Productivity and profitability of multistrata organic versus conventional coffee farms in Costa Rica

In areas where traditional multistrata coffee systems have been transformed to systems with patchy or no shade at all, often dependent on high chemical inputs, ecological and socioeconomic degradation has become an increasing issue. During the 1990s, rising environmental and health concerns have promoted the interest in organic production systems and their environmental services for natural resource conservation. This study compared productivity, profitability, producer-defined constraints, and goals and research priorities between ten individually paired organic and conventional coffee farms in Costa Rica. Although five of the organic farms matched or exceeded the production of their conventional counterparts, the three-year mean yield of the organic farms as a group was 22% lower than that of the conventional farms. However, excluding organic certification costs, mean variable costs and net income (NI) were similar for both groups, mainly because organic price premiums received by the farmers compensated for lower yields. If current organic certification costs are included, the price premiums paid to organic producers would have to increase to 38% in order to equal the NI from conventional coffee. Conventional farmers indentified low and unstable prices as the main constraints to sustained production and stated further intensification of production as their main goal. In contrast, the key issues for future development of the organic group centered on farm diversification, agroecological self-sufficiency, and agronomic practices that permit organic farm management. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Strategic Planning of Sustainable Development on the Estate Level – Contributions from Forest Growth and Yield Science

Zusammenfassung:   Die Nachhaltigkeit richtete sich in der Gründerzeit der planmäßigen Forstwirtschaft auf die Holzproduktion (v. Carlowitz 1713, Cotta 1828, Hartig 1804, Hundeshagen 1826). In der Folgezeit wurde ein zunehmend breiteres Spektrum von Leistungen des Waldes in die Planung mit einbezogen (v. Hagen, 1867; Dieterich, 1957). Das heutige Verständnis von multifunktionaler Forstwirtschaft spiegelt sich in den sechs gesamteuropäischen Kriterien und Indikatoren für nachhaltige Forstwirtschaft wider (McPfe, 2000). Vorliegender Aufsatz umreißt, wie diese gesamteuropäischen Kriterien und Indikatoren für den Nachweis und die strategische Planung von Nachhaltigkeit auf Forstbetriebsebene eingesetzt werden können und was die Waldwachstumsforschung dazu beitragen kann. An einer Reihe von Beispielen wird ausgeführt, dass die Forstwirtschaft über eine solide Datenbasis für die Ableitung von Nachhaltigkeitskriterien und Indikatoren verfügt. Diese kann für das Monitoring der Waldentwicklung genutzt werden. Gestalterische Kraft entwickeln die Kriterien und Indikatoren aber erst, wenn sie auch in die strategische Planung einfließen. Für die strategische Planung stehen der Forstwirtschaft Wuchsmodelle, Betriebssimulatoren und Entscheidungsstützungssysteme zur Verfügung. Sofern diese die genannten Kriterien und Indikatoren berücksichtigen, ermöglichen sie Szenariorechungen auf Betriebsebene und eine umfassende Bewertung von Handlungsalternativen. Konzepte und Werkzeuge für den Übergang zu einer multifunktionalen strategischen Nachhaltsplanung sind weit entwickelt (v. Gadow 2003, Hanewinkel 2001, Pretzsch et al. 1998, Spellmann et al. 2001); ihre Einführung in die Forstplanung könnte einen beträchtlichen Innovationsstau beseitigen.     

Preparation of novel reagents 4-alkoxytrityl chlorides and their reaction with methyl Α-d-glucoside

A series of novel 4-O-alkoxytrityl chlorides (1) with different chain lengths was synthesized as a novel reagent for obtaining 6-O-alkylated cellulose with high regioselectivity via trityl groups in one reaction step without the use of any protective groups. These chlorides were reacted with methyl -d-glucoside, which was used as a model compound, to examine the reactivities toward the primary hydroxyl groups of cellulose to afford a series of 6-O-alkylated methyl -d-glucosides in high yields. The product compounds were found to have interesting solubilities and thermal properties. Thus, newly prepared trityl chloride derivatives were found to be useful regioselective derivatization reagents on the primary hydroxyl group in carbohydrates, especially in cellulose.     

Toward sustainable harvesting of Africa's largest medicinal plant export (Prunus africana): a case study in Tanzania

Global demand for treating prostate disorders with Prunus africana bark extract has made P. africana Africa's largest medicinal plant export. Unsustainable harvesting practices can lead to local extirpations of this multipurpose tree. Survey research targeting P. africana harvesters in a Tanzania forest reserve revealed that 78% of them used unsustainable harvesting practices. This research focused on establishing a socioeconomic profile of the harvesters, the profitability of their business operations, and identifying the factors that influence their selection of harvesting practices. Results indicate that harvesters have above-national-average education, double the average family size, and generate income exceeding government's minimum wages. Large family size and high earning potential imply increased future harvesting activity. Logistic regression results indicate that education and training level could predict the likelihood that a harvester would use unsustainable harvesting practices. Local- and district-level government organisations could implement a resource assessment as a basis to design and implement harvesting schedules and ensure that the harvesters receive appropriate training, regardless of their education level.     

农户家庭经营问题研究——对邢台县浆水镇农户抽样调查材料的分析

本文应用数理统计方法对邢台县浆水镇9村265户样本资料进行了系统分析。指出农户家庭经营是我国农村普遍存在的基本经营形式。这一新生事物完全适应现阶段农村生产力发展水平,其收入已成为农民收入的主要来源。近年来,农民收入虽有大幅度提高,但水平仍然很低,农户间收入差距也在不断扩大,山区农村经济仍在一个低水平上运行。本文还对影响农民收入水平的相关因素和农户收支结构进行了分析,并有针对性地提出改善家庭经营管理的建议。最后,对加强农户家庭经营方面的研究与领导也提出具体意见。     

长江经济带国家级自然保护区内社区居民现状与发展对策

中国自然保护区多处于地理位置偏僻的贫困落后地区,且在有关法律条文规定下,居民对保护区内资源利用受限,特别是核心区和缓冲区中众多的社区居民给自然保护区管理带来压力,自然保护区保护与社区经济发展之间的矛盾日益凸显。文中通过对重点区域长江经济带国家级自然保护区内居民现状进行调查和分析,探讨不同类型自然保护区内社区居民人口密度、经济水平和自然资源依赖程度的差异,并针对自然保护区内社区发展存在的主要问题包括人口众多、经济水平受限等,提出降低保护区内人口密度、多形式提高居民收入、发展生态旅游和加强可持续经营管理等建议。     

Non-timber forest products and household incomes in Bonga forest area,southwestern Ethiopia

We identified the major non-timber forest products （NTFPs）, their contributions to household incomes, and the determinants influenc-ing engagement of households in using NTFPs in the Bonga forest area of Gimbo and Decha Districts of Kaffa Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Six Kebeles （the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia） were sampled from two Districts and 150 households were randomly sampled using propor-tional-to-size techniques based on the number of farm households in each Kebele. Secondary data were collected from and focus group discussions were conducted with selected individuals. The farmers diversified liveli-hood activities such as crop and livestock production, collection of NTFPs and off-farm activities. NTFPs played a significant role in household incomes. The contribution from the major NTFPs （forest coffee, honey and spices） accounted for 47% of annual household in-come. The role of NTFPs was influenced by a number of factors. Vari-ables including being native to the area （＋）, total land holding （＋）, pos-session of livestock （＋） and access to extension （＋） significantly affected forest coffee production. Age of household head （-）, land holding （＋） and distance of the market from the residence （-） significantly affected honey production. Size of landholding （＋）, distance to market （-） and distance of the forest from the residence （-） were significant variables determining the NTFP incomes derived by the households. Attention is needed in the design of policies and strategies for the well-being of households to the contribution of NTFPs to local incomes and the variables that affect the collection of NTFPs must be considered.     

Microwave l-band (1730 MHz) accurately estimates the relative water content in poplar leaves. A comparison with a near infrared water index (R1300/R1450)

In this study the estimation of reflectivity at 1730 MHz (l-band), measured with a microwave digital cordless telephony (DCT) patch antenna, is presented as an easy-to-handle and non-destructive new method to assess the relative water content (RWC) of poplar leaves and filter discs at different levels of dehydration. The accuracy of this new method has been contrasted with the R₁₃₀₀/R₁₄₅₀ index, determined by a portable near infrared (NIR) spectrometer. The close correlations found between RWC and the reflectivity at a frequency of 1730 MHz, both for filters and leaves, indicate that microwave determinations are rather independent of the physical properties of the material analysed. On the contrary, the differences found between poplar leaves and leaf filters in the relationships established between RWC and the R₁₃₀₀/R₁₄₅₀ index demonstrate a strong influence of the properties of the material in NIR reflectance measurements, specifically as they relate to changes in leaf thickness during dehydration. It should be noted that the amount of energy received by the leaf for the microwave technique (0.1 mW) was much lower than that received for the measuring of the R₁₃₀₀/R₁₄₅₀ index (2.5 W). Moreover, R-square coefficients were higher for microwaves than for the R₁₃₀₀/R₁₄₅₀ index. The use of a technologically simple, low cost and portable device, based on a microwave DCT patch antenna, could yield a solid support for the development of a commercial apparatus enabling the determination of plant water status under field conditions.     

市场经济对云南规划烟区耕地资源的影响分析

为了掌握目前云南规划烟区在耕地资源配置方面的详细情况,以及市场经济对云南规划烟区坡度影响,以最新烤烟种植区划成果数据和坡度格点化数据为基础,分析各州市烤烟种植区划核心区,优质区和适宜区在坡度类型的分布状况和差异,在此基础上结合各州市农村人均可支配收入数据,分析市场经济对云南烤烟种植区坡度的影响.结果表明:云南省烤烟规划...