Urgent solutions to global climate change are needed. Ambitious tree‐planting initiatives, many already underway, aim to sequester enormous quantities of carbon to partly compensate for anthropogenic ...CO2 emissions, which are a major cause of rising global temperatures. However, tree planting that is poorly planned and executed could actually increase CO2 emissions and have long‐term, deleterious impacts on biodiversity, landscapes and livelihoods. Here, we highlight the main environmental risks of large‐scale tree planting and propose 10 golden rules, based on some of the most recent ecological research, to implement forest ecosystem restoration that maximizes rates of both carbon sequestration and biodiversity recovery while improving livelihoods. These are as follows: (1) Protect existing forest first; (2) Work together (involving all stakeholders); (3) Aim to maximize biodiversity recovery to meet multiple goals; (4) Select appropriate areas for restoration; (5) Use natural regeneration wherever possible; (6) Select species to maximize biodiversity; (7) Use resilient plant material (with appropriate genetic variability and provenance); (8) Plan ahead for infrastructure, capacity and seed supply; (9) Learn by doing (using an adaptive management approach); and (10) Make it pay (ensuring the economic sustainability of the project). We focus on the design of long‐term strategies to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises and support livelihood needs. We emphasize the role of local communities as sources of indigenous knowledge, and the benefits they could derive from successful reforestation that restores ecosystem functioning and delivers a diverse range of forest products and services. While there is no simple and universal recipe for forest restoration, it is crucial to build upon the currently growing public and private interest in this topic, to ensure interventions provide effective, long‐term carbon sinks and maximize benefits for biodiversity and people.
Ten golden rules_graphical Written Summary:We propose ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery, and livelihood benefits. These are: (1) Protect existing forest first; (2) Work together (involving all stakeholders); (3) Aim to maximize biodiversity recovery to meet multiple goals; (4) Select appropriate areas for restoration; (5) Use natural regeneration wherever possible; (6) Select species to maximize biodiversity; (7) Use resilient plant material (with appropriate genetic variability and provenance); (8) Plan ahead for infrastructure, capacity and seed supply; (9) Learn by doing (using an adaptive management approach); and (10) Make it pay (ensuring the economic sustainability of the project).
Tree-planting is one of the veritable tools for combating urban heat island and improving thermal comfort in the wake of global warming and urbanization. However, trees of different species and ...morphological properties have variable solar attenuation capacity and consequently, thermal comfort regulation potential. Besides, the shadow-cast effect by buildings helps in reducing pedestrian radiant load and consequently improves thermal comfort especially in high-density cities even though ventilation is reduced. Therefore, a holistic and contextual understanding of tree-planting and shadow-casting can help in designing climate-proof cities. In this study, we employed the ENVI-met model to better understand the interaction between these two forms of shading (trees and buildings) on the pedestrians' thermal comfort in Hong Kong and the influence of one over the other. The impact of different urban densities on the thermal comfort improvement potential by eight (8) common tree-species in Hong Kong was specifically studied. Results show that shallow canyons are susceptible to worse thermal condition when compared to their deeper counterparts with similar aspect ratio value. Of all tree configuration parameters, leaf area index, tree height and trunk height are most influential in improving and aggravating daytime and nighttime thermal comfort, respectively. We also found that trees' effectiveness in improving daytime thermal comfort reduces with increasing urban density and vice-versa for nighttime. For the reference of planners and landscape architects, this study recommends tall trees of low canopy density with high trunk in deeper canyons and vice-versa for shallow canyons and open-areas.
•Worsened thermal condition was observed in shallow than deeper canyons of similar aspect ratio value at mid-day.•The impact of shadow and tree shading on daytime and nighttime thermal conditions is determined by different mechanisms.•The efficacy of trees in improving daytime thermal comfort reduces with increasing urban density.•Tall trees of low leaf density and high trunk are proposed for deep canyons and reverse for shallow canyons and open-areas.•Hong Kong's Greening Master Plan can be updated using tree-species selection based on urban density mapping.
Pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) may be associated with a personal relationship with nature. We conducted a quasi-experiment with 423 residents who had or had not actively participated in a ...tree-planting scheme and lived in 20 neighborhoods that differ in their greenness level. We tested whether exposure to nature (specified by the amount of vegetation cover in residents’ neighborhoods) and/or past PEB (specified by tree-planting participation) was associated with residents’ PEB and whether key psychological constructs would mediate these relationships. Structural equation mediation models revealed that the level of neighborhood vegetation and involvement in the planting scheme explained 46% of the variance in PEB, with connection to nature, the use of nature for psychological restoration, and environmental attitudes mediating the relationships. Connection to nature was more strongly associated with engagement in PEB than the use of nature for psychological restoration and environmental attitudes.
Document (table) about planting dates, seeding rates and row spacing for field and forage crops that are sexually propagated. Information for Florida that considers factors as climate and weather ...conditions; fertility, moisture-holding capacity, temperature, and moisture content of the soil; depth to the water table; size and germination of the seed; plant size and growth habit; growing season and water requirements of the crop; and the habits of insects, disease, and other pests.
In the agricultural landscape of Uzbekistan, an area of 15-18 thousand hectares is dedicated annually to the cultivation of sesame, serving as a supplementary source of income for many. The resulting ...sesame harvest is predominantly distributed within domestic markets, while a portion is earmarked for international export. The average sesame seed yield in Uzbekistan stands at 4-5 tons per hectare in rain-fed conditions and 8-14 tons per hectare in irrigated settings. In light of these circumstances, the core objective of this study is to ascertain the optimal timing, seeding rate, and cultivation technique for the production of premium-grade exportable sesame goods, uniquely tailored to the climatic conditions prevalent in the Khorezm province of Uzbekistan. By delving into these variables, researchers aim to uncover strategies that maximize the quality and quantity of sesame crops in Khorezm. Such insights hold the potential to not only enhance local production and export capabilities but also contribute to the agricultural economy of the region. By striving to identify the most effective practices, this study seeks to streamline the cultivation process, boost sesame yield, and elevate the overall agricultural landscape in the Khorezm province.
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