Fakultät 12 / Institut für Technologie und Ressourcenmanagement in den Tropen und Subtropen
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Agroforestry coffee cultivation represents a promising sustainable agricultural practice in the Cerro de Kuskawás Natural Reserve (CKNR). This study evaluates the impacts of agroforestry systems on the sustainability of smallholder farms, considering economic, environmental, social, and governance dimensions. Data were collected from 15 smallholder farms participating in agroforestry initiatives supported by private sector interventions, specifically through an outgrowers scheme. The research utilized a mixed-method approach, incorporating questionnaires based on the FAO’s TAPE tool and interviews, to assess changes in income stability, biodiversity, gender equity, and land tenure security.
The findings reveal that agroforestry coffee cultivation significantly enhances sustainability across multiple dimensions. Economically, it provides increased income stability and diversification, as smallholders benefit from both the higher market value of sustainably produced coffee and additional revenue from integrated crops like fruits and timber. Environmentally, agroforestry systems improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce the need for chemical inputs, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural ecosystem. Socially, the inclusion of women in these agroforestry initiatives has led to improved gender equity and greater empowerment for female smallholders.
However, the study also highlights key challenges, including the high initial costs of transitioning to agroforestry, the dependency on external support from private sector entities, and limited autonomy for smallholders due to centralized control structures. The results suggest that while agroforestry systems have the potential to significantly contribute to sustainable development in the CKNR, achieving long-term sustainability will require addressing these challenges through cooperative models and local governance structures. This study provides valuable insights into the role of agroforestry coffee cultivation in promoting sustainability.
This thesis investigates the sustainability of proposed alternative livelihoods for the mining community of Camargo in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro, Mexico. With the impending ban on mercury mining under the Minamata Convention, the community faces the urgent need to transition to sustainable livelihoods. Utilizing the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) as a guiding theoretical model, this study assesses the current state of the Five Capitals—human, social, natural, physical, and financial—within the community. It also examines the community's perceptions and attitudes toward these alternative livelihoods and evaluates the external influences, such as government and academic institutions, that impact their sustainability.
Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with community members, miners, and external stakeholders, and analyzed using qualitative coding in MAXQDA. The findings reveal a complex interplay between the Capitals of the community and the role that external stakeholders play, highlighting both opportunities and barriers to follow a path of sustainability.
The study concludes that the livelihoods with most potential for a sustainability path are the cultivation of regional species and the installation of a touristic point in the community. A holistic approach that integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions, while at the same time considers a tailored natural resources management, is essential for ensuring the path of sustainability of the livelihoods. Points of leverage for change are presented for policy and advocacy, infrastructure development of the community, and considering local resource management in the design and implementation of sustainable livelihood strategies.
In recent years, governments worldwide have set out to ensure food security. However, despite the efforts and resources invested, food for all has not been ensured. In the Mexican context, several strategies, programmes and public policies have taken place in the last 30 years; however, the problem has evolved from an issue of lack of food to one of excess caloric intake, promoting chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, a consequence of the generalisation of overweight and obesity in the population. The problem is complex, and action is required from a whole food system perspective, based on public policies that intervene effectively, promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening the economy and the equitable distribution of wealth. This study focuses on analysing the problem of food insecurity in Mexico from a food systems perspective, as well as analysing public policies from 1982 to 2024, their evolution and changes in approach, as well as their design and coverage in terms of food security and food improvements. The results of this study show that Mexican public policies have not been effective in ensuring food security for all, nor have they been transversal or consistently applied as a long-term project. In conclusion, Mexican public policies must act in a preventive manner, ensure continuity despite changes in government, and take a food system and human rights perspective.
There is an urgent need to develop sustainable agricultural land use schemes. Intensive crop production has induced increased greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced nutrient and pesticide leaching to groundwater and streams. Climate change is also expected to increase drought risk as well as the frequency of extreme precipitation events in many regions. Consequently, sustainable management schemes require sound knowledge of site-specific soil water processes that explicitly take into account the interplay between soil heterogeneities and crops. In this study, we applied a principal component analysis to a set of 64 soil moisture time series from a diversified cropping field featuring seven distinct crops and two weeding management strategies. Results showed that about 97 % of the spatial and temporal variance of the data set was explained by the first five principal components. Meteorological drivers accounted for 72.3 % of the variance and 17.0 % was attributed to different seasonal behaviour of different crops. While the third (4.1 %) and fourth (2.2 %) principal components were interpreted as effects of soil texture and cropping schemes on soil moisture variance, respectively, the effect of soil depth was represented by the fifth component (1.7 %). However, neither topography nor weed control had a significant effect on soil moisture variance. Contrary to common expectations, soil and rooting pattern heterogeneity seemed not to play a major role. Findings of this study highly depend on local conditions. However, we consider the presented approach generally applicable to a large range of site conditions.
The city of Barcelona has developed the transversal project of Superblocks which combines traffic pacification with the installation of urban green and urban furniture in order to counteract rising problems of threatening air quality, noise levels, insufficient urban green and lacking public spaces. The implementation of the Superblock in Sant Antoni has revealed a reduction of motorized transport in the whole neighbourhood. This thesis aims at understanding sociological dimensions of behaviour changes and modal shifts, as well as contextualizing the transformation in the light of an ongoing paradigm shift in urban mobility. Quantitative data of traffic volumes shows the measured reduction of motorized transport in Sant Antoni. A quantitative questionnaire casts a light on modal shifts and attitudes of residents in the intervention zone. Further qualitative interviews create an in-depth understanding of individual residents and their modal changes, mobility behaviour and attitudes towards the changes. Finally, expert interviews in the field of transport planning and city administration substantiate the ongoing paradigm shift towards a more ecological, socially connected, and sustainable city.
Keywords: urban planning, urban mobility, sustainable mobility transition, evaporating transport, modal shift, behaviour change, social practice
There is a wide variety of drought indices, yet a consensus on suitable indices and temporal scales for monitoring streamflow drought remains elusive across diverse hydrological settings. Considering the growing interest in spatially distributed indices for ungauged areas, this study addresses the following questions: (i) What temporal scales of precipitation-based indices are most suitable to assess streamflow drought in catchments with different hydrological regimes? (ii) Do soil moisture indices outperform meteorological indices as proxies for streamflow drought? (iii) Are snow indices more effective than meteorological indices for assessing streamflow drought in snow-influenced catchments? To answer these questions, we examined 100 near-natural catchments in Chile with four hydrological regimes, using the standardised precipitation index (SPI), standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), empirical standardised soil moisture index (ESSMI), and standardised snow water equivalent index (SWEI), aggregated across various temporal scales. Cross-correlation and event coincidence analysis were applied between these indices and the standardised streamflow index at a temporal scale of 1 month (SSI-1), as representative of streamflow drought events. Our results underscore that there is not a single drought index and temporal scale best suited to characterise all streamflow droughts in Chile, and their suitability largely depends on catchment memory. Specifically, in snowmelt-driven catchments characterised by a slow streamflow response to precipitation, the SPI at accumulation periods of 12–24 months serves as the best proxy for characterising streamflow droughts, with median correlation and coincidence rates of approximately 0.70–0.75 and 0.58–0.75, respectively. In contrast, the SPI at a 3-month accumulation period is the best proxy over faster-response rainfall-driven catchments, with median coincidence rates of around 0.55. Despite soil moisture and snowpack being key variables that modulate the propagation of meteorological deficits into hydrological ones, meteorological indices are better proxies for streamflow drought. Finally, to exclude the influence of non-drought periods, we recommend using the event coincidence analysis, a method that helps assessing the suitability of meteorological, soil moisture, and/or snow drought indices as proxies for streamflow drought events.
A lack of access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in Mali is causing negative health and welfare impacts on the population. There is a need to transition to cleaner cooking systems, and the production of biofuels is one promising solution. In order to successfully use biofuels in Malian households, it is necessary to calculate the sustainable bioenergy potential of the country. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess this potential to determine if it can meet the cooking energy demand. Statistical data were used to estimate the bioenergy potential from three different biomass resources: crop residues, livestock waste, and municipal solid waste (MSW). Surveys in urban and rural areas in Mali were performed to assess cooking fuel consumption in the residential sector. Bioenergy potential and cooking energy demand were compared regionally to find out if biomass is a feasible substitute for traditional cooking fuels in Mali. It was shown that while there is high biogas potential in most of the regions, urban Bamako has a lack of biomass resources to cover the demand. Therefore, other clean alternatives like electric cooking should be considered for urban areas.
Globally, the transportation sector stands as the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nepal is no exception, relying entirely on imported petroleum products. The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, with its unique bowl-shaped topography, faces major urban challenges including inadequate mobility and poor air quality. This paper aims to investigate the magnitude of GHG emissions from conventional vehicles within Kathmandu Valley and analyze the counter-role of electric mobility in creating a more livable city. This study conducted a primary survey to estimate transport energy consumption and mobility characteristics for the base year 2022. The Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) served as the modeling tool to forecast energy consumption and quantify associated GHG emissions in three scenarios: business-as-usual (BAU), sustainable development (SD), and net-zero emission (NZE). Additionally, this study estimated co-benefits, focusing on local pollutant reductions. With the present trend of increasing urbanization, motorization, and development, GHG emissions from the transportation sector are projected to more than triple by 2050 in the BAU scenario. Widespread adoption of electric mobility in the SD scenario would achieve up to a 95% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050. The NZE scenario foresees complete electrification and hydrogen-based vehicles by 2045, achieving complete abatement of both GHG emissions and local pollutants. The SD and NZE scenarios will require, respectively, 64% and 84% less energy than the BAU scenario, along with 74% and 100% reductions in petroleum consumption by 2050. These reductions contribute to enhanced energy security and energy sustainability. Achieving the SD and NZE scenarios will require approximately 1048 GWh and 1390 GWh of additional electricity solely for Kathmandu Valley by 2050. This paper is expected to provide valuable insights for policy implementors, transport planners, and city administrators to develop effective action plans and policies aimed at improving pollution levels and making cities in developing countries more livable and sustainable.
This thesis conducted a two-fold approach to develop a sustainable reforestation framework that integrates Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that focuses on early tree establishment. The research was prompted by a project for mangrove reforestation in Pakistan which aimed to utilise UAVs as a medium. Prior to the project’s initiation, several questions have emerged in consideration to reforestation success. The thesis begins by conducting a desk study that reviews factors of mortality and success of reforestation. Coupled with the growing interest to integrate UAVs into environmental conservation and preservation, a field experiment was then conducted.
Based on this, a field experiment was created. It was designed to provide a baseline assessment on the drone’s first flight performance. Due to logistical issues, a field experiment was conducted in Germany instead of Pakistan, with similar physical characteristics of the site of reforestation. Main findings from this thesis includes: 1. Sowing depths from a higher altitude garnered more depths, 2. Most seeds were below 1cm of depth, 3. Published literature indicates that early tree establishment begins from a thorough examination of the environmental space, which includes the existing fauna as symbiotic relationships were essential to tree establishment, and 4. UAV-integrated research as main tools outside of monitoring were few.
These findings are then synthesized and integrated to create the Sustainable UAV-Integrated Reforestation Framework (SURF). The framework was designed to be holistic and dynamic, with emphasis on ecological factors – an element that is often made secondary in reforestation policies or projects. Yet, a couple of drawbacks can be observed as the thesis experiment was only brief and garnered a relatively small sample.
Elaeis guineensis Jacq. or oil palm is a native species of West Africa. Its oils, extracted from the fruit mesocarp and the kernel are widely used in the food industry, industrial applications, and bioenergy production. Due to its versatility, profitability and growing demand, the global oil palm agroindustry raises concerns regarding deforestation, effects in biodiversity, contamination and related to social issues such as labor conditions, poverty, and social conflicts. In Mexico, the establishment and subsequent growth of the oil palm industry was promoted by past government policies and financial support. In Chiapas the current main producer of the country, the expansion can be also attributed to oil palm resilience to floods, hurricanes, and the economic profitability.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the sustainability status of the oil palm production system within Acapetahua and Villa Comaltitlán Municipalities by analyzing the indicators of sustainability. To achieve this, the Evaluation Framework for Natural Resource Management Systems (MESMIS), was adapted to measure the attributes status of productivity, stability, reliability, resilience, self-management, equity, and adaptability, of the different dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, political, and economic).
It was identified that MESMIS is an appropriate framework to study oil palm system in Acapetahua and Villa Comaltitlán municipalities. The methodology allowed the identification of critical points, and relevant indicators that include land use and vegetation cover changes, oil palm cashflow, good agricultural practices, farmers´ training, level of participation and farmers´ well-being. As a result, it was identified that vegetation and land use changes were principally from pastures land and previous oil palm plantations, and a positive profitability in the last two years. Soil and water conservation practices are implemented, and farmers have received different trainings principally from social mills, but other good agricultural practices and awareness of social problems should be improved, while the social participation evaluation showed a weak status of the political dimension.