Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the Asia‐Pacific region: The role of international assistance

Abstract: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of international development targets agreed to by members of the United Nations in 2000. The goals aim to improve many of the dimensions of extreme poverty and are to be achieved by 2015. This paper provides an overview of the issues relevant to the achievement of the MDGs in the Asia‐Pacific region. The paper begins by discussing the critiques of the MDGs before assessing whether countries in the region are on track to achieve them. Issues relating to data availability and accuracy are discussed and the need to tailor the MDG targets to the special circumstances of some Asia‐Pacific countries is examined. The paper proceeds by discussing the role of international assistance via international foreign development aid and non‐governmental organisations in the achievement of the MDGs. The paper concludes with some policy implications for the international donor community.     

关中辣椒产业发展战略研究

秦椒在关中地区种植已有数百年历史,是陕西地方名优特色农产品。近年秦椒产业取得了长足发展,但也面临诸多挑战。为确保2015年秦椒种植面积稳定在10万hm2以上,总产185万t,鲜用椒、干制椒、加工椒之比为1:2:2的发展目标。在充分调研、专家论证、研究分析的基础上,根据“适度集中,规模发展,公司运作,板块推进”的原则,按照“稳定面积,优化布局;依靠科技,突出优质;企业引领,提高效益”的总体思路,走“龙头企业+农业部门+基地”、“龙头企业+农业公司”、“龙头企业+专业合作社”的产业化道路。提出了“优化布局,板块推进;加大科技投入,提高产业竞争力;扶持龙头企业,促进产业化进程;加大产业认证,打造著名品牌”的发展战略。     

Mangrove management for climate change adaptation and sustainable development in coastal zones

Due to their prevalence in developing countries and the range of ecosystem services they provide, projects aimed at promoting mangroves align with several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals—specifically Goals 13, 14, and 15—which concern adaptation to climate change and the sustainable management of forest and coastal resources. Although mangroves themselves are sensitive to climate change, they also provide services that would help reduce damages, by sequestering carbon, enhancing coastline stability, and protecting coastal settlements from tropical storm surges. In particular, mangroves can rapidly colonize and stabilize intertidal sediments, promoting coastal accretion to reduce the impact of sea level rise. The Government of Bangladesh has established mangrove plantations with the intent to accelerate accretion and stabilize 120,000ha of coastland. As a case study, this paper uses GIS data on coastal dynamics and land cover to evaluate the effectiveness of mangrove plantations for facilitating accretion and preventing erosion in Bangladesh. The results indicate that plantation areas experience greater rates of accretion relative to erosion than non-plantation areas, confirming that mangroves have an important role to play in the sustainable development of coastal regions.     

Debating the success of carbon-offsetting projects at sports mega-events. A case from the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Forests are seen as climate mitigation mechanisms by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition, their importance in the sustainable development paradigm has been confirmed through their inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are designed to provide a global orientation toward inclusive and sustainable development, yet their implementation presents new challenges for forestry practitioners. This paper uses an ethnographic case study to examine a forestry-based carbon-offsetting project in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and uses several SDGs to analyze the level of project success. The project was created to offset the emissions from the construction of the new football stadium built for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Mato Grosso and, therefore, attracted international attention. The project provides analytical points for a discussion on how forestry-based carbon offsetting fits within the wider discussion on sustainable development and how the success of project outcomes can be influenced in several key areas.     

关于果桑品种选育的思考

为促进果桑品种选育研究,在多年进行果桑品种选育的基础上,结合他人已有的研究,分析与果桑品种选育密切相关的若干问题,提出了如下建议:以桑椹产量高、品质优及抗菌核病为果桑育种目标;以全国种植面积最大的果桑品种"粤椹大10"为对照品种;重视果桑资源的搜集和评价;在选育方法上,以常规育种为主,采用杂交技术和诱变技术相结合可提高选育效率;应把果桑作为一种果树来对待,并以专用型果桑品种的选育研究为重点,加快果桑新品种的育成,促进桑椹产业的发展。     

关中辣椒产业发展战略研究

秦椒在关中地区种植已有数百年历史,是陕西地方名优特色农产品。近年秦椒产业取得了长足发展,但也面临诸多挑战。为确保2015年秦椒种植面积稳定在10万hm2以上,总产185万t,鲜用椒、干制椒、加工椒之比为1:2:2的发展目标。在充分调研、专家论证、研究分析的基础上,根据"适度集中,规模发展,公司运作,板块推进"的原则,按照"稳定面积,优化布局;依靠科技,突出优质;企业引领,提高效益"的总体思路,走"龙头企业+农业部门+基地"、"龙头企业+农业公司"、"龙头企业+专业合作社"的产业化道路。提出了"优化布局,板块推进;加大科技投入,提高产业竞争力;扶持龙头企业,促进产业化进程;加大产业认证,打造著名品牌"的发展战略。     

Moving beyond the opposition of diverse knowledge systems for food security and nutrition

Food Security and Nutrition(FSN) is influenced by diverse and complex factors, and therefore requires a holistic approach to agriculture and food systems plus integration of knowledge from diverse sources in science and society. Using the results of a colloquium held at the University of Hohenheim(Germany) in September 2016 leading up to the recent High Level Panel of Experts(HLPE) Note on Critical and Emerging Issues for Food Security and Nutrition, this article underlines the role of research and innovation as a social and political process and draws attention to neglected types of knowledge. It illustrates the potential of knowledge co-production and co-innovation to transform food systems in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.     

Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report

In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions, the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP) consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar, Senegal, from 23 to 25 September 2019. This paper details the first African meeting of the G-DEP. Consultative meeting reviewed preceding dryland ecosystems case studies, identified vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions, and proposed sustainable solutions to problems. It also identified the successes and failures of previous attempts to improve vulnerable ecosystems and ultimately formed an action plan to improve these attempts. Climate, ecosystems, and livelihoods for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), Great Green Wall Initiative(GGWI) for Sahara and Sahel, and China-Africa cooperation on science, technology, and innovation are three extra main sections concerned of the meeting. Separately, more specific topics as the complicated relationship between these natural processes and human activity, including pastoralism, soil restoration, and vegetation regenerate techniques, were fully discussed. Consultative meeting also identified the positive effects international collaboration can have on dryland regions, specifically in the capacity of sharing information, technology, and innovation on purpose to develop a joint proposal for long-term research programs in African arid and semi-arid areas. Moreover, meetings that review the progress made on ecosystem management for the sustainable livelihoods in Africa, identification of priority areas, and the development and implementation of ecosystem programs for proper research and collaboration in African arid and semi-arid zones, have been proposed as strategic recommendations to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. Furthermore, as the outcomes of the workshop, there are three steps proposed to handle African dryland climate changes, several aspects suggested to solve current dilemmas of the GGWI, and a series of actions recommended for G-DEP related activities in Africa.     

Towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management in the African Great Lakes

Inland fisheries play important roles in food and economic security in the riparian countries surrounding the Great Lakes of Africa. However, the lakes are being systematically degraded by anthropogenic pressures, in combination with the huge population growth prevalent in the region. This paper summarises the outcomes of an international conference to develop a ‘Strategy for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the African Great Lakes Region in a Changing Climate’, held in Uganda in 2017, with particular attention on the potential for fisheries and aquaculture. The paper highlights options for addressing the problems facing the aquatic resources and specifically the importance of effective management of the fisheries and ecosystems of the Great Lakes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure food and nutritional security and sustainable livelihoods. There is need to improve fisheries assessment and determine the value of the fisheries (and aquaculture). Fisheries legislation, regulation and enforcement need revision and co‐management mechanisms require rethinking. There is considerable potential for aquaculture, and especially cage culture, to increase fish production, but there is an urgent need to address technical, social, environmental and input requirements. It is also imperative that best practices guidelines are developed that will support cage culture production practices.