We started our 6th R&IS in beautiful Cape Verde on November 2nd. Until December 2nd, 22 researchers will conduct joint research and lead multiple interviews with local Initiatives.
Read more here: Investigadores internacionais do Projeto Highlands.3 iniciam missão em Cabo VerdeInvestigadores internacionais do Projeto Highlands.3 iniciam missão em Cabo Verde (original in Portuguese).
You will find more news and stories about the ongoing Session on our Social Media.
Boletín De Estudios Geográficos, (121), 15–37.
https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.40.040
ABSTRACT
Transhumant pastoralism in the department of Malargüe (Mendoza, Argentina) is a cultural way of life based on a double strategy of traditional subsistence and environmental management of the mountains. In this paper we present an approach to this pastoral socioecological system in the south of the province. From an ethnographic work with families located in the Rio Grande basin, we describe transhumance and the consequences of a fragmentation in the application of public policies oriented to pastoral activity, added to the external threats to goat breeding. We conclude by highlighting the scientific-political urgency of implementing a research and state intervention program for the development and sustainability of the transhumance way of life.
Published in "eco.mont", Volume 16, Nr. 2; p.38-46 (July 2024); ISSN 2073-1558
The Natura 2000 Network (N2000N) is the main conservation instrument of the European
Union. Its implementation for the whole EU territory in the last 30 years has
largely been carried out top-down, combining the local level poorly. The Queixa and
San Mamede mountain ranges, located in south-eastern Galicia, have been proposed
as a single natural park since at least the 1970s, although political inactivity
and lack of interest in conservation by the local population have made this difficult to
achieve. However, most of this mountain area has been designated as N2000N territory.
This article demonstrates that the designation took place in a non-transparent
manner and without public participation. As a consequence, our analysis questions
the legitimacy of the Galician N2000N areas. The article addresses N2000N management
and academic criticism in this respect. Finally, we recommend involvement
of the local population in the future, as the only way to guarantee effective conservation
and improve perceptions of the N2000N at local level. The analysis presented
here is relevant for the future of this and other mountainous areas belonging to the
network.
https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-16-2s38
Grasslands represent key functional ecosystems due to their global contribution to macronutrients cycling and their role as reservoirs of microbial diversity. The strategic importance of these habitats rests on their involvement in carbon and nitrogen fluxes from the atmosphere to the soil, while at the same time offering extensive sites for livestock rearing. In this study the management type, differentiated in pasture or meadow, was investigated as a variable for its possible effects on overall bacterial diversity and specific genes related to functional guilds. Its contribution was compared to that of other variables such as region, soil pH, and soil organic carbon, to rank their respective hierarchies in shaping microbial community structure. A latitudinal gradient across the European continent was studied, with three sampling groups located in Norway, France, and Northern Italy. The applied methods involved 16S DNA metabarcoding for taxonomic classification and determination of the relative abundance of the bacterial component, and quantitative PCR for the genetic determinants of bacterial and archaeal nitrification, intermediate or terminal denitrification, and nitrogen fixation. Results indicated that soil pH exerted the dominant role, affecting high taxonomy ranks and functions, along with organic carbon and region, with whom it partly covaried. In contrast, management type had no significant influence on microbial community structure and quantitative counts of functional genes. This suggests an ecological equivalence between the impacts of pasture and meadow practices, which are both perturbations that share the aspect of vegetation withdrawal by browsing or cutting, respectively.
Link to Publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23012050
Post pandemic tourism observes a worldwide consumer choice shift from the traditional sun and beach to adventure and nature-based tourism. While interesting for many countries such as Portugal where interior regions observe abandonment and deteriorating economic development, this new economic boost presents unforeseen risk.
Both Municipalities hold similar potential and diversity of assets, from cultural festivities to natural classified areas. However, administrative individuality contributes towards competition, jeopardising the necessary quality of tourism.
The current study analyses the evolution of tourism between 2011 and 2021 in the municipalities of Golegã and Torres Novas in terms of number and diversity of beds, support infrastructures, and tourists. Furthermore, a spatial analysis of tourism diversity evaluates the essence in each municipality.
Using diversity of touristic offer as the core offer can be a drawback if badly planned. The necessary required balanced will award quality potential to market this concept, otherwise leading to dissatisfaction and losses. A thorough analysis of the existing diversity and potential for new niche tourism, dictated the diversification of the current offer and which areas hold space for growth.
As a conclusion a joint model of adaptable integrated tourism for both municipalities is presented as a strategic solution for tourism and sustainable development for the region.
Link to Publication: https://www.jthr.es/index.php/journal/article/view/450
This research analyzes the processes of water scarcity that impacted the territories of the province of Mendoza (Argentina) from the second half of the nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth. From a historical–environmental perspective, we explores will analyze these hydroclimatic situations from the perspective of various social actors of the provincial territory based on the data obtained from documentary sources.
Link to Publication: https://revistaselectronicas.ujaen.es/index.php/atma/article/view/7134
Territorialization aims at improving the effectiveness of public action by adapting to local contexts and including a wide diversity of actors. In the 2000s, the French local authorities, with the support of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), launched more transversal and bottom-up policies on the development of mountain pastoral territories in order to counter national and European sectoral and top-down policies. This article focuses on the Territorial Pastoral Plans (TPPs), a policy of the Rhône-Alpes region, which funds projects defined collaboratively between multiple actors in pastoral territories. The objective is to shed the light on the implementation modalities of the TPPs, and to understand the strengths and weaknesses of this policy in terms of governance to respond to the sustainability challenges of the Rhône-Alpine pastoral territories. A document analysis was achieved and interviews were conducted with nine key actors from four pastoral territories. Results showed that awareness-raising and mediation projects are becoming increasingly important because of the growing conflicts linked to the multi-purpose use of these lands and to wolf predation. Moreover, the integration of environmental actors allows better consideration of ecology in projects. However, the current budgetary restrictions limit their capacity of action within the policy.
Link to Publication: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/8014
Nature based tourism is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide since the beginning of the century. This growth is seldomly accompanied by natural areas management systems which struggle with the increasing number of tourists, lack of infrastructures, information and overall organisation.One of the solutions adopted by many natural areas was to adopt further classification such as Biosphere Reserves, Ramsar, Natura 2000 among many others. This strategic approach committed most of the management structures to the bureaucratic endeavours, instead of adapting.
The several classification statuses, though easily understood, fall somehow short, applying traditional methodologies, poor promotion, low stakeholder involvement and conventional learning strategies. Academic knowledge and audio-visual professionalism can produce documental and promotional video materials for a wide range of audiences, supplying educational and development tools. Science communication is a classified area’s powerful management tool, the management participation of relevant regional entities, benefits the proximity engagement of Municipalities, higher education institutions, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders, intervening in territorial sustainable development, with responsibilities in the promotion, awareness and communication.
This study will present an introductory video serving as an example of the communication strategy for the Natural Park of Serras D'Aire and Candeeiros, adaptable to other protected areas as a strategy of natural and cultural tourism. Concluding that communication in classified natural areas must be governed by the same rigor and quality required in science without losing the necessary interest for its effective and efficient participated communication.
http://www.jthr.es/index.php/journal/article/view/466
