Ulrike Bayr
Research Scientist
Authors
Terje Christensen Are Røysamb Ulrike Bayr Dieu Tien Bui Guðrún Helgadóttir Nina Johansen Joern Klein Mieke Cornelia Louwe Randi Mork Kyungbinn Noh Stefanie Reinhardt Trude Eid Robsahm Kristin Helen Roll Øyvind Steifetten Per Strömberg Gry Tengmark Østenstad Veronika ZaikinaAbstract
Abstract Energy-efficient lighting solutions, while beneficial for reducing energy consumption, also pose challenges in terms of light pollution. Light pollution, defined as excessive or misdirected artificial light, has become a significant environmental issue globally. This perspective paper explores the extent, effects, and knowledge gaps related to light pollution, with a focus on its impact on human health, ecosystems, and energy consumption. This study focuses on Norway, a country that is particularly relevant for studying light pollution due to its far northern location. At high latitudes, the variation in natural light is larger over the year than at lower latitudes. Therefore, a Nordic perspective is valuable to present knowledge about effects of artificial lighting under these conditions. Under the midnight sun, minimal additional outdoor lighting is required, whereas during the winter season, outdoor lighting may be utilised continuously. The paper synthesizes findings from various studies, highlighting the rapid increase in light pollution due to urbanisation, infrastructure development, and the widespread adoption of LED technology. Human health effects include alterations of circadian rhythms, increased risk of accidents, and potential links to serious diseases such as cancer. Ecosystem impacts are profound, affecting a number of species i.e., within insects and bats, and may lead to for instance disturbances in navigation and circadian rhythms, habitat fragmentation, and altered predator–prey dynamics. This article identifies significant knowledge gaps, particularly in the measurement of light pollution, understanding its health effects, and its impact on various species. Recommendations for future research and policy development are provided, emphasising the need for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate the adverse effects of light pollution and promote sustainable lighting practices.
Abstract
Urban agriculture (UA) is increasingly recognized as a key component of sustainable cities. Commercial farmers in urban areas benefit from a large customer base, short transport distances, and access to diverse sales channels. However, high pressure on land resources makes it difficult for farmers and decision makers to find suitable areas for UA. This study ranks urban and peri-urban farmland areas based on their suitability for urban agriculture (UA) and identifies opportunities for extending the area for UA to currently unused farmland. Through collaboration with urban farmers, we identified four key themes and eleven criteria, which were weighted for two sales scenarios: on-farm and off-farm. We performed a GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and assessed suitability using the technique of order preference similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) on 1 × 1 km grid cells. By overlaying the suitability maps with presumably unused farmland (PUF), we identified areas with high potential for extending UA. In the City of Bergen, 15.3 % (on-farm; off-farm=14 %) of the total farmland is both unused and highly suitable for UA, compared to only 2.8 % (on-farm; off-farm=2.4 %) in Oslo. Assessing the suitability of agricultural land for UA can support spatial planning, protect agricultural topsoil from urban expansion, and help achieve global, national, and local goals for urban farming and sustainable land use.
Authors
Christian Levers Marcel Schwieder Petra Dieker Stefan Erasmi Roberto Azofeifa Rodríguez Ulrike Bayr Ana Julieta Calvo Obando Wendy Fjellstad Satsuki Furubayashi Janne Heliölä Felix Herzog Terho Hyvönen Linda Ieviņa Pēteris Lakovskis Eliane Meier Hannu Ojanen Timo Pitkänen Walfrido Moraes TomasAbstract
This paper outlines the rationale for, and the current state of, mapping habitat diversity. It provides an overview of progress in assessing and monitoring farmland habitat biodiversity at the national level, in line with the proposed OECD Farmland Habitat Biodiversity Indicator (FHBI). The paper describes pilot studies by eight countries, summarising the approaches to mapping habitats, assessing habitat quality, and implementing the FHBI at the national level. Drawing from the experience of the FHBI pilot countries, this paper offers general guidelines for defining habitats and assigning biodiversity values of habitats for calculation of the FHBI. It provides guidance on selecting the appropriate tier level for data acquisition, processing, and reporting, and summarises strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the current FHBI structure used in the pilot studies.