Farmers’ Views of Soil Erosion Problems and their Conservation Knowledge at Beressa Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Farmers’ decisions to conserve natural resources generally and soil and water particularly are largely determined by their knowledge of the problems and perceived benefits of conservation. In Ethiopia, however, farmer perceptions of erosion problems and farmer conservation practices have received little analysis or use in conservation planning. This research examines farmers’ views of erosion problems and their conservation knowledge and practices in the Beressa watershed in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Data were obtained from a survey of 147 farm households managing 713 fields during the 2002/2003 cropping season. In-depth interviews and group discussions were also held with the farmers to obtain additional information. The results show that 72% of the farmers reported erosion problems, and they recognized that conservation was necessary. However, they considered erosion to be severe mostly when visible signs – rills and gullies – appeared on their fields. The majority of the farmers believe that erosion could be halted, and they use a range of practices for erosion control and fertility improvement. These include contour plowing (83%), drainage ditches (82%), and stone terraces/bunds (73%). Nevertheless, despite decades of conservation intervention in the area, it appears that most farmers have developed negative attitudes towards externally recommended measures. The research concludes that under the conditions present in the Ethiopian central highlands, soil and water conservation interventions should consider farmers’ conservation knowledge and practices to improve acceptance and adoption of the recommendations. Aklilu Amsalu is a lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies of Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is currently doing his PhD research on best land management practices in highland watershed management in Ethiopia in the Department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Jan de Graaff is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation Group of Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. His expertise is on impact assessment and economic evaluation of soil and water conservation.     

河南省榛子资源及其开发利用

我国榛子资源十分丰富,但基本上处于利用野生资源的状况,人工栽种面积较小。本文介绍了河南省分布的6种榛子资源,并提出了开发利用的方法。     

海南山栏稻种质资源的保护与利用

山栏稻是黎族人民二千多年原始的刀耕火种农耕文化延续下来的稻种,是宝贵的遗传资源,但这一资源面临濒危,亟需保护。本文综述山栏稻种质资源保护和利用研究进展,分析了目前存在的问题,并提出保护和利用的建议。     

基于Web自然资源信息采集编辑系统的构建与应用

采用动态网页技术,结合SQL Server数据库技术建立基于Web自然资源信息采集编辑系统,以实现自然资源相关信息的输入、编辑、审核与查询.系统能对用户进行权限分配,将每一用户的操作自动生成日志,具有数据导出等功能.从实际运行效果看,系统较好地满足了多人不同地点同时进行自然资源信息的收集与审校工作.     

Prehispanic changes in wetland topography and their implications to past and future wetland agriculture at Laguna Mandinga,Veracruz, Mexico

We report core stratigraphy and chronology that explains the diachronic history of the surface in a prehispanic wetland agricultural complex of planting platforms and canals at Mandinga, central Veracruz, Mexico. Using recognizable stratigraphic horizons, elevations of prehistoric surfaces were measured for the wetland prior to the construction of platforms and canals, immediately following construction, at the time of abandonment, and of the present-day surface. Significant topographic and hydrological changes are evident. We discuss our results in the light of prehispanic water management and cultivation and postulate water storage within the wetland, a patchy management of water and cultivation, and variable productivity. The paper ends with a discussion of the lessons that can be learned when contemplating contemporary cultivation of wetlands. In addition to the environmental concerns, we emphasize the need to consider the physical, socio-economic, and political contexts in which contemporary wetland agriculture would have to operate.     

Gender,ethnicity, and economic status in plant management: Uncultivated edible plants among the Nahuas and Popolucas of Veracruz,Mexico

Uncultivated plants are an important part of agricultural systems and play a key role in the survival of rural marginalized groups such as women, children, and the poor. Drawing on the gender, environment, and development literature and on the notion of women’s social location, this paper examines the ways in which gender, ethnicity, and economic status determine women’s roles in uncultivated plant management in Ixhuapan and Ocozotepec, two indigenous communities of Veracruz, Mexico. The first is inhabited by Nahua and the second by Popoluca peoples. Information was gathered through group and individual interviews and a food frequency survey. Results show that the gender ideology prevailing in each community, resulting from distinct ethnic affiliations and economic contexts, shapes women’s plant management. In Ixhuapan, Nahua women are used to leaving their community to generate income, while in Ocozotepec men are considered the main breadwinners and are the mediators between Popoluca households and the larger society. Nahua women gather quelites at the cornfields more often than their men, and more often than their female counterparts in Ocozotepec. They also manage and sell plants from their homegardens at higher percentages than Popoluca women. However, women in both communities use intensely the plants of their homegardens and play a key role in biodiversity conservation and cultural permanence.

自然冷资源保鲜库自控系统设计及应用

介绍了一种基于虚拟仪器的自然冷资源保鲜库温度、湿度自控系统的设计应用。利用自然冷资源保鲜具有安全、方便、节能等优点。虚拟仪器技术是计算机技术、数字信号处理技术、总线技术和软件工程方法的综合。采用虚拟仪器技术自动控制自然冷资源保鲜库的环境参数简单易行,控制参数准确可靠,能有效提高果品和蔬菜保鲜品质。     

食品天然色素的特点、分类及发展前景

食用天然色素是一种天然食品添加剂,具有广阔的应用前景。文章对食品天然色素的特点、研究、分类及发展前景等进行了详细的综述。     

生态资源经济化:中国天然林保护策略的选择

在经济生态化的背景下,天然林资源保护意义重大.从天然林保护概述入手,分析了天然林资源保护与经济生态化的关系,指出天然林资源保护是环境与发展的重要前提,而经济生态化是环境与发展的明智选择.通过分析国外天然林保护的经验,认为生态资源经济化是中国天然林保护策略的选择,并以四川省为案例,分析了天然林生态资源经济化的必要性和可能性,主要表现在天然林资源保护已基本达成共识,公众的生态环境意识开始增强和天然林保护地区居民对经济来源的渴望等方面.在此基础上,提出了实现天然林生态资源经济化的关键:改变人类的思想观念和行为,建立伙伴合作机制,制定有利于天然林生态资源经济化的政策等.表4参13     

福建省自然资源和地理空间基础信息库林业海量数据整合改造研究

自然资源与地理空间基础信息数据库的建设,对于促进空间信息基础设施标准化和信息资源整合具有重要意义。该文以福建省森林资源规划调查数据库为基础,介绍了福建省自然资源和地理空间基础信息库林业海量数据整合改造研究的技术路线和方法。     

长白山区天然资源保护与开发研究动态

概述了长白山区的自然概况和生物、旅游、矿产等资源概况以及保护与开发现状，并就国内长白山区天然资源的研究动态进行了简述。     

河南省常用药用植物资源的保护与利用研究

在系统分析河南省常用药用植物的野生及栽培种类和主产区的基础上,从“可持续发展”的角度提出了我省药用植物资源保护的战略对策,以及药用植物资源有效利用的主要途径,旨在为河南省中药材现代化、规模化、市场化和产业化发展奠定基础。     

我国地方畜禽品种的遗传资源多样性保护

我国地方畜禽遗传资源丰富,产品开发潜力巨大。本文介绍了我国地方畜禽品种的优点及对其遗传资源进行鉴定与评价,并详细阐述了地方畜禽遗传资源的保护理论与方法。     

自然保护区资源的分类管理研究

通过近50a的发展，我国的自然保护事业有了长足的发展，但由于经费不足，自然保护区普遍开展了开发活动，出现了无序、违反生态规律的掠夺式开发。这直接导致了生态环境的破坏和部分自然资源的枯竭。为妥善解决自然保护区资源保护与开发的矛盾，按照自然保护区资源的特点，提出了自然保护区资源的有形资源、无形资源分类方法，并阐述了无形资源无形性、资产性、垄断性、利用的长期性、价值的不确定性和内涵的发展性等特征。以天目山国家级自然保护区为例提出了自然保护区无形资源常见类型：名称、动植物种质资源、景观视觉欣赏、自然声音和森林精气等。根据自然保护区有形资源价值无限，无形资源价值量化的思路，提出了有形资源资源性管理和无形资源资产化管理的思路。图1参21     

南洋楹种质资源收集保存与评价

通过10余年来对南洋楹种质资源的引进及保存研究,收集来自国内外的32份优良种质资源,并进行育苗造林保存试验。结果表明,2.5年生林分群体平均树高5.22 m、平均胸径7.09 cm,平均保存率88.16％;不同品系间树高、胸径、材积均存在极显著差异（P＜0.01）;采用谱系聚类法将32个品系分为3个生长类型,其中第Ⅰ类为速生型,包括CK、Y4、C2、Y3、Y7、C9、N2,比群体平均材积大15.2％-41.6％,持有良好的遗传基础和适生稳定性,可经过进一步观察验证后推广应用。     

铜川市水保生态建设模式探讨

以位于黄土高原上的陕西省铜川市的水土流失与治理为研究对象,运用水土保持理论知识,探讨社会主义市场经济条件下,适宜当地自然、社会经济条件的水保生态建设模式。     

西藏林芝地区生态旅游资源基本特征与吸引向性评价

在实际调查的基础上,分析了西藏自治区林芝地区生态旅游资源数量丰富、类型齐全、特色突出、品位高和组合条件好的基本特征,将生态旅游资源分为国际、国内和省内吸引向性,并根据林芝地区主要生态旅游景区资源独特性、国家旅游资源评价标准以及旅游客源市场分析,提出了林芝地区主要生态旅游资源吸引向性的模糊分级。结合实际,建议林芝地区的旅游开发要立足国际市场,以开辟1~2条国际旅游黄金线路,以及创建国家级乃至世界级旅游精品为目标,吸引更多的海内外旅游者到林芝地区观光旅游。图1表2参15     

吉林省自然环境条件与农作物布局的调整

论述了吉林省的自然环境条件,指出了作物布局的调整原则,即考虑充分利用自然优势,因地制宜;有利于建立合理作物生态结构;市场需求的原则。将吉林省分为东部稻豆、中草药、山野菜特区,中部玉米带生产区和西部粮油糖产区。并提出各区的作物布局指标。     

Trade and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Totomoxtle</Emphasis>: Livelihood strategies in the Totonacan region of Veracruz,Mexico

Following the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexican farmers altered their livelihood strategies to respond to changing market incentives. While many commercial farmers responded to falling maize prices brought on by NAFTA by shifting into the production of vegetables for export, the coping strategies of low-income farmers have been varied, from diversifying income sources through off-farm employment, to migration, to searching for niche markets for new or added-value products. In the Totonocan region of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, many farmers who can no longer earn sufficient income from the sale of maize grain are turning to a byproduct of maize to generate income. The commercialization of totomoxtle, or maize husks, for domestic and international markets has not only enabled farmers to continue to profit from maize production, but it has also encouraged farmers to utilize and conserve criollo maize varieties that serve as important reservoirs of genetic diversity. Moreover, the growing importance of totomoxtle in livelihood strategies has caused some farmers to alter their maize management, selecting for better quality husks rather than for grain production. The purpose of this paper is to understand both the broad impact of NAFTA on the local agricultural economy and its more specific effects on the management of maize in the Zona Totonaca. Participation in international trade can lead to unexpected outcomes, in some cases creating new values for goods with a long history of local consumption. Commercialization of maize husks is likely to be only a temporary solution for the relief of rural poverty. Given the volatility of international markets, the long-term welfare of farmers may depend on the development of more diversified production strategies. Amanda King Amanda King holds an MSc from the University of California-Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. She was a Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellow based at the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) in El Batán, Mexico in 2003 and at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC in 2004. She is currently conducting research in East Kalimantan, Indonesia on oil palm plantations and changes in local livelihoods.     

People, values, and woodlands: A field report ofemergent themes in interdisciplinary research in Zimbabwe

The Value of Trees project, funded bythe International Development Research Council ofCanada (IDRC), supported the joint efforts of theUniversity of Alberta and the University of Zimbabweto investigate the economic costs and benefitsassociated with trees and forests in the small holderfarming sector in Zimbabwe. The Value of Trees project provided funding for graduate students andfaculty from the two participating universities tocarry out studies in the disciplines of forestry,agricultural economics, and sociology in order toprovide policy recommendations regarding the role ofwoodlands in sustainable small holder farming in acontext where agricultural production appears to putincreasing stress on woodlands. The numerous projectsincluded such topics as the following: the use offuelwood under conditions of scarcity, tree tenure andlocal institutions in woodland use and sustainability,gender and wealth as related to tree planting andconservation, time preferences in natural resourceconsumption, ownership and economic impact ofeucalyptus woodlots, cultural and economic valuesassociated with woodlands, and uses and conflictsrelating to woodlands across different land categoriessuch as resettlement land and state forests. Manyother studies were not funded by, but were associatedwith Value of Trees. The findings fall withintwo broad categories. The first set includes thosedirectly related to generating values for differentaspects of the woodlands, particularly from theperspectives of rural households. The main finding isthat despite being highly valued by local people forboth economic and social reasons, woodlands are rankedlower in importance by local farmers than agriculturalland. The second set of findings relates to thecomplexities of the social system of the woodlands.Local institutions, history, resource conflicts, andtenure issues emerge as key to understanding the waythat people interact with the woodlands. Finally,local people have valuable knowledge and strategies tooffer in the design of sustainable management. Thepolicy implications of these findings for Zimbabwe arethat economic incentives could be important in asustainable woodlands strategy, but that anysuccessful program must incorporate an understandingof the profoundly complex and at times contradictoryhuman dynamics of woodland use and values.