Academic literature on the topic 'Environmental aspects of Hill farming'
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Journal articles on the topic "Environmental aspects of Hill farming"
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O’Rourke, Eileen. "Drivers of Land Abandonment in the Irish Uplands: A Case Study." European Countryside 11, no. 2 (June 1, 2019): 211–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/euco-2019-0011.
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Abstract Land abandonment is a complex multi-dimensional process with interlinked economic, environmental and social aspects. This paper presents a case study of an isolated hill sheep farming community in SW Ireland, where a combination of low incomes, ageing population, lack of successors and strong environmental constraints are perceived to be among the main factors leading to their demise. However, the uplands they have grazed for generations are of high nature conservation value, and depend on active management to maintain both their ecology and landscapes. The research, which is based on a combination of interviews and farming systems research, highlights the misfit between what the mountain can produce, light hill lamb, and what the globalised market demands. The paper argues that if ‘farming for conservation’ is the new function of such farming systems, then we should consider decoupling public goods payments from agricultural subsidies, along with integrating agriculture in disadvantaged areas within a broader rural development framework. The research aims to fill the gap between macro policy and the micro reality of an upland community on a self-declared ‘tipping point’.
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Crofoot, A. "Impact of Government and regulatory policy on hill country farming." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 16 (January 1, 2016): 29–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.16.2016.3256.
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New Zealand has a long history of Government policy affecting agriculture. Some policy interventions, such as Producer Boards were long-lived, others like Land Development Encouragement Loans and the Supplementary Minimum Price scheme ramped up quickly and were then dismantled. Currently, the National Policy for Freshwater Management and the Emissions Trading Scheme are having mixed effects on hill country farmers. While regulation is often seen by farmers as a negative, environmental regulation has the potential to be used for market advantage. Farmers need to engage in policy and regulation development as they can help avoid unintended consequences. If they do not then they are ceding control of important aspects of their business to others. This paper explores some of the impacts of past and present policy on hill country farming from a farmer's perspective, and based on 9 years of regular involvement in development and implementation of policy at a local, regional and national level. Keywords: policy, National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, Emissions Trading Scheme, farmer engagement
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Kemp, P. D., and I. F. López. "Hill country pastures in the southern North Island of New Zealand: an overview." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 16 (January 1, 2016): 289–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.16.2016.3241.
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The 4 million ha of hill country pastures in New Zealand grow mostly on steep slopes and soils of naturally low soil fertility. Pastures are based on approximately 25 exotic species introduced within the last 130 years after the forest was cleared and burnt. Despite the environmental constraints and naturalised species, hill country is a major contributor to agricultural exports. The landscape and the pastures are spatially diverse, with slope and aspect strongly influencing the abundance and production of pasture species. The number of pasture species present is relatively stable, but the relative abundance of high fertility grass species (e.g. perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne), low fertility grass species (e.g. browntop, Agrostis capillaris) and legumes (e.g. white clover, Trifolium repens) can be shifted towards high fertility grass species and legumes through the interaction of phosphate fertiliser application and grazing decisions (that is, sheep versus cattle, stocking rate, grazing management). Increased proportions of desirable species and improved soil fertility and structure can support sustainable farming systems. There are challenges such as soil erosion and nutrient loss into waterways, but these are more readily managed when the pastoral system is productive and profitable. Keywords: slope, pasture condition, browntop, perennial ryegrass, soil characteristics
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Morrison, Charles A., Victoria C. F. Westbrooke, and Jim L. Moir. "Potential profit gains from improving pasture productivity on New Zealand South Island high-country farms." Journal of New Zealand Grasslands 82 (October 18, 2020): 183–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2020.82.450.
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Soil acidity combined with low levels of key nutrients on New Zealand hill-country farms are limiting factors for legume establishment/growth. However, legumes are a critical component of these farms as they provide nitrogen and high-quality feed. A farm-systems model was developed to estimate the impact of targeted fertiliser and lime application, combined with sowing clover, on whole-farm productivity and profitability. A base model was developed that incorporated 17 years’ worth of Beef + Lamb NZ survey data for Class 1: South Island Farms. This base model was then used investigate two lime-application/oversowing models where part of the modelled high-country farm was targeted for improvement: (1) Conservative, i.e. 0.6% farm area; and (2) Aggressive, i.e. 2.8% farm area. Three scenarios to utilise the additional pasture grown were then investigated for each model by: (a) increasing ewe numbers; (b) increasing ewe performance (lambing percentage); and (c) increasing liveweight gain of stock. Scenario 2a, generated the highest profitability level (Earnings before Interest Tax and Rent, EBITR $58,870) above the base model but became less financially attractive when the two years required to build the maternal ewe flock were factored in. Scenarios 2c and 1b generated increases in profitability (EBITR) between $33,310 and $41,290 above the base model. Variation in product prices, production levels and time to develop the final farm-management system would also influence the productivity and profitability of the scenarios. Environmental aspects, infrastructure and staff availability would affect the suitability of the development for individual farming businesses.
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Jha, Vibhash C., and Subhasis Ghosh. "Environmental Risk Assessment: A Geomorphic Investigation over the Bolpur-Santiniketan-Illambazar Lateritic Patch of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India." National Geographical Journal of India 66, no. 2 (June 30, 2020): 94–110. http://dx.doi.org/10.48008/ngji.1733.
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A proper geomorphic study of a region can be useful in understanding past and present environmental circumstances and analyzing potential environmental risks. Careful analysis of morphodynamic processes and existing diagnostic landforms reveal several aspects about the origin, characteristics and possible pattern of morpho-climatic interactions on the landscape over temporal scale, which helps significantly in proper terrain evaluation from societal welfare and integrated management point of view, including environmental risk assessment and disaster management. This paper has made a thorough geomorphic investigation based on intensive fieldwork and multi-sourced remote sensing data to characterize the lateritic soil profile and landforms of the study area in respect to their morphology and Physico-chemical properties at the different sites of land degradation to understand the outcome of morphoclimatic interactions on the landscape over time, and to evaluate the severity of operation with pedo-geomorphic constraints in the lateritic environment for sustainable management purposes. It is found that the region is highly sensitive to weathering, mass movement and denudational activities, mainly caused by rainwater erosion which has resulted into varied landforms including well-developed rills and gullies, lateritic ridges, isolated residual hills etc and generated a unique identity to this part of the lateritic region. The study also suggested a model for the development of geomorphic landforms in a lateritic terrain based on past and present morphoclimatic interactions, nature of physiography, lithology, soil characteristics and other biotic and abiotic elements. The region is also found to be a subject to moderate to severe land degradation due to the active geomorphic processes in operation in tropical regions and inherently poor physical and chemical formation of the existing soil profile and radical conversion of land uses as observed at cadastral level leading towards irresistible desertification. Annual topsoil loss amount has been calculated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation method. Three sample Mouzas namely Ballavpur, Shyambati and Chawpahari jungle have been assessed to be having 36.98%, 71.42% and 61.73% of degraded land in respect to their total village area. Various conservative measures like stabilization of gully heads and beds through reforestation and afforestation with cutting earth plug, brush fills and check dams; improvement of the irrigation network, suitable dryland farming etc. have been recommended to arrest the desertification process.
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Kerr, G. A. "Why a hill country symposium?" NZGA: Research and Practice Series 16 (January 1, 2016): 7–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.16.2016.3251.
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Introduction When I was young the hill country was where the store lambs came from. But with the flatter and generally better land being lost to the likes of urban and dairy farming expansion, New Zealand's hill country is now the key breeding platform, and is increasingly being required to finish stock for the red meat sector - a sector that generates nearly $8 billion/year in export earnings for the country. Hill country farmers, their service providers and local communities face notable challenges including continuing pressure on profitability, rural depopulation and climate change, as well as environmental pressure around the 'right to farm' from the greater New Zealand population. However, there are also great success stories in terms of the improvements in productivity and environmental stewardship that have been made in the hill country. The Hill Country Symposium (HCS) will update relevant research and present some of the industry's successes. However, our main aim is as a group to answer two questions: What does a profitable and resilient future for our hill country farming look like? What do we, collectively
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Dahal, Ngamindra, Roshan Man Bajracharya, and Juerg Merz. "Prospects of bicar as soil amendment in Nepal hill farming systems." Journal of Agriculture and Environment 17 (May 7, 2018): 92–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/aej.v17i0.19865.
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Burning of biomass under controlled temperature and oxygen limited environment produces biochar along with syn-gases and bio-oil. A significant volume of literatures portray biochar as a remedial option to meet growing needs of amending agricultural soils for global food security and carbon sequestration to curb climate change. Biochar has generated huge interests among agro-practitioners mainly for its two sets of benefits. The first set of benefits is about desirable changes in soil function that includes enhanced soil microbial activity, retention of nutrients and moisture, alkaline effect for treating acidic soils and, increased porosity on soil structure. The second set includes enhanced adaptive capacity of agricultural systems to climate change impacts, and, carbon sequestration due to its recalcitrant nature that remain in soil for a very long period. These acclaimed effects of biochar on soils are among the much sought-after remedies to heal a number of soil health ailments that millions of farmers and policy planners are looking for. However, effectiveness of biochar has yet to be examined carefully in different soil types over diverse topography corresponding with local cropping patterns. Matching properties of soils with those of biochar is a prerequisite for any interventions aimed at soil amendment. Properties of biochar generally depend on feedstock types, and temperatures during pyrolysis. This review analyses major published works on different aspects of biochar with the key question of whether promotion of biochar could be a viable solution to address some of the critical concerns of soil productivity in the Nepal mid hills and concludes with a note that there are serious knowledge gaps in two fronts – systematic practice of biochar production and application in agricultural farms is yet to take off, and, documented evidences of effectiveness of biochar on various soil types and cropping patterns are insignificant.
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Jelínková, Zuzana, Jan Moudrý, Jaroslav Bernas, Marek Kopecký, Jan Moudrý, and Petr Konvalina. "Environmental and economic aspects of Triticum aestivum L. and Avena sativa growing." Open Life Sciences 11, no. 1 (January 1, 2016): 533–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/biol-2016-0069.
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AbstractThis paper deals with the assessment of cultivation of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa) grown in Central Europe within the conventional and organic farming systems in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and economic profitability. Organic farming may be one of the tools for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production. In the context of crop production, cereals rank among the most commonly grown crops and therefore bread wheat and oat were chosen. The Climate change impact category was assessed within the simplified LCA method and the production of greenhouse gas emissions expressed in CO2e per the production unit was calculated. Economic balance of the cultivation of monitored cereals was compiled based on the yields, farm gate prices and costs. On its basis, the cultivation of wheat within the organic farming system appears to be the most profitable. From an environmental point of view, the emission load of the organic farming system is reduced by 8.04 % within the wheat production and by 15.46 % within the oat cultivation. Therefore, the organic farming system in the Czech Republic appears to be more environmentally friendly and economically efficient within the cereals production.
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Scott, D., J. M. Keoghan, G. G. Cossens, L. A. Maunsell, M. J. S. Floate, B. J. Wills, and G. Douglas. "Limitations to pasture production and choice of species." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 3 (January 1, 1985): 9–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.3.1985.3320.
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The South Island hill and high country is defined as those areas which were in natural grassland at the time of early European settlement. This includes the major geographical regions of dry hill and high country of Marlborough, Canterbury and North Otago, and the wet acid tussock grasslands of Otago and Southland. To define the most appropriate pasture species for farming in these areas, it is first necessary to define the appropriate environmental factors since they largely determine the types of farming systems possible. Once this has been done, it will be found that there are only one or two pasture species which are the best option in each environment or farming system.
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Lane, P. M. S., and B. E. Willoughby. "Helicropping - early adopters' experiences." Journal of New Zealand Grasslands 79 (January 1, 2017): 131–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2017.79.573.
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Abstract Aerial establishment of pasture and crops in hill country in New Zealand has received mixed publicity. Popularly referred to as 'spray and pray' this detracts from the success some practitioners have achieved with 'helicropping', a highly structured process that has the potential to markedly change hill country farming. Four farmers with an average of 4.5 years (range 2 to 7 years) of helicropping in New Zealand hill country were interviewed using a semi-structured snowball technique. Cross-case analysis was used to analyse themes of learning experience of helicropping, crop establishment, utilisation and economics, and the management of potential risk of soil loss from hill country cropping and harvest. Generally, all aspects ranked highly in terms of success. However, there was a strong message that this was attributable to strictly following a prescribed process that reduced risks both to a profitable return and to soil conservation. Keywords: hill country, soil conservation, pasture renovation, no tillage
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Environmental aspects of Hill farming"
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James, Arthur Jeffree. "Die identifisering van ontwikkelingsensitiewe areas teen berghellings : Stellenbosch- en Hottentotshollandberge." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52203.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agricultural and forestry development as well as the erection of buildings and other structures against steep mountain slopes is currently a substantial problem in the Boland. Such developments can be detrimental because of aesthetic considerations and the environmental damage that can arise therefrom. In this regard, environmental damage specifically includes the destruction of fynbos and soil erosion, the latter also having a negative impact on agriculture. This study has attempted to identify areas sensitive to development, and from the resulting findings to develop a set of guidelines for possible future development along the mountain slopes of the Boland. The study area includes only a part of the Boland mountains, namely the Stellenbosch and Hottentotsholland mountains, but can serve as a pilot area for other regions in the Boland possibly plagued by the same problems. Analyses were primarily undertaken by means of GIS software such as inter alia Unix Arc/Info and ArcView 3.1. Various remote sensing techniques were also used to interpret and analyse Landsat TM satellite imagery. For these analyses the image processing program Idrisi for Windows was mainly used. Because the study concentrates on agricultural development, certain criteria such as the erodibility of soil types and the gradient had to be taken into account in the identification of sensitive areas. With regard to gradient data, the use of a "Digital elevation model" (OEM) was of cardinal importance. Other types of development (buildings and structures, as well as forestry) were also analysed to establish firstly where these developments occur; and secondly whether they occur in sensitive areas as far as the height and gradient of slopes are concerned. Because of the subjectivity that exists with regard to the visual impact of these developments, it is difficult to determine what developments on high mountain slopes are aesthetically acceptable and what are not. According to the Act on Agriculture no. 9238 of 1984, slopes with a greater than 20% gradient may not be ploughed without special permission. Against this background the most important result of the analyses undertaken in this study, was the identification of agricultural areas sensitive to erosion. Finally, guidelines are suggested that can be applied to possible future developments on the mountain slopes of the Boland.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Landbou- en bosbou-ontwikkeling sowel as die oprigting van geboue en ander strukture teen steil berghellings is tans 'n wesenlike probleem in die Boland. Sulke ontwikkelings kan nadelig wees weens estetiese oorwegings en omgewingskade wat hieruit kan voortspruit. In hierdie verband verwys omgewingskade spesifiek na fynbosvernietiging en gronderosie. Gronderosie het natuurlik ook 'n negatiewe impak op die landbou. Daar is in hierdie studie gepoog om ontwikkelingsensitiewe areas te identifiseer, en vanuit bevindinge 'n stel riglyne te ontwikkel vir moontlike toekomstige ontwikkeling teen die berghellings in die Boland. Die studiegebied sluit slegs 'n gedeelte van die Bolandse berge in, naamlik die Stellenbosch- en Hottentotshollandberge, maar kan dien as loodsgebied vir ander streke in die Boland wat moontlik dieselfde probleme ondervind. Analises is hoofsaaklik gedoen deur middel van geografiese inligtingstelsels- (GIS-) programmatuur soos onder andere Unix Arc/Info en ArcView 3.1. Afstandswaarnemingstegnieke is ook aangewend om Landsat TM- satellietbeelde te interpreteer en te analiseer. Vir hierdie analises is hoofsaaklik van die beeldverwerkingsprogram Idrisi for Windows gebruik gemaak. Omdat die studie op landbou-ontwikkeling konsentreer, moes sekere kriteria soos die erodeerbaarheid van grondtipes en gradiënt in ag geneem word in die identifisering van sensitiewe areas. Wat gradiëntdata betref, was die gebruik van 'n "Digital elevation model" (OEM) van kardinale belang. Ander tipes ontwikkelings (geboue en strukture, asook bosbou) is ook ontleed om eerstens te bepaal waar hierdie ontwikkelings voorkom; en tweedens of hierdie ontwikkelings in sensitiewe areas wat hoogte en gradiënt betref, voorkom. Weens die subjektiwiteit wat rondom die visuele impak van hierdie ontwikkelings bestaan, is dit moeilik om te bepaal watter ontwikkelings teen hoë berghellings esteties aanvaarbaar is en watter nie. Volgens die Wet op Landbou no. 9238 van 1984 mag hellings met 'n gradiënt steiler as 20% nie sonder spesiale toestemming geploeg word nie. Teen die agtergrond hiervan is die belangrikste resultaat van analises in hierdie studie, die identifisering van erosiesensitiewe landbou-areas. Riglyne wat toegepas kan word op moontlike toekomstige ontwikkelings teen die berghellings in die Boland, word laastens voorgestel.
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Cheng, Kwok-hang, and 鄭國鏗. "Is vertical farming a more sustainable alternative to conventional farming in Hong Kong?" Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/207616.
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Hong Kong’s agricultural sector has been declining since the 1980s with the reduction in area of arable lands and number of farmers. The trend of over-reliance on imported produce is likely to continue with population growth in the upcoming decades. The climbing imported to locally grown food ratio might aggravate climate change. Vertical farming, which is promoted in recent years as a more sustainable mode of farming than conventional cultivation, is investigated mainly in terms of life cycle Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of its produce.
Assessment was carried out following the guidelines in two relevant sets of Publicly Available Specification (PAS). Lettuce variety “Heading European”, which is among the most popular leafy vegetables in Hong Kong, is chosen because of its significant share imported from Guangdong Province. Three sets of surveys have been conducted to find out if locally grown produce generates less GHG than imported one. The sustainability of vertical farming is also evaluated. It performs in a cradle-to-gate basis in which life cycle of the lettuce is assessed from the stage of farmland preparation to delivery of them to Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO).
The results of life cycle GHG evaluation show that produce of local farm generates fewer amounts of GHGs than the imported one. For lettuces imported from the conventional farm in Songyuancun, Guangdong Province, it generates approximately 1.57E+00kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). It is about 132% higher than the one grown in local conventional farm at Tai Kong Po Tsuen, which is around 6.77E-01kg of CO2-e
It seems the idea of replacing local conventional farming with vertical farming is not sustainable at this stage. Evaluation reveals the latter generates more amount of GHG which is 8.72E+00kg CO2-e/cup of Oak Leaf Lettuce. It is about 13 times higher than the locally grown in the conventional farm.
The energy-hungry lighting system and the lack of renewable energy are among the major reasons for high GHG emission in vertical farming. Although the GHG emissions are higher than conventional farming in the designated lifecycle, vertical farming does contribute to sustainable development in terms of food stability and job opportunity.
Uncertainties of this study could well be improved by developing a specific set of GHG emission factors for components in preparation stage and on-farm stage. More information could be collected for use and end-of-life stages, which is omitted in the study. Further comparison of wider variety of vegetables cultivated in different forms of farming should also be carried out.
Carbon labelling scheme for agricultural products would brush up environmental awareness of both producers and consumers. With the trend of green consumption, it would provide an incentive for producers to adopt this scheme. It is especially important for local vertical farms to impose this scheme to increase its market competiveness.
Moreover, government should play a significant role in promoting a more sustainable form of agriculture. Supportive policy like increasing investment in R&D for energy efficient technologies or even erecting a modern building for vertical farms would help achieve this goal. The lowered life cycle GHG emission would enhance sustainability of vertical farming.published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management
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Kelton, Andrew John. "Adaptive rationality : government policy towards ecological effects of salmon farming in British Columbia." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/30783.
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The rapid 1980's development of the salmon farming industry in British Columbia has been called "a poorly defined experiment in a poorly understood coastal environment", and the main impetus behind it described as "the chaotic, bottom-line orientation" not only of the industry itself but also of relevant government policy. The purpose of this thesis is to elaborate on these themes by identifying and delineating the most significant reasoning models underlying government development policy; and to offer an evaluation of the policy's 'rationality'.
Throughout the development of the industry, but particularly in the early stages, two major areas of uncertainty have been prevalent. First, detailed government policy towards salmon farming has been far from clear - an inarticulation that is characteristic of the philosophy of laissez faire, which was particularly influential in Canadian government policy in the early 1980's. Secondly, a variety of possible ecological impacts have been suspected from the outset.
A heuristic approach, both for the basic method employed in the thesis and for the normative model set up to evaluate government policy, is advanced for addressing these different uncertainties. In order to identify relevant policy, it is hypothesized that systems of ideas expressed formally in 'core' models of neoconservative and neoclassical economics were particularly important policy influences.
It is argued that the core concept of neoconservative theory (as defined) is the adaptive efficiency of the autonomous market. The theory's fundamental adaptive ideas - economic information 'discovery' by competitive trial-and-error selection, and consumer
'regulation' via the price system - are to be found in representative federal and provincial economic policy documents from the early 1980's, as well as in the occasional government elucidations of B.C. salmon farming policy (scattered in heterogeneous historical sources). An examination of (inferred) specific decisions relevant to ecological aspects of salmon farming reveals the influence of trial-and-error - deliberate omission of government planning - on early salmon farm siting policy; and the influence of the presumption of consumer 'sovereignty', which was assumed to obviate the need for government ecological regulation.
The relevant core concept of neoclassical economics (as defined) is the rational model derived from the conception of homo economicus. The model and its derivations are visible in the same early 1980's economic policy documents, which outline public sector 'restraint' criteria, as well as in salmon farming policy elucidations. It is argued that the maximizing 'solution' prescribed by the model is without operational significance in complex, uncertain situations, where ostensible use of the formal technique may be to legitimate decisions taken on other grounds.
The normative model set up to evaluate government policy is drawn from three sources: Friedrich Hayek's rationalization of the adaptive market process, C.S. Holling's prescriptions for "adaptive environmental assessment and management", and Herbert Simon's development of "procedural rationality". These models support the conclusion that acquisition of information by the agency that mediates actions and goals - which, in the case of ecological regulation, must be government - has major value as the basis of more rational decisions. But acquiring conclusive evidence by trial-and-error learning involves risk of serious error, particularly irreversible ecological harm, and it is rational to utilize the
inconclusive evidence that is always available for making general predictions, in order to guide search and select lesser risks.
Incorporating the important constraint of search costs - particularly significant in the economic recession of the early 1980's - the requirements for rational adaptation become minimal, procedural ones of 'reasonableness': lack of bias towards any class of information relevant to social welfare; lack of denial of uncertainties, and thus of development risks, in the complex and little-known salmon farming environment; and timely response to uncertainties subsequently, adequately resolved by experience. It is suggested that all three requirements were infringed by government policy towards salmon farming development.Science, Faculty of
Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for
Graduate
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De, Kock Carinus. "Farming in the Langkloof : coping with and adapting to environmental shock and social stress." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97054.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the period 2006-2012, the Langkloof area, situated in the Eden District Municipality, suffered severely from environmental shocks and social stress including drought, flooding, hail, wildfire, heatwaves and reduced labour demand. These events negatively impacted many farmers and their livelihoods. In response to these external shocks and stressors, large-, medium- and small-scale farmers adopted numerous coping and adaptive strategies. This study performed a comprehensive livelihoods analysis of large-, medium- and small-scale farmers in the Langkloof area, using the widely recognized sustainable livelihoods framework developed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, with a particular focus on coping and adaptive strategies against severe environmental shock and social stress. Variables used in the analysis were the vulnerability context in which farmers pursue a livelihood; livelihood assets (social, human, financial, natural and physical); the policies, institutions and processes in the external environment that influence the degree of ownership and access to assets; livelihood strategies pursued; and the various livelihood outcomes ultimately produced. The analysis of coping and adaptive strategies employed by farmers during these periods formed an integral part of this study. Sixteen livelihood asset indicators were identified to determine the total assets (human, social, physical, financial and natural) of the farmers. After scaling the indicators, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to assign weights to each indicator and to subsequently calculate the total assets of each household. Regarding the coping and adaptive strategies employed by farmers against environmental shock and social stress, the average number of strategies was calculated for each household. Spearman’s rank correlations were calculated for total assets achieved (capacity) and the number of strategies employed against environmental shock and social stress.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Langkloofgedied, geleë in die Eden Distriksmunisipalitiet, is gedurende die tydperk 2006-2012 geweldig geteister deur omgewings- en sosiale gebeure, wat droogte, vloede, hael, veldbrande, hittegolwe en ʼn gevolglike verlaagde arbeidsaanvraag sluit. Hierdie rampe het verreikende nadelige gevolge op boere se lewensbestaan gehad. Terwyl hulle lewensbestaan tot die uiterste uitgedaag is, is verskeie hanterings- en aanpassingstrategieë teen omgewingskok en sosiale stres geïmplementeer. Met die gebruik van die Verenigde Koninkryk se Departement van Internasionale Ontwikkeling se volhoubare lewensbestaansraamwerk is ʼn gedetailleerde en alomvattende analise van groot, medium- en kleinskaalboere in die Langkloof se lewensbestaan gedoen, met ʼn sterk skem op hul hanterings- en aanpassingstrategieë teen omgewingskok en sosiale stress. Die analise veranderlikes het die kwesbaarsheidskonteks waarin boere hul lewensbestaan aanpak; hul verskeie bates (menslik, sosiaal, finansieel, fisies en natuurlik); die beleide, instansies en prosesse in die eksterne omgewing wat toegang tot en eienaarskap van bates reguleer; hul lewensbestaanstrategieë; en die lewensbestaansuitkomste wat bereik word, behels. Die analise van die boere se hanterings- en aanpassingstrategieë geïmplementeer teen omgewingskok en sosiale stres gedurende hierdie tydperk was ʼn integrale rol van hierdie studie. Sestien aanwysers is geïdentifiseer om die totale lewensbestaansbates (menslik, sosiaal, fisies, finansieel en natuurlik) van die boere te bepaal. Nadat die aanwysers geskaal is, is ‘n Hoofkomponentanalise (PCA) uitgevoer om gewigte aan elke aanwyser toe te ken vir die berekening van totale bates van huishoudings. Die hanterings- en aanpassingstrategieë ingestel deur boere teen omgewingskok en sosiale stres, is die gemiddelde aantal strategieë per huishouding. Spearman se rangorde korrelasies is bereken vir die totale bates (kapasiteit) en die getal strategieë geïmplementeer teen omgewingskok en sosiale stres.
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Parker, Joseph Lynn. "Beyond Sustainable Bounds: Changing Weather, Emigration, and Irrigation in a Farming Village of Sichuan, China, 1945-2012." PDXScholar, 2013. http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/1514.
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This thesis presents the results of research in a small village located in the mountains of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. The thesis argues that traditional irrigation practices vital to paddy-rice production in the village have been stressed by local weather events. It also argues that local villagers have not responded effectively to such changes, and that failure to adjust has contributed to social stress observed at the site.
During the earlier years of the study period (1945 to 2012), improvements were made in local irrigation, which seem to have helped farmers continue with traditional subsistence wet-rice farming in a fragile mountain environment. However, in later years of the period village social order showed two significant signs of collapse: first, because of emigration, fewer people were left to farm higher mountain levels so farm land was being abandoned; second, social crowding in lower level riverside farming areas, partly the result of highland emigration, began reducing the amount of land being farmed there. While reducing intensive cropping of highland farming areas can result in spontaneous recovery of natural resources such as soil and water, crowding in lower areas can contribute to deterioration of natural resources in the lower village farmland. Crowding can, in addition, have a bearing on community health problems.
The thesis results are of value to researchers concerned with the adaptive behavior of local farming communities trying to maintain their traditional irrigation-dependent way of life in a fragile mountain environment while experiencing the effects of changeable weather. Thesis results are of additional value to those who study the impact on society of earth-warming, especially if variable local weather in the Dabashan is shown to be related to global climate change.
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Oosthuizen, Hamman Jacobus. "Modelling the financial vulnerability of farming systems to climate change in selected case study areas in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95831.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Numerous studies indicate that the agricultural sector is physically and economically vulnerable to climate change. In order to determine possible impacts of projected future climates on the financial vulnerability of selective farming systems in South Africa, a case study methodology was applied. The integrated modelling framework consists of four modules, viz.: climate change impact modelling, dynamic linear programming (DLP) modelling, modelling interphases and financial vulnerability assessment modelling. Empirically downscaled climate data from five global climate models (GCMs) served as base for the integrated modelling. The APSIM crop model was applied to determine the impact of projected climates on crop yield for certain crops in the study. In order to determine the impact of projected climates on crops for which there are no crop models available, a unique modelling technique, Critical Crop Climate Threshold (CCCT) modelling, was developed and applied to model the impact of projected climate change on yield and quality of agricultural produce. Climate change impact modelling also takes into account the projected changes in irrigation water availability (ACRU hydrological model) and crop irrigation requirements (SAPWAT3 model) as a result of projected climate change. The model produces a set of valuable results, viz. projected changes in crop yield and quality, projected changes in availability of irrigation water, projected changes in crop irrigation needs, optimal combination of farming activities to maximize net cash flow, and a set of financial criteria to determine economic viability and financial feasibility of the farming system. A set of financial criteria; i.e. internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV), cash flow ratio, highest debt ratio, and highest debt have been employed to measure the impact of climate change on the financial vulnerability of farming systems. Adaptation strategies to lessen the impact of climate change were identified for each case study through expert group discussions, and included in the integrated modelling as alternative options in the DLP model. This aims at addressing the gap in climate change research, i.e. integrated economic modelling at farm level; thereby making a contribution to integrated climate change modelling.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fisiese sowel as ekonomiese kwesbaarheid van die landbousektor as gevolg van klimaatverandering word deur verskeie studies beklemtoon. ‘n Gevallestudie-benadering is gebruik ten einde die potensiële impak van klimaatsverandering op die finansiële kwesbaarheid van verskillende boerderystelsels te bepaal. Die geïntegreerde klimaatsveranderingmodel bestaan uit vier modelleringsmodules, naamlik: klimaatsverandering, dinamiese liniêre programmering (DLP), interfases en finansiële-kwesbaarheidsontleding. Empiries afgeskaalde klimatologiese data van vyf verskillende klimaatmodelle dien as basis vir die geïntegreerde klimaatsveranderingmodel. Die APSIM gewas-model word aangewend om die impak van klimaatsverandering op gewasse-opbrengs te bepaal. Vir sekere gewasse is daar egter nie modelle beskikbaaar nie en het gevolglik die ontwikkeling van ‘n nuwe model genoodsaak. Die Kritiese Gewasse Klimaatsdrempelwaarde (KGKD) modelleringstegniek is ontwikkel ten einde die impak van klimaatsverandering op die opbrengs en kwaliteit van gewasse te kwantifiseer. Die geïntegreerde klimaatsveranderingmodel neem ook die verwagte verandering in besproeiingswaterbeskikbaarheid (ACRU-hidrologiemodel) en gewas-besproeiingsbehoeftes (SAPWAT3-model) as gevolg van klimaatsverandering in ag. Die model lewer waardevolle resultate op, naamlik: geprojekteerde veranderinge in gewasse-opbrengs en -kwaliteit, geprojekteerde verandering in beskikbaarheid van besproeiingswater en gewasse-besproeiingsbehoeftes, die optimale kombinering van boerdery-aktiwiteite om netto kontantvloei te maksimeer, asook ‘n stel finansiële resultate wat die impak van klimaatsverandering kwantifiseer. Die finansiële kriteria sluit in: interne opbrengskoers, netto huidige waarde, kontanvloeiverhouding, hoogste skuldverhouding en hoogste skuldvlak. Deur middel van deskundige-groepbesprekings is aanpassingstrategieë vir elk van die gevallestudies geïdentifiseer en by die geïntegreerde model ingesluit as alternatiewe opsies in die DLP-model. Die studie poog om die gaping in die huidige klimaatsveranderingnavorsing met betekking tot ‘n geïntegreerde ekonomiese model op plaasvlak aan te spreek en sodoende ‘n bydrae tot geïntegreerde klimaatveranderingmodellering te maak.
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Matavire, Melisa M. "Impacts of sugarcane farming on coastal wetlands of the north coast of Zululand, Kwadukuza, South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97121.
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Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wetlands are key to providing important ecosystem goods and services yet they are under threat from a number of anthropogenic activities. In particular, in this study area, agriculture in the form of sugarcane farming is a threat to wetlands as sugarcane is reliant on a good water supply. The impacts of sugarcane farming emanates from the fact that sugarcane is a mono crop that requires wetland resources and uses a lot of pesticides and fertilisers. Despite the assumed contribution of sugarcane farming to wetland loss and degradation, few studies have quantitatively assessed the spatio-temporal changes in wetland extent as well as changes in water quality because of this activity. This study assesses the impacts of sugarcane farming on wetland extent and water quality in two coastal wetlands of KwaDukuza, North coast of Zululand, South Africa. Specifically this study sought to (i) assess the impacts of sugarcane farming on the spatial extent of wetlands between 1959 and 2012, (ii) determine if sugarcane farming negatively affect water quality within the wetlands and (iii) evaluate the perceptions of local farmers regarding impacts of sugarcane farming on wetlands. Results of the study indicated an increase in the extent of Zinkwazi sugarcane fields from 62.3% to 67% between 1959 and 1989 and Nonoti sugarcane fields’ extent increased from 50.5 % to 56.4% between 1959 and 2000. The last decade from the year 2000 showed gradual decrease in the area of wetland farmed by sugarcane due to the global sugar price remaining static while the cost of farming inputs increased and due to conversion of some farms to urban developments. Unfortunately, this has not lead to an increase in wetland area as the waterfront type developments, as well as a formal settlement have replace the sugarcane in the wetlands. Water was analysed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and results for both Zinkwazi and Nonoti indicated an increasing trend of N and P from upstream to the middle region of the rivers and a decreasing trend of the N and P from the middle region to downstream. Sugarcane farming does not take place below the middle region and so does not provide fresh sources of these nutrients. The downstream area where the N and P decrease also coincides with the area of the river under tidal influence such that the N and P are being diluted by the incoming tidal seawater. K showed an increasing trend from upstream to downstream and its values were higher than N and P. Concentrations of N and P above the South African water quality guidelines for aquatic ecosystem were recorded in the middle region. Furthermore, farmers’ perceived wetlands to have been transformed to agricultural land and related these changes to their sugarcane farming activities. It can thus, be concluded that sugarcane farming has resulted in wetland loss as well as deterioration of water quality within the Zinkwazi and Nonoti wetlands in KwaDukuza. In that regard, there isneed to engage farmers in wetland management programs in order to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with sugarcane farming in wetlands.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vleilande is die sleutel tot die verskaffing van ‘n belangrike ekosisteem dienste, maar hulle is onder ‘n bedreiging deur 'n aantal menslike aktiwiteite. In besonder in hierdie studie area, is Argriculture in die vorm van suikerriet boerdery is bedraging vir vleilande, en suikerriet is afhanklik van 'n goeie watervoorraad. Ten spyte van die veronderstelde bydraes van suikerriet boerdery, is die vleiland aan die agteruitgang, 'n Paar studies het kwantitatief die tydruimtelike veranderinge in die vleiland, sowel as veranderinge in die gehalte van water as gevolg van hierdie aktiwiteit waargeneem. Spesifiek is hierdie studie gepoog om (i) te bepaal wat die impak van suikerriet boerdery op die ruimtelike omvang van die vleiland tussen 1959 en 2012 is, (ii) bepaal of suikerriet boerdery negatief beïnvloed is deur die gehalte van water in die vleilande en (iii) die persepsies van plaaslike boere rakende die evalueering en impak van suikerriet boerdery op die vleilande. Resultate van die studie het aangedui 'n toename in die omvang van Zinkwazi suikerriet velde van 62,3% tot 67% tussen 1959 en 1989, en die Nonoti suikerriet velde toegeneem het met 50,5% tot 56,4% tussen 1959 en 2000. Die laaste dekade van die jaar 2000 het geleidelike afname in die area van die vleilande getoon, omdat suikerriet as gevolg van die globale suiker prys die koste van boerdery-insette verhoog het, en dit het gelei tot die omskakeling van 'n paar plase na stedelike ontwikkelings. Ongelukkig het dit nie gelei tot 'n toename in die vleiland gebiede nie, met die gevolg die waterfront tipe ontwikkelings, asook 'n formele nedersetting, vervang die suikerriet in die vleilande. Water is ontleed vir N, P en K en resultate vir beide Zinkwazi en Nonoti, het aangedui 'n toenemende tendens van stikstof en Fosfor. Dit gaan stroomop na die middel-streek van die riviere en 'n dalende neiging van die N en P uit die middel streek stroomaf. Suikerriet boerdery vind nie plaas onder die middel streek nie, en so is daar nie vars bronne, wat van hierdie voedingstowwe verskaf nie. Die stroomaf gebied waar die N en P ‘n afname het, val ook saam met die gebied van die rivier onder die gety , en dit beinvloed sodanig dat die N en P se water verdun word deur die inkomende gety se seewater. K het 'n toenemende neiging van stroomop en stroomaf en sy waardes is hoër as van die N en P. Konsentrasies van N en P bo die Suid-Afrikaanse water standaard riglyne is in die middel streek aangeteken. Verder, beskou boere dat die vleilande behoort te verander om die landbougrond en verwante veranderinge aan hul suikerriet boerdery en aktiwiteite. Ons kan dus aflei dat suikerriet boerdery het gelei tot die vleiland se verlies asook die verandering in die watergehalte in die Zinkwazi en die Nonoti vleilande in KwaDukuza. In dié verband is dit nodig dat die boere in die vleiland by programme betrek word ten einde die negatiewe omgewingsimpakte wat met suikerriet boerdery gepaard gaan in vleilande te verminder.
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Albertus, Randal Marius Colin. "The influence of different management practices on soil faunal activity in vineyard soils." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53129.
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Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Food demands for the ever-increasing human population is increasing the pressure on the agricultural sector to produce more food. In order to satisfy these demands, farmers are turning to chemical biocides for the control of pest species to produce greater crop yields. All pesticides must be toxic or poisonous to the target species they intend to control. Unfortunately, most pesticides are toxic or poisonous to non-target organisms as well, with detrimental effects on their health. Organic farming was developed to enhance the overall health of the farm's natural soilmicrobe- plant-animal biodiversity. No synthetic fertilisers and/or pesticides are used when farming organically. Life in the soil consists of intricate food webs and interactions between the soil dwelling invertebrates. The soil-organisms are divided into three main groups, viz., Micro-organisms (e.g. protozoa, bacteria and fungi) mesofauna (nematodes, Collembola and Acari) and macro-fauna (e.g. millipedes, isopods, insects, molluscs and earthworms). The invertebrates are very susceptible to chemical contamination by chemical biocides in natural and agro-ecosystems. The soil invertebrate communities are responsible for the decomposition of organic material in soil, thereby remineralising the soil. The decomposition processes start with comminution of the large pieces of organic material by meso- and macro-fauna and ends with the micro-fauna and microbial organisms that complete these processes by returning the nutrients in an inorganic form to the soil. The aim of this study was to investigate whether, and to what extent the soil organisms are influenced by different management practices viz., organic management practices versus conventional management practices. A vineyard on the farm Plaisir de Merle, in Simondium, Western Cape was used for the present study. One half of a one hectare vineyard was managed organically and the other half conventionally. Within each vineyard block six different treatments were performed. Three of the treatments were strictly organic and the other three were strictly conventional. Four replicates of each management treatment were performed. The bait-lamina technique was used to assess the feeding activity of the soil organisms exposed to the different management treatments. In addition to the bait-lamina trials in the vineyard itself, bait-lamina tests were performed in microcosm studies with soil from the organically and conventionally managed vineyard blocks under controlled conditions. In order to assess the impact of the various pesticides that are used in the vineyards in the conventional way, on the soil fauna, standard acute toxicity tests and behavioural tests were performed on Eisenia fetida, the compost worm. The bait-lamina tests in the vineyard revealed that the moisture content of the soil plays an important role in the biological activity of soil fauna. The different management treatments did affect the biological activity of the soil fauna, but seasonal changes also proved to be one of the important factors governing biological processes in the soil. The acute toxicity tests showed that the active ingredients (mancozeb, penconazole and trifloxystrobin) of three of the pesticides that were tested in this study, had negatively affected E. fetida at their recommended application concentrations. The remaining two pesticides' active ingredients (glyphosate and N-acetyl salicylic acid) did not affect the earthworms negatively at the recommended application concentrations. The preference behavioural trials showed that E. fetida could detect and avoid contaminated substrates at the LCso-concentrations of the different pesticides. All the earthworms were influenced positively in the preference behaviour experiments. Because of certain limitations of the bait-lamina technique, it was difficult to formulate conclusions on what happens in the soil. A possible explanation for the differences in feeding activity of soil fauna could be attributed to the migration of the soil fauna to more habitable soil horizons during the dry summer conditions, when most of the pesticides are applied. The ecological relevance of the acute toxicity tests conducted need to be investigated further. It is clear that the acute toxicity tests provided important information that should be considered, but care should be taken and the necessary safety factors be determined and considered when doing risk assessment studies. The results of the preference behaviour studies showed that for certain pesticides E. fetida can be a sensitive bioindicator of acute and/or sub-acute lethal toxicity testing but this might not necessarily be the case for other pesticides. The goal of doing laboratory studies is to gain as much information to make reliable extrapolations to field situations from laboratory data. Laboratory-to-field extrapolations are very complicated because of the physico-chemical composition of soil, the unpredictable way pesticides behave within soil and the reaction of soil organisms to the soil and to the chemical biocides that are used. Further studies need to be done in order to fully understand to what extent the soil fauna were affected by the different management practices applied to the vineyard at Plaisir de Merle.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voedsel aanvraag vir die toenemende menslike bevolking plaas groot druk op die landbou sektor om meer kos te produseer. Om aan die voedsel eise te voldoen, gebruik boere al meer chemiese biosiede om pesspesies te bestry. Alle pestisiede moet toksies of giftig wees vir die teiken organisme waarvoor dit bestem is. Ongelukkig is die meeste pestisiede ook toksies of giftig vir nie-teiken organismes, wat tot nadelige effekte op hul gesonheid kan lei. Organiese boerdery is ontwikkel om die algehele gesondheid van die plaas se natuurlike grond-mikrobe-plant-dier biodiversiteit te bevorder. Geen sintetiese bemestingstowwe en/of pestisiede mag gebruik word wanneer daar organies geboer word nie. Die lewe in die grond bestaan uit ingewikkelde voedselwebbe en interaksies tussen die grondlewende invertebrate. Die grond invertebrate word verdeel in drie hoof groepe, nl. mikro-organismes (bv. Protozoa, bakterieë en fungi) meso fauna (Nematoda, Collembole en Acari) en makrofauna (bv. Millipoda, Isopoda, Insecta, Mollusca en erdwurms). Die Invertebrata is die mees vatbaarste vir chemiese kontaminasie deur chemiese biosiedes in natuurlike en landbou ekosisteme. Die grond invertebraat gemeenskappe is verantwoordelik vir die afbreek van alle organiese materiaal in die grond en dus vir remineralisering van die grond. Die afbreekproses begin by die komminusie van groter stukke organiese materiaal deur die meso- en makrofauna en eindig met die mikrofauna en mikrobes wat die prosesse voltooi deur die nutriente terug te plaas in die vorm van anorganiese produkte in die grond. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te ondersoek of, en tot watter mate, grond organismes geraak word deur verskillende grondbestuurspraktyke, nl. Organiese grondbestuurspraktyke teenoor die konvensionele grondbestuurspraktyke. 'n Wingerd op die plaas Plaisir de Merle, in Simondium, Wes-Kaap, was gebruik vir die huidige studie. Een helfte van 'n een hektaar wingerd is organies bestuur en die ander helfte is op die konvensionele manier bestuur. Op elk van die twee wingerd blokke is ses verskillende behandelings toegepas. Drie van die behandelings was streng organies en die ander drie was streng konvensioneel van aard. Vier replikate van elke behandeling is toegepas op elk van die twee wingerdblokke. Die bait-lamina metode is gebruik om die voedingsaktiwiteit van die grond organismes te asses seer. As toevoeging tot die bait-lamina proewe in die wingerd self, is bait-lamina toetse ook in mikro-kosmosse in die laboratorium gedoen met grond afkomstig vanaf die twee wingerdblokke. Om die impak van die verskillende pestisiede op die grondorganismes te ondersoek, is standaard akute toksisteitstoestse en gedragstoetse uitgevoer met die komposerdwurm, Eisenia fetida. Die bait-lamina resultate in die wingerd het getoon dat die voginhoud van die grond die belangrikste rol speel wat die biologiese aktiwiteit van die grondorganismes beïnvloed. Die verskillende behandelings het die biologiese aktiwiteit van die grond fauna geaffekteer, maar seisoenale veranderings is ook uitgesonder as een van die bepalende faktore wat die biologiese prosesse in die grond stuur. Die akute toksisiteitstoetse het getoon dat die aktiewe bestandeie van drie van die pestisiede (mancozeb, penconazole en trifloxystrobin), E. fetida negatief beïnvloed het teen die aanbeveelde konsentrasies wat toegedien is. Die aktiewe bestandeie van die ander twee pestiede (glyphosate en N-asetiel sallisiel suur) het nie die erdwurms nadelig beïnvloed teen die aanbeveelde konsentrasies wat toegedien is nie. Die gedragsproewe het getoon dat E. fetida die LCso-konsentrasies van al die verskillende pestisiede kan waarneem en vermy. Al die erdwurms is positief beïnvloed in die gedragseksperimente met die verskillende pestisiede. Omdat die bait-laminametode sekere beperkings het, was dit moeilik om tot gevolgtrekkings te kom oor wat presies in die grond gebeur. 'n Moontlike verklaring vir die verskillende voedingsaktiwiteite van die grond fauna kan toegereken word aan die migrasie van die grondorganismes na meer leefbare grondhorisonne gedurende die droë somer toestande, wat toevallig met die spuit van die meeste pestisiede ooreenstem. Die ekologiese relevansie van die akute toksisiteitstoetse wat uitgevoer is, moet meer deeglik ondersoek word. Die belangrikheid van die akute toksisteitstoetse is duidelik en het waardevolle informasie gelewer, maar sorg moet geneem word, en die nodige veiligheids faktore moet bepaal word en in ag geneem word, wanneer riskobepalingstudies gedoen word. Die gedragsproewe het getoon dat vir sekere pestisiede E. fetida 'n sensitiewe bioindikator van akute en/of sub-akute letale toksisiteits toetse kan wees, maar nie noodwendig vir ander pestisiede nie. Die doel van laboratoriumstudies is om so veel as moontlik inligting te versamelom vertroubare ekstrapolasie te kan maak na situasies in die veld vanaf laboratorium data. Laboratorium-na-veld ekstrapolasies is dikwels baie gekompliseerd as gevolg van die fisies-chemiese samestelling van die grond, die onvoorspelbare manier waarop chemiese pestisiede met die grond reageer en die reaksie van die grondorganismes op chemiese biosiede in die grond. Verdere studies moet gedoen word om so deeglik maanlik die mate van die impak wat die verskillende bestuurspraktyke op die grond fauna het, te verstaan op Plaisir de Merle.
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Cheung, Yuet-ming Jacthey, and 張月明. "The socio-economics of pond-fish farming and its implications on future land use in and around Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1999. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31254172.
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周厚華 and Donna Chaw. "Biochemical changes in the fermentation bedding of the "pig-on-litter"method of pig farming: with special emphasison biodegradation of nitrogen compounds and odour production." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1996. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B43893740.
Full textBooks on the topic "Environmental aspects of Hill farming"
1
Seminar, on Action Research in Khulgad Micro Watershed of Kosi Catchment in Central Himalaya (1992 Naini Tal India). Sustainable & replicable eco-development in Central Himalaya/Uttarakhand: Proceedings of the Seminar on Action Research in Khulgad Micro Watershed of Kosi Catchment in Central Himalaya. Almora: Shri Almora Book Depot, 1997.
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Sustaining mountain environments and rural livelihoods in Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon: Mountain geography and resource conservation. Bamenda: Unique Printers, 2006.
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Environmental planning for sustainable development of hill areas: A case study approach. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 1992.
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Schumann, Sybille A. Research on hydrological processes and pesticide behaviour in irrigated, terraced catchments in the Mid-Hills of Nepal: A collaborative project on environmental risks of pesticides and sustainable development of integrated pesticide management systems (IPMS) in Nepal considering socio-economic conditions. Clausthal-Zellerfeld: Papierflieger, 2004.
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Manci, William E. Farming and the environment. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Pub., 1993.
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ʻAngkasit, Phongsak. Kānphatthanā kasēt thīsūng =: Highland agricultural development. [Chiang Mai]: Khrōngkān Fưk ʻOprom læ Phatthanā Laksūt CMU-NAU, Khana Kasēttrasāt, Mō̜chō̜., 1988.
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Palte, J. G. L. Upland farming on Java, Indonesia: A socio-economic study of upland agriculture and subsistence under population pressure. Amsterdam: Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap, 1989.
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Scotland, Rural Forum. New opportunities in farming: Proposals for creating new farms in Scotland's hill and upland areas. Scotland ((c/p SCCVO, 19 Claremont Cres., Edinburgh)): Rural Forum, 1985.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Environmental aspects of Hill farming"
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Shek-Vugrovečki, A., L. Radin, J. Pejaković, K. Sinković, and M. Šimpraga. "Current aspects and recommendations in health management of organic sheep and goat farming in karst areas of Croatia." In Animal farming and environmental interactions in the Mediterranean region, 121–25. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-741-7_15.
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Rogotis, Savvas, and Nikolaos Marianos. "Smart Farming for Sustainable Agricultural Production." In Big Data in Bioeconomy, 191–205. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71069-9_15.
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AbstractThe chapter describes DataBio’s pilot applications, led by NEUROPUBLIC S.A., for sustainable agricultural production in Greece. Initially, it introduces the main aspects that drive and motivate the execution of the pilot. The pilot set-up consisted of four (4) different locations, four (4) different crop types and three (3) different types of offered services. The technology pipeline was based on the exploitation of heterogeneous data and their transformation into facts and actionable advice fostering sustainable agricultural growth. The results of the pilot activities effectively showcased how smart farming methodologies can lead to a positive impact from an economical, environmental and societal perspective and achieve the ambitious goal to “produce more with less”. The chapter concludes with “how-to” guidelines and the pilot’s key findings.
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Moudry, Jan, and Jan Moudry. "Environmental Aspects Of Organic Farming." In Organic Agriculture Towards Sustainability. InTech, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58298.
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Singh, Shivom, Bhupendra Kumar, Neha Sharma, and Kajal S. Rathore. "Organic Farming." In Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies, 408–20. IGI Global, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-6111-8.ch022.
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Agriculture is one of the significant factors contributing to the economic growth of India. In order to reap a better harvest, farmers inoculate the soil with fertilizers. These fertilizers include pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc., and are broadly used to control pests and pest-induced diseases. Increasingly high inputs of chemical fertilizers have not only left soils degraded, but it has also increased the adverse effect on aquatic life and other environmental hazards. Organic farming methods would crack these issues and make the ecosystem healthier. Bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides form a link between the biotic and abiotic factors and can be used to supplement the expensive chemical fertilizers. This chapter focuses on agricultural chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) that impact the aquatic environment. The aim of the chapter is to improve ecological sustainability and to minimize the effects of pesticides on aquatic ecosystems. In addition, the authors attempt to reveal almost all positive aspects of organic farming in special reference to aquatic pollution.
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"Health-related aspects of wastewater reuse in urban truck farming: A case study of Yaoundé, Cameroon." In Environmental and Human Health, 231–48. CRC Press, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/b10540-23.
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Fedorova, Maria, and Ismail Taaricht. "Agricultural Cooperatives for Sustainable Development of Rural Territories and Food Security." In Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies, 465–80. IGI Global, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1042-1.ch023.
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This chapter deals with the elaboration of a conceptual framework for agricultural cooperatives in Morocco: sustainable development of rural territories. The farming cooperative associations form an effective means for the advancement of the agricultural sector, being one of the elements of agricultural policy, which play an important role in the development of agricultural production, both plant and animal, as well as in the development process in Morocco, especially for rural development, and through it, rural income of the farmers and their social statuses. In this chapter, the authors have taken the Moroccan agriculture cooperatives as a case of cooperative longevity and survival in order to observe the evolution and processes of adaptation to the distinct economic, social, and environmental demands of a broad range of member-owners. The demands of the farming community, members, and society have resulted in social and environmental factors being as much a priority as economic aspects.
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Jat, Dharm Singh, Anton S. Limbo, and Charu Singh. "Internet of Things for Automation in Smart Agriculture." In Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies, 93–105. IGI Global, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-5909-2.ch005.
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By combining the different monitoring and automation techniques available today, we can develop cutting-edge internet of things (IoT) systems that can support sustainable development through smart agriculture. Systems are able to monitor the farming areas and react to the parameters being monitored on their own without the presence of human beings. This automation can result in a more precise way of maintaining the aspects that affect the growth of plants, leading to an increase in the food production on farmlands. This chapter focuses on IOT for automation in smart agriculture and provides a pathway to develop automation system in the smart environment.
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Elfimova, Yulia, Anna Ivolga, and Ivan Ryazantsev. "Food Security Through Rational Land Management." In Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies, 129–46. IGI Global, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1042-1.ch007.
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Food security is challenged by the growth of the world population, intensification of agricultural production, depletion of scarce agricultural and environmental resources, and the consequent introduction of innovations to farming processes, one of which is land management. In this chapter, the authors discuss the role of innovative aspects and practices of land management in the establishment of food security and the provision of rational, sound, and effective administration of scarce land resources. In the case of Russia and other countries, the authors justify the necessity of rational land management focused on the innovative way of development of agricultural production.
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Wilshire, Howard G., Richard W. Hazlett, and Jane E. Nielson. "Introduction: Obeying Nature." In The American West at Risk. Oxford University Press, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195142051.003.0005.
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This book focuses on the human-caused environmental woes of America’s 11 contiguous western states, its mostly arid western continental frontier. In the nineteenth century, penny pamphlets and dime novels mythologized the American west, making icons of its prospectors, “cowboys,” northwestern loggers, and wide open spaces. The west was free of encroaching neighbors and government controls, open to fresh starts. As Robert Penn Warren wrote, in All the King’s Men, “West . . . is where you go when the land gives out and the old-field pines encroach . . . when you are told that you are a bubble on the tide of empire . . . when you hear that thar’s gold in them-thar hills. . . . ” But the “West” was more than gold and oil bonanzas—it was also a land of rich soils, bountiful - sheries, immense, dense forests, desert wonders, and sparkling streams. It is no myth that the western states were America’s treasure house. The romantic myths related to “winning” the west tend to obscure both its basic objective of resource exploitation and the huge public expenditures that supported every aspect, bestowing fortunes on a few. Western resources supported U.S. industrial growth and affluent lifestyle, but now they are highly depleted or largely gone, and the region is in danger of losing the ability to sustain an even moderately comfortable future. Much of what we have done to these magni- cent lands opened them to devastating erosion and pollution. Today, whole mountains are being dismantled to produce metals from barely mineralized zones. Entire regions may be devastated in the attempt to extract the last possible drops of petroleum. We soon could cut down the last remnants of ancient western forests, along with the possibility of ever again seeing their like. Large-scale farming has opened vulnerable western soils to erosion by water and wind, perhaps inviting another dust bowl era. Irrigating vast crop acreages has converted many of them to salt farms, perhaps resembling the conditions that spelled doom for the ancient Babylonian Empire.
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Cederlöf, Gunnel. "Towards an Environmental History of Law." In Landscapes and the Law, 230–71. Oxford University Press, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199499748.003.0006.
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The concluding chapter brings together different aspects necessary for analysing the relationship between human action and nature in the process of perceiving, disputing and codifying rights in nature. It targets the many transformative visions for a particular landscape, the battle between interests pursuing different legal principles that underpinned the formation of codes, the influence of scholarly thought on legal debates and, finally, in a close empirical study, it focuses the trajectory of land conflicts during its most intense period until the first more encompassing code of rights in nature in the Nilgiris in 1843. Thematically, it discusses the importance of acknowledging the competing interests of individual absolute property and government sovereignty, and it points to the necessity to focus the process of making law in contrast to treating law as a given. A major emphasis is given to the specific characteristic of people’s resistance against colonial encroachments in a situation of multiple authority and internal divisions among the indigenous communities. Seen in terms of negotiation, it is a strategy of acknowledging, influencing and making use of the other party’s domain of authority—a strategy of keeping confrontation at a minimum level and making gains without open conflict. Land conflicts were characterised by multiple layers of authority. Thereby, it puts forward a complex and more nuanced situation of conflict and negotiation than the previously common binary of the colonial and the colonised. Both these domains were interspersed by conflicts and oppositions, and alliances cut across such imaginative divides. Lastly, the problem of defining regions of regional history is reassessed and revised against the north–south India divide as well as the analytical hill–valley polarisation. Thus four key arguments are derived from the study and brought into a discussion of an environmental history of law. As the study makes clear, the Nilgiris, in spite of being a small region in the hills, were a site where large even global issues were at stake.
Conference papers on the topic "Environmental aspects of Hill farming"
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Elfayetti, Nina Novira, Riki Rahmad, Rohani, and Andi Abdillah Triono. "Environmental and Economic Aspects of Organic Rice Farming in Lubuk Bayas." In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (ICSSIS 2018). Paris, France: Atlantis Press, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.2991/icssis-18.2019.9.
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Veveris, Armands, and Armands Puzulis. "Economic results and development of organic farms in Latvia." In 21st International Scientific Conference "Economic Science for Rural Development 2020". Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Faculty of Economics and Social Development, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.22616/esrd.2020.53.003.
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Organic farming is experiencing rather rapid development in Europe, including in Latvia. This could be rated from different aspects. The purpose of this article is to assess the economic indicators of the development of organic farming, linking them to conclusions stated in various studies in Latvia and other countries on the diverse economic, social and environmental impact of this type of farming, as well as potential problems. So, theoretical and empirical approaches are combined in this article. The different problems we can state as outcome of the research. The farms concentrate in areas with less favourable conditions for conventional farming. Also, large continuous areas under organic farming often leads to low production value per hectare and do not reach social goals.
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Pukowiec-Kurda, Katarzyna, and Urszula Myga-Piatek. "Application of New Methods of Environment Analysis and Assessment in Landscape Audits – Case Studies of Urban Areas Like Czestochowa, Poland." In Environmental Engineering. VGTU Technika, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/enviro.2017.116.
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Following the 2000 European Landscape Convention, a new act strengthening landscape protection instruments has been in force since 2015. It sets forth legal aspects of landscape shaping (Dziennik Ustaw 2015, poz. 774) and introduces landscape audits at the province level. A landscape audit consists in identification and characterization of selected landscapes, assessment of their value, selection of so-called priority landscapes and identification of threats for preservation of their value. An audit complies with GIS standards. Analyses use source materials, i.e. digital maps of physical-geographical mesoregions, current topographic maps of digital resources of cartographic databases, latest orthophotomaps and DTMs, maps of potential vegetation, geobotanic regionalization, historic-cultural regionalization and natural landscape types, documentation of historical and cultural values and related complementary resources. A special new methodology (Solon et al. 2014), developed for auditing, was tested in 2015 in an urban area (Myga-Piatek et al. 2015). Landscapes are characterized by determining their analytic (natural and cultural) and synthetic features, with particular focus on the stage of delimitation and identification of landscape units in urban areas. Czestochowa was selected as a case study due to its large natural (karst landscapes of the Czestochowa Upland, numerous forests, nature reserves) and cultural (Saint Mary’s Sanctuary, unique urban architecture) potential. Czestochowa is also a city of former iron ore and mineral resources exploitation, still active industry, dynamic urban sprawl within former farming areas, and dynamically growing tourism. Landscape delimitation and identification distinguished 75 landscape units basing on uniform landscape background (uniform cover and use of the land). Landscape assessment used a new assessment method for anthropogenic transformation of landscape – the indicator describing the correlation between the mean shape index (MSI) and the Shannon diversity index (SHDI) (Pukowiec-Kurda, Sobala 2016). Particular threats and planning suggestions, useful in development of urban areas, were presented for selected priority landscapes.
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Xiujie, Li, Fu Hongpeng, and Yang Meng. "The social structure and physical form of the state-owned farm in north-east China." In 24th ISUF 2017 - City and Territory in the Globalization Age. Valencia: Universitat Politècnica València, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/isuf2017.2017.6039.
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The social structure and physical form of the state-owned farm in north-east China Xiujie Li, Hongpeng Fu, Meng Yang College of Urban and Environmental Sciences. Peking University. Beijing. China. 100871 E-mail: 1400013234@pku.edu.cn, issacfuhongpeng@163.com, shuangzizhixin@163.com Keywords: state-owned farm, policy, social structure, physical form, urban morphology Conference topics and scale: Urban form and social use of space State-owned farms in north-east China are numerous and large in size. They have played an important role in the reclamation and guarding of the frontier in China. Their physical form is sensitive to government policy. Following the historical development of a particular farm, an examination is made of how its social structure and physical form have been influenced by the policies of different periods. The development process has experienced three stages since this farm’s founding. There has been a change from ‘farmers farming together on the land which belongs to the whole farm’ to ‘farmers farming together on the land which belongs to the companies of the farm’, and then ‘farmers farming severally on the land’. The physical form of the farm has been influenced by the policies in different historical periods. Important aspects of these policies include industrial structure, population structure, land ownership, and town and country planning. This study provides a basis for future urban morphological research. References Conzen, M.R.G. (2011) Alnwick, Northumberland: a study in town-plan analysis (China Architecture & Building Press, China) Bray, D. (2005) Social space and governance in urban China (Stanford University Press, Stanford)
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Zvaigzne, Anete, Andra Blumberga, and Saulius Vasarevičius. "APPLICATION OF SYSTEM DYNAMICS MODEL ON AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE." In Conference for Junior Researchers „Science – Future of Lithuania“. VGTU Technika, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/aainz.2016.33.
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Agricultural land comprises an important share of the total terrestrial land. Therefore it plays a crucial role in the health of the so-called foundation of all types of ecosystem services – biodiversity. This research aims at providing a tool for evaluating the state of biodiversity in an agricultural landscape by using different agri-environmental indicators. A system dynamics model is built that encloses agricultural land use parameters, agricultural land use intensity, landscape fragmentation patterns, crop diversity and other aspects that have an important effect on biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. This research is an attempt to use information available for public to assess the degree to which agricultural landscape may benefit from landscape greening activities, changes in crop management activities etc. At the end of this research landscape biodiversity of an intensive farming region in Latvia (Bauska district) will be evaluated.
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Hersh, Benjamin, and Amin Mirkouei. "Life Cycle Assessment of Pyrolysis-Derived Biochar From Organic Wastes and Advanced Feedstocks." In ASME 2019 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/detc2019-97896.
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Abstract Recent interest in reducing stress on the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus requires the use of renewable, organic products that can subsequently address environmental sustainability concerns, such as mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Pyrolysis-derived biochar from organic wastes (e.g., nutrient-rich agricultural wastes and leftovers, forest harvest residues, and cattle manure) and advanced feedstocks (e.g., algae) is capable of addressing ever-increasing global FEW concerns. Biochar water-nutrient holding capacity and carbon sequestration are key attributes for improving organic farming and irrigation management. The major challenge to commercialize biochar production from organic wastes is the conversion process. Pyrolysis process is a cost-effective and successful approach in comparison to other conversion technologies (e.g., gasification) due to low energy requirement and capital cost, as well as high process efficiency and biochar quality. To determine the environmental impacts of the biochar production process, an analysis of the material, energy, and emission flows of a small-scale pyrolysis process is conducted for a real case study, using life cycle assessment method with the assistance of available life cycle inventory databases within OpenLCA software. The results demonstrate that this study is able to enhance sustainability aspects across FEW systems by (a) employing a portable refinery to address upstream challenges (i.e., collection, transportation, and preprocessing) of waste-to-biochar life cycle, (b) recycling domestic forest and agricultural residues (e.g., pine wood), (c) producing organic biochar-derived soil conditioners that can improve organic cropping and FEW systems. Ultimately, we conclude by discussing techno-economic and socio-environmental implications of biochar production from organic wastes and advanced feedstocks.
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El Moussaoui, Mustapha. "Aesthetic Upheaval due a Political Decision." In IV Congreso Internacional Estética y Política: Poéticas del desacuerdo para una democracia plural. València: Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/cep4.2019.10397.
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Architecture since the beginning of time have been developed and shaped according to many aspects such as environmental factors, material availability, construction knowledge, religion, economy, and political decisions. In the current century, with the globalized building materials and increased awareness in architecture construction methods, architecture has hundreds of different ways to be constructed and developed. On the other hand, architecture is being formed and affected mainly due to economic factors, and political decisions. Bekaa Valley, a region in Lebanon could be a spectacular political event. The former is a region famous for its agricultural lands formed by million years of sediment clustering from rich Lebanese mountains bounding the area from the east and the west. In the specific eastern area of Beka'a valley studied - Nabisheith to Douris- is full of farming lands, used by locals and nomads to grow variables of vegetables, fruits, and wheat. A political decision developed by the local minister, to build houses by underdeveloped permits, changed the typology of a landscape created more than 2500 years ago. The architectural typology also changed to the new kind of architecture, which is indifferent to the local knowledge of construction learned and developed by locals. Local knowledge developed and adapted to harshness of weather by local materials replaced by globalized materials and abrupt political decisions.
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Lagasco, F., M. Collu, A. Mariotti, E. Safier, F. Arena, T. Atack, G. Brizzi, et al. "New Engineering Approach for the Development and Demonstration of a Multi-Purpose Platform for the Blue Growth Economy." In ASME 2019 38th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/omae2019-96104.
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Abstract Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing food sector in the world and the open oceans are seen as one of the most likely areas for large-scale expansion [1], [2], [3]. The global demand for seafood is continuing to rise sharply, driven by both population growth and increased per capita consumption, whilst wild-capture fisheries are constrained in their potential to produce more seafood. A recently funded EC project, the Blue Growth Farm – BGF (GA n. 774426, 1st June 2018 – 30th September 2021) aims at contributing to this world need with an original solution. The Blue Growth Farm proposes an efficient, cost-competitive and environmentally friendly multi-purpose offshore farm concept. It is based on a modular floating structure, moored to the seabed, meeting requirements of efficiency, cost-competitiveness and environmental friendless, where automated aquaculture and renewable energy production systems are integrated and engineered for profitable applications in the open sea. In the present paper, the overall engineering approach developed to carry out the research work is presented, described and justified. Different technical and scientific challenges are addressed through an integrated industrial engineering design approach, where all disciplines are tuned to achieve the Blue Growth Farm main targets. These are represented by: i) guaranteeing expected nominal fish production thanks to advanced automation and remote control capabilities; ii) minimizing the pollution introduced at marine ecosystem level when exploiting the marine natural resources, whilst increasing the social acceptance and users community agreement; iii) maximizing the electricity production in the Blue Growth Farm potential installation area ecosystem to provide energy supply to the on-board electrical equipment and to dispatch the extra produced electric energy to the land network. Preliminary engineering design results are promising to demonstrate effective increase of safety and efficiency by reducing on-board human effort and consequently risks at offshore, thus to make commercial-scale open ocean farming a reality. The present paper introduces overall concepts and design methodology whilst other companion works submitted at OMAE2019 [4], [5], [6] provide insight of specific aspects of the Blue Growth Farm project elaborated during the first six months activity.
Reports on the topic "Environmental aspects of Hill farming"
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Saville, Alan, and Caroline Wickham-Jones, eds. Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Scotland : Scottish Archaeological Research Framework Panel Report. Society for Antiquaries of Scotland, June 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.9750/scarf.06.2012.163.
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Why research Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Scotland? Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeology sheds light on the first colonisation and subsequent early inhabitation of Scotland. It is a growing and exciting field where increasing Scottish evidence has been given wider significance in the context of European prehistory. It extends over a long period, which saw great changes, including substantial environmental transformations, and the impact of, and societal response to, climate change. The period as a whole provides the foundation for the human occupation of Scotland and is crucial for understanding prehistoric society, both for Scotland and across North-West Europe. Within the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods there are considerable opportunities for pioneering research. Individual projects can still have a substantial impact and there remain opportunities for pioneering discoveries including cemeteries, domestic and other structures, stratified sites, and for exploring the huge evidential potential of water-logged and underwater sites. Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeology also stimulates and draws upon exciting multi-disciplinary collaborations. Panel Task and Remit The panel remit was to review critically the current state of knowledge and consider promising areas of future research into the earliest prehistory of Scotland. This was undertaken with a view to improved understanding of all aspects of the colonization and inhabitation of the country by peoples practising a wholly hunter-fisher-gatherer way of life prior to the advent of farming. In so doing, it was recognised as particularly important that both environmental data (including vegetation, fauna, sea level, and landscape work) and cultural change during this period be evaluated. The resultant report, outlines the different areas of research in which archaeologists interested in early prehistory work, and highlights the research topics to which they aspire. The report is structured by theme: history of investigation; reconstruction of the environment; the nature of the archaeological record; methodologies for recreating the past; and finally, the lifestyles of past people – the latter representing both a statement of current knowledge and the ultimate aim for archaeologists; the goal of all the former sections. The document is reinforced by material on-line which provides further detail and resources. The Palaeolithic and Mesolithic panel report of ScARF is intended as a resource to be utilised, built upon, and kept updated, hopefully by those it has helped inspire and inform as well as those who follow in their footsteps. Future Research The main recommendations of the panel report can be summarized under four key headings: Visibility: Due to the considerable length of time over which sites were formed, and the predominant mobility of the population, early prehistoric remains are to be found right across the landscape, although they often survive as ephemeral traces and in low densities. Therefore, all archaeological work should take into account the expectation of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ScARF Panel Report iv encountering early prehistoric remains. This applies equally to both commercial and research archaeology, and to amateur activity which often makes the initial discovery. This should not be seen as an obstacle, but as a benefit, and not finding such remains should be cause for question. There is no doubt that important evidence of these periods remains unrecognised in private, public, and commercial collections and there is a strong need for backlog evaluation, proper curation and analysis. The inadequate representation of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic information in existing national and local databases must be addressed. Collaboration: Multi-disciplinary, collaborative, and cross- sector approaches must be encouraged – site prospection, prediction, recognition, and contextualisation are key areas to this end. Reconstructing past environments and their chronological frameworks, and exploring submerged and buried landscapes offer existing examples of fruitful, cross-disciplinary work. Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeology has an important place within Quaternary science and the potential for deeply buried remains means that geoarchaeology should have a prominent role. Innovation: Research-led projects are currently making a substantial impact across all aspects of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeology; a funding policy that acknowledges risk and promotes the innovation that these periods demand should be encouraged. The exploration of lesser known areas, work on different types of site, new approaches to artefacts, and the application of novel methodologies should all be promoted when engaging with the challenges of early prehistory. Tackling the ‘big questions’: Archaeologists should engage with the big questions of earliest prehistory in Scotland, including the colonisation of new land, how lifestyles in past societies were organized, the effects of and the responses to environmental change, and the transitions to new modes of life. This should be done through a holistic view of the available data, encompassing all the complexities of interpretation and developing competing and testable models. Scottish data can be used to address many of the currently topical research topics in archaeology, and will provide a springboard to a better understanding of early prehistoric life in Scotland and beyond.