Articles
Ecosystem services of cacti: novel benefits in a climate-change scenario
Article number
1452_55
Pages
427 – 432
Language
English
Abstract
Global climate change has triggered warmer temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including drought.
Human population is increasing rapidly in developing regions of the world, most of them in semi-arid climates, exacerbating the need to produce food, fiber, and energy in these regions.
Cacti are adapted to dry areas, being able to grow and provide ecosystem services.
These services include fruits and vegetables for human consumption, fodder for livestock, erosion control, provision of habitat and feed for pollinators and wildlife, carbon sequestration, protection of plant species against herbivory and conserving biodiversity, biogas, and other uses in the cosmetic and medicinal industries.
Cacti have been planted across different regions of the world, but the area is still small, considering the potential.
Invasive cactus species has been a problem in some regions of the world with eradication efforts prevailing over the need to study potential uses while trying to eradicate these species and add value to local communities.
There are a few exceptions where invasive cactus species have been providing biomass for biogas in off-grid remote areas helping to reduce deforestation and used as fodder for livestock.
In the current scenario of warmer temperatures and increasing frequency of drought, cactus is a viable option to improve the livelihood and resilience of rural populations while providing ecosystem services that benefit the entire society.
Policy must be put in place to promote the use of cactus in drylands, learning from successful stories to establish future actions.
Human population is increasing rapidly in developing regions of the world, most of them in semi-arid climates, exacerbating the need to produce food, fiber, and energy in these regions.
Cacti are adapted to dry areas, being able to grow and provide ecosystem services.
These services include fruits and vegetables for human consumption, fodder for livestock, erosion control, provision of habitat and feed for pollinators and wildlife, carbon sequestration, protection of plant species against herbivory and conserving biodiversity, biogas, and other uses in the cosmetic and medicinal industries.
Cacti have been planted across different regions of the world, but the area is still small, considering the potential.
Invasive cactus species has been a problem in some regions of the world with eradication efforts prevailing over the need to study potential uses while trying to eradicate these species and add value to local communities.
There are a few exceptions where invasive cactus species have been providing biomass for biogas in off-grid remote areas helping to reduce deforestation and used as fodder for livestock.
In the current scenario of warmer temperatures and increasing frequency of drought, cactus is a viable option to improve the livelihood and resilience of rural populations while providing ecosystem services that benefit the entire society.
Policy must be put in place to promote the use of cactus in drylands, learning from successful stories to establish future actions.
Authors
J.C.B. Dubeux, K.T. Oduor, W. Owino, M.V. Cunha, A. Siebert
Keywords
cactus, dryland, Opuntia, semi-arid
Groups involved
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