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11 results
Mapping soil carbon particle size fractions and water retention in tropical dry forest in Brazil
The study evaluated the accuracy of ordinary kriging versus regression-kriging for mapping soil attributes in a Brazilian tropical dry forest. While stepwise linear regression models showed the best fit for grain size fractions and water retention properties, ordinary kriging demonstrated higher accuracy for 21 out of 33 attribute-depth combinations, suggesting that adding a linear trend model does not always improve predictions.
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Document type: Research paper
Biomass resilience of Neotropical secondary forests
An analysis of 45 forest sites and 1,500 plots in the Neotropics reveals that secondary forests are highly productive, with an average biomass recovery of 122 Mg/ha after 20 years and a median recovery time of 66 years to reach 90% of old-growth levels. Recovery rates are strongly influenced by water availability, with the highest potential in humid tropical lowland areas and the lowest in seasonally dry forest regions.
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Document type: Research paper
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING IN INDONESIA
The report identifies critical areas in Indonesia where nature-based solutions (NbS)—specifically the conservation and restoration of forests and coastal ecosystems—can mitigate climate risks such as flooding, landslides, and coastal erosion. Using biophysical modeling, the study finds that protecting just 16% of the country's land area (those most impacted by infrastructure) can support climate resilience for 147 million people and 68% of the road network. It argues for integrating these spatial analyses into 'upstream' national and subnational infrastructure planning to avoid high-risk areas and invest in restoration, which could benefit over half the population and 53% of the road network. The report recommends mainstreaming NbS into the Medium and Long-Term Development Plans and the 2020-2040 Road Network General Plan.
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Document type: Report
Land cover four Kenyan arid regions 2050
This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes land use and land cover (LULC) data from 2001, 2011, and 2021 to project outcomes for 2050 in four arid and semiarid counties in Kenya. The study evaluates three scenarios—achieving 10% forest cover, converting forests to croplands, and restoring degraded forests—to guide sustainable land management and meet Kenyan government climate commitments.
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Document type: Research paper
Urban Heat Hot Spots
Climate Central analyzed 18,945 census tracts across 44 major U.S. cities, finding that 41 million people (approximately 55% of the analyzed population) live in areas where the urban heat island (UHI) effect increases temperatures by 8°F or more. The study identifies albedo, green space percentage, and population density as the primary drivers of this effect, with New York City exhibiting the highest average UHI index. The analysis categorizes cities by heat patterns—concentrated cores, diffused zones, or sprawling intensity—and highlights that structural inequities often lead to disproportionate heat exposure for people of color and low-income populations.
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Document type: Research paper
FOSSIL FUEL EXIT STRATEGY
The report argues that stopping the expansion of fossil fuels is insufficient to meet the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement; instead, an active wind-down of existing production is required. It proposes specific annual decline rates for coal (9.5%), oil (8.5%), and gas (3.5%) between 2021 and 2030. The authors conclude that this transition is technically feasible because global solar and wind potential could meet primary energy demand more than 50 times over, ensuring 100% energy access without risking energy security.
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Document type: Report
SYSTEM-SCALE PLANNING TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE
The USAID Paani Program developed a three-part system-scale planning approach for Nepal to optimize energy production while protecting freshwater resources. The project identified High Conservation Value Rivers (HCVR), conducted an Energy Options Assessment (EOA) using the SWITCH model to find least-cost power pathways, and utilized System Scale Planning (SSP) to visualize tradeoffs between economic and environmental goals. Findings indicate that significant river conservation can be achieved with minimal increases in system costs by diversifying the energy mix with wind, solar, and battery storage, and by strategically siting hydropower projects.
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Document type: Executive summary
HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE RIVER ASSESSMENT - METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS
The report presents the first national assessment of High Conservation Value Rivers (HCVRs) in Nepal, evaluating 50,531 km of rivers based on freshwater status (connectivity and water quality) and freshwater values (biodiversity, recreation, livelihoods, and socio-cultural importance). The assessment identifies that 62% of Nepal's river reaches are HCVR Type 1 (high value, high connectivity, and high water quality), with the Karnali River Basin containing the highest number of these rivers. The report warns that proposed hydropower development on all major rivers poses a significant threat to these ecosystems, particularly in the Karnali basin, which hosts critically endangered species like the Ganges River dolphin and Rara Asala snow trout. It recommends using the HCVR typology to prioritize rivers for protection, management, or restoration to meet national and international biodiversity commitments.
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Document type: Report
Mapping an urban ecosystem service: quantifying above-ground carbon storage at a city-wide scale
The study quantifies above-ground carbon storage in Leicester, UK, finding that 231,521 tonnes of carbon are stored in vegetation, with 97.3% attributed to trees. The research highlights that national ecosystem service maps significantly undervalue the carbon contribution of the city, suggesting a need for more reliable city-wide data to support national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
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Document type: Research paper
Assessment of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Options in Nepal
The report identifies a pool of 147 potential CSA technologies for Nepal, categorizing them into water-smart, energy-smart, nutrient-smart, carbon-smart, weather-smart, and knowledge-smart interventions. Using climate analogue tools, the study maps the suitability of these options across the country, finding that districts like Nawalparasi are representative of the Terai region. Key findings indicate that precision nutrient and water management can significantly increase rice and wheat yields, while zero-tillage in wheat improves profitability despite potential yield decreases. The report argues that scaling out requires a combination of knowledge-transfer, market-based, public-private partnership, and community-based 'Climate-Smart Village' approaches, supported by an enabling environment including credit access and gender-responsive mechanization.
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Document type: Report
A World of Opportunity for Forest and Landscape Restoration
The document identifies over two billion hectares of global land suitable for restoration, primarily in tropical and temperate regions. It categorizes these opportunities into wide-scale, mosaic, and remote restoration, emphasizing that restoration is a complementary strategy to avoiding deforestation for sequestering carbon and improving ecosystem services.
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Document type: Fact sheet