Your search found 16 records
1 van den Brink, A.; de Haas, W.; Beek, K. J.; Frikkee, D. (Eds.) 2012. Globalisation and landscape change: report of the 60th Jubilee Conference of the Land and Water Network, Wageningen, Netherlands, 18 May 2011. Wageningen, Netherlands: Land and Water Network; Wageningen, Netherlands: KLV Wageningen Alumni Network. 76p.
Water management ; Globalization ; Agricultural landscape ; Food security ; Land use ; Water use ; Policy ; Water governance
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 333.91 G000 VAN Record No: H044694)
(0.31 MB)
2 Lemenih, Mulugeta; Bossio, D.; Langan, Simon. 2012. Exploring ecosystem services contribution to social-ecological resilience in Ethiopian agricultural landscapes. [Presented at the Workshop on Rainfed Production under Growing Rain Variability: Closing the Yield Gap]. [Abstract only]. In Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Water and food security. Abstract volume, World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, 26-31 August 2012. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). pp.134-135.
Agricultural landscape ; Ecosystems ; Sociology ; Ecology ; River basins ; Living standards ; Poverty / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045048)
http://www.worldwaterweek.org/documents/Resources/Synthesis/Abstract-Volume-2012.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045048.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045048.pdf
(0.05 MB) (2.19MB)
3 Sinare, H.; Gordon, L. J.; Kautsky, E. E. 2016. Assessment of ecosystem services and benefits in village landscapes – a case study from Burkina Faso. Ecosystem Services, 21(Part A):141-152. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.08.004]
Ecosystem services ; Agricultural landscape ; Crop yield ; Compensation ; Small scale farming ; Smallholders ; Living standards ; Poverty ; Participatory approaches ; Social aspects ; Ecological factors ; Villages ; Spatial distribution ; Case studies / Sahel / Burkina Faso / Boursouma / Oula / Reko / Lebda / Koalma / Zarin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047869)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041616302170/pdfft?md5=aa435fe7e4a089aac54b0eb3d1770afc&pid=1-s2.0-S2212041616302170-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047869.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047869.pdf
(4.49 MB) (4.48 MB)
Most methods to assess ecosystem services have been developed on large scales and depend on secondary data. Such data is scarce in rural areas with widespread poverty. Nevertheless, the population in these areas strongly depends on local ecosystem services for their livelihoods. These regions are in focus for substantial landscape investments that aim to alleviate poverty, but current methods fail to capture the vast range of ecosystem services supporting livelihoods, and can therefore not properly assess potential trade-offs and synergies among services that might arise from the interventions. We present a new method for classifying village landscapes into social-ecological patches (landscape units corresponding to local landscape perceptions), and for assessing provisioning ecosystem services and benefits to livelihoods from these patches. We apply the method, which include a range of participatory activities and satellite image analysis, in six villages across two regions in Burkina Faso. The results show significant and diverse contributions to livelihoods from six out of seven social-ecological patches. The results also show how provisioning ecosystem services, primarily used for subsistence, become more important sources of income during years when crops fail. The method is useful in many data poor regions, and the patch-approach allows for extrapolation across larger spatial scales with similar social-ecological systems.
4 CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 2017. Healthy soils for productive and resilient agricultural landscapes. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 12p. (WLE Towards Sustainable Intensification: Insights and Solutions Brief 2) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2017.211]
Sustainability ; Intensification ; Agricultural production ; Agricultural landscape ; Land management ; Land degradation ; Soil fertility ; Soil organic matter ; Carbon sequestration ; Economic recovery ; Nutrients ; Recycling ; Vermicomposting ; Climate change ; Investment ; Incentives / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048213)
(669 KB)
Healthy soils are essential for productive and resilient agricultural systems. They are also increasingly recognized as a means to mitigate climate change risks. While solutions for restoring degraded soils and landscapes do exist, improved knowledge and tools are needed to enhance their impacts over time and at scale. WLE has assessed the impacts of various land restoration initiatives and developed a range of tools to better tailor and target investments and interventions to local contexts.
5 Campanhola, C.; Pandey, S. (Eds.) 2019. Sustainable food and agriculture: an integrated approach. London, UK: Academic Press; Rome, Italy: FAO: 585p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-01212-3]
Sustainable agriculture ; Food security ; Food production ; Agricultural production ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Agroecosystems ; Food supply ; Agroecology ; Agroforestry ; Intercropping ; Agricultural landscape ; Agrifood systems ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Conservation agriculture ; Climate change ; Forecasting ; Soil management ; Nitrogen ; Land use ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem services ; Sustainable forest management ; Urbanization ; Nutrition ; Economic growth ; Investments ; Innovation ; Water use ; Water scarcity ; Technology ; Plant genetic resources ; System of Rice Intensification ; Carbon sequestration ; Greenhouse gas emissions ; Natural resources ; Risk management ; Water governance ; Institutions ; Policies ; Pest management ; Livestock ; Aquaculture ; Stakeholders ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Living standards ; Rural poverty ; Social capital ; Socioeconomic environment / Africa South of Sahara / Asia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 338.19 G000 CAM, e-copy SF Record No: H049449)
(0.30 MB)
6 Dile, Y. T.; Ayana, E. K.; Worqlul, A. W.; Xie, H.; Srinivasan, R.; Lefore, N.; You, L.; Clarke, N. 2020. Evaluating satellite-based evapotranspiration estimates for hydrological applications in data-scarce regions: a case in Ethiopia. Science of the Total Environment, 743:140702. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140702]
Evapotranspiration ; Hydrology ; Agricultural landscape ; Satellite observation ; Remote sensing ; Water management ; Sustainability ; River basins ; Stream flow ; Land management ; Land use ; Soil moisture ; Grasslands ; Models ; Uncertainty ; Forests / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049976)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720342248/pdfft?md5=33436fc788bb7601053c74729cab3e05&pid=1-s2.0-S0048969720342248-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049976.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049976.pdf
(11.60 MB) (11.6 MB)
Water resource development opens up opportunities for improving smallholder farmer livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa; however, implementation of water resource interventions to ensure sustainability hinges on the availability of sufficient quantity and quality data for monitoring, analysis and planning. Such data is often acquired through instrumentation of water resources (e.g. stream flow monitoring) or the use of hydrological models. In sub-Saharan Africa, data scarcity has limited the ability to monitor and make appropriate decisions for water resource allocation and use. Data derived from remote sensing has been considered a viable option to fill this gap; however, there is limited research in the region that evaluate the quality of the remotely sensed based datasets. This study evaluated actual evapotranspiration (AET) estimates derived from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR AET) images and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MOD16 AET) images using estimates from a grid-based Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The SWAT model was set up for the entire country of Ethiopia, and calibrated and validated using observed streamflow at several meso-scale watersheds in which satisfactory model performance was obtained. AET estimates from the calibrated and validated SWAT model were then used to evaluate remotely sensed based AET for three landscapes. The AVHRR AET better agreed with the SWAT-simulated AET than the MOD16 AET, although the AVHRR AET overestimated the SWAT-simulated AET in all of the landscapes. Both remotely sensed AET products showed better agreement with the SWAT-simulated AET over agriculture dominated landscapes compared to grassland and forest dominated landscapes. The findings of the study suggest that remotely sensed based AET may help to fine-tune hydrological models in agricultural landscapes in data-scarce regions to improve studies on the impacts of water management interventions aiming to ensure environmental sustainability while enhancing agricultural production, and household income and nutrition.
7 Haileslassie, Amare; Mekuria, Wolde; Schmitter, Petra; Uhlenbrook, Stefan; Ludi, Eva. 2020. Changing agricultural landscapes in Ethiopia: examining application of adaptive management approach. Sustainability, 12(21):8939. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218939]
Agricultural landscape ; Land management ; Water management ; Ecosystem services ; Land use ; Land cover ; Land degradation ; Land restoration ; Exclosures ; Farmland ; Soil conservation ; Water conservation ; Water harvesting ; Carbon sequestration ; Biodiversity ; Livelihoods ; Decision making ; Indicators ; Foreign investment ; Socioeconomic aspects / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050044)
(0.64 MB) (657 KB)
Ethiopia has decades of experience in implementing land and water management interventions. The overarching objectives of this review were to synthesize evidences on the impact of implementation of land and water management practices on agricultural landscapes in Ethiopia and to evaluate the use of adaptive management (AM) approaches as a tool to manage uncertainties. We explored how elements of the structures and functions of landscapes have been transformed, and how the components of AM, such as structured decision-making and learning processes, have been applied. Despite numerous environmental and economic benefits of land and water management interventions in Ethiopia, this review revealed gaps in AM approaches. These include: (i) inadequate evidence-based contextualization of interventions, (ii) lack of monitoring of bio-physical and socioeconomic processes and changes post implementation, (iii) lack of trade-off analyses, and (iv) inadequacy of local community engagement and provision of feedback. Given the many uncertainties we must deal with, future investment in AM approaches tailored to the needs and context would help to achieve the goals of sustainable agricultural landscape transformation. The success depends, among other things, on the ability to learn from the knowledge generated and apply the learning as implementation evolves.
8 Garg, K. K.; Singh, R.; Anantha, K. H.; Singh, A. K.; Akuraju, V. R.; Barron, J.; Dev, I.; Tewari, R. K.; Wani, S. P.; Dhyani, S. K.; Dixit, S. 2020. Building climate resilience in degraded agricultural landscapes through water management: a case study of Bundelkhand Region, Central India. Journal of Hydrology, 591:125592. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125592]
Climate change ; Resilience ; Agricultural landscape ; Water management ; Water scarcity ; Groundwater recharge ; Living standards ; Rainwater harvesting ; Water balance ; Water availability ; Watersheds ; Rainfed agriculture ; Agricultural productivity ; Intensification ; Crop yield ; Monitoring ; Household income ; Semiarid zones ; Case studies / India / Uttar Pradesh / Bundelkhand / Jhansi / Parasai-Sindh Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050132)
(6.72 MB)
Rainfall variability and water scarcity continue to hamper the food and income security of smallholder farming systems in poverty-affected regions. Innovations in soil and water management, especially in the drylands, are critical for meeting food security and water productivity targets of Agenda 2030. This study analyzes how rainfed agriculture can be intensified with marginal impact on the landscape water balance. The impact of rainwater harvesting structures on landscape hydrology and associated agricultural services was analyzed in the semi-arid Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region in central India. The Parasai-Sindh pilot watershed was subjected to a 5-year (2012–2016) monitoring of rainfed system improvements in water availability and crop intensification due to surface water storage (haveli system), check dams, and field infiltration structures. Hydrological processes were monitored intensively to analyze the landscape’s water balance components. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures altered the landscape’s hydrology, limiting average surface runoff from 250 mm/year to 150 mm/year over the study period. Groundwater levels increased by 2–5 m (m), alleviating water scarcity issues of the communities in recurring dry years. Nearly 20% of fallow lands were brought under cultivation. Crop yields increased by 10–70% and average household income increased from US$ 960/year to US$ 2700/year compared to that in the non-intervention landscape. The combined soil–water–vegetation efforts strengthened water resilience and environmental systems in agricultural landscape.
9 DeClerck, F. A. J.; Koziell, I.; Sidhu, A.; Wirths, J.; Benton, T.; Garibaldi, L. A.; Kremen, C.; Maron, M.; Rumbaitis del Rio, C.; Clark, M.; Dickens, Chris; Estrada-Carmona, N.; Fremier, A. K.; Jones, S. K.; Khoury, C. K.; Lal, R.; Obersteiner, M.; Remans, R.; Rusch, A.; Schulte, L. A.; Simmonds, J.; Stringer, L. C.; Weber, C.; Winowiecki, L. 2021. Biodiversity and agriculture: rapid evidence review. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 70p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.215]
Agrobiodiversity ; Food systems ; Agricultural productivity ; Healthy diets ; Nutrition ; Livelihoods ; Food security ; Food production ; Diversification ; Agroecology ; Ecosystem services ; Habitats ; Environmental security ; Water quality ; Water security ; Climate change mitigation ; Resilience ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Policies ; Investment ; Agricultural landscape ; Soil fertility ; Pollination ; Pest control ; Genetic diversity (as resource) ; Developing countries
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050605)
(7.29 MB)
10 Queiroz, C.; Norstrom, A. V.; Downing, A.; Harmackova, Z. V.; De Coning, C.; Adams, V.; Bakarr, M.; Baedeker, T.; Chitate, A.; Gaffney, O.; Gordon, L.; Hainzelin, E.; Howlett, D.; Krampe, F.; Loboguerrero, A. M.; Nel, D.; Okollet, C.; Rebermark, M.; Rockstrom, J.; Smith, Mark; Wabbes-Candotti, S.; Matthews, N. 2021. Investment in resilient food systems in the most vulnerable and fragile regions is critical. Nature Food, 2(8):546-551. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00345-2]
Food systems ; Resilience ; Investment ; Food insecurity ; Vulnerability ; Food security ; Agricultural landscape ; Sustainable intensification ; Transformation ; Supply chains ; Policies ; Regulations ; Smallholders
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050607)
(1.97 MB) (1.97 MB)
Reversing the alarming trend of rising food insecurity requires transformations towards just, sustainable and healthy food systems with an explicit focus on the most vulnerable and fragile regions.
11 ter Borg, R. N.; Barron, J. 2021. Development of constructed wetlands in agricultural landscapes using remote sensing techniques. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil and Plant Science, 17p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2021.1993993]
Constructed wetlands ; Agricultural landscape ; Remote sensing ; Techniques ; Hygroscopicity ; Reservoirs ; Land use ; Satellite imagery ; Landsat / Sweden / Gotland Lan / Kalmar Lan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050743)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09064710.2021.1993993?needAccess=true
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050743.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050743.pdf
(5.43 MB) (5.43 MB)
In Sweden, drainage and the construction of water infrastructure have influenced agriculture in the last few centuries both positively and negatively. Recently, a trend has set in where wetlands are constructed to retain water, retain and reduce nutrients and to enhance the biodiversity. This study aimed to use remote sensing techniques to study landscape water retention over time. In this pilot study, water retention structures in Gotland (57°28'35.0''N18°29' 13.9''E) and Kalmar Län (56°39'41''N16°21'46''E) for 2000/2001 and 2020 were identified and analyzed using Landsat data. In this study, it was found that the number of water retention structures (>0.8 ha) increased from 44 to 101 for Gotland Län and from 44 to 127 for Kalmar Län. Most water retention structures were <4 ha and were located in mid- and downstream areas. A comparison of the remote sensed results with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) database showed a disagreement of the spatial coordinates of the wetlands in the database with the water retention structures. This pilot study has shown that remote sensed data can be used to identify water retention structures, although higher resolution imagery would be highly advisable in these kinds of studies.
12 Fabricius, C.; Novellie, P.; Ringler, C.; Uhlenbrook, Stefan; Wright, D. 2021. Resilience in agro-ecological landscapes: process principles and outcome indicators. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 36p. (WLE Legacy Series 4) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.206]
Agroecology ; Agricultural landscape ; Ecosystem resilience ; Indicators ; CGIAR ; Research programmes ; Impact assessment ; Monitoring ; Case studies ; Meta-analysis ; Sustainability ; Production systems ; Agrifood systems ; Soil management ; Agroecosystems ; Ecosystem services ; Biodiversity ; Land access ; Land rights ; Farm income ; Gender equity ; Social inclusion ; Livelihoods ; Governance ; Institutions ; Stakeholders
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050974)
(1.16 MB)
This paper explores outcome indicators and process principles to evaluate landscape resilience in agro-ecosystems, drawing on outcome indicator case studies of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). Four questions are addressed: (1) which outcome indicators and process principles feature most prominently in the seminal literature on resilient agro-ecological landscapes? (2) to what extent are these principles represented in CGIAR Outcome Impact Case Reports (OICRs) and selected peer-reviewed studies? (3) how does the use of process principles in the case studies compare to their occurrence in the theoretical literature? and (4) which process principles co-occur with related outcome indicators in the OICRs? The findings enable researchers and practitioners to be more specific about the outcomes and processes that drive resilience in agro-ecosystems, thereby informing adaptive program management. Seven novel research themes are proposed.
13 Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Hlahla, S.; Chimonyo, V. G. P.; Henriksson, R.; Chibarabada, T. P.; Murugani, V. G.; Groner, V. P.; Tadele, Z.; Sobratee, N.; Slotow, R.; Modi, A. T.; Baudron, F.; Chivenge, P. 2022. Diversity and diversification: ecosystem services derived from underutilized crops and their co-benefits for sustainable agricultural landscapes and resilient food systems in Africa. Frontiers in Agronomy, 4:859223. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.859223]
Biodiversity ; Ecosystem services ; Underutilized species ; Crops ; Diversification ; Sustainable agriculture ; Food security ; Nutrition security ; Poverty alleviation ; Sustainable livelihoods ; Agricultural landscape ; Food systems ; Resilience ; Gender equality ; Role of women ; Income ; Socioeconomic development ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Climate change ; Ecological factors ; Habitats ; Cultural services ; Policies ; Systematic reviews / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051093)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fagro.2022.859223/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051093.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051093.pdf
(2.48 MB) (2.48 MB)
There are growing calls to adopt more sustainable forms of agriculture that balance the need to increase production with environmental, human health, and wellbeing concerns. Part of this conversation has included a debate on promoting and mainstreaming neglected and underutilized crop species (NUS) because they represent a more ecologically friendly type of agriculture. We conducted a systematic review to determine the ecosystem services derived from NUS and assess their potential to promote functional ecological diversity, food and nutritional security, and transition to more equitable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient agricultural landscapes and food systems in Africa. Our literature search yielded 35 articles for further analysis. The review showed that NUS provide various provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting ecosystem services and several environmental and health co-benefits, dietary diversity, income, sustainable livelihood outcomes, and economic empowerment, especially for women. Importantly, NUS address the three pillars of sustainable development- ecological, social, and economic. Thus, NUS may provide a sustainable, fit-for-purpose transformative ecosystem-based adaptation solution for Africa to transition to more sustainable, healthy, equitable, and resilient agricultural landscapes and food systems.
14 Akpoti, Komlavi; Groen, T.; Dossou-Yovo, E.; Kabo-bah, A. T.; Zwart, Sander J. 2022. Climate change-induced reduction in agricultural land suitability of West-Africa’s inland valley landscapes. Agricultural Systems, 200:103429. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103429]
Farmland ; Land suitability ; Climate change ; Valleys ; Agricultural landscape ; Rainfed farming ; Rice ; Agroecosystems ; Self-sufficiency ; Temperature ; Precipitation ; Forecasting ; Ecological niche modelling ; Machine learning ; Uncertainty / West Africa / Togo / Benin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051146)
(7.41 MB)
CONTEXT: Although rice production has increased significantly in the last decade in West Africa, the region is far from being rice self-sufficient. Inland valleys (IVs) with their relatively higher water content and soil fertility compared to the surrounding uplands are the main rice-growing agroecosystem. They are being promoted by governments and development agencies as future food baskets of the region. However, West Africa’s crop production is estimated to be negatively affected by climate change due to the strong dependence of its agriculture on rainfall.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study is to apply a set of machine learning models to quantify the extent of climate change impact on land suitability for rice using the presence of rice-only data in IVs along with bioclimatic indicators.
METHODS: We used a spatially explicit modeling approach based on correlative Ecological Niche Modeling. We deployed 4 algorithms (Boosted Regression Trees, Generalized Linear Model, Maximum Entropy, and Random Forest) for 4-time periods (the 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2080s) of the 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8) from an ensemble set of 32 spatially downscaled and bias-corrected Global Circulation Models climate data.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall trend showed a decrease in suitable areas compared to the baseline as a function of changes in temperature and precipitation by the order of 22–33% area loss under the lowest reduction scenarios and more than 50% in extreme cases. Isothermality or how large the day to night temperatures oscillate relative to the annual oscillations has a large impact on area losses while precipitation increase accounts for most of the areas with no change in suitability. Strong adaptation measures along with technological advancement and adoption will be needed to cope with the adverse effects of climate change on inland valley rice areas in the sub-region. SIGNIFICANCE: The demand for rice in West Africa is huge. For the rice self-sufficiency agenda of the region, “where” and “how much” land resources are available is key and requires long-term, informed planning. Farmers can only adapt when they switch to improved breeds, providing that they are suited for the new conditions. Our results stress the need for land use planning that considers potential climate change impacts to define the best areas and growing systems to produce rice under multiple future climate change uncertainties.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study is to apply a set of machine learning models to quantify the extent of climate change impact on land suitability for rice using the presence of rice-only data in IVs along with bioclimatic indicators.
METHODS: We used a spatially explicit modeling approach based on correlative Ecological Niche Modeling. We deployed 4 algorithms (Boosted Regression Trees, Generalized Linear Model, Maximum Entropy, and Random Forest) for 4-time periods (the 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2080s) of the 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8) from an ensemble set of 32 spatially downscaled and bias-corrected Global Circulation Models climate data.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall trend showed a decrease in suitable areas compared to the baseline as a function of changes in temperature and precipitation by the order of 22–33% area loss under the lowest reduction scenarios and more than 50% in extreme cases. Isothermality or how large the day to night temperatures oscillate relative to the annual oscillations has a large impact on area losses while precipitation increase accounts for most of the areas with no change in suitability. Strong adaptation measures along with technological advancement and adoption will be needed to cope with the adverse effects of climate change on inland valley rice areas in the sub-region. SIGNIFICANCE: The demand for rice in West Africa is huge. For the rice self-sufficiency agenda of the region, “where” and “how much” land resources are available is key and requires long-term, informed planning. Farmers can only adapt when they switch to improved breeds, providing that they are suited for the new conditions. Our results stress the need for land use planning that considers potential climate change impacts to define the best areas and growing systems to produce rice under multiple future climate change uncertainties.
15 Wang, W.; Straffelini, E.; Pijl, A.; Tarolli, P. 2022. Sustainable water resource management in steep-slope agriculture. Geography and Sustainability, 3(3):214-219. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2022.07.001]
Water resources ; Water management ; Sustainable agriculture ; Agricultural landscape ; Climate change ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Water harvesting ; Water conservation ; Water storage ; Ecosystem services ; Geographical information systems ; Soil erosion / Italy
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051392)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666683922000505/pdfft?md5=659a8d33c8cd6c48c1f86a6d7bd39872&pid=1-s2.0-S2666683922000505-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051392.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051392.pdf
(3.29 MB) (3.29 MB)
Steep-slope agricultural landscapes are under threat due to climate change. On the one hand, the growing frequency of extreme high-intensity rainfall events concentrated in both temporal and spatial scales are causing flash floods or slope failure risk scenarios. On the other hand, future climate projections indicate a significant expansion of arid zones in the steep slope agricultural system. There is evidence that these landscapes face a high risk of growing water scarcity. Considering their unique role in crop production, ecosystem diversity, and crop production, ecosystem diversity, and cultural heritage, understanding sustainable water resource management for mitigating climate change-induced drought has never been more urgent than today. In these landscapes, unique indigenous knowledge of water conservation is adopted to manage water resources improving their resilience optimally. It is, therefore, necessary to promote water storage to mitigate floods or increase the resilience to prolonged drought (creating at the same time favourable conditions for biodiversity). Modern technological advances (e.g., high-resolution remote sensing and GIS-based modelling) are crucial in supporting these activities and understanding earth’s surface processes.
16 Adusei-Gyamfi, J.; Gyebi, A. S. A.; Amponsah, Andoh Kwaku; Atampugre, Gerald; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Cofie, Olufunke. 2023. Evaluating hydrological dynamics and water quality in agricultural landscapes in Ghana’s Forest Transition Belt: a citizen science approach. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on West and Central African Food Systems Transformation. 38p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052662)
(1.12 MB)
Food system transformation is intrinsically tied to effective land and water resource management, especially in the regions facing competition among various land uses. The AhafoAno Southwest District in Ghana exemplifies this complexity, with agriculture, mining, and agroforestry practices competing against one another for arable land, impacting the local food system and contributing to water resource degradation. This study investigates the quantity and quality of water in the Mankran watershed, employing a participatory approach through citizen science to address the increasing challenges within the Ahafo-Ano Southwest district. To conduct this investigation, a team of seven citizen scientists, including four women, was carefully selected from the local community, and equipped with the training to monitor water resources effectively. The Mankran watershed, within the Ahafo-Ano District, was chosen for its strategic representation of different land-uses that affect water resources. The study focused on three distinct riparian communities: Mmrobem, representing the upstream with agroforestry as the predominant land use; Barniekrom, representing the midstream with agricultural activities prevailing; and Kunsu, representing the downstream with mining activities as the predominant land use. Installation of staff gauges at midstream and downstream locations facilitated streamflow measurements, while manual rain gauges were deployed in each community for comprehensive rainfall measurements. Additionally, groundwater monitoring involved the selection of two wells in Mmrobem, three in Barniekrom, and two in Kunsu. Basic hydrological variables such as daily rainfall, streamflow rate, and groundwater level, along with water quality parameters (pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, and heavy metals), were diligently measured by the citizen scientists from June to October 2023. Monthly water samples were sent to a laboratory for further technical analysis, including the determination of heavy metals. The data revealed rainfall variations impacting six-month streamflow, notably in midstream and downstream areas. Downstream, influenced by mining, experienced twice as more streamflow rate, indicating potential mining runoff. Water quality assessments showed pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and phosphate variations, influenced by community land use. Nitrate concentrations peaked in the rivers in June, while wells in agricultural lands showed consistently high concentrations, likely due to leaching. Phosphate concentrations increased as the rainy period progressed in streams mirroring well concentrations, signifying subsurface flow dominance. Mercury concentrations were low in surface water but four times higher in groundwater. Despite the challenges posed by mining activities, the citizen scientists demonstrated their capacity to provide reliable semi-technical measurements comparable to standard laboratory analyses. This not only confirmed the efficacy of citizen science in environmental monitoring but also empowered these individuals to become environmental stewards within their communities. The study further emphasized the dominance of subsurface flow in the landscape, with implications for potential transport mechanisms for water quality in the landscape. The water quality index indicated poor conditions across all study sites, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive integrated landscape management plan. This plan must consider the role of subsurface flow to safeguard environmental resources, enhance water quality, and protect human health. The commitment of all stakeholders is also paramount to successfully implementing such a plan and ensuring the sustainable development of the Ahafo-Ano Southwest district.
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