Plant Pathology Commons^™

Pastoralist Conservation: Local Ecological Knowledge And Collective Action For Grassland Conservation In Sierra De Segura (Spain), P. Sanosa-Cols, F. Ravera, F. Dominguez, M. Ventura

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Even if Pastoralism is not practised anymore by a majority of families in the Sierra de Segura (south-eastern Andalusia, Spain), it is still considered a paradigmatic way of life and management of its highlands and a key cultural heritage deeply rooted in local identity. In this article we explore two pastoral communities of this region, Santiago and Pontones, with their body of situated knowledge of the territory and natural resources, which helps pastoralists to organize their livelihoods, while requiring collective organization to manage access to grasslands. Through an ethnographic research based on participant observation and in-depth interviews, we explore the …

Intensification Of Pastoralism As A Driver Of Degradation In The Algerian Steppe, S. Bencherif, P. Manzano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Land degradation linked to pastoralism use has been a worldwide concern for decades. A biological approach has often been use to understand such phenomena, usually disregarding economic and social factors. Radical transformations of pastoralism at the Algerian steppe constitute a good case study to provide an integrated understanding and to better orient development in other pastoralist areas across the world. Different actions by the public sector since the 1960s, as well as the land legislation adopted and the strong agricultural subventions during 2000-2010, have favored a massive conversion of land and resource management. This translates into conversion of many pastures …

Perceptions Of Rangeland Degradation In The Peruvian Altiplano Dry Puna And Implications, C. Turin, J. Gilles

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Peruvian altiplano’s dry puna is the main feed source for specialized alpaca pastoralist systems. Experts argue that rangelands are severely degraded and have formulated policies and programs to address this. However, these programs have had little success. This paper presents a qualitative case study of the perceptions of rangeland degradation held in three Aymara communities, by range scientists of academia, personnel of NGOs operating in the region and by government officers. We found that each of these groups had distinct views of the level and causes of degradation in the region. Differences in perceptions undermined cooperation and trust between …

Endangered Sustainable Innovation: Indigenous Milk Hygiene And Preservation Techniques By Maasai Too Valuable To Lose, J. Y. Laffa, C. R. Mcculloch, D. Schoder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The indigenous Parakuyo Maasai communities of Tanzania are traditional pastoralists who depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple food. However, the arid climate and a lack of clean water challenge milk production and conventional milk hygiene practices.

By conducting informational interviews in eight Parakuyo Maasai regions and 13 districts of Tanzania we sought to identify the key indigenous plants preferred and establish their traditional manner of use. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to: (i) determine the plants used, (ii) the parts used, (iii) methods of preparation and utensil smoking, (iv) therapeutic applications and associated health benefits of these plants, …

Developing A Glossary Of People-Focused Terms Related To Rangelands And Grasslands, Dana Kelly, Katherine I. Johnsen, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer, Ann Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Excellent glossaries on rangelands and grasslands have been developed by the Society for Range Management (SRM), the International Grassland Congress (IGC) and the International Rangeland Congress (IRC). However, these are largely confined to biophysical and technical terminology and contain very few concepts referring to social, institutional and policy aspects of using rangelands and grasslands. After the 10^th IRC in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2016, an informal group started to develop a glossary of such “people-focused” terms. The short and non-academic definitions are meant to improve communication and understanding by users/practitioners in rangeland and grassland management, policymakers, teachers, students, journalists and …

Could Cheese Be The Missing, Hard, Stable Currency To Fortify Self-Sufficiency Of Pastoralist Communities?, D. Schoder, J. Y. Laffa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditional pastoral existence in Africa has always necessitated close, sustainable interaction with a harsh natural environment. Pastoralists, such as the indigenous Parakuyo Maasai of Tanzania traditionally depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple. They are among the few African ethnic groups that still live as small, socially intact associations close to nature. Unfortunately, fresh milk is difficult to store and inevitably, times of plenty fluctuate with the times of hunger that threaten cultural retreat. Milk storage is particularly challenging in an arid climate without refrigeration and at such times, survival takes precedence over prosperity. We describe an ongoing pilot …

Comparative Analysis Of Cbrm Cases In Kenya, Ethiopia And Tunisia, I. N. Nganga, L. W. Robinson, B. Eba, F. Flintan, E. M. Ontiri, M. Sghaier, N. H. Abdu, S. S. Moiko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In various countries, development and conservation organizations and national policymakers have been experimenting with ways of applying the community-based natural resource management approach to the unique social and biophysical characteristics of pastoralist rangeland settings, with mixed results. We carried out comparative case study research on community-based rangeland management (CBRM) in a variety of settings in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tunisia with the objective of identifying what kinds of strategies and methods work in which social and ecological contexts. We used an “options by context” approach guided by a research protocol that includes key variables and descriptors for characterizing the implementing organization’s …

Comparative Analysis Of Agri-Food Systems For Extensive Livestock In The High Pyrenees And Creation Of A Multicriterian Tool For Its Evaluation, Laia Motos, Federica Ravera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main objective of this study is to compare the different agri-food systems of extensive livestock (ecological and conventional) of big and small ruminants (cattle and sheep respectively) in high Pyrenees. This objective is formulated by looking at the general lack of knowledge of the population regarding the functionality of these systems, the changes of management that have been introduced in the recent years, especially in terms of commercialization, and the different capacity of response of extensive livestock systems to climate change and other socio-economic complementary changes. Attributes and indicators have been selected for the comparative evaluation of livestock systems, …

Analysis Of Rangeland Perceptions Among Potential Land Redistribution Beneficiaries In South Africa: How Well Do Potential Emerging Farmers Know Their Rangelands?, S. Zantsi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sound rangeland management is one of the key factors for a successful and viable commercial livestock production in grass fed production systems. However, such knowledge is perceived to be lacking in small-scale livestock farmers, who farm on degraded and overgrazed communal rangelands despite being regarded as prime beneficiaries of the land redistribution programme in the stalling South African land reform. Largely, it is also not known in details how much the potential future commercial farmers know about their rangelands. This study analyses perception of the prime land redistribution beneficiaries—potential emerging farmers, who were surveyed randomly in three South African provinces. …

An Analysis Of Community-Based Values Informing Land Management On The Midwestern Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Of Kansas, Usa, Heidi Mehl, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, Melinda Howard, Cynthia Annett

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The focus of this study is to examine the interface between land management practices and values within a tribal community in rural midwestern North America. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) reside on a tribal reservation with a checkerboard distribution amongst private, non-tribal landowners. Previous studies have indicated that landowners may have different value-systems leading to variations in land-management practices. This can impose discontinuous land management in areas within shared biological boundaries, such as watersheds, especially between tribal and non-tribal entities. Preliminary spatial analysis in and around the PBPN landscape determined that the tribally-managed lands present more vegetative cover per …

A Policy Brief On Adopting The Somali Camel For Enhanced Profitability And Pastoral Resilience In Northern Kenya, Simon G. Kuria, A. O. Adongo, S. Murithi, O. K. Koech, J. T. Njoka, P. Kamande

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Persistent drought and high temperatures in Isiolo and Marsabit counties of northern Kenya repeatedly devastate livestock herds particularly cattle making the pastoralists less resilient, more vulnerable to climate change and poor. To address this challenge, an IGAD funded project promoted adoption of Somali camel breed, trained farmers on improved management and also estimated potential profitability of rearing the camel. Through the project, trainers were trained and facilitated to train 240 peri-urban Somali camel producers in Isiolo and Marsabit on breeding, health, routine husbandry and marketing. Impact study documenting positive stories of change was conducted at the end. Producers who hitherto …

Red Clover Improves The Energy To Protein Balance Of Lucerne-Grass Herbage, X. Godin, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, P. Seguin, S. Bittman, D. Hunt, J. Hakl, G. Bélanger, M.-N. Thivierge, A. Bertrand, M. Thériault, A. Claessens

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Low ratio of readily fermentable carbohydrate to soluble protein concentrations in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) leads to inefficient use of herbage N by ruminants. To improve the energy to protein balance in lucerne-grass herbage, four proportions of lucerne:red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were compared in mixtures with and without grasses: timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus Schreb. Dumort.) in Quebec (QC, Canada). In the first post-seeding year, red clover proportion averaged (across grasses and four harvests) 0, 37, 59, and 74% in herbage mixtures. Increasing the proportion of red clover caused a slight …

Structural Features Of Condensed Tannins Influence Their Antimethanogenic Potential In Forage Plants, S. Verma, J.-P. Salminen, S. Wolffram, F. Taube, R. Blank, A. Susenbeth, C. Malisch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Despite years of research on the antimethanogenic potential of condensed tannins (CT), their large-scale application is inhibited by a substantial variability in previous studies with regards to their impact on ruminant nutrition. This variability mainly results from the complexity of CT structures, and their impact on methane emissions is often unaccounted for. Hence, this study (a) evaluated the variability in antimethanogenic potential across six forage species, (b) linked methane emissions to tannin activity, and (c) determined the impact of CT structural features on methane abatement. Six forage species were grown in a greenhouse under controlled environmental conditions, namely, sainfoin ( …

Phenotypical Characters Associated With The Loss Of The Seed And The Production Of Biomass In Panicum Coloratum Var. Makarikariense, Maria F. Moresco Lirusso, Mónica B. Sacido, Guillermo R. Pratta, Silvina A. Felitti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since the beginning of humanity, plants have been manipulated by humans by artificial selection to obtain changes in their characteristics. This progress has been achieved through the domestication of the species. Panicum coloratum is a species of summer perennial grass, megathermic, tolerates waterlogging, cold and slightly saline soils. It is of African origin and used as fodder in various parts of the world. In Argentina around 130.500 hectares are sown, the most widespread varieties are: var. coloratum, and var. makarikariense Goossens. Its characteristics of determined flowering and ununiform ripening within the panicle, added to a very low retention of …

The Role Of Bacteria And Fungi On Forage Degradation In Vitro, Gilberto V. Kozloski, D. C. Rösler, C. A. Pozo, L. E. Leonardi, Mariana P. Mezzomo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted to evaluate the interactive role of bacteria and fungi on forage degradation in vitro. Samples of Cynodon spp. were incubated in a 48-h in vitro gas assay with incubation medium containing or not antimicrobial substances. Treatments were: antibiotic (Ab), antifungal (Af), negative control (i.e. without antimicrobials) or positive control (i.e. with both Ab and Af). Three replicate assays were conducted and, in each assay the gas volume was measured at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation. Data of cumulative gas production in each flask in each assay was fitted to …

Performance Of Rotational Grazing Of Urochloa Hybrid Cv. Cayman In The Caribbean Region Of Costa Rica, M. Hernández-Chaves, R. Van Der Hoek, S. Abarca-Monge, R. Soto-Blanco, J. Arango

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Costa Rica pasture-based grass is the basis for both dairy and beef production. The Caribbean region with a rainfall exceeding 3000 mm has four seasons: dry (Feb-May), rainy (May-Aug), less rainy (Sep-Oct) and intermediate (Oct-Feb). Many pastures are dominated by Ischaemum ciliare (“Retana”), of poor nutritional quality and permanently grazed with low stocking rates (one animal per ha). To assess the potential of combining improved grasses with rotational grazing, a trial with Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman was implemented at the INTA research station in Guápiles, Limón province, during four years (2014 to 2018). An intensive pasture management system based …

Making The Case For Rangelands To Become The Poster Child Of The Sdgs: How Rangelands Provide Fertile Ground For An Interconnected Approach To The Three Pillars Of Sustainable Development, B. Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 ambitious goals set by global leaders to transform the world by 2030 and create a sustainable future for all. They are founded on the three pillars of sustainable development – environmental, economic and social sustainability, or as they are more colloquially known, “people, planet and profit”. Creating a better world requires an integrated approach that simultaneously improves livelihoods and reduces inequalities whilst dramatically reducing environmental damage.

This paper argues that rangelands are an ideal arena for showcasing the SDGs because they are, by their very nature, interconnected landscapes in which …

Intellectual Property Protection – Stimulating Or Constraining Innovation And Technology Transfer?, John R. Caradus, C. A. Tumilson, J. Y. Lin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland farming is becoming more technically advanced leading to improvements in productivity, environmental outcomes and animal welfare. As a result, farmers have an increasing range of new innovations being made available to them. The question examined here is whether widespread uptake of new innovations by farmers is more effective when driven by marketing through dedicated paths to market where the intellectual property (IP) is controlled or through multiple paths to market where there is no IP control?

The role of IP in stimulating the development, manufacture and sale of new technologies is hotly debated. For plant breeders and patent owners, …

High Altitude Rangelands And Pastoralism In Bhutan: Using Sustainable Development Goals To Address Land Degradation And Poverty, J. E. Millar, K. Tenzing

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Semi-nomadic pastoralists in Bhutan live in high altitude rangelands where they seasonally migrate with yak and cattle herds from 3,000m to 5,000m. Population increase, overgrazing and climate change in eastern Bhutan have led to severe land degradation, winter fodder shortage and reduced milk production per head for herding families. This paper describes how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were used to design a rangeland rehabilitation and livelihoods improvement program with herders in Merak district from 2016 to 2019. The aim was to restore degraded rangelands, improve pastures, develop savings schemes, resolve conflicts and increase conservation knowledge. The approach involved gender sensitive …

Conversion Of Forest To Agro-Silvo-Pastoral System – Montado – In Mediterranean Environments, J. Potes, F. Jorge, T. Montes, D. Palha

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Mediterranean environment regions are characterized by climate and soil specificities that justify low productive capacity for primary production when compared to other environments on earth. The Mediterranean forests are essentially formed by trees and shrubs. The shrubs are the perfect fuel to feed the forest fires that occur in a natural and cyclical manner in these environmental conditions. Therefore, the Mediterranean Systems of Agriculture have evolved to control the shrubs and the extensification of the systems because of low productivity. Sustainability is achieved by increase of productivity through improvement of the soil and irrigation. The application of these principles …