scholarly journals The Role of Feral Goats in Maintaining Firebreaks by Using Attractants

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 7144
Author(s):  
Javier Pareja ◽  
Elena Baraza ◽  
Miguel Ibáñez ◽  
Oriol Domenech ◽  
Jordi Bartolomé
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Domestic Species ◽  
Water Salt ◽  
Rural Depopulation ◽  
Feral Animals

The threat of large forest fires is increasing, and the main causes are the depopulation of rural areas, along with the effects of climate change. To counter this threat in recent decades, there have been numerous proposals and actions aimed at promoting grazing in the forest as a tool for controlling biomass fuel. However, the continued disappearance of traditional herds makes this activity difficult. Rural depopulation has also meant that domestic species become feral, being habitual in the case of goats. Currently, little is known about the role that feral goats can play in the fight against forest fires. In this work, an analysis is made on the effect of feral goats on the control of the vegetation in firebreak areas. Furthermore, the effect of attractants, such as water, salt, or food, on goat behavior is also studied. The study was carried out on the island of Mallorca, where a population of feral goats occupies the mountain areas, and where it is common for them to graze on the network of firebreaks. The results showed that these areas in themselves exert an attractive effect with respect to the neighboring forest, and that the herbaceous biomass is reduced. This effect was enhanced with the implementation of water and salt points, although only in certain periods of the year. In general, it was possible to reduce the phytovolume of many species without affecting biodiversity in the short or medium term. Therefore, strategic management of feral animals, aimed at firebreak areas, could contribute not only to reducing the risk of fires and, consequently, to the mitigation of climate change, but also to attracting these animals to the forests, thus avoiding their dispersion to conflictive places such as roads, residences, agricultural fields, and gardens.

scholarly journals WOMEN’S ROLE IN MITIGATION AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Lilik Sumarni ◽  
Endang Rudiatin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
London School ◽  
Close Link ◽  
Role Of Women ◽  
The Impact

The impact of climate change caused by global warming is currently one of the trending topics in various media and it is an extremely serious threat to human security. Forest fires, floods, landslides and changes in lifestyles to survive natural disasters are the very significant contributing factors to poverty rates in various parts of the world. The London School of Economics and Political Science conducted a study of 141 countries affected by disasters in the 1981-2002 period and found a close link between natural disasters and women's socioeconomic status. Data from the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) states that women have 14 times of risk for becoming victims of disasters compared to adult men. Women become the most victimized because women prioritize children and their families rather than saving themselves. Although women bear more risks to climate change, women can also have the principal opportunity and role in implementing climate change mitigation adaptation, namely by making women actors in disaster mitigation and drivers of change in parallel to their strong responsibilities to their families. By providing adequate knowledge for women about adaptation and mitigation of disasters, the women can turn themselves to be the strategic activists in coping with disasters for communities living in disaster-prone areas.This study is a comparative discussion of three research results to obtain an overview and find solutions to women's problems from the consequences of climate change, which is a study by changing women from being the most victims of natural disasters to becoming the driving actor for families and communities in overcoming disaster and her ability to survive the post-disaster situation. The conclusion is the three levels of gender roles related to climate change to increase women's adaptive capacity. An adaptation strategy needs the form of 1. Increasing the role of women in the political arena. It is a crucial issue because women's rights can be protected by their presence and role, as well as women in guarding policies. 2. Increasing the role of women in the realm of education. Education is no less important than politics because education will provide a foundation for understanding and self-confidence, bargaining and personal branding for women so that their presence in society will be recognized and will no longer be discriminated. 3. Cultural reconstruction based on gender equality is very important because so far, the notion of patriarchy is still inherent in our culture. Many perspectives are cooptated on the statement that superior (men) are stronger then give rise women mythos that is said to be weak (women). In reality, the presence of women is still fundamental to the aspect of maintaining the economy and education for the continuation and the quality of the life in the society.

Saudi demographics may ultimately drive discontent

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Role ◽  
Role Of Religion

Significance This means the leadership must manage a significant social change, catalysed by an engaged and 'globalised' youth segment. At the same time, the economy has to accommodate population growth even as its hydrocarbon base faces uncertainties from climate change. Impacts Beyond major urban centres such as Riyadh and Jeddah, much of the country will remain closed and conservative. Moves to curb the influence of the clerical establishment will persist, but the central role of religion will prove resistant to change. In the short term, women’s rising economic role will disrupt familial norms only among the elite. The current shrinking space for expressing discontent could contribute to a brain drain from the kingdom. By 2035, there will be a higher likelihood of protests, both virtual and physical, especially in rural areas.

scholarly journals Current role of grasslands in development of agriculture and rural areas in Poland - an example of mountain voivodships małopolskie and podkarpackie

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halina Jankowska-Huflejt ◽  
Barbara Wróbel ◽  
Stanisław Twardy
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Current Role ◽  
The Future ◽  
Agriculture Development

Current role of grasslands in development of agriculture and rural areas in Poland - an example of mountain voivodships małopolskie and podkarpackie In paper the current situation of agriculture activity in mountain areas in Poland on the example of two mountain voivodships: małopolskie and podkarpackie was presented. Particular the role of permanent grasslands in development of agriculture and rural areas was highlighted. The tools for support of agriculture development in mountain areas i.e. LFA payments, payments for cow and sheep raising were presented. The future prospects of the development of mountain areas in Poland were showed.

scholarly journals Attribution of the role of climate change in the forest fires in Sweden 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2169-2179
Author(s):  
Folmer Krikken ◽  
Flavio Lehner ◽  
Karsten Haustein ◽  
Igor Drobyshev ◽  
Geert Jan van Oldenborgh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
Weather Risk

Abstract. In this study, we analyse the role of climate change in the forest fires that raged through large parts of Sweden in the summer of 2018 from a meteorological perspective. This is done by studying the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) based on sub-daily data, both in reanalysis data sets (ERA-Interim, ERA5, the Japanese 55 year Reanalysis, JRA-55, and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2, MERRA-2) and three large-ensemble climate models (EC-Earth, weather@home, W@H, and Community Earth System Model, CESM) simulations. The FWI, based on reanalysis, correlates well with the observed burnt area in summer (r=0.6 to 0.8). We find that the maximum FWI in July 2018 had return times of ∼24 years (90 % CI, confidence interval, > 10 years) for southern and northern Sweden. Furthermore, we find a negative trend of the FWI for southern Sweden over the 1979 to 2017 time period in the reanalyses, yielding a non-significant reduced probability of such an event. However, the short observational record, large uncertainty between the reanalysis products and large natural variability of the FWI give a large confidence interval around this number that easily includes no change, so we cannot draw robust conclusions from reanalysis data. The three large-ensembles with climate models point to a roughly 1.1 (0.9 to 1.4) times increased probability (non-significant) for such events in the current climate relative to preindustrial climate. For a future climate (2 ∘C warming), we find a roughly 2 (1.5 to 3) times increased probability for such events relative to the preindustrial climate. The increased fire weather risk is mainly attributed to the increase in temperature. The other main factor, i.e. precipitation during summer months, is projected to increase for northern Sweden and decrease for southern Sweden. We, however, do not find a clear change in prolonged dry periods in summer months that could explain the increased fire weather risk in the climate models. In summary, we find a (non-significant) reduced probability of such events based on reanalyses, a small (non-significant) increased probability due to global warming up to now and a more robust (significant) increase in the risk for such events in the future based on the climate models.

scholarly journals Impact of CAP’s pillars on Romanian rural employment

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 75-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Vincze ◽  
Kinga Kerekes
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rural Employment ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Term Evolution ◽  
The Impact

This paper aims to clarify the direction of change in rural employment on short- and medium term in Romania, while CAP regulations are being introduced and the global economic crisis emerges. First we put into evidence the decrease of the role of agriculture as buffer for unemployment and the poor contribution of non-agricultural activities to provide employment for rural residents.Then we analyse the main characteristics of the rural labour force. Finally we synthesize the opinions expressed by 33 consultants (working at the Offices for Agricultural Consultancy from different counties in Transylvania) about the estimated short term evolution of rural employment and the impact of CAP on Romanian rural areas.

scholarly journals From needs to actions: prospects for planned adaptations in high mountain communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
pp. 953-972
Author(s):  
Graham McDowell ◽  
Leila Harris ◽  
Michele Koppes ◽  
Martin F. Price ◽  
Kai M.A. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Mountain Communities ◽  
Role Of The State ◽  
Support Mechanisms

AbstractAdaptation needs in high mountain communities are increasingly well documented, yet most efforts to address these needs continue to befall mountain people who have contributed little to the problem of climate change. This situation represents a contravention of accepted norms of climate justice and calls attention to the need for better understanding of prospects for externally resourced adaptation initiatives in high mountain areas. In response, this paper examines the architecture of formal adaptation support mechanisms organized through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and how such mechanisms might help to meet adaptation needs in high mountain communities. It outlines key global adaptation initiatives organized through the UNFCCC, clarifies idealized linkages between these global adaptation initiatives and meeting local adaptation needs, and evaluates actual progress in connecting such support with discrete adaptation needs in the upper Manaslu region of Nepal. The paper then critically examines observed shortcomings in matching adaptation support organized through the UNFCCC with local adaptation needs, including complications stemming from the bureaucratic nature of formal adaptation support mechanisms, the intervening role of the state in delivering aid, and the ways in which these complexities intersect with the specific socio-cultural contexts of mountain communities. It concludes by highlighting several prospects for increasing the quantity and quality of adaptation support to mountain communities. These opportunities are considered alongside several salient concerns about formal adaptation support mechanisms in an effort to provide a well-rounded assessment of the prospects for planned adaptations in high mountain communities.

scholarly journals The role of farm diversification and peasant habitus for farm resilience in mountain areas: the case of the Ötztal valley, Austria

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rike Stotten
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Diversification ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social

PurposeBy examining a case study in Tyrol, Austria, the paper aims to demonstrate the role of farm diversification and the influence of the peasants’ habitus on social-ecological resilience.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on a field study conducted in two remote villages of the Ötztal valley, Austrian Alps, this study provides insights into the interplay of tourism and farming and its impact on farm resilience. Qualitative narrative interviews, the so-called farm biographies, served to investigate these issues. Interpretations of data are based on qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe results highlight that farming and tourism are highly enmeshed in the case study area and that the additional income creates room for manoeuvre for the farms to activate their adaptive capability. At the same time, peasant values guide the farming activities. The farms in this study demonstrate a strong farm resilience that is enabled by farm diversification and rooted in their peasant habitus. This positively affects the social-ecological resilience.Originality/valueIn contrast to other studies, which have mainly applied the concepts of social or community resilience to investigate the resilience and vulnerability of rural areas, this study highlights the resilience of farms in mountain areas.

scholarly journals Global warNing: what we know and what we should know about carabid beetles in high altitude habitats

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Gobbi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Cold Adapted

Models that relate species distributions and climate to predict the future geographical range of species in response to forecast climate change have shown that species living at high altitudes are expected to be particularly affected. Presently, the global trend towards a rapid climate warming represents a major concern for high-altitude carabid beetles, specifically for the populations living in glacialised mountain areas. Most of the high altitude carabid species are endemic and cold-adapted, have low dispersal abilities and present small and/or isolated populations. These threats are triggering an increase of their extinction risk. Some researchers have demonstrated both local-scale extinctions and upward shift to higher altitudes. A key point is whether the losses determined by climate change could be mitigated by species’ survival in micro-refugium areas. Traditionally, the current species distribution in climate-limited ecosystems, like those at high altitude, have been described underlining the role of cold-stage refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum (c. 22000 years BP). On the other hand, no studies addressed the question if the present-day distribution of cold-adapted mountain species is driven by climate conditions occurring during the past and/or current warm periods. More recently, the potential role of some ice-related mountain landforms as warm-stage refugia was documented. It suggests that these landforms could be able to promote the long-term survival of cold-adapted species when the surrounding habitats become climatically unfavorable, thus more effort should be done to investigate the ecology these kind of harsh habitats.

scholarly journals Arctic Air Pollution: New Insights from POLARCAT-IPY

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 1873-1895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine S. Law ◽  
Andreas Stohl ◽  
Patricia K. Quinn ◽  
Charles A. Brock ◽  
John F. Burkhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
International Polar Year ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Arctic Pollution ◽  
The Many

Given the rapid nature of climate change occurring in the Arctic and the difficulty climate models have in quantitatively reproducing observed changes such as sea ice loss, it is important to improve understanding of the processes leading to climate change in this region, including the role of short-lived climate pollutants such as aerosols and ozone. It has long been known that pollution produced from emissions at midlatitudes can be transported to the Arctic, resulting in a winter/spring aerosol maximum known as Arctic haze. However, many uncertainties remain about the composition and origin of Arctic pollution throughout the troposphere; for example, many climate–chemistry models fail to reproduce the strong seasonality of aerosol abundance observed at Arctic surface sites, the origin and deposition mechanisms of black carbon (soot) particles that darken the snow and ice surface in the Arctic is poorly understood, and chemical processes controlling the abundance of tropospheric ozone are not well quantified. The International Polar Year (IPY) Polar Study using Aircraft, Remote Sensing, Surface Measurements and Models, Climate, Chemistry, Aerosols and Transport (POLARCAT) core project had the goal to improve understanding about the origins of pollutants transported to the Arctic; to detail the chemical composition, optical properties, and climate forcing potential of Arctic aerosols; to evaluate the processes governing tropospheric ozone; and to quantify the role of boreal forest fires. This article provides a review of the many results now available based on analysis of data collected during the POLARCAT aircraft-, ship-, and ground-based field campaigns in spring and summer 2008. Major findings are highlighted and areas requiring further investigation are discussed.

scholarly journals Governance and public policies against rural depopulation through the case of La Rioja (Spain)

2022 ◽  
pp. 245-274
Author(s):  
Sergio Andrés ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Local Action ◽  
The Public ◽  
Rural Governance ◽  
Rural Depopulation ◽  
La Rioja ◽  
Action Groups ◽  
Spanish Region

Rural depopulation has become one of the central issues on the public agenda in the last decade in Spain. However, despite this visibility and the measures that are being developed, the process is still present. Within the policies against depopulation and rural development, the role of participation and empowerment of the affected populations has become particularly important. The objective is based on the fact that, through a more horizontal governance, they are the protagonists of the actions and measures that affect them, and that this governance becomes a means to avoid the depopulation of rural areas. The European Union's LEADER approach and the Local Action Groups have become the paradigm of this rural governance that favours their development and tackles depopulation. This article analyses the situation of rural governance in the case of a Spanish region such as La Rioja, which is affected by the depopulation of a large part of its rural areas. It starts with a theoretical framework that addresses the concept itself and how it is being articulated with issues such as social capital, territorial capital and participation, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the scenarios that are being generated, based on the differences between territories. Next, the frameworks of depopulation in Spain are presented, which are marking the very public policies on the issue. Finally, the situation in La Rioja is addressed, focusing on the role of the regional government's plans and strategies to tackle depopulation and the role of the Local Action Groups.

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