scholarly journals Impacts of phased–out land restoration programs on vegetation cover change in Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tirhas Gebregergs ◽  
Kassa Teka ◽  
Gebeyehu Taye ◽  
Eskinder Gidey ◽  
Oagile Dikinya

Abstract Background Land restoration programs in Tigray, also called integrated watershed management (IWM) practices, were implemented by the government and non–governmental organizations since 1980s. These practices aimed at reversing land degradation processes, environmental rehabilitation, and ensure food security at both community and household levels. Most of the implemented IWM projects are now phased–out. The aim of this study is therefore; therefore, to investigate the impacts of phased–out land restoration programs on vegetation cover changes in Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia. Both Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) Landsat imageries at 30 meter by 30 meter spatial resolution were used to examine the land use and land cover conditions taking successful and unsuccessful IWM interventions as case studies. Three time periods were used in the change analysis: before IWM implementation (2007), at the time of IWM projects phase-out (2010), and after IWM phase-out (2017). Results The results indicated that for all successful integrated watershed management projects, both the bush/shrub land (19.6 ha) and grassland (8.95 ha) increased during the intervention time for Negash (S-1), Deberewahabit (S-2) and Gemad (S-3) watersheds. However, the bush/shrub land decreased after the integrated watershed management projects phased–out by 9.8 and 11.3 ha for S-1 and S-3 watersheds. At the unsuccessful IWM projects, bush/shrub land increased by 18.21, 11.3 and 9.5 ha during the intervention period, and decreased after project phased–out by 3.92 and 7.2 ha at Debretsion (S-4) and Laelay wukro (S-5) watersheds. Furthermore, cultivated land increased after phased–out in most of the watersheds. Conclusions This study concluded that vegetation cover has been declined in all watersheds after the phased–out period. This may affect significantly the environment in general and livelihood of the community in particular. Therefore, there is a need to provide an emphasis after the implementation of watershed projects and evaluate its impacts regularly.

Author(s):  
Tirhas Gebregergs ◽  
Kassa Teka ◽  
Gebeyehu Taye ◽  
Eskinder Gidey ◽  
Oagile Dikinya

AbstractLand degradation in the form of soil erosion is one of the major causes for declining ecosystem functions in the northern highlands of Ethiopia including the Eastern Tigray. Hence, different integrated watershed management practices were introduced in the last few years to avert the problem. Currently, most of these practices are phased out. However, the status and challenges of these practices after phase-out are not well documented and required scientific research. On-field measurement from nine sample plots having a size of each 50 m*50 m at 200 m interval was conducted to assess the status and challenges of these practices. Results of the assessment showed that physical soil and water conservation structures were deteriorated by 47–64% after IWM project phased out. The key problems were lack of periodic maintenance, and limited support by biological conservation measures. The study results suggest that Watershed technologies are highly challenged after project phase-out. Hence, integration among the community, government and non-governmental organizations are needed to sustainably manage these resources.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tirhas Gebregergs ◽  
Kassa Teka ◽  
Gebeyehu Taye ◽  
Eskinder Gidey ◽  
Oagile Dikinya

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of phased–out land restoration programs on vegetation cover in Eastern Tigray, north Ethiopia. Both the Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) Landsat imageries at 30 meter by 30 meter spatial resolution was used to examine the land use and land cover conditions of the study area before (2007), during (2010), and after (2017) the phase–out of IWM projects. Results: The results indicated that there is a clear variation between the treated and untreated watersheds in terms of vegetation cover status. It is confirmed that for treated and successfully recovered watersheds both the bush/shrub land (19.6 ha), and grassland (8.95 ha) have been increased. However, it was decreased by 9.8 and 11.3 ha in two watersheds after the project phased–out. Conclusions: The soil and water conservation practices of each watershed have been significantly affected after the phased–out of the IWM projects. An increase to in the bush/shrub lands has been observed in all of the study sites (Adikesho, Deberewahabit and Gemad) by 19.6, 8.95 and 18.9 ha’s during the intervention period.


Water Policy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1143-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Athari ◽  
Gholamreza Pezeshki Rad ◽  
Enayat Abbasi ◽  
Amirhossein Alibaygi ◽  
Erik Westholm

Abstract This study, which designs a model for integrated watershed management in Iran, is based on qualitative research applying a grounded theory methodology. Interviewing was the main tool for gathering data. Using snowball sampling, we chose three categories of informants: (a) academics and experienced natural resource experts, (b) representatives of active environmental non-governmental organizations, and (c) local people. Integrated watershed management was constituted from contextual conditions (i.e., physical conditions of watersheds, infrastructure, and constructed facilities); causative conditions (i.e., management challenges, climatic–environmental factors, and local people's socio-cultural and economic conditions); and intervention conditions (i.e., extension and education, motivation, attitude, and professional ethics factors). Integrated watershed management paves the way for strategies involving holistic and systems thinking, improved credit and financial resources, coordinative and general policymaking, stakeholder participation, and integrated information systems. These strategies result in environmental, economic, and social outputs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4026
Author(s):  
Mohammad Wais Azimy ◽  
Ghulam Dastgir Khan ◽  
Yuichiro Yoshida ◽  
Keisuke Kawata

The government of Afghanistan promotes saffron production as a means to achieve economic development while reducing the widely spread opium cultivation in the country by providing necessary support to its farmers via saffron farmer service centers. This study investigates the causal effects of relevant attributes of potential saffron production promotion policies on the participation probabilities of saffron farmers. This study applies a randomized conjoint experiment to primary survey data of 298 farmers in Herat Province, which is perceived by the government as the center of saffron production in the country. The proposed hypothetical saffron production promotion policy consists of six attributes, namely, provision of machinery equipment, weather-based crop insurance, accessibility to long-term loans, location of saffron farmer service centers, provider of services, and annual payment. In the randomized conjoint experiment design, the respondents rank two alternative policies and policies against the status quo. The desirable policy comprises the machinery provision, long-term (up to 5 years) loan accessibility, an easily accessible service center, and policy implementation by international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The estimated results reveal that saffron farmers are highly supportive of the proposed saffron promotion policy and that their willingness to pay is as high as 17% of their per capita income.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheshadri Chatterjee ◽  
Sreenivasulu N.S. ◽  
Zahid Hussain

Purpose The applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in different sectors have become agendas for discussions in the highest circle of experts. The applications of AI can help society and can harm society even by jeopardizing human rights. The purpose of this study is to examine the evolution of AI and its impacts on human rights from social and legal perspectives. Design/methodology/approach With the help of studies of literature and different other AI and human rights-related reports, this study has taken an attempt to provide a comprehensive and executable framework to address these challenges contemplated to occur due to the increase in usage of different AI applications in the context of human rights. Findings This study finds out how different AI applications could help society and harm society. It also highlighted different legal issues and associated complexity arising due to the advancement of AI technology. Finally, the study also provided few recommendations to the governments, private enterprises and non-governmental organizations on the usage of different AI applications in their organizations. Research limitations/implications This study mostly deals with the legal, social and business-related issues arising due to the advancement of AI technology. The study does not penetrate the technological aspects and algorithms used in AI applications. Policymakers, government agencies and private entities, as well as practitioners could take the help of the recommendations provided in this study to formulate appropriate regulations to control the usage of AI technology and its applications. Originality/value This study provides a comprehensive view of the emergence of AI technology and its implication on human rights. There are only a few studies that examine AI and related human rights issues from social, legal and business perspectives. Thus, this study is claimed to be a unique study. Also, this study provides valuable inputs to the government agencies, policymakers and practitioners about the need to formulate a comprehensive regulation to control the usage of AI technology which is also another unique contribution of this study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belaynesh Tefera ◽  
Marloes L. Van Engen ◽  
Alice Schippers ◽  
Arne H. Eide ◽  
Amber Kersten ◽  
...  

This study looks at the equality challenges and opportunities for women with disabilities in low and middle income countries (LMICs) to participate and succeed in education, employment and motherhood. It is based on a systematic review of the literature from academic and non-governmental organization databases. The search of these databases yielded 24 articles, which were subsequently passed through open, axial, and selective coding. The resulting review found that women with disabilities in LMICs have severe difficulty participating and succeeding in education, employment and motherhood due to a number of interrelated factors: (i) hampered access to education, employment, intimacy and marriage, (ii) stigma and cultural practices resulting in discrimination and prejudice, and (iii) lack of support from family, teachers and institutions—all of which are exacerbated by poverty. Support from families, communities, the government, and non-governmental organizations improves women’s ability to fulfil their social roles (as students, employees and mothers), resulting in a better quality of life. Strategies that create awareness, minimize poverty and facilitate justice may improve the opportunities for women with disabilities in LMICs to participate in education, employment and motherhood, as well as their ability to succeed in these domains.


Upravlenie ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-126
Author(s):  
V. Ledeneva

The article analyzes different approaches to the policy of integration of migrants in Spain. The purpose of the article is: to show the experience of integration policy and intercultural dialogue in Spain and to determine the most effective methods for application in the Russian migration policy.The phenomenon of socio-cultural integration of immigrants and intercultural interaction through theoretical and methodological developments of domestic and foreign experts has been considered. Distinctions between the concepts of “adaptation of migrants” and “integration of migrants” have been made. Integration involves the next stage of inclusion after adaptation in the host community. A list of criteria for assessing the processes of integration of immigrants into the host society has been formed, three main groups of criteria have been defined: socio-economic, political, legal and socio-cultural. During the analysis, the author comes to conclusion, that the key direction of the policy of integration of migrants into the host community in Spain is economic integration, which implies the inclusion of migrants in labor relations and is supported by state structures as much as possible.The main directions and effectiveness of the integration policy of Spain have been analyzed. It has been concluded, that the effectiveness depends on the existence of a holistic system of interaction between the Central government, regional and municipal authorities and non-governmental organizations, which greatly simplifies the process of integration of migrants into Spanish society. The article widely uses the results of practical studies of the integration experience of Spain, official reports of the EU supranational bodies on the migration situation in this country, reports on the implementation of specific integration initiatives, as well as the analysis of expert assessments on this issue. The article analyzes the most effective methods of integration of the government of Spain and Spanish public organizations, based on which practical recommendations for Russia are proposed, taking into account the specifics of migration processes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-30
Author(s):  
Anthony T. Kiptoo ◽  
John Mbai Muthee

Female offenders are distinctly different from male offenders, and present with their own gender-specific needs and issues both in and out of the correctional setting. Most approaches to Coping Mechanisms for female offenders are currently based on research involving males and approaches designed for males. Inquiry regarding the gender-specific needs of female inmates as they pertain to treatment, reentry programs, and Coping Mechanisms is necessary so professionals can better understand how to serve this population. This study investigated the Coping Mechanisms Adopted by Women ex-offenders in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study specifically investigated the effects of not addressing the challenges identified for women returning from prison in Nyeri County especially challenges connected to housing, employment, relationships, drug, and substance abuse as well as mental health after incarceration. This was a qualitative study adopting a phenomenological design. The site and respondents were purposively selected with snowballing being used to select the respondents to the point of saturation. This study made use of 41 women ex-convicts, 3 FGDs, and 9 key informants. Data were collected by the use of semi-structured interview schedules. Results indicated that currently, prison is negatively viewed by the community; this is primarily because of the isolation of prisoners and whatever happens behind the bars. The government should involve other sectors such as the churches, the media, schools, and Non- Governmental Organizations in educating the masses in order to ease the re-entry of ex-convicts


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-31
Author(s):  
Agung Rheza Fauzi ◽  
Amy Yayuk Sri Rahayu

HIV / AIDS cases in Indonesia continue to increase and have spread to all provinces in Indonesia. As the province with the highest number of HIV cases, DKI Jakarta through the Provincial AIDS Commission (KPAP) seeks to prevent the increase of HIV / AIDS cases through collaborative governance between the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the public. This collaborative governance is reinforced through Governor Regulation No. 231 of 2015 concerning the Organization and Work Procedure of the Jakarta Capital City Provincial AIDS Commission and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Regulation Number 5 of 2008 concerning HIV and AIDS Prevention. This research was conducted to analyze the process of collaboration between the Government, NGOs and Communities in the DKI Jakarta Province. In addition, this study aimed to provide strategic recommendations for effective collaborative governance in the context of HIV / AIDS prevention in DKI Jakarta Province. This study used descriptive qualitative research methods that described the collaborative process of preventing HIV / AIDS in DKI Jakarta Province. Therefore, this study used a collaborative governance theory that focused on the collaborative process. Based on the research, it was known that collaborative governance has been established between KPAP, Health Office, NGOs, Working Groups (Pokja), and the Community. However, it was still not effective because of the lack of roles of working groups and NGOs that were still dependent on donor agencies in carrying out their activities.


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