Improving management practices in grasslands used especially for animal grazing can enhance the capacity of soils as carbon sinks, and help countries reach their climate goals, according to this new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Soils contribute to the achievement of the UN …
This comprehensive report surveys the full range of scientific findings on all aspects of climate change on the Tibetan Plateau. Summarises over 150 recent research reports published in scientific journals, by Chinese and international scientists. Says that Tibet is in trouble, as climate change is now happening faster than in …
At 7,053 million metric tons, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.2 percent in 2008, when compared to 2007, according to a report. Record oil prices and lower economic activity in 2008 led to the decline, which includes a 2.9 decrease in energy-related CO2 emissions, according to
In light of global concerns over the impacts of climate change and climate variability, this document provides an overview of opportunities for adaptation and mitigation in dryland pastoral and agropastoral systems. It makes a case for a concerted global effort to promote mitigation practices that also have benefits for adaptation …
A study was undertaken in the Kothi watershed of Himachal Pradesh with a view to understand the patterns in vegetation distribution and impact of livestock grazing in the mountain ecosystems of the higher Himalaya. The study results in the documentation of 243 species of vascular plants distributed over 57 families …
In India plantations of exotic tree species like populous debtoides, Acacia spp., Eucalyptus spp., Laucaena leucocephala and Prosopis juliflora etc were promoted to meet the increasing industrial and fuel demand. The exotic acacia and eucalyptus were introduced in Nilgiris Hills in 1858 where E. globules was planted along with E. …
Gandhinagar: After it was allowed to be almost completely emasculated and invaded by the wild weed, well known as prosopis juli-flora, for several decades, the Gujarat government has finally decided to revive what once was Asia
This latest IUCN paper presents a vision for drylands that makes their sustainable development a global responsibility. Focuses on maximizing the opportunities that exist for sustainable dryland development and empowerment of local people at national and international levels. This paper builds on the understanding that has emerged over the past …
Authorities in China aim to halt the spread of the desert in Tibet by next year, hoping to stem the effects of years of mining, tree-felling and overgrazing, state media said on Thursday Desertification is spreading by 98,000 acres annually in Tibet, an official at the regional forestry bureau was …
Large cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases are needed if we are to avoid the worst effects of global climate change. This rapid assessment report describes the vital contributions which ecosystems can and must make to improve these efforts. It presents carbon capture and storage through a Green Economy lens, …
This latest World Bank document stresses on the inclusion of ecosystem-based approaches to national and regional adaptation strategies. It points out that access to funds will help communities to address climate change at all levels. Current efforts to address climate change focus mainly on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly …
AHMEDABAD: The prosopis juliflora better known as gando baval, which is claimed to have destroyed the Banni grassland in Kutch has been marked an invasive alien species on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day on Friday. The theme of biodiversity day this year, is Invasive Alien Species', defined as plants, …
In a new book, experts have explained why grassland should be a permanent component of our ecosystem for ensuring the future of sustainable agriculture. The book,
The Obama administration on Tuesday proposed rules to limit emissions of climate-changing gases from the manufacture of ethanol, a step that would probably curtail the expansion of corn ethanol production. In its first major policy steps on ethanol, the administration said it would help producers of biofuels who could not …
Human activities have increased the availability of nutrients in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In grasslands, this eutrophication causes loss of plant species diversity, but the mechanism of this loss has been difficult to determine. Using experimental grassland plant communities, we found that addition of light to the grassland understory prevented …
In the food web, herbivores are established to play an important role in maintaining the ecological health of an ecosystem by consuming a sizeable quantity of available vegetation. With the evolution of biodiversity conservation theory, grazing and browsing of herbivores has been generally treated as an unsustainable practice for long-term …
Studies were conducted with eight tree species in natural grassland for 15 years (July 1988 to June 2003) under semi arid condition to select suitable tree species for introduction in natural grassland/sown pasture for higher production.
The Nordic countries have agreed on a common target to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2010. This report aims at evaluating the 2010-target by presenting indicators that can describe trends in biodiversity in the Nordic countries. The results comprise the most comprehensive documentation of land use in the Nordic …
Dense plants are taking over grasslands in many areas; researchers in the U.S. Southwest are studying how they tap into water supplies--and how to keep them in check.
This paper focuses on only one piece of this complex challenge: the ways in which conservation action has been informed, and should be informed, by the interaction between ecological scale and governance. The published literature does not provide much guidance
