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This study analysesthe trade-offs between welfare (measured by income) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using a farm-level optimisation model that incorporates the predominant cereal (sorghum), legumes (groundnut, soybeans), livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) and trees (locust bean, camel’s foot) representative of production systems at two contrasting sites in northern Nigeria. The optimisation model maximises the value of total farm production, subject to constraints on GHG reductions of 10%, 25% and the maximum reductions that allow households to meet minimum consumption requirements. Substantive reductions in livestock and legume production would be required to achieve the maximum possible reductions from current emissions and would reduce household income by 22% and 44%, respectively. Under current production practices, reductions in GHG emissions reduce household income, which suggests the need for further research on productivity-enhancing technologies that could both enhance income and reduce GHG emissions in these production contexts.

Destabilization of the water cycle threatens human lives and livelihoods. Meanwhile our understanding of whether and how changes in vegetation cover could trigger abrupt transitions in moisture regimes remains incomplete. This challenge calls for better evidence as well as for the theoretical concepts to describe it. Here we briefly summarise the theoretical questions surrounding the role of vegetation cover in the dynamics of a moist atmosphere. We discuss the previously unrecognized sensitivity of local wind power to condensation rate as revealed by our analysis of the continuity equation for a gas mixture. Using the framework of condensation-induced atmospheric dynamics, we then show that with the temperature contrast between land and ocean increasing up to a critical threshold, ocean-to-land moisture transport reaches a tipping point where it can stop or even reverse. Land-ocean temperature contrasts are affected by both global and regional processes, in particular, by the surface fluxes of sensible and latent heat that are strongly influenced by vegetation. Our results clarify how a disturbance of natural vegetation cover, e.g., by deforestation, can disrupt large-scale atmospheric circulation and moisture transport. In view of the increasing pressure on natural ecosystems, successful strategies of mitigating climate change require taking into account the impact of vegetation on moist atmospheric dynamics. Our analysis provides a theoretical framework to assess this impact. The available data for Eurasia indicate that the observed climatological land-ocean temperature contrasts are close to the threshold. This can explain the increasing fluctuations in the continental water cycle including droughts and floods and signifies a yet greater potential importance for large-scale forest conservation. 25 pages, 5 figures, and 1 table

AbstractPlant-based animal product alternatives are increasingly promoted to achieve more sustainable diets. Here, we use a global economic land use model to assess the food system-wide impacts of a global dietary shift towards these alternatives. We find a substantial reduction in the global environmental impacts by 2050 if globally 50% of the main animal products (pork, chicken, beef and milk) are substituted—net reduction of forest and natural land is almost fully halted and agriculture and land use GHG emissions decline by 31% in 2050 compared to 2020. If spared agricultural land within forest ecosystems is restored to forest, climate benefits could double, reaching 92% of the previously estimated land sector mitigation potential. Furthermore, the restored area could contribute to 13-25% of the estimated global land restoration needs under target 2 from the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030, and future declines in ecosystem integrity by 2050 would be more than halved. The distribution of these impacts varies across regions—the main impacts on agricultural input use are in China and on environmental outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. While beef replacement provides the largest impacts, substituting multiple products is synergistic.

The new climate change mitigation scheme for developing countries known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has been proposed as a way of reducing carbon emissions in the forest sector, whilst also protecting and improving the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities. This paper argues that it is important to resolve tenure ambiguity and ensure that communities participate in the REDD+ process by engaging them in project development and implementation. Drawing on data collected in six villages under two REDD+ projects targeted in Cameroon, this paper addresses four questions: (1) What are the tenure conditions at the two study sites? (2) How have the project proponents perceived the tenure and other challenges and how do they plan to address those challenges? (3) What have the proponents done to engage communities in the process of establishing REDD+? (4) Are communities informed about and satisfied with the process of establishing REDD+? The paper shows that while the proponents have worked to resolve tenure issues and engage communities, there is still frustration among project participants because of a lack of progress toward implementing compensation and benefit sharing system. The paper concludes that it is crucial to safeguard the rights, access and participation of local communities, and benefits to them, throughout the design and implementation of REDD+ projects.

Comme la demande mondiale de produits d'élevage (tels que la viande, le lait et les œufs) devrait doubler d'ici 2050, les augmentations nécessaires de la production future doivent être conciliées avec les impacts environnementaux négatifs causés par l'élevage. Cet article décrit le concept LivestockPlus et démontre comment l'ensemencement de fourrages améliorés peut conduire à l'intensification durable des systèmes mixtes cultures-forages-élevage-arbres dans les tropiques en produisant de multiples avantages sociaux, économiques et environnementaux. L'intensification durable améliore non seulement la productivité des systèmes à base de fourrage tropical, mais réduit également l'empreinte écologique de la production animale et génère une diversité de services écosystémiques (SE) tels que l'amélioration de la qualité des sols et la réduction de l'érosion, de la sédimentation et des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES). L'intégration de fourrages améliorés à base d'herbe et de légumineuses dans des systèmes de production mixtes (cultures-élevage, arbres-élevage, cultures-arbres-élevage) peut restaurer les terres dégradées et améliorer la résilience du système à la sécheresse et à l'engorgement associé au changement climatique. Lorsqu'ils sont correctement gérés, les fourrages tropicaux accumulent de grandes quantités de carbone dans le sol, fixent l'azote atmosphérique (légumineuses), inhibent la nitrification dans le sol et réduisent les émissions d'oxyde nitreux (graminées) et réduisent les émissions de GES par unité de produit d'élevage. Le concept LivestockPlus est défini comme l'intensification durable des systèmes à base de fourrage, qui repose sur 3 processus d'intensification interdépendants : l'intensification génétique - le développement et l'utilisation de cultivars supérieurs d'herbe et de légumineuses pour augmenter la productivité du bétail ; l'intensification écologique - le développement et l'application de meilleures pratiques de gestion des ressources agricoles et naturelles ; et l'intensification socio-économique - l'amélioration des institutions et des politiques locales et nationales, qui permettent d'affiner les technologies et de soutenir leur utilisation durable. L'augmentation de la productivité animale nécessitera des efforts coordonnés pour élaborer des politiques de soutien du gouvernement, des organisations non gouvernementales et du secteur privé qui favorisent les investissements et une rémunération équitable sur le marché pour les produits et les SE fournis. Des efforts efficaces de recherche pour le développement qui promeuvent les avantages agricoles et environnementaux des systèmes à base de fourrage peuvent contribuer à la mise en œuvre de LivestockPlus dans divers contextes géographiques, politiques et socio-économiques.Mots clés : éco-efficacité, avantages environnementaux, élevage et environnement, agriculture mixte, pâturages, petits exploitants.DOI :10.17138/TGFT (3)59-82 Dado que se espera que la demanda mundial de productos ganaderos (como carne, leche y huevos) se duplique para 2050, los aumentos necesarios para la producción futura deben conciliarse con los impactos ambientales negativos que causa el ganado. Este documento describe el concepto de LivestockPlus y demuestra cómo la siembra de forrajes mejorados puede conducir a la intensificación sostenible de los sistemas mixtos de cultivos, forraje, ganado y árboles en los trópicos al producir múltiples beneficios sociales, económicos y ambientales. La intensificación sostenible no solo mejora la productividad de los sistemas basados en forraje tropical, sino que también reduce la huella ecológica de la producción ganadera y genera una diversidad de servicios ecosistémicos (ES), como la mejora de la calidad del suelo y la reducción de la erosión, la sedimentación y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). La integración de forrajes mejorados de pastos y leguminosas en sistemas de producción mixtos (cultivo-ganado, árbol-ganado, cultivo-árbol-ganado) puede restaurar las tierras degradadas y mejorar la resistencia del sistema a la sequía y el anegamiento asociados con el cambio climático. Cuando los forrajes tropicales se gestionan adecuadamente, acumulan grandes cantidades de carbono en el suelo, fijan el nitrógeno atmosférico (legumbres), inhiben la nitrificación en el suelo y reducen las emisiones de óxido nitroso (gramíneas), y reducen las emisiones de GEI por unidad de producto ganadero. El concepto LivestockPlus se define como la intensificación sostenible de los sistemas basados en forrajes, que se basa en 3 procesos de intensificación interrelacionados: intensificación genética: el desarrollo y uso de cultivares superiores de gramíneas y leguminosas para aumentar la productividad del ganado; intensificación ecológica: el desarrollo y la aplicación de prácticas mejoradas de gestión de granjas y recursos naturales; e intensificación socioeconómica: la mejora de las instituciones y políticas locales y nacionales, que permiten el perfeccionamiento de las tecnologías y apoyan su uso duradero. El aumento de la productividad ganadera requerirá esfuerzos coordinados para desarrollar políticas de apoyo gubernamentales, de organizaciones no gubernamentales y del sector privado que fomenten las inversiones y una compensación justa del mercado tanto para los productos como para los ES proporcionados. Los esfuerzos efectivos de investigación para el desarrollo que promueven los beneficios agrícolas y ambientales de los sistemas basados en forraje pueden contribuir a la implementación de LivestockPlus en una variedad de contextos geográficos, políticos y socioeconómicos. Palabras clave: Ecoeficiencia, beneficios ambientales, ganado y medio ambiente, agricultura mixta, pastos, pequeños agricultores. DOI:10.17138/TGFT (3)59-82 As global demand for livestock products (such as meat, milk and eggs) is expected to double by 2050, necessary increases to future production must be reconciled with negative environmental impacts that livestock cause. This paper describes the LivestockPlus concept and demonstrates how the sowing of improved forages can lead to the sustainable intensification of mixed crop-forage-livestock-tree systems in the tropics by producing multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. Sustainable intensification not only improves the productivity of tropical forage-based systems but also reduces the ecological footprint of livestock production and generates a diversity of ecosystem services (ES) such as improved soil quality and reduced erosion, sedimentation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Integrating improved grass and legume forages into mixed production systems (crop-livestock, tree-livestock, crop-tree-livestock) can restore degraded lands and enhance system resilience to drought and waterlogging associated with climate change. When properly managed tropical forages accumulate large amounts of carbon in soil, fix atmospheric nitrogen (legumes), inhibit nitrification in soil and reduce nitrous oxide emissions (grasses), and reduce GHG emissions per unit livestock product.The LivestockPlus concept is defined as the sustainable intensification of forage-based systems, which is based on 3 interrelated intensification processes: genetic intensification - the development and use of superior grass and legume cultivars for increased livestock productivity; ecological intensification - the development and application of improved farm and natural resource management practices; and socio-economic intensification - the improvement of local and national institutions and policies, which enable refinements of technologies and support their enduring use. Increases in livestock productivity will require coordinated efforts to develop supportive government, non-government organization and private sector policies that foster investments and fair market compensation for both the products and ES provided. Effective research-for-development efforts that promote agricultural and environmental benefits of forage-based systems can contribute towards implemention of LivestockPlus across a variety of geographic, political and socio-economic contexts.Keywords: Eco-efficiency, environmental benefits, livestock and environment, mixed farming, pastures, smallholders.DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(3)59-82 نظرًا لأنه من المتوقع أن يتضاعف الطلب العالمي على المنتجات الحيوانية (مثل اللحوم والحليب والبيض) بحلول عام 2050، يجب التوفيق بين الزيادات اللازمة للإنتاج المستقبلي والآثار البيئية السلبية التي تسببها الثروة الحيوانية. تصف هذه الورقة مفهوم LivestockPlus وتوضح كيف يمكن أن يؤدي زرع الأعلاف المحسنة إلى التكثيف المستدام لأنظمة زراعة المحاصيل المختلطة في المناطق الاستوائية من خلال إنتاج فوائد اجتماعية واقتصادية وبيئية متعددة. لا يؤدي التكثيف المستدام إلى تحسين إنتاجية النظم القائمة على الأعلاف الاستوائية فحسب، بل يقلل أيضًا من البصمة البيئية للإنتاج الحيواني ويولد مجموعة متنوعة من خدمات النظم الإيكولوجية مثل تحسين جودة التربة وتقليل التعرية والترسيب وانبعاثات غازات الدفيئة. يمكن أن يؤدي دمج الأعلاف العشبية والبقولية المحسنة في أنظمة الإنتاج المختلطة (المحاصيل والماشية، والأشجار والماشية، والمحاصيل والماشية) إلى استعادة الأراضي المتدهورة وتعزيز مرونة النظام في مواجهة الجفاف والتشبع بالمياه المرتبطين بتغير المناخ. عندما تتراكم الأعلاف الاستوائية المدارة بشكل صحيح كميات كبيرة من الكربون في التربة، وتصلح النيتروجين في الغلاف الجوي (البقوليات)، وتمنع النترجة في التربة وتقلل من انبعاثات أكسيد النيتروز (الأعشاب)، وتقلل من انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة لكل وحدة من المنتجات الحيوانية. يتم تعريف مفهوم LivestockPlus على أنه التكثيف المستدام للأنظمة القائمة على الأعلاف، والتي تستند إلى 3 عمليات تكثيف مترابطة: التكثيف الجيني - تطوير واستخدام أصناف متفوقة من العشب والبقول لزيادة إنتاجية الثروة الحيوانية ؛ التكثيف البيئي - تطوير وتطبيق ممارسات محسنة لإدارة المزارع والموارد الطبيعية ؛ والتكثيف الاجتماعي والاقتصادي - تحسين المؤسسات والسياسات المحلية والوطنية، والتي تمكن من تحسين التقنيات ودعم استخدامها الدائم. ستتطلب الزيادات في إنتاجية الثروة الحيوانية جهودًا منسقة لتطوير سياسات داعمة للحكومة والمنظمات غير الحكومية والقطاع الخاص تعزز الاستثمارات وتعويضات السوق العادلة لكل من المنتجات والخدمات البيئية والاجتماعية المقدمة. يمكن أن تساهم جهود البحث من أجل التنمية الفعالة التي تعزز الفوائد الزراعية والبيئية للأنظمة القائمة على الأعلاف في تنفيذ LivestockPlus عبر مجموعة متنوعة من السياقات الجغرافية والسياسية والاجتماعية والاقتصادية. الكلمات الرئيسية: الكفاءة البيئية، الفوائد البيئية، الثروة الحيوانية والبيئة، الزراعة المختلطة، المراعي، أصحاب الحيازات الصغيرة. DOI: 10.17138/TGFT (3)59-82

Amidst climatic and economic volatility, agricultural development and climate adaptation policies have increasingly turned to weather microinsurance to manage uncertainties, particularly in dryland pastoral and agricultural settings. While the political embrace of insurance has been cause for concern amongst those who fear insurance will undermine embedded coping mechanisms and moral economies, economists have puzzled over low insurance adoption rates amongst target populations. This article argues for an approach that scrutinizes insurance in relation to dynamic social practices and norms for responding to uncertainty. We employ this approach to investigate pastoralists’ encounters with index-based livestock insurance in Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. Drawing on interview, ethnographic, and survey data, we demonstrate how insurance is understood within larger moral economies and collective imaginaries for living with and managing uncertainty in the drylands. Relational understandings shape pastoralists’ participation in risk-sharing arrangements, collective and individual decisions about livestock insurance purchase, and eventual uses of insurance payouts. Payouts also support a broad array of social reproductive purposes and investments in social and political life. As we conclude, these findings upset the binary between formal and informal insurance, revealing how “formal” index insurance must be negotiated with embedded social affiliations, rights, obligations, and understandings of uncertainty.