Community Production Practices and Desertification in the Sahelo-Sudanian Region of Cameroon at the Turn of the Millennium

The Sahelo-Sudanian region of Cameroon extends over 10 million hectares. Varied flora and soil types, a complex mosaic of vegetation and plant communities and a diversified wild animal population are the major natural resources of this region. Desertification in the region can be related to two major known causes: a. short or long-term drought due to short-term or long-term climatic trends toward aridity; b. human activities which degrade the biological environment. Globally, humans generally have less effect on desertification than climatic change in the short run. The only strategy to fight against this situation particularly in the developing countries is to withdraw populations from the areas and to settle them elsewhere. However, most local or regional desertification processes in general, and in the Sahelo-Sudanian region in particular, are due to the misuse or unsound exploitation of natural resources by humans and their animals. Often, comprehension of the complexity of even small interactions between parameters affecting our local environment remains limited. Poor economic assessments of the long-term benefits of proper natural resource conservation and management increase the extent of the exploitation, in turn increasing the degradation process. Yet ecologically sound management of natural resources integrating indigenous knowledge and basic population interest and concern can secure restoration in several areas and sustained productivity of Sahelo-Sudanian lands.     

长期施肥对不同深度稻田土壤碳氮水解酶活性的影响特征

与稻田土壤碳周转密切相关的酶活性是评价土壤肥力和肥料管理的重要指标.本研究选取秸秆还田(ST)、化肥(NPK)和不施肥(CK)的长期定位试验田,以10 cm的间距分段采集土壤剖面0~40 cm范围内的新鲜土样,利用96微孔酶标板荧光分析法,测定参与土壤碳氮转化过程关键酶β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)和β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)活性,探讨不同施肥措施对不同深层土壤酶活的影响.结果表明,相比不施肥的土壤,施用化肥和秸秆土壤的BG酶活性分别提高了35%~118%和55%~342%;NAG酶活性分别提高了9%~30%和102%~484%.同时,随着土层深度的增加,土壤酶活性逐渐降低,0~20 cm深层土壤酶活性显著高于20~40 cm深层土壤.在不同施肥措施中秸秆还田可高程度影响稻田深层土壤.RDA分析表明土壤碳氮含量主要与0~20 cm的土壤酶活性有显著的正相关关系,与20~40 cm的土壤酶活性呈负相关关系.综上所述,随着土壤深度增加土壤微生物量和土壤酶活性显著降低.长期施肥显著提高了不同深层土壤生物量和土壤酶活性,其中秸秆还田作用尤为突出.因此,合理的秸杆还田有利于改善稻田深层土壤肥力,优化农田土壤养分循环,为作物生长提供良好的土壤环境.     

不同施肥处理对东北黑土温室气体排放的短期影响

以东北耕作黑土为对象,在25℃和60%最大持水量(WHC)条件下开展为期7 d的室内培养试验,研究了不同施肥处理对东北黑土温室气体排放的短期影响.结果表明,与不施肥对照处理相比,单施氮肥对土壤呼吸释放的CO_2没有影响,而在施用氮肥的基础上配施有机物料使得CO_2排放量提高了一个数量级,氮肥配施秸秆对CO_2排放的促进效果大于氮肥配施猪粪.短期培养时间内施用氮肥对N_2O排放没有显著影响,硝化作用是对照处理和单施氮肥处理土壤排放N_2O的主要过程.与单施氮肥处理相比,氮肥配施猪粪或秸秆显著促进了反硝化过程,使得N_2O排放量提高了两个数量级,氮肥配施秸秆处理的N_2O排放量显著大于氮肥配施猪粪处理.单施氮肥抑制了CH_4的排放,表现为对CH_4的微量吸收,而氮肥配施猪粪或秸秆则显著促进了CH_4的排放.     

CHALLENGES IN MODELING HYDROLOGIC AND WATER QUALITY PROCESSES IN RIPARIAN ZONES1

This paper presents key challenges in modeling water quality processes of riparian ecosystems: How can the spatial and temporal extent of water and solute mixing in the riparian zone be modeled? What level of model complexity is justified? How can processes at the riparian scale be quantified? How can the impact of riparian ecosystems be determined at the watershed scale? Flexible models need to be introduced that can simulate varying levels of hillslope‐riparian mixing dictated by topography, upland and riparian depths, and moisture conditions. Model simulations need to account for storm event peak flow conditions when upland solute loadings may either bypass or overwhelm the riparian zone. Model complexity should be dictated by the level of detail in measured data. Model algorithms need to be developed using new macro‐scale and meso‐scale experiments that capture process dynamics at the hillslope or landscape scales. Monte Carlo simulations should be an integral part of model simulations and rigorous tests that go beyond simple time series, and point‐output comparisons need to be introduced. The impact of riparian zones on watershed‐scale water quality can be assessed by performing simulations for representative hillsloperiparian scenarios.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF TIMBER HARVEST PRACTICES FOR CONTROLLING SEDIMENT RELATED WATER QUALITY IMPACTS1

ABSTRACT: Timber harvest best management practices (BMPs) in Washington State were evaluated to determine their effectiveness at achieving water quality standards pertaining to sediment related effects. A weight‐of‐evidence approach was used to determine BMP effectiveness based on assessment of erosion with sediment delivery to streams, physical disturbance of stream channels, and aquatic habitat conditions during the first two years following harvest. Stream buffers were effective at preventing chronic sediment delivery to streams and physical disturbance of stream channels. Practices for ground‐based harvest and cable yarding in the vicinity of small streams without buffers were ineffective or only partially effective at preventing water quality impacts. The primary operational factors influencing BMP effectiveness were: the proximity of ground disturbing activities to streams; presence or absence of designated stream buffers; the use of special timber falling and yarding practices intended to minimize physical disturbance of stream channels; and timing of harvest to occur during snow cover or frozen ground conditions. Important site factors included the density of small streams at harvest sites and the steepness of inner stream valley slopes. Recommendations are given for practices that provide a high confidence of achieving water quality standards by preventing chronic sediment delivery and avoiding direct stream channel disturbance.     

IMPLEMENTATION OF BIORETENTION SYSTEMS: A WISCONSIN CASE STUDY1

ABSTRACT: The implementation of various bioretention systems was analyzed, including rain gardens, vegetated swales, trenches, and infiltration basins in the St. Francis subdivision, Cross Plains, Wisconsin. Through the examination of archival data and interviews with key participants, it was found that although regulatory and political pressures encouraged the inclusion of bioretention, current standards for storm water management prevailed. The developers had to meet both existing requirements and anticipated rules requiring infiltration. As a result, bioretention systems simply supplemented, rather than replaced, traditional storm water practices. The confusion surrounding dual standards contributed to substantial delays in the negotiations among relevant stakeholders in the watershed. It is concluded that the St. Francis subdivision serves as both a cautionary tale and a bioretention success story. As a caution, this situation demonstrates the need for careful review and refinement of existing storm water ordinances to incorporate water quality improvement technologies, such as bioretention. The demonstrated success of the St. Francis development, however, is that it became a positive prototype for best management storm water practices elsewhere in the region. In addition, the water quality monitoring data from the site has contributed to development of a new county ordinance, the first in Wisconsin to address both quantity and quality of storm water runoff.     

A NEW CHALLENGE FOR WESTERN WATER SUPPLIES1

ABSTRACT: In many of the limited water resource areas of the western United States most water supplies have been put to beneficial uses. Energy, a fast expanding high-priority water use, is making challenging demands for these limited supplies. Can water supplies be stretched, supplemented, or redirected so that present uses can be maintained and energy water needs satisfied? The Bureau of Reclamation is investigating innovative methods of water management, reregulation, and use to meet these demands. Related programs under study include potentials for: development of additional hydroelectric power, installation of low-head turbines in western water courses, utilization of pumped storage and underground storage, use of geo-thermal heat, extension of water supplies through more efficient irrigation systems and practices, and weather modification.     

Baseline requirements can hinder trades in water quality trading programs: Evidence from the Conestoga watershed

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are promoting point/nonpoint trading as a way of reducing the costs of meeting water quality goals. Farms can create offsets by implementing management practices such as conservation tillage, nutrient management and buffer strips. To be eligible to sell offsets or credits, farmers must first comply with baseline requirements. USEPA guidance recommends that the baseline for nonpoint sources be management practices that are consistent with the water quality goal. A farmer would not be able to create offsets until the minimum practice standards are met. An alternative baseline is those practices being implemented at the time the trading program starts, or when the farmer enters the program. The selection of the baseline affects the efficiency and equity of the trading program. It has major implications for which farmers benefit from trading, the cost of nonpoint source offsets, and ultimately the number of offsets that nonpoint sources can sell to regulated point sources. We use a simple model of the average profit-maximizing dairy farmer operating in the Conestoga watershed in Pennsylvania to evaluate the implications of baseline requirements on the cost and quantity of offsets that can be produced for sale in a water quality trading market, and which farmers benefit most from trading.     

Using MCA tools for evaluating community-managed forests from a green economy perspective: lessons from Nepal

ABSTRACT

Nepal is in the process of formulating its forest policies at the provincial level . Various community-managed forests have been designed in the past by the Nepal government to decentralize the forest for its sustainable management practice. This study facilitates the process of identifying appropriate forest management options in two of the provinces, namely Provinces Three and Gandaki. Four forest management options – passive, active, scientific and multiple – were identified following the existing management practices. For the evaluation of the overall performance of the options, a framework with three criteria, 10 indicators and 28 verifiers were designed. The framework followed the green economy perspective considering the improvement of the forest conditions, economic and social well-being, and low carbon emission. The Analytical Hierarchy Process was used to prioritize the best management option and analyse trade-offs to guide future decision-making and reduce the risk of unwanted consequences. Our results show that the elicitation of preferences for the evaluation criteria varied by stakeholder groups. Their preference was largely guided by improving the forest resource condition and economic well-being. Foresters prefer scientific and active forest management, policymakers prefer multiple-use forest management and scientific management, whereas community forest user groups prefer active forest management. We argue that a scientific management approach may contribute better to economic aspects, although it may often compromise the other aspects. The multiple forest management option seems to be the best for green economy considering ecological, economic and social consequences.     

太湖流域农户环境友好型技术采纳行为及其环境和经济效应评价——以测土配方施肥技术为例

论文基于太湖流域上游地区221 户水稻生产农户调查数据,利用Probit 模型分析了农户采纳测土配方施肥技术的影响因素,然后构建投入需求和产出供给方程,评价了测土配方施肥技术采纳的环境和经济效应。研究表明,平均年龄越小、家庭耐用资产状况越好以及上一年与农技推广人员接触次数越多的农户,越倾向于选择测土配方施肥技术,而受教育年限较少或较多的农户都不愿意选择该技术。测土配方施肥技术确实能够起到降低化肥施用量和提高水稻产量的双重作用,控制其他条件,测土配方施肥技术采用率每增加1%,化肥施用量降低0.09%(0.45 kg/hm²),而水稻单产提高0.04%(2.91 kg/hm²)。若研究区域实现测土配方施肥全面推广应用,将可进一步减少化肥用量34.91 kg/hm²,同时提高水稻产量223.98 kg/hm²,具有较可观的环境和经济效应。但是测土配方施肥技术的实际推广进程缓慢,项目管理实施也不够规范,为此,有必要加大测土配方施肥技术研究投入,加强对技术的宣传和培训工作,同时结合示范户的榜样作用,以点带面促进该技术的深入推广和规范实施。