For the success of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, it will no longer be sufficient to seek to limit biodiversity loss through agriculture. Instead, agriculture must become an integral element of sustainable landscapes a force for conserving biodiversity and providing vital ecosystem services to local populations and securing livelihoods.
Trees on Farms (TonF) play a critical role in contributing to biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes through in-situ conservation, by connecting fragmented wild habitats and providing stepping-stones between protected area networks and conserving soil biodiversity and agrobiodiversity. TonF are one of the key nature-based solutions to the conservation and food production challenges we face as they also play a critical role in achieving sustainable, biodiversity friendly agricultural landscapes.
Tag: biodiversity
A tropical case study of tree diversity and productivity relationships in mixed species plantations in protected areas
Degradation of tropical forest is considered as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation. Such losses are mainly due to agricultural expansion and overharvesting of economically important trees. To enhance scientific understanding, this paper investigates the relationship between tree diversity and productivity in 58 mixed species plantations in protected tropical areas as a case study. We measured overall diversity using species richness and productivity using stand basal area and mean annual increment of stand basal area. Our research shows a negative relationship between tree diversity and productivity. These findings suggest that mixed species plantations should not be implemented if the main purpose is to consider the productivity of forest stands.
Does shade tree diversity increase soil fertility in cocoa plantations?
Complex agroforests have been promoted as a potential solutions to address trade-offs between environmental conservation efforts and the need for increased agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers in the tropics. However, the effects of tree diversification on soil fertility in tropical agroforests remain unclear. In this study, we examine whether tree diversification in cocoa plantations is associated with soil fertility benefits and can contribute to soil restoration after deforestation. We tested for positive associations between increasing tree species diversity and increased soil aggregation, soil nutrients and microbial communities across a diversity gradient ranging from cocoa monocultures to complex cocoa agroforests. Secondary forests and primary forests were used as reference ecosystems. Increase in tree diversity within cocoa plantations did not increase soil fertility parameters in topsoil layers or cocoa yields. Mean soil C contents were 8% lower, mean weight diameter of aggregates 48% lower and total bacterial biomass 35% lower in cocoa plantations than in primary and secondary forest systems, whereas soil P content was 22% higher. Across all land-use systems, microbial biomass was greater in sites with higher soil carbon contents and soil aggregation. This suggests soil function restoration in terms of microbial communities, soil C and aggregate stabilization in secondary forests. However, in cocoa plantations tree diversification alone may not be an effective solution to mitigate soil degradation after deforestation. Rather, preserving remaining forests or promoting farming approaches that allow for secondary forest regeneration (e.g. implementing forest strips and regular fallow rotations) might have a more substantial impact on soil health.
Danau Sentarum’s wildlife: part 1 : biodiversity value and global importance of Danau Sentarum’s wildlife
Recent survey efforts carried out in the Danau Sentarum National Park suggest that the site comprises faunal biodiversity of a bioregional and global importance. Site faunal inventory has yielded 240 confirmed fish species, or 71 per cent of Boreno’s freshwater fish fauna; not including nineteen potentially new and endemic species awaiting confirmation. This suggest that the site is the most diverse in Indonesia with respect to fish and is also one of the world’s most biodiverse lake systems. There are regionally significant listings of 237 confirmed bird species, and a tentative listing of 143 mammal species and all this provides ample justification for the initiation of immediate habitat and faunal community conservation effort on the site. However, there is not yet enough ecological detail to initiate firmer ‘species-focused’ conservation programmes. This data gap and the need for further ecological and taxonomic research is reaching crisis point as the risk of site and regional species extinction mounts in the face of accelerating habitat destruction and uncontrolled harvest and trade impacts. The introduction to the problem is followed by four detailed appendices of the fish species, the reptiles, the birds, and the mammals to be found on site.
Recovery of aboveground biomass, soil carbon stocks and species diversity in tropical montane secondary forests of East Africa
Tropical montane forests are fragile ecosystems that provide a wide range of ecosystem services including hydrological services, biodiversity protection and storing carbon in the above and belowground and soils contributing to climate change mitigation. The world’s tropical montane forests are increasingly exposed to degradation and their recovery after disturbance has not been adequately quantified. Here, using information from 47 plots in three blocks of the Mau Forest Complex of Kenya, we assessed the changes in aboveground biomass (AGB), tree species diversity, soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following forest clearance. AGB recovered at an annual rate of 6.42 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in the first 20 years, the rate then slowed down to 4.46–4.67 Mg ha−1 yr−1 at around 25–30 years. Around 25 years after disturbance, AGB in recovering forests was 70 % (198.32 ± 78.11 Mg ha−1) of the AGB in the old secondary forest (OSF) (282.86 ± 71.64 Mg ha−1) and was statistically indistinguishable. Stem density, species diversity and richness indices did not show significant differences across recovery classes. There was no significant difference in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks across classes with the soil carbon (184.1 ± 41 Mg ha−1) of the young secondary forest (<10 years) being 84.5 % of that of the OSF (217.9 ± 51.8 Mg ha−1). This study reports a rapid rate of AGB and carbon accumulation within 20 years of disturbance, and high levels of species richness in these previously disturbed fragments of tropical montane forests of East Africa.
Restoration plan for Divo Botanic Reserve
The development of this restoration plan is the first step in the process to achieving the recovery of the Divo Botanic Reserve. To maintain momentum, the most important next step is to form a management committee for the reserve as none of the above can be achieved by any single organisation working in isolation. The management committee will need representation from all key local and national stakeholders. Once it is accepted to make decisions on behalf of the reserve, the task of the management committee will then be to work in partnerships to synergise the conservation actions and maximise impact. To ensure adaptive management going forwards, it will be important that data be collected on the conservation actions, and it is also recommended that the management committee meets regularly to evaluate progress and assign responsibilities with timely deadlines.
Trees in agricultural landscapes enhance provision of ecosystem services in Sub-Saharan Africa
The recent interest in multi-functional agricultural landscapes has not been matched with formal assessment of the roles that trees play across the spectrum of ecosystem services (ESs) provided in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A structured literature review (1995–2014) assessed 350 journal articles about provision of one or more ESs by trees on farms and in agricultural landscapes in SSA. This revealed information on 15 ESs from studies in 23 countries covering arid (1% of studies), semi-arid (49%), sub-humid (26%) and humid (24%) agro-ecological zones. The majority of the studies reported provisioning (39%) and supporting (35%) followed by regulating (26%) ESs while studies on cultural services were scarce. Beneficial impacts of trees were dominating (58%), in particular in semi-arid zones where they were associated with enhancing water and nutrient cycling. A decline in some ESs was reported in 15% of the studies, while 28% found no effect of trees. Although the effects of trees were mainly positive, a decline in crop production was noted as a key trade-off against the provisions of ESs, such as modification of microclimate. This highlights the need to manage trade-offs among impacts of trees on ES provision to reduce competition and increase complementarity between trees and crops. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Learning pathway: Course flows & blueprint
This course is a pivotal contribution to FAO’s vision of fostering a Better Environment, particularly focusing on Biodiversity for food and agriculture. Aligned with FAO’s strategic initiatives, the course is fortified by the approval of the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors and the 2021-23 Action Plan, emphasizing the importance of targeted policies and practices for sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems.
Learning pathway: Course flows & blueprint
This course is a pivotal contribution to FAO’s vision of fostering a Better Environment, particularly focusing on Biodiversity for food and agriculture. Aligned with FAO’s strategic initiatives, the course is fortified by the approval of the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors and the 2021-23 Action Plan, emphasizing the importance of targeted policies and practices for sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems.
Learning pathway: Course flows & blueprint
This course is a pivotal contribution to FAO’s vision of fostering a Better Environment, particularly focusing on Biodiversity for food and agriculture. Aligned with FAO’s strategic initiatives, the course is fortified by the approval of the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors and the 2021-23 Action Plan, emphasizing the importance of targeted policies and practices for sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems.