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notes_aare [2018-04-16 10:14] theunkarelsenotes_aare [2018-06-12 20:01] (current) theunkarelse
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 ==== Notes Aare ==== ==== Notes Aare ====
- +Landscape degeneration is a phenomenon at planetary scale. Some see this century as the age of ecological regeneration; bringing areas back to life, with the return of water, vegetation and all manner of organisms re-appearing. This would be 'The Great Work' for humanityBut are humans best suited for all aspects of this task? This lab proposes to push the narrative beyond human-centric perspectives. Could landscapes engage in self-regeneration if they form alliances with the right technologiesWhat would such systems entail?\\ 
-Autonomous Agents for Regenerative Ecologies LabHow can autonomous agents contribute to or scaffold regeneration of degraded land?+\\ 
 +This lab brings together field-workers and field-thinkers from the environmental ‘avant-garde’ who work at the level of community, technology data to design and develop actual applications of autonomous agents in regenerative ecological practice.
  
 === Existing resources on location: === === Existing resources on location: ===
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   * infrastructure (electricity, etc)   * infrastructure (electricity, etc)
  
-=== Techniques: === +=== Techniques ordered in sequence: === 
-  * condensation (water harvesting, shadow) > out: pioneering vegetation +  * condensation (water harvesting, shadow) > **out**: pioneering vegetation 
-  * ditches (increase geodiversity) > out: water retention, erosion, microclimates, hydrologic corridors, ‘housing’ for ground dwelling fauna) +  * ditches or 'contour ridges' (increase geodiversity) > **out**: water retention, erosion, microclimates, hydrologic corridors, ‘housing’ for ground dwelling fauna) 
-  * refugia (at large scalevegetation pockets in the most favourable areas that serve as basecamps to grow from+  * biodegradable 'waterboxx' to grow trees (Pinus silvestris)
   * mucuva: seeding an area with biodiverse mix of local species (increases tree diversity from 160 to over 2000 species per hectare initially and over 5000 after a decade)   * mucuva: seeding an area with biodiverse mix of local species (increases tree diversity from 160 to over 2000 species per hectare initially and over 5000 after a decade)
-  * assisted migration / transplantation ecology (zoochory or in second phase: disperse topsoil samples) > out: dramatically speeds up regeneration +  * refugia (at large scale) vegetation pockets in the most favourable areas that serve as basecamps to grow from 
-  * assisted evolution (like Cobalt-60 exposure)+  * assisted migration (zoochory) > **out**: dramatically speeds up regeneration 
 +  * assisted evolution?? (like Cobalt-60 exposure)
  
 === Second phase techniques: === === Second phase techniques: ===
-  * structural complexity enhancement (jump towards late-successional diversity) knock over some of the trees and expose roots, strip bark from some of the trees to create snags (standing dead trees) breaking up canopy cover, or somehow bring in heavy longs from elsewhere > out: creates habitat for insects, birds, mammals, amphibians that mitigate disease, pests and renewed space for pioneering vegetation and the associated wildlife+  * transplantation ecology (disperse topsoil samples) **out**: dramatically speeds up regeneration 
 +  * structural complexity enhancement (jump towards late-successional diversity) knock over some of the trees and expose roots, strip bark from some of the trees to create snags (standing dead trees) breaking up canopy cover, make piles of branches, or somehow bring in heavy longs from elsewhere > **out**: creates habitat for insects, birds, mammals, amphibians that mitigate disease, pests and renewed space for pioneering vegetation and the associated wildlife
   * atmospheric water cycle: canopy cover starts to work as an atmospheric moisture pump (near coast or on mountain side)   * atmospheric water cycle: canopy cover starts to work as an atmospheric moisture pump (near coast or on mountain side)
 +  * establish forestfire corridors
  
 === Niches: === === Niches: ===
-  * primary trophic layer > pioneering vegetation / foundation species > annuals and algae > in: water / out: mine and accumulate available nutrients, create biomass, water retention, microclimates +  * primary trophic layer > pioneering vegetation / foundation species > annuals and algae > **in**: water / **out**: mine and accumulate available nutrients, create biomass, water retention, microclimates 
-  * secondary trophic layer > insects, small herbivores > in: ‘accommodation’ / out: pollination, trophic  +  * secondary trophic layer > insects, small herbivores > **in**: ‘accommodation’ / **out**: pollination, trophic  
-  * third trophic layer > birds, carnivores > in: canopy or shrubbery / out: pest mitigation, zoochory (seed dispersal, microbe dispersal, nutrient dispersal)+  * third trophic layer > birds, carnivores > **in**: canopy or shrubbery / **out**: pest mitigation, zoochory (seed dispersal, microbe dispersal, nutrient dispersal) 
   * foundation species: a strong role in structuring a community (grass, trees, kelp, ants)   * foundation species: a strong role in structuring a community (grass, trees, kelp, ants)
   * indicator species (as a way of analysing system health) lichen   * indicator species (as a way of analysing system health) lichen
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   * second stage: shrubs and first trees (contour hedge rows to maximise impact)   * second stage: shrubs and first trees (contour hedge rows to maximise impact)
   * third stage: tree cover, nitrogen fixing trees: root deep, self seed, grow quickly, grow easily from cuttings (automated tree nursery)   * third stage: tree cover, nitrogen fixing trees: root deep, self seed, grow quickly, grow easily from cuttings (automated tree nursery)
-(Some ecologists call this making a ‘vegetation forecast’)+(Essentially we're making a ‘vegetation forecast’)
  
  
-=== Functional traits: === +=== Functional traits required: === 
-  * high characteristic return time: rate at which a population returns after disturbance +  * shade giving
-  * high jump dispersal: can cover long distances over inhospitable habitat in one generation (typically: seeds, insects, birds) +
-  * high speciation (allopatric)+
   * high water retention   * high water retention
   * deep rooted   * deep rooted
-  * fruit bearing +  * fruit bearing (to attract more life) 
-  * +  * high characteristic return time: rate at which a population recovers from disturbance 
 +  * high jump dispersal: can cover long distances over inhospitable habitat in one generation (typically: seeds, insects, birds) 
 +  * high speciation (allopatric)
  
-=== Weaknesses: ===+=== Weaknesses of an establishing ecosystem: ===
   * low cryptic diversity (genepool)   * low cryptic diversity (genepool)
-  * low tipping pointbuffering capacity+  * low tipping point 
 +  * low buffering capacity 
 + 
 +=== Potential locations: === 
 +  * [[https://goo.gl/maps/VKA3926kXRF2|Albacete region in Spain]] (google maps) 
 +  * [[http://thegreendeserts.com/news/plantation-of-the-projects-first-year-2011-203.html| potential tree species for Spain ]]
  
 +see also: [[environmental_machine_learning]]
  
  
  
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