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The Coast to Karoo Transect investigates the abundance and diversity of ants and beetles along an altitudinal gradient in the Cederberg mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa. It is a long term project, initiated in 2002 by Prof. S.L. Chown, Stellenbosch University. Data collection is carried out on a biannual (spring and autumn) basis. To monitor changes in invertebrate assemblages, focusing on ants and beetles. Temperature data are collected with i-buttons and a Hobo data logger.

The Soutpansberg Transect investigates the abundance and diversity of ants and spiders along an altitudinal gradient in the Western Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa. It has a north-south orientation over the mountain and is a long term project initiated in 2009. Data collection is carried out in intervals that suit the data logger capacity. To study the diversity patterns in ants and other invertebrate groups across the spatial transect over a long-term period and the climate the invertebrates.

In Sardinia (Italy), the highest frequency of extreme events is recorded in the Central-East area (3-4 events per year). The presence of high and steep mountains near the sea on the central and south-eastern coast, causes an East- West precipitation gradient in autumn especially, due to hot and moist currents coming from Africa. Soil structure and utilization make this area highly vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides. The specific purpose of this work is to provide a description of the heavy rainfall phenomenon on a statistical basis. The analysis mainly focuses on i) the existence of trends in heavy rainfall and ii) the characterization of the distribution of extreme events. First, to study possible trends in extreme events a few indices have been analyzed by the linear regression test. The analysis has been carried out at annual and seasonal scales. Then, extreme values analysis has been carried out by fitting a Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) to the data. As far as trends are concerned, different results are obtained at the two temporal scales: significant trends are obtained at the seasonal scale which are masked at the annual scale. By combining trend analysis and GPD analysis, the vulnerability of the study area to the occurrence of heavy rainfall has been characterized. Therefore, this work might support the improvement of land use planning and the application of suitable prevention systems. Future work will consider the extension of the analysis to all Sardinia and the application of statistical methods taking into account the spatial correlation of extreme events.

Abstract Svalbard’s main urban centre, Longyearbyen, is a town in constant transition. Established as a coal mining camp, it developed into a mono-industrial company town, was then transformed into a “normal” Norwegian family town, and is today profoundly impacted by climate change and undergoing economic, social and cultural changes at high speed. In this chapter, I examine urban planning and development in Longyearbyen, looking at historical developments and discussing current challenges. I trace the development of the town and show how the societal transformations beginning in the 1970s led to an institutionalization and formalization of urban planning. I then discuss three main issues and challenges related to community development today, brought about by rapid climate and socio-economic change: securing the town against environmental changes, the housing crisis, and a changing identity. I argue that throughout its history, Longyearbyen’s function for the Norwegian state as an upholder of presence and legitimation of sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago has set the premises of urban development and planning. This makes for a complex planning context, in some cases limiting local control and participation. The chapter draws on existing literature, policy and planning documents, as well as ethnographic fieldwork in Longyearbyen.

In globalized commodity markets, the orientation of the economy towards bio-economy and the energy transition to renewables, biomass is gaining importance as raw material and energy source. The regional gap between demand and supply is currently overcome by global biomass trade flows as shown for agricultural products and for wood fuels. Due to the increasing demand of biomass for energy and biofuels, these trade flows will expand in the future. A comprehensive model was developed to evaluate these supply chains for biomass on industrial scale and gain a detailed understanding of its related costs and GHG emissions (± ILUC). It consists of sub-models, such agricultural or forestry production, preconditioning and processing, road, rail and water transportation, transshipment and storage. The model was applied to six exemplary biomass production and supply paths with the target destination in Central Europe (Germany) – namely ethanol from Brazil, wheat and wood pellets from Canada, soybeans from the USA, palm oil from Indonesia and round wood from Russia. This represents the broad variety of biomass sources, supply regions and transportation distances of 6,200 to 17,900 kilometers. Proceedings of the 30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 9-12 May 2022, Online, pp. 291-308

iForest is an Open Access, peer-reviewed online journal published by the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF). The journal encompasses a broad range of research aspects concerning forest science: forest ecology, biodiversity/genetics and ecophysiology, silviculture, forest inventory and planning, forest protection and monitoring, forest harvesting, landscape ecology, forest history, wood technology. iForest is freely and universally accessible online. It has been selected for coverage in the following ISI Thomson Reuters products (Impact Factor expected in the 2012 JCR): Journal Citation Reports - Science Edition (JCR) Science Citation Index - Expanded Current Contents / Agriculture, Biology & Environmental Sciences iForest is indexed by Elsevier Products (Scopus(TM), Embase(TM), etc), in the directory of Open Access Journal (DOAJ(TM)), and is a member of the Crossref consortium(TM).

MCCIP Science Review 2013, 34-48

Tropical country economies are still based on agro-industries and wood industries. These industries generate a urge amount of waste which create damage to the environment when they are incinerated. In the same time conventional energies and technologies hardly cover their energy requirements. The rational use of these residues through biomass energy technology would be an appropriate solution. The scope of this work has consisted in the setting up of a simple decision making methodology adapted to tropical country economies. The economic framework of the Asean countries has been selected as case study. Figures show that agro- based industries offer a large potential of renewable energy sources. It has also enlighten that due to the economic growth of the region, the energy demand is skyrocketing with subsequent supply problems. Meanwhile, the different proven biomass energy technologies available are able to match with the energy requirement of the endusers and the technical constraints of the biofuel. Due to the number of technical options, decision makers are facing a choice problem. It consist in the selection of the best technology available between competing and alternative solutions. This choice constitute a real deadlock to biomass energy technology dissemination. Therefore, a decision making methodology tool adapted to tropical countries is proposed. Technical, micro-economic and also macro-economic criteria have been considered and a computer application developed. Seven technologies, for heat generation, power generation with or without cogeneration, using sugar cane residues, rice husk, wood wastes, palm oil residues in substitution to conventional technologies (coal, gas and petroleum products fired) are compared and ranked. Criteria considered are : cost/benefit ratio, environmental benefit vis a vis greenhouse gas emission impact (CO, C02, NOx, S02, COV and total C02 equivalent). Results have been validated through figures gathered from the demonstration projects supported by the European Union in Asean and will be discussed in the present paper. (Résumé d'auteur)

Smallholder natural rubber area covers 3 milions ha in Indonesia, among it 2 million ha are rubber agroforests (locally called "jungle rubber") in Sumatra and Kalimantan. These rubber agroforests are the most widespread complex agroforestry system in Indonesia combining production (however productivity is low) and environmental benefits, as well as a certain biodiversity conservation, due to agroforestry practices. Beside being the key to Indonesia's future competitive advantage in natural rubber production, a workable strategy to raise productivity of these rubber smallholders also could play an important role in both poverty alleviation and environment conservation. The "jungle rubber" system is a low-input agroforestry system in which rubber competes with the regrowth of the natural forest. The system is inexpensive and requires little labour to establish and maintain. From the viewpoint of environmental conservation, a rubber jungle with a planting scheme similar to a secondary forest has a positive value, because its habitat is good for environmental conservation. Its good hydro-orology characteristics will resist erosion and enrich plant biodiversity. It positively supports the "green movement", which has acquired a lot of interest from big industrial countries who are also the major consumers of natural rubber. The Rubber Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO) in collaboration with the International Center of Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), Southeast Asia Program and CIRAD-CP-TERA (France), have been conducting o -farm trials with participatory approach and economic analysis of improved smallholder agroforest system, funded by a grant from USAID, as well as socio economic surveys in order to identify pros and cons of RAS technology adoption (improved Rubber Agroforestry Systems) . The network has been developed in West Kalimantan (Sanggau and Sintang), Jambi (Muara Bungo) and West Sumatra (Pasaman). The objective is to manage the rubber jungles more intensively by planting high yielding clones which are suitable for the rubber jungle system with different degrees of intensification in inputs and labour. Hard-wood and fruit trees, pulp trees fro shading against Imperara, annual crops and various type of covercrops are combined with rubber trees, in different trials, to identify the best and more adoptable combinations as well as maintaining a certain level of biodiversity. Biodiversity is considered as an interesting by-product with no cost . The secondary forest regrowth in between rubber lines is even considered as a labour saving pratice and the best anti Imperata strategy. RAS systems aim also to rehabilitate Imperata grasslands. Rubber Agroforestry systems do have both economically and environmental sustainability. (Résumé d'auteur)

Soils characterized by low fertility, the absence of structure, low organic matter content, and a high content of alien materials can be valuable for the creation of species-rich vegetation communities. In fact such communities are often associated with low fertility soils, especially regarding nitrogen levels. Very few studies have been carried out in southern Europe on the cultivation techniques of native herbaceous species and on how to create and maintain semi-natural herbaceous communities in relation to soil properties. This study is aimed at determining the ecological characteristics and the cultivation needs of 26 herbaceous species native to Italy and southern Europe in order to identify their landscape potential in low-maintenance conditions. Mono-specific plots were set up in three different soils. The criteria for choosing the species were based on their capacity to thrive in poor dry soils and to tolerate stress and disturbance. In addition the criteria were also based on their ornamental value, including the ability to attract insects. Annuals, biennials and perennials were included in the study. Seedling emergence and plant biomass were determined. The percentage of field establishment and biomass appeared to be affected by the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. Species were classified as having low or medium-high seedling emergence in the field assessment. Calamintha nepeta, Campanula rapunculus, Dianthus carthusianorum, Verbascum blattaria, Nigella damascena, Salvia verbenaca, and Scabiosa columbaria developed low biomass. Thus they were more suitable for long lasting plantings in unfertile soils (e.g. land restoration). Daucus carota, Matricaria chamomilla, Papaver rhoeas, Verbascum sinuatum, Coleostophus myconis and Senecio erraticus produced high biomass especially in the most fertile soil. They are more likely to survive competition in highly productive soils.