Relationships between hedgerow characteristics and bird communities:: a multivariate approach

Fifty 100m hedge transects were selected within 10km of Durham City, North England. The bird community of the hedge transects was censused six times between May and July, and characteristics of the hedge and surrounding landscape were recorded. The data was analysed using multivariate methods to determine the importance of the microstructure of the hedge in relation to aspects of the bird community. Stepwise Multiple Regression selected the scores of the first axis of a Detrended Correspondance Analysis of shrub abundance data (related to the height and width of the hedge) as the best predictor of Bird species richness and density. Individual species were related to different aspects of the hedge microstructure. The use of transformed independent data improved the predictive value of most of these relationships. A Detrended Correspondance Analysis found that major source of variation in the bird species abundances was due to the number of trees in the hedge. Canonical Correspondance Analysis was used to analyse how a community responds to a set of external factors. The CANOCO first axis was related to an increase in the area of nearby woodland in the positive end and an increase in the number of trees in the negative end. The position of the species scores in relation to these environmental gradients was analysed. The habitat preferences of 4 common species of bird was explored using "sector” analysis, whereby the mean density of the species is plotted against the major sources of variation in the environmental variables, different habitat preferences between species are apparent. The importance of trees to the bird community was elucidated using Linear Discriminant Analysis. The analysis was carried out with hedges with no trees and hedges with 3 or more trees as the two a priori groups. Eighty-three percent of the sites were placed in the correct groups, using 14 common bird species as variables. The importance of the microstructure of the hedge to the bird community is discussed

Innovative technology in the Pacific: Building resilience for vulnerable communities

Transitioning to sustainability will require innovation, not just in technological and economic terms but also in governance and culture. The work presented here sought a remote, vulnerable island context (Fiji, South Pacific) to enable further insight into the innovation process related to resilience and sustainability. The innovation targeted by this work was off-grid solar renewable energy (RE) systems framed as a development instrument to promote local, community-based resilience to climate change through increased livelihood security and reduction of climate change effects. Applying a local-level resilience framework to solar technology use, we conclude that the RE system can improve resilience, however, unintended consequences included a rush for energy usage causing a “tragedy of commons” of finite stored energy and subsequently increased supplementary fossil fuel use. This suggests that there are still missed resilience opportunities in the way that the innovation is implemented in developing countries and remote areas in particular. Further analysis demonstrated that improved planning at the socio-technological interface has the potential to strengthen communities’ resilience. With significant RE investments required for a transition to a low-carbon future in many developing countries, there is a pressing need to effectively introduce innovative uses of technologies. Existential threats to many local communities, and some nations in the Pacific may mean that sub-optimal innovation will not be enough

Functional Analysis of European Wetland Vegetation

Riverine marginal wetland vegetation was studied at thirty-two hydrogeomorphic units of sites used by the European Community project "Functional Analysis of European Wetland Ecosystems", these units were situated in England, France, Ireland and Spain. Fieldwork was carried out between May 1991 and August 1993. The aim of the work was to develop a system of analysis of wetland vegetation using functional attributes which could be used to predict the effect of anthropogenic perturbation. Grime's C-S-D established-phase strategy theory was used as the framework for this study. Analysis of plant species abundance, using DCA (detrended correspondence analysis) and PCA (principal components analysis), revealed the extent of variation in the plant species composition between the hydrogeomoq)hic units. A majority of the hydrogeomorphic units could be assigned to CORINE biotope categories (the European Community categorisation system of sites of nature conservation importance); most sites were water fringe vegetation (53) or humid grassland (37). Eight morphological traits were measured from one hundred and forty-four common plant populations from the hydrogeomorphic units. Non-hierarchical classification of populations by traits was carried out using sum of squares and centroid dissimilarity algorithms. It was determined that the most efficient classification was into three groups. Each of these three groups was associated with different parts of the C-S-D strategy space. The results strongly suggested that morphological traits can be used to classify plants into functional groups which have differing ecological properties. Using twelve traits, linear and multiple discriminant analysis were used to distinguish objectively between populations with a selected strategies determined from the work of Grime. Competitive and stress-tolerant populations were found to be significantly different using twelve traits. Stepwise multiple regression identified the important traits for predicting competitive ability (C) and stress tolerance (S). Significant predictors of the C-strategy were height of plant and the dry weight of leaves; and of the S strategy, the dry weight of stems and the weight per seed. Use of these predictive equations permitted calculation of C and S for the one hundred and forty-four populations that were studied. The mean C and S scores of the populations present in each hydrogeomorphic unit were used to determine the functional vegetation type (FVT) in terms of competitiveness (CFVT) and stress-tolerance (SFVT). CFVT and SFVT were inversely correlated (r = -0.73, P<0.001). A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine the effect of competition (phytometer), disturbance (cutting) and stress (saturated soil conditions) on the morphology of six common wetland plants. The stress treatment was too weak to have much effect on the morphology of the species. The ranking of the species in terms of C and D (disturbance-tolerance) showed a degree of similarity with the strategy designation of Grime. The competitive ability of the test species, using the phytometr)' method, was significantly related to the field determined C score (r = 0.80, P<0.05). Eleven state variables, defined as measurable variables of biotic communities which have a particular range of values for each type of vegetational community, were measured in the studied wetlands. Using PCA, the major gradient in state variables was most strongly correlated to biomass. However, using CCA (canonical correspondence analysis), constraining the axes to be linear combinations of CFVT and SFVT, a different gradient in state variables was identified. This gradient was related to a high canopy, large stem area with great distance between stems and dominated by a few species at high CP/T-low SFVT values and high stem density, species richness and density of reproductive structures at low CFVT-high SFVT values. Using stepwise multiple regression, state variables could significantly predict CFVT (P<0.0001). Common CORINE biotopes were related to the CCA ordination diagram of FVT and state-variables. 3 biotopes (humid grassland, mesophile grassland and reed beds) were related to certain areas of the CFVT-SFVT gradient. Sedge beds ranged across much of the gradient, this could be due to the taxonomic diversity of the biotope. The results suggested a certain degree of comparability between the strategy, state-variable and phytosociological biotope units in the studied wetlands. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

Assessing Climate Finance Readiness in the Asia-Pacific Region

Readiness is the current mantra in the climate finance discourse and is a key determinant for accessing climate finance. This study develops and applies an analytical 3-dimensional framework to appraise climate finance readiness in selected Asia-Pacific countries. Three dimensions of readiness are identified: (1) Policies and Institutions, (2) Knowledge Management and Learning, and (3) Fiscal Policy Environment. Using the Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Review as the basis for such framework, the study uncovers a massive readiness gap between countries in the Asian sub-region and those in the Pacific sub-region. The study also found that readiness has a predictable, yet small, impact on the magnitude of climate finance accessed. This suggests that improving readiness alone is not sufficient to unlock climate finance, as access to climate finance is to a larger extent determined by other factors; this is critical to shaping readiness endeavors for the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), as well as for donors. This study argues for a re-think in the PSIDS current readiness approach, reducing emphasis on multilateral and private flows and diversifying through practical and uncomplicated bilateral and remittance sources. These two sources of finances have a good track record of consistently mobilizing external finance to PSIDS despite their climate finance readiness status. Broadening readiness efforts towards these two alternative funding sources extends the feasibility of the current readiness approach. The present direction of climate finance readiness offers a continuing access dilemma to many of the PSIDS, especially the poorest and most vulnerable

Gazing over the horizon: Will an equitable Green Climate Fund allocation policy be significant for the Pacific post-2020?

The establishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has increased expectations and optimism amongst developing countries, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The GCF aims to channel a significant portion of global funds for climate change response, with a goal of reaching US$100 billion per year by 2020. Portrayed as a timely saviour to the climate finance needs of vulnerable countries, the allocation of GCF funds among countries will be key to low carbon and resilient futures. Its broad allocation policy increases the possibility that particularly vulnerable countries which have struggled to access international climate finance will continue to face such challenges. Adopting an equitable/fair principle of allocation, this article highlights a number of scenarios on the possible impact of the post-2020 climate financing environment on particularly vulnerable countries with a special focus on the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). This study argues that PSIDS are extremely sensitive to GCF allocation mechanisms. While the study supports the notion of balanced allocation as currently advanced by the GCF, the precarious situation of PSIDS necessitates a re-think of how the GCF finance is to be allocated in the future

Thinking Outside the Box: Deepening Private Sector Investments in Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contributions through Scenario Analysis

Private finance is seen as the financing panacea for resourcing the nationally determined contributions (NDC) submitted by 170 countries to the United Nations (UN) system. Mobilizing private investment is challenging, especially for vulnerable Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Fifteen PICs have already submitted ambitious NDC targets, in which transition towards a sustainable energy environment through investment in renewable energy (RE) is central. Presently, RE investments in PICs are primarily external donor financed, however, reliance on limited and uncertain external finance is unlikely to deliver the required energy transition. A future scenario methodology was used, with Fiji as a case-study; the analysis provided insight into alternative trajectories towards transition. Based on the scenario analysis, an NDC resource mobilization framework was developed. Conclusions suggest that donors should re-orientate their priorities from investments in RE installations, towards investments that upgrade the current RE readiness levels and promote a long-term perspective of “organically growing” the local private RE sector. Channeling resources to target initiatives that will endogenously grow the domestic private sector is critical for PICs, as well as other developing countries, which represent a majority of the NDCs, and which are projected to dominate global growth in energy demand for decades to come

Seagrasses and seagrass habitats in Pacific small island developing states: potential loss of benefits via human disturbance and climate change

Seagrasses provide a wide range of services including food provision, water purification and coastal protection. Pacific small island developing states (PSIDS) have limited natural resources, challenging economies and a need for marine science research. Seagrasses occur in eleven PSIDS and nations are likely to benefit in different ways depending on habitat health, habitat cover and location, and species presence. Globally seagrass habitats are declining as a result of anthropogenic impacts including climate change and in PSIDS pressure on already stressed coastal ecosystems, will likely threaten seagrass survival particularly close to expanding urban settlements. Improved coastal and urban planning at local, national and regional scales is needed to reduce human impacts on vulnerable coastal areas. Research is required to generate knowledge-based solutions to support effective coastal management and protection of the existing seagrass habitats, including strenghened documentation the socio-economic and environmental services they provide. For PSIDS, protection of seagrass service benefits requires six priority actions: seagrass habitat mapping, regulation of coastal and upstream development, identification of specific threats at vulnerable locations, a critique of cost-effective restoration options, research devoted to seagrass studies and more explicit policy development

Towards greater transparency and coherence in funding for sustainable marine fisheries and healthy oceans

This final manuscript in the special issue on “Funding for ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries” is the result of a dialogue aimed at connecting lead authors of the special issue manuscripts with relevant policymakers and practitioners. The dialogue took place over the course of a two-day workshop in December 2018, and this “coda” manuscript seeks to distil thinking around a series of key recurring topics raised throughout the workshop. These topics are collected into three broad categories, or “needs”: 1) a need for transparency, 2) a need for coherence, and 3) a need for improved monitoring of project impacts. While the special issue sought to collect new research into the latest trends and developments in the rapidly evolving world of funding for ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries, the insights collected during the workshop have helped to highlight remaining knowledge gaps. Therefore, each of the three “needs” identified within this manuscript is followed by a series of questions that the workshop participants identified as warranting further attention as part of a future research agenda. The crosscutting nature of many of the issues raised as well as the rapid pace of change that characterizes this funding landscape both pointed to a broader need for continued dialogue and study that reaches across the communities of research, policy and practice.S

Understanding ecosystem services for climate change resilience in coastal environments: a case study of low - canopy sub - tidal seagrass beds in Fiji

The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are exposed to extreme wave conditions which are projected to be exacerbated by rising sea levels due to climate change, prompting the need for strategic planning of coastal communities and assets. Nature-based protection has been proposed as a sustainable solution to promote the resilience of coastal areas from physical impacts such as wave-induced erosion. In this study, we investigate the potential coastal protection service of shallow sub-tidal low-canopy seagrass beds, dominated by Halodule uninervis, on the rate of wave height and wave energy reduction on a barrier and fringing reefs. The data was collected using bottom-mounted pressure sensors to measure wave height and energy reduction as waves moved toward the shoreline across the seagrass beds. The results show that on average, the seagrass beds were able to reduce wave height by 30% and energy by 47% in both reef environments. These reduction rates are strongly influenced by water depth, seagrass characteristics and local reef conditions. Based on these results, seagrasses can strengthen the resilience of coastal shorelines to wave erosion, thus conserving healthy low-canopy seagrass habitats has measurable benefits for shoreline protection in Fiji and other PICs

Understanding ecosystem services for climate change resilience in coastal environments: a case study of low-canopy sub-tidal seagrass beds in Fiji

The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are exposed to extreme wave conditions which are projected to be exacerbated by rising sea levels due to climate change, prompting the need for strategic planning of coastal communities and assets. Nature-based protection has been proposed as a sustainable solution to promote the resilience of coastal areas from physical impacts such as wave-induced erosion. In this study, we investigate the potential coastal protection service of shallow sub-tidal low-canopy seagrass beds, dominated by Halodule uninervis, on the rate of wave height and wave energy reduction on a barrier and fringing reefs. The data was collected using bottom-mounted pressure sensors to measure wave height and energy reduction as waves moved toward the shoreline across the seagrass beds. The results show that on average, the seagrass beds were able to reduce wave height by 30% and energy by 47% in both reef environments. These reduction rates are strongly influenced by water depth, seagrass characteristics and local reef conditions. Based on these results, seagrasses can strengthen the resilience of coastal shorelines to wave erosion, thus conserving healthy low-canopy seagrass habitats has measurable benefits for shoreline protection in Fiji and other PICs