Climate and Energy-Water-Land System Interactions
Climate and Energy-Water-Land System Interactions

Author: U. S. Department Energy

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-06-07

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 9781514253205

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This report highlights much of the limited information on and understanding of climate and energy-water-land (EWL) system interactions in the context of issues, potential impacts, and long-term research needs. The report begins with a detailed characterization of the climate-EWL nexus and associated issues in terms of the interfaces between the three interdependent energy, water, and land resource sectors. This report provides a framework to characterize and understand the important elements of climate and EWL system interactions. It identifies many of the important issues, discusses our understanding of those issues, and identifies the research needs to address the priority scientific challenges and gaps in our understanding. Much of the discussion is organized around two discrete case studies with the broad themes of (1) extreme events and (2) regional differences. A conceptual model is presented that defines the EWL nexus in terms of resource supply and demand linkages. Using this model, the report briefly describes the paired bilateral interfaces of energy-water, energy-land, and land-water, as well as the integrated three-part system of energy-water-land interfaces. It also includes examples of supply-demand linkages and processes for selected human and ecosystem support applications. The report then explores how individual bilateral interfaces interact in response to climate. Next, the report addresses risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability in the context of sector interfaces. Mitigation and adaptation decision-making vulnerabilities, opportunities, and coordination are then discussed in light of their EWL relationships. Finally, long-term research needs are discussed in the context of challenges and opportunities with regard to data completeness and accuracy; requirements for integrated modeling including energy, water, and land systems; and identified risks, vulnerabilities, and uncertainties.

The Land Governance Assessment Framework
The Land Governance Assessment Framework

Author: Klaus Deininger

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 0821387588

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Increased global demand for land posits the need for well-designed country-level land policies to protect long-held rights, facilitate land access and address any constraints that land policy may pose for broader growth. While the implementation of land reforms can be a lengthy process, the need to swiftly identify key land policy challenges and devise responses that allow the monitoring of progress, in a way that minimizes conflicts and supports broader development goals, is clear. The Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF) makes a substantive contribution to the land sector by providing a quick and innovative tool to monitor land governance at the country level. The LGAF offers a comprehensive diagnostic tool that covers five main areas for policy intervention: Legal and institutional framework; Land use planning, management and taxation; Management of public land; Public provision of land information; and Dispute resolution and conflict management. The LGAF assesses these areas through a set of detailed indicators that are rated on a scale of pre-coded statements (from lack of good governance to good practice). While land governance can be highly technical in nature and tends to be addressed in a partial and sporadic manner, the LGAF posits a tool for a comprehensive assessment, taking into account the broad range of issues that land governance encompasses, while enabling those unfamiliar with land to grasp its full complexity. The LGAF will make it possible for policymakers to make sense of the technical levels of the land sector, benchmark governance, identify areas that require further attention and monitor progress. It is intended to assist countries in prioritizing reforms in the land sector by providing a holistic diagnostic review that can inform policy dialogue in a clear and targeted manner. In addition to presenting the LGAF tool, this book includes detailed case studies on its implementation in five selected countries: Peru, the Kyrgyz Republic, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Tanzania.

Arid Land Systems: Sciences and Societies
Arid Land Systems: Sciences and Societies

Author: Troy Sternberg

Publisher: MDPI

Published: 2019-08-19

Total Pages: 380

ISBN-13: 3039213474

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Understanding deserts and drylands is essential, as arid landscapes cover >40% of the Earth and are home to two billion people. Today's problematic environment–human interaction needs contemporary knowledge to address dryland complexity. Physical dimensions in arid zones—land systems, climate and hazards, ecology—are linked with social processes that directly impact drylands, such as land management, livelihoods, and development. The challenges require integrated research that identifies systemic drivers across global arid regions. Measurement and monitoring, field investigation, remote sensing, and data analysis are effective tools to investigate natural dynamics. Equally, inquiry into how policy and practice affect landscape sustainability is key to mitigating detrimental activity in deserts. Relations between socio-economic forces and degradation, agro-pastoral rangeland use, drought and disaster and resource extraction reflect land interactions. Contemporary themes of food security, conflict, and conservation are interlinked in arid environments. This book unifies desert science, arid environments, and dryland development. The chapters identify land dynamics, address system risks and delineate human functions through original research in arid zones. Mixed methodologies highlight the vital links between social and environmental science in global deserts. The book engages with today's topical themes and presents novel analyses of arid land systems and societies.