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ArticleDry season forage assessment across senegalese rangelands using earth observation data 2022
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No results found.Strengthening of feed security in the Sahel is urgently needed given the climate change and growing human population. A prerequisite to this is sustainable use of rangeland forage resources for livestock. Many studies have focused on the assessment of rangeland resources during the rainy season, while only a few have focused on the dry season which is the longest and most demanding period for livestock in Sahelian rangelands. The objective of this study is to develop remote sensing-based models for estimating dry season forage vegetation mass. To that end, 29 vegetation indices calculated from each of the MODIS-MCD43A4 (500 m), Landsat-8 (30 m), and Sentinel-2 (10 m) satellite products were used and tested against in situ data collected during three field-measurement campaigns in 2021 at eleven monitoring sites across Senegalese rangelands. Four statistical models were tested, namely, random forest, gradient boosting machines, and simple linear and multiple linear regressions. The two main vegetation mass variables modeled from remote sensing imagery were the standing herbaceous and litter dry mass (BH) and total forage dry mass (BT) with a dry mass of woody plant leaves added to BH. Overall, Sentinel-2 data provided the best performance for the assessment of BH with multiple linear regression (R2 = 0.74; RMSE = 378 kg DM/ha) using NDI5 (Normalized Difference Index5), GRCI (Green Residue Cover Index), SRI (Simple Ratio Index), TCARI (Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index), and DFI (Dead Fuel Index) indices. For BT, the best model was also obtained from Sentinel-2 data, including RVI3 (Ratio Vegetation Index3) (R2 = 0.78; RMSE = 496 kg DM/ha). Results showed the suitability of combining the red, green, blue, NIR, SWIR1, and SWIR2 bands in monitoring forage availability during the dry season. Our study revealed that the spectral richness of the optical sensor systems Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, and MODIS-MCD43A4 allowed for accurate assessments of dry-season forage mass of semi-arid rangelands. Adding to this, the high spatial and temporal resolution of Sentinel-2 satellite imagery makes this a promising data source for timely monitoring. These findings can support the monitoring of the animal feed balance in Sahelian countries and contribute to enhancing the resilience of pastoralism toward feed shortage through early warning systems. -
DocumentSustainable approaches for rangeland management and livestock production in arid and semi arid regions of tropical countries. 1998
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No results found.Sustainable grazing management or land resource use is a key issue of concern in most arid and semi arid regions of the world. This challenge is particularly formidable in arid rangeland environment, because of inherent seasonal constraints, higher livestock densities and change in socio-economic conditions of pastoral communities. The objectives of rangeland based livestock production vary with the pastoral system employed, such as nomadic, semi nomadic and sedentary systems. Ideally, sto cking rates to achieve maximum profitability should also be sustainable. Rainfall fluctuations from year to year in the arid and semi-arid rangelands, make it difficult to devise perfect stocking strategies and grazing management to cope with the variability. The light stocking rates required to match average rainfall can reduce the risk of forage deficit and financial losses due to death of animals in low and average rainfall years. Nevertheless, a major challenge lies ahead to convince pastora l people about the benefits of reducing stocking rates and improving production efficiencies, in order to achieve higher livestock production, an improvement in income and less degradation of the rangeland. -
MeetingNear East and North Africa Forests and Climate Change: Climate Induced Forest Disturbances, Building Resilience and Boosting Implementation of Countries Nationally Determined Contributions (N)DCs FO:NEFRC/2021/3
25th Session for the Near East Forestry and Range Commission
2021Also available in:
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is dry, hot and scarce in water and arable land resources, with arid, semi-arid to desert conditions and limited tree cover. Yet the 74.7 million hectares of forest and other wooded land, together with rangelands, produce a range of goods and ecosystem services that are essential to rural livelihoods. The region is extremely vulnerable to climate change through heat and drought, and national adaptation priorities focus on crops, forests and water resources. This document describes key challenges related to forests and climate change in the region, and how FAO is working with Members to address them. These include: • Forest and wildland fires, and FAO support for the NENA Regional Forest Wildland Fire Network (NENFIRE) • Forest pests and diseases, and support for the Near East Network on Forest Health and Invasive Species (NENFHIS) • Capacity needs for tracking climate change mitigation and adaptation progress, and support through the FAO/GEF project “Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector” Tackling these interlinked challenges related to climate change is a prerequisite for strengthening the resilience of the forest ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
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