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Sustainability Indicators for AR Beginners

Sustainability Indicators for AR Beginners. Peter Thorne International Livestock Research Institute Science Advisory Group – London 17 July, 2014. What do we need from our indicators?. SMART = Specific, Measureable, Accurate, Reliable, Time-bound.

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Sustainability Indicators for AR Beginners

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  1. Sustainability Indicators for AR Beginners Peter Thorne International Livestock Research Institute Science Advisory Group – London 17 July, 2014

  2. What do we need from our indicators? • SMART = Specific, Measureable, Accurate, Reliable, Time-bound. • But they have to practicable in the context of the Africa RISING projects. • Reliable means indicators that generate robust evidence that changes advocated are sustainability neutral / positive. • Time-bound is not just a word. To be practicable, our indicators must all be measureable over three years. • Probably OK for economic sustainability but robust evidence for environmental sustainability over three years? • Modeling sustainability?

  3. What dimensions of sustainability should our indicators address (PT)? • Soil OM% (Soil scientists say no as difficult to measure to timescale but total and active by POXC?). • Major soil nutrients (N, P and K%? Nutrient balances more measureable). • Soil water holding capacity (linked to Soil C and erosion). • Run off (potential?) / erosion losses (based on proxy indicators?). • Ground water recharge potential (irrigated systems). • Pressure on feed resources (livestock density as a proxy for this and environmental load? Is it comparable across systems?). • Livestock disease incidence. • Market potential / value. • Proportion of population exiting agriculture / outmigration (good or bad depends on context).

  4. Some further suggestions (IITA team + S. Snapp) … • Crop and/or livestock product yield gap reduction and yield per season (measurable over three years?). • Crop and / or livestock product harvested per year. • Key cycles (nutrients including carbon, erosion and water). • Below and above ground biodiversity (measureable over three years?). • Changes in organic and mineral fertilizer use. • Dietary diversity. • Stability of crop yields (temporal and spatial). • Adoption. • Soil texture -> Soil moisture holding capacity

  5. What next? • Do the indicators we are talking about fit the bill? • Have we missed any major areas (looks a bit light on social aspects to me)? • Agree the list of indicators that we will actually measure at our intervention sites. • Make sure that we have teams in place with the capacity to implement the measurements. • Agree responsibility for the collection, collation and analysis of indicator data.

  6. Thank You

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