Climate Change and Its Impact on Terrestrial Ecosystems

This chapter provides a general overview of the effects of climate change on the terrestrial ecosystem and is meant to set the stage for the specific papers. The discussion in this chapter focuses basically on the effects of climatic disturbances on terrestrial flora and fauna, including increasing global temperature and changing climatic patterns of terrestrial areas of the globe. Basically, climate disturbances derived increasing temperature and greenhouse gases have the ability to induce this phenomenon. Greenhouse gases are emitted by a number of sources in the atmosphere such as urbanization, industrialization, transportation, and population growth, so these contributing factors and its effects on climatic events like temperature rise, change precipitation pattern, extreme weather events, survival and shifting of biodiversity, seasonal disturbances, and effects on glaciers are relatively described in this chapter.

Assessing Gender Equality in Climate Change Advocacy Campaign for Sustainable Agricultural Food Security in Uganda

This chapter examines climate change and variability emergency disaster risks on agricultural food security of the local communities in Africa with a focus on gender equality lens in Uganda. Ugandan women contribute up to 75% of domestic food production and yet they are often overburdened with reproduction, household management, gender-specific discrimination, and adverse climate change effects like agricultural droughts, flash flooding, violent windstorms, or water stress. To ensure sustainable food security in the face of climate change vulnerability risks, the role of women is vital. Communication strategy to promote local climate information service (CIS) delivery system has been developed by the local government district planners in the park areas, but there is a lack of capacity to raise public awareness of the gender equality for the empowerment of women and girls for sustainable food security through agriculture production in Uganda for enhanced livelihood assets.

Sustainable Ecosystem Management

Ecosystems are part of human wellbeing and their sustainable management is essential for the survival of the human race and biodiversity. This chapter explores the concept of sustainable ecosystem management (SEM), its principles, elements, faces, and implementation. SEM is defined as environmentally sensitive, ecosystem-based, and eco-regional based. Its successful implementation is therefore complex due to the different priorities of stakeholders, the scope of ecosystems, some of which are transboundary, and the ever-changing nature of these areas amidst environmental uncertainties. These aspects are vulnerable to political changes and reconciling them is difficult. This chapter proposes a five-step implementation plan on SEM that is pegged on adaptive management and holistic consideration of ecological resources. Using documented case studies, SEM is a proposed solution to ecosystem challenges of modern-day amidst hindrances of rising resource demand, population increase, and climate variability.

Downscaling of Open Coarse Precipitation Data Using a Machine Learning Algorithm

In this chapter, the authors propose a novel statistical model with a residual correction of downscaling coarse precipitation TRMM 3B43 product. The presented study was carried out over Morocco, and the objective is to improve statistical downscaling for TRMM 3B43 products using a machine learning algorithm. Indeed, the statistical model is based on the Transformed Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (TSAVI), elevation, and distance from the sea. TSAVI was retrieved using the quantile regression method. Stepwise regression was implemented with the minimization of the Akaike information criterion and Mallows' Cp indicator. The model validation is performed using ten in-situ measurements from rain gauge stations (the most available data). The result shows that the model presents the best fit of the TRMM 3B43 product and good accuracy on estimating precipitation at 1km according to 𝑅2, RMSE, bias, and MAE. In addition, TSAVI improved the model accuracy in the humid bioclimatic stage and in the Saharan region to some extent due to its capacity to reduce soil brightness.

Impact of Thermal Stress on the Moroccan Argan Agroecosystem

The argan tree is exclusively endemic in the drylands of Southwest Morocco, an agroecosystem of great ecological, cultural, and economic importance. The argan agroecosystem is already damaged. It is particularly vulnerable to climate change as well as the harsh natural conditions aggravated by the current population growth and the exploitation in excess of the production capacities. Unfortunately, during the 20th century, its area has been reduced by half. Current projections indicate an increase in temperature under climate scenarios. Anticipated climate change could accelerate this trend resulting in the argan tree degradation. To assess the climate change impact, the authors used the SDSM model at the argan agroecosystem scale and the thermal stress model to assess its vulnerability and estimate its tolerance response in relation to temperature stress for a projected climate in the near term (2010-2025 years). In this chapter, the authors explored the impact of climate change on the argan tree regeneration.

Designing a Framework for Agri Sector Considering Disaster and Climatic Change

Change of technology, utilization of genetically modified crops, and organic farming can be used to improve the fertility of land and to increase production in farming, but the effect of climate change is a big problem for the Indian farmers. Farmers have to face extreme weather conditions, the heavy workload during the fieldwork like weeding, harvesting, etc. The conventional method of farming and lack of advanced technology makes farming too difficult. Due to climate change, high heat, heavy rain, and frost, productivity decreases and lands become barren, and farmers also suffer from mental and physical disorders. Hence, an effort is taken to design a framework for the agriculture sector keeping climate change factors in view. To improve the agricultural system in Indian agrisector, some implications must be done to avoid wastage of rainwater. By creating an efficient drainage system in the crop field, the extra water can be reused. To avoid loss due to heavy rain, greenhouse or poly house can act as an effective way during natural calamities.

Understanding Water-Food-Energy Nexus in the Climate Change Era and the Roadmap to Implementation in South Africa

WFE nexus is an important aspect in building sustainable economies. Water is used in food production while water supply and food processing require energy. Understanding the interrelationships of the nexus components is a growing interest for researchers and policymakers towards sustainable development. This chapter analyses the in-depth meaning of the WFE nexus, its importance, and its involved processes. The chapter also evaluates the effects of climate change on the nexus using case examples in South Africa. It also proposes a road map to facilitate better management of the nexus by recommending useful action plans. These action plans prioritize on baseline data collection, optimization of WFE nexus processes and cooperative management of resources, and climate change adaptation.

Vulnerability of Oasis Agriculture to Climate Change in Morocco

Morocco is considered one of the most threatened countries by climate change. Over the last century, oases ecosystems in this country showed a high vulnerability to climate variation, which has led to water scarcity, an increase in land salinity, and therefore, a decrease in agricultural production. Conscious of these issues, several solutions are initiated by the government to cope with climate change adverse effects. Many programs of rehabilitation were launched, and advanced researches are in progress in order to use some biofertilizers to improve tolerance of oasis crops to drought and salinity toward sustainable agriculture. The aim of this chapter is to give an overview of the impacts of climate change on oasis agriculture in Morocco and to provide potentially effective strategies to promote oasis agriculture under climate change. As a conclusion, the authors found that the use of different biofertilizers could be a potential strategy to mitigate climate change effects on oasis agriculture in Morocco.

Effects of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Algivorous Cichlid Fish in Lake Tanganyika

Over the last century, water temperatures in Lake Tanganyika have risen due to climate change, which increased thermal stratification and reduced the magnitude of nutrient availability. A rise in temperature increases the C:N:P ratio resulting in a poor algal diet. In addition, lake littoral habitat is experiencing increased sediment load due to deforestation of the watershed caused by anthropogenic activities. Sediments cover benthic algae and reduce its nutritional value, consequently affecting the foraging behavior, distribution, and growth performance of algivorous fish. Algae and algivorous fish are an important link in the lake food chain; therefore, if the rise in temperature will continue as predicted, then this may have a cascading effect for the rest of the community in the food chain including human being. This, in turn, may contribute to food insecurity at local and regional levels. To counteract this adaptation and mitigation measures such as environmental monitoring systems and creating new opportunities should be considered.

Industry 4.0-Based Large-Scale Symbiotic Systems for Sustainable Food Security in Namibia

Climatic changes can cause severe food and water shortages, and desert nations such as Namibia can be challenged more than other countries for obvious reasons. Dependency on imports for food and electricity in Namibia is continuous in recent times. However, Industry 4.0-based large-scale symbiotic systems can potentially help in achieving a sustainable food security regime, as they operate under controlled conditions. Namibia is blessed with abundant sunshine and land availability, and hence, ample opportunities do exist for producing solar energy, which is used to meet the energy requirements of symbiotic systems. This chapter examines typical local operating conditions and then makes a strong case for fully automated symbiotic systems that use low-cost desalination and renewable energies.