Nature Inspiration, Imitation, and Emulation: Biomimicy Thinking Path to Sustainability in the Construction Industry
- Oguntona, Aanuoluwapo Olusegun, Aigbavboa, Ohis Clinton
- Authors: Oguntona, Aanuoluwapo Olusegun , Aigbavboa, Ohis Clinton
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Biomimicry , Biomimicry thinking , Built environment , Climate change , Nature , Sustainable construction , Sustainability
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/14385 , vital:79309 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1085979
- Description: The construction industry has been globally fingered as the major sector responsiblefor the continued deplorable state of the environment. The rising exploitation of thenatural environment by the sector decapacitates the function of theflora and faunato sustain life on earth. Therefore, the adoption and implementation of sustainabilityconcepts in the construction industry are imperative to reduce the sector’s negativeimpacts on the environment. The growingfield of biomimicry as a sustainabilityconcept has increased global interest and call to maximize the numerous benefitsoffered by nature. This article is aimed at exploring biomimicry potentials in solvinghuman challenges in a sustainable manner through responsible imitation, emulation,and drawing inspiration from nature. Thefirst part of this paper explores theconstruction industry with rapt attention to its positive and negative impact onthe human and natural environment. The second part provides a comprehensiveoverview of the biomimicry concept looking at its definitions, tenets, andsustainability standpoint...
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- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Oguntona, Aanuoluwapo Olusegun , Aigbavboa, Ohis Clinton
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Biomimicry , Biomimicry thinking , Built environment , Climate change , Nature , Sustainable construction , Sustainability
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/14385 , vital:79309 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1085979
- Description: The construction industry has been globally fingered as the major sector responsiblefor the continued deplorable state of the environment. The rising exploitation of thenatural environment by the sector decapacitates the function of theflora and faunato sustain life on earth. Therefore, the adoption and implementation of sustainabilityconcepts in the construction industry are imperative to reduce the sector’s negativeimpacts on the environment. The growingfield of biomimicry as a sustainabilityconcept has increased global interest and call to maximize the numerous benefitsoffered by nature. This article is aimed at exploring biomimicry potentials in solvinghuman challenges in a sustainable manner through responsible imitation, emulation,and drawing inspiration from nature. Thefirst part of this paper explores theconstruction industry with rapt attention to its positive and negative impact onthe human and natural environment. The second part provides a comprehensiveoverview of the biomimicry concept looking at its definitions, tenets, andsustainability standpoint...
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Climate smart soil management: a win-win response to climate change and food security challenges
- Authors: Mnkeni, Pearson
- Subjects: Food security , Population growth , Soil degration , Climate change , Global warming , Conservation agriculture , Organic materials
- Language: English
- Type: Inaugural lecture
- Identifier: vital:11980 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1011255 , Food security , Population growth , Soil degration , Climate change , Global warming , Conservation agriculture , Organic materials
- Description: Sub-Saharan Africa faces a major food security challenge as a result of projected fast increases in population growth and continuing declining per capita food availability. This calls for accelerated increases in productivity to meet expected increases in food demand. However, the soils from which the extra production is to come from are highly degraded, especially in South Africa where a large proportion of the land is ranked as having high degradation potential. This is compounded by the increasing climate change challenge which will render more land unfavourable for production. The climate change is mainly caused by global warming believed to be a result of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The link between soil carbon, food security, and climate change will be explained in this paper. It will be shown that the high degradation status of South African soils is related to their low organic carbon contents. Efforts to restore their productivity must include strategies to minimize further loss of organic matter and encouraging carbon sequestration. Some interventions investigated with the help of my students and collaborators are presented. They include use of farmer available organic materials that can be applied to soils to improve soil carbon sequestration and fertility status; use of cyanobacteria to improve soil carbon sequestration and soil biogeochemical performance; and the adoption of conservation agriculture.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mnkeni, Pearson
- Subjects: Food security , Population growth , Soil degration , Climate change , Global warming , Conservation agriculture , Organic materials
- Language: English
- Type: Inaugural lecture
- Identifier: vital:11980 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1011255 , Food security , Population growth , Soil degration , Climate change , Global warming , Conservation agriculture , Organic materials
- Description: Sub-Saharan Africa faces a major food security challenge as a result of projected fast increases in population growth and continuing declining per capita food availability. This calls for accelerated increases in productivity to meet expected increases in food demand. However, the soils from which the extra production is to come from are highly degraded, especially in South Africa where a large proportion of the land is ranked as having high degradation potential. This is compounded by the increasing climate change challenge which will render more land unfavourable for production. The climate change is mainly caused by global warming believed to be a result of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The link between soil carbon, food security, and climate change will be explained in this paper. It will be shown that the high degradation status of South African soils is related to their low organic carbon contents. Efforts to restore their productivity must include strategies to minimize further loss of organic matter and encouraging carbon sequestration. Some interventions investigated with the help of my students and collaborators are presented. They include use of farmer available organic materials that can be applied to soils to improve soil carbon sequestration and fertility status; use of cyanobacteria to improve soil carbon sequestration and soil biogeochemical performance; and the adoption of conservation agriculture.
- Full Text:
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