International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (10), pp. 001-010, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Climate impacts, forest-dependent rural livelihoods and adaptation strategies in Africa: A review

Olufunso A. Somorin^1,2

¹Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Yaoundé Cameroon.

²Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +237 22 22 74 4/51. Fax: +237 22 22 74 50.

Accepted 06 February, 2018

Abstract

The long term contribution of forests to the livelihoods of the rural poor had been long appreciated. More than half of Africa’s fast-growing population rely directly and indirectly on forests for their livelihoods. As the continent faces stresses from poverty and economic development, another major uncertainty is looming that could alter many of the relationships between people and forests. This uncertainty is climate change. Climate impacts such as changes in temperature and rainfall patterns resulting in drought, flooding, all exert significant effect on forest ecosystems and their provision of goods and services, which form the safety nets for many African rural poor. Building adaptation strategies becomes an option for forest-dependent households and communities, and even countries whose economies largely depend on the related sectors. The review details cases of impacts, underlying causes of vulnerability, and identified coping and adaptation strategies, as reported in their National Communications by many African countries to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change.

Key words: Climate change, impacts, forests, rural livelihoods, adaptation, Africa.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (9), pp. 001-009, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Economic framework for integrating environmental stewardship into food security strategies in low-income countries: Case of agroforestry in southern African region

Oluyede Clifford Ajayi¹*, Festus K. Akinnifesi¹, Gudeta Sileshi¹, Sebastian Chakeredza¹and Patrick Matakala²

¹ICRAF Agroforestry Programme, P.O. Box 30798, Lilongwe 03, Malawi

²World Agroforestry Centre Regional Office, 2698 Avenida das FPLM, Mavalane, P.O. Box 1884, Maputo, Mozambique.

Accepted 08 February, 2018

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges in many Sub-Saharan Africa countries especially where seasonal food deficits occur frequently, is how best to achieve a balance between the goals of food security and agricultural production on the one hand, and the concerns for the conservation of environmental quality and natural resources capital on the other. A number of agricultural production technologies (based on natural resource management principles) exist that offer opportunities for achieving the two seemingly divergent goals because they have the characteristics to produce joint multiple outputs, i.e, they produce food and provide environmental services. However, farmer adoption of these technologies has generally been limited. Drawing from natural resource economics, this study presents a conceptual framework that provide environmental-economic logic for establishing incentives that internalize the environmental services produced by multiple-outputs land use technologies. Using a land use practice based on agroforestry principles (that is, “improved tree fallows”) as a case study, this paper synthesizes studies carried out in southern Africa region for over a decade. It then discusses how the potential impacts of the technological advances made in research and development are affected by policy and institutional constraints, among other challenges. With particular emphasis on the socio-economic context in southern Africa, the paper identifies options for addressing these institutional and policy constraints in order to facilitate adoption of multi- output land use practices by farmers and unlock their potential to meet food production goals for individual households and environmental services for the wider society.

Key words: Adoption, Agri -Environmental quality, Environmental services, Natural resource economics, Payment for environmental services, Science-policy linkages.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Farmer participatory assessment of two researcher-managed ‘fertilizer tree systems in Southern Malawi

Akinnifesi F. K.^1*, Makumba W.², Sileshi G. W.¹ and Ajayi O. C.¹

¹World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P. O. Box 30798, Lilongwe, Malawi.

²Department of Agricultural Research and Technical Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Accepted 20 March, 2018

Abstract

The suitability of maize under two fertilizer tree fallow systems were evaluated by farmers at Makoka Agricultural Research Station in southern Malawi. Sixty- eight farmers drawn from five farmer groups assessed Gliricidia-maize intercropping system, and 72 farmers assessed rotational fallows with 10 trees species during 2001. Fertilizer treatments and maize plots served as controls. Gliricidia- maize plot without fertilizer amendment and maize fertilized with 50% of the recommended N doze in Gliricidia-maize intercropping were judged as "best" by the majority (60-71%) of farmers involved in assessing the technologies in groups as well as individuals. Among the rotational fallows, the majority of farmers had ranked maize cropped after Tephrosia vogelli, Gliricidia sepium and Sesbania sesban higher than with fertilized monoculture maize. The unfertilized maize plot was adjudged unsuitable by 96% of the farmers. Maize plots supplied with 50% of the recommended N dose were less preferred to unfertilized Gliricidia-maize plots.

Key words: Nitrogen-fixing trees, agroforestry, farmer preferences, fertilizer supplementation, Malawi.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (6), pp. 001-010, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The contribution of trees and green spaces to the urban climate: The case of Ankara

Mehmet Emin Baris*, Sükran Sahin and Murat E. Yazgan

Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Landscape Architecture, 06110 Diskapi, Ankara-Turkey.

Accepted 13 February, 2018

Abstract

Urban development changes the climate of the city and its environs to a great extent. Buildings, roads and other similar hard surfaces in big cities have made up an artificial ecosystem with the intensive use of vehicles. Trees and open areas can contribute very well to the arrangement of the artificial urban climate. No matter being of what scale, any park located within the urban structure can well regulate the balance of heat in residential areas significantly. At this point, the character of the vegetation, its distribution throughout the city, size and such other factors carry importance. The basic purpose of this research is to draw attention to the contribution of green areas with different characters that have made to the climate of city of Ankara, Turkey and help develop studies for formation of certain data concerning the subject for urban planning studies and henceforth proposals for planning of green areas. In order to determine the contributions of the open and green areas to the urban climate. In this study, three type of green areas of different characters were chosen and temperature and humidity levels of these areas and the surroundings were measured. The results of the research indicated that the green areas that are placed among the residential areas can create different microclimates in terms of temperature and humidity values when they are designed and positioned accordingly, irrespective of their size.

Key words: Ankara, green space, humidity, temperature, urban climate.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Usability of the Taurus Cedar and Crimean Pine in green belt afforestations in semiarid regions in Turkey: A case study in Konya Province Loros Mountain - Akyokus

Nuri Oner¹* and Mutlu Uysal²

¹Cankiri Karatekin University, Faculty of Forestry, 18200, Cankiri-Turkey.

²Selcuk University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Landscape Architecture Department, 42031, Konya-Turkey.

Accepted 03 February, 2018

Abstract

In this study, root collar diameter and height development of 9 year-old saplings of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani) and Crimean Pine ( Pinus nigra subsp. nigra var. caramanica) in the green belt afforestation areas were researched in Akyokus (130 ha) and Loros Mountain (140 ha) in Konya province. For this reason, root collar diameters and heights were measured at 4 temporary sample plots, each 450 m² (30 m × 15 m) containing randomized 5 experimental areas with 10 replicates. The data obtained from measurement were compared with ANOVA test. The root collar diameters of Crimean pines in Loros Mountain and heights of Taurus cedars in Akyokus were significantly different and higher. On the other hand, volumes of Crimean pines in Loros Mountain and Taurus cedar in Akyokus were significantly different in favor of these species. Thus, it might be suitable to use Crimean pine in Loros Mountain and Taurus cedar in Akyokus for green-belt afforestation studies in the future.

Key words: Crimean Pine, green belt afforestation, height, root collar diameter, Taurus cedar.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of specific gravity on wood species selection for agroforestry in some Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria

Erakhrumen Andrew Agbontalor

Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 09 January, 2018

Abstract

Specific gravity (SG) of wood has not been adequately reported to be a factor directly or indirectly influencing its selection for incorporation into or retention in some of the agroforestry systems. In this study, the SG of twelve wood species that top the priority ranking of respondents in Akinyele and Ido Local Government Areas (LGAs), Oyo State, Nigeria, where the predominant type of agroforestry system practiced is that of scattered trees in croplands, were evaluated and found to range between 0.42 and 0.85 with eleven of the species having values > 0.60. Ranking pattern by the respondents in the two LGAs was found not to be significantly different using Friedman chi-square analysis ( ² = 2.17, p < 0.05). Data obtained for SG were subjected to two-way analysis of variance which indicated a significant variation (p < 0.05) in the values among the species but not within each species. Follow up test was carried out using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference. The correlation analysis gave positive coefficient values (r > 0.80, p < 0.05) between SG and cumulative ranking values in the two LGAs. Conclusion and recommendations were made in line with the outcome of the study.

Key words: Agroforestry technologies, wood specific gravity, species selection, natural resources, indigenous knowledge.