Viele Umweltzerstörungen werden auf privaten Konsum zurückgeführt. Dessen negative Auswirkungen entstehen oft in Folge zahlreicher einzelner, an sich harmloser Verbraucherentscheidungen, wie beispielsweise Flugreisen oder Fleischkonsum. Zum Umweltproblem entwickeln sie sich dadurch, dass zu viele bzw. eine zunehmende Zahl an Menschen konsumieren. Der vorliegende Bericht diskutiert dieses Problem unter dem Titel der Mengenproblematik. Er fragt, ob es aus Gründen der intra- und intergenerationellen Gerechtigkeit nicht eher geboten wäre, dass Umweltpolitik privaten Konsum viel stärker reguliert und inwiefern diese Eingriffe mit dem liberalen Freiheitsbegriff vereinbar sind. Der Bericht argumentiert dafür, dass Konsum immer eine öffentliche Angelegenheit ist, dass es sinnvoll ist, die Mengenproblematik nicht primär und ausschließlich am Ende bei den Verbrauchenden zu „privatisieren“ sondern in gesellschaftliche Fragen einer Suffizienzpolitik einzubetten. Daher kann ethisch begründet werden, dass Konsum als Teil von Lebensformen Gegenstand von Umweltpolitik werden muss, damit die Mengenproblematik bearbeitet werden kann.
Das Projekt "Forest management in the Earth system" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie durchgeführt. The majority of the worlds forests has undergone some form of management, such as clear-cut or thinning. This management has direct relevance for global climate: Studies estimate that forest management emissions add a third to those from deforestation, while enhanced productivity in managed forests increases the capacity of the terrestrial biosphere to act as a sink for carbon dioxide emissions. However, uncertainties in the assessment of these fluxes are large. Moreover, forests influence climate also by altering the energy and water balance of the land surface. In many regions of historical deforestation, such biogeophysical effects have substantially counteracted warming due to carbon dioxide emissions. However, the effect of management on biogeophysical effects is largely unknown beyond local case studies. While the effects of climate on forest productivity is well established in forestry models, the effects of forest management on climate is less understood. Closing this feedback cycle is crucial to understand the driving forces behind past climate changes to be able to predict future climate responses and thus the required effort to adapt to it or avert it. To investigate the role of forest management in the climate system I propose to integrate a forest management module into a comprehensive Earth system model. The resulting model will be able to simultaneously address both directions of the interactions between climate and the managed land surface. My proposed work includes model development and implementation for key forest management processes, determining the growth and stock of living biomass, soil carbon cycle, and biophysical land surface properties. With this unique tool I will be able to improve estimates of terrestrial carbon source and sink terms and to assess the susceptibility of past and future climate to combined carbon cycle and biophysical effects of forest management. Furthermore, representing feedbacks between forest management and climate in a global climate model could advance efforts to combat climate change. Changes in forest management are inevitable to adapt to future climate change. In this process, is it possible to identify win-win strategies for which local management changes do not only help adaptation, but at the same time mitigate global warming by presenting favorable effects on climate? The proposed work opens a range of long-term research paths, with the aim of strengthening the climate perspective in the economic considerations of forest management and helping to improve local decisionmaking with respect to adaptation and mitigation.
Das Projekt "Trophic interactions in the soil of rice-rice and rice-maize cropping systems" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Gießen, Institut für Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, Bereich Tierökologie und Spezielle Biologie durchgeführt. Subproject 3 will investigate the effect of shifting from continuously flooded rice cropping to crop rotation (including non-flooded systems) and diversified crops on the soil fauna communities and associated ecosystem functions. In both flooded and non-flooded systems, functional groups with a major impact on soil functions will be identified and their response to changing management regimes as well as their re-colonization capability after crop rotation will be quantified. Soil functions corresponding to specific functional groups, i.e. biogenic structural damage of the puddle layer, water loss and nutrient leaching, will be determined by correlating soil fauna data with soil service data of SP4, SP5 and SP7 and with data collected within this subproject (SP3). In addition to the field data acquired directly at the IRRI, microcosm experiments covering the broader range of environmental conditions expected under future climate conditions will be set up to determine the compositional and functional robustness of major components of the local soil fauna. Food webs will be modeled based on the soil animal data available to gain a thorough understanding of i) the factors shaping biological communities in rice cropping systems, and ii) C- and N-flow mediated by soil communities in rice fields. Advanced statistical modeling for quantification of species - environment relationships integrating all data subsets will specify the impact of crop diversification in rice agro-ecosystems on soil biota and on the related ecosystem services.
Das Projekt "Biotic and abiotic factors that dive the function of microbial communities at biogeochemical interfaces in different soils (BAMISO)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Abteilung für Umweltgenomik durchgeführt. Biogeochemical interfaces shape microbial community function in soil. On the other hand microbial communities influence the properties of biogeochemical interfaces. Despite the importance of this interplay, basic understanding of the role of biogeochemical interfaces for microbial performance is still missing. We postulate that biogeochemical interfaces in soil are important for the formation of functional consortia of microorganisms, which are able to shape their own microenvironment and therefore influence the properties of interfaces in soil. Furthermore biogeochemical interfaces act as genetic memory of soils, as they can store DNA from dead microbes and protect it from degradation. We propose that for the formation of functional biogeochemical interfaces microbial dispersal (e.g. along fungal networks) in response to quality and quantity of bioavailable carbon and/or water availability plays a major role, as the development of functional guilds of microbes requires energy and depends on the redox state of the habitat.To address these questions, hexadecane degradation will be studied in differently developed artificial and natural soils. To answer the question on the role of carbon quantity and quality, experiments will be performed with and without litter material at different water contents of the soil. Experiments will be performed with intact soil columns as well as soil samples where the developed interface structure has been artificially destroyed. Molecular analysis of hexadecane degrading microbial communties will be done in vitro as well as in situ. The corresponding toolbox has been successfully developed in the first phase of the priority program including methods for genome, transcriptome and proteome analysis.
Das Projekt "Establishment of Teak plantations for high-value timber production in Ghana" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hamburg, Arbeitsbereich für Weltforstwirtschaft und Institut für Weltforstwirtschaft des Friedrich-Löffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit durchgeführt. Background and Objectives: The project area is located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana / West Africa in the transition zone of the moist semideciduous forest and tropical savannah zone. Main land use in this region is subsistence agriculture with large fallow areas. As an alternative land-use, forest plantations are under development by the Ghanaian wood processing company DuPaul Wood Treatment Ltd. Labourers from the surrounding villages are employed as permanent or casual plantation workers. Within three forest plantation projects of approximately 6,000 ha, DuPaul offers an area of 164 ha (referred to as Papasi Plantation) - which is mainly planted with Teak (Tectona grandis) - for research purposes. In return, the company expects consultations to improve the management for sustainable timber and pole production with exotic and native tree species. Results: In a first research approach, the Papasi Plantation was assessed in terms of vegetation classification, timber resources (in qualitative and quantitative terms) and soil and site conditions. A permanent sampling plot system was established to enable long-term monitoring of stand dynamics including observation of stand response to silvicultural treatments. Site conditions are ideally suited for Teak and some stands show exceptionally good growth performances. However, poor weed management and a lack of fire control and silvicultural management led to high mortality and poor growth performance of some stands, resulting in relative low overall growth averages. In a second step, a social baseline study was carried out in the surrounding villages and identified landowner conflicts between some villagers and DuPaul, which could be one reason for the fire damages. However, the study also revealed a general interest for collaboration in agroforestry on DuPaul land on both sides. Thirdly, a silvicultural management concept was elaborated and an improved integration of the rural population into DuPaul's forest plantation projects is already initiated. If landowner conflicts can be solved, the development of forest plantations can contribute significantly to the economic income of rural households while environmental benefits provide long-term opportunities for sustainable development of the region. Funding: GTZ supported PPP-Measure, Foundation
Das Projekt "Vulnerability and Resilience of Rangeland Vegetation as Affected by Livestock Management, Soils and Climate" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Institut für Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften und Ressourcenschutz INRES, Arbeitsgruppe Pflanzenbau durchgeführt. The vegetation of East and South African savannahs has been shaped by the complex interaction of geo-biophysical processes and human impact. For both regions a controversial discussion is pertinent, as to whether massive degradation threatens the sustainability of livelihoods in these regions. Rangeland vegetation is mainly affected by environmental conditions (soil and climate) and by livestock management. Extent and interaction of these drivers are not well understood but have profound impacts on the resilience and vulnerability of these systems to be shifted toward unfavourable degraded or bush encroached states. The project aims to analyse and model rangeland vegetation in response to range management including livestock, soil quality and climatic conditions and to assess the impacts of changes in these conditions on the resilience and vulnerability of rangeland systems. Field measurements, remote sensing of vegetation patterns and dynamics and simulation modelling will be used to understand the dynamics of rangeland vegetation. We will use the 'fast' or 'state' variables potential of pastures to produce palatable biomass, the variability of this production, and the system's potential to recover from disturbance impact as indicators of resilience. 'slow' variables that control (or drive) the 'fast' variables such as management, climate and soil variables are recorded in cooperation with other subprojects as with A1 for soil variables. Results of the project will show which management activities are most favourable for individual regions to sustain plant production in the long term.
Das Projekt "Teilprojekt: Die Verknüpfung von terrestrischen und marinen Ökosystemreaktionen auf Klimaschwankungen seit der letzten Zwischeneiszeit in südosteuropäischen Refugien (Ohridsee und Golf von Korinth)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität zu Köln, Institut für Geologie und Mineralogie durchgeführt. Dieses hybride ICDP/IODP-Projekt hat zum Ziel: (a) die empfindliche Vegetationsreaktion von zwei Zufluchtsorten auf der Balkanhalbinsel (Ohrid/ICDP im Norden und Korinth/IODP im Süden) im letzten Klimazyklus auf hundertjähriger Skala zu verbinden, (b) die Lead-Lag-Beziehungen zwischen terrestrischen und marinen Ökosystemen auf globale Klimaschwankungen auf lokaler und regionaler Ebene in bestimmten stratigraphischen Horizonten seit der letzten Zwischeneiszeit zu untersuchen. Die beiden Untersuchungsgebiete liegen in Schlüsselpositionenen im östlichen Mittelmeerraum, der sehr empfindlich auf abrupte Klimaschwankungen reagiert und es erlaubt, Einflüsse sowohl aus höheren (z. B. Nordatlantik) als auch aus niedrigeren Breitengraden (z. B. afrikanischer Monsun) nachzuweisen. Die Bestimmung der Zusammensetzung, Fülle und der Abfolge der Vegetation in den nördlichsten und südlichsten Refugialstandorten des Pindus-Gebirges wird es uns ermöglichen, bioklimatische Schwellenwerte und die Vegetationsdynamik während einer Zeit abrupter Klimaschwankungen mit hoher Amplitude zu rekonstruieren. Neben Vegetationsverschiebungen erfassen Sedimente aus dem Golf von Korinth auch Veränderungen in marinen Ökosystemen. Somit können Lead-Lag-Beziehungen im lokalen Ausdruck der Klimaschwankungen zwischen dem terrestrischen und dem marinen Bereich unter Umgehung chronologischer Unsicherheiten bestimmt werden. Das Verständnis des Zusammenspiels zwischen klimatischen, ökologischen und tektonischen Faktoren auf suborbitaler Ebene innerhalb des Grabensystems wird es uns folglich ermöglichen, das Hauptziel der IODP Exp. 381 zu erreichen. Durch die Untersuchung der Vielfalt und Fülle der gemäßigten Baumarten während der letzten Eiszeit greift dieses Projekt eines der wichtigsten wissenschaftlichen Ziele des SCOPSCO ICDP-Projekts auf, das sich mit Pflanzenresilienz und Schutzstrategien in Südosteuropa befasst.
Das Projekt "The waste dilemma: the attempt of Germany and Italy to deal with the waste management regulation in two European countries" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Bielefeld, Graduiertenkolleg 724 'Auf dem Weg in die Wissensgesellschaft: institutionelle und epistemische Transformationen der Wissensproduktion und ihre gesellschaftlichen Rückwirkungen' durchgeführt.
Das Projekt "Structure and electronic transport properties of metallic liquids at conditions of planetary cores" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Bayreuth, Bayerisches Forschungsinstitut für Experimentelle Geochemie und Geophysik, Bayerisches Geoinstitut durchgeführt. Electrical conductivity is a key parameter in models of magnetic field generation in planetary interiors through magneto-hydrodynamic convection. Measurements of this key material parameter of liquid metals is not possible to date by experiments at relevant conditions, and dynamo models rely on extrapolations from low pressure/temperature experiments, or more recently on ab-initio calculations combining molecular dynamics and linear response calculations, using the Kubo-Greenwood formulation of transport coefficients. Such calculations have been performed for Fe, Fe-alloys, H, He and H-He mixtures to cover the interior of terrestrial and giant gas planets. These simulations are computationally expensive, and an efficient accurate scheme to determine electrical conductivities is desirable. Here we propose a model that can, at much lower computational costs, provide this information. It is based on Ziman theory of electrical conductivity that uses information on the liquid structure, combined with an internally consistent model of potentials for the electron-electron, electron-atom, and atom-atom interactions. In the proposal we formulate the theory and expand it to multi-component systems. We point out that fitting the liquid structure factor is the critical component in the process, and devise strategies on how this can be done efficiently. Fitting the structure factor in a thermodynamically consistent way and having a transferable electron-atom potential we can then relatively cheaply predict the electrical conductivity for a wide range of conditions. Only limited molecular dynamics simulations to obtain the structure factors are required.In the proposed project we will test and advance this model for liquid aluminum, a free-electron like metal, that we have studied with the Kubo-Greenwood method previously. We will then be able to predict the conductivities of Fe, Fe-light elements and H, He, as well as the H-He system that are relevant to the planetary interiors of terrestrial and giant gas planets, respectively.
Das Projekt "Natural variation of flowering time due to cis-regulatory evolution of FLOWERING LOCUS T and its orthologs and paralogs in Brassica napus" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Max-Planck-Institut für Pflanzenzüchtungsforschung, Abteilung Entwicklungsbiologie der Pflanzen durchgeführt. In many plant species, FLOWERING LOCUS T and related proteins are the mobile signal that communicates information on photoperiod from the leaves to the shoots, where the transition to flowering is realized. FT expression is tightly controlled at the transcriptional level so that it is restricted to leaves, occurs only in appropriate photoperiods, and integrates ambient temperature and developmental cues, as well as information on biotic and abiotic stress. We previously established that FT transcription in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana requires proximal promoter cis-elements and a distal enhancer, both evolutionary conserved among Brassicacea species. In addition, FT transcription is blocked prior vernalization in biannual accessions and vernalization-dependency of FT is controlled through a CArG-box located in the first intron that binds the transcriptional repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Chromatin-mediated repression by the Polycomb Group (PcG) pathway is required for photoperiod-dependent FT regulation and participates in FT expression level modulation in response to other cues.In this project, I propose to explore the available sequence data from the 1001 genome project in Arabidopsis to evaluate how often changes in regulatory cis-elements at FT have occurred and how these translate into an adaptive value. Allele-specific FT expression pattern will be measured in F1 hybrids of different accessions in response to varying environmental conditions. FT alleles that show cis-regulatory variation will be further analyzed to pinpoint the causal regulatory changes and study their effect in more detail. The allotetrapolyploid species Brassica napus is a hybrid of two Brassiceae species belonging to the A- and C-type genome, which are in turn mesopolyploid due to a genome triplication that occurred ca. 10x106 years ago. We will determine allele-specific expression of FT paralogs from both genomes of a collection of B. napus accessions. The plants will be grown in the field in changing environmental conditions to maximize the chance to detect expression variation of the paralogs. We will compare the contribution of the founder genomes to the regulation of flowering time and asses variation in this contribution. A particular focus will be to study the impact of chromatin-mediated repression on allele selection in B. napus.
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