Mountainous rural communities have traditionally managed their land extensively, resulting in land uses that provide important ecosystem services for both rural and urban areas. Over recent decades, these communities have undergone drastic changes in economic structure, population size and land…

In this work we show the feasibility of empirical testing of socio-environmental models with a relatively simple model of a traditional agro-ecosystem: the Huerta Murcia (Spain). This Mediterranean traditional irrigated land is based on adaptive strategies of irrigation and crop management and…

The impact of land-cover types on soil erosion and runoff, as well as on physico-chemical soil properties, was monitored. The study area, an agroforestry landscape was located in Sierra Nevada Mountains in south-eastern Spain. Eight land-cover types were investigated: farmland planted with olive…

The spatial structure, functionality and dynamics of forest landscapes in peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands were compared over the last five decades. Two particular features were studied in the sample sites: forest connectivity for wildlife and areas burnt by wildfires. 191 Squares, each…

Right to Food Handbooks 3. This handbook presents the process to be followed for the revision of sectoral legislation, since it may affect various aspects of the right to food. The purpose of this revision is to ensure that the legal framework of the country is favourable for the progressive…

A guest post by Robert Oberndorf, Resource Law Specialist, Tenure and Global Climate Change Project
As the full impacts of Typhoon Haiyan become apparent, many commentators are linking this tragic event with concerns regarding the long-term impacts of global climate change. On the opening…

The Collaborative Partnership on Mediterranean Forests (CPMF) has the purpose to improve implementation of policies for sustainable management of forests and environmental services provided by forest ecosystems in the context of climate change.

Developed in collaboration with United Nations agencies, civil society and other organizations, the United Nations challenge badges are intended to raise awareness, educate and motivate young people to change their behaviour and be active agents of change in their local communities. The…

This paper was prepared within the “Cooperatives and their alternatives” component of the Agrarian Structures Initiative (ASI) which a regional program of FAO in Europe and Central Asia. The purpose of this paper is to introduce Central Asian policy makers to the Western paradigm of service…

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper 582. This study reports on the experiences with a diversity of cases of rights-based benthic and finfish fisheries management regimes from the Latin American region. Each case specifies the main attributes of the access rights, whether formal or…

For many centuries, the people of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region were able to cope, and even flourish, under conditions of water scarcity. However, with decades of relentless high rate of population growth, rapid urbanization, and uncharacteristically excessive consumption patterns…

Programmes to reduce emissions from deforestation and ecosystem degradation, such as REDD+ and other forestry incentive programmes, including Payment for Environmental Services (PES), could represent an opportunity to strengthen processes of conservation, sustainable usage and poverty…