Wetland sustainability and the evolution of indigenous knowledge in Ethiopia

Much research in recent years has addressed the contribution of indigenous knowledge (IK) to development initiatives in developing countries. An IK system that continuously evolves and adapts in response to environmental and socio-economic change is often considered to be at the core of sustainable natural resource management practices and rural livelihoods. In the context of indigenous wetland management in western Ethiopia, this paper examines the relationship between IK and wetland sustainability, focusing on the mechanisms through which IK evolves and how local adaptive capacity is built up. A series of participatory research activities undertaken in four wetland communities revealed spatial variations in the degree of innovation and communication taking place. The paper argues that these mechanisms are key factors influencing adaptive capacity, suggesting a key link between wetland sustainability and the occurrence of innovation and communication among communities.     

Variability and management patterns of range resources in the Baro River plain, Ethiopia

The biophysical environment of rangelands in the arid and semi-arid lowland parts of Africa is customarily viewed as a homogenous entity. Such notion has encouraged employing a blanket management approach. However, there are perceptible variations within them which necessitate site-specific range management. This study has attempted to identify the variability of soil and forage attributes and assess the existing management practices of those resources in the Baro River plain, Ethiopia. Sample transects, representing pre- and post-fire conditions, were used to collect composite soil samples and vegetation attributes. Alongside the physical survey, a household survey was undertaken to validate the laboratory-generated information. The result showed significant differences of soil and forage attributes among different management regimes, distances from river course and dominant cover types. In general, the distribution of soil nutrients showed a 'distance decay effect', while the distribution of pH showed the reverse pattern. Application of heavy fire load and congested grazing are the principal range management related factors. About 80 per cent of sample pastoralists employ heavy fire without due consideration for the sustainability of the range resource and without considering the local variability. Recognition of site-specific information is the key to effective management of range resources in the study area.     

The role of social resource of indigenous people in local ecological resource management in China: A preliminary case in Zhangye, Northwestern China

Social resources of indigenous people are valuable wealth, including the social norms, the relational network, belief, attitude as well as the social system which is accumulated from generation to generation. Those social resources are very important for local ecological resource management, which can help diffuseness and communion of skills and traditional conservation techniques for conserving and restoring the ecological sites. Social capital is one indicator of social resources, which is accepted widely. In order to investigate the role of social resources of indigenous people in local ecological resource management, the authors studied the relation between social capital of indigenous people and local ecological resource management, taking Zhangye City as an exam-ple. In this paper, social capital of indigenous people is quantified by constructing social capital index, composed of structural so-cial capital and cognitive social capital; local ecological resource management is quantified by constructing "Grain for Green Pro-ject" performance index. Based on correlation analysis approach and logistic regression analysis approach, the authors analyzed the relation between social capital and "Grain for Green Project" performance index, as well as the relations between "Grain for Green Project" performance index and other factors such as per capita net income, medical treatment and so on. Results showed that the correlation between social capital and "Grain for Green Project" performance index was positive, the coefficient was 0.761, with P<0.01. An increase of 1 unit in social capital is associated with an increase of 1.550 units in "Grain for Green Project" per-formance. With factor, such as faction, per capita net income, medical treatment, increasing 1 unit, the "Grain for Green Project" performance index will increase 3.912, 1.039 and 1.005 units, respectively.     

社会资本与地方经济发展:以广东新会为例

海外关系网络是一种特殊的社会资本,对地方经济的发展可以起到一定的促进作用。本文从社会网络作为资源配置渠道的角度,以广东新会为例,通过实地调研、数据统计及问卷分析,探讨了海外关系网络对地方经济发展的作用。研究发现,通过海外关系网络进入侨乡的资金主要有侨汇、捐赠和投资三种形式,三者都直接或间接地作用于新会地方经济发展的各个方面,对新会地方发展起到了重要的作用。然而,随着经济的发展和市场的建立,社会网络的作用正在减弱,说明社会资本只能在特定的时期和特定的历史条件下起作用。侨乡经济要取得持续发展,就必须加强市场的建设。     

地方出口产品结构及制度环境与企业出口相关多样化

产品相关多样化是企业发展的重要战略.经济学研究认为企业内部因素会影响企业的产品多样化策略,而一些地理学研究则发现企业外部的地方因素也会影响企业发展.为了弥补当前研究中关于企业微观发展战略外部影响因素的空白,本文基于2012-2016年中国出口产品贸易数据研究地方出口产品结构对企业出口产品相关多样化的影响,并进一步探究地...     

An Evaluation of the Effect of Termites on Rangeland Degradation: The Case of Yabello,Southern Ethiopia

The infestation rate of termites in the Yabello rangeland, caused by both climatic and human factors, is of interest at certain times. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the impact of termites and determine appropriate management measures in the study area. Data was collected from three kebeles of the Yabello district (Dida Tuyura, Danbal-Waccu and Arero), the selection of which was dependent on the extent to which the termites had spread. A field survey method and semi-structured questionnaires were used for 40 community representatives from each of the selected kebeles. A total of 120 community representatives were interviewed and the interviews were supported by direct observations and informal discussions to understand the impact of termites on rangeland degradation, and to explain the trends. Historical background data of termite infestation rates in the study area was collected and evaluated .In addition to the direct impact caused by termites on forage products, buildings and crops, the linkages of termites with the environment and management mechanisms were identified. Yabello rangeland has often been under termite infestation stress and problems are increasing at an alarming rate. So in order to minimize the impact of termites on rangeland degradation identification of exact termite species and take appropriate management together with the community knowledge and scientific management system was recommended.     

The environmental significance of the remobilisation of ancient mass movements in the Atbara–Tekeze headwaters, Northern Ethiopia

Old landslides are prominent features in the landscape around Hagere Selam, Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia. The available evidence suggests their Late Pleistocene to Middle Holocene age and conditions of soil humidity. The affected geological layers, often silicified lacustrine deposits prone to sliding, rest upon or above the water holding Amba Aradam sandstone aquifer.Three examples of present-day (remobilisation of old) mass movements are illustrated and discussed. The aims of the study were to unravel the environmental conditions of the present-day remobilisation of ancient flows, as well as those of first-time landslides. The first two mass movements discussed are slumps, located in areas with vigorous regeneration of (grassy) vegetation. Their activation is thought to be the consequence of an increase in infiltration capacity of the soils under regenerating vegetation. One of these slumps had a horizontal movement of the order of 10–20 m in 1 day.The other case is the remobilisation of the May Ntebteb debris flow below the Amba Aradam sandstone cliff. The debris flow presently creeps downslope at a rate of 3–6 cm year⁻¹. Palynological evidence from tufa shows that the reactivation of the flow started 70 years ago. Shear resistance measurements indicate the danger for continuous or prefailure creep. From the soil mechanics point of view, the reactivation of the debris flow is due to the combination of two factors: (1) the reduction of flow confining pressures as a result of gully incision over the last hundred years, and (2) the increase of seepage pressure as a consequence of the cumulative effect of this incision and the increase in infiltration rates on the lobe since grazing and woodcutting have been prohibited 8 years ago. The role of such exclosures as possible landslide triggers is discussed.From the geomorphological point of view, the ancient movements and their present-day reactivation cannot be compared: the ancient movements led to the development of debris flows, whereas the reactivations relate to the dissection of these mass movement deposits.     

Place identity and major project deliberation: the contribution of local governments in Australia

ABSTRACT

There is growing recognition of the importance of local governance, for both self-determination and the quality of decision-making. While many authors acknowledge the potential of local governments in providing opportunities for democratic engagement, there is the need for more research into the conditions under which this takes place. The objective of this research is to investigate why, or under what circumstances, local governments enhance participation in and deliberation about major projects in Australia. It does so by analysing two case studies where local governments were highly engaged in advocacy with their communities against large development projects; the East West Link tunnel in Melbourne and the Coal Seam Gas projects of Northern NSW. It finds local governments engaged in these projects due to institutional culture, practices and values, formed after demographic changes in the 1960s and 70s, and associated changes in the place-attachment qualities of residents and the nature and content of their social capital. Through historical instances of community mobilisation, these values became embedded in local governments, enabling them to respond pro-actively to subsequent threats.     

The role and value of local knowledge in Jamaican agriculture: adaptation and change in small-scale farming

Local knowledge has played an active role in the lives of rural communities in virtually every part of the world. In Jamaica, traditional cropping systems based on local informal knowledge have been practiced since the days of slavery and play a vital role in meeting food security. Yet, some negative attitudes remain about the legitimacy and relevance of small-scale farmers' local and traditional knowledge. This paper discusses some conceptual and empirical issues related to the application of local knowledge among small-scale food farmers in central Jamaica. The paper argues that contextually speaking, local and traditional knowledge is valuable, adaptable and necessary in coping with risk and uncertainty in a changing world, while cautioning against a misguided notion of traditional knowledge as a panacea to all the ills of local agriculture.     

川西草地的传统利用--关于游牧的辩驳

自然资源的不断减少和生态环境的日趋退化,使人们开始从各种角度思考人类发展的长期可持续性,但当追求可持续发展时,自然资源保护本身与相关乡土知识系统的保护具有同等重要的地位。综合各学派观点,界定了游牧、半游牧、山地季节性畜牧业和混农季节性牧业等几个与川西草地畜牧业密切相关的概念,描述了游牧现象在全世界的地理分布和川西地区存在的主要类型,并对其生态内核进行了剖析。研究认为,移动型草地畜牧业是川西藏族牧民对高寒地区环境异质性的适应,是在可持续的框架下利用时间和空间差异对草地进行最大限度利用的生态对策。同时,在牧区普遍存在的以牲畜头数论贫富的表象之下,其本身也是适应高寒地区气候条件非规律性变化的保险策略,类似于动物所采取的“r-对策”。因此,对于牧区的发展来说,深刻地理解游牧体系的传统知识,并将其结合于现代发展规划中,是保证高寒牧区走可持续道路的必要基础。     

洞庭湖湿地的面积变化与演替

洞庭湖湿地是一个与长江相连通的大型内陆淡水湿地,它具有复杂多样的功能和多方面的价值。本文利用遥感与地理信息系统技术对多时相的遥感卫星影像进行处理,获取不同年份、不同季节的洞庭湖湿地类型面积,结合多种文献资料,研究1949年以后洞庭湖湿地面积的季节变化与年际变化,以及近期湿地演替的规律。此外,讨论了影响湿地的面积变化与演替的几个重要因素。使得人民能较全面的地了解洞庭湖湿地,有利于合理地开发利用并保护湿地资源。     

真菌在尼泊尔喜马拉雅地区基于生态系统的适应（EbA）实践中的作用评估（英文）

为了实现可持续发展目标（SDG）,从而实现2020年后全球生物多样性目标并提高人类社会对气候变化的抵御能力,建议将基于生态系统的适应（EbA）等基于自然的方法作为一种有前途的综合适应战略。EbA包括重视生态系统在降低社会对气候变化的脆弱性方面的作用的适应战略。在地球上不同的生物群中,真菌不仅在维持生态系统中的生物地球化学循环/养分循环（支持和调节服务）方面发挥着重要作用,而且还为人类的社会经济和文化利益（供应和文化服务）做出了贡献。本文根据对冬虫夏草（Ophiocordyceps sinensis）和其他野生真菌的实地考察、相关文献回顾以及作者的相关专业知识,对这些生物多样性真菌群体如何对基于生态系统的适应（EbA）方法的知识的科学理解进行了介绍。在尼泊尔,很多当地社区将几种真菌用作食品、药品,真菌同时也是尼泊尔山区社区的重要家庭收入来源,可在灾难期间提供缓冲,并对粮食安全、医疗保健、教育等具有积极作用。对于综合EbA方法,应加强地方机构的管理以及本土（地方）知识的教育,以对生态、社会和经济有用的真菌物种的识别、保护和可持续管理进行适当的政策干预。     

长三角地区复杂知识的空间特征及地方知识库类型

知识基础是技术变革和经济长期发展的关键驱动力。已有研究也证明了不同知识类型的价值具有差异。然而在经济地理学领域,常常因知识的质量难以量化而将研究停留在知识投入-产出的数量层面。论文以长三角地区为例,基于该地区41个城市的专利数据,对城市和技术的知识复杂度和多样化水平进行量化,并分析城市-技术知识网络的空间格局和网络结构。研究发现：长三角地区的知识复杂度存在空间异质性,最复杂的技术仅由少数城市生产;从知识库的多样性和知识复杂度2个维度对城市进行类型划分,获得创新型、赌博型、后进型和锁定型4种区域知识库类型,并基于区域知识库异质性提出针对性的区域发展建议。     

地方文化保护与传承中精英个体的日常实践

随着跨学科研究范式与方法的发展,人文地理学开始从更加微观的日常生活视角关注“地方”文化保护问题,产生日常生活地理学这一研究方向。通过关注地方文化保护与传承中精英个体的日常实践,尝试探讨在国家治理与居民日常生活的互动交织中,微观尺度的精英个体通过怎样的日常实践来塑造和凸显其在地方文化保护与传承中的主体性。研究发现：首先,地方文化保护与传承实践中,地方精英获得“文化身份”多体现为对接自上而下的政府治理体系或者下沉到地方民众日常生活实践,从而获得底层民众对自身文化身份的“认同”的两种主要纵向路径,或者通过横向联系结合市场,通过商业实践建构地方文化传承的主体地位;其次,由于文化精英具有一定的群体代表性,精英个体间的差异性是形成地方文化多样性实践的重要原因;文化精英个体通过凝结各种要素,融合了地方性、文化性、空间性和主体性,在执行构建文化自信的各项策略中,应给与高度关注。     

The use of plant water relations to characterize tree species and sites in the drylands of northern Ethiopia

Water relations of four tree species were studied in four sites in the drylands of northern Ethiopia. Predawn water potentials were significantly higher at all sites as compared to midday measurements for Acacia etbaica and Boswellia papyrifera. In contrast, Lannea fruticosa revealed this significant difference only once, while Terminalia brownii at only two of the four sites. An analysis of variance showed that A. etbaica has a wider tolerance range as compared to the other species. There was no significant difference among the four sites in terms of predawn, midday and diurnal ranges of water potential. The study revealed that A. etbaica and B. papyrifera are performing better as compared to T. brownii and L. fruticosa under the current climatic conditions. Understanding the physiological basis of survival, productivity, ability to cope with low moisture availability, and growth potential of indigenous species in the drylands is essential for the utilization and promotion of these and other species.     

Identifying sustainability challenges on land and water uses: The case of Lake Ziway watershed,Ethiopia

This paper firstly analyzes the land use - land cover (LULC) in Lake Ziway watershed (Ethiopia) and quantifies the changing patterns from 1973 to 2014 using Landsat images. Secondly, the paper estimates sediment yields using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT model). It also assesses and estimates water abstraction from Lake Ziway using survey data. The study shows that the conversions from woodlands into agricultural lands and settlement areas are the major detected LULC changes. Of the total area of the watershed, agricultural lands and settlement areas together increased from 57% in 1973 to 75% in 2014 at the expense of woodlands whose areas decreased from 26.16% to 6.63% in the study periods. The study also shows that water abstraction and sediment loads are increasing at Lake Ziway watershed. The major driving forces behind these LULC changes and the impacts on the lake natural condition are anthropogenic factors such as population growth, land policy changes and deforestation. Increasing demands for more land and water resources, i.e., land for settlements and cultivation, wood for fuel and charcoals, and water for irrigation and municipal water supply, are the underlying causes for the observed changes on the watershed resources. Thus, if the existing scenarios of human pressures are left neglected without management interventions, severe watershed degradations will continue to further affect the watershed's resources including the hydrology. Therefore, responsible government institutions should start mobilizing the local communities along with providing financial and material supports for watershed rehabilitation through afforestation and soil and water conservation activities. Additionally, the free-access practices for water use should be replaced by user-charge policy to regulate water abstractions in order to adequately sustain the water level of Lake Ziway and its feeder rivers. In this respect, this study provides firsthand information to policy makers and planners to put in place a comprehensive land and water use plan and regulations against the unruly human actions in the watershed before irreversible losses might happen to Lake Ziway and its watershed resources.     

基于植被净初级生产力和水分利用效率的埃塞俄比亚土地退化趋势及驱动因素分析

土地退化对减缓和适应气候变化有重要影响,并威胁到全世界的可持续发展,造成一系列社会、经济和生态问题,是目前全球面临的最大环境挑战之一。基于2001—2020年埃塞俄比亚的归一化植被指数（NDVI）、气象数据及土地覆盖数据,通过CASA模型计算获得植被净初级生产力（NPP）和水分利用效率（WUE）,并使用Sen+MK趋势分析方法得到土地退化及其恢复趋势,同时采用多元逐步回归方法分析了土地退化及恢复的驱动因素。结果表明：2001—2020年,埃塞俄比亚土地退化整体呈现恢复趋势,恢复区域占全国面积的34.51%,主要分布在埃塞俄比亚西部以及索马里州;退化区域仅占全国面积的1.63%,主要分布在首都亚的斯亚贝巴。土地退化及恢复的主要驱动因素是人为与气候共同因素和人为单因素。土地退化的主要因素为人口的快速增长以及城市的扩张,土地恢复则与20年来实施的森林景观恢复以及可持续土地管理措施和政策有关。     

第二居所旅居者与当地居民社会互动过程及机制——以三亚市为例

第二居所旅居在流动谱系中介于短时性旅游与永久性旅游移民之间,是一种新的人口流动现象.地理学对日常生活的关注从宏大的结构叙事向后现代的多元与微观化转向.在此背景下,本文借鉴符号互动理论,探析第二居所旅居者与当地居民之间差异的建构及其对社会互动的作用过程与机制.结果发现:旅居者与当地居民所处人文地理环境产生的内在差异,使得...