Open access copy available
Land Degradation, Less Favored Lands and the Rural Poor: A Spatial and Economic Analysis.BackgroundPrevious studies have examined the differing economic consequences of land degradation for various groups of people, finding that the rural poor of less developed countries rely on some of the most marginal, degraded land. Yet, these studes seignificantly differ in their use of key spatial land and population indicators and the spatially referenced data generated are inadequate for cross-country economic analysis of the impact of land degradation on global poverty. This study aims to rectify these shortcomings. Open access copy available |
Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture: Contributing to Food Security and Sustainability in a Changing WorldbackgroundThis report identifies challenges in current agricultural production and argues for the incorporation of biodiverse agricultural practices to best realize sustainable development goals. Open access copy available |
Maintenance of Hydropower Potential in Rwanda Through Ecosystem Restoration: World Resources Report Case StudyBackgroundRwanda’s rapidly expanding electricity production is highly reliant on hydropower. However, hydropower as a sole source presents risks during changing global and regional hydrological conditions. Open access copy available |
What does it take? The role of incentives in forest plantation development in Asia and the PacificBackgroundThe Asia-Pacific region has a significant amount of diverse forest cover. While many countries have experience deforestation, the remaining forests are still valued for their ecosystem services and timber products. To protect these two benefits, severa government have promoted forest plantations as a forest management strategy. This reports assess the impact of incentives on forest plantation development. Open access copy available |
Modelling Deforestation in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, Lilongwe, Malawi: Using Multi-agent Simulation ApproachBackgroundThe Dzalanyama Forest Reserve is a 90,000 + hectare area in Lilongwe, Malwi. There has been an increase in charcoal production in the area leading to land cover transitions in the reserve, particularly that forest cover decreased by 22,000 ha over a twenty year span between 1990 and 2010. Open access copy available |
Agroforestry Solutions to Address Food Security and Climate Change Challenges in AfricabackgroundMany parts of Africa face food insecurity and land degradation, challenges which will only be exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. The article proposes that agroforestry has the potential to improve the resilience of small farmers by enhancing soil fertility and providing food and fuel sources. However there has not been widespread adoption of agroforestry strategies across Africa. Open access copy available |
Vulnerability and Impacts of Climate Change on the Forestry SectorBackgroundThis report focuses on the vulnerability patterns of the forestry sector in Silago, Southern Leyte, Philippines. Leyte Island has diverse ecosystems that are increasingly threatened due to the clearing of forests for commercial and marginal upland agriculture, and non-timber plantation establishment. Still the forest throughout the island provide critical resources for commercial and subsistence use. Open access copy available |
The Effect of Deforestation on Water Quality: A Case Study in Cienda Micro Watershed, Leyte, PhilippinesbackgrouNdForests and water are important resources that provide both socioeconomic and ecological benefits. They also are connected, meaning that deforestation has a negative impact on the quality of water flowing through a watershed. This paper seeks to present the detailed effects and relationship between deforestation and water quality. Open access copy available |
Ecosystem Decay of Amazonian Forest Fragments: A 22-year InvestigationbackgroundThe authors discuss results from the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, a long-term study on rainforest fragmentation in Amazonia. The project, which was originally intended to assess the influence of fragmented areas on Amazonia biota, took place in Menus, Brazil. This report surveyed 340 publications and theses that were produced over the 22 years of the project. Open access copy available |
Le secteur des terres: solution au problème du dérèglement climatique? (The lands sector: solution to climate change?)The author discusses the merits of using agriculture as a way of sequestering carbon through the use of agroforestry. He presents various case studies of successful re-greening efforts in Africa and noted that investments in agroecology can increase food security and climate resilience. Finally, the author notes that rural areas need to be taken into account when considering climate negotiations because they hold the potential to drastically increase carbon sequestration.
Open access copy available |
