Fase de diagnóstico del estudio: Contribución de la diversidad arbórea a los medios de vida para la adaptación y la mitigación al cambio climático

El estudio “Contribución de la diversidad arbórea a los medios de vida para la adaptación y la mitigación al cambio climático” busca describir y cuantificar la contribución de los árboles a la capacidad de adaptación al cambio climático de las familias rurales en tres territorios de Nicaragua y uno en Costa Rica. La fase inicial de este estudio se concentró en desarrollar una línea de base que contribuirá a lo siguiente: 1. Describir las principales características de los hogares, la diversidad de los medios de vida a nivel de hogar y cuáles son los principales sistemas de producción en los sitios de estudio 2. Entender cuáles han sido los principales cambios que las familias han realizado en los últimos 10 años con respecto a cultivos y manejo de cultivos, tierras y agua en sus fincas 3. Determinar cuáles han sido los principales factores determinantes de los cambios observados y cuáles de estos factores están directamente relacionados a la variabilidad del clim

Suitability of key Central American agroforestry species under future climates: an Atlas.

This atlas provides habitat suitability maps for 54 species that are widely used in Central America for shade in coffee or cocoa agroforestry systems. The 54 species represent 24 fruit species, 24 timber species and 6 species used for soil fertility improvement. Suitability maps correspond to the baseline climate (1960-1990) and 2050 climates predicted for Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5. Habitat was classified as suitable in future climates if a minimum of 12 out of 17 downscaled Global Circulation Models predicted suitable climates. Details of the methodology of ensemble suitability modelling with the BiodiversityR package are provided in the atlas. The atlas was developed to support climate change oriented initiatives for diversification and conservation of forest genetic resources across Central America. Farmers, scientists and technicians can use the atlas to identify suitable and vulnerable areas for shade species and develop strategies for climate change adaptation. This work has been possible by the financial support of the CGIAR research program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA; supported by the CGIAR Fund Donors); the CGIAR research program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS; supported by the CGIAR Fund Donors) and HIVOS. The authors of this atlas are scientists of Bioversity International, CATIE and the World Agroforestry Centre

Review of Methodologies for Land Degradation Neutrality Baselines: Sub-National case studies from Costa Rica and Namibia

The objective of this report is to identify entry points and challenges for subnational LDN baselines in order to inform subnational planning processes as potential vehicle for the implementation of LDN targets on the ground. For this purpose two focus regions were chosen within two of the countries – namely Namibia and Costa Rica – that participated in the first LDN pilot phase. The focus areas in Namibia and Costa Rica are the regions of Otjozondjupa and Rio Jesus Maria watershed respectively. Both Namibia and Costa Rica provide interesting case studies given the differences in types of land degradation, national capacities, and land resources

Próximos pasos del NAMA Ganadería en Costa Rica: Síntesis de las consultas con actores y evaluación rápida de su estado actual

La NAMA Ganadería de Costa Rica tiene como objetivo realizar un cambio en la forma de producción del sector ganadero costarricense con miras a una ganadería eco-competitiva. Las alianzas público-privadas-académicas evalúan y co-desarrollan los elementos técnicos e institucionales necesarios para construir la NAMA. Los componentes clave del desarrollo de la NAMA en su primera fase piloto (2013-2021) están bien encaminados para desarrollar una propuesta robusta hacia el escalonamiento e implementación de las metas propuestas a 2030

Next steps of the Livestock NAMA in Costa Rica: Synthesis of stakeholder consultations and rapid assessment of their current status

Livestock NAMA in Costa Rica aims to transform the livestock production sector to achieve ecocompetitive livestock farming. n Public-private-academic partnerships evaluate and co-develop the technical and institutional building blocks of the NAMA. n The key components of NAMA development in its first pilot phase (2013-2021) are well on the track to develop a robust proposal for scaling out and implementation of the goals proposed by 2030

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p<0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (<1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (<1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient.

This study addresses the understudied dynamics of mortality and recruitment in Tropical Mountain forests, critical determinants of forest structural processes and biomass turnover. We examine how these demographic processes change with elevation and varying degrees of forest recovery by utilizing two forest censuses (2015 and 2019) from 16 plots (0.36 ha) across a 600-3500 m asl elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes. Employing multivariate PCA analyses, we characterize successional forest dynamics and explore relationships between demographic rates, elevation, and indicators of forest recovery using standard linear regression and generalized additive models (GAMs). Contrary to our hypothesis, mortality exhibits a unimodal response, peaking at mid-elevations, with no significant relationship to above-ground biomass productivity (AGBp). In our successional forests, dominance by fast-growing species alters expected patterns, leading to increased mortality rates and AGBp, particularly at low-mid elevations. Forest recovery emerges as a significant driver of mortality and the sole predictor of recruitment, especially across different recovery statuses. Although forest recovery doesn't impact mortality rates, it elucidates the identity of declining species in forests with varying recovery degrees. Our findings underscore that while forest recovery does not alter mortality rates, it provides critical insights into understanding which species are affected under varying recovery conditions. Recruitment, primarily driven by successional dynamics, exhibits higher rates in sites with less recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of forest structure indicators, such as above-ground biomass, in inferring successional dynamics when the time since the last disturbance is unknown. The study emphasizes the importance of considering disturbances in comprehending the intricate interplay between the environment and forest dynamics in secondary forests