International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of successful reclamation of bauxite residue through afforestation activities in south India

Suresh Chauhan¹* and C. S. Silori²

¹The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) IHC, Darbari Seth Block, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India.

²RECOFTC - The center for people and forest, Bangkok, Thailand.

Accepted 16 December, 2018

Abstract

The present article is based on the results of a pilot project implemented to improve the physico chemical characteristics of bauxite residue (red mud) in order to make it suitable for rehabilitation through afforestation activities. Prior to interventions, extensive experimentation on various reclamation trials involving combinations of soil amenders along with bacteria and mycorrhizae and selection of suitable tree and grass species was undertaken at the nursery stage for one year. During this period, five tree species and four grass/legume species were selected for afforestation program. Of the selected five tree species, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia nilotica and Pongamia pinnata responded well in combination with 55% red mud + 25% FYM + 15% gypsum + 5% vegetative dry dust + bacteria + mycorrihzae, while other two species, Melia azedarach and Acacia tortilis did not survive and thus were replaced by Albizia lebbek and Leucaena leucocephala during pilot implementation in 1.08 ha research plot of red mud of Hindustan Aluminium Company Limited (HINDALCO) at Belgaum, Karnataka, South India. Among the grass and legume species, all the selected four species namely: Brachiaria mutica, Brachiaria decumbens, Stylosanthes scabra and Sesbania sesban responded well at the nursery stage and thus were experimented at the research plot along with the tree plantation. Continuous monitoring on growth pattern of tree and grass species, and soil characteristics revealed remarkable changes in the physico chemical properties of red mud. Apart, toxicity of the planted species and other naturally grown herbaceous flora on the research plot of red mud was also tested for their edibility properties and the results were found encouraging.

Key words: Red mud, bacteria, mycorrhizae, tree species.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-011, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Dealing with reducing trends in forest ecosystem services through a vulnerability assessment and planned adaptation actions

Monica Idinoba¹*, Johnson Nkem², Fobissie B. Kalame¹, Emmanuel Tachie-Obeng³ and Benjamin Gyampoh⁴

¹Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

²Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia.

³Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Accra, Ghana.

⁴Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.

Accepted 12 December, 2018

Abstract

Vulnerability of forest ecosystems in West Africa is likely to be aggravated with current and projected climate and human stresses with implications for adaptation and REDD regimes. This is because vulnerability of the forest ecosystems affects economic sectors and millions of people that depend on their services. This study investigated vulnerability of forest ecosystems through land use land cover (LULC) changes and the availability of economically useful forest ecosystem provisioning services in Ghana and Burkina Faso in the face of different stresses using landsat imageries and Participatory Rural Appraisal. Our analysis indicates that current and projected land cover changes and local perception on availability of forest resources in the different ecological zones are facing a decreasing trend due to various climatic and anthropogenic drivers. Ghana shows a transition in the order of high forest, forest- savanna transition, savanna to widely open cultivated savanna, while study areas in Burkina Faso is experiencing a gradual reduction of dense natural forests reserves towards a more sparse vegetation. Local knowledge in addition to observed changes in LULC can be a useful resource in preparing communities and ecosystems for adaptation as well as contribute to the input based adoption of appropriate policies in REDD schemes.

Key words: Adaptation, forest ecosystem, land use land cover change, REDD, vulnerability, West Africa.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (12), pp. 001-012, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Agroforestry trends in Punjab, Pakistan

Syed Muhammad Akmal Rahim¹* and Shahida Hasnain²

¹Punjab Forest Department, Pakistan.

²Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Punjab, Pakistan.

Accepted 24 August, 2018

Abstract

Pakistan in general and the province of Punjab in particular have a narrow forest resource. More than 90% of the fuel wood and about 72% of timber requirements are being met from trees growing on the private farm lands, based on agro forestry / social forestry / community forestry as compared with the state forests. It is obvious that trees have to be grown in conjunction with agricultural crops on private farm lands. The main objectives of the study pertain to agro forestry trend in Punjab, Province of Pakistan along with the identification of the agroeclogical zones of the province including evaluation of adaptation level of agro forestry interventions; assessment of the aptitude of agro-foresters towards tree planting and hurdles in expansion of the agro forestry. For this, a survey of 257 farm plantations (FP) was conducted in 20 districts of the Punjab Province and more than 257 agro-farmers were interviewed through a prescribed performa. However, a correlation between linear and compact designs of the agro forestry was established. From the study of the survey results, it has also been noticed that out of 257 FP, only three FP belonged to the lessees and 254 belonged to land owners. It was also noted that number of FP considerably increased during 1995 to 2000, when the Punjab forest department transferred technology and provided various incentives and financial subsidies. The farmers can further increase it, if the government revives financial/technical incentives and marketing facilities.

Key words: Agro forestry, linear and compact design, land tenure, agroeclogical zones, spacing.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-007, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors determining community participation in afforestation projects in River Nyando basin, Kenya

James N. Maraga¹*, Jacob K. Kibwage² and Boniface O. Oindo¹

¹School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Maseno University, P. O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya.

²School of Environment and Natural Resources Management, South Eastern University College (A Constituent College of the University of Nairobi), P. O. Box 170-90200, Kitui, Kenya.

Accepted 23 March, 2018

Abstract

Factors determining community participation in afforestation projects were investigated. Data was collected from 150 respondents who were selected from a sample population of 1,928 households using systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Chi-square (X²) test was used to establish the relationship between community participation (dependent variable) and socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors (independent variables) and also to test the strength of the relationship. The results of the study indicated that there was a strong positive relationship between community participation and the benefits obtained from the afforestation projects (X² 0.05 = 0.000). There was also a positive relationship between environmental degradation and community participation in the afforestation projects (X² 0.05 = 0.001). However, there was no relationship between community participation and cultural factors (X² 0.05 = 0.824). There was also no relationship between respondents’ household status and community participation in the afforestation projects (X² 0.05 = 0.156). The study concluded that for conservation projects to succeed, socio-economic benefits must be tangible to the project participants/ beneficiaries.

Key words: Community participation, afforestation projects, Nyando river basin, Kenya.