Isabelle Providoli

Nitrate Leaching From a Mountain Forest Ecosystem with Gleysols Subjected to Experimentally Increased N Deposition

Nitrate leaching was measured over seven years of nitrogen (N) addition in a pairedcatchment experiment in Alptal, central Switzerland (altitude: 1200 m, bulk N deposition: 12 kg ha−1 a−1). Two forested catchments (1500 m2 each) dominated by Picea abies) were delimited by trenches in the Gleysols. NH4NO3 was added to one of the catchments using sprinklers. During the first year, the N addition was labelled with 15N. Additionally, soil N transformations were studied in replicated plots. Pre-treatment NO 3 − -N leaching was 4 kg ha−1 a−1 from both catchments, and remained between 2.5 and 4.8 kg ha−1 a−1 in the control catchment. The first year of treatment induced an additional leaching of 3.1 kg ha−1, almost 90% of which was labelled with 15N, indicating that it did not cycle through the large N pools of the ecosystem (soil organic matter and plants). These losses partly correspond to NO 3 − from precipitation bypassing the soil due to preferential flow. During rain or snowmelt events, NO 3 − concentration peaks as the water table is rising, indicating flushing from the soil. Nitrification occurs temporarily along the water flow paths in the soil and can be the source of NO 3 − flushing. Its isotopic signature however, shows that this release mainly affects recently applied N, stored only between runoff events or up to a few weeks. At first, the ecosystem retained 90% of the added N (2/3 in the soil), but No 3 − losses increased from 10 to 30% within 7 yr, indicating that the ecosystem became progressively N saturated.

From fragmented to integrated knowledge for sustainable water and land

The crucial role mountain ecosystems play for mountain communities and people living in the lowlands is emphasized by the 3 mountain-specific targets of Agenda 2030 (targets 6.6, 15.1, and 15.4). To achieve these targets, sound and integrated knowledge is needed for policy- and decision-making that fosters sustainable management of water and land resources in mountain areas, including equitable negotiation of trade-offs between stakeholders. The Water and Land Resources Centres in Kenya and Ethiopia and the recently approved Global Land Programme working group on Land Systems for Mountain Futures are just 2 of a number of initiatives launched by the Centre for Development and Environment and its partners to integrate and share knowledge for evidence-informed policies and practices aimed at safeguarding key mountain ecosystem services.

From Fragmented to Integrated Knowledge for Sustainable Water and Land Management and Governance in Highland–Lowland Contexts

The crucial role mountain ecosystems play for mountain communities and people living in the lowlands is emphasized by the 3 mountain-specific targets of Agenda 2030 (targets 6.6, 15.1, and 15.4). To achieve these targets, sound and integrated knowledge is needed for policy- and decision-making that fosters sustainable management of water and land resources in mountain areas, including equitable negotiation of trade-offs between stakeholders. The Water and Land Resources Centres in Kenya and Ethiopia and the recently approved Global Land Programme working group on Land Systems for Mountain Futures are just 2 of a number of initiatives launched by the Centre for Development and Environment and its partners to integrate and share knowledge for evidence-informed policies and practices aimed at safeguarding key mountain ecosystem services.

Sharing Knowledge to Spread Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

Abstract A large share of land/natural resource degradation is a result of poor land and water management at all levels. For years, research and various national and international organizations have been working on issues of land degradation and alternative forms of land management. Land users worldwide have been testing, adapting, and refining new and better ways of managing land more sustainably. However, there has been relatively little documentation or evidence of the range of benefits generated by SLM. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCATt) is one of the first programmes to promote better documentation and use of knowledge on SLM in response to land degradation. WOCAT and its network partners have developed a set of comprehensive, standardized tools and a global platform for documenting, assessing and sharing SLM knowledge to support decision making at all levels (farm, planning and policy). The constant need for adapting land management to a rapidly changing and complex world with continued and newly emerging demands calls for continuous and proper knowledge management.A large share of land/natural resource degradation is a result of poor land and water management at all levels. For years, research and various national and international organizations have been working on issues of land degradation and alternative forms of land management. Land users worldwide have been testing, adapting, and refining new and better ways of managing land more sustainably. However, there has been relatively little documentation or evidence of the range of benefits generated by SLM. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCATt) is one of the first programmes to promote better documentation and use of knowledge on SLM in response to land degradation. WOCAT and its network partners have developed a set of comprehensive, standardized tools and a global platform for documenting, assessing and sharing SLM knowledge to support decision making at all levels (farm, planning and policy). The constant need for adapting land management to a rapidly changing and complex world with continued and newly emerging demands calls for continuous and proper knowledge management.