It is possible that current tree domestication practices undertaken by farmers reduce the genetic base of tree resources on farms, raising concerns regarding the productivity, sustainability and conservation value of agroforestry ecosystems. Here, we assessed possible changes in genetic variation during domestication in the important and heavily utilised timber species, Vitex fischeri Gürke (syn. Vitex keniensis), by comparing geographically proximate forest and farm material in central Kenya. Employing RAPD analysis, a total of 104 polymorphic markers revealed by five arbitrary primers were scored in a total of 65 individuals, 32 from forest and 33 from farmland. Despite concerns of possible genetic erosion, forest and farm stands did not differ significantly in levels of genetic variation, with H values of 0.278 and 0.269, respectively. However, Mantel tests did reveal greater geographically related associative genetic structure among individuals in farm rather than forest material, with rM values of 0.217 and 0.114, respectively. A more detailed analysis of structure suggested this could be due to local variation in origin of some on-farm trees. Implications of data for the genetic management of V. fischeri stands during farmer-led tree domestication activities are discussed. At present, there appears little reason to reject on-farm V. fischeri as a source of germplasm for future on-farm planting or for conservation purposes, although this situation may change and will require monitoring.
Tag: conservation (storage)
Global biodiversity conservation priorities
The location of and threats to biodiversity are distributed unevenly, so prioritization is essential to minimize biodiversity loss. To address this need, biodiversity conservation organizations have proposed nine templates of global priorities over the past decade. Here, we review the concepts, methods, results, impacts, and challenges of these prioritizations of conservation practice within the theoretical irreplaceability/vulnerability framework of systematic conservation planning. Most of the templates prioritize highly irreplaceable regions; some are reactive (prioritizing high vulnerability), and others are proactive (prioritizing low vulnerability). We hope this synthesis improves understanding of these prioritization approaches and that it results in more efficient allocation of geographically flexible conservation funding.
Passing problems: prostate and prunus – African team works to maintain sustainable supply of Pygeum bark
Challenges of collective action in Soil and water conservation: the case of Gununo watershed, Southern Ethiopia
Gununo Watershed is one of the benchmark sites of the African Highlands Initiative in collaboration with Areka Agricultural Research Centre. It is located in the densely populated area of Wolayita z one in Southern Ethiopia. The area of the watershed is 544 ha with over 622 households residing in it . Low productivity mainly attributed to low soil fertility is one of the major factors constraining crop production. The major cause of low soil fertility i s soil erosion due to mainly run off. To tackle this problem collective action (CA) was initiated in the watershed for soil and water conservation (SWC). Frequent meetings were held with farmers to chart out the plan of action. Farmers selected local insti tutions that could effectively lead the CA. SWC structures were constructed for two seasons – 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 . Soil bund stabilizers were planted on the bunds to stabilize , intensify and increase the productivity of the bunds. Participatory monitorin g and evaluation was conducted at different stages and processes were documented eventually . As a result , close to 10 km length of SWC structures were constructed in the two seasons . Thousands of seedlings of elephant grass and banana were planted on the soi l bunds. Some farmers also adopted and constructed additional length of soil conservation structures individually and some others also planted sugar cane and elephant grass as bund stabilizer. The soil has started changing and crop productivity improved wi thin short period. These achievements were characterized by series of challenges and this paper is addressing the lessons learnt on collective action on SWC in Gununo Watershed.
Technical and institutional innovations to conservation farming and agroforestry: components of sustainable watershed management
Sustainable watershed management is one of the focal issues in the debate about sustainable rural development in the Philippine uplands, where 18 million people eke-out a living on a slope above 30%. Contour hedgerow farming with leguminous trees is viewed as an important agroforestry technology that ensures food security, alleviate poverty, and protect the environment. This paper relates our experiences in participatory approach in developing agroforestry technologies, and facilitation of institution-building for wide-spread adoption and harness support from different service providers, at the ICRAF research site in Claveria, northern Mindanao, Philippines. For several years we focused our efforts in assessing the management strategies to address key technical constraints of the contour hedgerow system. We observed that adoption by farmers is low. The reasons for this include; high labor in establishment and maintenance of the hedgerows, resource competition above and below-ground between the hedgerows and associated crops, limited value-added from the hedgerow prunings, and poor species adaptation. We therefore refocused our efforts toward finding alternative system that will address the technical and social issues of conservation farming. We found that natural vegetative filter strips (NVS) provide simple solution to the technical and social constraints of soil conservation on sloping lands. These are buffer strips that are laid out on the contour in which the natural vegetation is allowed to grow into a thick and protective cover. NVS also provide a foundation for farmers to evolve into complex agroforestry systems with fruit and timber trees. We now see a tremendous surge of adoption of this system. Adoption has been enhanced by the Landcare approach. Landcare is a movement of farmer-led organizations supported by the local government that share knowledge about sustainable and profitable agriculture on sloping lands while conserving natural resources. As NVS evolve to complex agroforestry by planting fruit and timber trees, the role of leguminous trees as nurse trees becomes important. They may provide a favorable micro-environment and increase the availability of nitrogen in the system. But, these roles have not been sufficiently understood or quantified. Our future research aims to understand the prospective positive interactions in these more complex species combination.
Conservation and sustainable management of below-ground biodiversity in Indonesia in the context of the global CSM-BGBD project
On August 1, 2002, the Project Document was signed, marking the official start of the project “conservation and sustainable management of below-ground biodiversity” with the acronym CSM-BGBD. The project is generally referred to as the BGBD project, and has a lifespan of 5 years. The Project Objective is ‘to enhance awareness, knowledge and understanding of below-ground biological diversity important to sustainable agricultural production in tropical landscapes by the demonstration of methods for conservation and sustainable management’. Project Components include:1)Internationally accepted standard methods for characterization and evaluation of BGBD, including a set of indicators for BGBD loss.2)(a) Inventory and evaluation of BGBD in benchmark sites representing a range of globally significant ecosystems and land uses; and (b) developing a global information exchange network for BGBD. 3)Sustainable and replicable management practices for BGBD conservation identified and implemented in pilot demonstration sites in representative tropical forest landscapes in seven countries. 4)Recommendations of alternative land use practices and an advisory support system for policies that will enhance the conservation of BGBD. 5)Improved capacity of all relevant institutions and stakeholders to implement conservation management of BGBD in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Assessment of C-stock and earthworm population for a forest-to-coffee conversion in Sumberjaya, West Lampung
The purpose of this poster is to asses above-ground C-stock and Earthworm pupulation density of Monocultural and multistrata coffee based system
Managing biological and genetic diversity in tropical agroforestry
The issues of biological and genetic diversity management in agroforestry are extremely complex. This paper focuses on genetic diversity management and its implications for sustainable agroforestry systems in the tropics, and presents an analysis of the role and importance of inter- and intra-specific diversity in agroforestry. Diversity within and between tree species in traditional agroforestry systems and modern agroforestry technologies in the tropics is assessed, with a view to understanding the functional elements within them and assessing the role and place of diversity. The assessment shows that although the practice of agroforestry has been a diversity management and conservation system, research in agroforestry over time has de-emphasized the diversity element
Amazonie peruvienne: la perseverance de la famille Riquez
En 1992, Gregorio Riquez a quitté la haute jungle péruvienne pour Ucayali, province faiblement peuplée, située dans les basses terres très humides du Bassin amazonien. Au début, quand il a quitté ses montagnes, Gregorio voyait les basses terres de l’Amazonie comme une sorte d’Eldorado où les gens, pour peu qu’ils soient déterminés et durs à la tâche, ne pouvaient que réussir. Mais il n’a pas tardé à déchanter devant la difficulté de la besogne; et, même si ses lopins de terre étaient plus vastes que ceux qu’il cultivait auparavant, il a découvert qu’il était pratiquement impossible de survivre dans cet environnement, l’un des plus hostiles au monde. C’était arrivé à un point tel qu’avec sa femme, Julia Flores et leurs enfants, ils se sont très vite retrouvés au bord de la famine. Ils ont eu beau essarter, débroussailler, cultiver leur terre tant et plus, rien n’y a fait; ils devenaient de plus en plus pauvres. Ils regardaient, impuissants, les pluies torrentielles emporter la terre arable dans leurs flots. Mais le pire est arrivé avec la mort de deux de leurs enfants: leur fils de 13 ans, emporté par une maladie causée par les vers; et leur fille, un bébé de 8 mois, qui a succombé à la fièvre. Pour Monsieur Riquez, plus que la maladie, c’est surtout le manque d’argent et de médicaments qui a tué ses deux enfants.
To segregate – or to integrate? The question of balance between production and biodiversity conservation in complex agroforestry systems
The paper uses Indonesian examples to define the agroforests that are used in the paper as a reference for integrated systems. Agroforest means the mature productive phase of complex agroforestry systems, specially systems that begin with slashing and burning the existing vegetation, planting various commercial and useful tree species, followed by successional phases in forest regeneration process. However in agroforests farmers do not systematically eliminate other species but allow the regeneration and preservation of numerous forest species, those that are perceived as having no detrimental impact on the system’s production.