Rural participatory buffer zone management in northeastern Thailand

The past protected area management system which emphasized the ownership and control of forest by the state and overlooked the interaction between human and resources has failed because the annual rate of deforestation in Thailand is still as high as 2.6%. This paper aims to introduce a new approach to protected area management that would involve local people in the process. A case of buffer zone management through collaborative efforts is examined here. The project is located at the southeastern corner of the buffer zone of Phu Kheio Wildlife Sanctuary, Northeastern Thailand. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques including secondary data study, physical survey, participatory meeting, and semi-structured interviewing were employed in data gathering. The results discussed here suggest that there is a chance to create a better understanding among rural people of the importance of afforestation and nature conservation that will lead to a better management of resources in the future.     

Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in dogs – correlation with health and cancer risk

25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is important in bone health as well as many diseases including cancer. Supplementation may increase responsiveness of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Serum 25(OH)D, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and canine C‐reactive protein (c‐CRP) were measured in healthy dogs and dogs with haemoabdomen. Regression analysis determined optimal 25(OH)D concentrations. In healthy dogs (n = 282), mean iPTH concentrations correlated inversely (r² = 0.88, P < 0.001) to 25(OH)D concentrations. Variation in both iPTH and c‐CRP plateaued at 25(OH)D concentrations of 100–120 ng mL^?1. Haemoabdomen dogs (n = 63, 43 malignant and 20 benign) had 25(OH)D concentrations ranging from 19.4 to >150 ng mL^?1. Relative risk of cancer increased with decreasing 25(OH)D concentrations [RR = 3.9 for 25(OH)D below 40 ng mL^?1 (P = 0.0001)]. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations in dogs vary widely, and are influenced by dietary VitD content. Serum vitD measurement can identify dogs for which supplementation may improve health and response to cancer therapy.