Water, Land and Ecosystems - Book Chapter

Toward structural change: Gender transformative approaches

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:41:38 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

McDougall, Cynthia
Badstue, Lone B.
Mulema, Annet A.
Fischer, Gundula
Najjar, Dina
Pyburn, Rhiannon
Elias, Marlène
Joshi, Deepa
Vos, Andrea

Citation

McDougall, Cynthia; Badstue, Lone Bech; Mulema, Annet Abenakyo; Fischer, Gundula; Najjar, Dina; Pyburn, Rhiannon; Elias, Marlène; Joshi, Deepa; and Vos, Andrea. 2021. Toward structural change: Gender transformative approaches. IN Advancing gender equality through agricultural and environmental research: Past, present, and future, eds. Rhiannon Pyburn, and Anouka van Eerdewijk. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute: 365-401.

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116031

Global groundwater: from scarcity to security through sustainability and solutions

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:41:38 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Mukherjee, A.
Scanlon, Bridget R.
Aureli, A.
Langan, Simon J.
Guo, H.
McKenzie, A.

Groundwater, the largest available global freshwater resource, plays a crucial role in human sustenance and global food security through drinking water supplies and irrigated agriculture. In recent times, many parts of the world have been experiencing discernable, large-scale groundwater depletion, and pollution. A large groundwater-dependent population, uncertain climate-reliant recharge processes, transboundary water sources, major geogenic-sourced, nonpoint contaminants, inefficient irrigation methods and human practices, and indiscriminate land use change with rising urbanization underscore the urgent need to develop models of sustainability and security for global groundwater, in terms of both quantity and quality. Climate change is expected to exacerbate these issues. We need to understand the main factors that control groundwater availability (quantity and quality) in a changing world, where climate change and human factors (overexploitation, pollution, economics, agro-food aspects and their socioeconomic side, and governance intervention) deeply influence water availability. Because groundwater represents a critical source of water in many areas, especially in developing countries, there is a need to analyze physical (hydrological), chemical (hydrogeochemistry), and human (socioeconomic) aspects within a comprehensive framework to define sustainability. Groundwater, which forms a large component of attaining the sustainable development goals, is difficult to manage (mostly not visible, limited monitoring of groundwater levels, recharge, and abstraction, poorly defined flow boundaries; transboundary issues; poor management of abstraction; uncertainty in groundwater–surface water inter-connections) and hence requires comprehensive scale–dependent governance plans. From an economic and governance point of view, there has been insufficient attention given to groundwater as a resource, which is both hidden but widely considered ubiquitous. Solutions, incorporating emerging and innovative technologies, need to be integrated with traditional knowledge, to develop future groundwater security.

Citation

Mukherjee, A.; Scanlon, B. R.; Aureli, A.; Langan, Simon; Guo, H.; McKenzie, A. 2021. Global groundwater: from scarcity to security through sustainability and solutions. In Mukherjee, A.; Scanlon, B. R.; Aureli, A.; Langan, Simon; Guo, H.; McKenzie, A. A. (Eds.). Global groundwater: source, scarcity, sustainability, security, and solutions. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp.3-20. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818172-0.00001-3]

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Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111567

Farm power policies and groundwater markets: contrasting Gujarat with West Bengal (1990–2015)

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:41:38 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Shah, Tushaar
Chowdhury, S. D.

This chapter examines the effects of such power sector reforms on the functioning of groundwater markets at the local level by comparing the cases of Gujarat and West Bengal. In Gujarat, an innovative power sector reform program (called Jotigram Yojona) was launched. The West Bengal state government, on the contrary, introduced a metering system to agriculture in place of the flat tariff while abolishing the electric tube well permit system. Consequently, the groundwater markets shrunk and/or the water charges paid by less resourceful farmers to the well owners increased in both states. The results imply that the power sector reforms, although they contributed to the reduction of the nexus problem, produced severe ill effects upon the farmers placed in weaker market positions.

Citation

Shah, Tushaar; Chowdhury, S. D. 2021. Farm power policies and groundwater markets: contrasting Gujarat with West Bengal (1990-2015). In Fujita, K.; Mizushima, T. (Eds.). Sustainable development in India: groundwater irrigation, energy use, and food production. Oxon, UK: Routledge. pp.226-246. (Routledge New Horizons in South Asian Studies)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114837

A gender-natural resources tango: Water, land, and forest research

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:37:52 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Joshi, Deepa
Monterroso, Iliana
Gallant, Bryce
Perera, Kokila
Peveri, Valentina

Citation

Joshi, Deepa; Monterroso, Iliana; Gallant, Bryce; Perera, Kokila; and Peveri, Valentina. 2021. A gender-natural resources tango: Water, land, and forest research. IN Advancing gender equality through agricultural and environmental research: Past, present, and future, eds. Rhiannon Pyburn, and Anouka van Eerdewijk. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute: 221-258.

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116020

Future food systems: challenges and consequences of the current food system

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:36:32 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Tutundjian, S.
Clarke, M.
Egal, F.
Dixson-Decleve, S.
Candotti, S. W.
Schmitter, Petra S.
Lovins, L. H.

Humanity is in a planetary emergency. Agriculture and food systems are contributing to an interconnected global environmental crisis, with increasing risks, social instability, and conflict. This chapter examines the challenges, drivers, and consequences of unsustainable agriculture and food systems, recognizing these are diverse and multi-scale. It presents a vision for sustainable, nutritious, and equitable food systems. Currently, food systems are a significant driver of climate change, nature loss, and pollution, as well as poor health and poverty, with inequitable access to resources and benefits from food systems. Fundamentally, the systems change needed is to transform terrestrial and aquatic food systems so that they become part of the solution for sustainability, not part of the problem. A safe future for humanity requires radical transformations ranging from agricultural production systems through dietary patterns and waste disposal. The focus is on the broad categories of innovation and sustainable technologies considered to have critical potential in pathways that enable transition to a more resilient and equitable system. Governance is a key enabling condition and needs to be based on food as a human right, not simply as a commodity. Multilevel governance underpins the development and implementation of territorial food systems strategies, which can provide effective integration of multiple solutions. Humanity is at an existential turning point and has a narrow window to act now to reduce risk and avoid catastrophe. The rules governing our food systems are human made – and it is within the gift of humanity to change them.

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Tutundjian, S.; Clarke, M.; Egal, F.; Dixson-Decleve, S.; Candotti, S. W.; Schmitter, Petra; Lovins, L. H. 2021. Future food systems: challenges and consequences of the current food system. In Brears, R. C. (Ed.). The Palgrave handbook of climate resilient societies. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. 29p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32811-5_43-1#DOI]

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114829

Water and its management: dependence, linkages and challenges

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:36:32 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Bogardi, J.J.
Bharati, Luna
Foster, S.
Dhaubanjar, S.

This chapter highlights the key dependences, linkages and challenges of water resources management. (Many of these issues discussed are revisited and illustrated in the following chapters.) The first part introduces surface and groundwater management in the terrestrial part of the water cycle. Comprehensive presentations of key hydrological phenomena and processes, monitoring, assessment and control are followed by overviews of dependences, linkages and challenges. The manifold facets of intensive human/resource interaction and inherent threats to the resources base are exposed. Both sections present examples illustrating differing contexts and options for solution. The second part summarizes the main drivers and challenges of contemporary water resources management and governance. It provides a critical overview of different water discourses in recent decades. The role of benchmark and recurring water events, their declarations and intergovernmental resolutions are analyzed, and the key concepts and methods of implementation are discussed.

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Citation

Bogardi, J. J.; Bharati, Luna; Foster, S.; Dhaubanjar, S. 2021. Water and its management: dependence, linkages and challenges. In Bogardi, J. J.; Gupta, J.; Nandalal, K. D. W.; Salame, L.; van Nooijen, R. R. P.; Kumar, N.; Tingsanchali, T.; Bhaduri, A.; Kolechkina, A. G. (Eds.). Handbook of water resources management: discourses, concepts and examples. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. pp.41-85. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60147-8_3]

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114831

Water for food systems and nutrition. Food Systems Summit Brief

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:36:32 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Ringler, Claudia
Agbonlahor, M.
Baye, K.
Barron, Jennie
Hafeez, Mohsin
Lundqvist, J.
Meenakshi, J. V.
Mehta, L.
Mekonnen, D.
Rojas Ortuste, F.
Tankibayeva, A.
Uhlenbrook, Stefan

Access to sufficient and clean freshwater is essential for all life. Water is also essential for food system functioning: as a key input into food production, but also in processing and preparation, and as a food itself. Water scarcity and pollution are growing, affecting poorer populations, particularly food producers. Malnutrition levels are also on the rise, and this is closely linked to water scarcity. The achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 and SDG 6 are co-dependent. Solutions to jointly improve food systems and water security outcomes that the United Nations Food Security Summit (UNFSS) should consider include: 1) strengthening efforts to retain water-based ecosystems and their functions; 2) improving agricultural water management for better diets for all; 3) reducing water and food losses beyond the farmgate; 4) coordinating water with nutrition and health interventions; 5) increasing the environmental sustainability of food systems; 6) explicitly addressing social inequities in water-nutrition linkages; and 7) improving data quality and monitoring for water-food system linkages, drawing on innovations in information and communications technology (ICT).

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Ringler, C.; Agbonlahor, M.; Baye, K.; Barron, J.; Hafeez, Mohsin; Lundqvist, J.; Meenakshi, J. V.; Mehta, L.; Mekonnen, D.; Rojas-Ortuste, F.; Tankibayeva, A.; Uhlenbrook, Stefan. 2021. Water for food systems and nutrition. Food Systems Summit Brief. In von Braun, J.; Afsana, K.; Fresco, L. O.; Hassan, M. (Eds.). Science and innovations for food systems transformation and summit actions: papers by the Scientific Group and its partners in support of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021. Bonn, Germany: University of Bonn. Center for Development Research (ZEF). pp.251-259.

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Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115266

Are water markets a viable proposition in the Lower Mekong Basin?

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:36:32 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Reardon-Smith, K.
McCartney, Matthew
Rebelo, Lisa-Maria

Water markets are a potential approach for reallocating and improving the efficiency of water use in river basins in which water resources are under stress as a consequence of demographic and economic pressures. However, establishing water markets is not easy and to be successful a wide range of context specific criteria, relating to the legal and institutional framework as well as political and economic conditions, must be met. We applied the Water Market Readiness Assessment framework proposed by Wheeler et al. (2017) to investigate whether adequate policy and governance arrangements were in place to enable water markets to effectively operate in the countries of the Lower Mekong River Basin. We identify a number of key gaps and conclude that more conventional regulatory approaches, along with integrated basin planning and management, will likely better serve the communities and environments of the region.

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Reardon-Smith, K.; McCartney, Matthew; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria. 2021. Are water markets a viable proposition in the Lower Mekong Basin? In Wheeler, S. A. (Ed.). Water markets: a global assessment. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp.91-111. [doi: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788976930.00015]

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115184

On-farm agrobiodiversity measurement and conservation

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 11:37:41 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Joshi, Bal Krishna
Ghimire, Krishna Hari
Gurung, Rita
Pudasaini, Niranjan
Pant, Saroj
Paneru, Pragati
Gauchan, Devendra
Mishra, Krishna Kumar
Jarvis, Devra I.

Total agrobiodiversity of any area is necessary to plan the implementation of agricultural and environmental projects and activities. Diversity is most for advancing agriculture development, however, modern agriculture has accelerated the replacement of old age crop diversity. Agrobiodiversity index and measures are commonly used and estimated for crop and animal species, landraces and sites. These are useful for locating sites, crops and custodians of agrobiodiversity. Agrobiodiversity includes crop and plant; livestock and fish, insect and microbial genetic resources that are cultivated, semi domesticated or wild. Diversity are ated properly that leads to choose the conservation approaches effectively.

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Citation

Joshi, Bal.K.; Ghimire, K.H.; Gurung, R.; Pudasaini, N.; Pant, S.; Paneru, P.; Gauchan, D.; Mishra, K.K.; Jarvis, D. (2020) On-farm agrobiodiversity measurement and conservation. In: Joshi, B.K.; Gauchan, D.; Bhandari, B.; Jarvis, D. (eds.) (2020) Good practices for agrobiodiversity management. Kathmandu (Nepal): NAGRC, LI-BIRD and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, p. 15-24 ISBN: 978-92-9255-149-0

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109626

Diversifying the sourcing and deploying methods to enhance the crop diversity

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 11:37:41 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Ghimire, Krishna Hari
Joshi, Bal Krishna
Gurung, Rita
Pudasaini, Niranjan
Gauchan, Devendra
Sthapit, Sajal
Jarvis, Devra I.

A Nepalese farmers of mountain and hill agro-ecosystem mostly grow landraces or traditional varieties of most of the crops. In some major crops like rice, wheat and maize, very old varieties are in cultivation. Insufficient research on minor crops and poor extension networks to disseminate new varieties of major crops are the major reasons to narrow down the varietal options available to the farmers. Crop genetic diversity can make farming systems more resilient, but a major constraint is that farmers lack access to crop genetic resources (Tripp 1997). Farmers have fewer options available to choose, especially at a time when more new diversity is needed to cope with climate and market change (Atlin et al 2017). A portfolio of varieties exists in National Agricultural Genetic Resources Centre (Genebank) and many research stations that includes different varieties which are better than those currently grown by small farmers in remote hills and mountains, who have had limited opportunity to test these different options. In this context, potentials landraces sourced and collected in national Genebank from different environments can be deployed to the farmers of similar production environments.

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Citation

Ghimire, K.H.; Joshi, B.K.; Gurung, R.; Pudasaini, N.; Gauchan, D.; Sthapit, S.; Jarvis, D. (2020) Diversifying the sourcing and deploying methods to enhance the crop diversity. In: Joshi, B.K.; Gauchan, D.; Bhandari, B.; Jarvis, D. (eds.) (2020) Good practices for agrobiodiversity management. Kathmandu (Nepal): NAGRC, LI-BIRD and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, p. 40-47 ISBN: 978-92-9255-149-0

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109654