Assessing the Effects of Practiced Irrigation Methods on Irrigation Water Demand and Allocation among Farmers in Kontsa Irrigation Project, Ethiopia

Increasing of demand for water, allocation of limited water resources, climatic variability, degradation of water in the environment and developing of policies for sustainable water use are issues of increasing concern in the Kontsa irrigation project. This study aimed at assessing the effects of selected irrigation methods on water demand and allocation among farmers in Kontsa irrigation project. The study employed both primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected by interviewing 80 farmers, key informant interviews and observation of the project area while secondary data were collected from different agencies of Ethiopia. For this study Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model was used to model the current situation of irrigation water demand and also to create scenario for future irrigation water demand. The model was set up for a current account year in 2015 and last year of scenarios in 2040 based on the available data. Then the irrigation water demand of the project area was modeled while giving consideration for existing and planned developments in the area. The result from the current situation of irrigation water demand indicated that the demand was satisfied fully and the unmet demand under the base year (2015) was zero. Additionally, irrigation expansion scenario was created and the result of this scenario indicates the increment of irrigation water demand as compared to the base year and the reference scenario. The study also revealed that furrow irrigation and plastic buckets were the main irrigation techniques employed by farmers in the study area.

Assessing the Land Consolidation Projects from the Perspective of Farmers (A Case Study in Artova District of Tokat Province in Turkey)

Land consolidation is a powerful and effective tool in solving the fragmentation problem of agricultural lands to form a larger, more rational and efficient land for the farmers. The benefits of land consolidation projects are providing access to parcels, efficient use of water resources, real location of parcels, and reducing the costs of irrigation and drainage projects. Although not sufficiently successful, the land consolidation projects in Turkey had been initiated in 1961. This study was aimed to measure and assess the knowledge, expectation and attitudes of farmers on the land consolidation project planned to be implemented for some villages in Artova District of Tokat Province, Turkey. The study was carried out in Taşpınar and Aşağı Güçlü villages which were included in the consolidation program. In these villages, 62 farmers were selected by proportional sampling method out of 175 producers registered in the Farmer Registration System (FRS) and, face to face questionnaires were carried out with them. The results indicated that the producers support the project primarily due to the convenience in irrigation and increasing the efficiency of mechanization. Chi-square analysis revealed that the problems caused by disadvantages of fragmented land structure, importance of land integrity and the experience on a previous consolidation project area are important for the producers supporting the land consolidation project.

Strategy for developing cycling tourism and ecotourism along the Rákos-stream, considering applied ecosystem services

The EcoVeloTour tourism project (Fostering enhanced ecotourism planning along the EuroVelo cycle route network in the Danube region, DTP-055-2.2) aims to develop cycle tourism and ecotourism in connection with the EuroVelo international cycle routes across the Danube Region. The objective of the project is to harness the synergies of the EuroVelo network, to develop – and provide communication opportunities for – ecotourism in the region, to promote cultural and natural values through cycle tourism, to preserve biodiversity and landscape elements, and to improve air quality within the framework of ecotourism development. While the characteristics of the project area are favourable for the development of cycle tourism and ecotourism, its potential has not yet – or only to a limited extent – been harnessed. In terms of the condition and service provision of cycle paths and related infrastructure, there are currently no cycling or ecotourism products to speak of along the Rákos Stream. At the time of drafting this strategy (2021), the section of the EuroVelo 14 route that stretches along the Rákos Stream is under planning, and, within the framework of the EcoVeloTour project, a number of improvements – e.g. the creation of a smart cycling rest area, a signposting plan, and a mobile app – are underway in the area, which, in addition to the great assets of the project area, could make it attractive to cycling tourists and ecotourists.

Variable Effects on Benthic Community From Diking to Eradicate Invasive Plants in the Yangtze Estuary Salt Marsh

The removal of invasive plants is a global concern, and ecological restoration methods have been a major research topic in recent years. In the estuarine salt marsh of the Yangtze River, dikes are typically used in ecological restoration projects to eradicate the invasive plant Spartina alterniflora. We explored ways of optimizing dike construction and of providing an effective basis for the wetland ecological control and protection of biodiversity and analyzed the effects on the macrobenthos of fully and partially dikes. The measurement of the quantitative change in macrobenthos diversity and species composition was carried out in the project area and in a control before (2013) and after (2016) dike construction. Results showed that the number of species and average density decreased significantly in the fully diked enclosed area but increased in the partially diked semi-enclosed area. Outside the project area, all site samples showed increased species richness and average density after dike construction. This study indicated that macrobenthos was negatively affected by the dike project in the inside diked area. However, when the tidewater canals were preserved to maintain the connection between the inside and outside areas, there was a positive effect on macrobenthos in the project area. We suggest that canals are preserved while diking in the salt marsh and that gates are opened regularly to maintain the water and nutrient connectedness inside and outside the dike. The diking project mostly affected mollusks and polychaetes, which are the indispensable food sources for birds and fish. The study provides valid evidence for the management of estuarine salt marsh and the protection of macrobenthos.

Assessing alcohol consumption patterns in Jinja and Masindi districts

BackgroundUganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH) implemented a workplace and community based alcohol control intervention in the districts of Masindi and Jinja in Uganda where alcohol is highly consumed. UNACOH therefore conducted an end-of year evaluation with a main focus on two of the project’ anticipated outcomes. These include:1) Reduced risky alcohol consumption patterns among the communities in the project area especially among vulnerable and high risk groups (elderly, youth, women, commercial motorcyclists and fisher folk) by 2021 and 2) Legal restrictions on density of alcohol outlets, accessibility to minors and availability are in place in Masindi and Jinja district by 2021 .The main objective was therefore to assess alcohol consumption patterns among drinkers, perceptions about community awareness of alcohol control regulations and their perceived effectiveness in the project area (Masindi and Jinja) in the year 2020.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional evaluation conducted among 310 respondents in selected villages within the intervention Sub Counties of the Districts in the project area. These included; These included Karujubu Division,Miirya and Pakanyi Sub Counties in Masindi District, and Bugembe Town Council,Walukuba- Masese Division and Budondo Sub County in Jinja District. The primary outcomes were; reduced risky alcohol consumption patterns among the communities and presence of legal restrictions on density of alcohol outlets, accessibility to minors and availability. Quantitative data were entered and cleaned using Epi-data version 4.6.0.2 analyzed using STATA version 12.0. Descriptive analysis was used to generate information on the alcohol consumption patterns.Results Findings indicated that majority drinkers were male (71.34%) with only 0.93% below the age of 18 years. Spirits were the commonest type of alcohol consumed (40.78%). Risky alcohol consumptions were reported by nearly half (48.71%) of the drinkers. Male drinkers (81.88%) and those in Jinja (58.97%) reported significantly higher alcohol consumption in comparison with female drinkers (18.12%) and those in Masindi (38.31%) respectively. (χ2 =15.74 and p value of 0.000 and χ2=13.24 and p = 0.000).ConclusionVariation in risky alcohol consumption between the project areas could be attributed to differences in implementation of alcohol control regulations. In some project areas, communities were aware of alcohol control regulations and thought these had been beneficial in reducing alcohol related harm. Risky consumption among drinkers remained relatively high. If these negative trends are not reversed they could significantly increase the non-communicable disease burden including mental health.

Ethnobotanical Study and Plant Diversity in the Forest of Kedarnath Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India

The present study was carried out in the forest of Kedarnath valley in Garhwal Himalaya. The aim of the study was to access the diversity status and ecological status. The study was conducted following the stratified sampling techniques by placing quadrates (1m×1m) for herbs, (5m×5m) for shrubs, and (10m×10m) size for trees in the forest area. A total number of 221 plant species were recorded during the floristic survey in the project area. Plant diversity of the project area encompasses 49 species of trees, 28 species of shrubs, and 144 species of herbs. Important value index, the Shannon diversity index, and total basal area species were recorded. The tree density in the present study was highest in the Kedarnath valley which ranged from 0.3 to 8.5 no./ha. Shrub density in the present study varied from 0.4 to 13.5 no./ha, whereas herb density ranged between 0.2 to 22.4 no.ha-1. Total basal cover (TBC) for trees showed a range of 9.542 to 0.075 m2.ha-1, and the Shannon diversity index (H) for tree species was recorded from a minimum of 0.976 to a maximum of 3.048. The horrific disaster in the Kedarnath valley in 2013 caused a lot of damage to the bugyals (High altitude grass) and forests of the valley. About 500 species of vesicular medicinal plants, fodder plants, and other important plant species were washed away (Botanical Survey of India 2015). The current study is a pioneer in the aspect and can be helpful in making district forest plans, protocols, and implementation of forest policy to protect the forest by local people.

Landscaping Project for a Private Garden Plot in the City of Zaporizhzhia

Landscaped areas provide individual, distinctive features and play an important role in shaping the environment of a private garden plot. The authors of the present study developed a landscaping project for a private garden plot at 80 Izmailivska Street, city of Zaporizhzhia. One of the main points of the works was to conduct an inventory of the available plantings. The authors identified the species composition of trees and shrubs located on the landscaping territory. In the project territory, the largest area is occupied by herbaceous cover and is 32.5%, while the smallest area is allocated for tree plantations – only 1.9%. The area under paving and flower beds will be increased at the expense of the territory that is not occupied in the reconstruction project. In the project area, most woody plants require only pruning and are in good condition. Pruning is planned for 10 black mulberry trees (Mórus nígra L.), remnants of a privet hedge (Ligústrum vulgáre), one bush of Vanhoutt Spiraea (Spiraea × vanhouttei (Briot) Zabel.) and one bush of rosehip corymbose (Rosa corymbifera), which have lost their decorative appeal. The formation of plantings in this study aims to create an orderly shape of the crowns of trees and shrubs, which will give them a geometric shape. For decorative purposes, it is also planned to plant the following plants: boxwood tree (Buxus sempervirens var.), iris brazenberry (Iris L. brazenberry), moss phlox (Phlox subulata L.). On the site located to the east of the outbuilding, it is proposed to set up a flower garden from groundcover and flowering plants in a peculiar geometric shape that would follow the shape of the path. On the north-western side of the plot, it is planned to replace the fence with a modular gabion wall covered with rambling vine. The colour of elements of this style should be made in cool, grey tones, white, blue and purple colours are well combined. As a result, it is planned to set up a decorative pond near the arbour, the contour of which will be decorated with smooth stones. The rest of the area is to be covered with a rolled lawn. As a result, an individual and beautiful style of landscape design will be selected for the project area