Effects of land abandonment on nature contributions to people and good quality of life components in the Mediterranean region: A review

Land Use Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 116, P. 106053 - 106053

Published: Feb. 26, 2022

Land abandonment is a process widespread in many regions of the world as consequence socio-economic conditions and changes on use land. Research has shown that land can have both positive negative effects, depending local context, location scale. framed either an opportunity for rewilding these landscapes or loss cultural values. Here, we present literature review effects social ecological dimensions Mediterranean region, area where common phenomenon. The results show widely studied throughout Northern Mediterranean, particular Spain, Italy France, while no studies been performed Southern part, such Morocco Tunisia. Most outcomes identified were negative, followed by mixed (being partly negative). Abandonment focused more often nature's contributions to people (such biodiversity habitat species), dimension through consideration good quality life components are scarce. highlight high diversity derived from abandonment. We call research focusing how comprehensive impact promote key future. Further should pay greater attention North African Middle East countries multiple pathways currently emerging, well capture full complexity this change.

Language: Английский

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Overpopulation is a major cause of biodiversity loss and smaller human populations are necessary to preserve what is left

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 272, P. 109646 - 109646

Published: June 30, 2022

Language: Английский

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Fire-smart solutions for sustainable wildfire risk prevention: Bottom-up initiatives meet top-down policies under EU green deal

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92, P. 103715 - 103715

Published: April 28, 2023

Fuel management for wildfire risk prevention generally lacks economic sustainability. In marginal areas of southern Europe, this limits fuel treatment programs from reaching the critical mass required treated area to modify landscape flammability, fire regime and its impacts. This study investigates key initiatives in EU countries. We compared local approaches through a bottom-up selection 38 initiatives, which we analyzed systematically set fire-smart criteria: sustainability, cost-benefit ratio, synergies inter-sectoral cooperation, integration between strategic planning multiple land governance goals (e.g., rural development, biodiversity conservation, energy supply), innovation knowledge transfer, adaptive management. summarized lessons learned most innovative by identifying solutions functional building sustainable at scale, under principles. These make synergistic use private, public European resources activate value chains that valorize products, by-products services generated activities their positive externalities on ecosystem services. The mechanisms include fire-marketing, Payment Ecosystem Services schemes, specific taxes, or environmental compensatory measures. catalyze interest stakeholders (economic actors, private owners, agencies) improving cost-efficiency contend Green Deal offers political backing framework (mainstreaming strategies funding opportunities) enable replication documented models prevention.

Language: Английский

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Making rewilding fit for policy

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 55(3), P. 1114 - 1125

Published: Jan. 22, 2018

Abstract Rewilding, here defined as “the reorganisation of biota and ecosystem processes to set an identified social–ecological system on a preferred trajectory, leading the self‐sustaining provision services with minimal ongoing management,” is increasingly considered environmental management option, potential for enhancing both biodiversity services. Despite burgeoning interest in concept, there are uncertainties difficulties associated practical implementation rewilding projects, while evidence available facilitating sound decision‐making initiatives remains elusive. We identify five key research areas inform future initiatives: increased understanding links between actions impacts; improved risk assessment processes, through, example, better definition quantification ecological risks; predictions spatio‐temporal variation economic costs benefits; identification characterisation likely social impacts given project; facilitated emergence comprehensive framework monitoring evaluation projects. Policy implications . Environmental legislation commonly based “compositionalist” paradigm itself predicated preservation historical conditions characterised by presence particular species assemblages habitat types. However, global change driving some ecosystems beyond their limits so that restoration benchmarks or modern equivalents may no longer be option. This means current policy context could present barriers broad To progress agenda, appreciation opportunities constraints required. This, together clear scientifically robust rationale its local implementation, prerequisite engage governments revising where required facilitate operationalisation rewilding.

Language: Английский

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Multifunctionality at what scale? A landscape multifunctionality assessment for the European Union under conditions of land use change

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 32(3), P. 481 - 500

Published: Nov. 12, 2016

The provision of multiple ecosystem services (ES) within a landscape is commonly referred to as multifunctionality. Modifying landscapes increase multifunctionality and reduce trade-offs with concurrent bears the potential enhance sustainability in human-dominated landscapes. Assessing thus crucial for land management planning, but lack clear definition operationalization impedes comparisons different study results. We want address how elements design affect results assessments. Furthermore, we quantify future European Union (EU) indicate role use change diversity on analyzed diverging scenarios depicting EU between 2000 2040 their effects tested indicators at various spatial scales based modelling 12 ES biodiversity indicators. Particularly analysis scale determines interpretation Coldspots identified by are higher agreement than hotspots. could not confirm links While, scale, slightly increases scenarios, agricultural intensification (peri-)urban growth pose large threats multifunctional choice indicator strongly determine possible interpretations Rather focusing impacts multifunctionality, it recommended base policy location-specific supply demands.

Language: Английский

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Probiotic Environmentalities: Rewilding with Wolves and Worms

Theory Culture & Society, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 34(4), P. 27 - 48

Published: Feb. 23, 2017

A probiotic turn is underway in the management of human and environmental health. Modern approaches are being challenged by deliberate interventions that introduce formerly taboo life forms into bodies, homes, cities wider countryside. These guided concepts drawn from sciences, including immunity resilience. This analysis critically evaluates this turn, drawing on examples rewilding nature reserves reworming microbiome. It identifies a common ontology socio-ecological systems marked anthropogenic absences tipped across thresholds less desirable states. examines operation an mode biopower associated with efforts to engineer ecologies through introduction keystone species. offers set criteria for evaluating degree which these transform or sustain prevalent late modern biopolitics. The conclusion reflects potentials environmentalities hospitable government beyond Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Impact of secondary vegetation succession on soil quality in a humid Mediterranean landscape

CATENA, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 149, P. 836 - 843

Published: June 6, 2016

Language: Английский

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Reshaping agri-environmental subsidies: From marginal farming to large-scale rewilding

Basic and Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 95 - 103

Published: Dec. 24, 2014

Despite continued discussion about market distortions and environmental impacts, agricultural subsidies continue to be a key component of European Union policy. About 10% the agro-forestry are targeted at supporting agri-environment schemes, farming in Less Favoured Areas (LFA) such as mountain regions. One main justifications for these agri-environmental towards marginally productive land is that they promote conservation biodiversity by maintaining low-intensity practices. Here, we critically examine this assumption argue instead two-tier approach Europe's policy based on inherent fertility spatial scale: (i) local, single-farm scale, fertile should preferentially intensively but sustainably farmed with focus high yields, (ii) while simultaneously larger, regional scales, less-productive land, especially protected areas, may ecologically restored into 'wild' resiliently functioning ecosystems. As such, support implementation measures benefit allowing, even helping, achievement yields. In contrast, LFA marginal areas also rewilding management natural succession. order successful, higher proportion Common Agricultural Policy would need allocated goals. Trotz der anhaltenden Diskussion um Marktverzerrungen und Umwelteinflüsse bleiben Agrarsubventionen eine Schlüsselkomponente EU-Politik. Rund Agroforstsubventionen zielen auf die Finanzierung von Agrarumweltprogrammen Unterstützung Landwirtschaft benachteiligten Gebieten wie z.B. Gebirgsregionen. Ein Hauptargument für diese Agrarumweltförderungen Grenzertragsflächen ist, dass sie den Erhalt Biodiversität durch extensive Bewirtschaftung begünstigen. Wir untersuchen These kritisch treten stattdessen einen zweistufigen Ansatz Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik ein, welcher Bodenfruchtbarkeit räumlichen Maßstab einbezieht: Auf lokalen Ebene des einzelnen Betriebes sollten fruchtbare Ackerflächen vorzugsweise intensiv aber auch nachhaltig bewirtschaftet werden hohe Erträge abzielen, während gleichzeitig übergeordneten, regionalen weniger ertragreiches Land insbesondere geschützte Gebiete zu "wilden" widerstandsfähigen Ökosystemen renaturiert können. Demnach Agrarumweltsubventionen fruchtbaren Flächen Maßnahmen finanzieren, welche fördern ermöglichen. Im Gegensatz dazu Agrarumweltprogramme Subventionen benachteiligte bei Grenzertragsstandorten Schutzgebieten Wiederverwilderung das Management natürlicher Sukzession fördern. Damit dieser erfolgreich sein kann, müsste ein höherer Anteil aus dem Erreichen Umweltschutzzielen gewidmet werden.

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Understanding farmland abandonment in the Polish Carpathians

Applied Geography, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 88, P. 62 - 72

Published: Sept. 18, 2017

Language: Английский

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Mapping opportunities and challenges for rewilding in Europe

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 29(4), P. 1017 - 1027

Published: May 21, 2015

Abstract Farmland abandonment takes place across the world due to socio‐economic and ecological drivers. In Europe agricultural environmental policies aim prevent halt succession. Ecological rewilding has been recently proposed as an alternative strategy. We developed a framework assess opportunities for different dimensions of wilderness in Europe. mapped artificial light, human accessibility based on transport infrastructure, proportion harvested primary productivity (i.e., ecosystem appropriated by humans through agriculture or forestry), deviation from potential natural vegetation areas projected be abandoned 2040. At continental level, levels light were low was high abandonment. The relative importance metrics differed regionally strongly connected local contexts. Large often located around Natura 2000 sites. Based these results, we argue that management should tailored restore aspects are lacking each region. There many remaining challenges regarding biodiversity Europe, but megafauna species already recovering. To further potentiate large‐scale rewilding, would need incorporate approaches. Our can applied assessing other regions, our results could guide redirection subsidies manage social‐ecological systems.

Language: Английский

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