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Elphick A, Ockendon N, Aliácar S, Crowson M, Pettorelli N. Long-term vegetation trajectories to inform nature recovery strategies: The Greater Côa Valley as a case study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 355:120413. [PMID: 38442655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Active and passive approaches to rewilding and ecological restoration are increasingly considered to promote nature recovery at scale. However, historical data on vegetation trajectories have rarely been used to inform decisions on whether active or passive management is most appropriate to aid recovery of a specific ecosystem, which can lead to sub-optimal approaches being deployed and reduced biodiversity benefits. To demonstrate how understanding past changes can inform future management strategies, this study used satellite remote sensing data to analyse the changes in land cover and primary productivity within the Greater Côa Valley in Portugal, which has experienced wide-scale land abandonment. Results show that some areas in the Valley regenerated well following land abandonment in the region, leading to a more heterogeneous landscape of habitats for wildlife, whereas in other areas passive recovery was slow. As Rewilding Portugal intensifies its nature recovery efforts in the region, this study calls for strategic deployment of passive and active approaches to maximise conservation benefits. More broadly, our results highlight how baseline vegetational trajectories and contextual information can help inform whether active or passive management approaches may be suitable on a site-by-site basis for both rewilding and restoration projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Elphick
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY London, UK; UCL Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nancy Ockendon
- Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Sara Aliácar
- Rewilding Portugal, Quinta da Maunça SN, 6300-035, Arrifana, Guarda, Portugal
| | - Merry Crowson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY London, UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY London, UK; UCL Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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de Mendonça GC, da Costa LM, Abdo MTVN, Costa RCA, Parras R, de Oliveira LCM, Pissarra TCT, Pacheco FAL. Multicriteria spatial model to prioritize degraded areas for landscape restoration through agroforestry. MethodsX 2023; 10:102052. [PMID: 36911210 PMCID: PMC9995468 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Reconciling the restoration of ecosystem services within agricultural landscapes is an effort that has been advancing within degraded areas restoration through agroforestry systems. However, to contribute to the effectiveness of these initiatives, it is essential to integrate landscape vulnerability and local demands to better highlight in which areas the implementation of agroforestry systems should be prioritized. Thus, we developed a spatial hierarchization methodology as a decision support tool as an active strategy for agroecosystem restoration. The proposed method constitutes a spatial indicator of priority areas to guide agroforestry interventions, including resource allocation and public policies for payment for environmental services. The methodology consists of Multicriteria Decision Analysis implemented in GIS software by combining input datasets based on biophysical conditions, environmental and socioeconomic aspects, that integrated promotes an assessment of the environment fragility, the pressures and responses to land use dynamic; a strategy for landscape restoration and conservation of the natural habitats, and multiple specific scenarios for decision making regarding the agricultural and the local actors demands. The output of the model provides the spatial distribution of areas suitable for the implementation of agroforestry systems, sorted into four priority levels (Low, Medium, High, and Extreme priority). The method is a promising tool proposal for territorial management and governance and subsidizes future research on the flows of ecosystem services.•Assessment of the environment fragility and the pressures and responses to land use dynamic.•Strategy for landscape restoration and conservation of remaining natural habitats.•Multiple specific scenarios for decision making regarding the agricultural and the local actors demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gislaine Costa de Mendonça
- Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, UNESP/FCAV - São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Luis Miguel da Costa
- Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, UNESP/FCAV - São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Maria Teresa Vilela Nogueira Abdo
- Pindorama Pole, Washington Luis Highway, Km 371, s/n, APTA - São Paulo Agency of Agribusiness Technology, Pindorama, SP 15830-000, Brazil.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Cristina Araújo Costa
- Guarulhos University (UNG), Praça Tereza Cristina, 239, Guarulhos, SP 07023-070, Brazil.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael Parras
- Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, UNESP/FCAV - São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Laís Caroline Marianno de Oliveira
- Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, UNESP/FCAV - São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Teresa Cristina Tarlé Pissarra
- Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, UNESP/FCAV - São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando António Leal Pacheco
- Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, UNESP/FCAV - São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.,CQVR-Chemistry Center of Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Ap. 1013, Vila Real 5001-801, Portugal.,POLUS-Land Use Policy Group, Access Way Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
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