scholarly journals Agroforestry: An Appropriate and Sustainable Response to a Changing Climate in Southern Africa?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Sheppard ◽  
Rafael Bohn Reckziegel ◽  
Lars Borrass ◽  
Paxie W. Chirwa ◽  
Claudio J. Cuaranhua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
African Region ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
Potential Benefits

Agroforestry is often discussed as a strategy that can be used both for the adaptation to and the mitigation of climate change effects. The climate of southern Africa is predicted to be severely affected by such changes. With agriculture noted as the continent’s largest economic sector, issues such as food security and land degradation are in the forefront. In the light of such concerns we review the current literature to investigate if agroforestry systems (AFS) are a suitable response to the challenges besetting traditional agricultural caused by a changing climate. The benefits bestowed by AFS are multiple, offering ecosystem services, influence over crop production and positive impacts on rural livelihoods through provisioning and income generation. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps remain. We identify outstanding questions requiring further investigation such as the interplay between trees and crops and their combination, with a discussion of potential benefits. Furthermore, we identify deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region. We uphold the concept that AFS remains an appropriate and sustainable response for an increased resilience against a changing climate in southern Africa for the benefit of livelihoods and multiple environmental values.

Biochar for crop production: potential benefits and risks

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mubshar Hussain ◽  
Muhammad Farooq ◽  
Ahmad Nawaz ◽  
Abdullah M. Al-Sadi ◽  
Zakaria M. Solaiman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Potential Benefits

Land-use change on Mount Gede, Indonesia, reduced native earthworm populations and diversity

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Darmawan ◽  
Tri Atmowidi ◽  
Wasmen Manalu ◽  
Bambang Suryobroto
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Managed Forest ◽  
Earthworm Species ◽  
Mixed Plantation

The conversion of natural forest to agroforestry plantations and annual cropping systems alters the soil habitat and food resources for biota, including earthworms. Native earthworm species may disappear whereas exotic species with greater tolerance of disturbance and less niche specialisation may thrive. The objective of the study was to compare the earthworm diversity in managed forest and agroforestry systems, which were cultivated for mixed plantation and annual crop production on Mount Gede, Indonesia. All the habitats in the study area were impacted by humans. The forest habitat was a managed forest, with a permanent tree cover, whereas mixed plantation had a partial shrub cover. Meanwhile, homogenous plantation was cultivated with annual crops. Among 3787 individuals collected during July–October 2012, five Oriental earthworm species were identified in the soil communities of Mount Gede: Drawida nepalensis, Notoscolex javanica, Pheretima pura-group, Polypheretima moelleri, and Polypheretima sempolensis. Also, 18 species were found that are reported to be non-Oriental in origin. Anthropogenic disturbance of forests on Mount Gede, due to conversion into plantations, alters the earthworm environment by increasing soil water content, temperature and total phosphorous content, while decreasing organic carbon. N. javanica was the only native species to survive this deforestation, while the exotic Ocnerodrilus occidentalis and Pontoscolex corethrurus thrived, becoming the eudominant species. From the forest area to the mixed and homogenous plantations, the predicted decreasing diversity is evidenced by the lowering trend of Shannon’s diversity index. In conclusion, the land-use change into mixed plantations and annual croplands has reduced earthworm diversity in this region of Mount Gede, Indonesia.

scholarly journals Survey of ophthalmologists-in-training in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa: A regional focus on ophthalmic surgical education

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 187
Author(s):  
William Dean ◽  
Stephen Gichuhi ◽  
John Buchan ◽  
Ibrahim Matende ◽  
Ronnie Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Training ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Surgical Education ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Region ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Small Incision Cataract Surgery ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Recent Graduates

Background: There are 2.7 ophthalmologists per million population in sub-Saharan Africa, and a need to train more. We sought to analyse current surgical training practice and experience of ophthalmologists to inform planning of training in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey. Potential participants included all current trainee and recent graduate ophthalmologists in the Eastern, Central and Southern African region. A link to a web-based questionnaire was sent to all heads of eye departments and training programme directors of ophthalmology training institutions in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, who forwarded to all their trainees and recent graduates. Main outcome measures were quantitative and qualitative survey responses. Results: Responses were obtained from 124 (52%) trainees in the region. Overall level of satisfaction with ophthalmology training programmes was rated as ‘somewhat satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ by 72%. Most frequent intended career choice was general ophthalmology, with >75% planning to work in their home country post-graduation. A quarter stated a desire to mainly work in private practice. Only 28% of junior (first and second year) trainees felt surgically confident in manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS); this increased to 84% among senior trainees and recent graduates. The median number of cataract surgeries performed by junior trainees was zero. 57% of senior trainees were confident in performing an anterior vitrectomy. Only 29% of senior trainees and 64% of recent graduates were confident in trabeculectomy. The mean number of cataract procedures performed by senior trainees was 84 SICS (median 58) and 101 phacoemulsification (median 0). Conclusion: Satisfaction with post-graduate ophthalmology training in the region was fair. Most junior trainees experience limited cataract surgical training in the first two years. Focused efforts on certain aspects of surgical education should be made to ensure adequate opportunities are offered earlier on in ophthalmology training.

Building multifunctionality into agricultural conservation programs: lessons learned from designing agroforestry systems with central Illinois landowners

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Christian Stanek ◽  
Sarah Taylor Lovell
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Conservation Programs ◽  
Multifunctional Landscapes ◽  
The Usa

AbstractSince 1985, land retirement has been the primary approach used by the federal government for environmental protection of agricultural landscapes, but increasingly it is being supplemented by conservation initiatives on working lands. This shift logically supports agroforestry and other multifunctional approaches as a means to combine production and conservation. However, such approaches can be complex and difficult to design, contributing to the limited adoption in the USA. To understand and improve the integration of multifunctional landscapes into conservation programs, we worked with 15 landowners in a collaborative design process to build unique conservation plans utilizing agroforestry. We interviewed participants before and after the design process to examine the utility of a personalized design process, applicability of agroforestry to conservation programs and pathways to improve conservation policy. We found that landowners strongly preferred working in person for the design process, and being presented a comparison of alternative designs, rather than a single option, especially for novel systems. Agroforestry was seen as a viable method of generating conservation benefits while providing value to the landowners, each of whom stated they were more inclined to adopt such practices irrespective of financial assistance to do so. For conservation programs, landowners suggested reducing their complexity, inflexibility and impersonal nature to improve the integration of multifunctional practices that appeal directly to the practitioner's needs and preferences. These findings are valuable for conservation policy because they complement previous research theory suggesting the value of working collaboratively with landowners in the design of multifunctional landscapes. Personalized solutions that are developed based on the unique characteristics of the local landscape and the preferences of the individual landowner may be retained beyond a specified payment period, rather than being converted back into annual crop production.

scholarly journals Supply chain management best practices: A case of humanitarian aid in southern Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngonidzahe K. Ngwenya ◽  
Micheline J.A. Naude
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
African Region ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: A key contemporary issue in the southern African region is the increased frequency of the number of natural disaster occurrences. Because of the extent of the damage as a result of these disasters, beneficiary needs have to be met to mitigate against consequent hardships and the loss of lives in the affected communities.Objectives: This article reports on a study that investigated supply chain management best practices that are employed by the United Nations World Food Programme’s (UNWFP) when dealing with disasters.Method: This exploratory study consisted of five in-depth interviews with voluntary participants at the UNWFP regional office in Johannesburg to determine the various initiatives adopted by the UNWFP that ensure successful disaster relief operations. Thematic analyses were used to analyse the collected data.Results: Based on the themes generated from the in-depth interviews, supply chain best practices were mainly linked to the concepts of agility, responsiveness and flexibility.Conclusion: The main findings revealed that the strategic planning, implementation and controlling of agile, flexible and responsive supply chain practices can contribute to the success of logistical operations supporting humanitarian efforts in southern Africa.

scholarly journals Unique challenges and opportunities for northeastern US crop production in a changing climate

2017 ◽  
Vol 146 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 231-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Wolfe ◽  
Arthur T. DeGaetano ◽  
Gregory M. Peck ◽  
Mary Carey ◽  
Lewis H. Ziska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities
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