Environmental Risks in Countryside Gabriela Alonso Šárka Caklová Hana Majzúnová Maxim Srna Agenda Topics covered introduction types of env. hazards case study prevention and mitigation final activity than national government or the European Union Rural residents trust more local authorities providing 11% of employment compared to 1% in urban areas Primary sector plays important role while younger and working age population is decreasing Rural regions are ageing faster Distinct Environmental Vulnerabilities of Rural vs. Urban Areas leaves rural areas less resilient to shocks Limited access to funding and policy support like pollination and pests control directly affecting livelihoods Loss of ecosystem services Decline in biodiversity negatively affects the mental health of residents Distinct Environmental Vulnerabilities of Rural vs. Urban Areas Settin the stage for final activity serving a key role in local food supply chain Local farmers representing The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Government officials concerned about their families and properties Local residents from regional environmental NGO Environmental activists Types of environmental hazards Water pollution and scarcity Presence in water of harmful and objectionable material - obtained from sewers, industrial wastes and rainwater run-off - in sufficient concentrations to make it unfit for use. (EEA) When water is available but innacesible due to financial, institutional or infrastuctural constrains. Economic scarcity When natural water resources are insufficient to meet the demand of the population. Pysical scarcity The Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia are highlighted as they are facing critical water scarcity and pollution challenges (World Resources Institute, 2019). When the pollutants are identifiable and distinguished from others. Point Water Pollution Non- point Water Pollution When the pollutant is unknown or there is not a single and concrete source. Main pollution sources: Agricultural Runoff: Nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers contaminate water. Industrial Discharges: Release of heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Improper Waste Disposal: Lack of sanitation infrastructure leads to microbial contamination Apart from direct dumping into streams, lakes and oceans, there may also be accidental discharges of solid or liquid substances into water bodies. These include oil leakage, seepages etc. Others: Groundwater pollution Urbanization Sediment pollution due to runoffs Saltwater intrusion Consequences: The majority of the rural population suffers from mild to severe carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health impacts due to water pollution. Water pathogens are one of the major threats to human health in rural areas, causing diseases such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, diarrhea, and skin infection. Ecosystem damage and loss of biodiversity : Pollutants disrupt freshwater ecosystems, threatening aquatic life and suffering from toxins and reduced oxygen levels. What is more, the creation of algal bloom Soil degradation A change in soil health status resulting in a diminished capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods and services for its beneficiaries (FAO, 2020) Decreased microbial activity due to biochemicals. It reduces yields and makes land less amenable to crop. Biological Changes in soil chemistry by synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It diminishes plant nutrition, declines beneficial microbes and the pH of the ground shifts. Chemical Mainly climate change. It decreases land productivity. Ecological Loss of fertile topsoil due to physical impacts (floods, surface runoff, winds and storms, heavy machinery use). It harms soil fertility, composition, and structure. Physical Types: Such as deforestation, industrial agriculture or urbanization. Human activities Six soil degradation processes Linked to agriculture: erosion, organic carbon decline, soil biodiversity decline, compaction, contamination, and salinization and sodification. Soil erosion is considered to be the main and the most widespread process of soil degradation. This process can be natural or accelerated by human activity. Soil erosion affects 2 billion hectares of land, threatening food security and biodiversity (UNCCD, 2019). It is reported that 80% of the extreme poor live in rural areas and 65% work in the agricultural sector. Consequences: Loss of topsoil and crop yields: Decreasing levels of quality and quantity of crops yields. Inadequate agriculture practices are culpable for the loss of topsoil and destruction of soil characteristics. Polluted waterways: Soil eroded from the land, along with the pesticides and fertilizers, washes into streams and waterways. This sedimentation damage freshwater, marine habitats and the local communities that depend on them, resulting in environmental migration. Increased Flooding: When lands are transformed, the converted land is less able to soak up water, making flooding more common. Air pollution Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. (WHO) Main causes: Agricultural activities, such as cultivating, harvesting, and grain handling release various pollutants, especially of particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3) Agricultural burning is faster and cheaper compared to other methods. However, this practice emits different airborne pollutants, including Particulate Matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), raising concerns about air quality and human health. Transportation: As rural regions expand and more vehicles are used, the levels of air pollutants increase significantly. Key factors contributing to transportation-related air pollution include vehicle emissions and road or highway infrastructure expansion. Vehicles powered by petrol and diesel engines emit a range of harmful pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ) Not all air pollution comes from human activity, sand and dust storms produce PM2.5 pollution, wildfires PM along with CO and NOx and volcanoes release NH3 and SO2 during eruptions. Main Pollutants: Nitrogen oxides Particular matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) Toxic Organic Micropollutants (TOMPS) Benzene Carbon monoxide Lead and heavy metals In Europe, agricultural activities cause approximately 90% of ammonia emissions and 80% of methane emissions. Consequences Health Risks: Particulate Matter penetrates into the lungs, causing respiratory illnesses, and prolonged exposure can increase the risk of premature deaths, especially among children and the elderly. 1. Environmental impacts: Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the burning crop residues exacerbate global warming. Also, a component of PM can accelerate the melting of glaciers. 1. Ecosystem Impacts: Airborne pollutants contribute to biodiversity loss.1. Agricultural Pollution Agricultural pollution is defined as the phenomena of damage, contamination and degradation of environment and ecosystem, and health hazards due to the by-products of farming practices. Agricultural activities are one of the sources of pollution of soil and water that contributes to environmental degradation. Fertilizer use increased from 27 million tons in 1960 to 190 million tons in 2015 (FAO, 2015). Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, which are essential for modern farming, pose risks to soil and water systems. This dependency introduces excessive nitrogen and phosphorus into ecosystems, leading to widespread degradation. Main Causes Chemical Runoff Excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers that to nutrient overloads. Livestock Waste Burning of Crop Residues Consequences Eutrophication: Reduces oxygen and disrupts aquatic life. Water pollution Soil Degradation and erosion: Reduce microbial diversity. Soil Acidification: Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers alters soil pH, reducing productivity Health Risks: Contaminated drinking water can lead to diseases. Also, pesticide contamination is linked to cancers and neurological disorders. Climate-Related Hazards Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves have intensified due to climate change and accelerated by every hazard above. These events disproportionately affect rural areas reliant on natural resources. Ecosystems will become more fragile and sensitive and their function and structure will change. Health Risks: Increasing malnutrition and hunger, reduced water availability, mental health impacts. Disruption of food and clean water supply poses greater risk for gastrointestinal infections and malnutrition among children. These hazards can also bring social and economic disruptions such as problems of access to health care. Migration: Climate refugees increase while rural areas become uninhabitable. Consequences: In most situations, a combination of natural and human factors contribute to the development of hazards. Main causes: Climate-related risks and extreme events are often more visible in low- and middle-income countries, where adaptation capacities are limited. Chaudhry, F. N., & Malik, M. F. (2017). Factors affecting water pollution: a review. J. Ecosyst. Ecography, 7(1), 225-231. Tzanakakis, V. A., Paranychianakis, N. V., & Angelakis, A. N. (2020). Water supply and water scarcity. Water, 12(9), 2347. FAO, 2015. Agroecology to Reverse Soil Degradation and Achieve Food Security. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Dragović, N., & Vulević, T. (2020). Soil degradation processes, causes, and assessment approaches. In Life on land (pp. 928-939). Cham: Springer International Publishing. Lal, R. (2009). Soil degradation as a reason for inadequate human nutrition. Food Security, 1, 45-57. Land Degradation, Poverty and Inequality. (2019). United Nations (UNCCD). https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/documents/2020- 09/200909_08_Brief%20note%20–%20Poverty%20and%20Inequality.pdf Shi, T., Liu, Y., Zhang, L., Hao, L., & Gao, Z. (2014). Burning in agricultural landscapes: an emerging natural and human issue in China. Landscape Ecology, 29, 1785-1798. Borghi, F., Spinazzè, A., De Nardis, N., Straccini, S., Rovelli, S., Fanti, G., ... & Brovelli, M. A. (2023). Studies on Air Pollution and Air Quality in Rural and Agricultural Environments: A Systematic Review. Environments, 10(12), 208. Krzyzanowski, M., Kuna-Dibbert, B., & Schneider, J. (Eds.). (2005). Health effects of transport-related air pollution. WHO Regional Office Europe. Abbasi, A., Sajid, A., Haq, N., Rahman, S., Misbah, Z. T., Sanober, G., ... & Kazi, A. G. (2014). Agricultural pollution: an emerging issue. Improvement of Crops in the Era of Climatic Changes: Volume 1, 347-387. Christenson, E., Elliott, M., Banerjee, O., Hamrick, L., & Bartram, J. (2014). Climate-related hazards: A method for global assessment of urban and rural population exposure to cyclones, droughts, and floods. International journal of environmental research and public health, 11(2), 2169- 2192. Bobrowsky, P. T. (Ed.). (2013). Encyclopedia of natural hazards(Vol. 1135). Dordrecht: Springer. Sources case study: Šardice Dr. Ing. Petr Marada erosion wind storm land not able to hold water natural disaster, floods 28 ha of extensive orchards, 22 ha of arable land, 6 ha of wooded land, 14 ha of landscape elements 2022 2004 -2007 keywords: the importance of knowledge of local conditions. agricultural land that is difficult to cultivate transformed to other landscape elements – orchards, wetlands, ponds. retention and accumulation of rainwater. biodiversity. the return of native wild plants. semi-natural farming. nature enjoyable not only for animals, but also for people. Briefly elaborate on what you want to discuss. Add a main point wetlands 2001 -2003 04-07 10-12 13-15 16-18 19-21 2022 Sources×Seznam.cz maps https://os-pro-prirodu-a-myslivost.webnode.cz/fotogalerie/ ×https://www.adapterraawards.cz/cs/Demonstracni-ekofarma-Petra-Marady ×https://jihomoravske.zelenenoviny.cz/sardice-zalozili-biocentrum/ ×https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/ekonomika/promeny-ceska/sardice-stale-vzpominaji-na-dulni-tragedii-dnes-uz-se-ale- ob/r~c29d9deaa0aa11eda873ac1f6b220ee8/ ×https://www.ziva-puda.cz/blog/Resuscitace-krajiny-podle-Petra-Marady ×https://www.adapterraawards.cz/cs/Prevence-povodni-v-krajine-Sardic ×https://ekolist.cz/cz/publicistika/rozhovory/nepestuju-kukurici-pro-bioplynky.mou-plodinou-je-zdrava-a-zelena-krajina-rika- petr-marada ×https://denikn.cz/425024/vraci-do-krajiny-mokrady-a-meze-plati-to-z-dotaci-delam-sluzbu-statu-popisuje-jihomoravsky- zemedelec/ ×https://www.smscr.cz/o-sms-cr/kalendar-akci/jak-vratit-zivot-do-krajiny-priklady-dobre-praxe-adaptace-na-klimatickou- zmenu-3831_374cs.html ×https://www.reflex.cz/clanek/archiv/103429/hvezdy-reflexu-soukromy-zemedelec-a-vysokoskolsky-pedagog-petr-marada- konec-sucha.html# ×https://ekolist.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/zpravy/v-moravskem-toskansku-chybela-rozmanitost-rika-zemedelec-marada × https://archiv.hn.cz/c1-66739900-jihomoravsky-kraj-z-dotaci-buduje-tune-a-sazi-stromy Mitigation and solutions Sustainable agricultural practises crop rotation, biological pest control and many more... intercroppingno tillage “farming that meets the needs of existing and future generations, while also ensuring profitability, environmental health and social and economic equity” Regenerative farming way of farming that focuses on the health and recovery of the soil through this actions: 1. minimal soil movement 2. year-round ground cover, ideally with living roots 3. increasing the amount of the water and carbon in the soil 4. integrating animals (animals in the fields…) What is it? few steps further than organic The initiative “4 per 1000” If the level of carbon stored by soils in the top 30 to 40 cm of soil increased by 0.4% (or 4‰) per year, the annual increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere would be significantly reduced. Example: cooperative in Krakovany: 30 - 45 tonnes (average czech person - CO2 per capita produce (included fossil fuels and industry, not land -use change) produces 7,9 t CO2 per year Tip for you Community-based conservation initiatives reforestation projects community clean-up projects wildlife conservation Reforestation initiatives Why are the reforestation initiatives that POPULAR? FAO: we are losing 10 million hectares of forest a year forests store carbon, support biodiversity, provide shelter, food, medicine, nutrients, and building materials Can it be a problem? 1. often monoculture and non-native species plantations 2. there is a big importance in the mix of tree species ages 3. restoring a landscape by tree planting can skip stages of ecological succession 4. missing care in following periods of time Government and policy interventions A.) the cultivation of intercrops (e.g. ryegrass, peas) on standard arable land B.) the establishment of areas with various plant species suitable for pollinating insects and the establishment of bio belts - compliance with organic farming conditions is also financed in the same way EU (100) CZ: COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY 2023-2027 - In addition to basic area payment, there is: B.) the small farmers' payment (payment for maximum of 4 hectares of farmland for farms up to 10 hectares in size) C.) the additional redistributive income support for sustainability (for all applicants for a maximum area of 150 hectares of cultivated land) D.) eco-payment (focusing on landscape care and conservation of natural resources) are newly introduced EU (65) + CZ (35) 18,6 bil. CZK 98 bil. CZK EU Rural action plan (2023) for rural communities, rural project holders and local authorities -Between 2021 and 2024 the Commission financed a total of over 60 projects contributing directly to rural areas for a budget of EUR 253 million - The funded projects mainly come from A.) Cluster 6 (Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment), B.) Cluster 2 (Culture, creativity and inclusive society), C.) Cluster 5 (Climate, energy and mobility). New EU Regulation on minimum requirements for wastewater reuse (2023) - the main drivers: water shortage and droughts in Europe - examples: 1. The regulation defines the following approved crops for agricultural irrigation with treated municipal wastewater: f. e. Food crops consumed raw, i.e., intended for human consumption in an unprocessed state (Class A, B and C), Pastures and forage (Class B and C) Industrial, energy and seeded crops (Class D) Sources A.) images: https://protrakker.com/images/field-applications/no-till.jpg https://www.agronomy.org/files/images/news/maize-and-chilli-intercropping-800x600.jpg https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts- production/sites/154135/images/OasNALzfQOi1bRLdtCUl_Permaculture_Zoning_Blog_SEO_Image_1280x720.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/603948a2d3a5756718cb3a68/673cf766-71b2-4f0c-87fe-08f8342140de/comparison+image+REGEN+AG.jpeg https://www.saltspringcoffee.com/cdn/shop/articles/common_ground_photo.jpg?v=1727901365&width=2048 https://images.prismic.io/mossyearth/8510208a-70c3-4889-be2e-08ce32082460_river+ecosystem.jpg? auto=compress,format https://www.earthday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/thumbnail_NewsUpdates-300x200@2x.jpeg https://images.stockcake.com/public/a/d/e/aded2856-0dd6-42d0-899af8bcfe7ee315_large/tree-planting-activity-stockcake.jpg https://www.forestryfocus.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NI-XMAS-general-view1.jpg https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2021-10/eu-regions-week-ltvra-event_1000x500_en_0.jpg B.) text: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/beginners-guide-sustainable-farming https://eos.com/blog/sustainable-agriculture/ https://www.regezem.cz/ https://faktaoklimatu.cz/explainery/zdravi-pudy-degradace#fn:ritchie-2021 https://www.mossy.earth/rewilding-knowledge/tree-planting-done-wrong https://www.asz.cz/clanek/10649/zemedelske-dotace-prispeji-k-lepsimu-hospodareni-s-prirodnimi-zdroji-a-k-peci-o-prirodu-a-krajinu/ https://mze.gov.cz/public/portal/-q305483---lB- J6QC0/spolecna-zemedelska-politika https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions https://rural-vision.europa.eu/action-plan/stronger_en https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/summary-european-unions-regulation-agricultural-water-reuse https://4p1000.org/discover/?lang=en https://www.pdkrakovany.sk/preco-regenerativne/ Final activity A small Slovak village nestled in a picturesque valley on northern border with Czech Republic, has been experiencing increasingly severe floods over the past decade. The floods destroy farmland, damage homes, and disrupt livelihoods. Residents have observed that floods are more frequent and intense than in previous generations, with water levels rising dangerously even after moderate rainfall. Model scenario Local context Deforestation in the nearby mountains to expand agricultural and logging activities has reduced the land’s ability to absorb rainfall. Poor land-use management, including intensive monoculture farming on floodplains, has worsened soil erosion and reduced the landscape's water retention capacity. A lack of infrastructure, such as flood barriers or drainage systems, leaves the village illprepared to cope with high water volumes. Sources for introduction and final activity PAGNON, J., MIDLER, E.: Environmental threats to rural areas. Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2022. [online]. [2024-25- 11]. Dostupné na: . REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS: The long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas: key achievements and ways forward, 2024. [online]. [2024-25-11]. Dostupné na: . VOJTEK, M.: Indicator-based approach for fluvial flood risk assessment at municipal level in Slovakia. In Scientific Reports, 2024. [online]. [2024-25-11]. Dostupné na: . Thank you!