UNCCD COP13 GEF Day: Innovation, Science and TechnologyCase study: LandPKS Mobile Apps for Optimizing LDN Investments
Objectives1. Review how an understating of land
potential can increase ROI on LDN2. Provide an introduction to the freely
available LandPKS mobile app– LandInfo module: soil inventory (now) and
identification (late 2017) for matching land use and restoration with its sustainable potential
– LandCover module: monitoring changes in land cover
SPI’s LDN Framework
Salud de Pastizales
Salud de ComunidadesUn Sistema para el Manejo de Pastizales en el Contexto del Paisaje y la Aptitude de Suelos para Actividades Pecuarias
Yes
No
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(Yes)
Simple changes – land use/LDN planning based on SOILS + TOPOGRAPHY + CLIIMATE
Sustainable crop production possible?Avoid ReduceReverse
Alternative livelihoods and agricultural intensification example100m
+ high wind erosion risk
Dark soil with mix of sand, silt, clay:successful crop production even during drought years AND no fertilizer required 1st year
Light sandy soil:successful crop onlyduring wet years (1/5) and manure always required
Land potential can vary at scales scales finer than mapped (e.g. N. Namibia -photos), and less in others (e.g. parts of Inner Mongolia uniformly sandy soils)
Success! Failure
Land potential = high restoration potential
(soil + topography + climate)
Land potential =low restoration
potential
Depth Water infiltration0-15cm (sandy loam) 35 mm/hr>15cm (clay) 0.8 mm/hr
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http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1375/index2.tmpl http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/office/ssr7/tr/?cid=nrcs142p2_047949
Objectives1. Review how an understating of land potential
can increase ROI on LDN2. Provide an introduction to the freely
available LandPKS mobile app– LandInfo module: soil inventory (now) and
identification (late 2017) for matching land use and restoration with its sustainable potential
– LandCover module: monitoring changes in land cover
1 app w/2 modules (download iPhone and
Android – everywhere*)
Note for our Chinese friends: using LandPKScurrently requires a Google account. We hope to eliminate this requirement by December.
LandInfo• Today: Describe soil,
topography, get information on climate, soil water holding capacity
• Dec 2017: automatically identify soil, topography climate
• 2018: links to site-specific knowledge and information including WOCAT
------- Pilot countries only in 2017 --------
Nzdl.org
2018
LandInfo for TARGETING and UPSCALING SLM
------- Pilot countries only in 2017 --------Soil/climate-specific fertilizer + management (pilot countries)
Nzdl.org
2018
Automated calculation/reporting (no internet required) + cloud storage- Dominant species
(est)- Bare ground- Crop residue
cover- Tree cover- Grass cover- % large gaps- Height- Plant density- Etc…
LandCover for MONITORING LDN
Data portal• Click on map/download
to spreadsheet/use API• Future tools will allow
local/global, comparisons, competition, additional visualization.
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References• (sign up for updates)• Herrick et al. 2013. A Global Land-
Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS). JSWC.
• Herrick et al. 2016. The Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS): mobile apps and collaboration for optimizing climate change investments. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability.
Thank youHundreds of colleagues in the US, around the world
unep.org/resourcepanel