Eloise M. Biggs

Agricultural adaptation to climate change: observations from the Mid-Hills of Nepal

This paper provides empirical evidence of agricultural adaptation strategies being adopted in the Mid-Hills regions of Nepal in response to climate change. Farmers were interviewed across four districts and climate change observations were reported, most notably those of increased temperatures and unpredictable precipitation. Agricultural adaptation strategies adopted in response to climate change were varied, with agroforestry and organic farming being the most popular practices. Most adaptation strategies were thought to be development-facing actions to reduce vulnerability, rather than specifically addressing climate change. From this research it is evident that indigenous knowledge, financial support and increased accessibility all play a pivotal role for successful climate change adaptation in the Mid-Hills. This case study provides valuable evidence-based research of autonomous adaptation techniques in a highly climate-vulnerable location of Nepal. Recommendations are made for donors to learn from best-practice and adopt local knowledge when investing in climate change adaptation strategies to most effectively reduce the vulnerability of some of the worlds poorest communities.

Subpixel land-cover classification for improved urban area estimates using Landsat

ABSTRACT Urban areas are Earth’s fastest growing land use that impact hydrological and ecological systems and the surface energy balance. The identification and extraction of accurate spatial information relating to urban areas is essential for future sustainable city planning owing to its importance within global environmental change and human–environment interactions. However, monitoring urban expansion using medium resolution (30–250 m) imagery remains challenging due to the variety of surface materials that contribute to measured reflectance resulting in spectrally mixed pixels. This research integrates high spatial resolution orthophotos and Landsat imagery to identify differences across a range of diverse urban subsets within the rapidly expanding Perth Metropolitan Region (PMR), Western Australia. Results indicate that calibrating Landsat-derived subpixel land-cover estimates with correction values (calculated from spatially explicit comparisons of subpixel Landsat values to classified high-resolution data which accounts for over [under] estimations of Landsat) reduces moderate resolution urban area over (under) estimates by on an average 55.08% for the PMR. This approach can be applied to other urban areas globally through use of frequently available and/or low-cost high spatial resolution imagery (e.g. using Google Earth). This will improve urban growth estimations to help monitor and measure change whilst providing metrics to facilitate sustainable urban development targets within cities around the world.

Environmental livelihood security in Southeast Asia and Oceania: a water-energy-food-livelihoods nexus approach for spatially assessing change. White paper

This document addresses the need for explicit inclusion of livelihoods within the environment nexus (water-energy-food security), not only responding to literature gaps but also addressing emerging dialogue from existing nexus consortia. We present the first conceptualization of ‘environmental livelihood security’, which combines the nexus perspective with sustainable livelihoods. The geographical focus of this paper is Southeast Asia and Oceania, a region currently wrought by the impacts of a changing climate. Climate change is the primary external forcing mechanism on the environmental livelihood security of communities in Southeast Asia and Oceania which, therefore, forms the applied crux of this paper. Finally, we provide a primer for using geospatial information to develop a spatial framework to enable geographical assessment of environmental livelihood security across the region. We conclude by linking the value of this research to ongoing sustainable development discussions, and for influencing policy agendas

Observed run-off and suspended sediment dynamics from a minor glacierized basin in south-west Greenland

This study examined run-off and suspended sediment dynamics in a minor glacierized basin in south-west Greenland. A discharge (Q), turbidity (Tu) and air temperature (Tair) record was maintained for 26 days from 25 July 2009 to 19 August 2009 which was supplemented by 335 water samples analysed for suspended sediment concentration (SSC). Clear diurnal fluctuations in Tair, Q and SSC were observed. Mean Tair rose from 10.2 °C in a sunny clear Phase 1 (days 1–14) to 10.8 °C in a cloudy Phase 2 (days 15–25), mean Q increased from 3.4 m3/s in Phase 1 to 4.8 m3/s in Phase 2 and this significant increase in Q may be explained by fresh snowfall higher on the glaciers melting. Mean sampled SSC was 23 mg/l while mean predicted SSC increased from 34 mg/l in Phase 1 to 45 mg/l in Phase 2 and is assumed to be a direct result of the increased Q in Phase 2 entraining fine sediment from higher up channel banks and bars. The SSC, suspended sediment load and SSY estimated in this study are compared with a growing and updated database of sediment studies in Greenland (where data from sediment transport studies in 16 locations around Greenland are collated).

Community-Level Environmental and Climate Change Adaptation Initiatives in Nawalparasi, Nepal

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and much of its rural population is at, or near, subsistence level. In recent years the timing and intensity of the monsoon in Nepal, as well as temperature extremities, have changed and this is severely impacting upon agriculture, the mainstay for over 80% of the population. Flash flooding and drought has led to landslides, water shortages and irrigation problems, which have adversely affected subsistence farming. This research conducted social surveys in rural locations to ascertain which adaptation initiatives have been implemented at the community level and determine how indigenous populations have adapted to climate-induced environmental change, with a focus on water resources. The principle research aim was to qualitatively understand how rural inhabitants have adapted/are adapting to changes in climate, the environment and water from a bottom-up perspective. Water is an essential resource for sustaining community livelihoods in rural Nepal, providing an indispensable resource for irrigation, consumption and sanitation. Research conducted in communities within the Nawalparasi district found disparities in living standards relative to resource availability. Results indicated that water stress is impacting on food security and there is a need to better adapt crop production and irrigation systems to ensure viable future sustainability. In addition, illiteracy, education facilities and accessibility were found to be strongly linked to community adaptability.

Classified earth observation data between 1990 and 2015 for the Perth Metropolitan Region, Western Australia using the Import Vector Machine algorithm

This dataset represents land cover for 7 sequential snapshots (1990, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2015) over the Perth Metropolitan Region, Western Australia (WA) derived from medium resolution Landsat data. Cloud free imagery was acquired in or close to the month of July coinciding with WAs winter months coinciding with peak green-up facilitating the greatest contrast between spectrally similar surfaces (e.g. bare earth and urban). Imagery was first standardised and normalised to remove inherent residual noise (e.g. differences in modelled atmospheric correction parameters) whilst permitting classification of all imagery based upon a single classification model. The model was computed from the 2005 image representing the month post maximum rainfall of all considered imagery associated with peak greenness and maximum spectral separability. Classification of the normalised data was achieved with the Import Vector Machine (IVM) algorithm following a hybrid forward/backward strategy that adds import vectors whilst continuously testing validity in each step, producing a sparse and more accurate classification solution. Classified land cover data is provided in raster format (.tif) and divided into the classes: bare earth (1), grassland (2), low urban albedo (e.g. asphalt (3)), water (4), forest (5) and high urban albedo (e.g. concrete (6)). Please see MacLachlan et al. (2017) for further details.Supplement to: MacLachlan, A.; Biggs, E.; Roberts, G.; Boruff, B. Urban Growth Dynamics in Perth, Western Australia: Using Applied Remote Sensing for Sustainable Future Planning. Land 2017, 6, 9. doi:10.3390/land6010009Also available at the pangea data publisher for earth and environmental science. doi: doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.871017

Tea production characteristics of tea growers (plantations and smallholdings) and livelihood dimensions of tea workers in Assam, India

This article provides summary data regarding tea production in Assam, India. Questionnaires were completed by tea producers and focus group discussions undertaken with tea workers. These data are presented for the four main tea growing regions of the state (Cachar, North Bank, South Bank and Upper Assam). Tables detail tea production characteristics of the tea plantations for both large- (> 10 ha) and small- (< 10 ha) holders. Figures provide supplementary information for research by Biggs et al. [1] regarding fertilizer application, landscape management strategies, healthcare provisioning and educational facilities within plantations, as well as detailing the livelihood dimensions of tea workers. The questions posed to producers are also included. For further context underpinning the research for which these data were collated, see ‘The tea landscape of Assam: multi-stakeholder insights into sustainable livelihoods under a changing climate’ by Biggs et al. [1].

Environmental livelihood security in Southeast Asia and Oceania

This policy brief integrates sustainable livelihoods thinking into discussions on environmental security and the water-food-energy nexus, responding both to a gap in the literature and to emerging policy discourse. We present the first conceptualization of ‘environmental livelihood security’, a concept which draws upon frameworks of water-energy-food security and sustainable livelihoods. The geographical focus is Southeast Asia and Oceania, a region where populations are particularly vulnerable and threatened by the impacts of a changing climate. Various socio-environmental pressures act as an external forcing mechanism on communities attaining environmental livelihood security in this region. We provide a primer for using geospatial information to enable the development of a framework to spatially assess environmental livelihood security. The value of this research is highlighted through linkages to ongoing sustainable development and climate-compatible discussions, and by identifying the relevance for influencing policy agendas.