Effects of Social Learning on Rural Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity: Empirical Insights from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Abstract

Environmental challenges in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta characterized by adverse impacts of climate change, upstream hydropower development and localized dyke expansion present imperatives for rural farmers to “learn to adapt.” However, little is known about how learning contributes to improving their capacity in adapting to these “wicked” problems. This study investigates potential effects of farmers’ learning on their adaptive capacity, utilizing nine focus group discussions, 33 interviews, and a structured survey of 300 farmers. The exploratory factor analysis produced two factors for social learning: (1) learning through social interactions and (2) self-reflection, and one factor for adaptive capacity. The regression results show that the social learning factors have significantly positive effects on adaptive capacity. Farmers with a higher level of social learning are likely to demonstrate higher adaptive capacity. The findings call for policy considerations to promote learning in a broader context of the delta to enhance local capacity.     

景观美学视角下的农村土地整治探讨

在建设美丽中国的背景下,农村土地整治不仅要增加耕地、节约集约利用建设用地和保护生态环境,发挥其经济价值、社会价值和生态价值,还要发挥其美学价值,为建设美丽乡村做出贡献。该文探讨了景观美学与农村土地整治的关系,探索了农村土地整治的景观美学要素及其内涵,从宏观、中观和微观尺度分析了农村土地整治的主要内容,以期为丰富土地整治理念、内容等提供有益借鉴。     

无人机航测遥感技术在农村土地承包经营权登记试点中的应用

简要介绍农村土地承包经营权登记试点工作概况和无人机航摄技术的特点,结合工程实例介绍了利用无人机航摄影像制作DOM的作业过程,描述其中的航拍、像片控制测量、空三加密及DOM制作。     

Competing Perceptions of the Rural Idyll: responses to threats from coal seam gas development in Gloucester,NSW, Australia

Threats to rural livelihoods and rural landscapes have increased over time as developed nations in particular look for cheaper and more locally based alternatives to traditional energy sources to drive national economies. In New South Wales, through the expansion of coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG), small towns such as Gloucester on the edge of the Upper Hunter are faced with competing visions which seek to redefine their future. Powerful and competing discourses over land use threaten not only the sustainability of the region but the integrity of its sense of place, centred on community, rurality, agricultural production and confrontation of risk from mining. The different discourses of local groups such as ‘tree-changers’, established residents and farmers conflict with those of external organisations such as the State government and mining/CSG companies which envisage Gloucester as a ‘balanced’ space of co-existence and position it as a new node in the carbon supply chain.     

Development without Intervention: A Successful Self‐Reliance Initiative of Rural Development and Urban Growth in The Sudan

We investigate the complex relationship between small‐scale farming, urban‐rural remittances and rural development. We highlight a successful, innovative self‐reliance approach in which traditional farmers changed their mode of production, improved their income, and enhanced rural development, including urbanization, in Shubbola village of western Sudan. The major initial driver was investment from remittances by family members who had migrated to urban centers, thus overcoming the problem of access to credit/capital. Consequently, the increased use of tractor technology helped farmers overcome agricultural labor shortages, and increase their farm size and productivity. Increased income from remittances and farming broadened economic and social improvements, including lifestyle and the built environment. In the process, Shubbola has grown into a viable and vibrant town, providing its residents with diverse socioeconomic services and modern infrastructure. This case illustrates the potential of development from within with minimal direct input from the government, nongovernmental organizations, and international donors.     

煤炭资源富集区农户收入差异及其影响因素——以陕西省神木县为例

以农户为细胞单元,通过对典型乡镇农户收入的差异分析来探讨影响农村经济发展的主要因素。选取陕西省神木县12个乡镇典型村域进行农户调查和定量评价,运用多元回归对农户收入的影响因素进行分析。各乡镇间人均纯收入差距显著,基尼系数均在0.20以上,67%的乡镇基尼系数大于0.30,其中解家堡、乔岔滩、花石崖的基尼系数更是超过了国际警戒线0.40;乡镇内部农户间的收入差距也十分明显。回归结果显示:耕地面积、第一产业支出是低收入家庭农户收入的重要影响因素;户主受教育程度、非农就业等显著影响着中等收入家庭农户收入;而经济潜力、家庭教育负担、区位因素对高收入家庭农户收入影响显著。研究表明,要增加农户家庭的收入,除了发展个体经济、提升兼业比重外,还应重视农户自身素质的提高,大力发展农村的经济合作。     

欠发达山区农村居民点整理潜力评价与空间分异研究——以福建省松溪县为例

欠发达山区的农村居民点整理潜力的测算受到多方面因素的影响,当前普遍使用的人均建设用地标准法存在计算简单、测算结果偏离实际等问题。本研究以福建省松溪县为例,综合考虑自然、社会、经济、生态以及土地资源现状5个方面的因素,构建农村居民点整理潜力综合修正指标体系,采用层次分析法、聚类分析法、ArcGIS空间分析,探讨松溪县农村居民点整理现实潜力及其空间分异情况。结果表明各个评价单元综合修正系数介于0.156 6~0.714 1之间,2020年松溪县农村居民点整理现实潜力为315.43 hm2,总理论潜力转化率为38.20%;以整理现实潜力为主要依据,将全县划分为4个潜力分区,并为各分区整理模式和时序提出建议。     

Themed issue on ＂Land Use Policy in China＂ published in Land Use Policy

Land Use Policy is an international and interdisciplinary journal,published by Elsevier,concerned with the social,economic,political,legal,physical and planning aspects of urban and rural land use.Recently,a themed issue on＂Land Use Policy in China＂has been published in Volume 40 of this journal （http：//www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02648377/40）. Under the guidance of the journal editor Professor Guy Robinson from University of South Australia, Professor Hualou Long acted as the guest editor in compiling this themed issue.     

临沭县城乡建设用地增减挂钩试点工作调查与思考

城乡建设用地增减挂钩工作是破解保障与保护＂两难＂困境的根本出路,根据山东省临沭县增减挂钩试点工作情况,综合分析增减挂钩工作现状及特点,对如何实施好增减挂钩服务社会主义新农村建设提出建议。     

浅析城乡建设用地增减挂钩政策

对当前正在实施的城乡建设用地增减挂钩政策进行了初步分析,认为当前大多数地方开展增减挂钩工作立足点存在偏差,导致工作方式的切入点出现偏向。文章对增减挂钩的深刻内涵进行了剖析,并提出了工作实践中应注意的问题。