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Understanding knowledge systems, that is the combination of agents, practices, and institutions that organize the production, transfer, and use of knowledge and their role in making climate information useable for forest-based climate responses, is critical for building resilience to climate change. This study used the concept of a knowledge system to examine how organizational collaboration, in the processes of forecast translation, influences the production of useable information in forest-based climate change interventions in South Africa. Twenty-two key informant interviews were conducted with actors in the fields of climate change and forestry. Results reveal that carbon sequestration and landscape management are the dominant forest-based climate interventions. Consequently, the information translated from the forecasts is tailored towards facilitating the implementation of these two interventions. Network analysis reveals that actors in the categories of small-scale forest companies and community-based enterprises are less integrated into the process of information production. A concerted effort towards the meaningful integration of all categories of actors in the process of information production, as well as the production of information that encourages the implementation of other types of forest-based climate change interventions such as forest bioenergy, is thus recommended.
C Ofoegbu; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Making climate information useable for forest-based climate change interventions in South Africa. Environmental Sociology 2021, 1 -15.
AMA StyleC Ofoegbu, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Making climate information useable for forest-based climate change interventions in South Africa. Environmental Sociology. 2021; ():1-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC Ofoegbu; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2021. "Making climate information useable for forest-based climate change interventions in South Africa." Environmental Sociology , no. : 1-15.
Land system change is implicated in many sustainability challenges as its alteration impacts ecosystems and exacerbate the vulnerability of communities, particularly where livelihoods are largely dependent on natural resources. The production of a land use-cover map for year 2020 extended the time-series for assessing land use-cover dynamics over a period of 45 years (1975-2020). The case of Nigeria is examined as the land area encompass several agro-ecological zones. The classification scheme countries utilise for estimating Land Degradation Neutrality baseline and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goal 15.3.1 indicator (proportion of degraded land over total land area) was used, based on seven land use-cover classes (tree-covered area, grassland, cropland, wetland, artificial surface area, otherland, and waterbody). Severity of land degradation, computed as changes in vegetation productivity using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), as well as changes in ecosystem service values were examined across the different land use-cover types, in areas of change and persistence. Land degradation is most severe in settlement areas and wetlands with declining trends in 34% of settlement areas and 29% in wetlands respectively. About 19% of tree-covered areas experienced increasing trends. In some areas of land use-cover persistence, vegetation productivity declined despite no land change occurring. For example, vegetation productivity declined in about 35% and 9% of persistent wetlands and otherland respectively between 2000 and 2020, whereas there was improvement in 22% of persistent grasslands, 18% of persistent otherlands and 12% of persistent croplands. In land change areas, about 12% and 8% of wetlands and tree-covered areas had declining vegetation trends respectively, whereas it improved the most in croplands (20%), and grasslands (16%). With some wetland, cropland and otherland areas degrading the most, protecting these critical ecosystems is required to sustain their functions and services. The finding that vegetation productivity may decline in areas of persistence underscores the importance of intersecting land use-cover (in terms of persistence and change) with vegetation productivity to identify pathways for enhancing ecological sustainability.
Felicia Akinyemi; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Land change effects on ecosystem degradation across Nigerian agro-ecological zones from 1975 through 2020. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleFelicia Akinyemi, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Land change effects on ecosystem degradation across Nigerian agro-ecological zones from 1975 through 2020. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFelicia Akinyemi; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2021. "Land change effects on ecosystem degradation across Nigerian agro-ecological zones from 1975 through 2020." , no. : 1.
Violent conflicts related to pastoralists-farmers’ interactions in Nigeria have assumed an unprecedented dimension, causing loss of lives and livelihoods. The mid-Benue trough (Benue and Taraba States) has suffered most from the conflicts. This study aims to provide knowledge on the socio-ecological drivers of pastoralists-farmers’ conflicts in the mid-Benue trough from the year 2000 to 2020 and to identify pathways to solving them. First, data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project were used to map the conflicts. Second, to understand the nexus of climate change, land use and the conflicts, the study analyzed satellite data of Land Surface Temperature (LST) as a proxy for climate change, using data from the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite and Land Use Land Cover (LULC), using LandSat 7 ETM and LandSat 8 ETM+ data, then linked them to the mapped conflicts. Third, to understand causes and impacts of the conflict on pastoralists and farmers’ livelihoods, 100 interviews were conducted, 50 for each group and analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results showed that there were 2532 fatalities from 309 conflict events between pastoralists and farmers. The incidents exhibited statistically significant clustering and were minimal between the year 2000 and 2012, increasing gradually until the year 2013 when it began to rise geometrically. The Getis-Ord Gi hotspot analysis revealed the conflict hotspots to include Agatu, Oturkpo, Gwer East and Gashaka Local Government Areas. The results from the LST analysis showed that the area coverage of high LST increased from 30 percent in 2000 to 38 percent in 2020, while extremely high LST area also increased from 14 to 16 percent. A significantly high percentage of the conflicts (87 percent) occurred in areas with high LST (>30⁰C). In addition, the LULC analyses showed that built-up land area increased by 35 km2 (0.1 percent) and dense forests reduced by 798 km2 (0.1 percent). Notably, shrublands and grasslands, which are the resource domains of the pastoralists reduced by 11,716 km2 (13.1 percent) and croplands of farmers increased by 12,316 km2 (13.8 percent). This presents an apparent transition of LULC from shrublands and grasslands to croplands in the area. Further analyses showed that 63 percent of the conflicts occurred in croplands and 16 percent in shrublands and grasslands. Hence, the reduction of land resource available to pastoralists and their subsequent cropland encroachment were identified as major causes of the conflict. It was therefore concluded that land development for other purposes is a major driver of pastoralists-farmers’ conflicts in the study area. There is thus a need to integrate conflict maps, LST and LULC dynamics to support dialogue, land use planning and policy formulation for sustainable land management to guide pastoral and farming activities.
Chukwudi Njoku; Francis Okpiliya; Joel Efiong; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Pastoralists-farmers’ conflicts in Nigeria’s mid-Benue Trough: Socio-ecological drivers and pathways to addressing the conflicts. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleChukwudi Njoku, Francis Okpiliya, Joel Efiong, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Pastoralists-farmers’ conflicts in Nigeria’s mid-Benue Trough: Socio-ecological drivers and pathways to addressing the conflicts. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChukwudi Njoku; Francis Okpiliya; Joel Efiong; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2021. "Pastoralists-farmers’ conflicts in Nigeria’s mid-Benue Trough: Socio-ecological drivers and pathways to addressing the conflicts." , no. : 1.
The Nigerian Guinea Savannah is the most extensive ecoregion in Nigeria, a major food production area, and contains many biodiversity protection areas. However, there is limited understanding of the social-ecological features of its degraded lands and potential insights for sustainable land management and governance. To fill this gap, the self-organizing map method was applied to identify the archetypes of both proximal and underlying drivers of land degradation in this region. Using 12 freely available spatial datasets of drivers of land degradation—4 environmental; 3 socio-economic; and 5 land-use management practices, the identified archetypes were intersected with the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived land-degradation status of the region, and the state administrative boundaries. Nine archetypes were identified. Archetypes are dominated by: (1) protected areas; (2) very high-density population; (3) moderately high information/knowledge access; (4) low literacy levels and moderate–high poverty levels; (5) rural remoteness; (6) remoteness from a major road; (7) very high livestock density; (8) moderate poverty level and nearly level terrain; and (9) very rugged terrain and remote from a major road. Four archetypes characterized by very high-density population, moderate–high information/knowledge access, and moderate–high poverty level, as well as remoteness from a major town, were associated with 61.3% large-area degradation; and the other five archetypes, covering 38.7% of the area, were responsible for small-area degradation. While different combinations of archetypes exist in all the states, the five states of Niger (40.5%), Oyo (29.6%), Kwara (24.4%), Nassarawa (18.6%), and Ekiti (17.6%), have the largest shares of the archetypes. To deal with these archetypical features, policies and practices that address increasing population in combination with poverty reduction; and that create awareness about land degradation and promote sustainable practices and various forms of land restoration, such as tree planting, are necessary for progressing towards land-degradation neutrality in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah.
Ademola Adenle; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Social-Ecological Archetypes of Land Degradation in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah: Insights for Sustainable Land Management. Remote Sensing 2020, 13, 32 .
AMA StyleAdemola Adenle, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Social-Ecological Archetypes of Land Degradation in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah: Insights for Sustainable Land Management. Remote Sensing. 2020; 13 (1):32.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdemola Adenle; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2020. "Social-Ecological Archetypes of Land Degradation in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah: Insights for Sustainable Land Management." Remote Sensing 13, no. 1: 32.
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Livia Bizikova; Ephraim Nkonya; Margitta Minah; Markus Hanisch; Rama Mohana Rao Turaga; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Muthumariappan Karthikeyan; Lixia Tang; Kate Ghezzi-Kopel; Julie Kelly; Ashley Casandra Celestin; Beth Timmers. Author Correction: A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nature Food 2020, 1, 757 -757.
AMA StyleLivia Bizikova, Ephraim Nkonya, Margitta Minah, Markus Hanisch, Rama Mohana Rao Turaga, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Muthumariappan Karthikeyan, Lixia Tang, Kate Ghezzi-Kopel, Julie Kelly, Ashley Casandra Celestin, Beth Timmers. Author Correction: A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nature Food. 2020; 1 (11):757-757.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLivia Bizikova; Ephraim Nkonya; Margitta Minah; Markus Hanisch; Rama Mohana Rao Turaga; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Muthumariappan Karthikeyan; Lixia Tang; Kate Ghezzi-Kopel; Julie Kelly; Ashley Casandra Celestin; Beth Timmers. 2020. "Author Correction: A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture." Nature Food 1, no. 11: 757-757.
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Livia Bizikova; Ephraim Nkonya; Margitta Minah; Markus Hanisch; Rama Mohana Rao Turaga; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Muthumariappan Karthikeyan; Lixia Tang; Kate Ghezzi-Kopel; Julie Kelly; Ashley Casandra Celestin; Beth Timmers. Publisher Correction: A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nature Food 2020, 1, 756 -756.
AMA StyleLivia Bizikova, Ephraim Nkonya, Margitta Minah, Markus Hanisch, Rama Mohana Rao Turaga, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Muthumariappan Karthikeyan, Lixia Tang, Kate Ghezzi-Kopel, Julie Kelly, Ashley Casandra Celestin, Beth Timmers. Publisher Correction: A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nature Food. 2020; 1 (11):756-756.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLivia Bizikova; Ephraim Nkonya; Margitta Minah; Markus Hanisch; Rama Mohana Rao Turaga; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Muthumariappan Karthikeyan; Lixia Tang; Kate Ghezzi-Kopel; Julie Kelly; Ashley Casandra Celestin; Beth Timmers. 2020. "Publisher Correction: A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture." Nature Food 1, no. 11: 756-756.
Farmers’ organizations (FOs), such as associations, cooperatives, self-help and women’s groups, are common in developing countries and provide services that are widely viewed as contributing to income and productivity for small-scale producers. Here, we conducted a scoping review of the literature on FO services and their impacts on small-scale producers in sub-Saharan Africa and India. Most reviewed studies (57%) reported positive FO impacts on farmer income, but much fewer reported positive impacts on crop yield (19%) and production quality (20%). Environmental benefits, such as resilience-building and improved water quality and quantity were documented in 24% of the studies. Our analysis indicates that having access to markets through information, infrastructure, and logistical support at the centre of FO design could help integrate FOs into policy. Natural resource management should also be more widely incorporated in the services provided by FOs to mitigate risks associated with environmental degradation and climate change. Finally, farmers who are already marginalized because of poor education, land access, social status and market accessibility may require additional support systems to improve their capacities, skills and resources before they are able to benefit from FO membership.
Livia Bizikova; Ephraim Nkonya; Margitta Minah; Markus Hanisch; Rama Mohana Rao Turaga; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Muthumariappan Karthikeyan; Lixia Tang; Kate Ghezzi-Kopel; Julie Kelly; Ashley Casandra Celestin; Beth Timmers. A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nature Food 2020, 1, 620 -630.
AMA StyleLivia Bizikova, Ephraim Nkonya, Margitta Minah, Markus Hanisch, Rama Mohana Rao Turaga, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Muthumariappan Karthikeyan, Lixia Tang, Kate Ghezzi-Kopel, Julie Kelly, Ashley Casandra Celestin, Beth Timmers. A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nature Food. 2020; 1 (10):620-630.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLivia Bizikova; Ephraim Nkonya; Margitta Minah; Markus Hanisch; Rama Mohana Rao Turaga; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Muthumariappan Karthikeyan; Lixia Tang; Kate Ghezzi-Kopel; Julie Kelly; Ashley Casandra Celestin; Beth Timmers. 2020. "A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture." Nature Food 1, no. 10: 620-630.
Land degradation poses a persistent challenge to ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah (NGS). While both human activity and climate variability have been implicated as degradation drivers, the lack of research fuels dispute over the status of land degradation in the Savannah and its drivers. Detailed correction evidence on the contributions of rainfall and human activities to land degradation can, however, help identify appropriate measures to address land degradation. MODIS vegetation “greenness” and TAMSAT rainfall data were employed to achieve the following objectives: (i) provide empirical insights on the pattern of savannah vegetation dynamics; (ii) control for rainfall effects in Savannah degradation; (iii) characterize the extent, severity and geography of human-induced land degradation. The selected statistical techniques proved useful for highlighting the spatio-temporal dynamics of degradation in the NGS. Controlling for the effect of rainfall on vegetation greenness produces a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) residual that allows to estimate the human impact on land degradation. Despite no indication of a worsening rainfall regime, inter-annual variation in vegetation greenness exhibits a consistently negative, declining trend. This continuous, negative, declining trend in the NDVI residual strongly suggests ongoing biomass loss in the NGS is the result of unsustainable human activity. Observed improvement is attributable to existing land management programmes (afforestation and the planting of drought tolerant species) initiated by states in the zone. In sum, approximately 38% of the NGS land area, including protected areas such as Kainji Lake National Park, are becoming more degraded, while 14% and 48% of the remaining area shows either improvement or no real change, respectively. These results serve as a baseline information resource for tracking future land use activities, land degradation and potential pathways for achieving more sustainable land management.
Ademola A. Adenle; Sandra Eckert; Oluwatola I. Adedeji; David Ellison; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Human-induced land degradation dominance in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah between 2003 – 2018. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 2020, 19, 100360 .
AMA StyleAdemola A. Adenle, Sandra Eckert, Oluwatola I. Adedeji, David Ellison, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Human-induced land degradation dominance in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah between 2003 – 2018. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. 2020; 19 ():100360.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdemola A. Adenle; Sandra Eckert; Oluwatola I. Adedeji; David Ellison; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2020. "Human-induced land degradation dominance in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah between 2003 – 2018." Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 19, no. : 100360.
Plural valuation is about eliciting the diverse values of nature articulated by different stakeholders in order to inform decision making and thus achieve more equitable and sustainable outcomes. We explore what approaches align with plural valuation on the ground, as well as how different social-ecological contexts play a role in translating plural valuation into decisions and outcomes. Based on a co-constructed analytical approach relying on empirical information from ten cases from the Global South, we find that plural valuation contributes to equitable and sustainable outcomes if the valuation process: 1) is based on participatory value elicitation approaches; 2) is framed with a clear action-oriented purpose; 3) provides space for marginalized stakeholders to articulate their values in ways that can be included in decisions; 4) is used as a tool to identify and help reconcile different cognitive models about human-nature relations; and 5) fosters open communication and collaboration among stakeholders. We also find that power asymmetries can hinder plural valuation. As interest and support for undertaking plural valuation grows, a deeper understanding is needed regarding how it can be adapted to different purposes, approaches, and social-ecological contexts in order to contribute to social equity and sustainability.
Noelia Zafra-Calvo; Patricia Balvanera; Unai Pascual; Juliana Merçon; Berta Martín-López; Meine van Noordwijk; Tuyeni Heita Mwampamba; Sharachchandra Lele; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Paola Arias-Arévalo; Diego Cabrol; Daniel M. Cáceres; Patrick O'Farrell; Suneetha Mazhenchery Subramanian; Soubadra Devy; Siddhartha Krishnan; Rachel Carmenta; Louise Guibrunet; Yoanna Kraus-Elsin; Hannah Moersberger; Joji Cariño; Sandra Díaz. Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South. Global Environmental Change 2020, 63, 102115 .
AMA StyleNoelia Zafra-Calvo, Patricia Balvanera, Unai Pascual, Juliana Merçon, Berta Martín-López, Meine van Noordwijk, Tuyeni Heita Mwampamba, Sharachchandra Lele, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Paola Arias-Arévalo, Diego Cabrol, Daniel M. Cáceres, Patrick O'Farrell, Suneetha Mazhenchery Subramanian, Soubadra Devy, Siddhartha Krishnan, Rachel Carmenta, Louise Guibrunet, Yoanna Kraus-Elsin, Hannah Moersberger, Joji Cariño, Sandra Díaz. Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South. Global Environmental Change. 2020; 63 ():102115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNoelia Zafra-Calvo; Patricia Balvanera; Unai Pascual; Juliana Merçon; Berta Martín-López; Meine van Noordwijk; Tuyeni Heita Mwampamba; Sharachchandra Lele; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Paola Arias-Arévalo; Diego Cabrol; Daniel M. Cáceres; Patrick O'Farrell; Suneetha Mazhenchery Subramanian; Soubadra Devy; Siddhartha Krishnan; Rachel Carmenta; Louise Guibrunet; Yoanna Kraus-Elsin; Hannah Moersberger; Joji Cariño; Sandra Díaz. 2020. "Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South." Global Environmental Change 63, no. : 102115.
Enjoying the potential climate benefits of restoration requires linking key forest-water and land-atmosphere interactions to the existential benefits provided on the ground. We apply what we call the "forest-water and land-atmosphere interaction lens" to current strategies for improving landscape resilience in the West African Sahel and the concept of the Great Green Wall (GGW). The severe and extensive drought of the 1970's–1990's led many to assess future climate and promote strategies to counter the gradual southward expansion of the Sahara. The idea for the GGW, a wall of trees intended to slow desert encroachment, grew out of this period of tremendous upheaval and human tragedy. Despite partial recovery in the local rainfall regime, we know far too little about whether the GGW strategy can even work. Further, it seems disingenuous to ignore the climatic envelope, which sets the boundaries within which forest-water and land-atmosphere interactions occur. Applying the “forest-water and land-atmosphere interaction lens” to landscape restoration as a tool for achieving improved resilience and human welfare in the Sahel provides meaningful input for re-thinking the GGW strategy. We upgrade current knowledge with the specific biophysical conditions likely to better support appropriate forest-water and land atmosphere interactions in the region and further fit such approaches within the context of the climatic envelope. The principal components of an improved strategy include a focus on large scale precipitation recycling all the way from the West African coast on into the Sahel, as well as improved tree, shrub and forest cover in the Sahel proper to promote infiltration, groundwater recharge, rainfall triggering potential and land surface cooling. Agroforestry can further broadly promote landscape resilience in the greater region. Strategies broadly focused on increasing rainfall recycling, water availability and the promotion of landscape resilience appear more likely to steer future efforts in useful directions.
David Ellison; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. From blue to green water and back again: Promoting tree, shrub and forest-based landscape resilience in the Sahel. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 739, 140002 .
AMA StyleDavid Ellison, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. From blue to green water and back again: Promoting tree, shrub and forest-based landscape resilience in the Sahel. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 739 ():140002.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavid Ellison; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2020. "From blue to green water and back again: Promoting tree, shrub and forest-based landscape resilience in the Sahel." Science of The Total Environment 739, no. : 140002.
In this article, we discuss the potential of blockchain technology in addressing the documentation of users' land rights in the informal land rental market. Blockchain technology is a peer-to-peer protocol that can be leveraged to keep track of transactions over the internet. Publicized for its use in the bitcoin revolution, the technology provides transparency and traceability that can be used in the management of land rights. When it comes to the formalization of land rights, blockchain technology promises to authenticate owners and other users of land, and provides a fixed ledger of land use rights transactions. At present, blockchain technology is being explored as a proof of concept in several countries to track land titles (state to individual). We extend the idea to capture the granting of land use rights (individual to individual) making use of the decentralization, peer-to-peer nature of blockchain technology. While the technology is not a panacea to all land administration challenges, it can offer an effective means to manage land transactions, provide digital documentation to actors in the informal land rental market and reduce inefficiency in land systems. However, the uptake of the technology in land administration is limited by human related factors. These limitations include, but are not limited to, the accuracy of data being entered into the system, the ability of the system to facilitate data preservation, pre-existing institutional and legal pillars, and the digital divide across communities. Part of overcoming these barriers requires the political will of governments to invest in digital technologies and develop institutional capacities to overcome current limitations to bring land management into the industry 4.0 era.
Desiree Daniel; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. The Role of Blockchain in Documenting Land Users' Rights: The Canonical Case of Farmers in the Vernacular Land Market. Frontiers in Blockchain 2020, 3, 1 .
AMA StyleDesiree Daniel, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. The Role of Blockchain in Documenting Land Users' Rights: The Canonical Case of Farmers in the Vernacular Land Market. Frontiers in Blockchain. 2020; 3 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDesiree Daniel; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2020. "The Role of Blockchain in Documenting Land Users' Rights: The Canonical Case of Farmers in the Vernacular Land Market." Frontiers in Blockchain 3, no. : 1.
Disasters induced by natural hazards or extreme events consist of interacting human and natural components. While progress has been made to mitigate and adapt to natural hazards, much of the existing research lacks interdisciplinary approaches that equally consider both natural and social processes. More importantly, this lack of integration between approaches remains a major challenge in developing disaster risk management plans for communities. In this study, we made a first attempt to develop a conceptual model of a coupled human-landscape system in Swiss Alpine communities. The conceptual model contains a system dynamics (e.g. interaction, feedbacks) component to reproduce community level, socio-economic developments and shocks that include economic crises leading to unemployment, depopulation and diminished community revenue. Additionally, the conceptual model contains climate, hydrology, and geomorphic components that are sources of natural hazards such as floods and debris flows. Feedbacks between the socio-economic and biophysical systems permit adaptation to flood and debris flow risks by implementing spatially explicit mitigation options including flood defenses and land cover changes. Here we justify the components, scales, and feedbacks present in the conceptual model and provide guidance on how to operationalize the conceptual model to assess risk and community resilience as well as determine which shocks overcome the buffering capacity of Swiss Alpine communities.
Sarwar Hossain; Jorge Alberto Ramirez; Tina Haisch; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Olivia Martius; Heike Mayer; Margreth Keiler. A coupled human and landscape conceptual model of risk and resilience in Swiss Alpine communities. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 730, 138322 .
AMA StyleSarwar Hossain, Jorge Alberto Ramirez, Tina Haisch, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Olivia Martius, Heike Mayer, Margreth Keiler. A coupled human and landscape conceptual model of risk and resilience in Swiss Alpine communities. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 730 ():138322.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSarwar Hossain; Jorge Alberto Ramirez; Tina Haisch; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Olivia Martius; Heike Mayer; Margreth Keiler. 2020. "A coupled human and landscape conceptual model of risk and resilience in Swiss Alpine communities." Science of The Total Environment 730, no. : 138322.
As space-based Earth observations are delivering a growing amount and variety of data, the potential of this information to better support disaster risk management is coming into increased scrutiny. Disaster risk management actions are commonly divided into the different steps of the disaster management cycle, which include: prevention, to minimize future losses; preparedness and crisis management, often focused on saving lives; and post-crisis management aiming at re-establishing services supporting human activities. Based on a literature review and examples of studies in the area of coastal, hydro-meteorological and geohazards, this review examines how space-based Earth observations have addressed the needs for information in the area of disaster risk management so far. We show that efforts have essentially focused on hazard assessments or supporting crisis management, whereas a number of needs still remain partly fulfilled for vulnerability and exposure mapping, as well as adaptation planning. A promising way forward to maximize the impact of Earth observations includes multi-risk approaches, which mutualize the collection of time-evolving vulnerability and exposure data across different hazards. Opportunities exist as programmes such as the Copernicus Sentinels are now delivering Earth observations of an unprecedented quality, quantity and repetitiveness, as well as initiatives from the disaster risk science communities such as the development of observatories. We argue that, as a complement to this, more systematic efforts to (1) build capacity and (2) evaluate where space-based Earth observations can support disaster risk management would be useful to maximize its societal benefits.
G. Le Cozannet; M. Kervyn; S. Russo; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; P. Ferrier; M. Foumelis; T. Lopez; H. Modaressi. Space-Based Earth Observations for Disaster Risk Management. Surveys in Geophysics 2020, 41, 1209 -1235.
AMA StyleG. Le Cozannet, M. Kervyn, S. Russo, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, P. Ferrier, M. Foumelis, T. Lopez, H. Modaressi. Space-Based Earth Observations for Disaster Risk Management. Surveys in Geophysics. 2020; 41 (6):1209-1235.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. Le Cozannet; M. Kervyn; S. Russo; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; P. Ferrier; M. Foumelis; T. Lopez; H. Modaressi. 2020. "Space-Based Earth Observations for Disaster Risk Management." Surveys in Geophysics 41, no. 6: 1209-1235.
Understanding land users’ livelihoods and their strategies is essential in order to adapt prevention and adaptation policies and to ensure sustainable land management (SLM) planning. Considering the global call for SLM, and due to a lack of studies on land degradation (LD) in Tunisia, we aimed to explore the livelihoods of farmers, their livelihoods strategies and perceptions about LD and land management, in order to design SLM in rural areas in Tunisia. We used the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) to analyse the livelihoods assets, livelihoods strategies, and the perceptions of people about LD and SLM. Through structured interviews with 90 households, we collected both quantitative and qualitative data on household assets, strategies, and perceptions. Results indicate variation in the status of livelihoods among households, which influences their livelihoods strategies and consequently livelihoods outcomes. When facing environmental issues, farm households apply various livelihoods strategies to shield themselves from negative impacts and shocks. Our study revealed that farmers in the high-livelihoods-assets category chose economic returns over environmental benefits. Farmers in the low-livelihoods-assets category have generated livelihoods strategies that lead to inappropriate management strategies due to low access to assets and, as a result, contributed to LD. This is because these farmers are more concerned about the immediate constraints of their livelihoods and subsistence than the medium and long-term sustainable land management. Compared to the other two groups, farmers in the medium-livelihoods assets category have the best perceptions and flexibility for SLM compared to the other two categories. Thus, as the quality of land is highly dependent on the way it is managed, environmental and land management planning, and policies should not only consider the rehabilitation of land but also require a better understanding of the livelihoods, strategies and perceptions of people as these remain key drivers that affect land condition.
Donia Jendoubi; Sarwar Hossain; Markus Giger; Jelena Tomićević-Dubljević; Mohamed Ouessar; Hanspeter Liniger; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Local livelihoods and land users’ perceptions of land degradation in northwest Tunisia. Environmental Development 2020, 33, 100507 .
AMA StyleDonia Jendoubi, Sarwar Hossain, Markus Giger, Jelena Tomićević-Dubljević, Mohamed Ouessar, Hanspeter Liniger, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Local livelihoods and land users’ perceptions of land degradation in northwest Tunisia. Environmental Development. 2020; 33 ():100507.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDonia Jendoubi; Sarwar Hossain; Markus Giger; Jelena Tomićević-Dubljević; Mohamed Ouessar; Hanspeter Liniger; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2020. "Local livelihoods and land users’ perceptions of land degradation in northwest Tunisia." Environmental Development 33, no. : 100507.
The concept of complex social-ecological systems (SES) as a means for capturing system dynamics properties (e.g. interactions and feedbacks) has gained attention in policymaking and advancing evidence in understanding complex systems. In contexts with limited data, conceptual system dynamic models offer a promising entry point to overcome challenges in understanding SES dynamics, which is essential for managing the long-term sustainability of SES and human wellbeing. Here, we build on previous work focused on agricultural production and use participatory approaches to develop a conceptual System Dynamics (SD) model for the south-west coastal SES in Bangladesh encompassing multiple forms of livelihood (fisheries, shrimp farming and forests, as well as agriculture). Using qualitative methods, including focus group discussions with farmers, fishermen, shrimp farmers and forest people, as well as expert consultations, we identified interactions, feedback loops and thresholds for the SES. The conceptual system model developed independently by stakeholders is consistent with a model developed using an empirical approach and literature review. Feedback loops are identified for the ecological (e.g. climate and water, mangrove and salinity) and social (e.g. shrimp farming and mangrove, agricultural (e.g. crops) production and subsidy) sub-systems in the Bangladesh delta. The biophysical thresholds that impact social conditions include river water discharge (1500 to 2000 m3 s−1), climate (28 °C) and soil salinity (~4 to ~10 dS m−1). Exceeding these thresholds suggests that SES may lose resilience in the near future and increase the likelihood of regime shifts. Findings of this study contribute to the management of the deltaic ecosystem and provide specific policy recommendations for improving environmental sustainability and human well-being in the Bangladesh delta and can be further used as inputs into system dynamic modelling to simulate changes in this SES.
Sarwar Hossain; Jorge Ramirez; Sylvia Szabo; Felix Eigenbrod; Fiifi Amoako Johnson; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; John A Dearing. Participatory modelling for conceptualizing social-ecological system dynamics in the Bangladesh delta. Regional Environmental Change 2020, 20, 1 -14.
AMA StyleSarwar Hossain, Jorge Ramirez, Sylvia Szabo, Felix Eigenbrod, Fiifi Amoako Johnson, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, John A Dearing. Participatory modelling for conceptualizing social-ecological system dynamics in the Bangladesh delta. Regional Environmental Change. 2020; 20 (1):1-14.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSarwar Hossain; Jorge Ramirez; Sylvia Szabo; Felix Eigenbrod; Fiifi Amoako Johnson; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; John A Dearing. 2020. "Participatory modelling for conceptualizing social-ecological system dynamics in the Bangladesh delta." Regional Environmental Change 20, no. 1: 1-14.
Research practice, funding agencies and global science organizations suggest that research aimed at addressing sustainability challenges is most effective when ‘co-produced’ by academics and non-academics. Co-production promises to address the complex nature of contemporary sustainability challenges better than more traditional scientific approaches. But definitions of knowledge co-production are diverse and often contradictory. We propose a set of four general principles that underlie high-quality knowledge co-production for sustainability research. Using these principles, we offer practical guidance on how to engage in meaningful co-productive practices, and how to evaluate their quality and success.
Albert V. Norström; Christopher Cvitanovic; Marie F. Löf; Simon West; Carina Wyborn; Patricia Balvanera; Angela T. Bednarek; Elena M. Bennett; Reinette Biggs; Ariane De Bremond; Bruce M. Campbell; Josep G. Canadell; Stephen R. Carpenter; Carl Folke; Elizabeth A. Fulton; Owen Gaffney; Stefan Gelcich; Jean-Baptiste Jouffray; Melissa Leach; Martin Le Tissier; Berta Martín-López; Elena Louder; Marie-France Loutre; Alison M. Meadow; Harini Nagendra; Davnah Payne; Garry D. Peterson; Belinda Reyers; Robert Scholes; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Marja Spierenburg; Mark Stafford Smith; Maria Tengö; Sandra Van Der Hel; Ingrid Van Putten; Henrik Österblom. Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research. Nature Sustainability 2020, 3, 182 -190.
AMA StyleAlbert V. Norström, Christopher Cvitanovic, Marie F. Löf, Simon West, Carina Wyborn, Patricia Balvanera, Angela T. Bednarek, Elena M. Bennett, Reinette Biggs, Ariane De Bremond, Bruce M. Campbell, Josep G. Canadell, Stephen R. Carpenter, Carl Folke, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Owen Gaffney, Stefan Gelcich, Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, Melissa Leach, Martin Le Tissier, Berta Martín-López, Elena Louder, Marie-France Loutre, Alison M. Meadow, Harini Nagendra, Davnah Payne, Garry D. Peterson, Belinda Reyers, Robert Scholes, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Marja Spierenburg, Mark Stafford Smith, Maria Tengö, Sandra Van Der Hel, Ingrid Van Putten, Henrik Österblom. Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research. Nature Sustainability. 2020; 3 (3):182-190.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlbert V. Norström; Christopher Cvitanovic; Marie F. Löf; Simon West; Carina Wyborn; Patricia Balvanera; Angela T. Bednarek; Elena M. Bennett; Reinette Biggs; Ariane De Bremond; Bruce M. Campbell; Josep G. Canadell; Stephen R. Carpenter; Carl Folke; Elizabeth A. Fulton; Owen Gaffney; Stefan Gelcich; Jean-Baptiste Jouffray; Melissa Leach; Martin Le Tissier; Berta Martín-López; Elena Louder; Marie-France Loutre; Alison M. Meadow; Harini Nagendra; Davnah Payne; Garry D. Peterson; Belinda Reyers; Robert Scholes; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Marja Spierenburg; Mark Stafford Smith; Maria Tengö; Sandra Van Der Hel; Ingrid Van Putten; Henrik Österblom. 2020. "Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research." Nature Sustainability 3, no. 3: 182-190.
Engaging with normative questions in land system science is a key challenge. This debate paper highlights the potential of incorporating elements of environmental justice scholarship into the evolving telecoupling framework that focuses on distant interactions in land systems. We first expose the reasons why environmental justice matters in understanding telecoupled systems, and the relevant approaches suited to mainstream environmental justice into telecoupled contexts. We then explore which specific elements of environmental justice need to be incorporated into telecoupling research. We focus on 1) the distribution of social-ecological burdens and benefits across distances, 2) power and justice issues in governing distantly tied systems, and 3) recognition issues in information flows, framings and discourses across distances. We conclude our paper highlighting key mechanisms to address injustices in telecoupled land systems.
Sébastien Boillat; Adrian Martin; Timothy Adams; Desiree Daniel; Jorge Llopis; Elena Zepharovich; Christoph Oberlack; Gabi Sonderegger; Patrick Bottazzi; Esteve Corbera; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Unai Pascual. Why telecoupling research needs to account for environmental justice. Journal of Land Use Science 2020, 15, 1 -10.
AMA StyleSébastien Boillat, Adrian Martin, Timothy Adams, Desiree Daniel, Jorge Llopis, Elena Zepharovich, Christoph Oberlack, Gabi Sonderegger, Patrick Bottazzi, Esteve Corbera, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Unai Pascual. Why telecoupling research needs to account for environmental justice. Journal of Land Use Science. 2020; 15 (1):1-10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSébastien Boillat; Adrian Martin; Timothy Adams; Desiree Daniel; Jorge Llopis; Elena Zepharovich; Christoph Oberlack; Gabi Sonderegger; Patrick Bottazzi; Esteve Corbera; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Unai Pascual. 2020. "Why telecoupling research needs to account for environmental justice." Journal of Land Use Science 15, no. 1: 1-10.
Cockburn, J., M. Schoon, G. Cundill, C. Robinson, J. A. Aburto, S. M. Alexander, J. A. Baggio, C. Barnaud, M. Chapman, M. Garcia Llorente, G. A. García-López, R. Hill, C. Ifejika Speranza, J. Lee, C. L. Meek, E. Rosenberg, L. Schultz, and G. Thondhlana. 2020. Understanding the context of multifaceted collaborations for social-ecological sustainability: a methodology for cross-case analysis. Ecology and Society 25(3):7. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11527-250307
Jessica Cockburn; Michael Schoon; Georgina Cundill; Cathy Robinson; Jaime A. Aburto; Steven M. Alexander; Jacopo A. Baggio; Cecile Barnaud; Mollie Chapman; Marina Garcia Llorente; Gustavo García López; Rosemary Hill; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Jean Lee; Chanda L. Meek; Eureta Rosenberg; Lisen Schultz; Gladman Thondhlana. Understanding the context of multifaceted collaborations for social-ecological sustainability: a methodology for cross-case analysis. Ecology and Society 2020, 25, 1 .
AMA StyleJessica Cockburn, Michael Schoon, Georgina Cundill, Cathy Robinson, Jaime A. Aburto, Steven M. Alexander, Jacopo A. Baggio, Cecile Barnaud, Mollie Chapman, Marina Garcia Llorente, Gustavo García López, Rosemary Hill, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Jean Lee, Chanda L. Meek, Eureta Rosenberg, Lisen Schultz, Gladman Thondhlana. Understanding the context of multifaceted collaborations for social-ecological sustainability: a methodology for cross-case analysis. Ecology and Society. 2020; 25 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJessica Cockburn; Michael Schoon; Georgina Cundill; Cathy Robinson; Jaime A. Aburto; Steven M. Alexander; Jacopo A. Baggio; Cecile Barnaud; Mollie Chapman; Marina Garcia Llorente; Gustavo García López; Rosemary Hill; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Jean Lee; Chanda L. Meek; Eureta Rosenberg; Lisen Schultz; Gladman Thondhlana. 2020. "Understanding the context of multifaceted collaborations for social-ecological sustainability: a methodology for cross-case analysis." Ecology and Society 25, no. 3: 1.
Stellah Mikalitsa Mukhovi; Johanna Jacobi; Aymara Llanque; Stephan Rist; Freddy Delgado; Boniface Kiteme; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Social Self-Organization and Social-Ecological Resilience in Food Systems: Lessons from Smallholder Agriculture in Kenya and Indigenous Guaraní Communities in Bolivia. Food Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 2020, 10, 1 .
AMA StyleStellah Mikalitsa Mukhovi, Johanna Jacobi, Aymara Llanque, Stephan Rist, Freddy Delgado, Boniface Kiteme, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. Social Self-Organization and Social-Ecological Resilience in Food Systems: Lessons from Smallholder Agriculture in Kenya and Indigenous Guaraní Communities in Bolivia. Food Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 2020; 10 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStellah Mikalitsa Mukhovi; Johanna Jacobi; Aymara Llanque; Stephan Rist; Freddy Delgado; Boniface Kiteme; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza. 2020. "Social Self-Organization and Social-Ecological Resilience in Food Systems: Lessons from Smallholder Agriculture in Kenya and Indigenous Guaraní Communities in Bolivia." Food Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 10, no. 1: 1.
Food insecurity remains a major concern for numerous rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa who rely on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. The assessment of the links between food security and livelihoods is central for overcoming widespread food insecurity. However, assessments remain challenging due to food security's multi-dimensionality and the challenge of finding indicators that are comparable and applicable to various contexts. This study addresses this challenge by adapting a food security index (FSI) and uses it to assess the livelihood drivers of food security. The index captures the multi-dimensionality of food security using conventional food security indicators. The assessed indicators include measures of “food consumption score,” “household dietary diversity score,” “coping strategies index,” the “household food insecurity access scale,” and “months of adequate household food provisioning.” The study covered 600 randomly selected households representative of three agro-ecological zones located close to large-scale agricultural investment in Mount Kenya region in Kenya. We used linear regression to identify livelihood factors significantly influencing food security. Spearman's rank-order correlation and student's T-test demonstrated a strong and significant correlation between the composite FSI index and each classical indicators of food security. Overall, 32% of the households were food secure and 68% were food insecure. Households' ownership of productive hand tools, followed by off-farm income, consumption of own produced food, type of agro-ecological zone, farm income and number of main crops infested by pests had a significant effect on household food security. All these factors, except the number of main crops infested by pests, were found to positively influence household food security. Households in humid agro-ecological zone were less food secure than households in semi-humid and semi-arid zones. Household size, the size of accessible land and households' members' participation to large agricultural investments (as wage workers or sub-contract farmer) were not significantly influencing food security. Households of the Mount Kenya region need alternative off-farm income sources combined with further support to improve sustainable agriculture management with appropriate hand tools.
Emily Mutea; Patrick Bottazzi; Johanna Jacobi; Boniface Kiteme; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Stephan Rist. Livelihoods and Food Security Among Rural Households in the North-Western Mount Kenya Region. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2019, 3, 1 .
AMA StyleEmily Mutea, Patrick Bottazzi, Johanna Jacobi, Boniface Kiteme, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Stephan Rist. Livelihoods and Food Security Among Rural Households in the North-Western Mount Kenya Region. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2019; 3 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEmily Mutea; Patrick Bottazzi; Johanna Jacobi; Boniface Kiteme; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Stephan Rist. 2019. "Livelihoods and Food Security Among Rural Households in the North-Western Mount Kenya Region." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 3, no. : 1.