Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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    Not All Birds of the Same Feather: A Systematic Review of Ecosystem Services and Disservices in Horticulture
    (John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Ecological Society of Australia, 2025-09-01) Ferrari GCP; Mason K; Robertson A; Castro I
    Wild birds can provide essential benefits and cause significant harm in food production systems, commonly framed as ecosystem services and disservices, respectively. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on avian ecosystem services and disservices in horticultural systems, analysing 251 studies published between 1912 and 2023. Species richness and abundance were the most commonly used metrics. A total of 128 studies investigated ecosystem services, 109 addressed disservices, and only 22 considered both. Pest control (137 occurrences) and crop damage (120) were the dominant subjects within ecosystem services and disservices, respectively. However, crop damage was frequently reported without assessment, suggesting a confirmation bias towards birds as pests. The methods used to assess services and disservices were diverse, including species identification, damage and yield surveys, landscape analysis, experiments, published data, social surveys, laboratory techniques, and economic or ecological modelling. Despite this methodological diversity, most studies used only one or two approaches. Studies incorporating human-wildlife conflict were rare, despite their relevance for both conservation and horticultural management. This review reveals a bias towards studying avian contributions that are more easily measurable, such as pest control and crop damage, while more complex or less visible effects, such as pollination, disease control, or herbivore release, remain underexplored. As a result, birds' roles in horticultural systems are often understood in fragmented terms, potentially leading to ineffective or unjustified management decisions. A more holistic, species-focused, and integrative approach is needed to fully understand the trade-offs between ecosystem services and disservices. Such understanding is critical not only for enhancing the sustainability and productivity of food systems, but also for conserving wild birds in increasingly intensified agricultural landscapes.
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    Challenges and considerations of applying nature-based solutions in low- And middle-income countries in Southeast and East Asia
    (IWA Publishing, 2020-12-10) Lechner AM; Gomes RL; Rodrigues L; Ashfold MJ; Selvam SB; Wong EP; Raymond CM; Zieritz A; Sing KW; Moug P; Billa L; Sagala S; Cheshmehzangi A; Lourdes K; Azhar B; Sanusi R; Ives CD; Tang Y-T; Tan DT; Chan FKS; Nath TK; Sabarudin NAB; Metcalfe SE; Gulsrud NM; Schuerch M; Campos-Arceiz A; Macklin MG; Gibbins C
    Low- and middle-income countries in Southeast and East Asia face a range of challenges related to the rapid pace of urbanisation in the region, the scale of pollution, climate change, loss of ecosystem services and associated difficulties for ecological restoration. Possible pathways towards a more sustainable future lie in the applications of nature-based solutions (NBS). However, there is relatively little literature on the application of NBS in the region, particularly Southeast Asia. In this paper we address this gap by assessing the socio-ecological challenges to the application of NBS in the region – one of the most globally biodiverse. We first provide an overview and background on NBS and its underpinnings in biodiversity and ecosystem services. We then present a typology describing five unique challenges for the application of NBS in the region: (1) Characteristics of urbanisation; (2) Biophysical environmental and climatic context; (3) Environmental risks and challenges for restoration; (4) Human nature relationships and conflicts; and (5) Policy and governance context. Exploiting the opportunities through South-South and North-South collaboration to address the challenges of NBS in Southeast and East Asia needs to be a priority for government, planners and academics.
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    Agroecological initiatives in the Mekong Region: a systematic literature review and mapping reveals their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems
    (Taylor and Francis Group, 2023-01) Hett C; Aye ZC; Gironde C; Beban A; Castella J-C; Bernhard R; Ehrensperger A
    In the Mekong Region, agroecological approaches provide a niche alternative to the dominant traditional or intensive farming systems. We conducted a synthesis of current evidence on agroecological interventions by means of a systematic literature review and mapping of case studies in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. The majority of the 271 identified cases focussed on practical and technical support. Interventions using holistic approaches, and such that focused on improving food systems through innovative territorial governance, value chain arrangements, and policy frameworks were scarce. Most cases targeted the agroecological optimization and the modernization of traditional farming systems. A mere 18 of our cases addressed gender in relation to agroecology. To scale agroecological transitions, sectoral barriers have to be overcome. There is an urgent need to put a pronounced focus on the diversification of ecosystem services in commercial agriculture and degraded areas and on women’s contributions to sustainable farming.
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    A Framework for Reviewing Silvopastoralism: A New Zealand Hill Country Case Study
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-12-14) Mackay-Smith TH; Burkitt L; Reid J; López IF; Phillips C
    Silvopastoral systems can be innovative solutions to agricultural environmental degradation, especially in hilly and mountainous regions. A framework that expresses the holistic nature of silvopastoral systems is required so research directions can be unbiased and informed. This paper presents a novel framework that relates the full range of known silvopastoral outcomes to bio-physical tree attributes, and uses it to generate research priorities for a New Zealand hill country case study. Current research is reviewed and compared for poplar (Populus spp.), the most commonly planted silvopastoral tree in New Zealand hill country, and kānuka (Kunzea spp.), a novel and potentially promising native alternative. The framework highlights the many potential benefits of kānuka, many of which are underappreciated hill country silvopastoral outcomes, and draws attention to the specific outcome research gaps for poplar, despite their widespread use. The framework provides a formalised tool for reviewing and generating research priorities for silvopastoral trees, and provides a clear example of how it can be used to inform research directions in silvopastoral systems, globally.