Final Reports: ARCP 2009-2010 Projects
| ARCP2009-01CMY-Fukami, Flood Risk Management Demonstration Project (phase 1) under the Asian Water Cycle Initiative for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (FRM/AWCI/GEOSS); Mr. Kazuhiko FUKAMI This project on its final year, aims to contribute to the GEOSS within the context of its Work Plan for 2007–2009: (i) WA-06-07: Capacity Building Program for Water Resource Management. This project will support the work of flood risk reduction research of AWCI in assessing regional vulnerability of natural and human systems from floods under changing environmental conditions, and will contribute to the development of policy options for appropriate local and regional responses. The project will enhance regional cooperation, strengthen interaction between scientists and policy makers and improve scientific and technical capabilities of Asian region nations. Training programs on the use of tools and data will form the basis for capacity development activities. |
| ARCP2009-02CMY- Okladnikov, Human Impact on Land-cover Changes in the Heart of Asia; Dr. Igor OKLADNIKOV This project, now in its final year, provides valuable input to all APN’s three Agendas as progress in virtually all aspects of global change research and policy development requires consistent, reliable and transparent measurements of land cover change and understanding the role of humans in this process. Remot e sensing is the principal source of data; however, the discrepancies among the available land-cover products hamper the use of this new remote sensing technology. A ll project participants are engaged in providing scientific input to policy decision-making by their local, provincial, and national governments and at international for a and the project will strengthen the regional linkages and develop new knowledge of the role of humans in changing land cover. The synthesis builds on past and ongoing work of partners supported by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global change SysTem for Analysis, Research, and Training (START), International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), and Northern Eurasian Earth Science partnership Initiative (NEESPI). The project will lead to cooperation of teams based in three APN countries, capitalise on thei r past research investments , and ensure consistency of land-cover mapping across the region. |
| ARCP2009-03CMY-Nikitina, Reducing Water Insecurity through Stakeholder Participation in River Basin Management in the Asia-Pacific, Dr. Elena NIKITINA Pervasive and rapid land-use and water-use changes are being compounded by changes in global and regional climates to fundamentally alter the dimensions of water insecurity in river basins across the Asia-Pacific. This project is a comparative and synthetic study with new data gathering and analysis of water insecurity, actions and partnerships of multiple stakeholders in river basin water management. It deals with risks associated with changes in both water quantity and quality. The focus of the project is on the roles, opportunities and limitations of multiple stakeholder groups, including the local public in reducing current and future water insecurities in five countries of the Asia-Pacific. It is highly relevant both to the APN’s science agenda on the intersection of environmental changes with management of water resources and to policy agenda with its emphasis on building stronger interface between science and decision-making. |
| ARCP2009-04CMY-Shrestha, Impacts of Global Change on the Dynamics of Snow, Glaciers and Runoff over the Himalayan Mountains and their Consequences for Highland and Downstream Regions, Dr. Kedar Lal SHRESTHA The project, now in its second year aims to: 1) assess the impacts of climate change on the dynamics of snow, glaciers and runoff over the Himalayan mountains and their consequences for people’s livelihood and the economy and societies in the upland and downstream regions of the Himalayan river system, and; 2) provide much needed science-based information to identify and implement adaptation and mitigation strategies for the sustainable development of the regions. The project will: 1) follow standardised methodologies and use modern tools; 2) work in close partnership with other organisations involved in similar study and research activities like, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study (MAIRS), Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), American Cordillera Transect (ACT), Climate and Cryosphere (CLIC), Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS), International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) etc, to deliver best possible results by maximising available resources; 3) adopt participatory approach in field studies to capture local knowledge and promote local awareness; and 4) interact with the policy-makers and other stakeholders. |
| ARCP2009-05CMY-Sellers, Peri-Urban Development and Environmental Sustainability: Examples from China and India, Jefferey M. SELLERS Expanding urban regions has emerged as one of the major anthropogenic sources of global environmental change. Urbanisation brings numerous stresses to landscapes, vegetation, natural habitats, soil, air and water. Much of urban growth worldwide in the next decades will take place in China and India. This research undertakes a pioneering comparative application of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse urbanisation and its effects on land use and ecosystems in multiple regions of these two large, diverse nations. Models of expected urban developmental trajectories and assessments of alternative policies and institutions will contribute to capacity building that can make urbanisation more sustainable. Regional workshops with diverse stakeholders as well as participation in international intergovernmental and academic forums will reinforce capacity building and help validate the analyses. |
| ARCP2009-06CMY-Braimoh, Managing Ecosystems Services in Asia: A Critical Review of Experiences in Montane Upper Tributary Watersheds, Dr. Ademola BRAIMOH This two-year project now on its final year, contributes to APN’s Scientific Agenda by improving understanding of the impacts of land management and landscape structure on biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by upper tributary watersheds. The collaborative, institutional and policy-oriented research and synthesis activities proposed in three developing countries in the region will contribute to APN’s agenda of facilitating informed environmental policy and practice. This project’s reviews and new illustrative case study research should provide useful policy insights into how to enhance long-term sustainable use and conservation of services from upper tributary watersheds in Southeast Asia. By virtue of its participatory orientation, the project also fosters interaction among scientists, resource-users and policy-makers. Other Resources: |
| ARCP2009-07CMY-Zou, Temperature Sensitivity of Soil CO 2 Efflux as Altered by Rubber Tree Plantations in Southeast Asia, Drs. Xiaoming ZOU, Fanglin Liu, The rapid economic growth occurring in China and Southeast Asian countries has increased demands for rubber, an essential natural material for a variety of industries including vehicle manufacture. The rapid rise in rubber consumption is resulting in expansion of rubber tree plantations in this region. Large areas of natural forest have been converted to rubber tree plantations, and this conversion can have severe ecological consequences such as altered carbon cycling. Therefore, a better understanding of ecosystem responses to tropical land-use changes is essential for developing smart land-use policies that will guide and regulate land-use planning to promote sustainable economic growth in the region. The project will address two main concerns: 1) How would land-use conversion from tropical forests to rubber tree plantations alter the cycling of carbon in Southeast Asia?; and 2) How do biotic factors regulate the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration to global warming in undisturbed tropical forests and rubber tree plantations? |
| ARCP2009-08CMY-Iqbal, Assessment of Food and Water Security in South Asia under Changing Climate Scenario Using Crop Simulation and Water Management Models, and Identification of Appropriate Strategies to Meet Future Demands; Dr. M. Mohsin IQBAL The goal of the project is to assess food and water security in South Asian countries for sustainable development under changing climate and help national planners and policy-makers to introduce appropriate strategic corrective measures, as necessary. This project is different from the previous studies in that pre-tested models are being used to project future demand/supply situation of food and water under climate change stresses. It addresses issues of food security at local and national level as policy-making is only possible at these levels instead of basin or regional scale that was the arena of previous studies. The project also provides plausible options to meet future demand for food and water in respective countries. |
| ARCP2009-09NSY-Skole, Developing Smallholder Agroforestry Carbon Offset Protocols for Carbon Financial Markets – Twinning Sustainable Livelihoods and Climate Mitigation, Dr. David L. SKOLE Land use change, particularly deforestation, is responsible for approximately 20% of all anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. Replacement of lost vegetation can sequester atmospheric CO 2, offsetting emissions. Carbon financial markets are now an accepted mechanism for trading such offsets. Governments, industries, communities, and individuals are actively participating in carbon abatement through both compulsory and voluntary carbon markets. Forestry-related projects, unfortunately, have lagged behind other mitigation projects in these markets, and smallholder agroforestry carbon offset projects are almost non-existent. This project will develop smallholder agroforestry protocols for the Chicago Climate Exchange working directly with farmers and communities in Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam. |
| ARCP2009-10NSY-Gautam, Assessment of Role of Community Forests (CFs) in CO 2 Sequestration, Biodiversity and Land Use Change, Dr. Chinta Mani GAUTAM Community Forestry, a successful program for protecting and rehabilitating the forests has received highest priority from Government of Nepal since 1978. However, the studies on CO 2 sequestration, species diversity, and land use change relevant to Community Forests (CFs) are limited. Therefore, this study aims to estimate CO 2 sequestration and document species diversity in selected CFs and analyse the role of CF in land use changes. It is expected that the outcomes of the project can be used to prepare CF operational plan, support policy and planning, and strengthen the decision-making process of the users and management authorities. |
| ARCP2009-11NSY-Roy, Role of Experiments in Sustainability Transitions in Asia, Prof. Joyashree ROY The Project is for scoping workshops to develop an international research program on the role of innovative development project-level experiments in ‘sustainability transitions’ in Asia. Workshops are intended to bring together an international group of academics and practitioners engaged in this unique field to develop a collaborative research strategy for inventorying, classifying and analysing sustainability experiments in an international context. The ultimate aim is to understand how experiments can influence Asian development pathways and transform some of the unsustainable systems of provision (mobility, energy, food, water, housing) as well as what lessons can be learned about opportunities and barriers for policy makers and practitioners who facilitate to set up such experiments. Other Resources |
| ARCP2009-12NSY-Karve, Biochar for Carbon Reduction, Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Management (BIOCHARM), Dr. Priyadarshini Anand Karve Biochar is a by-product of the combustion of biomass in zero or low-oxygen environments. Depending on the fuel stock used, a large proportion of biochar is made up of elemental carbon. As such, biochar is a potentially highly valuable way of storing carbon in soils in a form which will not rapidly mineralise and be released back to the atmosphere as CO 2. Biochar addition to agricultural soils has been reported to have some important agronomic benefits. This project aims to undertake original research on biochar in Cambodia, Philippines and India for carbon storage (carbon credits) and agricultural benefit. |
ARCP2009-13NMY-Sthiannopkao, Collaborative Research on Sustainable Urban Water Quality Management in Southeast Asian Countries: Analysis of Current Status (comparative study) and Development of a Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development, Dr. Suthipong STHIANNOPKAO The project goal is to establish a Centre of Excellence in the field of sustainable urban water quality management in Southeast Asian countries. This project is composed of three main parts: Part I-Scientific research; Part II-Database development; and Part III-Implementation of a strategic plan through capacity building programmes. The scientific research will conduct a comparative study in Southeast Asia on: 1) current and future of urbanisation expansion; 2) current water management policies;3) water quality impacts caused by urban activities and climate change; and 4) development of a strategic plan including capacity building programmes. Other Resources:
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| ARCP2009-14NMY-How, Integrated Prediction of Dipterocarp Species Distribution in Borneo for Supporting Sustainable Use and Conservation Policy Adaptation, Dr. Phua Mui HOW Borneo ’s lowland rain forest dominated by dipterocarps species has been subject to exploitations under different policy regimes leading to degradation and deforestation. Nevertheless, crucial information on the species distribution in both regimes are seriously lacking for sustainable management and conservation efforts. This project aims to fill the gap of missing information about the dipterocarp species distribution and conservation gap at a landscape scale through an integrated approach that combines remote sensing, GIS and field data. The results will support policy adaptation at both Malaysian (Sarawak) and Indonesian (East Kalimantan) parts of Borneo. |
| ARCP2009-15NMY-Marambe, Vulnerability of Home Garden Systems to Climate Change and its Impacts on Food Security in South Asia, Prof. Buddhi MARAMBE The influence of climate change on food production and food security has not been well established yet. Food production in many developing countries, especially in South Asia, is carried out in home gardens. The objective of this study is to assess the degree of vulnerability of different home garden systems in South Asia under changing climate. Inventories of trees, crops and farm animals will be obtained to establish current status. The extent to which climate shocks influenced the present status of home gardens will be investigated. The vulnerability of the systems will be assessed using bio-economic models in changing climate. |
| ARCP2009-16NMY-Wang, Building Asian Climate Change Scenarios by Multi-Regional Climate Models Ensemble, Dr. Shuyu WANG High resolution information about climate change, variability and extremes is required to develop regional climate change scenarios, which are used in impact, vulnerability and adaptation studies. F acing the fact that in most projection studies coarse-resolution Global Climate Models (GCMs) are applied, this project will couple nine Regional Climate Models (RCMs) from five countries with at least one GCM; therefore, high-confidence regional climate change projection with qualified uncertainty range will be provided. Two sets of simulations for both contemporary and future climate will be carried out. The ensemble technique will then be developed and used to estimate the uncertainty and provide more reliable Asian climate change projection. |
| ARCP2009-17NMY-Luck, The Effects of Climate Change on Pests and Diseases of Major Food Crops in the Asia Pacific Region, Dr. Joanne Elizabeth LUCK The project will investigate the impact of climate change on key pests and diseases of major food crops in the Asia Pacific Region. This concept was developed at the APN Dhaka workshop ‘Climate and crop disease risk management’ (ARCCM07). The influence of increasing temperature, increasing atmospheric CO 2 and moisture availability on high threat pests and pathogens will be examined through sharing of data, collaborative workshops, proposal development and a joint scientific publication. Critically, a new link is proposed between the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) National Plant Biosecurity, the Australian Grains Free Air CO 2 Enrichment experiment, the Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) Network Project on Climate Change (NPCC) and International Crops Research institute for the Semi-Aris Tropics (ICRISAT). |
| ARCP2009-18NMY-Schaefer, Quantifying the Role of Dead Wood in Carbon Sequestration, Dr. Douglas SCHAEFER Terrestrial carbon sequestration depends on plant material not being released via respiration. Wood decomposition is the central component, but because it is a slow process, it remains poorly understood. This project will use advanced techniques of respiration monitoring, coupled with woody material manipulations in a variety of Asian forests, and under a wide range of soil conditions. The resulting respiration rates will complement previous long-term studies of wood dynamics to provide more accurate information for terrestrial carbon modelling. It will further provide policy guidance on which plant species and site conditions are most suitable to maximise carbon sequestration. |
ARCP2009-19NMY-Bai, Asian Coastal Ecosystems: An Integrated Database and Information Management System (DIMS) for Assessing Impact of Climate Change and its Appraisal, Dr. V. Ramani BAI Understanding Asian Coastal region’s ecosystems and its changes is dependent on the quality of documenting and modelling interrelationships of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. In several workshops, the need for a database clearing house for Asian Coastal region information was the number one recommendation. The four Institutions identified will embark on developing an Integrated DIMS which will be an easy outlet in a holistic and integrated approach to achieve such a goal. Many researchers focus on integrated approach of scientific, physics, economics etc. of climate change. Hence, DIMS will be appraised for their use. Other Resources: |
