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ArticleJournal articleGreening of the dried bottom of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.The urgent greening and restoration of degraded landscapes in drylands is essential if the global community is to meet the challenges posed by desertification, food insecurity, rising temperatures, and biodiversity loss, among other negative trends.In particular, drylands in the Central Asian Region (CAR) are under immense pressure and frequently undermined in the process of development. Forest degradation, induced by both natural and anthropogenic factors, is causing changes in species composition, soil degradation, and loss of social benefits. In addition to human-induced factors, natural changes in climatic conditions, compounded by unsustainable land use, have exacerbated the magnitude of land degradation. Furthermore, aridity is expected to increase across the entire CAR, especially in the western parts of Uzbekistan, consequently affecting food security, water stress, and human health.Desertification is thus considered a key issue in land rehabilitation as indicated by decreasing greening areas, declining ground vegetation cover, and decreasing soil productivity. Shifting sand dunes have been reported to affect about one million ha of land in Uzbekistan. The drying up of the Aral Sea and a generally drier climate account for the progressive desertification in Uzbekistan. Potential mitigating measures include preventing salt-dust transfer on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea, improving the sanitary and environmental situation in the Aral Sea region, creating favorable conditions for the development of animal and plant species, and improving the food supply in the interband area of protective forest plantations.The objective of this paper is to represent the protective forest plantation on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea with the aim of fixing the shifting sands on the Aral Sea. The Uzbek governmentinitiative to green the Aral Sea Basin will result in an improved ecological and socio-economic situation in the region, reduction in wind erosion, fixation of moving sand dunes, minimizationof deflation processes (removal of salt, dust and sand) from the protected area, and improved air quality, which is aimed at improving the health of the community.Keywords: Deforestation and forest degradation, Landscape management, Human health and well-being, Landscape management, PartnershipsID: 3623972 -
ArticleJournal articleWhy is artificial afforestation crucial for restoring nature? Studies on the dried bottom of Aral Sea, Kazakhstan
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.The Aral Sea, formerly the fourth largest inland lake located in Central Asia, has reduced dramatically as it lost most of its volume due to the large-scale water withdrawal for the cultivation of irrigated crops starting from the 1960s. The desiccated seafloor has become a source of salt, sand, and dust transfer to the adjacent regions, negatively affecting human health and the environment by inhibiting the survival and growth of the vegetation. In response, to stabilize the saline sand blowing from the Aral seabed, multiple domestic and international efforts have been performed to establish vegetation cover with indigenous trees of Haloxylon species as well as other salt- and water-stress tolerant woody and herbaceous plants of the region. As part of the afforestation project supported by the Korea Forest Service (South Korea) in Kazakhstan, field studies examined the impacts of the afforestation on carbon stock and soil quality. The summarized findings are as follows: 1) growth of planted seedlings indicates the measurable sequestration of carbon, which ultimately help to estimate its contribution to climate change mitigation by calculating the atmospheric greenhouse gas reductions; 2) afforestation increased the soil organic matter content which is closely related to soil fertility; 3) afforestation improved soil chemical properties for plants and soil microbes; 4) soil amelioration effects by the afforestation were statistically similar to those by natural vegetation succession. However, the soil conditions in the natural succession area improved after almost 50 years versus about 15 years in the afforested area. This signifies the relative efficiency of afforestation activities and thus helps justify the investments made. Based on the studies, we recommend further research to raise the efficiency of afforestation in arid areas, thereby reinforcing ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation. Keywords: Aral Sea; afforestation; desertification; climate change; restoration; soil amelioration; carbon stock ID: 3615605 -
DocumentOther documentSoil organic carbon and nutrient availability under Populus deltoides based agroforestry system in semi-arid region of North-West India
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.To achieve biological production on a sustainable basis through the addition of soil organic carbon (SOC) and check land degradation, Populus deltoides is a promising species recognized as an important tree component in agroforestry system (AFS) in the present changing climate. The soil is enriched through the addition of leaf litter in large quantities by this tree, which ultimately improves the fertility in terms of SOC, available N, P and K. However, scanty information is obtainable related to associations between soil properties and poplar based AFS. In this communication, the objective of this study to examine the effect of three old poplar based AFS on soil OC, available N, P and K. The site consisted of six different spacings: i.e. 3×3m, 4×3m, 5×3m, 6×3m, 7×3m and 8×3m of poplar were intercropped with winter wheat, and in adjacent agricultural control plot, where winter wheat was the sole crop (devoid of tree). We quantified soil properties such as soil SOC and available N, P and K at 0-15 cm depth and studied their spatial variability in relation to different spacings of poplar based AFS during 2018-2019. SOC accumulation rates increased with the decrease in tree spacing and were maximum (0.69%) under 3×3 m spacing. The available soil N, P and K increased significantly under different spacings of poplar based AFS in all the treatments from their initial values. The highest available soil N (233.5 kg ha –1 ), P (16.1 kg ha–1) and K (285.3 kg ha–1) were recorded under 3 × 3m spacing compared to 4×3m, 5×3m, 6×3m, 7×3m, 8×3m and sole cropping after harvesting of wheat crop. Keywords: Climate change, Adaptive and integrated management, Research, Agriculture, Deforestation and forest degradation ID: 3486112
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Book (stand-alone)Technical bookDigital agriculture in action
ArtificiaI intelligence for agriculture
2021Also available in:
No results found.This publication on artificial intelligence (AI) for agriculture is the fifth in the E-agriculture in Action series, launched in 2016 and jointly produced by FAO and ITU. It aims to raise awareness about existing AI applications in agriculture and to inspire stakeholders to develop and replicate the new ones. Improvement of capacity and tools for capturing and processing data and substantial advances in the field of machine learning open new horizons for data-driven solutions that can support decision-making, facilitate supervision and monitoring, improve the timeliness and effectiveness of safety measures (e.g. use of pesticides), and support automation of many resource-consuming tasks in agriculture. This publication presents the reader with a collection of informative applications highlighting various ways AI is used in agriculture and offering valuable insights on the implementation process, success factors, and lessons learnt. -
Book (series)Technical bookCephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date.
Volume 2. Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids
2010Also available in:
No results found.This is the second volume of the entirely rewritten, revised and updated version of the original FAO Catalogue of Cephalopods of the World (1984). The present Volume is a multiauthored compilation that reviews 28 families, i.e. (in alphabetical order), Ancistrocheiridae, Architeuthidae, Australiteuthidae, Bathyteuthidae, Batoteuthidae, Brachioteuthidae, Chiroteuthidae, Chtenopterygidae, Cranchiidae, Cycloteuthidae, Enoploteuthidae, Gonatidae, Histioteuthidae, Joubiniteuthidae, Lepidoteut hidae, Loliginidae, Lycoteuthidae, Magnapinnidae, Mastigoteuthidae, Neoteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, Ommastrephidae, Onychoteuthidae, Pholidoteuthidae, Promachoteuthidae, Psychroteuthidae, Pyroteuthidae and Thysanoteuthidae, with 83 genera and the 295 species known and named to the date of the completion of the volume. It provides accounts for all families and genera, as well as illustrated keys. Information under species accounts includes: valid modern systematic name and original citatio n of the species (or subspecies); synonyms; English, French and Spanish FAO names for the species; illustrations of dorsal and ventral aspects of the whole animal (as necessary) and other distinguishing illustrations; field characteristics; diagnostic features; geographic and vertical distribution, including GISmap; size; habitat; biology; interest to fishery; local names when available; a remarks section (as necessary) and literature. The Volume is fully indexed and also includes sectio ns on terminology and measurements, an extensive glossary, an introduction with an updated review of the existing biological knowledge on squids (including fisheries information andmain catch data for recent years) and a dedicated bibliography. Due to the conspicuous amount of literature addressingmany squid species, an appendix is included in the online version, where those references considered most pertinent to the species are listed, by family and species, in alphabetical order by au thor; key words, also, are reported -
Book (stand-alone)Manual / guideProcessing of fresh-cut tropical fruits and vegetables: A technical guide 2010
Also available in:
No results found.There has been a marked upward trend in production and consumption of fruits and vegetables in Asia and the Pacific in recent years. Along with rising consumer demand has come greater awareness of food safety issues and increased need for convenience and quality. Selection of high quality horticultural produce for processing and implementation of good practices during processing operations are required to assure both the quality of the produce and the safety of the final product. This technical guide reviews, from a theoretical and practical perspective, the critical issues that must be addressed for fresh-cut produce to meet consumer demand for convenience, quality and safety. A case study on fresh-cut processing in Thailand is included. The guide should be of practical value to small processors, trainers and extension workers who provide support to individuals engaged in production of fresh-cut tropical produce for sale.