1. The document discusses restoration ecology, focusing on restoring degraded ecosystems, rangelands, and soil quality. It defines restoration ecology and explores techniques for restoration, including revegetation, improving soil fertility and biodiversity, and addressing climate change impacts.
2. Key aspects of restoration discussed include restoring ecological functions and processes, as well as the physical, chemical, biological, and ecological components of degraded soil. Vegetation plays an important role in restoring rangelands through erosion control and improving soil conditions.
3. The document also examines the evolutionary dimensions of restoration, noting that contemporary evolution may influence restoration outcomes and species interactions. Restoration efforts must consider past, present and future evolutionary processes.
It is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed or deteriorated (society for Ecological restoration definition).
..................the assignment of this was approved by mohamud abadir( specialist of ecological science and Biodiversity), who is lecturer in jigjiga university, east ethiopia.
Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. It involves improving ecosystem structure and functions to emulate the original, indigenous ecosystem. Approaches include rehabilitation, reclamation, re-creation, and enhancement. The ultimate goal is to enhance ecosystem functioning through increasing nutrient cycling, productivity, and trophic interactions. Successful restoration also requires addressing issues like degraded soil and hydrology. Many restoration efforts aim to restore critical habitats for endangered species or improve water quality in degraded rivers and lakes. Large-scale examples in India include programs to restore the Ganges and Yamuna rivers through reducing pollution and improving sanitation.
Application of ecological principles in restoration of degraded habitats MADHAB BEHERA
1. The document discusses key ecological concepts that can be applied to habitat restoration, including levels of biological organization, native species, keystone species, population viability, disturbances, ecological resilience, and connectivity.
2. It also discusses ecosystem management concepts that provide a framework for biodiversity conservation, such as island biogeography theory, niche theory, population theory, community ecology, food web theory, modeling and simulations, and paleoecology.
3. These concepts can be used to guide restoration activities like reintroducing native species, establishing minimum viable populations, reducing fragmentation, and restoring ecosystem functions.
This document provides an overview of restoration ecology and ecological restoration. It discusses key concepts like ecosystem structure and function, disturbance and succession, resistance and resilience, fragmentation and reference ecosystems. It also describes the need for restoration ecology due to increasing threatened species. As a case study, it outlines mangrove restoration efforts in Andhra Pradesh, India from 1997-2004 that were aimed at regenerating degraded mangrove forests through activities like digging canals to reduce salinity and planting mangrove saplings. Measurement of the project's success included regrowth of indigenous species and self-sustainability of the restored ecosystems.
Soil Health definition and relationship to soil biology
Characteristics of healthy soil
Assessment of soil health
Framework for evaluating soil health
Indicators
Types of indicators
Biological indicators
Role of biological indicators
Soil health refers to a soil's ability to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain water and air quality, and support human habitation. A healthy soil is in a state of well-being biologically, chemically, and physically, and is able to perform functions like nutrient cycling without degradation over time. Soil health is context-dependent and can be defined differently based on user priorities and the soil's inherent qualities and geographic situation. Generic aspects of a healthy soil include supporting a diversity of productive uses and life, absorbing and recycling nutrients at a high rate relative to climate limits, and having low levels of contamination and erosion.
Wetland restoration, enhancement and creationPari Doll
This document discusses wetland restoration, enhancement, and creation. It defines key terminology like restoration, enhancement, and creation. It outlines 9 design principles for wetland restoration projects, including making systems self-sustaining, using a systems approach, and restoring structure and function. Considerations for restoration and enhancement projects are described, such as site selection, understanding degradation, and stakeholder input. Both active and passive approaches to wetland restoration are covered, as well as the use of treatment wetlands to improve water quality.
The document discusses soil degradation, quality, and health. It defines soil degradation as changes that diminish a soil's ability to provide goods and services. Several types of degradation are described, including water erosion, chemical degradation like acidification, and physical degradation like compaction. Causes include deforestation, overgrazing, and inappropriate irrigation. Key processes are discussed, such as the degradation of physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. Soil quality and health are defined as a soil's ability to perform functions like supporting plant growth and nutrient cycling. Important indicators for assessing soil quality and health are identified, including physical, chemical, and biological properties. Characteristics of healthy soils include good structure, sufficient nutrients, low pollution, and
It is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed or deteriorated (society for Ecological restoration definition).
..................the assignment of this was approved by mohamud abadir( specialist of ecological science and Biodiversity), who is lecturer in jigjiga university, east ethiopia.
Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. It involves improving ecosystem structure and functions to emulate the original, indigenous ecosystem. Approaches include rehabilitation, reclamation, re-creation, and enhancement. The ultimate goal is to enhance ecosystem functioning through increasing nutrient cycling, productivity, and trophic interactions. Successful restoration also requires addressing issues like degraded soil and hydrology. Many restoration efforts aim to restore critical habitats for endangered species or improve water quality in degraded rivers and lakes. Large-scale examples in India include programs to restore the Ganges and Yamuna rivers through reducing pollution and improving sanitation.
Application of ecological principles in restoration of degraded habitats MADHAB BEHERA
1. The document discusses key ecological concepts that can be applied to habitat restoration, including levels of biological organization, native species, keystone species, population viability, disturbances, ecological resilience, and connectivity.
2. It also discusses ecosystem management concepts that provide a framework for biodiversity conservation, such as island biogeography theory, niche theory, population theory, community ecology, food web theory, modeling and simulations, and paleoecology.
3. These concepts can be used to guide restoration activities like reintroducing native species, establishing minimum viable populations, reducing fragmentation, and restoring ecosystem functions.
This document provides an overview of restoration ecology and ecological restoration. It discusses key concepts like ecosystem structure and function, disturbance and succession, resistance and resilience, fragmentation and reference ecosystems. It also describes the need for restoration ecology due to increasing threatened species. As a case study, it outlines mangrove restoration efforts in Andhra Pradesh, India from 1997-2004 that were aimed at regenerating degraded mangrove forests through activities like digging canals to reduce salinity and planting mangrove saplings. Measurement of the project's success included regrowth of indigenous species and self-sustainability of the restored ecosystems.
Soil Health definition and relationship to soil biology
Characteristics of healthy soil
Assessment of soil health
Framework for evaluating soil health
Indicators
Types of indicators
Biological indicators
Role of biological indicators
Soil health refers to a soil's ability to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain water and air quality, and support human habitation. A healthy soil is in a state of well-being biologically, chemically, and physically, and is able to perform functions like nutrient cycling without degradation over time. Soil health is context-dependent and can be defined differently based on user priorities and the soil's inherent qualities and geographic situation. Generic aspects of a healthy soil include supporting a diversity of productive uses and life, absorbing and recycling nutrients at a high rate relative to climate limits, and having low levels of contamination and erosion.
Wetland restoration, enhancement and creationPari Doll
This document discusses wetland restoration, enhancement, and creation. It defines key terminology like restoration, enhancement, and creation. It outlines 9 design principles for wetland restoration projects, including making systems self-sustaining, using a systems approach, and restoring structure and function. Considerations for restoration and enhancement projects are described, such as site selection, understanding degradation, and stakeholder input. Both active and passive approaches to wetland restoration are covered, as well as the use of treatment wetlands to improve water quality.
The document discusses soil degradation, quality, and health. It defines soil degradation as changes that diminish a soil's ability to provide goods and services. Several types of degradation are described, including water erosion, chemical degradation like acidification, and physical degradation like compaction. Causes include deforestation, overgrazing, and inappropriate irrigation. Key processes are discussed, such as the degradation of physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. Soil quality and health are defined as a soil's ability to perform functions like supporting plant growth and nutrient cycling. Important indicators for assessing soil quality and health are identified, including physical, chemical, and biological properties. Characteristics of healthy soils include good structure, sufficient nutrients, low pollution, and
The document discusses various topics related to ecological restoration including:
1) Ecological restoration aims to reverse degradation and reestablish ecosystems, though returning to the original condition is rarely possible. Common restoration methods include reintroduction of species, remediation of pollution, and reclamation of degraded sites.
2) Examples of restoration projects include restoring forests in Vermont, prairies in Wisconsin and Oklahoma, and wetlands in Colorado and the Everglades. The Bermuda cahow bird was reestablished through protection programs.
3) Factors like fire and grazing by animals like bison are important for maintaining certain ecosystems like oak savannas and prairies but require restoration efforts to reestablish.
Ecosystem restoration aims to reverse damage done to ecosystems through processes like climate change, invasive species, and degradation. It helps recover biodiversity and improve human welfare. Restoration seeks to reestablish the essential properties, functions, and structures of damaged ecosystems. There are various forms of environmental degradation that restoration addresses, including global warming, energy consumption, disturbance, and succession. Successful restoration requires carefully planning and implementing goals like species reintroduction to fully restore the original ecosystem.
Assessment of soil quality for soil healthPAJANCOA
Soil quality and soil health are closely related terms referring to a soil's ability to function properly. Assessing soil quality involves measuring indicators related to physical, chemical, and biological properties. Commonly used indicators include soil organic matter, nutrient levels, pH, infiltration rate, aggregate stability, and microbial biomass. Assessment results are used to evaluate management practices, identify issues, and guide more sustainable practices. The Government of India has initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme to promote soil testing and balanced fertilizer use to improve soil quality and agricultural productivity.
Wetland restoration: an emerging issue and management in changing climateIARI, NEW DELHI
Wetlands provide significant social, economic and environmental benefits. Wetlands are associated with several activities like water storage, groundwater recharge, storm protection, flood mitigation, shoreline stabilization, erosion control, and retention of carbon, nutrients, sediments and pollutants. Wetlands can also produce services that have a significant economic value such as clean fresh water, fisheries, timber, peat, wildlife resources and tourism opportunities. The loss and degradation of wetlands is driven by several factors, i.e., climatic and non climatic. Presently increased demand for agricultural land to fulfill the food need associated with population growth continues to be a significant cause of wetland loss in some parts of the globe.
This document discusses environmental restoration approaches and goals. It presents on environmental restoration by Khan Mohammad Raoha, Shaumik Sakib Bin Masud, and Sumaiya Jabin of the Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology. It outlines that environmental restoration aims to remedy environmental damage and protect human health. Approaches include using heavy machinery, hand planting, and computer mapping. Goals are to identify and clean contamination, remedy other environmental harms, and demolish unsafe structures. The document also discusses restoration after Hurricane Katrina, including habitat, wetland, and chemical waste restoration projects.
This document discusses soil quality, including its definition, importance, assessment tools, and indicators. Soil quality refers to a soil's ability to function within its ecosystem boundaries to support plant and animal productivity. It is assessed using measurable indicators that reflect the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties and functions. Maintaining and improving soil quality is important for sustaining agricultural productivity, environmental health, and future land use.
This document discusses soil quality and its assessment. It defines soil quality as the capacity of soil to function and sustain productivity while maintaining environmental and human health. Soil quality has two aspects: inherent quality based on geological factors, and dynamic quality that can change over time based on human activities. Key parameters of soil quality include organic matter, nutrients, texture, structure, density, porosity, temperature, cation exchange capacity, and pH. Major threats to soil quality are nutrient imbalances, tillage practices, pesticide/fertilizer misuse, lack of organic matter, and natural/human disasters. Proper management through organic matter addition, reduced tillage, integrated pest/nutrient management, and addressing problem soils can help maintain soil
Biosolids application to agricultural land: a contribution to global phosphor...Silvana Torri
Torri S.I., Corrêa R.S., Renella G. 2017. Biosolids application to agricultural land: a contribution to global phosphorus recycle, Pedosphere 27(1): 1–16, doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(15)60106-0, ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
Soil carbon sequestration resulting from biosolids application, Silvana Torri
Como citar este trabajo
Torri S.I., Corrêa R.S., Renella G. 2014. Soil carbon sequestration resulting from biosolids application, Applied and Environmental Soil Science (ISSN: 1687-7667), Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 821768, 9 pages. doi:10.1155/2014/821768.
Soil quality is considered as the capacity of a soil to function. Two types - Inherent & Dynamic Qualities. Assessment of soil quality. Selevtioof parameter. Physical Chemical and Biological parameters
This document discusses optimal nitrogen rates for corn production. It summarizes research from over 40 trials conducted over 3 years that found optimal nitrogen rates averaged slightly less than 1 pound per bushel of corn, with a range of almost none to 1.2 pounds per bushel. The research also found relatively high corn yields without any supplemental nitrogen application. The highest optimal nitrogen rates were typically associated with the lowest yielding environments. The document explores where corn obtains its nitrogen from and what happens to fertilizer nitrogen after application. It discusses factors that influence optimal nitrogen rates between sites.
soil organic carbon- a key for sustainable soil quality under scenario of cli...Bornali Borah
The global soil resource is already showing a sign of serious degradation (Banwart et al. 2014) which has ultimately negative impact on sustained crop yield and environmental quality. Due to intense rainfall and concurrent rise in temperature with changing climate, the fertile top soil is prone to severe degradation with depletion of SOC. Most soils in agricultural ecosystems have lost soil C ranging from 30 to 60 t C ha-1 with the magnitude of 50 to 75% loss (Lal, 2004). Hence, restoration of soil quality through different carbon management options will enhance soil health, mitigate climate change and provide sustained agricultural production.
Management of degraded forests eco-restoration through reddStudent
1. REDD+ is a UN program that provides incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserve forest carbon stocks, and sustainably manage forests.
2. Forest restoration is an important tool for REDD+ carbon mitigation strategies and involves stopping degradation, allowing natural regeneration, and replanting to recover ecosystem services and livelihoods.
3. Restoration approaches depend on the level of degradation, from reducing impacts for slightly degraded forests to replanting and intensive management for critically degraded areas near a non-forest threshold.
Land use planning is important for achieving life on earth by promoting sustainable development and management of natural resources. Without proper land use planning, soil degradation affects over 1.5 billion people globally and each year 12 million hectares of land are lost to drought, desertification, and deforestation, endangering wildlife. This highlights the need to protect, restore, and sustainably manage forests and combat desertification through awareness programs, replantation, and methods to stop soil erosion, in order to reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss for current and future generations.
Structure liming and soil biology_Final versionErkki Palmu
This document reviews the effects of structural liming, using quicklime or slaked lime, on soil biota compared to non-structural liming using limestone. Structural liming can have negative short-term effects on microbial communities and populations of earthworms and beetles. However, knowledge is lacking for many taxa. While structural liming provides rapid improvements to soil structure and pH, these effects are only short-term, lasting 1-3 months, after which soil pH returns to normal levels. Limestone has more long-term effects, improving soil properties for over 10 years. Overall, structural liming may negatively impact some soil biota in the short-term, but knowledge gaps remain regarding long-term
Soil's vulnerability to degradation depends on complex interactions between processes, factors and causes occurring over varying spatial and temporal scales. Major soil degradation processes include accelerated erosion, depletion of the soil organic carbon pool, loss of biodiversity and soil fertility, acidification, and salinization. However, soil degradation trends can be reversed by converting land to more restorative uses and adopting recommended management practices such as minimizing erosion, increasing organic carbon and nitrogen budgets, enhancing soil biota activity and diversity, and improving structural stability and pore geometry. Improving soil quality through practices like conservation agriculture and integrated nutrient management can reduce degradation risks while enhancing the environment.
Restoration ecology emerged in the 1980s as the scientific study of renewing and restoring degraded ecosystems through human intervention. It aims to initiate or accelerate ecosystem recovery with respect to health, integrity and sustainability. Ecological restoration projects include erosion control, reforestation with native species, removal of invasive species, and reintroducing native species. There is scientific consensus that current environmental degradation and destruction of biodiversity is catastrophic. Habitat loss is the leading cause of extinction and decline in ecosystem services like water purification and climate regulation worth trillions annually. Restoration seeks to reverse these trends through conservation and repairing degraded habitats. Understanding ecosystem functions like nutrient cycles is key to addressing degradation, with the ultimate goal of self-sust
Organic Farming: An Agricultural Waste Management System for Enhancing Soil P...CrimsonpublishersMCDA
Sustainable agricultural production systems are crucial for meeting the food demand of the ever-increasing human population. However, these systems generate large amount of wastes which is a major environmental challenge when not properly managed. The difficulty and cost-related constraints associated with achieving sustainable food production through effective soil and crop management practices has led to a paradigm shift from inorganic farming to organic farming, where agricultural wastes are incorporated into the production systems. Organic farming applies natural principles for improved quality and quantity of crop produce while maintaining and/or improving soil health. This paper explores some ways in which agricultural wastes are used and their impacts on soil properties and crop yield in organic farming systems.
This document summarizes a research study on the Local Potential Intensification System (SIPLO) for sustainable organic potato farm management in Batu, Malang, Indonesia. The study used surveys of experienced potato farmers and analyzed the data using Strategic Analysis (SWOT) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine criteria priorities. Key findings include:
1) SIPLO management was the top priority criteria based on its ability to optimize local resources and improve soil fertility and the agro-ecosystem.
2) The induction process during SIPLO implementation is important for releasing nutrients in the soil.
3) A sustainable land management strategy should focus on ecological principles like resource conservation and prevention of
The document discusses various topics related to ecological restoration including:
1) Ecological restoration aims to reverse degradation and reestablish ecosystems, though returning to the original condition is rarely possible. Common restoration methods include reintroduction of species, remediation of pollution, and reclamation of degraded sites.
2) Examples of restoration projects include restoring forests in Vermont, prairies in Wisconsin and Oklahoma, and wetlands in Colorado and the Everglades. The Bermuda cahow bird was reestablished through protection programs.
3) Factors like fire and grazing by animals like bison are important for maintaining certain ecosystems like oak savannas and prairies but require restoration efforts to reestablish.
Ecosystem restoration aims to reverse damage done to ecosystems through processes like climate change, invasive species, and degradation. It helps recover biodiversity and improve human welfare. Restoration seeks to reestablish the essential properties, functions, and structures of damaged ecosystems. There are various forms of environmental degradation that restoration addresses, including global warming, energy consumption, disturbance, and succession. Successful restoration requires carefully planning and implementing goals like species reintroduction to fully restore the original ecosystem.
Assessment of soil quality for soil healthPAJANCOA
Soil quality and soil health are closely related terms referring to a soil's ability to function properly. Assessing soil quality involves measuring indicators related to physical, chemical, and biological properties. Commonly used indicators include soil organic matter, nutrient levels, pH, infiltration rate, aggregate stability, and microbial biomass. Assessment results are used to evaluate management practices, identify issues, and guide more sustainable practices. The Government of India has initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme to promote soil testing and balanced fertilizer use to improve soil quality and agricultural productivity.
Wetland restoration: an emerging issue and management in changing climateIARI, NEW DELHI
Wetlands provide significant social, economic and environmental benefits. Wetlands are associated with several activities like water storage, groundwater recharge, storm protection, flood mitigation, shoreline stabilization, erosion control, and retention of carbon, nutrients, sediments and pollutants. Wetlands can also produce services that have a significant economic value such as clean fresh water, fisheries, timber, peat, wildlife resources and tourism opportunities. The loss and degradation of wetlands is driven by several factors, i.e., climatic and non climatic. Presently increased demand for agricultural land to fulfill the food need associated with population growth continues to be a significant cause of wetland loss in some parts of the globe.
This document discusses environmental restoration approaches and goals. It presents on environmental restoration by Khan Mohammad Raoha, Shaumik Sakib Bin Masud, and Sumaiya Jabin of the Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology. It outlines that environmental restoration aims to remedy environmental damage and protect human health. Approaches include using heavy machinery, hand planting, and computer mapping. Goals are to identify and clean contamination, remedy other environmental harms, and demolish unsafe structures. The document also discusses restoration after Hurricane Katrina, including habitat, wetland, and chemical waste restoration projects.
This document discusses soil quality, including its definition, importance, assessment tools, and indicators. Soil quality refers to a soil's ability to function within its ecosystem boundaries to support plant and animal productivity. It is assessed using measurable indicators that reflect the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties and functions. Maintaining and improving soil quality is important for sustaining agricultural productivity, environmental health, and future land use.
This document discusses soil quality and its assessment. It defines soil quality as the capacity of soil to function and sustain productivity while maintaining environmental and human health. Soil quality has two aspects: inherent quality based on geological factors, and dynamic quality that can change over time based on human activities. Key parameters of soil quality include organic matter, nutrients, texture, structure, density, porosity, temperature, cation exchange capacity, and pH. Major threats to soil quality are nutrient imbalances, tillage practices, pesticide/fertilizer misuse, lack of organic matter, and natural/human disasters. Proper management through organic matter addition, reduced tillage, integrated pest/nutrient management, and addressing problem soils can help maintain soil
Biosolids application to agricultural land: a contribution to global phosphor...Silvana Torri
Torri S.I., Corrêa R.S., Renella G. 2017. Biosolids application to agricultural land: a contribution to global phosphorus recycle, Pedosphere 27(1): 1–16, doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(15)60106-0, ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
Soil carbon sequestration resulting from biosolids application, Silvana Torri
Como citar este trabajo
Torri S.I., Corrêa R.S., Renella G. 2014. Soil carbon sequestration resulting from biosolids application, Applied and Environmental Soil Science (ISSN: 1687-7667), Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 821768, 9 pages. doi:10.1155/2014/821768.
Soil quality is considered as the capacity of a soil to function. Two types - Inherent & Dynamic Qualities. Assessment of soil quality. Selevtioof parameter. Physical Chemical and Biological parameters
This document discusses optimal nitrogen rates for corn production. It summarizes research from over 40 trials conducted over 3 years that found optimal nitrogen rates averaged slightly less than 1 pound per bushel of corn, with a range of almost none to 1.2 pounds per bushel. The research also found relatively high corn yields without any supplemental nitrogen application. The highest optimal nitrogen rates were typically associated with the lowest yielding environments. The document explores where corn obtains its nitrogen from and what happens to fertilizer nitrogen after application. It discusses factors that influence optimal nitrogen rates between sites.
soil organic carbon- a key for sustainable soil quality under scenario of cli...Bornali Borah
The global soil resource is already showing a sign of serious degradation (Banwart et al. 2014) which has ultimately negative impact on sustained crop yield and environmental quality. Due to intense rainfall and concurrent rise in temperature with changing climate, the fertile top soil is prone to severe degradation with depletion of SOC. Most soils in agricultural ecosystems have lost soil C ranging from 30 to 60 t C ha-1 with the magnitude of 50 to 75% loss (Lal, 2004). Hence, restoration of soil quality through different carbon management options will enhance soil health, mitigate climate change and provide sustained agricultural production.
Management of degraded forests eco-restoration through reddStudent
1. REDD+ is a UN program that provides incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserve forest carbon stocks, and sustainably manage forests.
2. Forest restoration is an important tool for REDD+ carbon mitigation strategies and involves stopping degradation, allowing natural regeneration, and replanting to recover ecosystem services and livelihoods.
3. Restoration approaches depend on the level of degradation, from reducing impacts for slightly degraded forests to replanting and intensive management for critically degraded areas near a non-forest threshold.
Land use planning is important for achieving life on earth by promoting sustainable development and management of natural resources. Without proper land use planning, soil degradation affects over 1.5 billion people globally and each year 12 million hectares of land are lost to drought, desertification, and deforestation, endangering wildlife. This highlights the need to protect, restore, and sustainably manage forests and combat desertification through awareness programs, replantation, and methods to stop soil erosion, in order to reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss for current and future generations.
Structure liming and soil biology_Final versionErkki Palmu
This document reviews the effects of structural liming, using quicklime or slaked lime, on soil biota compared to non-structural liming using limestone. Structural liming can have negative short-term effects on microbial communities and populations of earthworms and beetles. However, knowledge is lacking for many taxa. While structural liming provides rapid improvements to soil structure and pH, these effects are only short-term, lasting 1-3 months, after which soil pH returns to normal levels. Limestone has more long-term effects, improving soil properties for over 10 years. Overall, structural liming may negatively impact some soil biota in the short-term, but knowledge gaps remain regarding long-term
Soil's vulnerability to degradation depends on complex interactions between processes, factors and causes occurring over varying spatial and temporal scales. Major soil degradation processes include accelerated erosion, depletion of the soil organic carbon pool, loss of biodiversity and soil fertility, acidification, and salinization. However, soil degradation trends can be reversed by converting land to more restorative uses and adopting recommended management practices such as minimizing erosion, increasing organic carbon and nitrogen budgets, enhancing soil biota activity and diversity, and improving structural stability and pore geometry. Improving soil quality through practices like conservation agriculture and integrated nutrient management can reduce degradation risks while enhancing the environment.
Restoration ecology emerged in the 1980s as the scientific study of renewing and restoring degraded ecosystems through human intervention. It aims to initiate or accelerate ecosystem recovery with respect to health, integrity and sustainability. Ecological restoration projects include erosion control, reforestation with native species, removal of invasive species, and reintroducing native species. There is scientific consensus that current environmental degradation and destruction of biodiversity is catastrophic. Habitat loss is the leading cause of extinction and decline in ecosystem services like water purification and climate regulation worth trillions annually. Restoration seeks to reverse these trends through conservation and repairing degraded habitats. Understanding ecosystem functions like nutrient cycles is key to addressing degradation, with the ultimate goal of self-sust
Organic Farming: An Agricultural Waste Management System for Enhancing Soil P...CrimsonpublishersMCDA
Sustainable agricultural production systems are crucial for meeting the food demand of the ever-increasing human population. However, these systems generate large amount of wastes which is a major environmental challenge when not properly managed. The difficulty and cost-related constraints associated with achieving sustainable food production through effective soil and crop management practices has led to a paradigm shift from inorganic farming to organic farming, where agricultural wastes are incorporated into the production systems. Organic farming applies natural principles for improved quality and quantity of crop produce while maintaining and/or improving soil health. This paper explores some ways in which agricultural wastes are used and their impacts on soil properties and crop yield in organic farming systems.
This document summarizes a research study on the Local Potential Intensification System (SIPLO) for sustainable organic potato farm management in Batu, Malang, Indonesia. The study used surveys of experienced potato farmers and analyzed the data using Strategic Analysis (SWOT) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine criteria priorities. Key findings include:
1) SIPLO management was the top priority criteria based on its ability to optimize local resources and improve soil fertility and the agro-ecosystem.
2) The induction process during SIPLO implementation is important for releasing nutrients in the soil.
3) A sustainable land management strategy should focus on ecological principles like resource conservation and prevention of
This document discusses how biodiversity loss can impact ecosystem functioning and processes. It begins by noting that human impacts have dramatically reduced biodiversity at all levels from genes to entire ecosystems. Many ecosystem processes are sensitive to biodiversity declines. Experimental studies show that reductions in biodiversity can decrease plant productivity and increase variability in processes like nutrient levels and plant growth. Maintaining biodiversity is important for preserving ecosystem services that support human welfare, and should be a priority in environmental policies.
Human well-being is highly dependent on ecosystems and the benefits they provide such as food and drinkable water. Over the past 50 years, however, humans have had a tremendous impact on their environment.
To better understand the consequences of current changes to ecosystems and to evaluate scenarios for the future, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has launched a comprehensive scientific study, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
What actions could be taken to limit harmful consequences of ecosystem degradation?
effect of organic matter in sustainable land use .docxadnanhossain53
Organic matter plays a critical role in soil sustainability by improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. It provides nutrients for plants, improves water retention, enhances soil structure, and promotes microbial activity. Sustainable land management aims to use land resources in a way that meets human needs while maintaining the land's long-term productivity through practices like conservation tillage, crop rotation, and use of organic manures to increase soil organic matter over time. Organic matter benefits soil in many ways, including improving structure, drainage, moisture retention, nutrient availability, and biological activity through its role in supporting microorganisms.
The role of Organic Agriculture in sustainable crop production.pptxRidaZakir
This document provides an outline and literature review on organic farming as an alternative way of sustainable crop production in the era of climate change. It begins with an introduction discussing how agriculture impacts and is impacted by climate change. It then reviews concepts of organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and climate change. Components of organic agriculture like crop rotation and use of organic manure and biofertilizers are discussed. Principles of organic agriculture focus on health, ecology, fairness and protection. Sources of climate change in conventional agriculture include nitrous oxide and methane emissions from fertilizers and livestock. Climate change adaptation through organic agriculture includes soil and water management to sequester carbon and increase resilience.
Patagonia has shifted its business model to focus on regeneration across its value chain. It has [1] shifted attention from profit to people, planet and profit; [2] taken a long-term perspective in partnering with regenerative farmers; and [3] identified key stakeholders committed to delivering the ecosystem service of rebuilding soil health. Over 550 farms are now part of Patagonia's regenerative agriculture certification program, which aims to sequester carbon and build climate resilience through principles of soil health, animal welfare and fairness for producers.
One of the challenges of ecological intensification is to move agricultural research out of a focus on singular focal areas – e.g., improved seed, pest control, water management –
to solutions that integrate all components of the farming system. As such, the canon of knowledge supporting ecological intensification is transdisciplinary, focusing on the biological components of farming systems and agroecological practices but extending as well to considerations of policy and farmer and societal benefits. As the biodiversity benefits of ecological intensification, along with the negative externalities of conventional agriculture are an important motivation for ecological intensification, we have included literature on these topic, as well as references that relate climate change to ecosystem services in agriculture.
The glossary presented here is compiled on this basis, to provide definitions of key terms relevant to ecological intensification.
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. It aims to re-establish the structure, functions, and species diversity of the original ecosystem. The director of the Gurukula Botanical Center demonstrates how 40 years of conservation techniques, gardening, and restoration practices have helped restore habitats and species in the degraded Western Ghats region of India. She advocates an approach of diagnostic healing and restoration rather than simply conserving what remains or "greening" areas, in order to recreate a healthy alliance between people and their environment.
The Use of Agrobiodiversity by Indigenous and Traditional Agricultural Commun...Seeds
This document discusses strategies that indigenous and traditional agricultural communities use to adapt to climate change through agrobiodiversity. It analyzes over 200 case studies grouped into a conceptual framework. Key strategies discussed include ecosystem-based approaches like forest and landscape restoration, improving agricultural system resilience through agroforestry, diversified home gardens and crop/soil/water management, and maintaining inter- and intra-species diversity. A whole system approach is advocated that enhances resilience at ecosystem, farm, and genetic levels and through interactions between them.
Recycling and reuse of various waste streams is important for environmental and economic reasons. Municipal solid waste recycling reduces pollution and preserves landfill space and natural resources. Recycling municipal solid waste involves collection, separation, and processing recyclables to turn them into new products. Sewage and wastewater can be recycled through various treatment processes and reused for purposes like irrigation. Electronic waste contains toxic materials, so improper disposal pollutes the environment; it needs to be properly collected, processed and recycled to recover valuable materials and reduce environmental impact.
Introduction to soil resources and land degradation; soil erosion; Soil and water conservation; land degradation components: Loss of biodiversity, salinization, water erosion, range land degradation; degradation processes, ecosystem function and losses; Basic concept of hazards, risk, vulnerability and degradation; Type of degradation, their causes and impacts; Tools, model and methodologies for land degradation assessment and monitoring, Conservation concept and measures, Reconciling degradation and land resources management issues
Bioremediation - prospects for the future application of innovative appliedIvan Vera Montenegro
1) Bioremediation uses biological processes to eliminate, attenuate, or transform polluting substances. Traditional techniques like biopiling and landfarming rely on microbial degradation of contaminants in soil. Phytoremediation uses plants and their rhizospheres to uptake or degrade contaminants.
2) Phytobial remediation combines phytoremediation and bioremediation by using microbes like Trichoderma harzianum colonized in plant roots to efficiently degrade toxicants while providing an energy source from plant root exudates.
3) Initial experiments found T. harzianum could detoxify cyanides and metallocyanides in soil, allowing plant
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Cultivating Conservation: Practical Tips for Soil Preservation
a. Promote sustainable farming practices: Encourage farmers to adopt agroecological approaches, such as agroforestry, crop rotation, and intercropping. These practices help maintain soil fertility, reduce erosion, improve water infiltration, and minimize the use of synthetic inputs.
b. Implement soil conservation practices: Conservation tillage, terracing, contour plowing, and building windbreaks are effective measures to reduce soil erosion and maintain soil health.
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Biorestoration deals with restoring or bringing back to an original or near original state using living micro-organisms. Nature has a built in check and balance system in everything it does. If there is too much or too little of something nature will use various life forms to try to re-establish a balance
This document provides an overview of a lecture on ecosystem rehabilitation and restoration. It defines key terms like ecosystem, ecology, rehabilitation, and restoration. It discusses the concepts and definitions of restoration ecology and ecological restoration. It outlines the rationales for restoration ecology, including maintaining healthy soils, strengthening human relationships with nature, preserving indigenous knowledge, and linking ecosystem and human health. It also examines natural and human-caused degradation of ecosystems through flooding, wildfires, invasive species, deforestation, pollution, and overexploitation.
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Assignm ent of env.t degradtion and restoration
1. 1
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
Jigjig a university
College of dry land Agriculture.
Program/depart: Range ecology and Biodiversity
Course: environmental degradation and restoration ecology
Assignment Title: restoration ecology.
Type of assignment: individual
Student name: Mowlid Hassan Abdilahi
IDNo: 1270/08
Instructor: mohamud Abadir 1/13/2018
Assignment contents
Pages
1.0. Definition and concept of restoration ecology______________________________ 3
1.1. Restoring Ecological Function____________________________________________ 4
1.2. Restoration ecology for soil degradation___________________________________ 4
1.2.1Soil Fertility Management to Restore Soil Quality___________________________ 5
1.2.2 Improving Soil/Agro-Biodiversity_______________________________________6
2. Rangeland restoration and management___________________________________6
2. 2
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
2.1. Role of vegetation in restoration of degraded rangelands______________________7
2.2. RANGELAND RESTORATION TECHNIQUES__________________________________7
3. Restoration Ecology and Evolutionary Process_________________________________8
3.1 Restoration Ecology for climate change______________________________________8
4. Reference and citations of the assignment ___________________________________ 9
5. APPENDIX of the assignment _____________________________________9
Key words and terminologies:
Reclamation, remediation; on site mitigation(partial return to original); evolutionary;
ecological; soil resilience ; Restoration; rehabilitation; cleanup, removal.
1.0. Ecosystem and concept of restoration ecology
It is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or
destroyed or deteriorated (society for Ecological restoration definition). Also we can define
Restoration ecology is a complex conservation activity that creates plant and animal
communities/ecosystems modeled on historical systems and ecological theory, on sites that
3. 3
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
have been significantly altered by modern human disturbance.
Figure 1. Concept of restoration ecology to other efforts to improve degraded lands or destroyed
ecosystem. This figure illustrating that there are a number of efforts that may be employed to
help improve injured ecosystems. Terms like restoration, rehabilitation, remediation, and
reclamation are often used interchangeably in practice, but their definitions vary by authorizing
laws and implementing agencies. Now The degraded ecosystem exhibits a lower level of
structure and function, compared to the original ecosystem. The degraded ecosystem can be
returned to its original state using removal, cleanup, remediation and other restoration
activities. Along the black arrow pointing toward “Reclamation,” the shows reclamation
activities improving the structure and function of the ecosystem. Restoration activities (shown
as occurring along the dotted arrow) further improve the Ecosystem structure and return the
ecosystem to its original state. Off-site mitigation can be used alone or in combination with
other approaches to return ecosystems (perhaps in a different location) to their original state.
Anyway ecological restoration is defined as an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates
the recovery of a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem with respect to its health.
Source: Adapted from Bradshaw (1987).
1.1 Restoring Ecological Function
The desire to restore species and communities stems both from their intrinsic ecological Value
as well as the provision of critical ecosystem services. However, a focus on ecological processes
in a restoration context provides a different view of the State and dynamics of ecosystems and
the services they may provide. In pragmatic terms,
4. 4
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
Measuring ecological functioning requires appraisal of key ecological processes, such as
Nutrient processing,
Productivity or decomposition.
The currency is typically a process rate, and it reflects system performance. Because ecosystem
function may indicate important elements of system performance, environmental managers
are also increasingly interested in the use of functional assessments.
Historically, many ecological restoration efforts have focused on single species, populations, or
the Composition of ecological communities. However, it is recognized increasingly that
restoration of ecological processes, such as nutrient turnover or hydrological flux, may be
critical components of restoration outcomes. This understanding has been paralleled by an
upsurge in ecological research on the linkage between ecological structure (e.g., species
diversity, habitat complexity) and ecological function (e.g., biogeochemical processes,
disturbance regimes). Linking theoretical models of ecosystem and community change with
restoration ecology has the potential to advance both the practice of restoration and our
understanding of the dynamics of degraded environment. Ideally, ecological restoration efforts
create physical and ecological conditions that promote self-sustainable, resilient systems with
the capacity for recovery from rapid change and stress (Holling 1973; Walker et al. 2002).
1.2. Restoring of soil degradtion
Soil; the most basic of all resources, the mother of every productivity, it is the essence of all
terrestrial life and a cultural heritage. Yet, soil is finite in extent, prone to degradation by
natural and anthropogenic factors. Any way in order to restore the soil it must be focused on
the Physical restoration, Chemical restoration, Biological restoration and Ecological
restoration.
1.Physical restoration: by
Reducing desertification,
improving aggregation,
improving plant available water capacity, improving aeration.
2. Chemical restoration: by
By alleviating acidification,
decreasing Salinization,
creating elemental favorable balance,
improving activity and capacity of nutrient pools,
3.Biological restoration . by
Increasing microbial biomas carbon
Enhancing soil Biodiversity
Creating disease suppressive soils
Increasing mycohorhizal and Rhizobial population.
5. 5
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
4.Ecological restoration of soil by
Increasing soil C pool
Strengening elemental cyclin
Creating favorable hydrological balance
Enhancing ecoystem service
1.2.1. Soil Fertility Management to Restore Soil Quality
Sustainable intensification (SI), producing more from less by reducing losses and increasing the
use efficiency, is attainable only through improvement of soil quality including chemical quality
or soil fertility. Although not the only way to increase soil fertility, the use of INM is a very
effective approach for achieving SI. Nutrient depletion and loss of soil fertility are major causes
of low productivity [49] in many developing countries. Use of organic amendments, by recycling
organic by-products including urban waste, is a useful strategy to enhance soil fertility and
improve structural stability or aggregates . While, nitrogen (N) input is important to improving
soil fertility, its improper and/or excessive use can also lead to environmental pollution. China
consumes about 30% of the world’s N fertilizer [52], and is able to feed ~22% of the world
population on just 6.8% of the global cropland area. However, the country has severe
environmental problems because of low N use efficiency, leaching of reactive N into surface
and groundwater resources, and emission of N (as N2O) into the atmosphere. Soil organic
matter has been identified as an indicator of soil fertility based on the rationale that it
contributes significantly to soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that affect vital
ecosystem processes of rangelands, Soil aggregate stability is widely recognized as a key
indicator of soil and rangeland health. It is related to a number of ecosystem properties,
processes, and functions, including the quantity and composition of organic matter, soil biotic
activity, infiltration capacity, and resistance to erosion. Soil aggregation has potential benefits
on soil moisture status, nutrient dynamics, slope maintenance, and erosion reduction.
1.2.2 Improving Soil/Agro-Biodiversity
Soil biota are important to soil restoration and reduce risks of degradation and desertification.
Indeed, soil biota comprise a major component of global terrestrial biodiversity and perform
critical roles in key ecosystem functions (e.g., biomass decomposition, nutrient cycling,
moderating CO2 in the atmosphere, creating disease suppressive soils, etc.). Improving activity
and species diversity of soil fauna and flora (micro, meso and macro) is therefore essential to
restoring and improving soil quality and reducing risks of soil degradation. Adverse effects of
agricultural management on soil microbiological quality is another global concern. As a
management tool, either a microbiological quality index or a microbiological degradation index
can be useful for decision-making processes Relevant parameters include MBC, respiration,
water soluble carbohydrates, enzymatic activities, dehydrogenase activity and activities of
other important hydrolases (e.g., urease, protease, phosphatas and P-glucosidase) . There are
also marked seasonal changes in biotic and abiotic factors that affect the biological component
of soil resources. Vegetative cover, influenced by seasonal changes, has a strong impact on soil
microbiological processes. In degraded soils of arid and semi-arid regions, changes in soil
6. 6
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
moisture regimes can also affect MBC and activity .
2. Rangeland restoration and management
Natural ecosystems have been severely destroyed because of anthropogenic disturbances,
unreasonable utilization, and neglect of protection and restoration . These disturbed or
degraded ecosystems are confronted with poor soil fertility, shortage of water and deteriorated
microenvironment, which would severely restrict their productivity. How to comprehensively
restore and harness the degraded ecosystem is a key issue in increasing productivity, improving
environmental conditions and achieving sustainable development. When the disturbance is
removed, the degraded ecosystems will initiate a succession to the primitive community, and
restoration process is considered as the progressive succession. Management of rangeland
degradation can be divided into preventative and restoration measures. Answers to
preventative measures can often be found within the causes of land degradation. In view of the
massive scale of land degradation. where restoration is of significant importance to land
owners. The fast rate at which intact natural ecosystems are degraded and decline, has
emphasized the importance of ecological restoration to maintain the earth’s natural capital .
In order to restore degraded ecosystems, it is crucial to identify which ecosystem functions
should be restored first. It is therefore, important to define the functional status of the
ecosystem beforehand. It is also important to establish the relationship between ecosystem
structure and functioning, and to assess the potential for ecosystem restoration.
2.1. The role of vegetation in restoration of degraded rangelands
Vegetation plays an important role in erosion control; it efficiently mitigates erosion by active
and passive protection. Active protection against erosive agents consists of raindrop
interception (Woo et al., 1997), and increase in water infiltration in soil, thermal regulation and
soil fixation by root systems. Vegetation also has a passive action by trapping and retaining
sediments inside the catchment due to its aerial parts. A protective soil cover can be installed
efficiently on eroded lands using bioengineering works based on common practices of
ecological engineering. These structures favor artificial and natural vegetation dynamics so the
vegetation predominates over erosive dynamics and controls it. The long-term goal of the
degradation interventions is to restore ecosystems, in accordance with recent considerations
about ecological engineering concepts and techniques Restoration is commonly considered as
accelerated succession. Planting vegetation as a restoration measure for degraded rangelands
is preferred over structural measures since concrete, stonework, wood or any other building
materials are subject to decay and liable to be avoided Vegetation grows through different
7. 7
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
stages while it is improving the function of the ecosystem by providing physical soil protection
against erosion by reducing the velocity of runoff and its decomposition contributes to nutrient
cycling.
2.2. RANGELAND RESTORATION TECHNIQUES
In rangelands that have become degraded to the point that ecosystem functions cannot
recover solely through-improved management strategies within practice-relevant time spans,
active rehabilitation techniques are sought Most of these techniques aim at the improvement
of soil water status by increasing infiltration or decreasing evaporative loss. These restoration
techniques include introducing transplants, application of brush packs or organic mulch and
developing micro catchments to capture runoff . Revegetation and improvement of degraded
land should be practiced after development of better techniques of seedbed preparation and
planting methods . Seed germination and establishment of natural and artificial revegetation is
a result of the number of seeds favorable in microsites or „safe sites‟ in the seedbed rather
than the total number of available seeds . Various techniques to improve microsites for sown
seeds and to increase the seed germination rate and establishment have been introduced in
the rangeland revegetation process .Some methods used for rangeland restoration consist of
biological and mechanical approaches. The biological approach includes planting methods of
seeds using manure, gravel, and grass. The mechanical approach includes use of farm
implements to disturb the soil.
3. Restoration Ecology and Evolutionary Process
Restoration activities have increased dramatically in recent years, creating evolutionary
challenges and opportunities. Though restoration has favored a strong focus on the role of
habitat, concerns surrounding the evolutionary ecology of populations are increasing.
previous researchers have considered the importance of preserving extant diversity and
maintaining future evolutionary potential, but they have usually ignored the prospect of
ongoing evolution in real time. However, such contemporary evolution (changes occurring over
one to a few hundred generations) appears to be relatively common in nature . Moreover, it is
often associated with situations that may prevail in restoration projects, namely the presence
of introduced populations and other anthropogenic disturbances Any restoration program may
thus entail consideration of evolution in the past, present,and future. Restoration efforts
often involve dramatic and rapid shifts in habitat that may even lead to different ecological
states (such as altered fire regimes) Genetic variants that evolved within historically different
evolutionary contexts (the past) may thus be pitted against novel and mismatched current
conditions (the present). The degree of this mismatch should then determine the pattern and
strength of selection acting on trait variation in such populations. If trait variation is heritable
8. 8
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
and selection is sufficiently Strong, contemporary evolution is likely to occur and may have
dramatic impacts on the adaptive dynamics of restoration scenarios. Adaptation to current
conditions (the present) may in turn influence the ability of such populations to subsequently
persist and evolve over short or long periods (the future). Thus, the success (or failure) of a
restoration effort may oftenbe as much an evolutionary issue as an ecological one. It is also
useful to recognize that contemporary evolution may alter the interactions of species with their
environments and each other. Restoration ecologists may thus be faced with a changed cast of
players, even if many of the same nominal species are restored.
3.1. Restoration Ecology for climate change
Also I want to write the linkages between two fields that have been little acquainted yet
have much to say to one another: restoration ecology and climatology. The limited discourse
between these fields is surprising. In the last two decades there have been significant
theoretical breakthroughs and a proliferation of research on historical climate and climate-
related sciences that have led to an overhaul of our understanding of Earth’s
climatesystemThese new insights are relevant to restoration and ecology—so much so that
fuller understanding could trigger rethinking of fundamental principles.
Conceptual views of the natural world influence tactical approaches to conservation,
restoration, and resource management. to understand and assimilate into restoration ecology
theory—that is, the role of the natural climate system as a pervasive force of ecological change.
Advances in environmental sciences The phrase climate change usually connotes global
warming, greenhouse gas impacts, novel anthropogenic threats, and international politics.
There is, however, a larger context that we must begin during the mid-to-late twentieth century
on ecological succession, disturbance, and spatial and temporal variability motivated a shift
from viewing nature as static and typological to dynamic and process driven. In turn,
restoration ecology and practice matured from emphasis on museum-like nature preservation
to maintaining variability and natural function.
4. Reference and literature citations of the assignment
Foundations of restoration ecology book of SERI. Edited by
Donald A. Falk, Margaret A. Palmer, and Joy B. Zedler
Foreword by Richard J. Hobbs
Article, Restoration Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation
Rattan Lal The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; E-Mail: lal.1@osu.edu.
Article, Evolutionary Restoration Ecology
Craig A. Stockwell, Michael T. Kinnison, and Andrew P. Hendry
Williamson, James M., Hale W. Thurston, and Matthew T. Heberling. 2008. Valuing Acid Mine
Drainage Remediation in West Virginia: A Hedonic Modeling Approach. The Annals of
Regional Science, 42(4): 987-999. E
THE 10th EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
9. 9
Assignment of environmental degradation and restoration ecology
5. APPENDIX of the assignment
TRENDS OF RANGELAND DEGRADATION AND RESTORATION IN ETHIOPIA
In Ethiopia, rangelands cover about 61 to 65% of the total area of the country and are characterized by
arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies; experience a relatively harsh climate with low, unreliable, and erratic
rainfall, and are home to 12-15% of the human population, and 26% of the total livestock population.
Pastoralism and agro-pastoralism are the dominant types of land use systems in these areas (PADP,
2004). Some parts of Ethiopia have been experiencing heightened fragmentation of the rangelands
since the 1970s. In particular the development of government and commercial irrigated schemes in the
Awash River Basin to a total of approximately 68,000 ha in 2011 (with another 90,000 ha or so in
construction) has caused significant ill effects on pastoral systems. Not only have key resources been
removed but water sources have been polluted. In Somali region and Borana zone, there have been
water/ranpment schemes that have compromised pastoralism and opened up areas to in-migration of
settlers (Flintan et al., 2011). In 2009 the Government of Ethiopia launched plans for agricultural
investment areas in several regions of the country to a total of 3.7 million hectares. Land already
identified and secured in the government „land bank‟ (or already allocated to investors) includes
409,678 ha in the Awash River Basin, 180,625 ha in South Omo, 444,150 ha in Gambella and 691,984 has
in Benishangul-Gumuz.