Tag: Land Use
Challenging the Sustainability Narrative: Unveiling the hidden socioecological costs of plant-based alternatives.
This thesis investigates the hidden socio-ecological costs associated with plant-based alternatives, with a particular focus on avocados produced in Michoacán, Mexico. This study employs a convergent mixed-methods design using three distinct components: Lifecycle Analysis (LCA), Emergy Analysis (EmA) and Political Ecology (PE). The LCA revealed a carbon footprint of 5.96 kg CO₂e per 1kg avocado, placing avocado production on par with other high-impact animal food sources, such as poultry. The
Critical analysis of socio-natural dynamics driven by the agricultural commodity boom: the case of Hass avocado in northern Caldas, Colombia
This explanatory study investigates the expansion of Hass avocado plantations (HAP) and their transformative impact on the socio-natural dynamics in Salamina, Caldas, Colombia. The central research question—Why are Hass avocado plantations expanding and transforming the socio-natural dynamics in the Global South?—is addressed through a systematic approach grounded in interdisciplinary frameworks and methods. To address this overarching question, a robust theoretical framework was first developed
Gendered Land Use Decision-Making and Income Control in Avocado Farming: A Case Study of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
The growing demand for avocados in Tanzania has led to land reallocation and changes in agricultural practices, particularly in the Southern Highlands, where land is being increasingly dedicated to avocado farming. This study addresses the gap in the existing literature by investigating intra-household decision-making regarding land sales and allocations for avocado farming, as well as income management, with a focus on gender dynamics and their implications for gender equality. The study used an
Influence of Avocado Plantations as Driver of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Chile’s Aconcagua Basin
Land use and land cover (LULC) change is a dynamic process influenced by various factors, including agricultural expansion. In Chile’s Aconcagua Basin, avocado plantations are potentially driving territorial transformations. However, current land cover data lacks the resolution required to accurately assess this impact. Accordingly, our study used advanced geospatial analysis techniques to address this gap. Through a detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal changes, it was determined that
Optimizing Planting Densities of Avocado on the Basis of Long-Term Canopy Growth and Development at Melkassa, Ethiopia
There is a controversy regarding the spacing requirements of avocado varieties, different experts recommend varying planting densities for different varieties in different avocado growing countries, including Ethiopia. Each avocado variety has its own canopy stature, thus there is no spacing that fits all varieties. The canopy growth of different avocado varieties was recorded annually from a replicated plot of well-established trees, assuming that the tree canopy reached a maximum growth during
Proximity to natural habitat enhances flower visitor diversity and pollination services in avocado orchards
Insect pollination is known to increase avocado yields, with wild pollinators likely playing an important role. In central Chile, the rapid expansion of avocado orchards has resulted in highly diverse natural habitats being replaced by plantations, potentially negatively impacting wild pollinators and thus avocado production. This study aimed to understand the role of natural habitats and wild pollinators in avocado production by (1) exploring the relationship between flower visitor abundance and