John Twyford’s Post

Study highlights the potential of cyanobacteria as biofertilizers. Water pollutant could be soil savior One ecosystem's trash could be another ecosystem's treasure, according to scientists studying cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria are commonly found in South Florida freshwaters and some are capable of producing a variety of toxins and harmful algal blooms. It also has a high iron content, unlike local crop soils. researchers found they can actually use cyanobacteria as a biofertilizer in iron deficient soils, turning this economic and environmental threat into a cost-effective solution for local farmers. "Cyanobacteria as biofertilizers has not been used in South Florida," "To our knowledge, this is the first study to collect naturally growing cyanobacteria for producing a biofertilizer and demonstrating ecological, environmental, economic and agriculture resilience." collected a thick mixture of water and algae biomass from Lake Jesup in Central Florida. They repurposed the harvested cyanobacteria slurry to produce biofertilizers for growing high-value organic vegetables—specifically okra. Researchers used the samples for a two-year experiment at FIU's Organic Garden Shade House and Greenhouse. Four different treatments were conducted to evaluate the performance of cyanobacteria biofertilizers in the geographical and sub-tropical conditions of South Florida. "This biofertilizer has 2,000 parts per million iron content which is a remarkable finding that will help farmers and reduce the cost of cultivation," "The unique discovery of rich in iron content is a blessing to South Florida soils." Using cyanobacteria as a biofertilizer can improve water quality by reducing nutrient runoff into surface water systems. It also boosts organic matter levels in porous calcareous soil bettering soil aggregation and stability. For farmers, substituting synthetic biofertilizers with cyanobacteria can save them up to 15% in production costs without any loss of crops allowing farmers to stay competitive. #cyanobacteria #agroecology #organic #matter #biofertilizers #soil #environment #farmers #toxins #pollutant #geographical #nutrient #water #cultivation

Source: (Journal of environmental management) Nature-based solutions for revegetation on abandoned Loess Plateau farmland involve using legumes like alfalfa and sweet clover. A 16-year study revealed alfalfa increases aboveground biomass but decreases community stability, while sweet clover enhances soil conditions and supports biodiversity. Alfalfa is beneficial for soil nutrient sequestration and erosion control in stable sites, whereas sweet clover is better for restoring biodiversity in disturbed areas.

Have you ever heard the term ‘Sacrifice Zone’? Every country seems to have adopted this practice politically. It describes an area deliberately neglected where the health of human and animal communities are sacrificed for the sake of economic growth or industrialisation (De Souza, 2021) As the money gets siphoned off by the (often foreign) owners of the industries causing the issues, the areas degrade environmentally. Does this sound familiar?(#UK, #Canada, #US we’re staring at you and your extractive predatory ventures) 40% of drinking water in Northern Ireland depends on a scummy, dead lake known as Lough Neagh. Years of abuse from chicken farms and municipal sewage releases from #NorthernIrelandWater - 80% of the algal blooms had human fecal waste- have led to an ecological disaster and human health emergency that was first flagged 50 years ago! This isn’t an animal problem - this is a management issue! N Ireland does not have its own independent Environmental agency. It is lumped together with Agriculture which while it may seem sensible, results in competing interests. In 2003 the Ulster University research laboratory at Traad Point - on the Lough was shut down and was not replaced. One of my favorite thinkers, the late Noam Chomsky said, “…by underfunding, under-resourcing, and neglecting geographical areas and important resources the conditions become perfect for unregulated and environmentally harmful practices that support economic accumulation and unsustainable yet profitable harmful industrial practices (Chomsky, 1998).” It seems that once again our policies failed for 50 yrs and now there is a much larger, more expensive mess to deal with. To make matters worse, policies and money are focused on the symptom rather than the cause. What good is dealing with algal blooms if the problem originates in the dead soils and pollution? Microscopy on the soils will show the problem immediately - or are we too scared to look? If you want a solution Andrew Muir, that solves the underlying cause of the eutrophication, not the symptom, we’re here: Woodland Grow https://lnkd.in/epZhNnkq

Trade-offs between different goals are frequently encountered in management. This new study led by Eva Maire looks at the nutritional value of coral reef fish, the factors affecting it, and its relationship with fish biodiversity. Micronutrient density was found to be negatively associated with fish biomass and diversity, underlining a trade-off can exist between managing for biodiversity vs. nutritional value. Fisheries management should consider targets that maximize nutritional harvest without compromising efforts to reverse biodiversity loss. Protecting reefs with high levels of biodiversity maintains key ecosystem functions, whereas sustainable fisheries management in locations with high micronutrient density could sustain the essential supply of micronutrients to coastal human communities. The study is openly accessible at https://lnkd.in/erbZe727.

"The achievable SOC sequestration potential in global grasslands is 2.3 to 7.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year (CO2e/year) for biodiversity restoration, 148 to 699 megatons of CO2e/year for improved grazing management, and 147 megatons of CO2e/year for sown legumes in pasturelands." https://lnkd.in/d5mYi7rE

"One of the key aspects of space agriculture is the management of organic waste and the recycling of nutrients to support plant growth. In closed-loop systems, every ounce of organic matter must be carefully processed and reintroduced into the ecosystem to maintain a balanced and sustainable environment. This is where the study of microbial ecology and its applications in waste management becomes crucial. Microorganisms play a vital role in decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil health, making them essential components of any sustainable life support system." #compostinspace #microbesforlife #soil2space

Maintaining a balanced waterbody is crucial for the health of aquatic ecosystems in lakes, ponds, or reservoirs. The interplay of nutrients, especially phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon, directly impacts water quality, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function. A balanced C:N:P ratio supports healthy aquatic life and prevents problems like algal blooms and stagnation. However, shifts in this ratio—particularly due to an excess of phosphorus—can disrupt the delicate equilibrium, triggering ecological consequences. READ MORE in our latest blog article...

Halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 requires not only improved conservation action but also addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and their implementation should adequately integrate the need to mainstream biodiversity across key sectors (from food and agriculture to infrastructure and finance) and equitably reduce the global footprint of consumption and eliminate overconsumption by 2030, returning within planetary limits. WWF, the Stockholm Environment Institute - University of York and Alauda Consulting developed some policy guidelines to support parties in integrating Target 16 of the Kunming to Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) into their NBSAPs. The policy brief aims to support parties in:  > Defining the specific component(s) of overconsumption that needs to be reduced; > Setting a fair but ambitious reduction target (or targets) for them; > Determining which indicators are best suited to measure national progress; and > Determining the mechanisms for translating Target 16 into action. The brief provides an overview of the main features of this process outlining why consumption footprints and associated target setting is important, what resources are available, and how national governments should develop and utilise the information derived from footprints. https://lnkd.in/dmUGenMc

🌿Unlocking the huge potential of the global seaweed market 🌿 Last year, the World Bank published the Global Seaweed New and Emerging Markets Report, emphasizing seaweed farming as one of the most promising markets for the planet, people, and global economies. In the report, ten high-potential global seaweed markets were identified, with a projected growth of an additional USD 11.8 billion by 2030. There's one key aspect we agree with: the seaweed sector has enormous potential, which has remained largely untapped until now. We know that seaweed-farmed products can deliver new solutions in fabrics and plastics, can provide ecosystem services such as bioremediation and supporting biodiversity, and can generate socioeconomic benefits in local coastal communities. 🌿At Kelp Forest Foundation, we are researching giant kelp's potential to help sustain or boost biodiversity, provide ecosystem services such as bioremediation, and whether it can sequester carbon long-term. We are also researching how 100% giant kelp-produced biostimulants can help improve soil biodiversity and health.  Read more about the Global Seaweed Markets Report at The World Bank link below: https://lnkd.in/esz8sNck #bluecarbon #kelp #nature #marinescience #netzero #naturebased

Mohammed Ozigis, Serge Wich, Adrià Descals, Zoltan Szantoi, and Erik Meijaard have released an important new study that sheds light on the complex dynamics of oil palm expansion in Central Africa and its implications for biodiversity and conservation efforts. As global demand for vegetable oils grows, this research underscores the critical need for informed land-use planning to balance agricultural development with ecological preservation. Key Insights from the study include that over 1,000 km² of tropical forests within great ape ranges were converted to oil palm between 2000 and 2021. Alarmingly, nearly 170,000 km² of forest loss occurred within the IUCN ranges of African great apes over the same period, with agricultural expansion playing a significant role. Furthermore, the study reveals that smallholder oil palm plantations are more extensive than previously reported, highlighting their contribution to deforestation trends. Read more about this study and its potential impact on global conservation efforts #Sustainability #Biodiversity #Conservation #OilPalm #CentralAfrica #GreatApes #Deforestation #DeepLearning #SustainableDevelopment https://lnkd.in/daQUcQgY