Water and Land. 1. Land Use Planning, Forest Cover and Afforestation. 1.4 Options to optimize water use in plantations

Transcription

1 Water and Land 1. Land Use Planning, Forest Cover and Afforestation 1.4 Jordi Cortina University of Alicante Spain

2 PLAN Improved knowledge on ecosystem dynamics in drylands Knowledge applied to develop techniques to enhance seedling resistance to stress and improve its establishment - Genotype - Species selection - Seedling production - Microhabitat amelioration - Interspecific interactions - Landscape spatial patterns

3 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION: assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Society for Ecological Restoration International,

4 Restoration: increasing and expensive demand US$ (10 6 ) W Cape Province (South Africa) working for Water invasive alien plant control program (Holmes et al., 2007). Rooibos Bushveld area of Kruger Nat. Park (South Africa) after restoration (increased value) (Blignaut & Loxton, 2007). New York city Cat-Del watershed >1997 (Elliman & Berry, 2007). P.R. China, Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) including the restoration of natural forests in ecologically sensitive areas (Li, 2004) ,125

5 What is a reference ecosystem? Ricote Valley (Murcia, SE Spain) Ricote Valley (Murcia, SE Spain) 100 years ago

6 Reference Ecosystems? 3000 Biomass (g m 2 ) Shrubland + Pine SUCCESSION? FIRE 1500 Open shrubland Species richness (100 m 2 ) Baeza et al. 2006

7 WATER PRODUCTION FLOOD CONTROL WATER QUALITY Biomass (g m 2 ) Reference Ecosystems? Shrubland + Pine Kermes oak Mixed rosemary Rosemary Gorseland Species richness (100 m 2 ) Open shrubland Cortina et al.,2006,

8 Models to define current and future species distribution Higher plants Species stability 2050 Higher plants New species 2050 Bakkenes et al., (2002)

9 Restoration should integrate changes (Pinyon-Juniper) x 2003 = Juniper

10 Beginning to understand intraspecific diversity Water Use Efficiency (umol CO 2 mmol H 2 O -1 ) CONTROL DROUGHT Quercus suber seedlings E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 T1 T2 T4 T5 FAMILIES T. Bitinas (unpubl.)

11 Significant advances in seedling quality MORTALITY NURSERY P. pinaster Q. ilex P. halepensis Same plantation site Same plantation year but... Nursery 1 20% Nursery 2 80% MORTALITY NURSERY 2 Cortina et al., (2006)

12 Still uncertainties on seedling quality Relationship seedling stem height vs. field survival Cas os estudiados (%) Number of cases (%) Z Annual onas con Precipitation precipitación < 400 < 400 mm m m Z Annual onas con Precipitation precipitación > 400 > 400 mm m m Sin No relation relac ión Positive Relac ión relation positiva Relación Negative negativ relation a Navarro et al., (2006)

13 Efficient soil preparation techniques

14 Organic amendments = higher growth, not survival 2.5 Pinus DIÁMETRO halepensis Root Collar Diameter increment (mm) Incremento absoluto (mm) Control Compost S. Lodo sludge a ab b ab ab Application Dosis (Mg dose ha 1 ) (t ha -1 ) Fuentes et al., (2007)

15 Improving soil fertility + recycling organic amendments Sewage Sludge Production (10 6 Tm year -1 ) SEWAGE SLUDGE PRODUCTION SPAIN > toneladas de N y P anuales 583, ,

16 Using positive interactions to establish target species Stipa tenacissima (nurse) Pinus halepensis (protégé)

17 Using positive interactions to establish target species POSITIVE NEGATIVE Stipa tenacissima effect on Pistacia lentiscus Maestre & Cortina (2004)

18 Restoration techniques greatly improved Mortality rate (12 months, %) R² = 0, R² = 0, Time with no significant rainfall (days) Vallejo & Alloza, unpubl.

19 Spatial pattern and ecosystem function + Landscape Leakiness Index (DLI) - Sediment yield (g m -2 ) Plant Cover ca. 40% DLI Bautista et al., (2007)

20 CONCLUSIONS Improved knowledge on ecosystem dynamics and traits Knowledge applied to develop techniques to enhance seedling resistance to stress and improve its establishment From genotype to landscape scales Thanks for your attention!