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Publications

NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.

2023

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Abstract

Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land use and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1. Remote-sensing estimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2,3,4,5 are characterized by considerable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to benchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 and satellite-derived approaches2,7,8 to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential outside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions demonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% difference between the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest carbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total deficit of 226 Gt (model range = 151–363 Gt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139 Gt C) of this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can allow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87 Gt C) of potential lies in regions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot be a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 that the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests offer valuable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets.

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Abstract

Terrestrial organisms and ecosystems are being exposed to new and rapidly changing combinations of solar UV radiation and other environmental factors because of ongoing changes in stratospheric ozone and climate. In this Quadrennial Assessment, we examine the interactive effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles in the context of the Montreal Protocol. We specifically assess effects on terrestrial organisms, agriculture and food supply, biodiversity, ecosystem services and feedbacks to the climate system. Emphasis is placed on the role of extreme climate events in altering the exposure to UV radiation of organisms and ecosystems and the potential effects on biodiversity. We also address the responses of plants to increased temporal variability in solar UV radiation, the interactive effects of UV radiation and other climate change factors (e.g. drought, temperature) on crops, and the role of UV radiation in driving the breakdown of organic matter from dead plant material (i.e. litter) and biocides (pesticides and herbicides). Our assessment indicates that UV radiation and climate interact in various ways to affect the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems, and that by protecting the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol continues to play a vital role in maintaining healthy, diverse ecosystems on land that sustain life on Earth. Furthermore, the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment are mitigating some of the negative environmental consequences of climate change by limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting the carbon sequestration potential of vegetation and the terrestrial carbon pool.

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Abstract

The present work aims to study the influence of ammonium-quaternary monomers and chitosan, obtained from different sources, upon the effect of semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels upon the removal of waterborne pathogens and bacteria from wastewater. To this end, the study was focused on using vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTAC), a water-soluble monomer with known antibacterial properties, and mineral-enriched chitosan extracted from shrimp shells, to prepare the semi-IPNs. By using chitosan, which still contains the native minerals (mainly calcium carbonate), the study intends to justify that the stability and efficiency of the semi-IPN bactericidal devices can be modified and better improved. The new semi-IPNs were characterized for composition, thermal stability and morphology using well-known methods. Swelling degree (SD%) and the bactericidal effect assessed using molecular methods revealed that hydrogels made of chitosan derived from shrimp shell demonstrated the most competitive and promising potential for wastewater (WW) treatment.

Abstract

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic globally and the energy as well as environmental crises we are facing, achievement of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), including SDG2, zero hunger, by 2030, has become very challenging. Sustainable food production and supply is a daunting task requiring the international community to work together to improve agricultural productivity with minimum climate and environmental footprint. Through the support of the Norwegian government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Sinograin I and Sinograin II projects, Norwegian and Chinese partners have established successful collaboration on food security and sustainable agricultural development. The important results achieved and the experience obtained are shared in this book describing the technologies in-depth and the lessons learnt in detail. Readers are provided with insight into the decade-long fruitful collaboration on agriculture between Norway and China, the similarities and differences in Chinese and Norwegian agriculture, the outcomes of technology implementation in selected regions in China, the benefits of good extension services to farmers in Norway and China, as well as future directions for further collaboration and development of agricultural technologies. This book aims to provide valuable information to all stakeholder groups from policy-makers, to the agro-technology industry, to farmers.

Abstract

Global warming benefits enrichment of the assortment of cultivated fruit trees. New fruit species, less winter hardy, demanding higher temperatures during their growth and longer vegetation period, could become new commercial crops in Norwegian orchards. Up to now there is a lack of knowledge and experience with new fruit species in Norway. Main goal of the project was to justify the possibilities of introduction of new fruit crops namely table/wine grapes, peaches, apricots, and nectarines. The project implementation was based on literature analysis, questionnaires of growers and scientists, information gathered during the visits to scientific institutions and farmers in Norway, Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania. According to growers’ experience and research performed in Norway, neighbouring countries and in regions with similar climate, a number of wine grape and apricot cultivars can be successfully grown in Norway. However, table grapes, peach and especially nectarine are more risky crops. After comprehensive analysis of cultivar characteristics and management, recommendations for the introduction of new cultivars were prepared for commercial growing or additional cultivar evaluation trials.