Yonas Derebe

Although food security has been a long-standing focus of research and policy in China, significant gaps remain in synthesizing evolving debates across multiple disciplines such as agriculture, economics, environmental science, and politics. This systematic review provides an interdisciplinary analysis of five key areas shaping contemporary discourses on Chinese food security: (1) balancing self-sufficiency with trade dependence; (2) reconciling agricultural intensification with environmental sustainability; (3) addressing urbanization’s impact on small-scale agriculture transformation; (4) enhancing resilience to climate change through targeted investments and policies; and (5) improving food safety standards to meet growing consumer concerns. This review harnesses insights from global academic databases—including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar—to map interdisciplinary debates on Chinese food security, synthesizing peer-reviewed studies and policy reports from 2010 to 2024. Drawing upon empirical evidence from recent studies, this review highlights critical tensions, such as those between economic growth priorities and ecological preservation, and explores pathways for sustainable development within China’s unique socio-political context. The findings underscore that robust food security strategies must integrate diverse perspectives while adapting to emerging challenges such as climate change impacts and shifting consumer demands. To ensure sustainable outcomes, future policies should prioritize inclusivity by incorporating insights from ongoing research agendas across disciplines. This review can be used as a benchmark for the advancement of research agendas focused on developing sustainable solutions to the complex challenges of food security in China and beyond.

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants is vital to local communities and cultural heritage, particularly in Ethiopia. This study aims to document native medicinal plants in the Jawi district, including associated traditional knowledge. The study involved conducting semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field walks with a purposefully selected 54 traditional healers. The study identified 87 medicinal plant species from 50 families used treat over 50 ailments, with a preference for wild herbs. Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Solanaceae were the most prominent families, each with five species; Zehneria scabra, was the most often mentioned species, followed by Lepidium sativum, Myrica salicifolia, Carissa spinarum, and Momordica foetida. 43% of identified species were herbs, with 44% of remedies made from roots. Pounding was the most common preparation method, and oral application was the most frequent use, followed by dermal application. 60% plants treated human ailments, 16% treated livestock, and 24% were used for both. Preference rankings indicated specific plants favored for certain ailments. The study highlights key plant families and species crucial for local healthcare but notes threats like habitat destruction and knowledge loss. Urgent conservation actions are needed to preserve medicinal plants and inform future research and strategies.

Natural forests are crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, but deforestation and degradation challenges highly reduce their value. This study evaluates the potential of natural forest carbon stock and the influence of management interventions on enhancing forest carbon storage capacity. Based on forest area cover, a study was conducted in nine purposely selected forest patches across various forest ecosystems. Data on diameter, height, and environmental variables from various forest management approaches were collected and analyzed with R Ver. 4.1. The findings revealed a substantial difference (p .029) in carbon stock between environmental variables and management interventions. The findings revealed a strong connection between environmental variables and the overall pool of carbon stock within forest patches (p .029). Carbon stocks were highest in the Moist‐montane forest ecosystem (778.25 ton/ha), moderate slope (1019.5 ton/ha), lower elevation (614.50 ton/ha), southwest‐facing (800.1 ton/ha) and area exclosures (993.2 ton/ha). Accordingly, natural forests, particularly unmanaged parts, are sensitive to anthropogenic stresses, decreasing their ability to efficiently store carbon. As a result, the study highlighted the importance of sustainable forest management, particularly area exclosures and participatory forest management, in increasing forest carbon storage potential.

Festuca grass, a multipurpose and vital resource, is experiencing crises of sustainability and degradation due to increased demand and mismanagement. Through a survey research approach, this study aimed to develop sustainable management and utilization strategies for Festuca grass. We employed purposive and random sampling techniques for data collection, focusing on the Festuca grass potential in Borena‐Sayint Worehimenu National Park. Interviews, key informant surveys, focus group discussions, and field observations were also conducted. We employed quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques to ensure a comprehensive approach to deriving insights from the collected data. The findings indicate that Festuca grass has a lifespan of two to four years and fully matures within two years. Products derived from Festuca grass vary according to the maturity level. The results also highlight the demand for Festuca grass and the potential availability of market demand. Harvesting frequency, inappropriate management practices, biased resource sharing, and unauthorized exploitation are basic challenges related to grass resource sustainability. The establishment of certified user groups, domestication of private stocks, revision of resource‐sharing protocols, and periodic monitoring are among the possible potential strategic utilization options identified by user groups. A modified strategic framework for the sustainable management and utilization of Festuca grass was developed. This framework outlines four dominant management clusters that are interconnected with each other. Sustainable management of Festuca grass contributes to both environmental conservation and community wellbeing. It advocates for inclusive, community‐based approaches that balance ecological preservation with socioeconomic needs. The sustainability of Festuca grass resources is precarious and could face a significant decline or total loss if the current management practices remain unchanged in the coming decades. To ensure the effective utilization and management of Festuca grass, it is imperative to implement periodic resource monitoring, conduct stakeholder meetings, and apply a sustainable management framework. The responsibility for sustaining Festuca grass resources lies with governmental organizations, academic and research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, professional associations, and user communities.

Due to anthropogenic pressures, Ethiopian Afromontane forests, particularly Lewi Mountain and Wetland, are threatened and require urgent restoration planning and implementation. However, there is a lack of scientific baseline information to provide efficient restoration planning and implementation. Thus, this scientific research is being conducted to evaluate the condition of the vegetation and soil properties, specific to environmental variability in the study area. The study area was stratified as a natural forest patch, plantation stands, and wetland, and transect lines were established at a distance of 200 m across the elevation. The 0.04-ha plots were established at transects with a distance of 200 m. The biophysical and environmental data were collected and analyzed at each plot using descriptive and inferential statistics. The vegetation and soil parameters of natural forest patches, slopes, aspects, and elevation gradients vary considerably (p 0.029). The natural forest patches, gentle slopes, lower elevations, and northeast-facing gradients had the largest species diversity (1.7–2.4) and carbon stock (1105.9 tons ha⁻¹). At the natural forest patch, there was significant human and livestock disturbance (3) and sporadic vegetation cover (< 50%). Natural forest patches and plantation stands had the best textural proportion, organic carbon (2.5–2.63%), total nitrogen (0.22–0.23%), available phosphorus (27.9 ppm), and available potassium (11.3–12.9 ppm). The study discovered that the soil and vegetation state at Lewi Mountain and the wetland fluctuated in response to environmental changes, necessitating restoration design and implementation tailored to environmental variability. This data is critical as a foundation for local, national, and international ecological restoration agents.

Bohor reedbuck is a medium-sized, even-toed ungulate species endemic to Africa. Its population is gradually declining, and an estimation of Meta populations is required to determine its current population status and as an input for conservation action. To this end, this study aimed to investigate this species’ population size and diurnal activity patterns in the compound of Alage Agricultural College, Central rift valley of Ethiopia. A total count was conducted to determine the population size of Bohor reedbuck by dividing the study area into different blocks. Continuous focal animal observations were used to collect data on activity patterns by recording group activities with five minutes intervals. The results revealed that the mean population size of Bohor reedbuck counted during the study period was (SE) with a density of 1.74 per km². Females formed the dominant group in the population. From the mean total population size of Bohor reedbucks, 47.42% were adults. The mean group size of Bohor reedbuck was (SE). Feeding (, 45.81%) was the dominant mean diurnal activity pattern of Bohor reedbuck, followed by Resting (, 31.91%), whereas grooming (, 3.51%) was the least performed activity. There was a significant difference between the diurnal activities performed by Bohor reedbuck (). The studied compound is an important refuge for this species, and minimum management interference can increase the population size of Bohor reedbuck in the area.

Birds are the most widespread vertebrate group, as they can be found in practically every type of habitat. However, lack of knowledge on bird ecology in Afrotropical highlands and bird habitat degradation are the main problems that is why this research was studied. The study was conducted in Awi zone, Amhara National Regional State with the objective of the diversity and relative abundance of bird species in the two habitat types of Dokima forest in Awi zone, Ethiopia. Between November 2018 and December 2020, the transect method was conducted in both dry and wet seasons. Using one-way ANOVA, the effect of seasons and habitats on species richness and abundance was investigated and compared. In both the dry and wet seasons, a total of 2233 individuals, 47 species belonging to 35 families, and 14 orders were recorded. The abundance of bird species was not statistically differed between habitat types in the dry season, but it was statistically significantly in the wet season. The mean abundance of bird species differed significantly between the dry and wet seasons. In the dry season, the forest habitat type had the highest species diversity index (H’ = 3.18) and the highest evenness (J = 0.94), while in the wet season, the forest habitat type had the highest evenness (J = 0.94). These habitats must be conserved in order to protect the birds that live in the area.