The effects of contemporary and previous land management practices are reflected in the present-day condition of native vegetation. In order to properly manage land for productive use or to restore it to its 'natural' condition, it is important to know the changes that have taken place to the use of the land, and the cumulative effect of those changes. Assessing and reporting the resilience of native vegetation using metrics of structure, composition and function is discussed. The system, VAST-2, has been developed in the Australian context, where land management was relatively unchanged for some tens of thousands of years prior to European settlers who arrived some hundred years hence. This reference state provides a structure in which to compile, interpret and sequence data gathered in the past about changes in management practices and the effects of these practices on the condition of native plant communities. Early settlers and subsequent land managers have modified and fragmented the native vegetation thereby transforming many landscapes.
VAST-2 – Condition assessment method. Presentation given to the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), National Condition Workshop held at the Mt Lofty House, Adelaide on 11-13 June 2014
Systematic framework to assess restoration actions and outcomes based on meas...Richard Thackway
A unifying framework is presented for tracking the outcomes of intentional and unintentional land management practices on the condition components of plant communities. The framework is based on 22 indicators hierarchically organised into 10 functional, structural and compositional criteria. Changes in the values of criteria and indicators over time track the response of a plant community to land management practices. This involves a twostep process. First develop a systematic and comprehensive site-based chronology of land management practices over time. Second fully integrate relevant data and information on the responses of the plant community into the chronology of practices, actions and interventions. How, and to what degree, the practices effect the indicators is also recorded, including deliberate and/or inadvertent actions and outcomes. Data and information on the outcomes of actions is compiled from various sources including; direct measures of field-based attributes, estimates of attributes derived from expert elicitation, environmental histories, interviews with skilled subject specials and relevant metrics derived from multi-spatial and multi-temporal remote sensing datasets. Provided a competent ecologist has access to key resources, a preliminary assessment can be completed in three days. Indicators are scored separately using a metric 0-1, based on the response of the plant community’s indicator assessed relative to the indicator in the reference state. Indicator scores are aggregated and weighted separately for three components; functional (55%), structural (27%) and compositional (18%). The reference state is assigned 100%. This framework has been widely applied across major climate zones in Australia to track and explain observed decadal spatial and temporal changes in the condition of plant communities including changes due to restoration activities. Examples will be provided in how applications of this framework also provide insights in plant community resilience, possible system trajectories and future management options.
All is not what it seems - Why integrate land management and ecological liter...Richard Thackway
The condition of native vegetation types is changed and transformed over time by land use and land management practices. Intensive natural events are illustrated which effect vegetation structure and composition in the short term. Long term interactions between intensive natural events such as firestorms, windstorms and pest animals are presented. The VAST-2 system is used to illustrate several case studies including sand mining, sheep and cattle grazing, pest animals and cropping.
This lecture was given to the Fenner School, Australian National University as part of an intensive post graduate course (ENVS 2022/6012, Sustainable Systems: Rural (2015)).
Framework for assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetationRichard Thackway
A framework is presented that is relevant to all terrestrial ecosystems and their modification states. Unpinning the framework is the tool's ability to track change and trends based on assessing effects of land management regimes. Effects of these regimes on criteria & indicators of function, structure and composition are scored using criteria and indicators. Changes in condition, resilience and transformation are assessed relative to fully natural a reference state for each plant community. Assessments are constrained to soil landscape units because this approximates to land manager’s use and management of the landscape. The framework helps decision makers assess and report change at sites and landscapes due to human management and natural drivers.
Tracking the Transformation of Vegetated Landscapes (VAST)Richard Thackway
Presentation given to the NSW Ecological Consultants Association 2013 Conference held at Fairmont Resort at Leura, NSW in the Blue Mountains on 2nd August 2013. Conference theme “Offsets: determination, assessment and management”. presentation was part of the Scientific and Consultant Perspective session.
Application of land management information to improve the tracking of changes...Richard Thackway
Most changes over time in the extent and condition of native vegetation types can be accounted by changes in Land use and land management practices (LMP). Obvious changes and trends in the structure, composition and function of native vegetation can be detected using remote sensing. While environmental models are helpful they must access site data on the effects that LMP have on essential environmental variables. More subtle changes in native vegetation extent and condition must be directly measured using ground-based observations of the interactions to attribute cause and effect to natural processes and LMP. Ideally we need an information system which informs the survey, classification and mapping and modelling of LMP at various scales
VAST: A Framework for Assessing the Transformation of Native Vegetation Richard Thackway
The VAST framework was developed for assessing and reporting on the degree of modification of plant communities modified by land management regimes and production systems. Modification is assessed using criteria and indicators of ecological function, structure and composition. Depending of the need VAST can operate at spatial and temporal scales. The framework is outlined showing how the degradation and restoration of forest/vegetation types relates to deliberate and unintentional land management decisions. A case study of the Cumberland State Forest, Pennant Hills, New South Wales is presented. Users of the framework consider four key issues; 1) Must differentiate severe natural disturbance events from impacts of land management regimes; 2) Must define reference state using the same indicators of ecological function, structure and composition; 3) Must understand stable condition states and multiple benefits (ecosystem services); and 4) Must understand interactions between patterns of rainfall and land management regimes.
VAST-2 – Condition assessment method. Presentation given to the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), National Condition Workshop held at the Mt Lofty House, Adelaide on 11-13 June 2014
Systematic framework to assess restoration actions and outcomes based on meas...Richard Thackway
A unifying framework is presented for tracking the outcomes of intentional and unintentional land management practices on the condition components of plant communities. The framework is based on 22 indicators hierarchically organised into 10 functional, structural and compositional criteria. Changes in the values of criteria and indicators over time track the response of a plant community to land management practices. This involves a twostep process. First develop a systematic and comprehensive site-based chronology of land management practices over time. Second fully integrate relevant data and information on the responses of the plant community into the chronology of practices, actions and interventions. How, and to what degree, the practices effect the indicators is also recorded, including deliberate and/or inadvertent actions and outcomes. Data and information on the outcomes of actions is compiled from various sources including; direct measures of field-based attributes, estimates of attributes derived from expert elicitation, environmental histories, interviews with skilled subject specials and relevant metrics derived from multi-spatial and multi-temporal remote sensing datasets. Provided a competent ecologist has access to key resources, a preliminary assessment can be completed in three days. Indicators are scored separately using a metric 0-1, based on the response of the plant community’s indicator assessed relative to the indicator in the reference state. Indicator scores are aggregated and weighted separately for three components; functional (55%), structural (27%) and compositional (18%). The reference state is assigned 100%. This framework has been widely applied across major climate zones in Australia to track and explain observed decadal spatial and temporal changes in the condition of plant communities including changes due to restoration activities. Examples will be provided in how applications of this framework also provide insights in plant community resilience, possible system trajectories and future management options.
All is not what it seems - Why integrate land management and ecological liter...Richard Thackway
The condition of native vegetation types is changed and transformed over time by land use and land management practices. Intensive natural events are illustrated which effect vegetation structure and composition in the short term. Long term interactions between intensive natural events such as firestorms, windstorms and pest animals are presented. The VAST-2 system is used to illustrate several case studies including sand mining, sheep and cattle grazing, pest animals and cropping.
This lecture was given to the Fenner School, Australian National University as part of an intensive post graduate course (ENVS 2022/6012, Sustainable Systems: Rural (2015)).
Framework for assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetationRichard Thackway
A framework is presented that is relevant to all terrestrial ecosystems and their modification states. Unpinning the framework is the tool's ability to track change and trends based on assessing effects of land management regimes. Effects of these regimes on criteria & indicators of function, structure and composition are scored using criteria and indicators. Changes in condition, resilience and transformation are assessed relative to fully natural a reference state for each plant community. Assessments are constrained to soil landscape units because this approximates to land manager’s use and management of the landscape. The framework helps decision makers assess and report change at sites and landscapes due to human management and natural drivers.
Tracking the Transformation of Vegetated Landscapes (VAST)Richard Thackway
Presentation given to the NSW Ecological Consultants Association 2013 Conference held at Fairmont Resort at Leura, NSW in the Blue Mountains on 2nd August 2013. Conference theme “Offsets: determination, assessment and management”. presentation was part of the Scientific and Consultant Perspective session.
Application of land management information to improve the tracking of changes...Richard Thackway
Most changes over time in the extent and condition of native vegetation types can be accounted by changes in Land use and land management practices (LMP). Obvious changes and trends in the structure, composition and function of native vegetation can be detected using remote sensing. While environmental models are helpful they must access site data on the effects that LMP have on essential environmental variables. More subtle changes in native vegetation extent and condition must be directly measured using ground-based observations of the interactions to attribute cause and effect to natural processes and LMP. Ideally we need an information system which informs the survey, classification and mapping and modelling of LMP at various scales
VAST: A Framework for Assessing the Transformation of Native Vegetation Richard Thackway
The VAST framework was developed for assessing and reporting on the degree of modification of plant communities modified by land management regimes and production systems. Modification is assessed using criteria and indicators of ecological function, structure and composition. Depending of the need VAST can operate at spatial and temporal scales. The framework is outlined showing how the degradation and restoration of forest/vegetation types relates to deliberate and unintentional land management decisions. A case study of the Cumberland State Forest, Pennant Hills, New South Wales is presented. Users of the framework consider four key issues; 1) Must differentiate severe natural disturbance events from impacts of land management regimes; 2) Must define reference state using the same indicators of ecological function, structure and composition; 3) Must understand stable condition states and multiple benefits (ecosystem services); and 4) Must understand interactions between patterns of rainfall and land management regimes.
Knowing more about your land - establishing a knowledge baseline for landscap...Richard Thackway
Soils for Life workshop was held at “Jillamatong” Braidwood, NSW on 13 November 2013. The presentation outlines a system for assessing change and trend in vegetation condition at the paddock level using the VAST framework. To assess change and trend it is necessary to develop ecological literacy about ecological function. The presentation steps through key components of the VAST framework including collating and collecting a chronology about land management practices and regimes and the observed effects these practices had on indicators ecological function. A simple graphical report card is used to assist the land manager see where they have come from, where they are now and to plan strategies for achieving future outcomes by changing land management practices and regimes. Site and paddock-based monitoring of core indicators will assist the and manager to track change and trend.
What's your property's story? Establishing a baseline for landscape improvementRichard Thackway
Soils for Life workshop was held at “Jillamatong” Braidwood, NSW on 13 November 2013. The presentation outlines a system for assessing change and trend in vegetation condition at the paddock level using the VAST framework. To assess change and trend it is necessary to develop ecological literacy about ecological function. The presentation steps through key components of the VAST framework including collating a chronology about land management practices and regimes and the observed effects these practices had on indicators ecological function. A simple graphical report card is used to assist the land manager see where they have come from, where they are now and to plan strategies for achieving future outcomes by changing land management practices and regimes. Site and paddock-based monitoring of core indicators will assist the and manager to track change and trend.
Managing vegetation for multiple benefit outcomes – Diagnosis and Prognosis Richard Thackway
A framework for evaluating changes in extent and condition of woody native vegetation communities in the Murray Darling Basin. An approach for developing scenarios for future landscape transformation to enhance native vegetation communities
VAST-2 - Tracking effects of land management on veg condition over time at si...Richard Thackway
Presentation given to a workshop on “Developing a strategic revegetation and restoration recovery plan for the Brigalow. University of Queensland, Brisbane 14-15 May 2012.
A framework for assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetationRichard Thackway
Land management practices are used for a wide range of purposes to modify and fragment native vegetation at sites and to transform vegetated landscapes. Land management targets indicators of vegetation structure, species composition and regenerative capacity. A framework is presented enabling the gains and losses of native vegetation to be tracked over time at site and landscape scales.
Tracking change in land use and vegetation conditionRichard Thackway
Seminar 'Tracking change in land use and vegetation condition' presented to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra on 22 February 2013.
Tracking sand dune transformation before, during and after sand dune mining,...Richard Thackway
Unmodified landscapes are transformed by the removal of vegetation prior to, during sand mining and through restoration, after mining. Bridge Hill Ridge is presented as a case study for the application of a standardised national system (VAST-2) to account for ecological changes before, during and after mining. Bridge Hill Ridge is a high coastal sand dune, part of the Myall Lakes National Park, NSW. A reference state was defined for the unmodified unmined Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) and smooth barked apple (Angophora costata) open forest, comprising ten ecological characteristics, integrated with 22 indicators. This information provided the basis for assessing change and trend over time in regard to mining and restoration. Relevant sources of ecological data and information pertaining to the ten ecological characteristics and 22 indicators were compiled and analysed relative to the reference states. Key researchers and land managers who had worked on the site were contacted and interviewed. A field visit was conducted in mid-January 2014 to validate assessment of change and trend, almost 40 years after mine restoration. The effects of land management practices, i.e. mining and restoration, upon the unmodified Eucalypt open forest plant community were assessed relative to the reference state to determine the relative change and trend in the ten ecological characteristics and 22 indicators over time. Reporting standardized indicators helps land managers and other decision makers to understand the nature of change and trend in regard to predicted future states; to make adjustments in rehabilitation activities (e.g. hydrological interventions, control of weeds and feral animals, mitigation of wildfire, and management of people). The benefits of integrated monitoring and reporting using a standardised report card provides a simple tool to inform inform stakeholders of progress towards agreed target/s of vegetation structure, species composition and regenerative capacity (landscape function).
This document outlines a research project called SoilBioHedge that aims to:
1) Determine how hedgerows and field margins can preserve soil biodiversity and help restore degraded soil structure and function in agricultural fields.
2) Study how landscape connectivity allows key soil organisms like earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi to disperse from hedgerows into fields.
3) Develop a predictive model of soil quality changes at field and landscape scales based on land use, management practices, and soil type.
The document describes the Soils Training And Research Studentships (STARS) Centre for Doctoral Training. STARS is a collaboration between 8 partner organizations in the UK to provide training and studentships for 24 PhD students over 3 years focused on soil science. The goals are to create a unique training experience and develop the next generation of soil scientists. Students will be placed into 4 research programs and receive training through cohort activities, online resources, and placements. The management board oversees operations and quality assurance. Example studentship projects are provided covering areas like carbon cycling, soil biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change and agricultural practices on soils.
This document summarizes a research project on understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grasslands and croplands. The project will:
1) Survey paired natural and intensified agricultural sites across the UK to quantify impacts on soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience to climate change.
2) Use mesocosm experiments to test the resilience of soil biodiversity and functions to environmental change under different land management intensities.
3) Develop process-based and spatial models to scale relationships between soil biodiversity and ecosystem services under scenarios of environmental change.
TSBF Institute of CIAT: Sustainable Land Management for Eco-efficient Agricul...CIAT
The document discusses the objectives and rationale of the TSBF Institute of CIAT Program TS2, which aims to enhance knowledge of soil ecological functions, utilize targeted land use and soil management interventions, and enhance production of ecosystem services through sustainable agriculture. The program will evaluate eco-efficient land and soil management practices for landscape levels and develop options for interventions to enhance production, ecosystem functions, and adaptation to climate change. Key outputs include validated alternative technologies and systems, improved problem identification, improved targeting and decision making, and successful implementation of interventions to improve land productivity and prevent degradation.
This document summarizes a research project studying the impact of land use intensity on soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience in UK grasslands and croplands. The project will:
1) Survey soil microbial biodiversity across 30 sites representing different land use intensities through DNA sequencing and analyze relationships between biodiversity, soil properties, and functions.
2) Use isotope tracing in microcosm experiments to study how land use intensity alters microbial communities and their carbon use efficiency and storage.
3) Determine the explicit role of changes in microbial diversity in regulating soil services through community manipulation experiments.
1) The document presents a hypothesis that the stability of soil food webs and their functioning depends on two energy channels - a fast bacterial channel and a slow fungal channel.
2) Long-term intensive management is found to reduce plant diversity, fungal dominance, and soil organic matter. Higher fungal biomass is associated with increased nitrogen retention and microbial immobilization of nitrogen.
3) An experimental approach is proposed to examine how soil food webs and their functions respond to and recover from drought and flood disturbances, both individually and in sequence, to develop models predicting impacts of land use and climate change.
A system for tracking the resilience of native vegetation on Defence lands Richard Thackway
Most defence training areas are minimally managed resulting in no obvious effects on the components of vegetation condition; structure, composition and function of plant communities. However deliberate and/or inadvertent management practices can result in changes in vegetation condition. Documenting the contemporary and previous land management practices and their observed effects over time and on the present-day indicators of vegetation condition gives land managers valuable insights for adaptive management. A consistent national system, Vegetation Assets States and Transitions (VAST–2), comprising standardized and benchmarked set of indicators may be used to assess the degree of transformation of the components of vegetation condition associated with management practices over time.
This research article examines the relationship between carbon to nitrogen/carbon to oxygen (C:N/C:O) stoichiometry ratios and ecosystem services in three different production systems - a wheat monoculture, a combined food and energy system, and a beech forest. The study found that the C:N/C:O ratios were highest in the beech forest and lowest in the wheat monoculture. It also found that the economic value of non-marketed ecosystem services like regulation and support services was highest in the beech forest, followed by the combined food and energy system, and lowest in the wheat monoculture. The study argues that C:N/C:O ratios can be used as a
Relinking landscapes - assessing ecological transformations using VAST-2Richard Thackway
Over the last 20 years in Australia the number and popularity of landscape linkage projects have increased. Arguably these landscape connectivity initiatives represent a good case for social and political transformations however, there the ability to discern whether these initiatives make a contribution to biodiversity outcomes is questioned because of a lack of monitoring reporting.
This presentation proposes an accounting approach to track biodiversity outcomes using indicators of regenerative capacity, vegetation structure and species composition. This requires ecologists to engage land managers as equal partners to collect on-ground observations and/measurements
Presentació per part de Sandra Lavorel (Directrice de Recherches CNRS, LECA Labaratouir d'Ecologie Alpine, France) en el marc de la jornada del projecte CIRCLE 2 MOUNTain co-organitzat per l'Oficina Catalana del Canvi Climàtic durant els dies 26 i 27 de setembre de 2013.
This project aims to (1) evaluate transport processes of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria using hydrologic and water quality models, (2) evaluate the sensitivity of conservation practices on downstream water quality and quantity under climate change, and (3) develop extension programs to educate watershed stakeholders. The project uses models to simulate streamflow, crop yields, and water tables, which are calibrated and validated against field data from the Big Sunflower River watershed in Mississippi. Preliminary results show the impacts of crop rotations and tillage practices on groundwater and the potential effects of climate change on yields.
Sustainable Landscapes: Food Security and adapting to climate changeCIFOR-ICRAF
This presentation by Gernot Laganda shows the IFAD's point of view on landscapes: why they're so concerned with it, how climate change impact on agricultural landscapes and how the IFAD integrates land, food and climate systems.
Experience from the Community Linkages Project in Swaziland_Gloria Ekpo_4.25.13CORE Group
The Community Linkages Project in Swaziland aimed to improve quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS through community home-based care and nutritional support. The project showed higher retention and lower loss to follow up at sites using community expert clients to link clients between clinics and communities. Challenges included late reporting, staff transitions, and delays in supply procurement. Overall, functional linkages between community and clinic levels through expert clients were effective for adherence and retention in HIV care.
Jen McGinn gives a presentation on persona development. She defines personas as hypothetical archetypes that represent important user groups. Personas are defined by their goals and come in the form of 1-2 page descriptions with names and personal details. McGinn discusses different uses of personas and provides advice based on her experience. She also presents two case studies where personas were developed for an existing training product and a new product to validate initial personas and gather additional user insights.
Knowing more about your land - establishing a knowledge baseline for landscap...Richard Thackway
Soils for Life workshop was held at “Jillamatong” Braidwood, NSW on 13 November 2013. The presentation outlines a system for assessing change and trend in vegetation condition at the paddock level using the VAST framework. To assess change and trend it is necessary to develop ecological literacy about ecological function. The presentation steps through key components of the VAST framework including collating and collecting a chronology about land management practices and regimes and the observed effects these practices had on indicators ecological function. A simple graphical report card is used to assist the land manager see where they have come from, where they are now and to plan strategies for achieving future outcomes by changing land management practices and regimes. Site and paddock-based monitoring of core indicators will assist the and manager to track change and trend.
What's your property's story? Establishing a baseline for landscape improvementRichard Thackway
Soils for Life workshop was held at “Jillamatong” Braidwood, NSW on 13 November 2013. The presentation outlines a system for assessing change and trend in vegetation condition at the paddock level using the VAST framework. To assess change and trend it is necessary to develop ecological literacy about ecological function. The presentation steps through key components of the VAST framework including collating a chronology about land management practices and regimes and the observed effects these practices had on indicators ecological function. A simple graphical report card is used to assist the land manager see where they have come from, where they are now and to plan strategies for achieving future outcomes by changing land management practices and regimes. Site and paddock-based monitoring of core indicators will assist the and manager to track change and trend.
Managing vegetation for multiple benefit outcomes – Diagnosis and Prognosis Richard Thackway
A framework for evaluating changes in extent and condition of woody native vegetation communities in the Murray Darling Basin. An approach for developing scenarios for future landscape transformation to enhance native vegetation communities
VAST-2 - Tracking effects of land management on veg condition over time at si...Richard Thackway
Presentation given to a workshop on “Developing a strategic revegetation and restoration recovery plan for the Brigalow. University of Queensland, Brisbane 14-15 May 2012.
A framework for assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetationRichard Thackway
Land management practices are used for a wide range of purposes to modify and fragment native vegetation at sites and to transform vegetated landscapes. Land management targets indicators of vegetation structure, species composition and regenerative capacity. A framework is presented enabling the gains and losses of native vegetation to be tracked over time at site and landscape scales.
Tracking change in land use and vegetation conditionRichard Thackway
Seminar 'Tracking change in land use and vegetation condition' presented to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra on 22 February 2013.
Tracking sand dune transformation before, during and after sand dune mining,...Richard Thackway
Unmodified landscapes are transformed by the removal of vegetation prior to, during sand mining and through restoration, after mining. Bridge Hill Ridge is presented as a case study for the application of a standardised national system (VAST-2) to account for ecological changes before, during and after mining. Bridge Hill Ridge is a high coastal sand dune, part of the Myall Lakes National Park, NSW. A reference state was defined for the unmodified unmined Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) and smooth barked apple (Angophora costata) open forest, comprising ten ecological characteristics, integrated with 22 indicators. This information provided the basis for assessing change and trend over time in regard to mining and restoration. Relevant sources of ecological data and information pertaining to the ten ecological characteristics and 22 indicators were compiled and analysed relative to the reference states. Key researchers and land managers who had worked on the site were contacted and interviewed. A field visit was conducted in mid-January 2014 to validate assessment of change and trend, almost 40 years after mine restoration. The effects of land management practices, i.e. mining and restoration, upon the unmodified Eucalypt open forest plant community were assessed relative to the reference state to determine the relative change and trend in the ten ecological characteristics and 22 indicators over time. Reporting standardized indicators helps land managers and other decision makers to understand the nature of change and trend in regard to predicted future states; to make adjustments in rehabilitation activities (e.g. hydrological interventions, control of weeds and feral animals, mitigation of wildfire, and management of people). The benefits of integrated monitoring and reporting using a standardised report card provides a simple tool to inform inform stakeholders of progress towards agreed target/s of vegetation structure, species composition and regenerative capacity (landscape function).
This document outlines a research project called SoilBioHedge that aims to:
1) Determine how hedgerows and field margins can preserve soil biodiversity and help restore degraded soil structure and function in agricultural fields.
2) Study how landscape connectivity allows key soil organisms like earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi to disperse from hedgerows into fields.
3) Develop a predictive model of soil quality changes at field and landscape scales based on land use, management practices, and soil type.
The document describes the Soils Training And Research Studentships (STARS) Centre for Doctoral Training. STARS is a collaboration between 8 partner organizations in the UK to provide training and studentships for 24 PhD students over 3 years focused on soil science. The goals are to create a unique training experience and develop the next generation of soil scientists. Students will be placed into 4 research programs and receive training through cohort activities, online resources, and placements. The management board oversees operations and quality assurance. Example studentship projects are provided covering areas like carbon cycling, soil biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change and agricultural practices on soils.
This document summarizes a research project on understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grasslands and croplands. The project will:
1) Survey paired natural and intensified agricultural sites across the UK to quantify impacts on soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience to climate change.
2) Use mesocosm experiments to test the resilience of soil biodiversity and functions to environmental change under different land management intensities.
3) Develop process-based and spatial models to scale relationships between soil biodiversity and ecosystem services under scenarios of environmental change.
TSBF Institute of CIAT: Sustainable Land Management for Eco-efficient Agricul...CIAT
The document discusses the objectives and rationale of the TSBF Institute of CIAT Program TS2, which aims to enhance knowledge of soil ecological functions, utilize targeted land use and soil management interventions, and enhance production of ecosystem services through sustainable agriculture. The program will evaluate eco-efficient land and soil management practices for landscape levels and develop options for interventions to enhance production, ecosystem functions, and adaptation to climate change. Key outputs include validated alternative technologies and systems, improved problem identification, improved targeting and decision making, and successful implementation of interventions to improve land productivity and prevent degradation.
This document summarizes a research project studying the impact of land use intensity on soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience in UK grasslands and croplands. The project will:
1) Survey soil microbial biodiversity across 30 sites representing different land use intensities through DNA sequencing and analyze relationships between biodiversity, soil properties, and functions.
2) Use isotope tracing in microcosm experiments to study how land use intensity alters microbial communities and their carbon use efficiency and storage.
3) Determine the explicit role of changes in microbial diversity in regulating soil services through community manipulation experiments.
1) The document presents a hypothesis that the stability of soil food webs and their functioning depends on two energy channels - a fast bacterial channel and a slow fungal channel.
2) Long-term intensive management is found to reduce plant diversity, fungal dominance, and soil organic matter. Higher fungal biomass is associated with increased nitrogen retention and microbial immobilization of nitrogen.
3) An experimental approach is proposed to examine how soil food webs and their functions respond to and recover from drought and flood disturbances, both individually and in sequence, to develop models predicting impacts of land use and climate change.
A system for tracking the resilience of native vegetation on Defence lands Richard Thackway
Most defence training areas are minimally managed resulting in no obvious effects on the components of vegetation condition; structure, composition and function of plant communities. However deliberate and/or inadvertent management practices can result in changes in vegetation condition. Documenting the contemporary and previous land management practices and their observed effects over time and on the present-day indicators of vegetation condition gives land managers valuable insights for adaptive management. A consistent national system, Vegetation Assets States and Transitions (VAST–2), comprising standardized and benchmarked set of indicators may be used to assess the degree of transformation of the components of vegetation condition associated with management practices over time.
This research article examines the relationship between carbon to nitrogen/carbon to oxygen (C:N/C:O) stoichiometry ratios and ecosystem services in three different production systems - a wheat monoculture, a combined food and energy system, and a beech forest. The study found that the C:N/C:O ratios were highest in the beech forest and lowest in the wheat monoculture. It also found that the economic value of non-marketed ecosystem services like regulation and support services was highest in the beech forest, followed by the combined food and energy system, and lowest in the wheat monoculture. The study argues that C:N/C:O ratios can be used as a
Relinking landscapes - assessing ecological transformations using VAST-2Richard Thackway
Over the last 20 years in Australia the number and popularity of landscape linkage projects have increased. Arguably these landscape connectivity initiatives represent a good case for social and political transformations however, there the ability to discern whether these initiatives make a contribution to biodiversity outcomes is questioned because of a lack of monitoring reporting.
This presentation proposes an accounting approach to track biodiversity outcomes using indicators of regenerative capacity, vegetation structure and species composition. This requires ecologists to engage land managers as equal partners to collect on-ground observations and/measurements
Presentació per part de Sandra Lavorel (Directrice de Recherches CNRS, LECA Labaratouir d'Ecologie Alpine, France) en el marc de la jornada del projecte CIRCLE 2 MOUNTain co-organitzat per l'Oficina Catalana del Canvi Climàtic durant els dies 26 i 27 de setembre de 2013.
This project aims to (1) evaluate transport processes of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria using hydrologic and water quality models, (2) evaluate the sensitivity of conservation practices on downstream water quality and quantity under climate change, and (3) develop extension programs to educate watershed stakeholders. The project uses models to simulate streamflow, crop yields, and water tables, which are calibrated and validated against field data from the Big Sunflower River watershed in Mississippi. Preliminary results show the impacts of crop rotations and tillage practices on groundwater and the potential effects of climate change on yields.
Sustainable Landscapes: Food Security and adapting to climate changeCIFOR-ICRAF
This presentation by Gernot Laganda shows the IFAD's point of view on landscapes: why they're so concerned with it, how climate change impact on agricultural landscapes and how the IFAD integrates land, food and climate systems.
Experience from the Community Linkages Project in Swaziland_Gloria Ekpo_4.25.13CORE Group
The Community Linkages Project in Swaziland aimed to improve quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS through community home-based care and nutritional support. The project showed higher retention and lower loss to follow up at sites using community expert clients to link clients between clinics and communities. Challenges included late reporting, staff transitions, and delays in supply procurement. Overall, functional linkages between community and clinic levels through expert clients were effective for adherence and retention in HIV care.
Jen McGinn gives a presentation on persona development. She defines personas as hypothetical archetypes that represent important user groups. Personas are defined by their goals and come in the form of 1-2 page descriptions with names and personal details. McGinn discusses different uses of personas and provides advice based on her experience. She also presents two case studies where personas were developed for an existing training product and a new product to validate initial personas and gather additional user insights.
The document discusses community linkages between schools and local resources. It outlines how partnerships can benefit schools and communities by sharing facilities, volunteers, expertise and more. This enhances educational opportunities, strengthens neighborhoods, and leads to improved outcomes for youth and families. Effective collaboration requires strategic planning from professionals in schools and communities.
Diversity of learners seminar presentationChoc Nat
The document outlines several dimensions of learner diversity including social, economic, linguistic, technological, disability, and multi-literacies factors. Some of the key aspects of diversity mentioned are culture, race, gender, class, first language, digital skills, physical or mental disabilities, and different forms of literacy like textual, aural, and virtual. The document provides examples of variables that contribute to diversity among learners.
The document discusses diversity among learners and different factors that influence how individuals learn. It describes different learning and thinking styles such as sensory preferences for visual, auditory, or tactile learning. It also discusses global versus analytic thinking styles and Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. The document outlines different types of exceptionalities and provides examples of how to accommodate diverse learners through instructional methods and assessments.
Curriculum, history and elements of curriculumUmair Ashraf
The document defines curriculum in several ways and discusses its history and key elements. It provides definitions from various perspectives, such as curriculum being all planned learning, the totality of a student's experiences, or a set of subjects. The history of curriculum development in the US is reviewed from colonial times through the 20th century. Basic elements of curriculum are outlined as having components like subject matter, instructional plans, goals and objectives.
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The use and management of forested landscapes results in their transformation. Land management practices are used to change key ecological criteria include fire regime, soil hydrology, nutrient status, soil biology, overstorey and understorey vegetation structure and species composition. Two case studies in the Cumberland State Forest, Sydney, NSW are presented showing the transformation of the forest over time.
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Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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Assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetation using metrics of structure, composition and function
1. Assessing and reporting resilience of
native vegetation using metrics of
structure, composition and function
Richard Thackway
Macquarie University Biology Department Seminar
22 April 2015
2. Outline
• How the land use modifies native vegetation
• Links between management and ecosystem services
• VAST-2 methodology
– Detailed chronology of causes and effects
– Criteria and indicators of structure, composition and function
– Some concepts and definitions
– Analytical framework
• Case studies
• Lessons
• Where to from here
• Conclusions and more information
13. Historic goals of land managers over time
Values and decisions matrix:
• Social
• Economic
• Environmental
Intensification
Degradation?
Time
State @ t1
State @ t2
State @ t3
Development
14. Regulation of hydrological regime
Generation of food and fibre
Regulation of climate / microclimate
Generation of raw materials
Recycling of organic matter
Creating and regulating habitats
Controlling reproduction and dispersal
LMP are used to change ecological function to
derive multiple benefits (ecosystem services)
t1 t2 t3
Time
State@t1
State@t2
State@t3
15. Current & future goals of land managers
Values and decisions matrix:
• Social
• Economic
• Environmental
Extensification
Restoration
State @ t1
Regeneration
State @ t2
State @ t3
17. Concepts and definitions
• Resilience = the capacity of an plant community to recover
toward a reference state following a change/s in land
management
• Change in condition of a plant community (type) is due to
effects of land management practices:
– Structure
– Composition
– Regenerative capacity
• Transformation = changes in vegetation condition over time
• Condition, resilience and transformation are assessed relative
to a fully natural Reference state
Vegetation condition
18. Based on Cannon (1987)
Baseline for assessing resilience:
Indigenous peoples first contact with explorers
Based on Cannon (1987), Readers Digest.
Plotted using IBRA regions
19. How do land managers modify structure, composition &
function (i.e. resilience) over time?
LMP that focus on soil
LMP that focus on
native vegetation
Regenerative capacity/ function
Vegetation structure &
Species composition
1. Soil hydrological status
2. Soil physical status
3. Soil chemical status
4. Soil biological status
5. Fire regime
6. Reproductive potential
7. Overstorey structure
8. Understorey structure
9. Overstorey composition
10. Understorey composition
LMP = Land Management Practices
Focussing on 10 key criteria
20. Common interventions designed to influence
structure, composition & function i.e. resilience
Various interventions:
Land management practices (LMP) are used to influence
ecological building blocks at sites and landscapes by:
• Modifying …
• Removing and replacing …
• Enhancing …
• Restoring …
• Maintaining …
• Improving …
Various purposes:
To achieve the desired mix of ecosystem services (space & time)
21. VAST-2 is an accounting system for assessing the
transformation of native vegetation
LU = Land Use, LMP = Land Management Practices
VAST Diagnostic attributes
Time
22. Aim of VAST-2 at sites and landscapes
Indigenous
land
management
First
explorers
Grazing
Degreeof
resilience/condition
Logging
Cropping
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Time
Reference state
Long
term
rainfall
Long term
disturbance
e.g. wildfire,
cyclones
Revegetation
VAST
classes
Weeds
Ferals
23. How does VAST-2 use metrics
to assess and report
resilience/condition of native
vegetation?
24. Generate total indices for ‘transformation site’ for each year of the
historical record. Validate using Expert Knowledge
• Compile and collate effects of land
management on criteria (10) and
indicators (22) over time.
• Evaluate impacts on the plant
community over time
Transformation site
• Compile and collate effects of
land management on criteria
(10) and indicators (22)
Reference state/sites
Score all 22 indicators for ‘transformation site’ relative to the
‘reference site’. 0 = major change; 1 = no change
Derive weighted indices for the ‘transformation site’ i.e. regenerative
capacity (55%), vegetation structure (27%) and species composition (18%)
by adding predefined indicators
General process for tracking change over time
using the VAST-2 system
25. Approximate
year
Source:
Year
LU & LMP Source:
LU & LMP
Effects of land use and
management on criteria and
indicators of vegetation
condition
Source:
Effects
1800
1840
2015
Establish a chronology of data and information of
causes and effects /observed & measured responses
Pre-contact
First contact
Current year
LU = Land Use, LMP = Land Management Practices NB: Accuracy of each observation and
measurement is important
26. Components
(3)
Criteria
(10)
Description of loss or gain relative to pre settlement indicator reference state
(22)Regenerativecapacity
Fire regime Change in the area /size of fire foot prints
Change in the number of fire starts
Soil hydrology Change in the soil surface water availability
Change in the ground water availability
Soil physical
state
Change in the depth of the A horizon
Change in soil structure.
Soil nutrient
state
Nutrient stress – rundown (deficiency) relative to soil fertility
Nutrient stress – excess (toxicity) relative to soil fertility
Soil biological
state
Change in the recyclers responsible for maintaining soil porosity and nutrient recycling
Change in surface organic matter, soil crusts
Reproductive
potential
Change in the reproductive potential of overstorey structuring species
Change in the reproductive potential of understorey structuring species
Vegetationstructure
Overstorey
structure
Change in the overstorey top height (mean) of the plant community
Change in the overstorey foliage projective cover (mean) of the plant community
Change in the overstorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the stand
Understorey
structure
Change in the understorey top height (mean) of the plant community
Change in the understorey ground cover (mean) of the plant community
Change in the understorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the plant
Species
Composition
Overstorey
composition
Change in the densities of overstorey species functional groups
Change in no.s of indigenous overstorey species relative to the number of exotic species
Understorey
composition
Change in the densities of understorey species functional groups
Change in no.s of indigenous understorey species relative to the number of exotic species
28. Importance of dynamics
Assume rainfall is main driver of natural system dynamics
• Period 1900 - 2014
• Average seasonal rainfall (summer, autumn, …)
• Rainfall anomaly is calculated above and below the mean
• Two year running trend line fitted
30. • Network of collaborators
• Ecologists, land managers, academics, research scientists,
environmental historians
• Inputs
• Reference state
• Historical record of land use & Land management practices
• Historical record of major natural events e.g. droughts, fires, floods,
cyclones, modelled average rainfall 1900-2014
• Observed interactions e.g. rabbits, sheep and drought
• Observations and quantitative measures of effects of LMP
• Include written, oral, artistic, photographic, long-term ecological
monitoring sites and remote sensing
Resources needed for each site
31. Certainty level standards used to compile
historic record
Certainty
level
standards
Spatial precision
(Scale)
Temporal precision
(Year of observation)
Attribute accuracy
(Land use, land
management practices,
effects on condition)
HIGH
"Definite”
Reliable direct
quantitative data.
Code: 1
Reliable direct
quantitative data.
Code: 4
Reliable direct
quantitative data.
Code: 7
MEDIUM
"Probable
"
Direct (with
qualifications) or strong
indirect data.
Code: 2
Direct (with
qualifications) or strong
indirect data.
Code: 5
Direct (with
qualifications) or strong
indirect data.
Code: 8
LOW
"Possible"
Limited qualitative and
possibly contradictory
observations. More
data needed.
Code: 3
Limited qualitative and
possibly contradictory
observations. More
data needed.
Code: 6
Limited qualitative and
possibly contradictory
observations. More
data needed.
Code: 9
32. Reliability levels of attribute sources
Quadrat or pixel
Land unit
Land system
Sub-bioregion
Bioregion
Certainty
levels
Coarse
Fine
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
High
Sources of
information
Granularity of
information
33. Assumptions
Changes in LU & LMP
– result in measurable and predictable changes in structure, floristics
& regen capacity
– can be consistently and reliably differentiated from natural events
– have or can be adequately and reliably documented over time
Sequential responses in veg structure, floristics & regen capacity can be
discovered, unpacked and scored over time
Ratings and weightings are ecologically meaningful
41. Predictions of mature forest
(Bunning’s Enquiry 1974)
Bridge Hill Ridge- post mining restoration
X = 2034
Y = 2054
Z = 2074
X Y Z
42. Predictions of mature forest
(Bunning’s Enquiry 1974)
Bridge Hill Ridge- post mining restoration
X = 2034
Y = 2054
Z = 2074
X Y Z
43. Components
(3)
Criteria
(10)
Description of loss or gain relative to pre settlement indicator reference state
(22)Regenerativecapacity
Fire regime Change in the area /size of fire foot prints
Change in the number of fire starts
Soil hydrology Change in the soil surface water availability
Change in the ground water availability
Soil physical
state
Change in the depth of the A horizon
Change in soil structure.
Soil nutrient
state
Nutrient stress – rundown (deficiency) relative to soil fertility
Nutrient stress – excess (toxicity) relative to soil fertility
Soil biological
state
Change in the recyclers responsible for maintaining soil porosity and nutrient recycling
Change in surface organic matter, soil crusts
Reproductive
potential
Change in the reproductive potential of overstorey structuring species
Change in the reproductive potential of understorey structuring species
Vegetationstructure
Overstorey
structure
Change in the overstorey top height (mean) of the plant community
Change in the overstorey foliage projective cover (mean) of the plant community
Change in the overstorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the stand
Understorey
structure
Change in the understorey top height (mean) of the plant community
Change in the understorey ground cover (mean) of the plant community
Change in the understorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the plant
Species
Composition
Overstorey
composition
Change in the densities of overstorey species functional groups
Change in no.s of indigenous overstorey species relative to the number of exotic species
Understorey
composition
Change in the densities of understorey species functional groups
Change in no.s of indigenous understorey species relative to the number of exotic species
44. Lessons site vs. landscape
1. Constrain assessments to soil landscape units because this
approximates land manager’s interventions
2. Must account for natural dynamics e.g. flood, fire, cyclone
3. Remote sensing is only part of the solution –
a) Some measures of remote sensing e.g. greenness of tree crowns may not
be directly related to vegetation condition
4. Tracking outcomes of management interventions using remote sensing
a) e.g. environmental plantings and environmental watering requires on-
ground collection of data to calibrate and validate spatial and multi-
temporal imagery
b) Only populate criteria and indicators once imagery has been validated
45. Conclusions
• VAST and VAST-2:
Provides an accounting tool for reporting change and trend in the
condition of plant communities
Helps with telling the resilience story in landscape transformation
Provides a system for synthesizing diverse source and types of
information (quantitative and qualitative)
Values equally land managers and ecologists because they both
contribute essential data and information
Enables decision-makers to better understand complex ecosystem
transformations such as degradation, restoration and regeneration.
46. ‘Telling the transformation story’
Residual/ unmodified
Modified
Transformed
Adventive
Replaced and
managed
Organ Pipes National Park, Vic –
ex cropping paddock
Pathways of
landscape
transformation
reflect choices
and drivers
VAST
classes
49. More info & Acknowledgements
More information
http://www.vasttransformations.com/
http://portal.tern.org.au/search
http://aceas-data.science.uq.edu.au/portal/
Acknowledgements
• University of Queensland, Department of Geography Planning and
Environmental Management for ongoing research support
• Many public and private land managers, land management agencies,
consultants and researchers have assisted in the development of VAST & VAST-2