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Oligotrophic catchments with short spatey streams, upland lakes and peaty soils characterise northwest European Atlantic coastal regions. These catchments are important biodiversity refuges, particularly for sensitive diadromous fish populations but are subject to changes in land use and land management practices associated with afforestation, agriculture and rural development. Quantification of the degree of catchment degradation resulting from such anthropogenic impacts is often limited by a lack of long-term baseline data in what are generally relatively isolated, poorly studied catchments. This research uses a combination of palaeolimnological (radiometrically-dated variations in sedimentary geochemical elements, pollen, diatoms and remains of cladocera), census, and instrumental data, along with hindcast estimates to quantify environmental changes and their aquatic impacts since the late 19th century. The most likely drivers of any change are also identified. Results confirm an aquatic biotic response (phyto- and zooplankton) to soil erosion and nutrient enrichment associated with the onset of commercial conifer afforestation, effects that were subsequently enhanced as a result of increased overgrazing in the catchment and, possibly, climate warming. The implications for the health of aquatic resources in the catchment are discussed Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland (ILLUMINATE 2005-W-MS-40, P.McGinnity was supported by the Beaufort Marine Research Award in Fish Population Genetics funded by the Irish Government under the Sea Change Programme.

Two studies conducted in Guadeloupe (West Indies) and Réunion (Indian Ocean) islands were designed to investigate the benefits of producing sugarcane as an energy crop and to assess the influence of agroclimatic factors on energy efficiency, respectively. In this context, it is essential to know the low heating value of the dry above-ground biomass (LHVd, MJ/kg) and its energy yield (EY, MJ/m2) in order to select the best varieties and set up a payment method for growers. Eighteen Poaceae (sugarcane and Erianthus) cultivars were compared under wet tropical environmental conditions in Guadeloupe. Three sugarcane cultivars were studied in four contrasting environments in Réunion. The partition sampling and biomass measurement procedures were identical at both locations. Low heating value (LHV) predictions were achieved using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) after specific calibration (Guadeloupe), or arithmetically after lignocellulosic compound prediction (Réunion). In both studies, LHV variability was very low and slightly dependent on the site, cultivar and above-ground biomass components (millable stalks and tops, and green and dead leaves). Considering the overall dry above-ground biomass (DAB, kg/m2), the LHVd was calculated by averaging 159 samples (mean 16.65 MJ/kg) in Guadeloupe and 315 samples (mean 16.45 MJ/kg) for Réunion. An excellent linear relationship between the DAB and its EY, regardless of cultivar, age and environment, was found (n = 474 and R² = 0.99). Sugarcane energy content assessment could thus be simplified by measuring the DAB, while enabling development of a faster method of payment for growers based on the DAB measurement and the correlation between DAB and EY. Finally, the findings of this study should allow growers to rapidly determine the commercial value of their sugarcane crops, and also enable purchasers to assess the amount of recoverable energy. (Résumé d'auteur)

Earth observation (EO) data are useful tools to analyse geomorphological processes, among which slow-moving landslides triggered by rainfall. EO data are also used to evaluate climate change and to assess its impact on geomorphological processes and geo-hydrological phenomena. The latter is the topic of the Project OT4Clima (Innovative Earth Observation technologies to study Climate Change and its impact on the environment) joined by CNR-IRPI within a consortium that includes other CNR institutes, universities and private companies. The OT4CLIMA project moves from the awareness that the impacts of climate change on the environment need to be better observed, understood, and modelled, especially at a regional scale, in order to put in place appropriate and effective risk mitigation strategies. Within the project, the CNR-IRPI group works on the development of rigorous methods and procedures for evaluating the impact of climate and its change on landslides, in particular on those characterized by a slow cinematic, at a regional scale. The test site is represented by four catchments located in the Basilicata region, southern Italy, namely the basins of the Bradano, Basento, Agri, and Sinni rivers. Long-term rainfall series gathered from 22 rain gauges located in the four catchments are analysed to evaluate the presence of temporal trends. To this aim, non-parametric and statistical tests are applied to the series. Historical landslide information is gathered from the analysis of the IFFI (Inventario dei Fenomeni Franosi in Italia) database, the Idrogeo platform (https://idrogeo.isprambiente.it/app/) and the AVI (Aree Vulnerate in Italia) catalogue. Only some types of landslide movements are considered, namely rotational-translational slides, slow slides/flows, complex movements. Moreover, Copernicus Sentinel-1 images are employed to detect the spatial and temporal distribution of slow earth surface deformations. The obtained results are used for checking the completeness of the landslide inventories. More in detail, the deformation maps of the test site are obtained by means of the application of the SBAS (Small BAseline Subset) technique to three datasets of Sentinel-1 images: t146 ascending orbit and t51 and t124 descending orbits, for the period 2015-2020. Then, a comparative analysis of rainfall data with displacement series is carried out with the aim of identifying clusters of satellite measurements with homogeneous behaviour likely correlated to variations in the rainfall regime. In particular, only the points with a mean velocity in the observation higher than 0.1 cm/year are considered to be moving. Moreover, only the displacement series of points located in areas mapped as landslides - as for the historical inventories - and sited within the influence regions of each rain gauge in the study area are analysed. A 10-km circular buffer centred in the stations are used to define the influence region of each station. The displacement series are analysed and compared to the rainfall series to search for correlations and to evaluate the effects of climate drivers on slow moving landslides.

The paper discusses a case study of the Trás-os-Montes region to assess the resilience and sustainability of the local sheep sector. The area is a low-density mountainous region where small ruminant production is a relevant sector of the economy and is mainly based on natural resources. The study employed a mixed methodological approach to identify the socio-economic profile of different actors and the main obstacles and opportunities of this livestock activity. The research found that the main strength of the sector is the intrinsic quality of the products with origin in the various indigenous sheep breeds. However, marketing channels associated with this mechanism are generally limited, and its market shares are minimal. The analysis highlights the constraints resulting from the holdings’ small average size, the advanced age of most farmers, the lack of successors, the low profitability of the lamb meat, and producers’ weak bargaining power. Also, wool's lack of economic interest is an economic and environmental problem for farmers. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The objective of this work is to study the accumulation of lignocellulosic biomass of two varieties of rye (Petkus and Askari) and two varieties of triticale (Trujillo and Collegial) during its vegetative period. The plots' size was about 300 m2 for each variety trial. The selected plots were cultivated under rainfed continental conditions in the province of Soria (central-northern Spain) and for one vegetative period. To evaluate the biomass accumulation, a total of 15 samplings were periodically carried out from March to July. 10 sub-samples per sampling and genotype were taken randomly. Results indicated that yield followed an upward trend until reaching 222 days from sowing. At that moment, the greatest biomass production was obtained for the four studied varieties (rye variety cv. Askari: 13.7 oven dried tonnes (odt)/ha; rye variety cv. Petkus: 11.5 odt/ha; triticale variety cv. Collegial: 10.0 odt/ha; triticale variety cv. Trujillo: 11.8 odt/ha). A significant difference was found among species and varieties. Considering total biomass production, the appropriate time to harvest the whole plant was corresponded with the penultimate sampling (222 days from sowing) in which the thermal time was 2106.8 ºC days (degree days). Adjusted models for each studied variety were also defined. Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 548-553

Nature provides all the goods, conditions and services for the maintenance of life, societies and human wellbeing. Most of the approaches (e.g. United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) advertise these benefits as ecosystem services, mostly associated to the renewable resources on a biological basis. More recently, non-renewable and renewable geodiversity services are being framed into the MA ecosystem services categories: regulating, supporting, provisioning, and cultural services (Gray et al., 2013). In order to promote the geodiversity values, the Terras de Cavaleiros UNESCO Global Geopark (TCUGG) is now introducing the geodiversity services concept in the educational and touristic programmes. All geosites can be presented within the scope of the geodiversity cultural services taking into account that they provide data to develop our scientific knowledge. In the most important TCUGG geosites, the educational approach stress the contribution of these sites to the knowledge of the Earth history. Geodiversity cultural services also include aspects like recreation or spiritual experiences, with numerous examples in TCUGG, as well as in all other geoparks. The TCUGG promotes the understating of the sustainable use of geodiversity provisioning services and offers teachers training and educational programmes focused on geological resources. These programmes include the visit to active quarries exploiting construction materials, and mines exploiting industrial minerals like talc (active) and tungsten (inactive). Other provisioning services like freshwater and mineral water are mentioned in the geosites related with thermal springs in the geopark. This topic is also addressed in the geopark interpretative centre dedicated to the characteristics, origins and uses of ore minerals. The geodiversity supporting services refers to the geology as an essential foundation for biodiversity (services to the ecosystems) and human activities (direct supporting services). Locally, the Earth dynamics is expressed by a diversified landscape with mountains, plateaus and valleys sculpted on a variety of rocks, which results on a remarkable biodiversity. One of the TCUGG educational programmes is focused on the relief as the structuring element of the landscape and on the relationship between geodiversity and biodiversity. Soil processes, especially weathering and soil profile development, are well observed in many outcrops and geosites. The understanding of the slow soil formation, on the scale of the geological time, raises awareness for the importance of its conservation. The habitat provision is also clearly comprehensive in the Morais massif, the core of the geopark, were the endemic vegetation is clearly related to the occurrence of exotic ultramafic rocks. Direct geodiversity supporting services to human well-being are represented by the hydroelectric dam in Tuela river gorge and by the wind power on the top of Bornes Mountain. Finally, examples of geodiversity regulation services are scattered throughout the TCUGG. These services can be illustrated with the importance of rocks as essential natural filters for water quality regulation in the context of the hydrological cycle, and the importance of the rock cycle as a nature regulation service, attending to its importance for carbon sequestration, storage and climate regulation. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Importance: Understanding global agricultural response to a changing climate alongside changes in land use, technology and food demand is necessary for future food security. Global, spatially resolved projections of major agricultural products remain very uncertain however; resulting from uncertainties in economic development, climate sensitivity, crop response to climate, future management changes, and genetics. Highlighting the spatial disparities in climate impacts on agriculture while improving projection methodologies will help target adaptation efforts, and guide investment and intervention to build a more resilient food system. The following chapters aim: (1) to improve the simulation of global crop production under changing climate, (2) to build crop model emulators that can be utilized for economic impact assessments (3) to better understand how cultivation regions for major crops may shift in the future, and (4) to assess uncertainties around interactions between applied nutrients and climate.Approach: This work is based on a set of harmonized, globally gridded, processed-based crop model simulations over a set of nutrient (atmospheric [CO2] and applied nitrogen fertilizers) and climate (daily temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, etc) input combinations. This set of simulations is collectively known as the Globally Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison (GGCMI) project Phase 2 under the Agriculture Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) umbrella. Chapter 2 describes the Phase 2 experiment design, presents overall simulation results, and Chapter 3 presents the development and evaluation of a set of crop model emulators designed to be used in economic frameworks. Chapter 4 employs these same crop models and some additional, targeted simulations to test how regions of peak yield may shift under possible climate change. In Chapter 5, I utilize the Phase 2 simulations and emulators to test how the most important nutrient, applied nitrogen fertilizers, modulates the climate response of agriculture for the major grains globally. Key Findings: Warming uniformly reduces crop production across models in both rain-fed ix and irrigated systems for maize, rice, wheat and soybeans in all but the highest latitude regions. Presently hotter, dryer regions are more vulnerable to warming with tropical latitudes suffering greater simulated losses under possible climate change. [CO2] direct fertilization compensates for temperature losses and often completely reverses the signal – especially for crops other than maize. The mean climatological yield response to climate change in process- based models can be faithfully represented by statistical emulation around the mean growing season temperature change or mean precipitation change. Changes in temperature variability matter little at the mean-climatological timescale to yield changes in process based models, with some potential exceptions at the highest latitudes. With adapted growing seasons, Regions of peak yield in the extra-tropics shift poleward substantially under expected climate change. Nitrogen inputs modulate climate impacts dramatically, with grains under high input showing amplified sensitivity to both temperature and [CO2] changes. Climate change crop yield impacts are uncertain everywhere globally –with more pessimistic projections in the tropics being the major consistent feature across models and scenarios.

Ressourcen stellen die Basis für eine erfolgreiche industrielle und technologische Entwicklung dar und somit auch für den Wohlstand heutiger und zukünftiger Generationen. Mit steigender Ressourcennutzung nehmen auch die (physische und sozio-ökonomische) Verfügbarkeit abiotischer und biotischer Ressourcen, die Umweltverschmutzung und die sozialen Auswirkungen durch den Abbau und Nutzung der Ressourcen zu. Um den Erfolg implementierter Strategien (und deren Maßnahmen) hinsichtlich ihres Beitrags zu einem effizienten und nachhaltigen Umgang mit Ressourcen zu bewerten, bedarf es an entsprechenden Bewertungsmethoden. Diese Dissertation stellt vier Methoden bereit um die Bewertung abiotischer und biotischer Ressourcennutzung im Kontext der Nachhaltigkeit auf Produkt- und regionaler Ebene in konsistenter Weise zu bewerten. Die Methode zur Bewertung abiotischer Ressourcen auf Produktebene betrachtet insgesamt 21 relevante Aspekte und stellt Indikatoren zur Quantifizierung bereit. Für die Bewertung der sozio-ökonomischen Einschränkungen von Lieferketten ist eine neuer Ansatz entwickelt, der geopolitische, politische und regulative Aspekte berücksichtigt. Des Weiteren sind Screening-Indikatoren verfügbar, die die gesellschaftliche Akzeptanz der Ressourcennutzung adressieren. Um die Verfügbarkeit terrestrischer biotischer Ressourcen in Produktsystemen zu bewerten, wurde eine umfassende Methode mit 25 Indikatoren erstellt. Des Weiteren wird ein Ansatz vorgestellt, der es ermöglicht eine konsistente Zusammenführung und somit auch Bewertung verschiedener Ressourcentypen zu ermöglichen. Er findet bei der Zusammenführung der entwickelten Methoden zur Bewertung abiotischer und biotischer Ressourcen Anwendung. Da die Nutzung von Ressourcen auch auf Macro-Ebene betrachtet werden muss, wurde eine Methode zur Bewertung abiotischer Ressourcen auf regionaler Ebene entwickelt, die 25 Indikatoren für die Bewertung der Kritikalität (Verfügbarkeit von Ressourcen und Vulnerabilität der Region) und der gesellschaftlichen Akzeptanz zur Verfügung stellt. Verschiedene Fallstudien wurden durchgeführt um die Anwendbarkeit der entwickelten Methoden aufzuzeigen und zu verdeutlichen, warum eine umfassende Bewertung der Ressourcennutzung notwendig ist. Die Fallstudien umfassen u.a. die Bewertung eines Smartphones, Pkw-Herstellung und Biokraftstoffe. Die Anwendbarkeit der Methoden wird zudem erhöht, indem Indikatorwerte für 36 Metalle und 4 fossile Rohstoffe zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Die Bewertung der Nutzung abiotischer und biotischer Ressourcen auf Produkt- und regionaler Ebene wird mit dieser Dissertation signifikant verbessert, indem vier wissenschaftliche Methoden zur robusten und umfassenden Bewertung aller drei Nachhaltigkeitsdimensionen bereitgestellt werden. Resources are the basis for a thriving industrial and technological development and therefore for prosperity of present and future generations. With increasing resource use, challenges with regard to (physical and socio-economic) availability of abiotic and biotic resources and raw materials, pollution of the environment as well as social impacts associated with resource extraction and use arise. To evaluate the success of strategies managing resource use more efficiently and sustainably methodologies are required to comprehensively assess resource use and related impacts. This thesis provides four methodologies to improve the assessment of abiotic and biotic resource use in the context of sustainability on product and regional level. For the method to assess abiotic resources use on product level overall 21 aspects are considered as relevant and indicator for quantification are provided. In order to determine socio-economic supply chain restrictions a new approach is developed, considering geopolitical, political and regulatory aspects affecting resource extraction and use. Further, screening indicators are established to evaluate the societal acceptance of resources with regard to compliance with social and environmental standards. To assess the availability of terrestrial biotic resources in product systems a comprehensive methodology is established, which includes 25 indicators. Further, an approach is proposed to combine assessment methodologies in a consistent way. This approach is applied to the developed method of this thesis leading to a combined methodology. The use of resources also has to be considered on macro-economic. Thus, a methodology is developed providing 25 indicators for the two dimensions criticality, consisting of the sub-dimensions (physical and socio-economic) availability and vulnerability, as well as societal acceptance. Several case studies are carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the developed methods and to confirm the need for a comprehensive assess of resource use on micro and macro level, e.g. case studies for smart phones and cars, for biofuels produced from rapeseed and soybean. The applicability of the methodologies is further enhanced by providing indicator results for 36 metals and four fossil raw materials. The assessment of abiotic and biotic resource use on product and regional level is improved significantly by establishing four scientifically robust yet applicable methodologies, which consider multiple aspects of resource use in all three sustainability dimensions.

This presentation gives an overview of the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support Program (SANREM CRSP). The SANREM CRSP utilizes a systems approach to promote many goals including the improvement of agricultural productivity, the empowerment of smallholders, and the promotion of sustainable development. This presentation shows the different components, partners, and structure of the SANREM CRSP, the extent of capacity building efforts, and the long-term research activities for Phase IV. ME (Management Entity)

The city of Leh was the capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. Over time, due to wars, politics, and isolation, the capital city fell into a state of disrepair soon after the royal family was exiled. An explosion in tourism over the last few decades has seen a revival in the local community but most of the benefits including generated tourism revenue have been directed towards development outside the historical boundary of Leh. The residents of what is now known as Leh Old Town suffer from poverty, lack of basic infrastructures such as drainage, and limited access to water. Additionally, Leh Old Town was also placed under World’s Monument Watch in 2008 due to issues related to low-scale modern construction and urgent need of repair for 55% of the historic buildings. Climate change has also been cited as a cause of concern due to issues related to faster melting glaciers and flash floods due to the lack of a drainage system. The main aim of this practicum is to study and demonstrate the role that landscape architects can play in the rehabilitation of historical alpine settlements that have been adversely affected by anthropological factors such as politics, climate change, and over-tourism. It does so by highlighting the cultural and architectural heritage of the Old Town of Leh, known as Kharyog in Ladakhi, and demonstrating the use of indigenous construction materials and methods that have been superseded by modern materials imported from other parts of the country. It also aims to study how the positive effects of tourism can be distributed equally throughout a community to improve the quality of life for the residents of Leh Old Town.