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Landslides are major natural hazards in Nepal, and efforts are underway to treat small-scale landslides with people’s participation
. The main purpose of this study was to assess various aspects of the prevalent practice of landslide treatment followed by the Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management, Government of Nepal. Questionnaire survey and case study methods were used to collect the necessary information. It appears that the landslide treatment has been successful in stabilizing the major portion of the treated landslides. However, landuse improvement above the treated landslides, and drainage management inside and around the treated landslide sites were found to be inadequate. Also, the maintenance of constructed structures and vegetation was not satisfactory. The findings and recommendations of this paper will be useful in improving the landslide treatment in Nepal
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This book provides a broad coverage of soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies and approaches globally, but with local focus
. SWC technologies are described as "agronomic, vegetative, structural and/or management measures that present and control land degradation and enhance productivity in the field." SWC approaches are defined as "ways and means of support that help introduce, implement, adapt and apply SWC technologies on the ground."
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Integrating cover crops and green manures helps farmers rehabilitate degraded soils in highland areas
. In Ecuador, farmers experimented with this conservation practice. They found that it improved their farming system in many ways, increased productivity in their main crop, decreased weeding time, provided them with an extra crop (for food, fodder, marketing), besides rehabilitating their soils
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Getting farmers to adopt new technologies to address soil erosion and fertility problems is not easy
. In Vietnam, a multidisciplinary research project to improve soil management in traditional mountainous agricultural farming systems managed to attract farmers’ interest and stop soil erosion. This success stems from encouraging farmers, extensionists and researchers to jointly define and implement the project. Their different aims could be followed simultaneously: scientific results for researchers, better agricultural practice for extension workers, and economic success and free choice for farmers
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This discussion paper is based on micro-level analysis of adaptation that focuses on tactical decisions farmers make in response to seasonal variations in climatic, economic, and other factors in Southern Africa
. The document is based on a cross-section database of three countries: South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The data used in this study was collected as part of the Global Environment Facility/World Bank Climate Change and African Agriculture Project.
This discussion paper is based on micro-level analysis of adaptation that focuses on tactical decisions farmers make in response to seasonal variations in climatic, economic, and other factors in Southern Africa. The document is based on a cross-section database of three countries: South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The data used in this study was collected as part of the Global Environment Facility/World Bank Climate Change and African Agriculture Project.
The key findings from this study include:
- farmers are aware that the region is getting warmer and drier with increased frequency of droughts and changes in the timing of rains;
- farmers identified lack of credit and information concerning climate change forecasting (both short-term variations and long-term climate change); rationing of inputs and lack of seed resources as important constraints;
- only less than 40 percent of the respondents are not adopting any adaptation strategies;
- important adaptation options being used by farmers include crop diversification, using different crop varieties, changing planting and harvesting dates,increased use of irrigation, increased use of water and soil conservation techniques, and diversifying from farm to non-farm activities;
- the important determinants of farm-level adaptation options are access to credit, free extension services, farming experience, mixed crop and livestock farms, private property and perception of climate change.
The important policy recommendations made out of this study are:
- incorporating adaptation strategies is important in order for farmers to achieve their farming objectives such as food and livelihood security;
- there is need to support farmers in increasing adaptation measures by providing the necessary resources such as credit, information and training. This can significantly help farmers increase and sustain high productivity levels even under changing climatic conditions;
- governments need to support research and development that develops and diffuses the appropriate technologies to help farmers adapt to changes in climatic conditions.
This study concludes that a better understanding of farmer perceptions regarding long-term climatic changes, current adaptation measures and their determinants would be important for future adaptation in the agricultural sector to be a success
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Trees and shrubs on the lower hillsides in Nepal form symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and these fungi are important for the uptake of mineral nutrients from the soil and the mycelia formed by the fungi have an important function in stabilising the soil
. The success of plantations of these eroded slopes is therefore highly dependent on the extent of mycorrhizal colonisation of the plants.
In this study the authors have investigated the role organic matter on growth of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in eroded slopes in Nepal such as Chalnakhel, Kathmandu District. Different types of organic matter (leaves of Thitonia diversifolia, Eupatorium adenophorum and Lantana camara) were collected and were shade dried and finally powedered. Nutrient analysis was done of these organic matter and soil of experimental site before plantation and after harvest. Lantana camara was taken for plantation on their nutrient content basis. 100 nursery plants Leuceania diversifolia plantation were done in Chalnakhel. Among these 50 plants with Lantana camara and 50 plants were for control. The authors investigated the influence of organic matter or P amendments on production of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in eroded slopes in Nepal. Organic matter addition enhanced the production of AM fungal biomass as well as number of AM spores . They suggest that the positive influence of such organic matter additions can make an important contribution to plant survival in plantations of eroded slopes in Nepal, and thus to restoration success
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Plant diversity, water, and soil conservation of man-made versus natural forests in Mouding (25°24′09″ N, 101°28′18″ E), mid-Yunnan, were investigated and analysed
. Various plant communities exist in this mountainous region: 4-year-old shrubland, a 10- to 14-year-old plantation of Eucalyptus smithii, a 35- to 45-year-old plantation of Pinus yunnanensis, a 35- to 45-year-old semi-natural forest of Keteleeria evelyniana and Pinus yunnanensis, a 35- to 55-year-old natural secondary forest of Keteleeria evelyniana and Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides, and a climax forest of Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides, Castanopsis orthacantha and Castanopsis delavayi as the original mid-subtropical, semi-moist, evergreen broad-leaved trees in the region. The species diversity and the regenerative quality were poorest under the Eucalyptus forest. The Pinus forest had the lowest interception and stemflow (26.4%) of rainfall, followed by the Eucalyptus forest (29.5%). The leaching loss of nutrients was greater in the two planted forests than in the natural ones. The soil under the Eucalyptus forest was impoverished and showed deterioration of its chemical characteristics, as compared to the shrubland, semi-natural, natural, secondary, and climax forests in the same area.
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