Assessment and
Adaptive Management of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes; a Global
Perspective
Researchers: Mirjam
Pulleman (Wageningen University), LouiseE. Jackson (University
of California, Davis), Kamaljit S. Bawa (University
of Massachussetts Boston,
ATREE India), George G. Brown (Empraba Florestas,
Brazil), Lijbert Brussaard (Wageningen University), Irene Cardoso (Federal
University of Vicosa), Louis E. Garcia-Barrios (Colegio
de la Frontera Sur, Chiapas), Elisee
Ouedragogo (Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer, Burkina Faso), Unai Pascual (Cambridge University),
R. Siddappa Setty (ATREE India), Meine van
Noordwijk (ICRAF Indonesia)
Project description: Aims are to 1)
synthesize literature on biodiversity utilization and conservation in
agricultural landscapes, 2) catalog assessment approaches for
biophysical and socioeconomic tradeoffs for biodiversity-friendly
management, and 3) compare eight sites along a global gradient of
agricultural intensification. This on-going project which will result in a
series of publications in 2010-12.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions in an Agricultural Landscape
of the Sacramento Valley, California
Researcher: Louise E. Jackson
(University of California, Davis)
Project description: It implies a multi-scale set of
projects focusing on plant and soil biodiversity (gene, ecosystem and
landscape-level analysis) along a gradient of agricultural
intensification, with policy implications for climate change.
Tree Biodiversity and Carbon Stocks in
Vineyard and Woodland Ecosystems: Eligibility for Carbon Payments
Researchers: Louise E. Jackson,
Ann Thrupp, Jeffrey Williams and
Allan D. Hollander (all University of California, Davis)
Project description: This project aims
at field and GIS
assessments of plant communities and carbon in woody plants and soils in
Mendocino County, California. Further, challenges for achieving rewards
and recognition for conservation should be identified.
Sustainable Livestock Management to
Stabilize Trade and Reduce Deforestation in Mexico
Researchers: Louise E.
Jackson (University of California, Davis), Louis E. García-Barrios (Colegio
de la Frontera Sur,
Chiapas), Mirjam Pulleman (Wageningen University), Unai Pascual (ATREE
India)
Project description: Linking livelihoods
with biodiversity conservation and livestock production in the La
Sepultura Reserve Buffer Zone.
Funding: no funding yet
Can non-inversion
tillage and field margins improve water storage in arable land through
the stimulation of earthworm diversity?
Project description: The
capacity of the soil to absorb and retain water becomes increasingly
important and is emphasized as a key ecosystem service. Earthworms can
play a crucial role in restoring the water infiltration and retention
capacity of soil through their biological activity. The research
proposes to link non-productive landscape elements (field margins) with
soil management strategies (non-inversion tillage) to earthworm
populations and earthworm mediated processes with the aim to preserve
ecosystem services.
Agroforestry
systems suitable as a key to develop sustainable landscape designs
Researchers: Helton Nonato de Souza
(PhD candidate, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Wageningen University),
Lijbert Brussaard, Mirjam Pulleman,
Ron de Goede (all Wageningen University, Irene M. Cardoso (Universidade
Federal de Vicosa)
Project description: In the Zona da Mata region, located in the
Brazilian Atlantic Coastal Rainforest biome in Minas Gerais State, the
agricultural practices adopted during decades caused environmental and
social problems such as soil degradation, water pollution, loss of
biodiversity, rural exodus. Therefore, the general objective of this
project is to generate information on sustainable family agroecosystems
combining nature conservation and agricultural production, and identify
indicators linked with ecosystem services. The research draws special
attention to agroforestry systems with coffee plants as a main crop in
family farms.
