Grasslands represent key functional ecosystems due to their global contribution to macronutrients cycling and their role as reservoirs of microbial diversity. The strategic importance of these habitats rests on their involvement in carbon and nitrogen fluxes from the atmosphere to the soil, while at the same time offering extensive sites for livestock rearing. In this study the management type, differentiated in pasture or meadow, was investigated as a variable for its possible effects on overall bacterial diversity and specific genes related to functional guilds. Its contribution was compared to that of other variables such as region, soil pH, and soil organic carbon, to rank their respective hierarchies in shaping microbial community structure. A latitudinal gradient across the European continent was studied, with three sampling groups located in Norway, France, and Northern Italy. The applied methods involved 16S DNA metabarcoding for taxonomic classification and determination of the relative abundance of the bacterial component, and quantitative PCR for the genetic determinants of bacterial and archaeal nitrification, intermediate or terminal denitrification, and nitrogen fixation. Results indicated that soil pH exerted the dominant role, affecting high taxonomy ranks and functions, along with organic carbon and region, with whom it partly covaried. In contrast, management type had no significant influence on microbial community structure and quantitative counts of functional genes. This suggests an ecological equivalence between the impacts of pasture and meadow practices, which are both perturbations that share the aspect of vegetation withdrawal by browsing or cutting, respectively.
Link to Publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23012050
Post pandemic tourism observes a worldwide consumer choice shift from the traditional sun and beach to adventure and nature-based tourism. While interesting for many countries such as Portugal where interior regions observe abandonment and deteriorating economic development, this new economic boost presents unforeseen risk.
Both Municipalities hold similar potential and diversity of assets, from cultural festivities to natural classified areas. However, administrative individuality contributes towards competition, jeopardising the necessary quality of tourism.
The current study analyses the evolution of tourism between 2011 and 2021 in the municipalities of Golegã and Torres Novas in terms of number and diversity of beds, support infrastructures, and tourists. Furthermore, a spatial analysis of tourism diversity evaluates the essence in each municipality.
Using diversity of touristic offer as the core offer can be a drawback if badly planned. The necessary required balanced will award quality potential to market this concept, otherwise leading to dissatisfaction and losses. A thorough analysis of the existing diversity and potential for new niche tourism, dictated the diversification of the current offer and which areas hold space for growth.
As a conclusion a joint model of adaptable integrated tourism for both municipalities is presented as a strategic solution for tourism and sustainable development for the region.
Link to Publication: https://www.jthr.es/index.php/journal/article/view/450
This research analyzes the processes of water scarcity that impacted the territories of the province of Mendoza (Argentina) from the second half of the nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth. From a historical–environmental perspective, we explores will analyze these hydroclimatic situations from the perspective of various social actors of the provincial territory based on the data obtained from documentary sources.
Link to Publication: https://revistaselectronicas.ujaen.es/index.php/atma/article/view/7134
Territorialization aims at improving the effectiveness of public action by adapting to local contexts and including a wide diversity of actors. In the 2000s, the French local authorities, with the support of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), launched more transversal and bottom-up policies on the development of mountain pastoral territories in order to counter national and European sectoral and top-down policies. This article focuses on the Territorial Pastoral Plans (TPPs), a policy of the Rhône-Alpes region, which funds projects defined collaboratively between multiple actors in pastoral territories. The objective is to shed the light on the implementation modalities of the TPPs, and to understand the strengths and weaknesses of this policy in terms of governance to respond to the sustainability challenges of the Rhône-Alpine pastoral territories. A document analysis was achieved and interviews were conducted with nine key actors from four pastoral territories. Results showed that awareness-raising and mediation projects are becoming increasingly important because of the growing conflicts linked to the multi-purpose use of these lands and to wolf predation. Moreover, the integration of environmental actors allows better consideration of ecology in projects. However, the current budgetary restrictions limit their capacity of action within the policy.
Link to Publication: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/8014
Nature based tourism is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide since the beginning of the century. This growth is seldomly accompanied by natural areas management systems which struggle with the increasing number of tourists, lack of infrastructures, information and overall organisation.One of the solutions adopted by many natural areas was to adopt further classification such as Biosphere Reserves, Ramsar, Natura 2000 among many others. This strategic approach committed most of the management structures to the bureaucratic endeavours, instead of adapting.
The several classification statuses, though easily understood, fall somehow short, applying traditional methodologies, poor promotion, low stakeholder involvement and conventional learning strategies. Academic knowledge and audio-visual professionalism can produce documental and promotional video materials for a wide range of audiences, supplying educational and development tools. Science communication is a classified area’s powerful management tool, the management participation of relevant regional entities, benefits the proximity engagement of Municipalities, higher education institutions, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders, intervening in territorial sustainable development, with responsibilities in the promotion, awareness and communication.
This study will present an introductory video serving as an example of the communication strategy for the Natural Park of Serras D'Aire and Candeeiros, adaptable to other protected areas as a strategy of natural and cultural tourism. Concluding that communication in classified natural areas must be governed by the same rigor and quality required in science without losing the necessary interest for its effective and efficient participated communication.
http://www.jthr.es/index.php/journal/article/view/466
Mountain Research and Development Vol 42, No 2: Addressing Challenges of Hazards, Risks, and Disaster Management in Mountain Regions | Publication
Healthy social–ecological systems in mountains are essential for reducing disaster risk and achieving sustainable development globally. This focus issue illuminates the dynamic and complex interconnections between hazards, underlying vulnerabilities, integrated disaster risk management, and resulting impacts in mountains. Its articles present insights from the Himalayas, the Andes, Iceland, Japan, and the volcanic island of Saint Vincent. Through a range of approaches, concepts, and case studies, they chart ways of reducing disaster risk and fostering partnerships among the great variety of stakeholders involved.
The issue is available online and open access: https://bioone.org/journals/mountain-research-and-development/volume-42/issue-2
Note that other issues are starting to fill up as well: https://bioone.org/journals/mountain-research-and-development/inprogress
Read about the journal’s section policies, guidelines and submission procedure at: https://www.mrd-journal.org/
The MRD Editorial Team
MRD Editorial Office, University of Bern, Centre for Development and Environment
Opening ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development | 28 April 2022 15.30–17.00 CEST, Online
The United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, at the proposal of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The resolution was sponsored by 94 governments and was adopted at the plenary meeting of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 2021.
The resolution invites Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international organizations and stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia, to observe the International Year to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable mountain development and the conservation and sustainable use of mountain ecosystems. It furthermore invites the Mountain Partnership, in collaboration with all relevant organizations, to facilitate the observance of the International Year.
This global high-level event will be a chance to launch the celebrations of the Year and promote global commitments towards the protection of these vulnerable ecosystems and the building of resilience of mountain peoples.
For more information and in order to register:
↗https://www.fao.org/mountain-partnership/internationalyear2022/events/events-detail/en/c/1492061/.