Biodiversity is declining more quickly within key protected areas than outside them, according to research that scientists say is a “wake-up call” to global leaders discussing how to stop nature loss at the UN’s Cop16 talks in Colombia. Protecting 30% of land and water for nature by 2030 was one of the key targets settled…
Islands make up just over five per cent of the world’s land yet are home to 31 per cent of Earth’s plant species. A new study shows that more than half the plants unique to islands are classified as threatened, with habitat loss, climate warming and invasive species to blame. A new study has revealed…
Dozens of studies have demonstrated that nitrogen pollution, due mainly to the burning of fossil fuels and agricultural practices, is causing plant biodiversity losses worldwide. But whether rising levels of climate-warming carbon dioxide gas are amplifying those nitrogen-induced biodiversity losses or dampening them remains unclear and is an understudied topic. The newly published findings of…
As the world faces growing challenges from climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation, the need for innovative solutions to ensure food security has become more urgent than ever. World Food Day, celebrated annually on October 16, serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable practices in feeding the global population. Let’s discuss Nature-Based…
A recent international study shows plants in dry areas adopt different survival strategies. Scientists believe this is good for biodiversity conservation. The study looked at how plants in arid regions have adapted to extreme habitats. It involved 120 scientists from 27 countries, including South Africa. Peter le Roux from the University of Pretoria’s Plant and…
Botanical discoveries may sound like relics of a bygone era, but researchers are still uncovering dozens of new plant species every year. From the palm in Borneo that flowers underground to the orchid thriving parasitically on other plants in Madagascar, the strangeness of these species illustrate how little we know about Earth’s natural secrets. The study,…
Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the main crops in the Mediterranean area, with Spain leading its production. The majority of the plantations are on rainfed land, poor soils with steep slopes. Regarding to soil, tillage (T) is the main management system used by farmers. Consequently, erosion and the resulting soil organic carbon (SOC)…
The agricultural industry is intensifying production methods to increase crop yields. Olive cultivation, the prevalent permanent crop in Europe and the Mediterranean area, involves intense practices with heavy agrochemical use. This significantly impacts agroecosystem biodiversity and its ecosystem services. In this study, we explore how biodiversity influences the adult olive fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi)) population…
Since the time of ancient civilizations, the synchronization of alternate (or biennial) bearing of olive has been a well-known phenomenon in the Mediterranean region. The pattern of alternate bearing has been synchronized in certain orchards or nearby regions where horticultural trees grow … >>> Kashiwagi, K., Sato, M., Kamiyama, H. J. Arid Land Studies 34(S),…
The agricultural sector has been intensifying production systems to increase yields. Olive cultivation is the most widespread permanent crop in Europe and the Mediterranean region >>> Stavrianakis, G., Sentas, E., Stattegger, S.R., Tscheulin, T., Kizos, T. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, pp.1-24 (2024) Recent related articles in this category All articles in this category >>>