How farmers develop local ecological knowledge for on-farm tree management: The perspectives of some farming communities of Ghana

Scientific insights into what it means to manage on-farm trees by local farmers, is an essential step towards documenting local ecological knowledge for sustainable landscape management. A study was therefore conducted in the Kumawu Forest District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to assess how farmers conceptualise on-farm tree management and develop local knowledge for it. Using a case study approach, data were collected through informal interviews and focus group discussions with 120 farmers drawn from 15 communities who were involved in the management of three cropping systems; cocoa, maize and cassava-cocoyam-plantain mix. It was observed that the farmers regard on-farm tree management as a continuous process which occurs in three phases of the farming cycle; land preparation, crop cultivation and fallow management. For each of the three phases, farmers are guided by specific principles that ensure enough light penetration in-between tree crowns in the land preparation phase, suitable spacing between trees and crops in the crop cultivation phase and adequate tree regeneration in the fallow phase. The decisions made during the selection of tree species, spacing of trees adjudged suitable for any particular cropping system and recruitment of saplings prior to the fallow phase of farming constitute tree management. Farmers develop tree management knowledge by studying the physical characteristics of species, matching them to ecological functions they could perform and how they are likely to respond to treatments meant to control or enhance their development. Species are then subjected to trial and recommended or otherwise.     

TREE RING RECONSTRUCTIONS OF STREAMFLOW FOR THREE CANADIAN PRAIRIE RIVERS1

ABSTRACT: Information regarding long term hydrological variability is critical for the effective management of surface water resources. In the Canadian Prairie region, growing dependence on major river systems for irrigation and other consumptive uses has resulted in an increasing vulnerability to hydrological drought and growing interprovincial tension. This study presents the first dendrochronological records of streamflow for Canadian Prairie rivers. We present 1,113‐year, 522‐year, and 325‐year reconstructions of total water year (October to September) streamflow for the North Saskatchewan, South Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan Rivers, respectively. The reconstructions indicate relatively high flows during the 20th Century and provide evidence of past prolonged droughts. Low flows during the 1840s correspond with aridity that extended over much of the western United States. Similarly, an exceptional period of prolonged low flow conditions, approximately 900 A.D. to 1300 A.D., is coincident with evidence of sustained drought across central and western North America. The 16th Century megadrought of the western United States and Mexico, however, does not appear to have had a major impact on the Canadian rivers. The dendrohydrological records illustrate the risks involved if future water policy and infrastructure development in the Canadian Prairies are based solely on records of streamflow variability over the historical record.     

Effects of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Native Understory Plants in a Tropical Dry Forest

Abstract: The dry forests of southern India, which are endangered tropical ecosystems and among the world's most important tiger (Panthera tigris) habitats, are extensively invaded by exotic plants. Yet, experimental studies exploring the impacts of these invasions on native plants in these forests are scarce. Consequently, little is known about associated implications for the long‐term conservation of tigers and other biodiversity in these habitats. I studied the impacts of the exotic plant Lantana camara on understory vegetation in a dry‐forest tiger habitat in southern India. I compared the richness, composition, and abundance of tree seedlings, herbs, and shrubs and the abundance of grass among plots in which Lantana was cleared or left standing. These plots were distributed across two blocks—livestock free and livestock grazed. Removal of Lantana had an immediate positive effect on herb–shrub richness in the livestock‐free block, but had no effect on that of tree seedlings in either livestock block. Tree‐seedling and herb–shrub composition differed significantly between Lantana treatment and livestock block, and Lantana removal significantly decreased survival of tree seedlings. Nevertheless, the absence of trees, in any stage between seedling and adult, indicates that Lantana may stall tree regeneration. Lantana removal decreased the abundance of all understory strata, probably because forage plants beneath Lantana are less accessible to herbivores, and plants in Lantana‐free open plots experienced greater herbivory. Reduced access to forage in invaded habitats could negatively affect ungulate populations and ultimately compromise the ability of these forests to sustain prey‐dependent large carnivores. Additional research focused on understanding and mitigating threats posed by exotic plants may be crucial to the long‐term protection of these forests as viable tiger habitats.     

Genetic Bottlenecks Driven by Population Disconnection

Abstract: Connectivity among populations plays a crucial role in maintaining genetic variation at a local scale, especially in small populations affected strongly by genetic drift. The negative consequences of population disconnection on allelic richness and gene diversity (heterozygosity) are well recognized and empirically established. It is not well recognized, however, that a sudden drop in local effective population size induced by such disconnection produces a temporary disequilibrium in allelic frequency distributions that is akin to the genetic signature of a demographic bottleneck. To document this effect, we used individual‐based simulations and empirical data on allelic richness and gene diversity in six pairs of isolated versus well‐connected (core) populations of European tree frogs. In our simulations, population disconnection depressed allelic richness more than heterozygosity and thus resulted in a temporary excess in gene diversity relative to mutation drift equilibrium (i.e., signature of a genetic bottleneck). We observed a similar excess in gene diversity in isolated populations of tree frogs. Our results show that population disconnection can create a genetic bottleneck in the absence of demographic collapse.     

桫椤群落内主要乔木种群的种间联结性

在相邻格子抽样调查的基础上,采用X^2检验、联结系数（Ac)和种间共出现百分率（Pc)等指标,分析了福建省永定桫椤群落内主要乔木种群的种间联结性。结果表明：除少数种对外,绝大多数种群间的联结性不显著,在联结性显著的种对中,下述7个种对之间有较高的正联结性：朴树－野鸦椿、青冈－黄瑞木、青冈－油柿、翻白叶树－拉氏栲、黄瑞木－油柿、 青冈－香叶树和Song木－盐肤木,就桫椤群落而言,桫椤与猴欢喜、水团花之间有一定的正联结,与广东润楠、黄瑞木、柳叶山 茶、朴树和野鸦椿有较紧密的负联结。图3参11     

土岩爆破作业安全评价与事故分析

用打分法对城市土岩爆破作业的严重伤害可能性进行评价,并运用事故树分析法,对其严重伤害可能性进行分析,找出导致事故发生的可能性因素及可采用的预防途径,为实际伤害事故的预防提供有益参考。     

Co-Partnership in Forest Management: The Gwira-Banso Joint Forest Management Project in Ghana

The involvement of local communities, as well as the private sector and the government in forest management is now an important principle of tropical forestry policy and practice and a major component of most international forestry aid programmes. This paper present an analysis on the Joint Forest Management Project initiated by two timber companies (Ghana Primewood Products Ltd and Dalhoff Larsen & Horneman) in collaboration with local people in Gwira-Banso of Ghana. Conditions required for enhancing responsibility for and commitment to local forest management, and for an effective local participatory process were also analysed. The study began with the premise that incentives and good communication will enhance participation in joint forest management.The assumption was valid and the results from the survey showed that five broad issues prioritised by respondents to be essential for co-partnership in forest management are communication, financial support, tree planting, multiple land use and benefit sharing. The Project enjoys a great deal of support from the local community, but a number of factors make the continued support of local people a challenging task, including questions of immediate livelihood sources and tenure arrangements. Although this participatory forest management has been implemented over a relatively short period, there is evidence that government and private sectors can successfully involve local people in sustainable management of the forests.     

福美胂在苹果树上的残留

调查了两个果园１５～２０年树龄的苹果树在连续用福美胂喷涂７～１０年后树根、树皮、枝条、叶片、果实和土壤的砷含量，并和未使用福美胂的果树含量做了比较。结果表明，果实中有砷积累，但未超过食品卫生标准。使用福美胂的树皮、技条、叶片中砷含量比未使用福美胂的高儿倍～十几倍，树皮和短梢叶含量最高。枝条和叶片与树皮的砷含量有密切正相关。土壤表层虽有轻度积累，但不会对土壤生态环境有太大影响。     

基于可靠性理论的区域大气环境质量风险评价模型探讨

为了用可靠性理论进行区域大气环境质量风险评价．从理论上研究了几个需要解决的基本问题。包括：明确区域环境质量风险评价的研究对象．确定区域环境质量可靠性的内涵,提出区域环境系统的“应力-强度-失效”假说．分析环境系统净化环节闻的串、并联关系。因此．从可靠性的视角,对区域环境质量的复杂性和不确定性进行新的探讨．构建环境科学与可靠性理论联系的桥梁。在理论分析的基础上．对福建省泉港区石化工业基地大气环境质量风险评价问题进行研究。从大气环境污染的主要问题出发。研究区域环境系统对大气污染物的净化环节及其串并联关系。在此基础上．构建区域大气环境污染的故障树,并以区域环境质量的可靠性作为评价指标对区域环境风险问题进行具体评价。这是一种以概率为基础的、新的区域环境质量风险评价模型．对于研究污染型工业系统的环境质量风险具有重要意义。     

事故树分析系统设计与老空区透水分析

通过计算机编程,开发了事故树分析系统,可以方便、准确地进行事故树分析计算,规范地绘制事故树图形,提高了事故分析的速度和质量;利用该系统,对老空区积水透水事故进行事故树分析,并根据分析结果,提出了该类透水事故的预防方案。