Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Indigenous Knowledge In The Effective Collective Management Of The Communal Rangelands, A. Finca, S. Linnane, D. Getty, J. H. Slinger

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Numerous scientific studies have highlighted the complexities associated with the collective management of communal rangelands. To date, policy interventions in rangelands have largely ignored people’s traditional ways of managing, with adverse effects on rangeland productivity. Thus, local knowledge has not been considered in spatial planning, despite the fact that local rural communities are often repositories of key indigenous knowledge. Hence this study set out to evaluate the role of indigenous knowledge in the management of the communal rangeland in Cata and Guquka, now and in the future. This was achieved through the use of Participatory GIS (PGIS), specifically participatory mapping …

Proposals For Innovation And Improvement Of The Quality Of Life In Caprine Pastoralist Communities Of Subsistence In The Monte Desert, Argentina, E. M. Abraham, C. Rubio, D. Soria, L. Corso, A. Therburg, D. Bran, A. Maggi, P. Maccagno, C. Policastro, S. Verón, V. Pietragalla, M. Wilson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In a satisfactory alliance between the main environmental policy organizations and the academy, the National Observatory on Land Degradation and Desertification (ONDTyT) is created. The ONDTyD provides information regarding status and trends of land degradation/desertification in order to promote prevention and mitigation measures used for advising public and private decision-makers in Argentina. It is based in the development of 17 Pilot Sites that constitutes the local level network, providing bio-physical and socio-economic indicators of land degradation.

In this network the pilot site of the Monte, the largest dry region of Argentina (Lavalle desert, Mendoza), aims to improve the living conditions …

Selecting The Proper Gps Guidance System For Your Operation, John M. Long

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Computers and other electronics have become commonplace on most newer agricultural equipment. Producers can now collect more information about their operation easier than ever before. Most of this information is commonly tied to the location where it was collected. GPS coordinates are the most common way producers determine this location, so selecting the proper GPS system for the job is critical. Whether a producer has not used a GPS systems and wants to find an affordable entry level guidance system or wants to upgrade to the latest model with all the bells and whistles, there are many different things that …

Land Use Planning For Resilient Pastoral Rangelands: Greater Serengeti Mara Ecosystem, Y. M. Said, B. J. Graae, M. Nielsen, H. P. Hartstean

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Greater Serengeti Mara Ecosystem (GSME) encompasses large protected areas of savanna with iconic wildlife surrounded by pastoralists and farms. GSME is facing severe pressure from human-induced changes due to rapid increase in population and climate variability. We undertook surveys with local communities to understand the potential impacts of these changes on wildlife and livelihoods of communities. We visited eight villages in Kenya and Tanzania and discussed with local communities and leaders, park management on drivers of change, and wishes for future development. To facilitate the conversation, we developed posters with four scenarios as a basis for discussions and a board …

Producing Useful Knowledge For Sustainable Development, K. A. Galvin

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Africa makes a relatively minor contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions compared with developed nations, yet the African continent will be increasingly vulnerable to climate change processes in the coming decades. Critical challenges include meeting basic needs for food, water, shelter, and other necessities without undermining biodiversity and ecosystem services. Coordination efforts to address multiple global change related stressors has generally occurred at the national level and taken an external approach, with national governments favoring collaboration with foreign-based NGOs and other international institutions. However, the involvement of actors at the local level correlates with decisions that are better adapted to …

Large Scale Land Investments And Food Security In Agro-Pastoral Areas Of Ethiopia, Adugna Eneyew Bekele, Liesbeth Dries, Wim Heijman, Dusan Drabik

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

There is an ongoing debate about the impact of large scale land investments on the livelihoods of rural households in developing countries. This study investigates the impact of large scale land investments on households' food security in Ethiopia. The findings show proximity to large scale land investments is associated with higher food intake with an average treatment effect of 744.71 kcal per day per adult. This is mainly because of the availability relatively good natural capitals near to large scale land investments. Large scale land investments should make sure that the local community has access to grazing to improve food …

The Role Of Women In Rural Livestock: Which Women? Which Livestock?, Gabriela Litre, Daniela Nogueira, Alessandra Matte, Virginia Courdin

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

We explore the conceptual and empirical limitations of the question about “the role of women in rural livestock production” as well as the widespread assumption that women in livestock are subsistence or smallholder farmers. While this is correct in many situations, “essentialist” development discourses often disregard new demographic trends and the heterogeneity of live-stock production systems. Our research, which focuses on the livelihoods of women involved with livestock production in the Pampas’ grasslands of Brazil, proposes: 1) to critically analyse some of the most widely spread assumptions about women involved in beef livestock production, including the belief that women are …

Valuing The Expertise Of Mobile Herders In Arid South Africa--A Photographic Essay, C. F. Cupido, W. Ellis, M. I. Samuels

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Pastoralism has been practiced for millennia in numerous ecosystems across the world. Throughout history, pastoral systems and in particular herding have been replaced by the commercialization of livestock production, which essentially made herders redundant in many sub-Sahara countries resulting in job losses. Herding is however still practiced in many countries, but the essential role of the herder is in many instances snubbed upon and disregarded as trivial work, hence their low social standing within the community. Literature however indicates that herding does offer many benefits over commercial paddock systems e.g. improving rural livelihoods, reviving customary practice, reducing stock theft, reducing …

Challenges Of Pastoralism And Rangelands In Europe, P. Manzano

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

High Human Development achievements across Europe explain the situation of pastoralism in the region. While its economic importance has dwindled over the last century in terms of livelihood provision, pastoralism is nonetheless key for supporting rural population - especially in the areas of lower agricultural potential - and for delivering ecosystem services in vast areas. The mainstreaming of scientific research means that pastoralism is increasingly recognized as a sustainable livelihood by the European general public. In spite of this better press, the advanced average age of European pastoralists and the increased gender imbalances pose great sustainability risks in the short- …

Priority Themes And Issues For The International Year Of Rangelands And Pastoralists, Maryam Niamir-Fuller, James T. O’Rourke, Barbara Hutchinson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The objective of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralism (IYRP) is to increase world-wide awareness and recognition of the value and contributions of rangelands and pastoralists. The aim is to influence country policies, legislation, and programs; and to encourage development, research, extension and educational initiatives that will lead to sustainability of rangelands and pastoral/livestock systems. Although each country should decide on how they would celebrate the IYRP, the adoption of a global framework of 12 monthly themes will help to a) provide suggestions and ideas, b) highlight urgent and topical issues, and c) show how pastoralism and rangelands across …

Knowledge About And Knowledge With: Contributions From Feminist Research To Knowledge Co-Production For Pastoral Systems, F. Ravera, María Fernández-Giménez, E. Oteros-Rozas

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Globally, the gender dynamics of rangeland social-ecological systems have received scant attention. Further, research paradigms, methods and methodologies that leave little room for equitable engagement with research participants and genuine action-oriented research-practice partnerships dominate in pastoralist/rangeland studies. Our research is informed by a feminist philosophy of science and based on decolonial and feminist political ecology studies that focus on gendered science and knowledge production. Feminist research calls for reflection on who produces knowledge and how such knowledge is used and shared. Feminist practices such as reciprocity, care, and positionality, cultivate awareness of the power dynamics embedded in the research process …

Women’S Empowerment For Demographic Issues And Conflicts In African Pastoralist Societies, M. R. Cevallos, P. Manzano

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Widespread conflict is a recurring issue in African pastoralist societies. While its roots are debated, there is a missing link with prevailing poverty among communities and particularly among women. We here apply a gender perspective to establish a hypothesis on the role of women in pastoralist conflicts.

The existing polygynic system establishes a violent frame for pastoralist women, who would be sold at increasingly early ages to provide in turn enough resources for furnishing the dowry needed by their brothers. The control on them would thereby be transferred from their own families to their husband and his family, where they …

Comparing Empirical With Perceived Trends In Wildlife, Livestock, Human Population And Settlement Numbers In Pastoral Systems: The Greater Maasai Mara Ecosystem, Kenya, Juliet B. Kariuki, Joseph O. Ogutu, Shem C. Kifugo, Jully S. Senteu, Gordon Ojwang, Han Olff

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Human activities are driving wildlife population declines worldwide. However, empirical understandings of their operation and consequences for wildlife populations and habitats are limited. We explored relationships between empirical and perceived wildlife and livestock population trends in Kenya using data on i) aerial monitoring of wildlife and livestock populations during 1977-2018, ii) human population censuses; and iii) semi-structured interviews with 338 male and female respondents from 250 households from four zones of the Greater Maasai Mara Ecosystem in 2019 and 2020. Wildlife numbers declined by 72.3% but sheep and goats increased by 306.4%. Yet nearly 50% of the interviewees perceived increases …

Effectiveness Of Agricultural Extension Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategies Among Small-Scale Maize (Zea Mays) Farmers In Laikipia West Sub County, Kenya, R. O. Nyamwamu, J. M. Ombati

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Agriculture is critical in the achievement of food security, creation of employment opportunities, steering economic growth, and also a source of raw materials for agricultural industries in many Sub-Saharan countries. However, the small-scale farmers face various challenges which negatively affect farm productivity and production. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the most pressing challenges that small-scale maize farmers experience in some parts of Kenya. It arises from either people’s encroachment on wildlife habitats or the movement of wildlife from their natural habitat into the neighbouring farmland. The smallscale farmers use various agricultural extension strategies to mitigate the conflict. However, the effectiveness …

Social-Ecological Innovations And Outcomes Of Community-Based Conservation In Africa: Implications For The Future, K. A. Galvin

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Community-based conservancies (CBCs) are growing in numbers throughout Africa, particularly in the arid and semi-arid (ASAL) regions where pastoralists raise livestock and live among much of Africa’s remaining wildlife. CBCs emerge around national parks and other protected areas of wildlife spaces apart from people. Community conservancies, in contrast to national parks, are land tenure and land use governance arrangements to conserve wildlife while providing for the livelihoods of African pastoralists. Some conservancies develop by communities in partnership with public agencies, while others are associated with non-government organizations and/or the private sector. Others are more top-down in origin, supported by large …

Socially Differentiation In (Agro)Pastoral Climate Change Adaptation: Intersectional Perspectives On Socio-Technical Change In Kenya And Burkina Faso, Todd Crane, Lisa Nebié, Teresiah Ng’Ang’A

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Gauteng Beef Farmers On Significance Of Practising Climate Smart Agriculture, S. T. Jiyana, K-J. Leeuw, Abubeker Hassen, Ignatius V. Nsahlai

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Farmers are crucial role-players in agriculture, especially in beef farming. Daily farm activities affect climate change, either negatively or positively. Therefore, farmers’ ability to relate climate change with farm activities is highly imperative. A study was conducted to investigate perceptions of Gauteng beef farmers on significance of practising climate smart agriculture (CSA). Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with 57 beef cattle farmers from three areas (Bronkhorstspruit, Rust de Winter and Cullinan) of Tshwane region (Gauteng province). A fully detailed ethical statement was used to explain the study and request farmers’ participation. Data analysis was done using a Statistical Package …

Farmer Perceptions Of Adopting Novel Legumes In Traditional Maize-Based Farming Systems In The Yucatan Peninsula, Jacques Fils Pierre, Luis Latournerie-Moreno, René Garruña-Hernández, Krista L. Jacobsen, Carrie A. M. Laboski, Lucila De Lourdes Salazar-Barrientos, Esaú Ruiz-Sánchez

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Intercropping constitutes the traditional farming system practice used in various forms for maize production in the Yucatan peninsula. Although practiced for centuries, problems persist with competition for water, nutrients and light between crop species in traditional farming systems. Furthermore, little is known about farmers’ perceptions regarding changes to traditional maize-legume intercropping systems and their interest in novel crop adoption to increase yields in the system while maintaining the practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the maize-based traditional cropping system by assessing the underlying motives and concepts of farmers to practice intercropping in the Yucatan Peninsula and to …

Fighting Wildfire With Prescribed Fire In The Southern Great Plains, Usa: Liability, Regulatory And Social Factors, Urs P. Kreuter, M. L. Treadwell, C. L. Wonkka, D. Toledo, D. L. Stroman, D. Twidwell

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Elevated fuel loads together with hotter and drier climatic conditions are expected to produce more frequent catastrophic wildfires in rangelands. This has led to calls for more prescribed fire to reduce fuel loads. However, perceptions that prescribed fire presents substantial legal liability risks hinder its use by landowners. Here we present research findings about the perceptions of landowners, county commissioners and district court judges regarding prescribed fire in the Southern Great Plains. The extent of liability incorporated in legal statutes pertaining to prescribed fire can affect the use of this land management tool, and the enactment of burn bans by …

Indian Forage Scenario – Region Wise Availability And Deficit, A. K. Roy, Rajiv K. Agrawal, N. R. Bhardwaj, Asim Kumar Misra, S. K. Mahanta

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In India, rapid urbanisation, changing food habit and higher purchasing power have increased the demand for animal based food products.Proper feeding strategies using green nutritious fodderis key to increase livestock production and productivity in economical and sustainable way.Three major sources of fodder are crop residues, cultivated fodder from arable land (irrigated and rainfed) and fodder from common property resources like forests, permanent pastures, grazing lands, cultivated wasteland, fallow lands etc.

Based on the livestock census, we estimated the green and dry fodder availability vis-a-vis demand and emerging deficit/surplus situation. The state wise livestock population for Cattle, Buffaloes, Goat, Sheep, Yak …

A Participatory Assessment Of The Development Needs Of Semi‐Sedentary Pastoralists In Kenya, George A. Keya, M. Muga, M. Okoti, A. Adongo, M. Ngutu, D. Mbuvi, F. Wayua, M. Shibia

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Multiple‐Use Grasslands: Integrating Forage, Biofuel, And Carbon/Phosphorus Sinks, James P. Muir, B. Lambert, G. W. Evers, T. J. Butler, K. F. Bronson, L. Stanley‐Stevens, R. D. Wittie

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Taming A 'Wicked' Policy Problem: A Policy Overview Of Property Rights And Governance Of Africa's Rangelands, Esther Mwangi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Social And Cultural Implications Of Scaling Out Livestock Production In The Lao Pdr, Joanne Millar

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

People, Culture And Nature In The Rural‐Urban Fringe: Impressions From A Study Of Rural Gentrification In The English Midlands, Martin Phillips

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Genetic Resources Of Halophytes And Their Utilization For Sustainable Development Of Russian Rangelands, Nariman Shamsutdinov

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Panicum Maximum Seeds From Sugarcane Plantations Improves Household Incomes In Uganda, P. Lusembo, C. Ebong

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Adoption Of Cattle Excreta Management Practices For Improved Elephant Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum) Production By Smallholder Dairy Farmers, Fred Kabi, F. B. Bareeba

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.