Energy and land use in the Pamir-Alai Mountains

In a comparative study of energy resources and energy consumption patterns in the Pamir-Alai Mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the relations between energy consumption, land use, and livelihoods were investigated. An approach that presents energy flow through an ecosystem was developed, in particular to highlight ecosystem services and the scope of action for human interventions in the energy-land management nexus. Qualitative data were collected during a field study in October 2009 through household interviews and group discussions. Based on the relationship between energy supply and ecosystem services, typical village profiles depicting the flows of energy and financial assets are presented that illustrate the relation between energy resources, land use, and livelihood assets. The household interviews reflect situations in the different villages and allow a distinction to be made between the energy consumption patterns of poor and wealthier families. This case study in the Pamir-Alai Mountains emphasizes that a reappraisal of energy as a central focus within mountain ecosystems and their services to the population is necessary for both ecosystem preservation and poverty reduction

Land degradation, livelihoods and vulnerability in Pamir-Alai mountains in Central Asia

No abstract available

Land degradation, livelihoods and vulnerability in Pamir-Alai mountains in Central Asia

No abstract available

Drivers, barriers, and strategies for implementation of renewable energy technologies in rural areas in Bangladesh--An innovation system analysis

Bangladesh has good potential for harnessing renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, wind, and mini-hydropower. The country has been experiencing a gradual shift towards exploring renewable energy resources as a driving force for rural development. A few public sector and non-government organizations have started to develop renewable energy technology (RET) projects in rural areas. The lessons learnt from different demonstrations of RET projects reveal that with careful forward planning renewable energy can provide far-reaching economic, environmental, and social benefits to people living in remote rural areas in Bangladesh. This paper identifies some of the barriers that need to be overcome for the successful development of renewable energy technology sector and betterment of rural livelihoods. It does so through a critical review of policy and institutional settings, as well as present status and lessons learnt from pilot demonstration of a number of RET projects undertaken by different organizations. The study highlights policy implications of the review with the aim of supporting decision makers in formulating renewable energy policies and future plans for Bangladesh.Renewable energy technologies Drivers and barriers Strategies

Towards Sustainable Land Management in the Pamir-Alai Mountains

This Policy Brief presents the findings of the Sustainable Land Management in the Pamir-Alai Mountains (PALM) project. It contains targeted recommendations, best practices and generic guidelines in the field of sustainable land management and ecosystem conservation for the High Pamir and Pamir-Alai mountain areas in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Towards Sustainable Land Management in the Pamir-Alai Mountains

This Policy Brief presents the findings of the Sustainable Land Management in the Pamir-Alai Mountains (PALM) project. It contains targeted recommendations, best practices and generic guidelines in the field of sustainable land management and ecosystem conservation for the High Pamir and Pamir-Alai mountain areas in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

D4.4. EdiCitNet - Masterplans for ECS in Berlin (DE), Carthage (TN), Guangzhou (CN), Montevideo (UY), Lomé (TG), Sant Feliu de Llobregat (ES), Šempeter pri Gorici (SI)

<p><strong>Executive Summary</strong></p><p>Sustainable urban planning is becoming a valuable tool in a time of climate change, resource shortages, and dwindling social justice. This deliverable presents and summarizes diverse urban settings and solutions in seven EdiCitNet partnering cities co-creating Masterplans for Edible City Solutions (ECS). These Masterplans follow the process of the Transition Pathways Methodology (TPM), as a participatory planning tool to tackle social challenges via sustainable urban planning. It used the premise of planning ECS in urban master plans to prevent and solve social challenges through establishing socio-ecological activities and services. Rooted in systems thinking, the TPM had the goal of guiding a process in each city, with relevant stakeholders, to find a transition pathway from a current situation to a desired future. Here we summarize the diverse use of the TPM process in the 7 different contexts and collate the challenges and benefits of such a process through many complexities (COVID-19) in varied contexts (culture and size). We do so by first describing the TPM process. We then offer case descriptions of each city, their particular TPM process's main points and outcomes, and their takeaways. We conclude with suggestions for improvement and what this TPM process offers to the broader field of participatory planning and methods.</p><p>It is important to note that each city has completed its interpretation of a Masterplan for ECS. They are diverse in depth and breadth, and all have been completed in their own city's language. Thus, each city's Masterplan is included in the appendix of this document and entails – to differing lengths – a societal challenge, a view of their current relevant system connected to the societal challenge chosen, and at least one scenario that has been described in detail and selected in their participatory process, and finally, an action plan of steps on how to achieve said scenario.</p><p>It goes without saying that the process of facilitating and compiling these Masterplans was considerably compromised and complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally hosting three in-person workshops in each city to facilitate and finalize the system, scenario, and transfer development phases of TPM, the process had to be rethought entirely and transferred into a digital format. This not only took time to organize logistically but the necessary momentum from the original Train the Trainers event was lost. Some consequences included: understanding cultural nuances, building trust, and increased communication, all of which took significantly more time than planned. With all of these hurdles, however, we can present and summarize six City Masterplans for ECS (the 7th – See Lomé – is pending and has a special extension) and highlight their differences, challenges, and areas where the method succeeded, even in a less-than-ideal digital context.</p&gt