1,720,988 research outputs found
Integrated monitoring and trans national coordination to support sustainable land management strategies: ideas for new joint Euro-Mediterranean initiatives: special EU report
Full text linkThe aim ofthis paper is double:
I. To discuss and comment some of the achievement reached by the MEDCOASTLAND
Thematic Network in relation to desertification indicators;2. To present some initiatives, recently accomplished or currently on-going at the
European/Mediterranean level, which could be used as examples, or exported, in the frame of
new, integrated joint Euro-Mediterranean initiatives which could be promoted with reference
to the European Commission's 7thFramework Programme (7thFP). The projects considered are
MEDRAP, related to "intemational and regional coordination and harmonisation" and
DESERTWATCII, related to "data based operational monitoring system"
Monitoring and modelling the hydrological behaviour of a reclaimed wadi basin in Egypt
No full textWe analysed the hydrological behaviour of a wadi basin in Egypt, whose channel was modified into levelled terraces for cultivation. A yearly data set was used, consisting of weather data, distributed water content measurements in the terraces of the wadi channel, and run-off discharges at the wadi outlet. A modelling approach combining a run-off model and an agro-hydrological model was tested to simulate, respectively, the water stored in the wadi stream bed after a single rainfall event and the depletion of the stored water by evapotranspiration in the period between two subsequent rainfall events. Calibration and validation of the run-off model were based on both basin outlet run-off and distributed water storage measurements. High Nash–Sutcliffe efficiencies were obtained for both distributed channel water storage and outlet discharges, showing the importance of having available distributed storage measurements, besides basin outlet discharges, to obtain more robust model predictions. The soil–plant–atmosphere model was not calibrated as the parameters for the hydraulic properties, all coming from direct measurements, proved to describe effectively the distributed water storages measured in the terraces during the monitoring campaign. It was observed that the terraces (about 100,000 m 3 ) may store up to 50,000 m 3 of water. By considering that in the soil considered, the water content at the wilting point is about 5% and that in July, the soil profile is still able to retain about 40% of the initial volume, most of the water stored may be used by crops for the whole spring–summer period
Pricing unmetered irrigation water under asymmetric information and full cost recovery
Full text linkThe objective of this study is to define an efficient pricing scheme for irrigation water in conditions of unmetered water use. The study is based on a principal-agent model and identifies a menu of contracts, defined as a set of payments and share of irrigated area, able to provide incentives for an efficient use of the resource by maximizing social welfare. The model is applied in the case study of the çukas region (Albania) where irrigation water is not metered. The results demonstrate that using a menu of contracts makes it possible to define a second best solution that may improve the overall social welfare derived from irrigation water use compared with the existing pricing structure, though, in the specific case study, the improvement is small. Furthermore, the results also suggest that irrigation water pricing policy needs to take into account different farm types, and that appropriate contract-type pricing schemes have a potential role in providing incentives to farmers to make irrigation choices to the social optimum
The effects of enclosures for rehabilitating degraded semi-arid rangeland in Lake Baringo Basin Kenya
No full textRestoring the indigenous vegetation inside enclosures has become an important management strategy to combat the severe degradation in the semi-arid rangelands of Kenya. The establishment of enclosures, denoting areas closed off from cultivation and grazing for a specific period, is a well-known management tool for restoring degraded rangeland ecosystems. Rangeland enclosure has profound ecological (biophysical) effects and a number of socioeconomic implications that vary significantly, depending on local conditions. Understanding the consequences of the rising trend of rangeland enclosure has been shown to be imperative. Indeed, what administrators require is not a general policy for or against enclosure, but rather some understanding of the various effects of enclosure under different circumstances. Ultimately, researchers may be able to present policy-makers with a typology of different kinds of enclosure movements, and with a systematic discussion of the probable outcome of each kind of movement. Therefore, the spontaneous enclosure of the range by livestock owners may raise new problems, but may also permit new approaches to the development of the dryland livestock industry in Africa. This paper seeks to highlight the effects and implications of using enclosures for rehabilitating degraded rangelands and draw practical lessons to help us achieve increased restoration capability in the future
Durum Wheat Cover Analysis in the Scope of Policy and Market Price Changes: A Case Study in Southern Italy
Full text linkAgricultural land systems are the result of human interactions with the natural environment, and subjective evidence of socio-economic and environmental interactions has been demonstrated. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to analyze empirically the link between agricultural market and policy, as well as the environmental response due to changes in crop management by local stakeholders. In this study, we propose a cross investigation and analysis to bring the link between vegetation cover, policy, market and farmer’s behavior to light. Our methodology is a combination of a rational positive and analogical approach between the quantifiable and non-quantifiable agents on a temporal basis. The method is applied to a dominant mono-crop agricultural watershed in Southern Italy that has been dedicated to durum wheat cultivation. In this region, we studied the relationship between the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), durum wheat market price, vegetation cover and land allocation. As a first step, we conducted a separate analysis for each factor, exploiting Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite observed Leaf Area Index (LAI) to analyze the land vegetation space–time distribution over the period 2000–2014 and three Land Satellite (Landsat) validated images as check-points for the agricultural pattern and CAP’s reforms. We used the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) and Eurostat data to investigate the on-farm accountancy and the durum wheat market price changes, respectively. Based on the study period, we developed a storyline of the major relevant CAP’s policy changes. In a second step, we conducted a comparative analysis where the CAP’s reforms were used as interpretational support, the land allocation and the on-farm accountability for CAP’s implementation, the price of durum wheat and the LAI for analytical comparison. We found interesting insights regarding the non-agronomic driving forces of LAI dynamics. The behavior of the individual farmers is influenced by the CAP policy that has been implemented by using profitability as the stimulus for the decision making of the farmer. This explains the correlation of the trend between the market price, the LAI of durum wheat and their associated dynamics
Mapping Desertification: Constraints and Challenges
No full textMapping desertification has proven to be a challenging task. Difficulties derive from its ambiguous definition
and the comprehensive integration of various biophysical and socioeconomic indicators that need to be considered
in the evaluation process. In the early 1990s, assessments and mapping were based primarily on expert
opinions that introduced uncertainties and obvious shortcomings. Later on, with the development of the remote
sensing technology and the advancement of the geographic information systems, global mapping became
common place. Results showed that temporal and spatial scales are crucial components of the mapping and
assessment process, but great difficulties arose comparing maps that were developed using different methodologies.
Global maps could depict only general trends in desertification caused by human-induced land-use
changes or climatic variations but proved to be of limited value at local level. On the other side, local studies
have problems of extrapolation. This necessitates the performance of mapping at various scales, but only after a
methodological approach has been developed that accounts for all the components of the desertification
process, allowing upscaling from global to local level and vice versa. Desertification mapping is under way
by the new World Atlas of Desertification (WAD) 3rd edition to be published. The WAD places particular
importance to case studies that document local realities affected by desertification as well as mitigation actions.
Finally, concerned efforts must be made to develop and implement sustainable land-use planning and land
management techniques that arrest and reverse the negative consequences of desertification
2023 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting
No full text2023 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meetin
SOILS4MED - Project Overview Brochure
No full textIn line with the principles of the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, the goal of SOILS4MED is to engage a large platform of scientists, stakeholders, and final users in the co-design of scientifically sound, sustainable, and policy-relevant integrated soil health monitoring systems adapted to the specificities of the Mediterranean soils and environments and to demonstrate the multiple societal benefits deriving from increased investment in soil data and information
Maintaining soil health in dryland areas
No full textDrylands cover 40% of the global terrestrial space and are home for 2 billion people, often the most vulnerable. Land use is dominated by rangelands and much less by croplands, while barren areas with sparse vegetation mixed with rock outcrops are widespread. In spite of their hostile nature, drylands host 50% of global livestock and 30% of all present grown crops originate from them. This chapter addresses critical research issues needed to maintain soil health in the drylands, including nutrient cycling, preservation of soil biota, carbon sequestration, erosion control, rainwater harvesting and irrigation efficiency. The chapter examines the options for improving dryland soil health and provides a case study from Egypt, as well as looking ahead to future trends in this area and suggesting detailed further reading on the topic
- …
