HORTIS’ Post

There’s growing interest in studying coffee as an agroecosystem — a dynamic bridge between natural and agricultural systems. Such farming methods have the potential not only to help sustain our caffeine fix, but also to provide a bounty of biological richness. The work of Ivette Perfecto has been central to this shift. An ecologist at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, Perfecto has spent decades studying the diverse assemblage of species that make coffee farms their home, especially some of the smallest farmworkers — the insects. Historically, biodiversity conservation has focused on the establishment of protected areas like parks and reserves. But agricultural lands, which cover more than twice as much land as such protected areas, can also offer opportunities for conservation. Shaded coffee farms, for example, can serve as refuges that provide quality habitat for wildlife, Perfecto told Knowable Magazine. Learn more: ☕ “How shade coffee lends conservation a hand” (Knowable Magazine) https://lnkd.in/dJz8jvdZ ☕ “Complex Ecological Interactions in the Coffee Agroecosystem” (Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics) https://lnkd.in/dVFu92vB

Context Matters in Restoration Projects, and Here's Why ⤵️ Tree planting has become popular in ecological restoration. But while planting trees plays an important role, context is much more critical when it comes to successful restoration projects. By context, the first thing that comes to mind is the location/position of the tree; the success of a restoration project hinges on choosing the right spot for the right tree. Planting fast-growing species in water-scarce regions might not be the most sustainable option. Understanding local climate, soil composition, and vegetation is crucial for long-term survival and impact. The second thought concerns the tree species. Several tree planting projects select one type of tree to plant. Monoculture tree plantations, while visually impressive, lack the ecological complexity of natural ecosystems. Planting a diverse range of native species promotes a healthier, more resilient environment that attracts vital pollinators and fosters a natural balance. While trees are a vital restoration component, they're not the only tool in the toolbox. Natural resource management techniques are equally important in preparing the ecosystem for successful tree reintroduction. The "why" behind your tree planting efforts matters greatly. Are you aiming to increase food security? Mitigate soil erosion? Capture carbon dioxide? Identifying the project's specific goals allows you to choose tree species with the most relevant benefits. For instance, planting fruit trees alongside nitrogen-fixing legumes in an agroforestry system promotes food production and soil health. Share your thoughts on the importance of context in restoration projects. What other factors do you consider crucial for successful restoration efforts? In the comments section You can also share links to successful projects. Photocredit: Pinterest #20daylinkedinchallengewithhaoma #knowledge #internationaldevelopmentadvisor #greentechnology #treeplanting #restoration #ecologicalrestoration #sustanabilty 

Human Permaculture and Zone 00 Some well-meaning people decided that we needed ‘Human Permaculture’. There are now books on the subject and people run courses explaining all about it. There is even one guy who calls himself the ‘Father of human Permaculture.’ Let us take a moment to observe some ants, they settle in and get on with their lives and soon become a new part of the ecosystem, rats, foxes, birds, same thing. They don’t actually need to study Permaculture design before setting themselves up. Permaculture wasn’t designed for them, it’s for us, the incredibly intelligent human beings who set stuff up that causes a mess for all forms of life, us included. We cut down forests and then plough the fields, we build cities which aren’t in anyway adapted to our psychological and physical needs. All that just so I can point out that ‘Human Permaculture’ is a tautology, it’s like saying something like ‘an egg omelette’. In the full article I discuss what Permaculture is really about, why 'human Permaculture' doesn't help with our work and why people who talk about it should stop calling it Permaculture.   https://lnkd.in/eRM9nhne My articles are free and you can access them all by subscribing to my Substack here https://lnkd.in/ehp33RgD     #permaculture #agroforestry #climatechange #climateaction #agroecology #syntropy #Sustainability #GreenLiving #EcoEvent #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture #EcoFriendly #CommunityEvent #PermacultureDesign #RegenerativeLiving #EarthCare #ClimateSolutions #ResilientCommunities #NatureBasedSolutions #immigration

The article and associated research offers valuable insights into the dynamics of a prominent plant species, shedding light on the challenges inherent in conservation endeavors, particularly concerning recruitment rates and dispersion patterns. These variables exhibit considerable variability and are not universally understood across all species. This underscores the complexities faced in conservation efforts. Moreover, numerous plant species facing similar or heightened risks often receive less recognition due to their smaller, less distinguishable size or appearance, or reduced aesthetic appeal. This lack of attention presents additional hurdles to effective conservation efforts.

Improving biodiversity isn’t just about planting anything, there are careful considerations to be made depending on the location, the planting type and what the benefits will bring in the long-term. Here are just some of the features the Millside Spencer Academy project team looked at to improve biodiversity of the existing land: 🌳 Enhance the existing hedgerow with infill planting and remove ivy that may otherwise be hindering the development of other planting 🌳 Remove tall ruderal species of planting (e.g. nettle, hogweed and dock) with meadow grassland, which provides a breeding ground for invertebrates, a key food source for many birds, amphibians, and reptiles 🌳 Replace overgrown scrub areas with woody species which provide a more valuable hedgerow space for wildlife 🌳 Enhance the existing woodland by thinning some of the existing trees to create deadwood areas, decaying wood is essential in woodland areas to put nutrients back into the soil, provides shelter for animals and encourages the development of fungi – which also recycle carbon and decompose inorganic matter Project facts: - Located in East Leake, Nottinghamshire - School was completed in September 2023 - The land was previously used as farmland - The school is net zero in operation SCAPE, Nottinghamshire County Council #TeamScape #BiodiversityNetGain #SustainableSchools

🌱✍️ Harmony with Nature 🌿🐝 Flora and Fauna Biodiversity is key of Sustainable Ecology. 🦋 No use or Minimum and concious use of Synthetic chemicals in Farming enhance beneficial fauna. 🌴 Crop rotation & Mix cropping with Monocot and Dicot species, Relay cropping, Permaculture, recycle , reuse, optimum use of water 💦, Crop cover, Multilayer farming model, are few fundamental of regenerative Farming adopt as much as possible. 🦋 Pollinators activities enhance in Natural farming model helps in increasing yield by improving pollination and seeds setting. 🌺 Planting of perennial and seasonal flowering plants at borders and in field also attract pollinators & predator. ✅ Zero or Minimum tillage enhance soil microbial activities.

For over 5000 years, oak and hickory dominated our Midwest hardwood forests. They are the keystone species of our ecosystems. About 75% of the Midwest forest's trees are oak or hickory. Hickories and oaks are essential to Missouri's forests and critical to quality biodiversity. They provide food for a wide variety of wildlife. In addition to their acorns and nuts, they attract protein-rich insects vital to songbird reproduction. Their dense and sturdy branching offers safe cover and nesting. A mixed herbaceous understory thrives in the vibrant soil under their dense canopy. Both oaks (Quercus spp.) and hickories (Carya spp.) evolved to be fire tolerant. Their dominance in Midwest forests testifies to the natural presence of fire in Midwest ecosystems. But over time, there have been less forest fires and less fire management. With less fire, maple and beech understory increases, and our forest biodiversity declines. This directly correlates to reduced insect and bird populations and soil erosion. In addition to the decline of oaks and hickories in Midwest forests, both genera have dominant tap roots, which make them more challenging to grow and predispose them to high mortality after transplantation. This limitation also suppresses the commercial production of valuable native hardwood species, including oaks, hickories, and pecans. Growing oaks, hickories, and other native species from seed helps preserve a forest's native plant diversity, which is vital to sustaining unique environments for various wildlife. Plant diversity requires propagation by seed rather than asexual methods, such as vegetative cuttings or tissue culture (cloning). Plants produced by seed are like siblings. They may come from the same parents yet have different appearances. Appropriate provenance (seed source and local ecotypes) is also essential on sensitive restoration sites. Forrest Keeling collects quality seeds from around the country. The seed is identified and coded to maintain the seed source of all RPM-produced container plants with county and state Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes. Forrest Keeling answered these challenges and others by creating its renowned RPM (Root Production Method®) production technology. The patented RPM method improves plant survival and speeds regeneration, which is critical for remediation and restoration sites that focus on oak and hickory. RPM production speeds mast production by years, and in some situations, decades. This early seed production allows natural, successional regeneration. Robust, RPM-produced root systems enable successful transplantation on the most challenging restoration sites. Download our new brochure on Midwest native oaks and hickories at https://lnkd.in/gbXXMiAr While on our site, learn about the RPM difference. Forrest Keeling... it's where the best trees begin!  

If we want to restore and revegetate degraded Australian landscapes, we need to start focussing on our seed supply - report Western Sydney University researchers Samantha A. and Rachael Gallagher and Aarhus University's Joe Atkinson. Their new research found that only 10% of Australia's plant species can be bought as seeds. And that most available seed is for trees and shrubs. They found that seeds of ecologically important understorey species were often not available. These missing understorey species - mainly herbs and grasses - can make up the majority of the plant diversity in some of our most degraded ecosystems, such as grassy woodlands. This finding has serious implications for ecosystems where most of the diversity is in the understorey. Careful planning and improving our national seed supply will be needed if we are to restore vegetation that provides good habitat for wildlife and resembles the natural bush.

This is an important read. Seed of only 10% of our native plants is widely available for land restoration. Restoring land is not just about planting lots of the local trees and shrubs, but also including the many thousands of understorey species that create complex ecosystems and habitat. I think we all need to get our heads around what's needed to repair the ecology of Australia. I'd hate to think that planting for carbon storage leads to huge swaths of low diversity plantings. If we are serious about nature repair, then biodiversity matters and increasing the diversity of seed available is critical. #biodiversity #naturerepair #ecosystemrecovery

I'm optimistic about agroforestry. The Propagate team is concluding with our 2024 Spring planting season, having put over 100,000 trees in the ground. And over 95% of them are going to survive. These trees are high-IRR carbon-accruing chestnuts, black locust, and a host of other species that are beneficial to local ecology and rural livelihoods in our own backyards. They are not "check the box" trees like you see being planted on marginal land in the developing world. We have an obligation to steward farmland in a way that produces abundant food and ecosystem services. I do like eating bananas and avocados as much as anyone else, but chestnuts and grass-fed beef are some of the best cold temperate-climate foods that we can put on our plates from an ecological perspective. Over the next 10 years, we'll continue to develop systems like these, pedal to the floor. Onward.