Pasture Research Articles

Shaping a greener tomorrow: Analysing the impact of environment-friendly technology on ecological footprints in emerging asian economies

The impact of environment-friendly technology on environment quality is an unsettled debate having generated more heat than light. Given this context, the study explores the impact of environment-friendly on ecological footprints using the Environmental Kuznets Curve framework. Utilizing Panel Autoregressive Distributive Lag model for aggregate ecological footprint doesn't show the evidence of environment-friendly technology improving environmental quality. However, disaggregated analysis reveals significant reductions in footprints related to Built-up, Crop, Fishing Grounds, and Grazing lands, with positive impacts observed on Forest and Carbon footprints. We also estimate the turning points of per capita income, confirming heterogeneous and footprint-specific Kuznets curves. Notably, we show that environment-friendly technology plays a crucial role in delaying depletion in Built-up land and contracting the depletion phase of Fishing Grounds along the Kuznets curve trajectory. The study, therefore, underscores the importance of environment-friendly technology in addressing environmental challenges and promoting environmental sustainability.

Constraints and recommendation for countrywide extension of artificial insemination in buffalo, goat and sheep

Background: The workshop aimed to identify the constraints and way forward to extend the artificial insemination in buffalo, sheep and goat countrywide. Methods: A day long workshop was organized jointly by the Coastal Vet Society Bangladesh (CVS-BD) and Grameen Jano Unnayan Sangstha (GJUS) at Bangladesh Development Society conference hall in Barishal district of Bangladesh. A total of 100 stakeholders in different aspect were joined in this workshop. Results: On the workshop, the constraints were lack of buffalo, sheep and goat breeding policy, recording systems, knowledge about the high-yielding breed, scarcity of quality feed, fodder and pasture land, lack of technical skills in reproduction and production personal, no or limited facilities to breed improvement technologies, lack of breeding infrastructure, non-availability of proven sire, no coordination among farmers, researchers, public and private organization, universities as well as other beneficiaries. The recommendations to overcome those constraints were to build up and strengthening the breeding policies and infrastructure, continuous up-gradation of native breed by high yielding breeds or varieties, adopted with assisted reproductive technologies, frequently advertise the beneficial aspects of buffalo milk and meat, development of manpower by technical training, national and international collaboration should be strengthened, private investment should be encouraged and alternative feed supply is needed to warrant. Conclusion: It is concluded that an initiative through public and private partnership or collaboration is needed to extent the artificial insemination program in buffalo, sheep and goat countrywide.

Horse populations are severely underestimated in a region at risk of Hendra virus spillover.

To identify the size and distribution of the horse population in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, including changes from 2007 to 2021, to better understand populations at risk of Hendra virus transmission. Census data from the 2007 Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak were compared with data collected annually by New South Wales Local Land Services (LLS) (2011-2021), and with field observations via road line transects (2021). The horse populations reported to LLS in 2011 (3000 horses; 0.77 horses/km2) was 145% larger than that reported during the EI outbreak in 2007 (1225 horses; 0.32 horses/km2). This was inconsistent with the 6% increase in horses recorded from 2011 to 2020 within the longitudinal LLS dataset. Linear modelling suggested the true horse population of this region in 2007 was at least double that reported at the time. Distance sampling in 2021 estimated the region's population at 10,185 horses (3.89 per km2; 95% CI = 4854-21,372). Field sampling and modelling identified higher horse densities in rural cropland, with the percentage of conservation land, modified grazing, and rural residential land identified as the best predictors of horse densities. Data from the 2007 EI outbreak no longer correlates to the current horse population in size or distribution and was likely not a true representation at the time. Current LLS data also likely underestimates horse populations. Ongoing efforts to further quantify and map horse populations in Australia are important for estimating and managing the risk of equine zoonoses.

Разработка математической модели поверхностного трансляционного оползня с дёрном на прямых склонах горных территорий при выпадении атмосферных осадков

Introduction. An analysis of existing studies shows that surface translational landslides on grassy slopes, along with other hazards, contribute to soil erosion and harm grazing lands. The formation of a landslide body is based on the stress-strain state of a sod and its subsequent destruction when liquid precipitation falls on the slope. The most accurate method for studying such a landslide process is mathematical modeling. The fundamental disadvantages of all existing mathematical models in this area is an incomplete system of equations that describe the stress-strain state of a surface layer of a slope during precipitation. Materials and methods. This study uses a mathematical modeling methodology based on theory of generalized functions. Results and discussion. The developed mathematical model is reduced to a system of partial differential equations. This system describes the stress-strain state of a sod, caused by the external stress field and the stress field of the swelling. The study of this system of equations and the resulting final expressions showed that the superposition of these stress fields leads to a weak bending of a potential landslide body. Separation of this body from the slope occurs under the influence of general stretching, leading to its destruction. As a result, it turns into a lumpy, loose landslide body that moves down the slope. Conclusion. The mechanism of a surface translational landslide with a sod on straight slopes of mountain territories during atmospheric precipitation has been revealed. According to this mechanism: 1) the external stress field forms a potential landslide body; 2) under the influence of the liquid precipitation, the stress field of the swelling is formed. The superposition of these stress fields leads to a movement of the landslide over a short distance. Suggestions for practical application and direction of future research. The research results can be used to prevent landslides with a sod on straight slopes of mountainous territories during precipitation. Further research directions should be related to an improvement of mathematical models of the stress-strain state of a sod under different slope topography.

Soils of xerophytic meadows of the Middle Podesen’ya: on the issues of accumulation of organic substances and biochemical activity

Relevance. Natural meadow communities, belonging to the dry meadows group, in the conditions of a decrease in floodplain of the leading water artery in the Bryansk region — the Desna River are characterized by significant changes in the mode of economic use. However, a significant part of dry meadows is used as pasture lands, so the regime of intensive exploitation of these lands significantly changes the ecological regimes of phytocenoses, reducing the carbon-depositing functions. For xerophytic (dry) meadows of natural origin, the establishment of soil carbon reserves, the identification of biochemical and microbiological activity is especially important in the light of the low stability of these communities under pasture load and wide distribution throughout the territory of the Middle Podesen’ya.Methods. The research provided for field route studies and in-house data processing using the methods of trial sites, the method of ecological and floral classification, the method of ecological scales (according to G. Ellenberg), ecological and chemical methods — determination of organic carbon, the weight method, biochemical and microbiological methods for the study of the biocompatible body.Results. For the soils of xerophytic (dry) meadows, for the first time, carbon-absorbing capacity, enzymatic activity for urease, catalase, cellulase, depending on the phytocenotic complex, has been established for the Middle Podesen’ya. A positive strong correlation has been established with organic carbon and average monthly precipitation in June, July and August. Over a two-year observation period, the amount of total organic carbon in the soil changed in a number of associations communities: Festuco ovinae-Koelerium delavignei > control > Agrimonio eupatoriae-Poetum angustifoliae > Caro carvi-Deschampsietum > Anthoxantho-Agrostietum tenuis > Hieracio pilosellae-Agrostietum tenuis > Koelerio delavignei-Festucetum rubrae > Anthyllidi-Trifolietum montani > Polygalo vulgaris-Anthoxanthoetum.

Improvement and application of the ecological footprint calculation Method—A case study of a Chinese university

The Ecological Footprint (EF) model is an effective tool for determining the resource consumption demand of human activities and whether natural assets are overutilized. The EF calculation method has certain theoretical and methodological importance for low-carbon campus construction. With the development of science and technology, some parameters in traditional EF calculation methods need to be modified. Based on the definition of fossil energy land and the latest average grain yield, this paper revised the calculation parameters of the EF method in six aspects: absorbed gas, electricity, agricultural products, aquatic products, livestock products, and paper. This paper applied the calculation method before and after improvement to Henan Polytechnic University. The EF of the campus according to calculations was 28,358.41 gha, and the per capita EF was 0.657 gha/person using the improved calculation method. Compared with the unimproved method, the improved method resulted in a substantial decrease in EFs, which can be explained by three reasons. First, the fossil energy land was divided into forestland and pasture land. Second, the average yield was recalculated using the latest statistical database of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Finally, the utilization of waste pulp in the paper industry was considered. The calculated results were also analyzed and compared with those of other universities, Worldwide Fund for Nature and Enhancing Universities’Sustainability Teaching and Practices through Ecological Footprint. The improved calculation results can better reflect the actual situation of the campus, improve the rationality of EF calculation, and provide a reference for EF at the campus level. Accordingly, the current situation of campus resource consumption can be explained, further providing a basis for proposing an EF reduction scheme for green campus construction.

Adapted Machinery and Technology for Alpine Pasture Dairy Farming

The paper highlights that grazing a dairy herd on ecologically pristine mountain pastures facilitates the production of raw milk at reduced costs. Preserving the native properties of milk and achieving superior product quality necessitates prompt milk processing, particularly through efficient cooling and storage at low temperatures. (Research purpose) The primary objective of this research is to substantiate the methodology for dairy cattle management and to develop technological solutions for milking and primary milk processing in mountainous pastures. (Materials and methods) Prototypes of milking machines and cooling equipment utilizing natural cold sources were developed and produced. Trials were conducted on farms in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. A methodology to produce consumable milk has been developed considering the natural and climatic conditions inherent in grazing dairy cattle on mountain pastures and existing machinery for milking and primary processing of raw materials. The technology includes the basic operations such as dairy herd feeding and management, milking, primary milk processing and storage of drinking cow’s milk. (Results and discussion) The technology is poised to enhance milk production by 10 percent, elevate the fat content by 3 percent, and decrease the incidence of mastitis in cows attributed to conventional machine milking tailored for lowland conditions by 40 percent. Moreover, it promises a 15 percent reduction in energy consumption for operating milking and refrigeration equipment as well as an increase in labor productivity. These technical and technological advancements are fortified with patent protection. (Conclusions) The development of dairy farming in mountainous regions, rich in naturally growing, ecologically pristine pasture lands, is an economically attractive direction to produce premium domestic dairy products. Comparative analyses conducted through laboratory assessments and field trials substantiate the viability of employing the proposed technological methodologies and machinery.

Slope aspect of a mountainous grassland landscape shapes the structure of an encroaching shrub (Euryops floribundus N.E. Br): insights from communal grazing sites located at varying distances from rural homesteads

Mountainous grassland landscapes are severely threatened by the proliferation of shrub encroachment. So far, it remains unclear though how slope aspect coupled with land disturbances linked to the proximity of homesteads to communal grazing sites affects the distribution, density and structure of the encroaching shrubs in these grassland ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the role that slope aspect plays in determining the density and structure of an encroaching shrub species Euryops floribundus N.E. Br in three communal grazing sites located at varying distances from rural homesteads in a semi-arid mountainous grassland in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Three sites were strategically chosen in Cala communal grazing lands in an encroached mountainous grassland landscape that depicted north and south-facing slope aspects. The selected sites were Tsengiwe; a site located in close proximity to homesteads at a distance of less than 100 m, Upper Mnxe situated at an intermediate distance ranging from 200 to 800 m away from homesteads and Manzimdaka, which was located furthest from homesteads at a distance greater than 1600 m. In each site and corresponding slope aspect, the density and structure of the shrub E. floribundus were evaluated on 36 randomly distributed plots, yielding a total of 108 plots across all sites. We found that shrub density was significantly higher (50%) on the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing slope in Tsengiwe, the site located near homesteads. Shrub height was significantly higher (53 and 17%) on the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing slope at Upper Mnxe and Manzimdaka, which were located at intermediate and furthest distances from the homesteads. Notably, shrub height was significantly lower (37%) in the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing slope in Tsengiwe. Following a similar pattern to shrub height, total stem number was significantly higher (20 and 85%) in the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing slope at Upper Mnxe and Tsengiwe, respectively. Shrub crown area was higher (33 and 11%) in the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing slope at Upper Mnxe and Manzimdaka, respectively. A strong positive relationship was established between the height of shrubs and their longest crown diameter, shortest crown diameter and shrub crown area across all sites, suggesting that the investigated shrub species E. floribundus employs its structural characteristics to survive, and thrive and this was more evident in the north-facing slope. The results highlight the importance of considering the proximity of homesteads into account in ecological studies, and puts emphasis on improved understanding of the vegetation patterns shaped by shrub encroachment in mountainous grasslands, which is crucial in the development of effective land management strategies.

Smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate change and variability: Evidence from three agroecologies in the Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia

This study delves into the profound impact of climate change on agriculture in Ethiopia, particularly the vulnerabilities faced by smallholder farmers and the resulting implications for poverty. Focusing on three distinct agroecologies, namely: highland, midland, and lowland zones. The study employed a robust methodology, combining a cross-sectional survey, spatial-temporal trend analysis using GIS, and the development of an overall vulnerability index through the balanced weighted average method. The study, encompassing 646 households, combines data from a variety of sources and analytical tools like the vulnerability index, ArcGIS 10.8, and ERDA's IMAGINE 2015. Utilizing the LVI-IPCC scale, the study shows that climate change is an immediate vulnerability in all agroecological zones. It identifies highland areas as the most sensitive and exposed regions, while lowland households are found to be the most vulnerable in terms of overall vulnerabilities. The research reveals specific challenges faced by communities, such as inadequate health facilities and insufficient food and water supplies in both highland and lowland agroecosystems. Additionally, our investigation has observed a significant alteration in land use practices, specifically the shift from communal grazing land to private cultivation and plantations, emphasizing eucalyptus. This alteration enhances the ecosystem's vulnerability to climate disturbances. The study suggests targeted interventions, such as advocating for sustainable land-use practices, afforestation, and adopting climate-smart agriculture practices. It is important to implement policy measures that prioritize conserving and restoring shrubland, grazing land, and natural forests to ensure both long-term socio-economic and ecosystem resilience. The study's nuanced insights are instrumental in understanding the diverse challenges posed by climate change in Ethiopian agriculture, supporting informed policymaking and sustainable interventions.

Root‐zone enrichment of soil organic carbon and nitrogen under grazing and other land uses in a humid‐temperate region

AbstractGrazing lands can be considered a conservation land use providing value to farmers and society. An underappreciated value of these lands may be in C and N storage and cycling. However, soil organic C (SOC) and total soil N (TSN) storage under humid‐temperate zone pastures have not been well characterized. A survey of 31 farms in Virginia USA characterized SOC and TSN depth distributions under a diversity of grassland management scenarios, as well as in comparison with long‐term no‐till cropland and woodland uses on the same farms. Root‐zone enrichment calculations separated management‐controlled SOC and TSN stocks from a baseline condition characterized at 30‐cm depth. Total stock of SOC at 0–30‐cm depth varied from 46 to 88 Mg C ha−1 (5%–95% range from 304 soil profiles) across all land uses. Root‐zone enrichment of SOC was maximized under mature pastures (≥20 years old) at 38.3 ± 1.6 Mg C ha−1, which was not different from that under woodland (39.8 ± 1.2 Mg C ha−1), but was greater than under no‐till cropland (28.3 ± 1.3 Mg C ha−1) and conventional‐till cropland (15.1 ± 5.1 Mg C ha−1). Root‐zone enrichment of TSN was optimized at stocking rate of ~1 Mg live weight ha−1, but was not affected by stocking method, N fertilization history, or low levels of hay feeding. These results suggest that grazed pastures in Virginia are storing significant amounts of SOC and TSN, with at least half due to management‐induced compared with pedogenic‐controlled accumulation.

Valuation of livestock population and national feed security to enhance livestock productivity in Ethiopia.

Feed is a major input in the livestock industry and covers about 60%-70% of the total cost of producing meat, milk and eggs. Inadequate feed supply in terms of quality and quantity leads to lower production performance in livestock. However, the development of an appropriate livestock production strategy through efficient utilization of existing feed resources could raise the production and per capita consumption of livestock products. Efficiency of feed resource utilization can be measured as the ratio between input to production activities and output (e.g. kg of protein used per unit of meat, milk and eggs produced or hectare of land used per unit of milk produced). This study was designed with the objective of evaluating the livestock population and national feed security to enhance livestock productivity in Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, data were collected from the websites of the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency from 2007 to 2021, FAO publications and websites, books and journals. The data obtained on different feed resources, livestock population and livestock feed requirement and balance were entered into an MS Excel spread sheet (Excel, 2010) and analysed using the general linear model (PRO GLM) procedure of SAS (2014) and multivariate analysis of covariance. The study results revealed that the livestock population had increased from 58.31 million tropical livestock units (TLU) to 81.10 million tropical livestock units (TLU), and the emission of entericCH4 had increased from 2511.08 Gg/year to 3661.74 Gg/year from 2008 to 2021. The study results also showed that the major available feed resources for ruminants are natural pasture and crop residues, which account for 56.83% (87.56×106 ) and 37.37% (57.57×106 ) of total feed production in the country, respectively. The contribution of concentrate and improved cultivated pasture and feed from permanent crops used as feed sources is very insignificant (3.05% and 1.96%, respectively). The estimated quantity of these feed resources was sufficient to meet the livestock feed requirement in the country in terms of dry matter (DM), digestible crude protein (DCP) and MEJ, which estimated about 153.31×106 t, 4.56×106 t and 1203.97×109 MJ DM, DCP and MEJ, respectively. The estimated livestock feed requirements were 134.62×106 , 4.52×106 , and 918.83×109 in DM, DCP and MEJ, respectively. The supply covered about 114.33, 100.04 and 131.33% of the DM, DCP and MEJ total annual feed requirements of livestock in the country. Hence, the current feed surplus obtained on feed requirements of ruminants and equines can support the nutrient requirements of 500×106 broilers, about 5×106 bulls, about 50×106 small ruminants or 3×106 crossbred lactating dairy cows, yielding 10L of milk per day. The findings of study indicated that natural pasture and crop residues cover a major proportion of the annual feed supply in the country. Therefore, proper grazing management, feed conservation practices, improving grazing land vegetation through clearing invasive species, replacing the grazing land with an improved grass and legume mixture, effective collection, conservation and proper utilization of crop residues, and other alternative options such as the use of chemical, physical and biological treatments to improve the nutritive value of fibrous feed should be practiced. More effective extension services and farmer training are also required to increase feed productivity and, hence, human development.

Assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on land use and land cover changes in the semi-arid and arid regions of Algeria.

Land use and land cover are critical factors that influence the environment and human societies. The dynamics of LULC have been constantly changing over the years, and these changes can be analyzed at different spatial and temporal scales to evaluate their impact on the natural environment. This study employs multitemporal satellite data to investigate the spatial and temporal transformations that occurred in Sidi Bel Abbes province, situated in the northwestern region of Algeria, spanning from the early 1990s to 2020. Notably, this province is marked by semi-arid and arid climates and hosts a wide range of areas susceptible to gravitational hazards, especially concerning alterations in land use and forest fires. The interactive supervised classification tool utilized multiple machine learning algorithms including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Classification and Regression Tree, and Naïve Bayes to produce land cover maps with six main classes: forest, shrub, agricultural, pasture, water, and built-up. The findings showed that the LULC in the research area is undergoing continuous change, particularly in the forest and agricultural lands. The forest area has decreased significantly from 10.80% in 1990 to 5.25% in 2020, mainly due to repeated fires. Agricultural land has also undergone fluctuations, with a decrease between 1990 and 2000, followed by a fast increase and near stabilization in 2020. At the same time, pasture lands and built-up areas grew steadily, increasing by 11% and 13% respectively. This research highlights the significant impact of anthropogenic activities on LULC changes in the study area and can provide valuable insights for promoting sustainable land use policies.

Contributions of homestead agroforestry during the war in Tigray, Ethiopia

Rapid population growth and unplanned settlement and resettlement has increased agricultural development in Ethiopia's Tigray Region, causing forest and land degradation. Governmental and non-governmental organisations have responded to this by establishing exclosures and communal grazing lands to foster natural regeneration. Their efforts have significantly enhanced environmental recovery, reduced soil erosion and increased water recharge, but challenges remain. Transplanted seedlings have low growth and survival rates, and economic gain is hampered by biased benefit sharing and ownership. Additionally, the war that began in Tigray in 2020 has made it difficult to implement watershed-level communal plantations. Farmers and their families have, therefore, adopted homestead agroforestry, an integrated tree-crop-animal production system. The Relief Society of Tigray (REST) assessed farmers' experiences with homestead agroforestry practices and found that, in addition to providing beneficial ecosystem services, homestead agroforestry had contributed significantly towards income generation, food production and energy supply, which proved especially vital in times of war and extreme poverty. The tree species Ziziphus spina-christi was even named "the tree that saved lives" as its fruit became a staple food for those affected by the war. Homestead agroforestry also reduced pressure on forests by meeting people's increasing need for biomass energy, helping to curb deforestation. Despite its many benefits, there remain challenges to developing homestead agroforestry, but available remedies and recent advancements have led district leaders to commit to making homestead agroforestry their priority agenda. Regional strategic documents, technical and financial support, and capacity strengthening are now needed to propel homestead agroforestry to improve more people’s livelihoods and further mitigate forest degradation and land loss.

Spatial and temporal monitoring of wildfires in Golestan province using remote sensing data

Wildfires are one of the most significant factors of ecosystem change. Knowing the wildfire regime (frequency, intensity, and distribution pattern) is essential in wildfire management. This research aims to analyze the spatiotemporal pattern of wildfires in Golestan in 2001-2021 using MODIS data, burned area product (MCD64A1). For this purpose, the annual and monthly frequency, as well as the trend of wildfires based on types of forest, pasture, and crop cover, were statistically analyzed. The local Moran pattern analysis method and kernel density function were used to analyze the spatial dynamics of wildfire. The results showed that 18,462 wildfires occurred in Golestan, the highest of which was in 2010, with 2,517 wildfires (13.8%). The lowest number of wildfires, with only 57 events (0.5%), was in 2001. Based on the local Moran model results and the kernel density function, the wildfires' extent and intensity were greater in the plains and foothills to the south and southeast of Golestan. The lowest extent and intensity of the wildfire corresponded to the eastern parts of the province. The frequency of wildfires was higher in the hot period of the year (spring and summer). However, the period of occurrence of wildfire and the peak of wildfire changes in different uses. The wildfire zones in June were wider and more intense than in other months. The frequency and spatial extent of wildfires in agricultural lands from May to July, pasture lands in July, August, and September, and forest lands in November and December were more than in other months. Weather conditions play a significant role in the occurrence of wildfire in the forest lands of Golestan. The results of this research help understand wildfire risk areas and provide a scientific basis for predicting and controlling wildfires and reducing carbon emissions related to them.

He Modern Ethnic Identity of the Kalmyk Ethnic Group: the Influence of Material Culture and Ritual Practices

The article is devoted to the influence of material culture and ritual practices on the modern ethnic identity of the Kalmyk people. Currently, a kind of ethnic “renaissance” is taking place in Kalmykia, which manifests itself both in the transformation and reactualization of existing ethnic trends, as well as in the construction (reconstruction) of neo-ethnics, the search for new motives of ethnic identity. In addition, there is a local “local” identity, an association of oneself with the administrative region of residence, each of which has its own established ethnocultural specifics. Such ethnotransformation processes were reflected in the related religious and civic affiliation, in the view of one's own history and one's own place in this world. The specificity of the ethnic “renaissance” in modern Kalmyk society is associated with the processes of ethnocultural adaptation of Kalmyks among the peoples of the Volga region and the North Caucasus after their arrival on the Volga in the XVII century. In the XIX–XX centuries, the reduction of pasture lands led to a crisis of nomadic economy and caused the gradual transition of the Kalmyk people to a sedentary lifestyle. However, the Kalmyks did not copy the way of life of neighboring sedentary peoples, but adapted it to their needs based on their own ideas about the world order. Ethnic specificity is reflected in the rituals of the life cycle, as well as calendar rituals. Currently, there has been a change in the maternity rite only in the methods and place of delivery. However, during the prenatal period, food and behavioral prohibitions imposed on a woman persist. Thus, the isolated residence of Kalmyks in the Lower Volga region in a non-ethnic, non-confessional and foreign-speaking region, connected by common origin, common history, customs and aware of themselves as a whole since the 19th century, led to the formation of their ethnic identity. Since the second half of the twentieth century, when the Kalmyks gradually lost some of their specific features, this led to a change in ethnic identity. The processes of changing various aspects of ethnic culture represent the life of an ethnic group, a living process of its development and transformation.

Analysis of Urban Sprawl Using Geographical Information System (GIS) Techniques; A Case Study in Erbil City-Kurdistan of Iraq

Urban sprawl is one of the main threats in the city, and the present study focuses on the discussion and investigation of urban sprawl. Urban sprawl impacts the environment and agricultural fields in Erbil. The city has witnessed a remarkable rapid increase in population and urbanization at the expense of agricultural and pastoral lands, political, economic, and social factors. All these factors led to prevent the city from becoming green, which resulting in some issues like economic, social, and environmental. The most essential application of (GIS) technology is urban sprawl monitoring. It helps to determine the direction of expansion of urban areas, its pattern, and finding the most suitable sites for further urban development.
 (GIS) spatial analysis covered the geo-processing application, which is the classification of maps of Erbil to detect the change detection (LULC) through two periods, 2010 to 2018. It is to discover how much the city has changed and improved over the selected years. The changes and developments that happened over the passing years illustrated in the figures and tables in the results and discussion sections. The purpose of this study is to recommend organized solutions for the unlimited growth of urbanization.
 The results showed the Landsat and Satellite Images of Erbil city due years 2010 and 2018 using ArcGIS Pro. Geo-referencing and digitizing the maps of Erbil gave the spatial data surveying as a result for analyzing the changes and comparing them due to the specified years to see the differences that happened to the city. Furthermore, as a result, the vacant land area decreased by 33.20%, whereas the urban area increased by 15.86% from 2010 to 2018.

Precipitation variation: a key factor regulating plant diversity in semi-arid livestock grazing lands.

Livestock presence impacts plant biodiversity (species richness) in grassland ecosystems, yet extent and direction of grazing impacts on biodiversity vary greatly across inter-annual periods. In this study, an 8-year (2014-2021) grazing gradient experiment with sheep was conducted in a semi-arid grassland to investigate the impact of grazing under different precipitation variability on biodiversity. The results suggest no direct impact of grazing on species richness in semi-arid Stipa grassland. However, increased grazing indirectly enhanced species richness by elevating community dominance (increasing the sheltering effect of Stipa grass). Importantly, intensified grazing also regulates excessive community biomass resulting from increased inter-annual wetness (SPEI), amplifying the positive influence of annual humidity index on species richness. Lastly, we emphasize that, in water-constrained grassland ecosystems, intra-annual precipitation variability (PCI) was the most crucial factor driving species richness. Therefore, the water-heat synchrony during the growing season may alleviate physiological constraints on plants, significantly enhancing species richness as a result of multifactorial interactions. Our study provides strong evidence for how to regulate grazing intensity to increase biodiversity under future variable climate patterns. We suggest adapting grazing intensity according to local climate variability to achieve grassland biodiversity conservation.

Potential for Agricultural Expansion in Degraded Pasture Lands in Brazil Based on Geospatial Databases

Important public and private initiatives to map agricultural lands and natural resources have been carried out in Brazil to support land use planning. Some studies indicate that Brazil still has up to 109.7 million hectares of cultivated pastures with some level of degradation, representing around 60% of the total pasturelands, estimated at 177 million hectares. This study aimed to gather, process, and analyze publicly available databases to generate quantitative and spatial information about the potential of Brazilian degraded pastures for agricultural expansion. We considered data related to the natural agricultural potential, restrictions imposed by special areas (indigenous lands and Afro-Brazilian “quilombola” settlements), areas with high biodiversity conservation priorities, infrastructure such as distance between major highways and availability of warehouses, current agricultural areas, and the information made available by Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning. The results indicated the existence of approximately 28 million hectares of planted pastures with intermediate and severe levels of degradation that show high potential for agricultural crops. These areas could increase the planted areas with grains in Brazil by approximately 35% in relation to the total area used in the 2022/23 crop season.

Effects of fencing project on wind erosion reduction in Alpine grassland and its impact on the development of climbing dunes in southern Tibetan Plateau

AbstractAlpine grassland in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) of China is one of the most susceptible regions to wind erosion in recent decades. The fencing project, grassland enclosure using fencing, has been a common strategy for land degradation counteraction in the TP. However, the wind erosion reduction effects of fencing project remain largely unclear, especially in the regions lacking continuous observations such as Southern TP. In this study, a sand source area with fencing protection (fencing land, a mainly eroded grazing grassland before being fenced) and a near‐source climbing dune were selected to illustrate the effect of fencing project on wind erosion using 137Cs and 210Pbex tracing techniques. An adjacent perennial grazing land was selected for comparison. The results showed that the wind erosion rate in sand source area was 17.18 t·ha−1·year−1 before the implementation of project, while that was −6.67 t·ha−1·year−1 since fencing. The wind erosion rates in perennial grazing land were 24.91 t·ha−1·year−1 for 20 years ago to 1963 and 24.33 t·ha−1·year−1 for almost 20 years. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of sand source area increased from 0.098 before fencing to 0.137 after fencing; the latter was 1.63 times higher than that of grazing land during the same period. After the implementation of fencing project in sand source area, it was found that the sand supply to the climbing dune was mainly reduced, thus stabilizing it and promoting NDVI increase, especially in the middle‐lower part of the climbing dune. These results would benefit the evaluation of grassland restoration effectiveness in the TP.

Community-Based Wildlife Conservation on Pastoral Lands in Kenya: A New Logic of Production with Implications for the Future of Pastoralism

Community-based wildlife conservation has been identified as a potentially successful approach to meet the needs of wildlife and the interests of local communities living among wildlife, national governments, and the global community interested in stemming the extinction crisis facing the planet. There is a significant literature critiquing the neoliberal approach to community-based conservation arguing that it has not been successful in meeting conservation goals or community goals. While in agreement with many of the critiques and the general calls for a more equitable direction that respects and draws on local and indigenous value systems, we focus on some of the implications of community-based conservation for pastoralism in Samburu County, Kenya. We employed an ethnographic approach, integrating informal and in-depth interviews, a random sample survey of 300 households, participant observation, and experimental economics games. Our findings show that the establishment of core areas, buffer zones, and grazing strategies that depart radically from previous practices reduced pastoralists’ access to critical rangeland resources and forced them to find pastures elsewhere. Thus, while community-based conservation purports to encourage landscape-level land management and coordination, in practice, it contributes to land fragmentation. Our results also explain why community-based conservation persists despite the costs for pastoralists.