Ecology
Different Approaches to Agriculture and their Implications for Local Social-ecological Systems
If forests and the aquatic systems in the inland, we can observe that about forty percent of the continent is covered by agriculture. For the agricultural operations to continue being productive, a dimension of integration is vital for ecological sustainability. A right way of coming up with a sustainable agricultural system is looking at the approaches that involve managing the services of the ecosystem. The management systems also add more knowledge to the already existing agro-ecosystem. The use of ecosystem services is difficult. The reason why applying this concept is challenging is because new social and ecological dimensions are introduced by this concept of ecological function.
Apart from delivering services of provision, there is a lot that is needed from these services. Functions, such as maintaining regulation of pollination, maintaining the fertility of the soil and controlling pests, are some of the other activities that agricultural services provide. In the management that is ecologically based, biophysical systems must be embraced by the stakeholders in the agricultural fields. It is challenging to maintain the simultaneous management of the ecosystem services. The challenge comes in because there are so many relationships that are positive, negative, and non-linear. These are relationships that exist between many levels where the application of management is possible and services.
Making use of ecosystem services improves and, at the same time, strengthens interactions between the farmers. These interactions help the farmers in developing the activities of the ecosystem services. Management of agriculture plays an essential role in developing the ecosystem service. The farmers are a single group that experiences the benefits of the ecosystem services. Farmers experiencing the benefits of ecosystem services does not mean that their perception is the only one. Other people who rely on ecosystem services might also have different viewpoints regarding ecosystem services. Some see the ecosystem service as negative, while others see it as positive. Interactions that are enhanced and established by ecosystem services can be very vital in the modification of the services that are offered by the service and the management of the ecosystem services.
There is also a need to use an ecological and a social issue of assessment that is more integrated. The more integrated assessment issue is vital in making a system of agriculture that is entirely based on sustainable ecosystem services. Of late, studies concerning the operations of agro-ecosystem have been increasingly offered. These studies are mainly focused on single services and aspects that are biotechnical. A majority of the published studies of the multiple services were published based on the analysis of scenarios and mapping in different regions. Agro-economic and ecological approaches have not been used by the stakeholders that have varying perceptions of the ecosystem service regarding social interactions.
Concerning social-ecological frameworks, there is a need for having an agro-ecosystem that is integrated. To come up with an integrated framework, it was advised that the conceptual framework was to be used. The theoretical framework is essential, especially in agro-ecosystem management, which is multiservice. In this conceptual framework, there is a connection between ecosystems and social systems that are consistent and connected by ecosystem services. The theoretical framework is also inclusive of the intergovernmental platforms that are recent. These platforms consist of ecosystem services and biodiversity. Through the conceptual framework, ecosystem services are considered as outputs from ecosystems that are already used by the social systems and are transformed.
Nevertheless, the new conceptual framework is different from the past conceptual framework. The difference is seen in various ways. The first notable difference in the new conceptual framework is that it directly focuses on agro-ecosystems. After focusing on the multiple agro-ecosystems, the theoretical framework goes further to pinpoint the specific features of the agro-ecosystem. The features that are pinpointed are usually the ones concerning the social system and the ecosystem. The second difference between the old conceptual frameworks and the new conceptual framework is in the way that these frameworks make observations. Unlike the old conceptual framework, the new conceptual framework is focused on identifying the disadvantages that come along when farmers decide to use the knowledge of farming in the management of multiple services. When the new conceptual framework is used in the identification of the challenges, the frame is usually restricted to only do this activity only in the powers that the frame has provided. To see the clarity between the social systems and the ecosystems, a balanced representation is required.
In conclusion, it is clear that for an ago-ecosystem to be termed as sustainable, it is required to give out several ecosystem services instead of performing services of provision. So that the ability of an ecosystem can be fostered, the need to explore the ecological and social dimension of the agricultural world. The above work shows a social-ecological framework, having served as its base. These frameworks loos at the management of agro-ecosystems.
Why and How Issues Related to Gender Should be integrated into Any Ecosystem-based Adaptation Project
An ecosystem-based adaptation can be described as the use of ecosystems and in biodiversity to aid different communities to be used to live in places where the systems of climate are less predictable. To help these communities adapt to the climatic change, there is a need for certain investments. The investments that are done include ecosystem rehabilitation and restoring of the ecosystems. This kind of investment is done to the communities that entirely depend on them during harsh climatic conditions.
The change in climate is a danger to when it comes to the sector of agriculture. The unpredictable climate change also affects food security. The men and women that rely on agricultural produce for their livelihood are the ones that are most affected by the change in the climate. Even as the world id trying as much as possible to fight with issues of hunger, the difference in the environment poses a significant threat to women and men of rural areas that does agriculture. With all investments being put in place, there are still gaps that exist in terms of gender in agriculture. Gender differences in agriculture is an indication that there exist differences between male farmers and female farmers when it comes to access to the services that have been allocated to help prepare for the worst climatic periods.
Around the world, women are disadvantaged in getting the resources allocated for the hard climate. Women also suffer from less advisory services, supplies of production, and finance. When decisions concerning ecosystem-based adaptation projects are being made, women are mostly left out. Being that both men and women suffer when the climate changes for the worst, it is equally important to consider both genders when making the services that are meant to help farmers adapt to climatic changes available. The only way to make these services available to both men and women is through taking several measures. One of the actions that need to be taken is including women in the process of decision making of how to utilize the available resources. Secondly, women should be provided with adequate capital, supplies of production, as well as education. Besides, the government should come up with policies that protect the rights of women in accessing the invested resources.
Hydropower as a Sustainable Solution
The term hydropower refers to a type of power that is produced by water that is falling or water that is at a very high speed. The falling of fast-moving water can be collected to come up with a form of energy that is useful. Hydropower is among the sources of power that were used as electric power sources. In countries like America, Hydropower was leading in the annual American generation of electricity from the moment it was discovered until the year 2019. The period through which hydropower has been used and shows that it is a sustainable solution to electric power. Nevertheless, hydropower has its advantages and its disadvantages, and they are depicted below.
Pros of Hydropower as a Sustainable Solution
The advantages of hydropower as a sustainable solution include the fact that immediately a dam is made, the rate of hydropower production is constant. A constant rate means that the power coming from that dam is usually consistent. Secondly, in situations where hydroelectric power is not needed, the ones controlling sluice gates can close them, thus cutting off the production of hydropower. The possibility of closing and opening the sluice gates is essential since the water that is preserved from falling when hydropower is not needed can be used to produce hydroelectric power when it is required. Thirdly, the dams that are constructed to provide the hydropower are well constructed, thus making them durable. Well-constructed dams mean that they can serve for a long time. Lastly, during the production of hydroelectricity, there are no emissions that can bring about greenhouse effects.
Cons of Hydropower as a Sustainable Solution
The disadvantages of hydropower as a sustainable solution includes facts like; when the hydropower dams flood, there are high chances of environmental destruction in areas where the dam is constructed. Secondly, extensive dam construction can bring about geographical damage. A good example is that which happened when the Hoover dam, which is located in America, was undergoing development. The surface of the earth where the dam is constructed experienced depression, and during construction, there were several earthquakes. Lastly, the large dams that are meant for the production of hydropower have a significant effect on the natural water table. Rising water levels of the water table can lead to the destruction of plantations since the salt levels also rise as water rises.
My Opinion
In my opinion, I can say that hydropower is an essential source of energy. Hydropower is a sustainable source of energy that is vital in our day to day activities. To make the hydropower more active, the governments should consider constructing dams where there are no people that exist. It is also essential to build moderate dams to avoid geographical effects such as earthquakes and depression. If the above measures are put into practice, hydropower will continue being a sustainable solution for power.
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