behövs verktyg som överbygger gapet mellan teori och praktik. Ett marteloskop är ett sådant verktyg. Ett marteloskop är en eller flera försöksytor som har totalklavats och där träden har numrerats. Dessutom kan vissa marteloskop visas i ett digitalt verktyg som sammanställer insamlade data. Ett sådant verktyg visualiserar beståndet spatialt tillsammans med beståndsdata och kan möjliggöra analys. Marteloskop lämpar sig väl för att praktiskt implementera teoretisk kunskap i praktiska övningar eftersom man kan ge detaljerad feedback i samband med det praktiska genomförandet.
En studie har genomförts med syfte att undersöka om marteloskop är ett användbart didaktiskt verktyg. Därför upprättades ett marteloskop i Vätteskogen utanför Skinnskatteberg. Ett antal testpersoner fick genomföra en övning i marteloskopet för att undersöka om den tillhörande mjukvaran I+Trainer är ett lämpligt verktyg för att nyttja marteloskopet.
Marteloskopet upprättades på Sveaskogs markinnehav väster om sjön Skärsjön i Vätteskogen som ingår i ett projekt för hyggesfritt skogsbruk genom ett samarbete mellan SLU, Skinnskattebergs kommun och Sveaskog. Beståndet består av ett huvudskikt av äldre tallskog med ett varierat underskikt av främst inväxande gran. Fältarbetet bestod av upprätta en permanent 100×100 meter stor provyta och att sedan på denna mäta höjd, diameter, bedöma naturvärden samt att positionera alla träd inom ytan med mer än 10 cm i brösthöjdsdiameter. Data sammanställdes och överfördes sedan till Integrate-nätverkets applikation I+Trainer. Slutligen genomfördes en övning med marteloskopet där tio testpersoner fick en instruktion att genomföra en höggallring med ett 30-procentigt grundyteuttag samt att bevara naturvärden kopplade till enskilda träd. Övningens syfte var att jämföra resultaten mellan deltagare som haft tillgång till applikationen I+Trainer med de försökspersoner som inte haft tillgång till denna. Efter övningen fick deltagarna svara på en enkät om hur de upplevde övningen samt hur de uppfattade applikationen I+Trainer.
Den här studien visar att det upprättade marteloskopet är funktionsdugligt. Dessutom tyder enkätsvaren på att deltagarna har funnit I+Trainer funktionsduglig och ändamålsenlig. Dock har studien inte kunnat påvisa att I+Trainer påverkade deltagarnas förmåga att uppnå en specifik gallringsstyrka genom val av enskilda träd. För att utnyttja marteloskop som ett didaktiskt undervisningsverktyg på ett givande sätt bör övningar utformas med relevanta parametrar och med tydliga mål. Detta underlättas av marteloskopets integrering i Integrate nätverket som möjliggör ett utbyte mellan olika organisationer genom delade kunskaper och övningsupplägg.Today, there is growing interest in alternative forest management methods to clearcutting, and the academic community is increasingly disseminating new knowledge about these methods. To effectively implement these new methods into practice, tools are required to bridge the gap between theory and application. One such tool is a marteloscope.
A marteloscope comprises an experimental plot that has been fully mapped, with trees systematically numbered. Additionally, marteloscopes can be incorporated into a digital platform, which compiles the gathered data. This tool spatially visualizes the stand alongside its corresponding data, facilitating analysis. Marteloscopes are well-suited for implementing theoretical knowledge in field exercises, because they enable detailed feedback during practical implementation.
The objective of this bachelor thesis was to establish a marteloscope in Vätteskogen outside of Skinnskatteberg, and to let a sample of test subjects perform an exercise within the marteloscope to investigate the software I+Trainer´s effectiveness as a didactic tool.
The marteloscope was established on Sveaskog's landholding west of lake Skärsjön in Vätteskogen, as part of a project for Continuous Cover Forestry. This project resulted from a collaboration between SLU, Skinnskattebergs Municipality, and Sveaskog. The stand is characterised by an overgrowth of older pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) with a more varied undergrowth comprised of mainly younger spruce trees (Picea abies). The fieldwork consisted by the establishing of a permanent 100x100 meter large plot. Thereafter data was collected in form of tree diameter, heights, ecological values and recording the positions of all trees >10 cm DBH. The data was later compiled and transferred to the Integrate network´s application I+Trainer. Then an exercise was carried out with the Marteloscope where 10 participants obtained an instruction to perform a thinning from above with a target of removing 30 percent in basal area while retaining ecological values tied to individual trees. The purpose of the exercise was to compare the results between participants that had access to the I+Trainer application to those without access. After the exercise the participants answered a survey on how they experienced the exercise and how they perceived the application I+Trainer.
This study demonstrates the functional viability of the established marteloscope. Additionally, survey responses indicate that participants found I+Trainer to be both functional and purposeful. However, the study did not discern any impact of I+Trainer on participants' ability to attain specific thinning intensities through the selection of individual trees. Another conclusion of the study is the importance of relevant parameters and goals for didactic exercises when using the marteloscope. This is facilitated by the integration of the marteloscope in the Integrate network, which enables knowledge exchange and the sharing of exercise methodologies among different educational institutions
Fokus Järva : a case study on Stockholm municipality’s strategies to break residential segregation
Get PDFResidential segregation in Stockholm is referred to as a threat to the social cohesion and a hinder for sustainable urban development. Therefore, Stockholm municipality has launched a series of actions explicitly addressing segregation, being urban development projects the most prominent iterations. However, these projects have met limited success, being this utmost evident in the Järva district, that, despite more than 30 years of consecutive desegregation projects, remains socially, economically, and spatially segregated from the rest of the city. Now, Stockholm municipality means to finally solve segregation in Järva through Fokus Järva. This thesis pretends to reveal how Stockholm municipality intends to achieve this through urban planning. For this, the context provided by Fokus Järva is analyzed through a qualitative single-case study, with special attention to underlying ideologies and issues of power, vis a critical approach. Criticality is based on an anti-subordination perspective, advancing an anti-racist, historically aware, social justice project.
Fokus Järva is conceptualized as the intersection of the geographic, historic, and urban planning contexts of the Järva district. The geographic and historic context provided a clear picture of the current state of segregation in the Järva district and how it came to be, as well as the evolution of urban planning themes related to segregation. Subsequently, the urban planning context revealed the municipal structures involved in urban planning and how they plan to engage with the segregation picture of Järva. These three contexts are then analyzed through Critical Thematic Analysis (CTA) to reveal cohesion, equalization, diversity, densification, and attractiveness as the overarching themes in Stockholm municipality’s scheme to break segregation through urban planning. Finally, the risk of Fokus Järva to produce social injustice in Järva due to the influence of concealed ideologies over Stockholm municipality’s take on desegregation is explored
Det förflutna i nuet : en diskursanalys av Phoenix Park bevarandeplan
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the challenges of managing urban heritage sites in today's rapidly evolving society. The management of such sites must adapt to meet the changing needs of society while preserving their historical and cultural value. One such site is Phoenix Park, located in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. The urban park, with its vast size and rich cultural heritage, is a historic landmark essential to the country's history and identity. For Phoenix Park to remain an urban green oasis and a vital part of Ireland's heritage, its management must balance commercial development and recreational use with preservation efforts. The study aimed to provide insights into the values and discourses surrounding heritage management and how they interact in the context of Ireland. Adopting a qualitative approach, the Phoenix Park Conservation Management Plan was examined through discourse analysis to identify activated discourses, their core values, and their interactions. The results reveal parallel discourses on heritage, shaped by shared and opposing perspectives on managing the past. These perspectives can be reconciled by finding common ground with bridging values. This study's significance lies in its contribution to the broader field of heritage management by providing insights into the discourses shaping heritage management in Ireland. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers could use the study's implications to develop better tools and guidance to manage heritage effectively, involve local communities and stakeholders in decision-making processes, and embrace a more comprehensive understanding of heritage values
The value of green infrastructure in the city : a study on climate actions for global warming with observation from Barcelona
Get PDFThis essay is written with the background of the ongoing global warming and
urbanization. The essay is a deepening of the current situation in the example of the
city of Barcelona with concrete examples of solutions for Swedish cities against
urban heat islands. With the work, I hope to be able to provide both the individual
reader and the Swedish cities with the preservation of connections between theory
and practice and, through new knowledge, raise new questions about the
formulation of the problem to secure future urbanization.
The consequences of global warming are heat waves that will become significantly
more frequent and more prolonged as the average temperature on earth continues
to rise. In cities which are densely built the consequences of the heat waves are heat
stress, which is a direct threat to human health. Urban green areas and green
infrastructure have the potential to help the city adapt to the changing climate and
provide better living conditions for the inhabitants. As the cities continue to densify,
the area for green infrastructure will become smaller and smaller. A hypothesis that
Scandinavian cities lack planning and preparedness for heat waves through green
infrastructure will be confirmed in the essay because the focus has been on other
climate measures. Scandinavian cities have not previously had to deal with a hot
climate, but now the cities need to rethink for the future. Therefore, Barcelona's
urban green areas will be analyzed by their current green status and how they are
valued through an analysis model called the City Biodiversity Index. Which
strategies that are used for the vision of a green city in municipal planning
documents will also be analyzed. The city of Barcelona is chosen because it has a
significantly warmer climate all year round and has had for a long time.
Scandinavian cities can therefore be inspired by effective solutions from them.
Examples from Barcelona's actions to be a resilient city against heat waves will be
presented. However, the continued densification of the future is a remaining threat
in all cities, which will make it more difficult to construct planned green values as
a climate measures. Therefore, the conclusion is that Scandinavian cities must make
higher demands on the integration of greenery in the city's future buildings. The
conclusion will be a basis for Scandinavian cities' future work in planning to be a
resilient city against heat waves and continue to provide good living conditions for
the inhabitants
Ökade produktionskostnader och krisberedskap
Get PDFKriget i Ukraina har bidragit till stora utmaningar för dagens producenter i form av ökade produktionskostnader. Kostnader för insatsvaror, el och drivmedel har skjutit i höjden vilket har bidragit till att lantbrukare tvingats skära ner sin produktion eller i vissa fall lägga ner den helt (LRF 2022b). Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur ekologiska nötköttsproducenter har påverkats av ökade produktionskostnader med fokus på insats-och försäljningssidan. Uppsatsen syftar även till att undersöka deras strategier och erfarenheter av tidigare kriser. Uppsatsen är geografiskt avgränsad till Värmland samt till produktionsinriktningen ekologiska nötköttsproducenter. Studien är gjord utifrån kvalitativa intervjumetoder. Totalt har sex antal gårdar undersökts i studien.
Resultatet visar att den största faktorn som påverkar ekologiska nötköttsproducenter är drivmedelskostnaderna. Dieselberoendet är svårt att komma ifrån oavsett om produktionen är ekologisk eller konventionell. De framkommer att olika åtgärder redan har gjorts så som exempelvis GPS i traktorerna för att minska körsträckor och spara diesel. Det kan även ses ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv då vi går mot ett mer fossilfritt samhälle. En lärdom som dras utifrån resultatet är svårigheten att hitta en balans i den ekologiska produktionen mellan att ha många djur, för lönsamhetens skull, samtidigt som de då behöver ha stora arealer foderproduktion, vilket kostar mycket diesel. Kostnaderna för plast är den andra faktorn som de ekologiska nötköttsproducenterna uppger har ökat mest efter dieseln vilket skiljer sig från vad konventionella producenter upplever (Eriksson 2018). Åtgärder som framkommer för att minska plastberoendet är exempelvis att anlägga plansilo, plantork alternativt använda mindre plast på balarna. Även detta kan ses ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv då plastanvändningen anses behöva minska då den kan vara skadlig för miljön. Prisökningar på energi har motiverat flera av de ekologiska nötköttsproducenterna till att installera solceller. En egen produktion av el motiverar till fler eldrivna lösningar i verksamheterna, så som exempelvis eldrivna lastmaskiner och utfodringssystem. Lantbrukarna blir på så vis mindre sårbara till marknadssvängningar med en egen produktion av el. Även detta kan ses ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv till att minska fossilberoendet. Ekologiska nötköttsproducenter kan ses som mindre sårbara än konventionella producenter i anseende till beroendet av växtskyddsmedel och konstgödsel vilket oftast produceras utanför Sverige. Samt att de i mindre grad köper in spannmål eller proteinfoder vilket ger ett skydd mot svängningar på den globala marknaden.
Majoriteten av de ekologiska nötköttsproducenterna säljer sitt kött i den konventionella produktionskedjan. Majoriteten av gårdarna använder sig även av alternativa försäljningskanaler. Det framkommer en oro över en minskad ekologisk försäljning och en ökad konkurrens mot andra länder. När livsmedelspriserna ökar kollar producenterna mer på pris än på exempelvis ursprung och märkning. Detta kan ses som ett resultat av globaliseringen och kan göra svenska ekologiska producenter sårbara. Alla gårdar i studien har diversifierat sina inkomstkällor mer på produktionsnivå än på försäljningsnivå. Det framkommer även i resultatet att priserna för ekologiskt och konventionellt ligger nära varandra vilket gör det mer lönsamt att diversifiera verksamheten på produktionsnivå jämfört med försäljningssidan.
I resultatet framkommer en oro kring Sveriges låga självförsörjningsgrad. De ekologiska nötköttsproducenterna upplever att krisberedskap behöver uppmärksammas mer på nationell nivå. De ekologiska nötköttsproducenterna lyfter även ansvarsfördelningen mellan regeringen, myndigheter och gårdar. Resultatet visar att det är en ojämn ansvarsfördelning och att det ligger för mycket ansvar på enskilda aktörer. Den rådande krisen gör att de ekologiska nötköttsproducenterna i studien fokuserar på att få ekonomin att gå ihop. För att behålla svenskt lantbruk krävs att regeringen går in och stöttar lantbrukare vid kris. Dels när konsumenter väljer bort svenskt ekologiskt kött samtidigt som produktionskostnaderna ökar. Resultatet visar vikten av att krisstöden håller en jämn fördelning och betalas ut i tid. Utan krisstöd riskerar producenter att minska ner produktionen eller sluta menar lantbrukarna i studien. Något som framkommer i resultatet är även att den ekologiska produktionen är mindre beroende av insatsvaror vilket på så vis minskar beroendet till den globala marknaden. Sett till den aspekten kan ekologisk produktion lämpa sig bättre i kris jämfört med konventionell produktion. I resultatet lyfter samtliga gårdar sina tidigare erfarenheter från torkan 2018. Lantbrukarna lyfter hur de under torkan fick ta lärdom av hur viktigt det är att ha en foderbuffert. Foderbufferten är därför en viktig del i gårdarnas krisberedskap. En form av krisberedskap är även att ha en flexibel och anpassningsbar produktion. Ur ett nationellt perspektiv framkommer vikten av variation på gårdar i både storlek och produktionsform.The war in Ukraine has contributed to major challenges for today's producers in the form of increased production costs. Costs for farm inputs, electricity and fuel have skyrocketed, which has contributed to farmers being forced to cut back on their production or in some cases stop it altogether (LRF 2022b). The purpose of the essay is to investigate how organic beef producers have been affected by increased production costs with a focus on the farm inputs and sales side. It also aims to examine their strategies and experiences in the event of a crisis. The essay is geographically limited to Värmland and to the production focus organic beef producers. The study is based on qualitative interview methods. There was a total of six farms that participated in the study.
The result shows that the biggest factor affecting organic beef producers is fuel costs. The diesel addiction is hard to break, regardless of whether the production is organic or conventional. It appears that various measures have already been taken, such as GPS in the tractors to reduce mileage and save diesel. It can also be seen from a sustainability perspective as we move towards a more fossil-free society. A lesson learned from the results is the difficulty of finding a balance in organic production between having many animals, for the sake of profitability, while at the same time they need to have large areas of fodder production, which costs a lot of diesel. The costs of plastic is the second factor that organic beef producers have increased the most after diesel, which is different from what conventional producers experience (Eriksson 2018). Measures that are emerging to reduce plastic dependency are, for example, building flat silos, plant dryers or alternatively using less plastic on the bales. This can also be seen from a sustainability perspective as the use of plastic is considered to need to be reduced as it can be harmful to the environment. Energy price increases have motivated several of the organic beef producers to install solar cells. Own production of electricity motivates more electric solutions in the operations, such as other electric loading machines and feeding systems. Farmers thus become less vulnerable to market fluctuations with their own production of electricity. This too can be seen from a sustainability perspective to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Organic beef producers can be seen as less vulnerable than conventional producers in terms of dependence on plant protection products and artificial fertilizers, which are usually produced outside of Sweden. And that they buy to a lesser extent in grain or protein feed, which provides protection against fluctuations in the global market.
Many of the farms in the study sell their meat in the conventional production chain. The farms also use alternative sales channels. There is concern about reduced organic sales and increased competition with other countries. When food prices increase, producers look more at price than at, for example, origin and labelling. This can be seen as a result of globalization and can make Swedish organic producers vulnerable. All farms in the study have diversified their sources of income more at the production level than at the sales level. It also appears in the results that the prices for organic and conventional are close to each other, which makes it more profitable to diversify the business at the production level compared to the sales side.
The result reveals a concern about Sweden's low degree of self-sufficiency. The organic beef producers feel that crisis preparedness needs more attention at the national level. The organic beef producers also raise the division of responsibility between the government, authorities and farms. The result shows that there is an uneven distribution of responsibility and that too much responsibility falls on individual actors. The current crisis means that the organic beef producers in the study focus on getting the economy together. In order to maintain Swedish agriculture, the government must step in and support farmers in times of crisis. Partly when consumers opt out of Swedish organic meat at the same time as production costs increase. The result shows the importance of the crisis support being evenly distributed and paid out on time. Without crisis support, producers risk reducing production or stopping, say the farmers in the study. Something that emerges from the results is that organic production is less dependent on inputs, which in this way reduces dependence on the global market. Seen from that aspect, organic production can be better suited in a crisis compared to conventional production. In the results, all farms highlight their previous experiences from the drought in 2018. The farmers highlight how they learned during the drought how important it is to have a fodder buffer. The feed buffer is therefore an important part of farms' crisis preparedness. A form of crisis preparedness is also to have a flexible and adaptable production. From a national perspective, the importance of variety on farms in both size and production form emerges
Ecosystems Services in swidden agriculture in the Peruvian tropical Andes
Get PDFIn the Amazon, life supporting services are importantly associated to forest
areas. Nevertheless, the connection of ecosystem services to agricultural
systems it is also of great importance, because agriculture is one of the most
important causes of degradation and loss of these areas. Management
decisions and agricultural practices can influence directly these impacts and
sustain either supporting or degradation processes, that will impact on the
larger landscape.
This research focuses on understanding how Amazonian swidden
agricultural knowledge and practices, from the Kechwa-Lamas of the San
Martin region in Peru, contribute to sustainability via ecosystem services
(ES). For this, agroecological management practices of innovative farmers
are identified and analysed in relation to ES provision, in their national and
regional context. A qualitative exploratory approach was applied in an
ecosystem-service conceptual framework in cooperation with the local
grassroots organization Waman Wasi and five Kechwa-Lamas communities.
A mix of desktop gathering of regional data and fieldwork techniques were
applied for data collection, including Rapid Rural Appraisal participatory
tools, participant observation and interviews with key actors.
It was found that Kechwa-Lamas agricultural tradition, deeply embedded in
their identities, stands as a resisting force that maintains multifunctional
agricultural systems that provide food security and enhance provisioning,
supporting and regulating ecosystem services. This contribution is critical in
the context of rapid land use change in San Martin, where there are signals
of growing environmental impact of agriculture.
Using centrally trees, fallows and high levels of agrobiodiversity Kechwa-
Lamas manage a dynamic provision of different on-farm and off-farm ES.
Farmers combine farm and forest in their fields, in different sequential and
simultaneous agroforestry arrangements. In these rotational farm-forest
systems, innovative farmers perform and adapt the traditional swidden
management, intensifying agroecological practices based in ecological
processes. Improved fallows, intercropping, water conservation practices
and degraded land recovery are some of the strategies, used along the
swidden cycle to enhance and regenerate ecosystems services such as: soil
fertility, nutrient cycling, hydrological services and carbon storage, among
others.
Nevertheless, farmers face many challenges to secure their land, practice
their traditional agroforestry and maintain their ecological knowledge.
Swidden is often perceived as negative for forest conservation, as usually
implied in technical and authorities’ discourse, while, bypassing farmers’
agroecological and adaptive management suited to the tropics, which even allow farmers with high ecological knowledge recover degraded soil. The
regional and local government require rearranging priorities and strategies
to improve socio-environmental dimensions of agricultural sustainability
and adequately support farmers. Kechwa-Lamas agricultural and ecological
knowledge must be taken in consideration to contribute to formal
knowledge systems to confront environmental risk and climate change.
It is acknowledged that further research is needed, perhaps backed by
quantitative and agrotechnical data, to strength even more the beneficial
impacts of Kechwa-Lamas practices in ecosystems and communities.Esta investigación se enfoca en comprender cómo el conocimiento y las
prácticas agrícolas indígenas de los Kechwa-Lamas de la Región de San
Martín en Perú contribuyen a la sostenibilidad, a través de servicios
ecosistémicos. Para ello, se identifican las prácticas agroecológicas de
agricultores Kechwa-Lamas innovadores y se analizan en relación a la
provisión de servicios ecosistémicos, en su contexto nacional y regional. Se
aplicó un enfoque exploratorio cualitativo en un marco conceptual de
servicios ecosistémicos. Realizado en cooperación con la organización local
de base Waman Wasi y cinco comunidades Kechwa-Lamas. Se combinó la
recopilación de datos de escritorio con técnicas de trabajo de campo, que
incluyen herramientas participativas de Evaluación Rural Rápida,
observación participante y entrevistas con actores clave.
Se encontró evidencia de que la tradición agrícola de los Kechwa-Lamas,
muy arraigada en sus identidades, se erige como una fuerza de resistencia
que mantiene sistemas agrícolas multifuncionales que contribuyen a la
seguridad alimentaria y optimizan la provisión de servicios ecosistémicos.
Este aporte es crítico en el contexto de cambio de uso de tierra en San
Martin, que muestra indicios de un creciente impacto ambiental de la
agricultura, relacionado a la intensificación agrícola convencional.
Utilizando árboles, barbechos y altos niveles de agrobiodiversidad, los
Kechwa-Lamas manejan una provisión dinámica de diferentes servicios
ecosistémicos dentro y fuera de sus predios. Combinan chacra y bosque
(finca-bosque) en diferentes configuraciones agroforestales secuenciales y
simultáneas. En estos sistemas rotacionales chacra-bosque, los agricultores
innovadores adaptan el manejo tradicional e intensifican prácticas
agroecológicas basándose en procesos ecológicos. Barbechos mejorados,
recuperación de suelos degradados, técnicas de conservación de agua y
asociación de cultivos son algunas de las estrategias utilizadas para
optimizar y regenerar servicios ecosistémicos como: fertilidad del suelo,
ciclo de nutrientes, servicios hidrológicos y almacenamiento de carbono,
entre otros.
Sin embargo, Los agricultores enfrentan varios desafíos para asegurar la
tierra que trabajan, practicar la agroforestería tradicional y preservar su
conocimiento ecológico. Esta agricultura rotacional (referida como
migratoria) es percibida negativamente en relación a la conservación de
bosques, como suele implicarse en el discurso técnico y de las autoridades.
Mientras, se pasa por alto el manejo agroecológico y adaptativo adecuado a
los trópicos de estas familias agricultoras, que incluso les permite la
recuperación de suelos degradados. El gobierno local y regional requiere
reorganizar prioridades y estrategias para mejorar la dimensión socio-ambiental de la sostenibilidad agrícola y apoyar adecuadamente a estos
agricultores. El conocimiento agrícola y ecológico de los Kechwa-Lamas
debe ser considerado para contribuir a los sistemas de conocimiento formal
para confrontar riesgos ambientales y el cambio climático.
Se sabe que se necesita más investigación, por ejemplo, respaldada por
datos cuantitativos y agrotécnicos, para fortalecer aún más la evidencia del
beneficio de las prácticas de los Kechwa-Lamas en los ecosistemas y
comunidades