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\"Rainwater Harvesting the first comprehensive book on designing rainwater harvesting systems. It provides practical guidelines for developing a rainwater harvesting strategy, taking into account climate, public policies, environmental impact, and end uses. Case studies are included throughout, and a companion website houses worksheets, calculators, and other resources. Rainwater Harvesting is a valuable reference for architects, landscape architects, and site engineers\"-- Provided by publisher.

The management of rainwater collection in a practical way is a fundamental need for the management of water resources in a manner that is sustainable. The goal of this research is to determine whether or not remote sensing technology is effective in providing data on precipitation for the purpose of locating rainwater collection tank locations in the province of Karbala. Rainfall patterns fluctuate considerably. Remote sensing may not capture variability enough to estimate the rainfall period and location. Sustainable rainfall harvesting requires accurate rainfall timing and distribution. This information is applied in the modeling of hydrological processes, the management of disasters, and environmental research. Following the completion of a geographical study, it has been established that the city of Karbala may be divided into two basic sections. Through the use of estimation, it is possible to more easily identify the region that is ideal for the location of rainwater-harvesting reservoirs and lakes. On the contrary, it is crucial to keep in mind that a location that was chosen based on average rainfall over a period of two years could not be suitable for other time periods. This is an idea that should be kept in mind several times. To put this into perspective, when choosing a location, it is vital to take into consideration the severity of the rainfall as well as the geographical location of the area. Particularly in locations such as Karbala, the implementation of data visualization systems into water management practices has the potential to improve both the efficiency and sustainability of water management methods. The findings of this study show the significance of implementing precise site selection techniques to enhance rainwater collection systems and encourage activities that are environmentally responsible for water management.

The sustainable use of natural resources is critical for addressing the global challenges of today. Strategies for sustainable harvesting need to consider not only harvested species, but also other non-harvested species interacting with them in the same ecosystem. In addition, environmental variation needs to be considered, with climate change currently being one of the main sources of this variation. Understanding the consequences of complex interactions between different drivers and processes affecting dynamics of species and ecosystems across spatial scales requires large-scale integrative research projects. The Norwegian research initiative “Sustainable management of renewable resources in a changing environment: an integrated approach across ecosystems” (SUSTAIN) was launched to fill knowledge gaps related to the sustainable management of populations and ecosystems experiencing climate change. SUSTAIN investigated terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems in boreal and Arctic regions, using both theoretical developments and empirical analyses of long-term data. This Climate Research Special contains both synthesis articles and original research exemplifying some of the approaches used in SUSTAIN. In this introduction we highlight 4 key topics addressed by SUSTAIN: (i) population structure, (ii) interactions between species, (iii) spatial processes, and (iv) adaptive management. These topics are fundamental to the understanding of harvested species from an ecosystem perspective, and to ecosystem-based management approaches, which we are striving to work towards.

Seaweeds such as Ascophyllum nodosum are essential components of coastal ecosystems, being frequently relevant both ecologically and economically. The current increasing demand for seaweed biomass must be compatible with sustainable management practices of these resources. This study aims to provide supporting evidence for the establishment of management plans for “edge populations” (at their distributional limits) with commercial interest using, as a model, the southernmost population of A. nodosum in Europe (which occurs on the northern coast of Portugal). In this study, standing stock, biomass renewal and seasonal and spatial patterns of occurrence of this Ascophyllum unexploited population were assessed in order to evaluate harvesting potential. A total of 16 patchily distributed and variable sized beds, covering an area of 112,126 m2, were delimited during late summer/autumn of 2016, providing a standing stock of 30,952.12 kgdw. The abundance of these populations was stable over time (2005–2010), although small-scale spatial variations and changes in individual biomass due to seasonal loss could be identified. However, the potential biomass renewal as estimated for this whole population was 290.3 kgdw year−1, representing only 0.94% of the calculated standing stock. Based on these results, the importance of considering the population’s renewal potential is highlighted in addition to individual phenotypic traits when managing harvesting. Specifically, given the vulnerability and ecological relevance of the studied population, the recommendation herein is to avoid harvesting of this species at its southernmost location in Europe.

Carposina sasakii Matsumura is one of the most destructive fruit-boring pests of pome and stone fruit trees in eastern Asia. Because larvae complete their development inside a single fruit, larval density per fruit is a critical factor in their survival, development, and fecundity. The effect of larval density was examined to determine the ideal density for devising an economic and sustainable mass-rearing system for harvesting of C. sasakii. Mass production of insects of the same age of a specific stage is not only important in biological control, but also in pheromone extraction, culturing of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi, etc. Life history data for six larval densities (1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20, 21–30, and 31–40 larvae/apple) were collected at 25.5 ± 0.5°C, 75.0 ± 5.0% RH, and a photoperiod of 15:9 (L: D) h. Data were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table. The results showed that the highest preadult survival rate (42.00%), fecundity (104.70 eggs), and population parameters (intrinsic rate of increase r = 0.0718 d-1, net reproductive rate R0 = 23.03 eggs, and finite rate of increase λ = 1.0744 d-1) were observed at a density of 1–5 larvae/apple. However, when the rearing costs and production rate were considered, the density of 16–20 larvae/apple was the most economical for mass-rearing C. sasakii in order to achieve a daily harvest rate of 1,000 pupae (from 273 apples per day).To ensure the sustainability of the mass-rearing system, we included the life table variability in the harvesting strategy.

Cadra cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pest in barn, and its eggs are often utilized as an alternative prey or as hosts for mass production of insect predators and parasitoids. To aid in developing a mass-rearing system for C. castella, the suitability of using an artificial diet based on brown rice flour and whole brown rice was compared using the age-stage, 2-sex life table. Compared with those reared on brown rice, the insects reared on an artificial diet had a shorter preadult period (32.08 vs 37.38 d), higher fecundity (468.14 vs 356.20 eggs/female), greater intrinsic rate of increase (0.1509 vs 0.1145 d–1), and higher net reproductive rate (199.28 vs 103.52 offspring). Small populations were required to rear the moth on an artificial diet to achieve the same daily production of C. cautella. Still, the food expense was only 60.2% of that of C. cautella reared on brown rice. Approximately 99.44% of the eggs in each rearing procedure could be supplied as alternative prey for predators, with the remainder served to maintain the colonies for subsequent batches. Only eggs laid within 6 d would be utilized to ensure the high quality of alternative prey for the mass production of predacious bugs. Additionally, a multifunctional device was designed for moth rearing and egg collection, reducing labor input and minimizing health risks for workers coping with inhaled scales. To encourage the production of natural enemies, a cost-effective diet for maintaining a sustainable colony, and a system for daily egg-harvesting of alternative prey were proposed.

The leaves of many palm species represent important non-timber forest products (NTFPs), which may be intensively harvested by local people in many tropical areas. Additionally, in some regions livestock graze in natural forests, and they may browse on palm leaves, especially during the dry season. Thus, harvesting and browsing can result in the loss of leaf area of individual palms, which may alter functional traits of individuals and change demographic patterns of populations. Currently, there are few studies that analyze the effects of multiple disturbances on these traits. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of browsing, leaf harvesting and the interaction between these two factors on individual traits and demographic patterns of the palm in northwestern Mexico. A browsing and leaf harvesting experiment was conducted on natural populations of the species. Individuals were subjected to different harvesting intensities and the presence or absence of cattle. Annual censuses were conducted from 2011 to 2014, and individual traits (leaf length, petiole length, and leaf production) and vital rates were monitored. At the individual level, the analyzed traits mostly increased as function of leaf harvest and browing, especially during the first two years. Palms experiencing leaf harvesting and browsing had 1.5 to 6.0 times higher levels of leaf production than control palms, especially juveniles and small adults. At the demographic level, the effects of browsing and leaf harvest were low or null, since survival was not affected by them. Browsing positively affected the growth of individuals in the first 2 years, while leaf harvesting had a negative effect in year three. There was a positive relationship between the probability of reproduction and leaf harvest; however, high leaf harvest resulted in two to three times fewer fruits produced. After 3 years of experimental management, multiple of the analyzed attributes decreased, suggesting that changed patterns of resource allocation. Based on our results, can be considered a species that tolerates high levels of defoliation and browsing for 2 years, but not likely longer. This study contributes basic ecological information useful for the conservation and management of , but overall it also highlights that different anthropogenic activities may act as drivers affecting the functional response and demography of NTFP species and they should be considered for the long-term integral management of these species.

Garcinia kola , known as bitter kola, is a promising multipurpose fruit tree from tropical forests in West and Central Africa. Despite the popularity of the species in folk medicine, very little is known about its management and commercialization. This knowledge might prevent unsustainable collection, overexploitation, and threats to its wild population. Thus, we investigated markets and identified three collection areas in Cameroon among 72 vendors selling bitter kola products. Among 122 purposively selected farmers, we analyzed the uses, management, and economic value of G. kola for rural households in these locations. We also documented the morphological characteristics of 227 trees utilized by interviewees. Knowledge of the medicinal properties of bitter kola was similar among all actors involved in the collection and commercialization of G. kola . However, the selected regions differed in management, plant part preferences, harvesting practices, and morphological characteristics. We suggest applying sustainable harvesting practices to support the conservation of wild-growing trees, promoting participatory domestication of the species, switching from bark collection to seed gathering, and linking farmers with promising and profitable markets.

Estimation of population abundances in the absence of good observational data are notoriously difficult, yet urgently needed for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In the field of fisheries research, management regulations have long demanded population abundance estimates even if data available are sparse, leading to the development of a range of fish stock assessment methods designed for data-poor populations. Here, we present methods developed within the context of fisheries research that can be applied to conduct population abundance estimations when facing data-limitations. We begin the review from the less data-demanding approaches and continue with more data-intensive ones. We discuss the advantages and caveats of these approaches, the challenges and management implications associated with data-poor stock assessments, and we propose the implementation of the Bayesian hierarchical framework as the most promising avenue for future development and improvement of the current practices.

Ethiopia’s drylands are home to a diverse range of tree species that produce gum and resin; however, there has been a noticeable decline in their production and trade in recent years. This study examined underutilized gum‐ and resin‐bearing species and related indigenous knowledge in the Adadle and Danana districts of the Somali Region. Data were collected through semistructured questionnaires with 40 households per district, focus group discussions with 15 participants, and interviews with three local experts in each district. Four underutilized species were identified: Acacia bussei (Gedi hureg), Acacia seyal (Qudhac), Acacia nilotica (Murchel), and Commiphora guidottii (Gundire) recognized for their production of glue, chewing gum, and medicinal applications. Availability and collection were reported as highly seasonal, with traditional tapping and collection methods prevailing. Statistical analysis showed that income source ( p = 0.001) and education status ( p = 0.038) significantly influenced utilization, while other demographic factors were not significant. Limited awareness, lack of modern harvesting techniques, and declining market linkages were identified as major challenges. The study recommends awareness creation, improved production and harvesting methods, and promotion of sustainable utilization to support both livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.