Spatio-Temporal Variation Patterns of Bird Community in the Oasis Ecosystem of the North of Algerian Sahara

The spatial and temporal variation patterns of birds were investigated in the Oasis ecosystem of the North of Algeria Sahara. This contribution aimed to investigate the poorly studied bird fauna of Bousaâda oasis. The direct observation method was used for bird counts, adopted only during the breeding period. A total of 53 species of birds from 29 families and 16 orders were assessed in the different habitats of the Oasis (palm, fruit trees and, cultivated crops). The Passeriformes order was the most abundant represented by 35 species and 16 families. The relative abundance and species richness were recorded during our study period over different seasons and thought that whole surveyed stations represent all the oasis habitats. The Boussaâda oasis holds 18 resident-breeder species and is a transit zone for many migratory birds 14 and 10 species for summer and winter migrants respectively) and11 occasional visitor ones. These results confirmed the positive effects of stations and seasons on the richness and abundance of birds of Bousaâda oasis.

Monetary Value Change of Some Provisioning Ecosystem Services of Middle Draa Valley, South of Morocco

The desert oasis is a wetland agro-ecosystem more and more under pressure. This trend threatens the oasis ecosystem services (ES) and then the wellbeing of the local population. In order to quantify this trend in Middle Draa Valley, South of Morocco, the monetary values for a selection of ES have been estimated. In this chapter, the economic values of 28 provisioning ES in 2014 was examined and next compared with the economic values of 2009. These values were standardized to US$ per hectare per year. The total value of the studied provisioning ES in 2014 was found to be 8658.3 US$/ha/year for the arable area (26000ha) and 150 US$/ha/year for the whole Middle Draa Valley (1500000ha). Comparing these findings with the data of 2009, a slight increase of $1245.7 (in 26000ha) and $21.5 US$/ha/year (the whole area) was detected in the period 2009-2014.

Environmental policy evaluation from the perspective of farmers' perception in arid oasis ecosystem: Experiences of Minqin, Northwest China

Effective eco-environment rehabilitation is an essential policy issue in arid oasis ecosystem. Since 2007, a policy which focuses on environment restoration and protection was implemented in the Shiyang River Basin of Gansu Province, China. Using Minqin oasis as a case, the effectiveness of policy impacts based on farmers’ perception was evaluated. In addition, an ordinal logistic regression model was used to explore the potential factors affecting farmers’ perception of policy effectiveness. Data were collected from household heads or spouses and other adults (age>18) separately in a random sample of 425 households. The results showed that positive outcomes were achieved, however, two policy measures—the water restrictions and the ecological migration project—were rated at a low level of satisfaction by the farmers. Moreover, 11 determinants were extracted by the logistic regression method, and indicating that economic factors including the ownership of the arable land and the availability of household income turned out to be the most significant. The results can help to establish eco-environmental restoration targets, encourage investments, and lead to the development of more applicable methods for assessing policy effects from the perspective of smallholders in ecologically fragile areas all over the world. Keywords: Environmental policy evaluation; Farmers’ perception; Ordinal logistic regression; Minqin oasis; Northwest China

The Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) In Siwa Oasis (Egypt): How Ethnographic, Morphometric, And Genetic Analyses Together Explain The Local Agrobiodiversity

The agrobiodiversity of the Siwa oasis (in Egypt), located at the crossroads of ancient Trans-Saharan routes, is evaluated in this article focusing on the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), the oasis “ecosystem engineer”. This assessment confronts different ontologies: diversity as expressed and maintained by the folk categorization system of the Siwa inhabitants (through the results of an ethnographical analysis) and diversity described by genetic sciences and a morphometric tool based on the size and geometry of the seeds. This work is also an opportunity to evaluate this tool intended for archaeobotany. Beyond a simple instrumentalization of one discipline by another, this study offers a space of mutual enrichment: on the relative importance of the feral and cultivated date palms, the local relevance of the concept of “cultivar” and the confirmation of the existence of “ethnovarieties”.