SOILL’s Post

#BPPF is only one week away! ☄️ We would like to share with you another interesting presentation from the Forum on "The Carbon Life Cycle of Peat. First results". Meet the speakers on this topic – Ain Kull, PhD, Associate Professor, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu and Martin Küttim, PhD, Researcher, School of Natural Sciences and Health, Institute of Ecology, Tallinn University. The presentation will provide an overview of the carbon balance of peat-based substrates under different uses and substrates after use. It will also discuss the main shortcomings of the current off-site emission calculation methods used in #LULUCF accounting and propose the introduction of more detailed actual carbon flux-based factors in emission calculations. During this presentation, participants will learn how peat substrates used under different conditions affect the carbon balance, and why current methods of calculating emissions may not be accurate. Together we will discuss how more detailed estimates of carbon fluxes can change the way we look at peat use. While currently all the carbon in horticultural peat is accounted for as an emission, our results allow an assessment of the actual carbon fluxes between substrate, plant, atmosphere and the soil of open fields where the used substrates are applied. Together with the data from the survey and the statistics collected, an assessment of the overall role of horticultural peat use in the carbon cycle can be made. We look forward to seeing you at #BalticPeatProducersForum 2024, where we will learn more about the life cycle of peat carbon and its impact on our environment. See you in #Birštonas on 18-20 September. #Sustainability #GrowingMedia

🎄 Holiday Research Spotlight Series 🎄 We continue our holiday calendar by showcasing some of our talented young researchers. Today, we highlight Andres Rodriguez, whose journey from Colombia to Denmark is driven by a deep commitment to addressing climate change. Andres' academic path began with a bachelor's degree in biology in Colombia, focusing on ecology and ornithology. His interest shifted towards ecosystem restoration and biogeochemical cycles during his master's studies in environmental science at Florida International University. This led him to a PhD at the University of Florida, where he worked on the Everglades, a unique ecosystem impacted by agriculture. Now in Denmark, Andres focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands. His research at Aarhus Universitet studies the impact of rewetting drained peatlands, aiming to minimize CO₂ emissions while balancing trade-offs like methane release and nutrient leaching. He emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches for each unique peatland. Beyond laboratory work, Andres collaborates with farmers to develop practical applications, such as transitioning to flood-tolerant crops or using rewetted lands for bioenergy production. His goal is to make rewetted peatlands opportunities rather than burdens for communities. Read more about Andres' journey and his vision for a sustainable future: https://lnkd.in/dGzCy-qu Stay tuned for more portraits of our brilliant researchers. #Agroecology #Research #ClimateChange #SustainableSolutions #PhD #HolidaySeason

Science is the fuel required for lifting ecosystem restoration into the orbit of hundreds of millions of hectares   Led by C4’s CEO, Dr Anthony Mills, this article discusses the essential role of scientific research in driving large-scale ecosystem restoration. It highlights the success of restoration projects in South Africa's subtropical thicket biome, emphasising four key actions:   1. Foundational peer-reviewed science 2. Long-term ecological research 3. Retrospective studies of past restoration efforts 4. Adaptive management through scoping studies   The insights gained from these actions provide a blueprint for future restoration initiatives. The article advocates for sustained scientific accountability, extensive research and practical implementation strategies to restore degraded ecosystems globally.   This open access article in Frontiers in Conservation Science is available to read here: https://lnkd.in/ebART__u.

We must resist the temptation to oversimplify for the comfort of others. As our world becomes more volatile, ambiguous, and complex, oversimplifying can hinder our progress. To rise to the current historical challenges, we must enhance the capability of our systems to deal with complexity. Concurrently, we need to develop our own proficiency in handling complexity to efficiently manage these complex systems. This growth should not be theoretical; it must be realized through application. From "#Regenerative Development and Design - Its origins, essence, practice and potential as a meta-discipline to elevate #governance, #innovation and #planetaryhealth" by Leen Gorissen (founder of Centre4NI) with contributions from Karla Bonaldi (Environment and Circularity Expert at HAEDES), Lénia D. Rato (Biology and Ecology Specialist at HAEDES) and pIEt Haerens (founder of HAEDES) Illustration by djungle.be based on the original diagram of Regenesis (2012). It illustrates the difference between evolution which leads to more order, integration and ableness and devolution which leads to more disorder, disintegration and less ableness. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eWkdsFYW

Meet the Model Region Fyn Team in ARCADIA: 🌱 🧑🔬 Gary Banta is Associated professor with a background as an ecosystem ecologist and Head of the Biology Department at Det Naturvidenskabelige Fakultet, Syddansk Universitet. Why ARCADIA? I have several personal and professional goals in the project. I am interested in being part of a interdisciplinary team working on exploring, implementing and assessing nature-based solutions to environmental challenges, both in our local region and across a European (and global scale). I am especially interested in the links between the ecological structure (including biodiversity) and function of NbS’s in relation to the multiple ecosystem services they provide. I am also interested in issues of trade-offs between such benefits and how they can be considered and resolved in a collaborative and consensus-based way.   Why is ARCADIA an important/interesting project to be a part of for your organisation? The ARCADIA project is important to our organisation (SDU) for several reasons. First of all, it is an interesting interdisciplinary scientific topic that is relevant for us as a research organization that fits well with our research expertise in applied aquatic ecology, climate change and biodiversity. It is also important for us to participate in our regional consortium which is built around a multi-actor collaboration working towards a common goal of improving environmental quality in our freshwater and marine ecosystems the face of climate change and other pressures. Finally, it is exciting to participate in this large EU mission project addressing climate challenges via natural and nature-based solutions. We hope to both contribute to and learn from experiences across the range of this large European consortium. Arcadia project: empowering climate resilience through NbS. Model Region Fyn partnere: Odense Fjord Samarbejdet, Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark, Regional Udvikling, Region Syddanmark, VandCenter Syd og Odense Kommune.   #ArcadiaNatureBasedSolutions #ArcadiaAdaptation #sustainability #arcadia

🙋♀️ 🙋♂️ Getting to know the team of #ConservES... In the ConservES project, eight partner organizations from four countries are working together to assess the benefits of hedgerows and flowering strips 🌺 as habitats for pollinators and natural enemies of pests and weeds 🐝🐞. We would like to introduce you to the partner organizations one by one, starting with ECOBIO. 🌱 The ECOBIO team with Joan Van Baaren from the University of Rennes, France, is coordinating the ConservES project 🌍. Their team includes scientists, lecturers, students, and collaborators from the University of Rennes and CNRS. Together, they explore the fascinating world of ecosystems, biodiversity, and evolution. 🌿🔬 The ECOBIO team studies how ecosystems are changing due to global challenges like climate change, land use, and population growth. Their goal? Sustainable solutions for protecting biodiversity and natural resources! 🌏💡 With expertise in various ecological fields - like evolutionary, behavioral, and landscape ecology - they focus on understanding the complex relationships between ecosystems and their functions. 🌱🦋 Join us on our journey to a more sustainable future! #ConservES Ecobio Rennes #Biodiversity #SustainableDevelopment

🌱 🐝 🐞 This is how the #ConservES project preserves biodiversity in intensively used agricultural areas: Eight EU partner organizations in Belgium, France, Germany and Czech Republic will assess the benefits of #hedgerows and #flowerstrips as habitats for pollinators and natural enemies of pests and weeds. The aim of the project is to increase #biodiversity in intensive agricultural areas.👩🌾 The three-year project is multidisciplinary and is based on a combination of real laboratories, citizen-based data collection, field experiments and spatial modeling.🔬🧪🌍

The British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, scheduled for 10-13 December 2024 in Liverpool, represents the pinnacle of ecological research conferences, drawing 1,200+ delegates. The event, hosted by the world's oldest ecological society, provides a critical platform for researchers to share groundbreaking work, explore innovative ecological approaches, and discuss emerging technologies across multiple disciplines, with the BioDT project featuring a poster presentation by Simon Rolph from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), showcasing digital twin technology's potential in ecological research and environmental management. 🌱 https://lnkd.in/dtAiT5mK

🌱 Exciting News! I am thrilled to announce that my latest publication has been accepted in one of the most prestigious journals in the field! 🎉📝 📚 Article: "Seed Priming as a Promising Technique for Sustainable Restoration of Dryland" 📌 Journal: Restoration Ecology 🌟 Journal Rank: Q1, with an Impact Factor of 3.85 🔗 Article DOI: [10.1111/rec.14182](https://lnkd.in/dTWi2V_k) This research represents a significant step forward in the realm of ecological restoration, particularly in dryland ecosystems. Seed priming techniques have shown immense potential in enhancing seed germination and seedling establishment, ultimately contributing to the restoration and conservation of vital ecosystems. I am deeply grateful to my collaborators and mentors whose invaluable support and guidance have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. This achievement underscores our collective commitment to advancing sustainable solutions for environmental challenges. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the editorial board and reviewers for their rigorous evaluation and constructive feedback, which have undoubtedly strengthened the quality and impact of our work. I am eager to continue exploring innovative approaches that promote biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience. Together, let's strive to make a meaningful difference in safeguarding our planet's precious natural heritage. 🌍💚 #EcologicalRestoration #Sustainability #ResearchPublication #EnvironmentalScience #SeedPriming #RestorationEcology

https://lnkd.in/giBGniuc And here is the 'Mangroves of New Zealand' chapter. Shout out to my University of Waikato colleagues, Karin Bryan, Joanne Ellis, and Julia Mullarney, as well as IUCN folk to get this done. The New Zealand story stands in stark contrast to that of much of the world - our mangrove forests and swamps are actually increasing in size, not decreasing, ironically at the expense of other important coastal ecosystems. But the full story is more nuanced than that. The expansion appears to be related to catchment landuse changes. And for those of you who wonder at this change in tack from my usual regional government/environmental policy research - this work gets me back to my academic roots: My MA thesis explored the biogeography of the Selwyn River, Canterbury. More mangrove research is in the pipeline. (And also more regional governance...)