Climate Change

Ground based measurement of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and black carbon (BC) aerosol were carried out on the foothills of the three important selected glaciers (i.e., Parbati, Hamta and Beas Kund) in winter season in the northwestern Indian Himalayan Region. The AOD values were found to be in the range of 0.05-0.19. The aerosol loading was observed relatively to be higher (0.15) on 10 November 2014. Besides the biomass burning and frequent incidents of forest fire at local levels, long-range transportation of aerosol particles by air mass from the desert region also contribute to aerosol loading at observing sites. The average value of BC concentration ranges from 283 to 2026 ng m -3 . BC concentration increases more than three times during morning and evening compared to night hours, in addition to shallow boundary layer and a larger possibility of BC intrusion from it during morning and evening. Variations of BC shows high concentration during winter dry season associated with the air masses predominantly coming from Indian plain rich in carbonaceous aerosols. The BC concentration is found to have relationship with anthropogenic activities, fossil fuel burning and biomass burning which has been observed in past in this region.

The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) was conceived as a software-based tool for simulating the hydrologic cycle in the context of engineering problem solving. Water movements in the cycle relevant to common problems in water resources engineering were included: precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, baseflow, and open channel flow. The first generation of the software focused on simulating individual storm events. The second generation of the software added new components for infiltration modeling to permit continuous simulation. Snowmelt and potential evapotranspiration components, along with an advanced reservoir component, were added for the third generation. The software is very adaptable because it includes a variety of model choices for each segment of the hydrologic cycle. It has been used in many studies for achieving goals in flood damage reduction, reservoir and system operation, floodplain regulation, environmental restoration, water supply planning, among other...

Tropical fruit flies (Drosophilidae) differ from temperate drosophilids in several ecophysiological traits, such as desiccation tolerance. Moreover, many species show significant differences in desiccation tolerance across geographical populations. Fruit flies from the tropical and subtropical Indian subcontinent show a clinal pattern for desiccation tolerance which is similar for more than a dozen species studied so far, suggesting adaptation to climatic differences. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate which particular climatic patterns modulate desiccation tolerance in natural populations of drosophilids. Latitude of the sampling site explained most of the variability. Seasonal thermal amplitude (fluctuations in temperature expressed as coefficient of variation) was the strongest climatic factor shaping desiccation tolerance of flies, while factors measuring humidity directly were not important. Implications for survival of flies after future climate change are suggested.

Landscape spatial analyses using Remote Sensing ( RS) and Geographic Information Systems ( GIS) has been scarcely used to indentify sites with dendrochronological potential. For this study, we designed a protocol to identify areas with climatically sensitive trees, based on the spatial analysis of landscape biophysical features. The protocol included the analyses of slope angles, slope aspect, and the distribution of Land Cover and Land Use ( LCLU) using RS and GIS tools. The protocol was validated through dendrochronological sampling in two adjacent sites. Analyses of tree ring widths were done using and dplR. Results suggest that sensitive trees grow in 18% of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Trees from the two sites differed in age, diameter, and mean ring width. Our protocol allowed us to identify sites with long-lived and sensitive trees as represented by the high inter-annual variation found in tree ring widths. The spatial analysis of biophysical variables prior to sa...

Succession of soil fauna during the composting the empty fruit bunches (EFB) of oil palm were studied. The research was conducted in a plastic house and the EFB taken from PTPN VII Rejosari. The fauna was enumerated by wet sieving methods. The results showed that The abundance of macro fauna, meso fauna, and micro fauna were changed over time during the composting process of EFB. Meso fauna was preferred and dominated to growth and decomposed EFB at the beginning of composting periods followed by meso fauna at the middle time, and micro fauna at the end of composting. The macro fauna abundance were dominated by beetles, caterpillars, diploda, coleoptera, and thysanoptera, while meso fauna were dominated by collembola, and acarina, and micro fauna were dominated by naked amoeba, flagellates, and ciliata

Communicating the scientific consensus that climate change is real increases climate change beliefs, worry, and support for public action in the US. Recent science goes beyond the mere reality of climate change—there is now broad agreement that climate change is a crisis. In this preregistered 27-country experiment (N = 10,527), we tested two scientific consensus messages, a classic message on the reality of climate change and an updated message additionally emphasizing the crisis status agreement. The classic message corrects misperceptions and slightly increases climate change beliefs and worry but not support for public action. The updated message is equally effective but provides no added value. Both messages are more effective for audiences with lower message familiarity and higher misperceptions, including those with lower trust in climate scientists and right-leaning ideologies. Overall, scientific consensus messaging is an effective, non-polarizing tool for climate change co...

This article examines the impact of climate change on the export of Uzbekistan. The study conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the topic and found that climate change has significant impacts on Uzbekistan's agricultural sector, particularly with respect to cotton production, which is highly dependent on irrigation and water resources. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased temperature have led to decreased water availability and increased water stress in the region, resulting in declining cotton yields and reduced cotton production in recent years. In addition, climate change is affecting the transportation and logistics sector, leading to disruptions in transportation and increased costs. The article suggests that Uzbekistan should diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on cotton exports, increase investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and technologies, and increase international cooperation and support for climate adaptation. Examples of climate-resilient infrastructure and technologies that Uzbekistan could invest in include climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and climate-resilient transportation.

This article examines the impact of climate change on the export of Uzbekistan. The study conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the topic and found that climate change has significant impacts on Uzbekistan's agricultural sector, particularly with respect to cotton production, which is highly dependent on irrigation and water resources. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased temperature have led to decreased water availability and increased water stress in the region, resulting in declining cotton yields and reduced cotton production in recent years. In addition, climate change is affecting the transportation and logistics sector, leading to disruptions in transportation and increased costs. The article suggests that Uzbekistan should diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on cotton exports, increase investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and technologies, and increase international cooperation and support for climate adaptation. Examples of climate-resilient infrastructure and technologies that Uzbekistan could invest in include climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and climate-resilient transportation.

Ecosystem eutrophication often increases domination by non-natives and causes displacement of native taxa. However, variation in environmental conditions may affect the outcome of interactions between native and non-native taxa in environments where nutrient supply is elevated. We examined the interactive effects of eutrophication, climate variability and climate average conditions on the success of native and non-native plant species using experimental nutrient manipulations replicated at 32 grassland sites on four continents. We hypothesized that effects of nutrient addition would be greatest where climate was stable and benign, owing to reduced niche partitioning. We found that the abundance of non-native species increased with nutrient addition independent of climate; however, nutrient addition increased non-native species richness and decreased native species richness, with these effects dampened in warmer or wetter sites. Eutrophication also altered the time scale in which gra...

Climatic fluctuations usually change the intensity of existing interactions. Thus, in the context of the global climate change, it is important to consider new potential interactions or changes that may appear. Heavy rainy periods (one of the consequences of global climate change in eastern-central Argentina) can promote flooding in some estuaries (mainly on coastal lagoons), and thus, affect interactions between species. In this work we investigate if climatic fluctuations can affect Spartina densiflora Brong. (dominant marsh plant) survival through a chain of biotic and abiotic interactions in a SW Atlantic costal lagoon (37°40′S, 57°23′W; Mar Chiquita, Argentina). To achieve this, the long-term rainfall behavior of this region, and the effect of rainy periods on submergence of estuarine marsh areas (using satellite images) were analyzed. Then, the effect of flooding on the activity of the dominant herbivore of this system, the burrowing crab Neohelice granulata (= Chasmagnathus granulatus), was studied using pitfall traps. Finally, the effect of flooding on crab herbivory rates and plant survival were analyzed using transplants, stem-marking and flooding experiments. Long-term rainfall behavior showed that mean annual rainfall has increased during the last century, with the occurrence of more rainy years, and increases in cumulative monthly rainfall increased the submerged area of the S. densiflora marsh. Also, crab activity in the marsh largely increased during periods of flooding, associated with more than 100% increments in herbivory rates and stem mortality. These results reveal that increments in rainfall regime can trigger a cascade of abiotic and biotic interactions leading to increased marsh mortality, and stresses the importance of considering both, biotic and abiotic factors, together to predict changes in community organization.

This poster was presented also at the 7th Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture Conference, held 4-10 August 2019 at Foz do Iguacu, PR, Brazil. Except for adjustments to the conference’s style and format, the text is essentially the same as that published here: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102484

Terminal drought is a worldwide constraint to common bean production and its negative effects will be increased by climate change. The objective of this research was to characterize phenotypically advanced lines and commercial cultivars of common bean for their resistance to terminal drought stress. Field trials were conducted during 2012 and 2013 at Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Palmira, Colombia. A 4x4 partially balanced lattice design with four replicates was used and, evaluated under irrigation and terminal drought. To achieve the terminal drought condition, irrigation was suspended at 22-23 days after planting. Terminal drought reduced mean grain yield by 68%. Lines SEN 56, BFS 29, NCB 226 and SER 16 showed high grain yield in both irrigated (3617-3836 kg/ ha) and terminal drought (1232-1447 kg/ha) conditions, while RCB 593 and G 40001 showed high grain yield in drought (>1270 kg/ha) and similar to checks in irrigated condition. The most resistant line...

Agricultural producers grapple with low farm yields and declining ecosystem services within their landscapes. In several instances, agricultural production systems may be considered largely unsustainable in socioeconomic and ecological (resource conservation and use and impact on nature) terms. Novel technological and management options that can serve as vehicles to promote the provision of multiple benefits, including the improvement of smallholder livelihoods, are needed.

The forage grass Brachiaria humidicola (Bh) has been shown to reduce soil microbial nitrification. However, it is not known if biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) also has an effect on nitrogen (N) cycling during cultivation of subsequent crops. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the residual BNI effect of a converted long-term Bh pasture on subsequent maize (Zea mays L.) cropping, where a long-term maize monocrop field (M) served as control. Methods Four levels of N fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120 and 240 kg N ha -1 ) and synthetic nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide) treatments allowed for comparison of BNI effects, while 15 N labelled micro-plots were used to trace the fate of applied fertilizer N. Soil was incubated to investigate N dynamics. Results A significant maize yield increase after Bh was evident in the first year compared to the M treatment. The second cropping season showed an eased residual effect of the Bh pasture. Soil incubation studies suggested that nitrification was significantly lower in Bh soil but this BNI declined one year after pasture conversion. Plant N uptake was markedly greater under previous Bh compared with M. The N balance of the 15 N micro-plots revealed that N was derived mainly (68-86%) from the mineralized soil organic N pool in Bh while plant fertilizer N recovery (18-24%) was not enhanced. Conclusions Applied N was strongly immobilized due to long-term root turnover effects, while a significant residual BNI effect from Bh prevented re-mineralized N from nitrification resulting in improved maize performance. However, a significant residual Bh BNI effect was evident for less than one year only.

Livestock systems in the tropics can contribute to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing carbon accumulation. We quantified C stocks and GHG emissions of 30 dual-purpose cattle farms in Nicaragua using farm inventories and lifecycle analysis. Trees in silvo-pastoral systems were the main C stock above-ground (16-24 Mg ha-1), compared with adjacent secondary forests (43 Mg C ha-1). We estimated that methane from enteric fermentation contributed 1.6 kg CO2-eq., and nitrous oxide from excreta 0.4 kg CO2-eq. per kg of milk produced. Seven farms that we classified as climate-smart agriculture (CSA) out of 16 farms had highest milk yields (6.2 kg cow-1day-1) and lowest emissions (1.7 kg CO2-eq. per kg milk produced). Livestock on these farms had higher-quality diets, especially during the dry season, and manure was managed better. Increasing the numbers of CSA farms and improving CSA technology will require better enabling policy and incentives ...

The LivestockPlus consortium was created to enable the development and implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for the cattle sector in Costa Rica and Colombia by providing technical support and generating critical information and guidelines necessary to identify appropriate mitigation options and support planning and policies for the scaling up of NAMAs. Costa Rica and Colombia are at intermediate and beginning stages of developing NAMAs for the cattle sector, respectively, and provide sites representative of larger areas of pasture systems in the region. This new initiative seeks to determine what the technical options for low emissions pasture development in Latin America are and how these can be scaled up using NAMAs and other policies. The main objectives of this new project are (1) to characterize the socioeconomic and biophysical contexts in which different cattle farmers operate; (2) quantify country specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from di...

Its publication in Tropical Grasslands -Forrajes Tropicales is the result of a co-publication agreement with the IGC Continuing Committee. Except for adjustments to the journal's style and format, the text is essentially the same as that published in: Michalk LD; Millar GD; Badgery WB; Broadfoot KM, eds. 2013. Revitalising Grasslands to Sustain our Communities. Proceedings of the 22 nd International Grassland Congress,

Agriculture and livestock production are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Forage-based systems dominate much of agriculture in the tropics, providing livelihoods to farmers but also affecting local and global environments. In this chapter, we attempt to answer the question: How can farmers and livestock keepers improve their livelihoods while reducing negative impacts on the environment? We focus on forage-based systems in the tropics, emphasizing smallholders and the role of forages. In particular, we address the potential of tropical forage-based systems not only to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also to sequester carbon in soil in substantial amounts to mitigate climate change. We also discuss the associated benefits of forage-based systems to enhancing the eco-efficiency of farming in the tropics and to improving rural livelihoods. We identify opportunities in forage-based systems that are economically sustainable and socially equitable with t...

Nitrification, the biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, weakens the soil's ability to retain N and facilitates N-losses from production agriculture through nitrate-leaching and denitrification. This process has a profound influence on what form of mineral-N is absorbed, used by plants, and retained in the soil, or lost to the environment, which in turn affects N-cycling, N-use efficiency (NUE) and ecosystem health and services. As reactive-N is often the most limiting in natural ecosystems, plants have acquired a range of mechanisms that suppress soil-nitrifier activity to limit N-losses via N-leaching and denitrification. Plants' ability to produce and release nitrification inhibitors from roots and suppress soil-nitrifier activity is termed 'biological nitrification inhibition' (BNI). With recent developments in methodology for insitu measurement of nitrification inhibition, it is now possible to characterize BNI function in plants. This review assesses the current status of our understanding of the production and release of biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) and their potential in improving NUE in agriculture. A suite of genetic, soil and environmental factors regulate BNI activity in plants. BNI-function can be genetically exploited to improve the BNI-capacity of major food-and feed-crops to develop next-generation production systems with reduced nitrification and N 2 O emission rates to benefit both agriculture and the environment. The feasibility of such an approach is discussed based on the progresses made.

Nitrification, a key process in the global nitrogen cycle that generates nitrate through microbial activity, may enhance losses of fertilizer nitrogen by leaching and denitrification. Certain plants can suppress soil-nitrification by releasing inhibitors from roots, a phenomenon termed biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). Here, we report the discovery of an effective nitrification inhibitor in the root-exudates of the tropical forage grass Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick. Named “brachialactone,” this inhibitor is a recently discovered cyclic diterpene with a unique 5-8-5-membered ring system and a γ-lactone ring. It contributed 60–90% of the inhibitory activity released from the roots of this tropical grass. Unlike nitrapyrin (a synthetic nitrification inhibitor), which affects only the ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) pathway, brachialactone appears to block both AMO and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase enzymatic pathways in Nitrosomonas . Release of this inhibitor is a regula...

Agriculture and livestock production systems are two major emitters of greenhouse gases. Methane with a GWP (global warming potential) of 21, and nitrous oxide (N2O) with a GWP of 300, are largely emitted from animal production agriculture, where livestock production is based on pasture and feed grains. The principal biological processes involved in N2O emissions are nitrification and denitrification. Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is the natural ability of certain plant species to release nitrification inhibitors from their roots that suppress nitrifier activity, thus reducing soil nitrification and N2O emission. Recent methodological developments (e.g. bioluminescence assay to detect BNIs in plant root systems) have led to significant advances in our ability to quantify and characterize the BNI function. Synthesis and release of BNIs from plants is a highly regulated process triggered by the presence of NH4+in the rhizosphere, which results in the inhibitor being releas...

Brachiaria humidicola Ammonia oxidizing bacteria and archaea N 2 O emission factor a b s t r a c t High nitrogen (N) concentration in bovine urine, which generally exceeds plant N uptake rates, results in the formation of hotspots of N loss when bovine urine is deposited on grazed pasture soils. High spatial variability in the distribution of urine patches in grazed pastures poses a major challenge to mitigate N losses. Some exudates from the roots of several tropical forage grasses were shown to inhibit the activity of soil nitrifiers; a process known as biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). We hypothesized that nitrate (NO 3 À ) production and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from urine patches deposited on soils under forage grasses with high BNI capacity are lower than those with forage grasses with low BNI capacity. This hypothesis was tested using field plots of two tropical forage grass cultivars, Brachiaria humidicola cv. Tully (BT) and interspecific Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato (BM) which, correspondingly, have high and low BNI capacity. Nitrification rates and amoA gene copy numbers of ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) in soils under the two forage grasses were quantified before and after urine and water (control) application, as well, an additional experiment was conducted to quantify denitrification potential. Moreover, soil N 2 O emissions from simulated urine (0.123 kg N m À2 ) and water patches were monitored over a 29-day period. Results showed a greater suppression of nitrification, denitrification and AOA abundance in soils under BT than those under BM. Positive relationships (p < 0.05) existed between AOA and AOB abundance and NO 3 À contents in soils under BM. Bovine urine resulted in higher cumulative N 2 O fluxes from soils under BM (80 mg N 2 O-N m À2 ) compared to those under BT (32 mg N 2 O-N m À2 ). Consequently, N 2 O emission factors were higher for soils under BM (0.07%) than under BT (0.00002%). We conclude that tropical forage grasses with high BNI capacity play a key role in mitigating N 2 O emissions from bovine urine patches in archaea-dominated soils. This suggests that wide-spread adoption of tropical forage grasses with high BNI capacity may have a great potential to tighten N cycling in grazed pastures.

■ Using field measurements, it was found that pastures in clay soils in the Orinoquía region can store as more than 200 tCha -1 (0-100 cm). Results are 40% higher than the IPCC default values (0-30cm). ■ Close to 30% of the total SOC stock were found in the top 0-20 cm soil layer, highlighting the importance of evaluating deeper soil layers in SOC assessments. ■ Improving pasture systems have the potential to accumulate SOC, especially in the topsoil layer. This may be a consequence of higher forage production in improved pastures and cattle waste depositions. ■ Clay soils in Orinoquía shows a large potential for SOC sequestration through pasture improvement (~2.0 tCha -1 y -1 ; 0-20 cm). This rate should be reduced overtime once SOC stocks approach a new steady-state. Therefore, future monitoring is critical to validating findings and better understanding SOC changes in the region. ■ This info note reports high sequestration potential for grassland in Colombia's Orinoquía region, which can be attractive for climate finance. Information is also provided to improve SOC estimation and implement SOC monitoring systems. Cattle farms are multifunctional systems by nature. They provide tangible products like meat, milk, and hide, valuable services like draught power, and manure for organic fertilization or biogas production (FAO 2016). Moreover, through the implementation of improved technologies and management practices (i.e., rotational grazing, silvopastoral and grass-legume mixtures), cattle

According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, ecosystem services (ES) are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services such as flood and disease control; cultural services such as spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits; and supporting services such as nutrient cycling that maintain the conditions for life on Earth. The Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS) has been suggested as a land use management strategy to generate multiple ES on hillsides of sub-humid tropics. Research studies conducted in Honduras from 2005 to 2007 showed that the production practices applied in QSMAS generates ES through beneficial effects on the soil plant-atmosphere continuum. Specifically, QSMAS contributes to food security through sustainable maize and common bean production under sub-humid conditions on steep slopes, by improving crop water productivity and soil quality, compared to the traditional sl...

A decline in pasture productivity is often associated with a reduction in vegetative cover. We hypothesize that nitrogen (N) in urine deposited by grazing cattle on degraded pastures, with low vegetative cover, is highly susceptible to losses. Here, we quantified the magnitude of urine-based nitrous oxide (N2O) lost from soil under paired degraded (low vegetative cover) and non-degraded (adequate vegetative cover) pastures across five countries of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region and estimated urine-N emission factors. Soil N2O emissions from simulated cattle urine patches were quantified with closed static chambers and gas chromatography. At the regional level, rainy season cumulative N2O emissions (3.31 versus 1.91 kg N2O-N ha−1) and emission factors (0.42 versus 0.18%) were higher for low vegetative cover compared to adequate vegetative cover pastures. Findings indicate that under rainy season conditions, adequate vegetative cover through proper pasture management...

African agriculture is highly diverse, with major farming systems matched to the major agroecologies. In each country or region there are localised agroecological gradients, and large differences between regions in terms of access to markets. Within each village a wide diversity of farming livelihoods can be found -differing in production objectives and resource endowments. Differences in soil fertility are partly derived from inherent differences in properties (the 'soilscape') but are strongly influenced by past management, particularly by the rates and quality of organic manures added to the soils. It is clear that 'one-size-fits-all' or silver bullet solutions that are generally applicable for enhancement of soil fertility simply do not exist. Further, although research has focused on 'best bet' technologies for different regions, a better conceptualization is 'best fit' technologies for specific situations. Although the heterogeneity in African farming is at first sight bewildering, systematic analysis across farming systems in West, East and southern Africa reveals repeating patterns of management. These repeating patterns of allocation of nutrient resources and management methods lead to self-organization among smallholder farms. The past management of fields leads to extreme differences in fertilizer use efficiency, e.g. from 5 kg grain kg N -1 to 50 kg grain kg N -1 between fields of the same farm. By categorizing field types within agroecological zones in simple terms, easily recognizable by farmers, 'rules-of-thumb' can be derived for highly-efficient management of scarce nutrient resources in these heterogeneous environments. Success of legume-based technologies for soil fertility improvement, such as grain legume/cereal rotations or legumes for animal fodder also varies enormously depending on the soil fertility status of fields. New approaches for enhancing productivity in Africa must take account of, and harness, the dynamic nature of farming systems and the heterogeneity between regions, farmers and their fields. Our proposed approach represents a substantial shift in concept from traditional 'blanket recommendations' to focus on the targeting of bestfit technologies to different farmers and crops within production systems using simple 'rules-of-thumb' derived from scientific principles and local farmers' knowledge.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major shock to society in terms of health and economy that is affecting both UK and global food and nutrition security. It is adding to the 'perfect storm' of threats to society from climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, at a time of considerable change, rising nationalism and breakdown in international collaboration. In the UK, the situation is further complicated due to Brexit. The UK COVID-19 Food and Nutrition Security project, lasting one year, is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and is assessing the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the four pillars of food and nutrition security: access, availability, utilisation and stability. It examines the food system, how it is responding, and potential knock on effects on the UK's food and nutrition security, both in terms of the cascading risks from the pandemic and other threats. The study provides an opportunity to place the initial lessons being learnt from the on-going responses to the pandemic in respect of food and nutrition security in the context of other long-term challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

 Agroforestry can make a substantial contribution to the European Climate Change Strategy.  The potential of agroforestry will only unfold when the barriers to implementation are addressed through the most efficient solutions.  Training programmes for agroforestry managers and development of safe economic routes are key solutions to promote sustainable agroforestry systems.  Improved soil organic carbon pools and implementation of multifunctional hedgerows are the solutions holding the greatest mitigation and adaptation potential respectively.

Climate change adaptation (CCA) evolved in the global policy framework in the early 1990s. However, it began to flourish about a decade later through a subsequent development of institutions, policies and supporting financial mechanisms. Various adaptation approaches and development practices have been evolving over the last couple of decades through a process of scrutiny, debates, and critiques. One such recent approach is called conflict-sensitive adaptation, which encompasses concepts to understand potential conflict-inflicting elements and peacebuilding aspects of adaptation interventions. This paper examines 35 peer-reviewed research articles that have analysed field data with the notion of conceptualising conflict-sensitive CCA initiatives. Emerging key results were presented and discussed in different academic forums to stimulate peer reflections and debates. We found that the understanding of conflict-sensitive adaptation has its universality in engaging with diverse stakeho...

This article explores effective diversity management strategies in education, emphasizing their alignment with the United Nations 2030 and African Union 2063 Agendas. It contributes to a deeper understanding of how diversity management enriches educational practices and supports the broader goals of equity and social cohesion. The paper identifies ten key themes: inclusive curriculum development, culturally responsive teaching, teacher training and professional development, student engagement and participation, community partnerships, policy and institutional frameworks, leadership commitment, data collection and analysis, creating safe and inclusive spaces, and technology and digital inclusion. The study highlights the importance of an inclusive curriculum that reflects diverse backgrounds and promotes student engagement. Culturally responsive teaching enhances academic success while fostering equity. Professional development for educators is deemed essential for addressing diverse student needs and fostering inclusive environments. Additionally, engaging students in decision-making processes and building community partnerships are identified as vital for promoting inclusivity. The article underscores the necessity of comprehensive policies and strong leadership commitment to institutionalize diversity management. Data-driven decision-making is emphasized as crucial for identifying gaps and measuring the impact of diversity initiatives. Lastly, the integration of technology is discussed as a means to enhance accessibility and collaboration among students. The findings of this review inform future research and policy development in the field of diversity management in education.

Identifying research gaps and priorities is paramount to advance sustainability science and contribute to a sustainable future. This editorial contributes to this effort by contemplating the sustainability science research agenda and aligning it with recent changes in global dynamics. Drawing on consultations with the editorial board members of the Sustainability Science journal and a review of relevant literature, we identified 12 key research topics. These topics are interpreted within a strategic framework encompassing three key themes: (1) goals that drive sustainability science, (2) approaches to attain these goals, and (3) tools to advance sustainability science research. In so doing, this editorial emphasizes a sustainable development agenda extending beyond 2030, fostering equity and justice, and tackling issues related to power dynamics and geopolitical conflicts. It underscores the significance of research approaches to attaining sustainability goals, in particular, theorizing, coproduction of knowledge and action, attaining clarity in conceptual descriptions, and developing systems-oriented analytical frameworks. Additionally, it highlights the value of place-based approaches, learning from significant systemic shocks, and nurturing inner transformations. It also underlines the need to explore emerging technologies and data-intensive methodologies as a tool to address sustainability concerns. The systematic contemplation of the sustainability science research agenda presented in this editorial piece aims to invoke further discussion among researchers and practitioners about a fresh and relevant agenda that promotes the sustainable integration of nature and society.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-024-01586-3#article-info

Bangladesh faces various types of natural hazards from its birth due to geographical location and physiographic sitting. Flood is the most common event among them. North-eastern part of Bangladesh faces flash flood almost every year with large scale of damage. Tanguar Haor, a famous ramsar site of Bangladesh located in Sunamganj district. This wetland adjacent areas are the most vulnerable zone in terms of flash flood hazard. About more than 80% people are the direct victim of this hazard. This study tries to assess the risk and resilience status of flash flood using risk and resilience assessment matrix. To accomplish this research both primary and secondary data have used. Through this work the comparative view between risk and resilience status has tried to represent. That shows the actual penetration of the depth of risk reduction policy making to improve the condition and minimize the losses of flash flood in the study area.

This study aims to understand how the health dimension is integrated into four impact assessment tools used in Geneva, Switzerland: environmental impact assessment (EIA), strategic environmental assessment (SEA), sustainability assessment (SA) and health impact assessment (HIA). We have chosen as a case study greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction policies chosen by the city of Geneva. The methodological approach consists in analysing EIA, SEA, SA and HIA conducted on three projects in three topic areas: urban planning, heating and transportation. These projects are: a complex urbanisation plan in an urban neighbourhood in Geneva (the Gare des Eaux-Vives project), a sustainable transportation plan for a central district in Geneva (the St-Gervais transportation project) and a strategy to encourage the City&#39;s employees to use sustainable transport for local business travel. The results show some shortcomings in the consideration of health in SEA, EIA and SA. This work highlights...

Climate shifts are key drivers of ecosystem change. Despite the critical importance of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean for global climate, the extent of climate-driven ecological change in this region remains controversial. In particular, the biological effects of changing sea ice conditions are poorly understood. We hypothesize that rapid postglacial reductions in sea ice drove biological shifts across multiple widespread Southern Ocean species. We test for demographic shifts driven by climate events over recent millennia by analyzing population genomic datasets spanning 3 penguin genera ( Eudyptes , Pygoscelis , and Aptenodytes ). Demographic analyses for multiple species (macaroni/royal, eastern rockhopper, Adélie, gentoo, king, and emperor) currently inhabiting southern coastlines affected by heavy sea ice conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) yielded genetic signatures of near-simultaneous population expansions associated with postglacial warming. Populations of th...

Background Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are a remarkable order of flightless wing-propelled diving seabirds distributed widely across the southern hemisphere. They share a volant common ancestor with Procellariiformes close to the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (66 million years ago) and subsequently lost the ability to fly but enhanced their diving capabilities. With ∼20 species among 6 genera, penguins range from the tropical Galápagos Islands to the oceanic temperate forests of New Zealand, the rocky coastlines of the sub-Antarctic islands, and the sea ice around Antarctica. To inhabit such diverse and extreme environments, penguins evolved many physiological and morphological adaptations. However, they are also highly sensitive to climate change. Therefore, penguins provide an exciting target system for understanding the evolutionary processes of speciation, adaptation, and demography. Genomic data are an emerging resource for addressing questions about such processes. Results Here...

The influence of temperature and photoperiod on raffinose synthesis in spruce roots (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was investigated under controlled environmental conditions in a phytotron. The raffinose content of the roots increased when the plants were subjected simultaneously to a change from long to short days and from summer-like day and night temperatures to a climate which was more than 10~ colder. Only a very slight raffinose accumulation resulted from a change of daylength or temperature alone, but a subsequent additional change of temperature or daylength, respectively, caused an increase in the raffinose content, yet only to half the amount found when both climate factors changed simultaneously. When the shoot was left under non-inducing conditions, but the root was cooled, the raffinose content increased in the root, but not in the shoot. The root was also capable of inducing raffinose if the shoot was cut off after a few days of cold adaptation of the whole plant. For all climate changes the sucrose content changed much less than the raffinose content. Induction of raffinose was comparable in mycorrhizal and in non-mycorrhizal roots.

Most available climate/weather stations (e.g., COOP stations) are located in valleys. The few high elevation stations we have (RAWS, SNOTEL) and are relatively sparse, so do not adequately capture temperature variation in steep complex topography. There is growing awareness of just how much information current air temperature models are missing in complex mountainous terrain. For example, cold air drainage and lapse rates vary from night to night. Many terrestrial management decisions (tree planting, growth and yield, species occurrence, etc.) are made at the stand or aspect scale, due to variation in solar insolation, and temperature predictions must match that scale in order to be useful for site-level predictions. For aquatics applications, one of the most important questions is understanding the mechanisms associated with how streams warm up & whether that information can be used to predict which types of streams will be more/less sensitive to future changes. As a result, there is growing interest in using inexpensive sensors to develop massive air temperature monitoring arrays in mountains. We are now beginning to make progress in using sensor networks to empirically downscale temperatures in complex topography (see Holden et al. (2011); Holden et al. (in press); and attachments). However, there are some real challenges to accurately measuring air temperature in forested environments. I'm now in my 3 rd year of deploying air sensor arrays across the northern Rockies, I've learned a lot mainly from mistakes that I've made and will try to share some of that information here (see attachment on tradeoffs). In short, it's a significant challenge to measure air temperature accurately but it's also a very important to try and minimize bias associated with solar radiation. Note that we are inherently dealing with a highly modified radiation environment, because of the presence of trees and vegetation, which all absorb and re-emit radiation. In the end, as a user community, ecologists and climatologists should work toward standardizing our methods for monitoring air temperatures in forested environments. I don't claim to have all the answers, but if interested in discussing further or if you'd like more information on our radiation shield design, you can contact me at: