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The most significant thermal water resource in the Carpathian Basin can be found under the territory of the Hungarian-Serbian border, in the Szeged-Morahalom-Subotica triangle. The abstraction for extensive and complex utilization is currently being started on both sides of the border. For the safe and sustainable abstraction, and its international monitoring, it is necessary to determine the hydrogeological-hydrodynamic features of the common thermal water base, and to elaborate a two-phase 4D model of the water base for the mapping of the water resource and its gas content. FP7

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.

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

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

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.

Research in the field of precision agriculture is becoming increasingly important due to the growing world population whilst area for cultivation remains constant or declines. In this context, methods of monitoring in?season plant development with high resolution and accuracy are necessary. Studies show that terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) can be applied to capture small objects like crops. In this contribution, the results of multi-temporal field campaigns with the terrestrial laser scanner Riegl LMS-Z420i are shown. Four surveys were carried out in the growing period 2012 on a field experiment where various barley varieties were cultivated in small-scale plots. In order to measure the plant height above ground, the TLS-derived point clouds are interpolated to generate Crop Surface Models with a very high resolution of 1 cm. For all campaigns, a common reference surface, representing the Digital Elevation Model was used to monitor plant height in the investigated period. Manual plant height measurements were carried out to verify the results. The very high coefficients of determination (R² = 0.89) between both measurement methods show the applicability of the approach presented. Furthermore, destructive biomass sampling was performed to investigate the relation to plant height. Biomass is an important parameter for evaluating the actual crop status, but non-destructive methods of directly measuring crop biomass do not exist. Hence, other parameters like reflectance are considered. The focus of this study is on non-destructive measurements of plant height. The high coefficients of determination between plant height and fresh as well as dry biomass (R² = 0.80, R² = 0.77) support the usability of plant height as a predictor. The study presented here demonstrates the applicability of TLS in monitoring plant height development with a very high spatial resolution. Proceedings of the Workshop on UAV-based Remote Sensing Methods for Monitoring Vegetation Kölner geographische Arbeiten, 94 ISSN:0454-1294

After green cane harvesting, between 6 and 30 tons of dry matter per hectare of trash remains in the field. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the dynamics of sugarcane residue decomposition, and to study nutrient release from harvest residue. The trial was conducted in Tucumán-Argentina. The soil was a typical Haplustol. Sugarcane varieties LCP 85-384 and RA 87-3 were used in the trial, which lasted from 2008 to 2012. Every 25-35 days we evaluated: 1) quantity of residue (fresh weight and dry weight), and 2) C/N ratio in the residue. Besides, at the beginning and end of each cycle we evaluated P and K contents in the residue. In the four crop cycles considered (ratoon 1 to ratoon 4), the amount of residue left on the ground, expressed as tons of dry matter per hectare, was high. In LCP 85-384, initial trash amount ranged from 11.6 t/ha (ratoon 3) to 15.2 t/ha (ratoon 2), whereas decomposition percentages varied between 43% and 59% in a period of 260 to 323 days. In RA-87-3 initial trash amount ranged from 12.5 t/ha (ratoon 4) to 18.1 t/ha (ratoon 1), with decomposition percentages between 36% and 60% for a period of 194 to 323 days. In general, fresh residue C/N ratios were high (over 60). Initial C/N ratio varied among the following values: 79.2 (2008/2009), 77.4 (2009/2010) and 68.8 (2010/2011), and 93.5 (2008/2009), 102.9 (2009/2010) and 60.5 (2010/2011) for LCP 85-384 and RA 87-3, respectively. Final C/N ratio ranged from 30.8 (2010/2011) to 31.9 (2008/2009) and 39.3 (2009/2010) for LCP 85-384, and from 29.9 (2010/2011) to 33.9 (2008/2009) and 43.4 (2009/2010) for RA 87-3. This represented a reduction in at least 50% in all situations studied. Trash initial C concentration, expressed as percentage of dry matter, amounted to values between 42% and 45.5%, and between 38.8% and 47.5% in LCP 85-384 and RA 87-3, respectively. Residue initial N concentration varied between 0.53% and 0.71% and between 0.43% and 0.66% in LCP 85-384 and RA 87-3, respectively. As expected, N contents were more variable than C contents. Trash final C and N concentrations ranged from 30.4% to 33.2% and from 0.84% to 1.00% in LCP 85-384, whereas these values varied from 27.8% to 34.5% and from 0.82% to 1.1% in RA 87-3. Residue initial P concentrations reached 0.05% and 0.07% in LCP 85-384, and 0.06% and 0.1% in RA 87-3. Final P concentration ranged from 0.06% to 0.08% in both varieties. Residue initial K concentrations were between 0.64% and 0.75% for LCP 85-384, and between 0.56% and 0.67% for RA 87-3, respectively. Final K concentration varied from 0.09% to 0.19% and from 0.11% and 0.19% for LCP 85-384 and RA 87-3, respectively. K release values were high, whereas P ones were generally low.