Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked the integration of swidden-based farming systems into the market economy in Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered the landscape and livelihood structures by allowing the penetration of boom crops such as hybrid maize in remote territories. In this article, we investigate the impact of rural road developments on livelihoods in northern Laos through a longitudinal study conducted over a period of 15 years in a forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies of local stakeholders through the combination of individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping and remote-sensing approaches. The study revealed the short-term benefits of the maize feeder roads on poverty alleviation and rural development, but also the negative long-term effects on agroecosystem health and agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about the mechanisms of agricultural intensification helped understanding the constraints faced by external interventions promoting sustainable land management practices. When negotiated by local communities for their own interest, roads may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities through access to external resources, rather than undermining them.

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Exploring the impact of a decision support algorithm to improve clinicians’ chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy assessment and management practices: a two-phase, longitudinal study

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-07965-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Robert Knoerl ◽

Emanuele Mazzola ◽

Fangxin Hong ◽

Elahe Salehi ◽

Nadine McCleary ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Clinic Visit ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Two Phase ◽

Assessment Index ◽

Patient Reported ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) negatively affects physical function and chemotherapy dosing, yet, clinicians infrequently document CIPN assessment and/or adhere to evidence-based CIPN management in practice. The primary aims of this two-phase, pre-posttest study were to explore the impact of a CIPN clinician decision support algorithm on clinicians’ frequency of CIPN assessment documentation and adherence to evidence-based management. Methods One hundred sixty-two patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy (e.g., taxanes, platinums, or bortezomib) answered patient-reported outcome measures on CIPN severity and interference prior to three clinic visits at breast, gastrointestinal, or multiple myeloma outpatient clinics (n = 81 usual care phase [UCP], n = 81 algorithm phase [AP]). During the AP, study staff delivered a copy of the CIPN assessment and management algorithm to clinicians (N = 53) prior to each clinic visit. Changes in clinicians’ CIPN assessment documentation (i.e., index of numbness, tingling, and/or CIPN pain documentation) and adherence to evidence-based management at the third clinic visit were compared between the AP and UCP using Pearson’s chi-squared test. Results Clinicians’ frequency of adherence to evidence-based CIPN management was higher in the AP (29/52 [56%]) than the UCP (20/46 [43%]), but the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.31). There were no improvements in clinicians’ CIPN assessment frequency during the AP (assessment index = 0.5440) in comparison to during the UCP (assessment index = 0.6468). Conclusions Implementation of a clinician-decision support algorithm did not significantly improve clinicians’ CIPN assessment documentation or adherence to evidence-based management. Further research is needed to develop theory-based implementation interventions to bolster the frequency of CIPN assessment and use of evidence-based management strategies in practice. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT03514680. Registered 21 April 2018.

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Evaluating and Predicting the Effects of Land Use Changes on Hydrology in Wami River Basin, Tanzania

Hydrology ◽

10.3390/hydrology7010017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 17 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sekela Twisa ◽

Shija Kazumba ◽

Mathew Kurian ◽

Manfred F. Buchroithner

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Water Resources ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Management Strategies ◽

River System ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Natural Forests ◽

The Impact

Understanding the variation in the hydrological response of a basin associated with land use changes is essential for developing management strategies for water resources. The impact of hydrological changes caused by expected land use changes may be severe for the Wami river system, given its role as a crucial area for water, providing food and livelihoods. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of land use changes on various elements of the hydrological processes of the basin. Hybrid classification, which includes unsupervised and supervised classification techniques, is used to process the images (2000 and 2016), while CA–Markov chain analysis is used to forecast and simulate the 2032 land use state. In the current study, a combined approach—including a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR)—is used to explore the influences of individual land use classes on fluctuations in the hydrological components. From the study, it is evident that land use has changed across the basin since 2000 (which is expected to continue in 2032), as well as that the hydrological effects caused by land use changes were observed. It has been found that the major land use changes that affected hydrology components in the basin were expansion of cultivation land, built-up area and grassland, and decline in natural forests and woodland during the study period. These findings provide baseline information for decision-makers and stakeholders concerning land and water resources for better planning and management decisions in the basin resources’ use.

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Linking Land Use Capability classes and APSIM to estimate pasture growth for regional land use planning

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr15018 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 94 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Iris Vogeler ◽

Rogerio Cichota ◽

Josef Beautrais

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

New Zealand ◽

Land Use Planning ◽

Management Practices ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Land Resource ◽

Pastoral Systems ◽

System Models ◽

Farm System ◽

The Impact

Investigation of land-use and management changes at regional scales require the linkage of farm-system models with land-resource information, which for pastoral systems includes forage supply. The New Zealand Land Resource Inventory (NZLRI) and associated Land Use Capability (LUC) database include estimates of the potential stock-carrying capacity across the country, which can be used to derive estimates of average annual pasture yields. Farm system models and decision support tools, however, require information on the seasonal patterns of pasture growth. To generate such pasture growth curves (PGCs), the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) was used, with generic soil profiles based on descriptions of LUC classes, to generate PGCs for three regions of New Zealand. Simulated annual pasture yields were similar to the estimates of annual potential pasture yield in the NZLRI spatial database, and they provided information on inter-annual variability. Simulated PGCs generally agreed well with measured long-term patterns of seasonal pasture growth. The approach can be used to obtain spatially discrete estimates of seasonal pasture growth patterns across New Zealand for use in farm system models and for assessing the impact of management practices and climate change on the regional sustainability.

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Assessing the Potential of Nontraditional Water Sources for Landscape Irrigation

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04023-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 436-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Raul I. Cabrera ◽

James E. Altland ◽

Genhua Niu

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Management Practices ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Water Sources ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Natural Ecosystems ◽

Aesthetic Quality ◽

The Impact

Scarcity and competition for good quality and potable water resources are limiting their use for urban landscape irrigation, with several nontraditional sources being potentially available for these activities. Some of these alternative sources include rainwater, stormwater, brackish aquifer water, municipal reclaimed water (MRW), air-conditioning (A/C) condensates, and residential graywater. Knowledge on their inherent chemical profile and properties, and associated regional and temporal variability, is needed to assess their irrigation quality and potential short- and long-term effects on landscape plants and soils and to implement best management practices that successfully deal with their quality issues. The primary challenges with the use of these sources are largely associated with high concentrations of total salts and undesirable specific ions [sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), boron (B), and bicarbonate (HCO3−) alkalinity]. Although the impact of these alternative water sources has been largely devoted to human health, plant growth and aesthetic quality, and soil physicochemical properties, there is emergent interest in evaluating their effects on soil biological properties and in natural ecosystems neighboring the urban areas where they are applied.

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Covid-19 Crisis Management Responses of Small Tourism Firms in South Africa

Tourism Review International ◽

10.3727/154427221x16245632411872 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Irma Booyens ◽

Christian M. Rogerson ◽

Jayne M. Rogerson ◽

Tom Baum

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Crisis Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Government Support ◽

Interview Survey ◽

Tourism Enterprises ◽

And Coping ◽

The Impact

Although the literature on COVID-19 is expanding, particularly in relation to crisis management responses pursued by large tourism enterprises, currently few studies exist on the responses of small tourism firms and more specifically of the crisis management practices of small and microaccom modation establishments. The aim in this study is to investigate the business management responses of small tourism firms to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and restrictions in South Africa. Themes of concern are whether enterprises have been able to sustain operations and adopt certain coping mechanisms or management strategies to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. The article reports on an interview survey of small and microenterprises engaged in accommodation services (N = 75) in South Africa under lockdown restrictions as a means of assessing the responses and coping strategies during an unprecedented crisis of this core component of the country’s tourism industry. Among key findings are that small and microlodging firms that have suffered severe financial losses because of the COVID-19 shock have few viable mechanisms to cope with the impact of the crisis and that government support to aid recovery has been insufficient in South Africa. This research contributes to the limited body of international scholarship that examines how small and microaccommodation firms, a major group and contributor of many economies, are navigating the unprecedented COVID-19 environment.

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Meta-Analysis of Strategies to Reduce NH3 Emissions from Slurries in European Agriculture and Consequences for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10111633 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1633

Author(s):

Christoph Emmerling ◽

Andreas Krein ◽

Jürgen Junk

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Greenhouse Gases ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Management Practices ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Ammonia Emission ◽

Ammonia Emissions ◽

The Impact

The intensification of livestock production, to accommodate rising human population, has led to a higher emission of ammonia into the environment. For the reduction of ammonia emissions, different management steps have been reported in most EU countries. Some authors, however, have criticized such individual measures, because attempts to abate the emission of ammonia may lead to significant increases in either methane, nitrous oxide, or carbon dioxide. In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis of experimental European data published in peer-reviewed journals to evaluate the impact of major agricultural management practices on ammonia emissions, including the pollution swapping effect. The result of our meta-analysis showed that for the treatment, storage, and application stages, only slurry acidification was effective for the reduction of ammonia emissions (−69%), and had no pollution swapping effect with other greenhouse gases, like nitrous oxide (−21%), methane (−86%), and carbon dioxide (−15%). All other management strategies, like biological treatment, separation strategies, different storage types, the concealing of the liquid slurry with different materials, and variable field applications were effective to varying degrees for the abatement of ammonia emission, but also resulted in the increased emission of at least one other greenhouse gas. The strategies focusing on the decrease of ammonia emissions neglected the consequences of the emissions of other greenhouse gases. We recommend a combination of treatment technologies, like acidification and soil incorporation, and/or embracing emerging technologies, such as microbial inhibitors and slow release fertilizers.

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Biological indicators of soil quality in organic farming systems

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170509990172 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 308-318 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

E.A. Stockdale ◽

C.A. Watson

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Management Practices ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Biological Indicators ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Conventional Agriculture ◽

Biological Quality ◽

Organic Farming Systems ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe health of the soil, recognized by its active role in the linked processes of decomposition and nutrient supply, is considered as the foundation of agriculture by the organic farming movement. Nutrient management in organically managed soils is fundamentally different from that of conventional agricultural systems. Crop rotations are designed with regard to maintenance of fertility with a focus on nutrient recycling. Where nutrients are added to the system, inputs are in organic and/or non-synthetic fertilizer sources that are mostly slow release in nature. Hence a greater reliance is placed on soil chemical and biological processes to release nutrients in plant-available forms. In this respect, nutrient availability in organically farmed soils is more dependent upon soil processes than is the case in conventional agriculture. The development and use of biological indicators of soil quality may therefore be more important in organic (and other low input) farming systems. The aim of this paper is to evaluate current evidence for the impact of organic farming systems on soil biological quality and consider the identification of appropriate biological indicators for use by organic farmers and their advisors. Organic farming systems are generally associated with increased biological activity and increased below-ground biodiversity. The main impacts on biological fertility do not result from the systemsper sebut are related to the amount and quality of the soil organic matter pool and disruptions of soil habitat via tillage. Even within the constraints of organic farming practices it is possible for farmers to make changes to management practices which will tend to improve soil biological quality. It is, however, by no means clear that distinct indicators of soil biological quality are needed for organic farming systems. It is important not only to identify the most appropriate indicators but also to ensure that farmers and land managers can understand and relate to them to support on-farm management decisions.

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Nachhaltiges Holzproduktionspotenzial im Schweizer Wald

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2011.0300 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 162 (9) ◽

pp. 300-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Edgar Kaufmann

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

National Forest Inventory ◽

Forest Area ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Growing Stock ◽

Rotation Periods ◽

The Impact ◽

Harvesting Costs

Potential of sustainable wood production in Swiss forests In the Swiss National Forest Inventory (NFI), the data collected in the three inventories (NFI1 1983–1985, NFI2 1993–1995, NFI3 2004–2006) provide the basis not only for analysing the present state of the forest and how it has developed up to now, but also for assessing, with the help of models, how it might develop in future. The scenario model «Massimo 3», developed at the Swiss Federal Institut for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, is an empirical and stochastic simulation model. It relies on data from the NFI and forecasts the development of the forest according to how it is managed. Six scenarios with different management regimes were defined according to the economic, silvicultural and ecological aspects considered. In three scenarios the growing stock is kept constant at the level of NFI3, but different management strategies are used (Scenario A: basis [business as usual], Scenario E: even-aged forests are transformed into uneven-aged forests, and Scenario F: near-natural percentages of conifers are promoted). In two scenarios forest management is partially abandoned for either ecological reasons (Scenario B: reservations, 10% of the forest area is left unmanaged) or for economic reasons (Scenario C: harvesting costs, 40% of the forest area is left unmanaged). Scenario D (rotation periods are shortened) was used to study the effects of augmenting the annual harvesting amount. A forecasting time period of 100 years was selected to assess the long-term effects of the scenarios. Scenarios A, D, and E show that the sustainable harvesting potential of merchantable wood lies in a relatively narrow range of 7.1 to 7.3 million m3/year, even though in Scenario D the growing stock is reduced from 360 m3/ha to 305 m3/ha. In Scenario F regeneration is systematically established with near-natural percentages of conifers, the long-term harvesting potential is slightly less: about 6.5 million m3/year of merchantable wood. If forest management is abandoned for economic reasons on as much as 40% of the forest area (Scenario C, harvesting costs), the impact on the wood reserves is very negative.

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Exploring the Connections between Land Use and Transportation: A Case Study of Shaheb Bazar to Rail Gate Road, Rajshahi City

LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics ◽

10.2478/logi-2019-0004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 30-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dulal Sarker ◽

Abdur Rouf Khan ◽

Muhaiminul Islam

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Traffic Congestion ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Travel Behaviour ◽

Reciprocal Relationship ◽

Land Use Pattern ◽

Common Technique ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Rajshahi City

Abstract Land use-transportation comprehensive planning has become an increasingly common technique in regional and sub-regional planning processes. Since land use management strategies act as an effective tool to achieve transportation planning objectives, it is important to identify the relationship between land use pattern and travel behaviour. This study examined the relationship between transportation and land use in Rajshahi city. Rajshahi is a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. In Rajshahi, Shaheb bazaar zero points to New Market road is one of the most important roads. After construction of this road in 2013 intense development has taken place beside it. To identify this primary relationship data has been collected from different types of field survey. Then the impact of land use and transportation has been determined by comparing with the previous database. The findings of the study show that there exist a reciprocal relationship between land use and transportation system and the impacts on both. The study also notes that the impact of transportation on land use is more than the impact of land use on transportation. The study will help to control the haphazard growth and traffic congestion of the concerned area in the future.

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Diversity of Soil Dwelling Collembola in a Forest, Vegetable and Tea Ecosystems of Assam, India

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132212628 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 12628

Author(s):

Sudhansu Bhagawati ◽

Badal Bhattacharyya ◽

Binoy K. Medhi ◽

Snigdha Bhattacharjee ◽

Himangshu Mishra

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Landscape Planning ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Organic Carbon Content ◽

Land Uses ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Land Use Pattern ◽

Seasonal Diversity ◽

The Impact

Land use change has a great impact in determining the diversity patterns of soil fauna. Adoption of any land use pattern significantly affects the soil structure and its physico-chemical characteristics, which often leads to the loss of biodiversity. Considering the collembolans as the key organism in the indicator shopping basket of soil environment, the response of Collembola communities under three different land uses represented by forest, vegetable and tea ecosystems was studied. Collembolans were sampled at monthly intervals using Tullgren funnel and identified by standard taxonomic keys. Diversity analysis and soil chemo-edaphic factors were studied to establish the impact of different land uses on Collembola communities. Five genera of Collembola viz., Cyphoderus, Entomobrya, Isotoma, Folsomia and Hypogastrura were recorded from the forest ecosystem whereas Folsomia was completely absent in vegetable ecosystem and the tea ecosystem soil was devoid of both Folsomia and Hypogastrura. Seasonal diversity and density of Collembola were recorded to be higher in the forest ecosystem indicating the presence of relatively stable habitats as compared to vegetable and tea ecosystems showing relatively disturbed habitats. Correlation studies between different chemo-edaphic factors and collembolan population revealed that the moisture and organic carbon content of soil had significant positive correlation during all the four seasons in all the ecosystems studied. Higher adoption of mechanical and chemo-centric agriculture depletes the available resources of the soil and makes it less habitable and conducive for the growth and sustenance of collembolans in vegetable and tea ecosystem as compared to forest. Appropriate landscape planning, land management strategies and developing proper methods of land use practices may pave the way for the improvement of collembolan diversity at landscape level.

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