Memory and resilience: A two-pronged approach to natural spaces in Colombia’s transition to a peaceful society

The analysis of spontaneous environmental initiatives undertaken by individuals and communities in cases of conflicts has led to a growing research field in social science, according to which the community-based stewardship of nature seems to conduce to the resilience of co-evolved social-ecological systems. In Colombia, where no such research exists so far, the conflict which officially ended in November 2016 has led to massive internal migration due to forced displacement, as well as to widespread degradation of the environment. Based on evidence provided by case studies of top-down and bottom-up living memorials and urban agriculture initiatives, the article explores the potential of urban greening in the process of memorialisation and in generating new social cohesion, as well as better living conditions in urban areas. It analyses cases both where the conflict has taken place and in the cities where refugees have settled, in order to explore avenues for public policies in post conflict Colombia. The author concludes that greening initiatives offer manifold, so far overlooked, opportunities to restoring social and ecological resilience in urban areas and thus contribute to a lasting peace in Colombia.     

Sacred sites as habitats of culturally important plant species in an Indian megacity

Cultural ecosystem services related to urban green spaces contribute significantly to liveable cities. While previous studies highlight the intersection of cultural ecosystem services with societal values, spiritual or religious values associated with urban nature have received less attention. In India, as in other parts of the world, sacred sites are known for their biological richness, but analyses from urban sacred sites are largely missing. Based on a stratified random sampling approach, we analysed the cultivated and wild plant species assemblages of 69 sacred sites in the megacity of Bengaluru, India, in relation to biological and cultural features, and parameters related to the urban matrix and type of sacred sites (temple vs. katte). Unlike other urban studies, we found a dominance of native species in the cultivated and spontaneous species pools (121 species in total), with Ficus religiosa and Azadirachta indica as most frequently planted species. Culturally relevant species prevailed in the species pool (89%), with overlaps between religious (36%), medicinal (50%) and ornamental (62%) plants; only 11% of species were weeds. Urban matrix parameters (age of development, housing density) and size and type of sacred sites were related to differences in species assemblages. We identified key species for different classes of age and housing density, and for types of sacred sites. Our study demonstrates that urban sacred sites have an important potential in harbouring both native and culturally significant species that can support urban livelihoods in developing countries by a range of cultural and provisioning ecosystem services, including medicinal uses. As such sites are conserved by communities for spiritual or cultural beliefs, local biodiversity can be enhanced, e.g. by adapting management practices through community participation. This would strengthen the important contribution of sacred sites within the green infrastructure of rapidly growing megacities.     

黄土残塬沟壑区不同林龄与坡向人工刺槐林生态系统服务协同关系

[目的] 通过权衡关系的研究探索不同林龄与坡向人工刺槐林多项生态系统服务间的差异及动态变化关系，为黄土残塬沟壑区人工刺槐林的经营管理提供理论依据。[方法] 按照不同林龄阶段和坡向共设置36个样地，对所选林分的涵养水源、土壤碳储量、土壤氮储量、年均生产力、生物多样性5个方面的生态系统服务进行测算，利用均方根偏差（RMSD）对该区人工刺槐林生态系统服务的权衡与协同关系进行研究，对生态系统服务与林分因子进行冗余分析。[结果] ①不同林龄、坡向人工刺槐林的生态系统服务差异显著（p<0.05）；随林龄增加，涵养水源量和年均生产力从幼龄林到中龄林增加达到最大值，随后逐渐减小；而生物多样性则呈先增后减趋势，在成熟林时期最高；土壤碳、氮储量随林龄增加呈逐渐增加趋势；阴坡的各生态系统服务价值均高于阳坡。②林龄是引起生态系统服务权衡关系变化的主导因子（p<0.05），坡向对生态系统服务权衡关系的影响不显著（p > 0.05），土壤碳固存与土壤氮固存呈协同关系，涵养水源与其他生态系统服务的权衡关系相比程度较高。③人工刺槐林5项生态系统服务与盖度、郁闭度、凋落物厚度呈现不同程度的正相关，与坡度呈现不同程度的负相关。[结论] 人工刺槐林生态系统服务在中龄林和过熟林时期权衡度高，不利于整体生态系统服务效益的发挥。应在中龄林时期引入耐旱灌木或乡土草本，在过熟林经营过程中，在满足涵养水源的前提下，合理控制林分密度，促进其他生态系统服务的作用，提高整体效益。     

Exploring tree diversity and stand structure of savanna woodlands in southeastern Sudan

Savanna woodlands in Sudan host great biodiversity, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. Although the importance of the Acacia trees in these areas is well known, up-to-date information about these woodlands' diversity is limited and changes in their woody vegetation composition, density, diversity and relative frequency are not monitored over time. This study explored tree diversity and stand stage structure in Nuara Reserved Forest, a typical savanna woodland ecosystem in southeastern Sudan. A total of 638 circular sample plots (1000 m² for each) were established using a systematic sampling grid method. The distance between plots was 200 m. In each plot, all living trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥5.00 cm were identified and counted, and their DBH values were recorded. From these data, tree composition, diversity, density and stage structure were assessed. There were 12,259 individual trees representing four species (Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia Senegal and Acacia mellifera) that belong to two families. The dominant species was Acacia seyal. Average tree density was 191 trees/hm² and the Shannon-Weiner index for trees diversity was 0.204. Overall, young trees comprised 86.30% of the forest. The state of tree richness and density in the study area was low compared to other similar environments in the region and around the world. We recommended adoption of a proper management system that includes monitoring of woody vegetation diversity in this forest, and management actions to enhance tree diversity and sustain ecosystem services to local communities. In addition to care for the dominant Acacia seyal stands, more attention and conservation should be devoted to reestablishing Acacia senegal and Acacia mellifera trees because of their high ecological and economic values for local communities.     

基于现代学徒制的畜牧兽医人才工匠精神培育研究

现代学徒制背景下培育学生工匠精神,是高职院校培养符合企业需求高水平高素质技术技能型人才的重要方法。文章从现代学徒制背景下工匠精神内涵、工匠精神价值及培育工匠精神的路径等方面,探究现代学徒制视域下畜牧兽医专业群学生工匠精神培育的重要性。     

Towards the sustainable intensification of agriculture—a systems approach to policy formulation

The sustainable intensification of agriculture involves providing sufficient food and other ecosystem services without going beyond the limits of the earth’s system. Here a project management approach is suggested to help guide agricultural policy to deliver these objectives. The first step is to agree measurable outcomes, integrating formal policy goals with the often much less formal and much more diverse goals of individual farmers. The second step is to assess current performance. Ideally, this will involve the use of farm-scale metrics that can feed into process models that address social and environmental domains as well as production issues that can be benchmarked and upscaled to landscape and country. Some policy goals can be delivered by supporting ad hoc interventions, while others require the redesign of the farming system. A pipeline of research, knowledge and capacity building is needed to ensure the continuous increase in farm performance. System models can help prioritise policy interventions. Formal optimization of land use is only appropriate if the policy goals are clear, and the constraints understood. In practice, the best approach may depend on the scale of action that is required, and on the amount of resource and infrastructure available to generate, implement and manage policy.     

《兽医寄生虫病学》课程思政教学的探索

为全面落实立德树人的根本任务,基于《兽医寄生虫病学》课程的特点,深入挖掘课程所蕴含的思政元素,并将其融入教学过程,将有助于培养德才兼备、符合社会需求的高素质应用型动物医学专业人才。