Countries of semi-arid West Africa are experiencing growing populations, expansion of cultivated land and intensification of crop and livestock production an ever-increasing burden on the region's limited natural resources, consequently increasing degradation rates. A broad range of technologies combating degradation currently exist. This paper presents and discusses both traditional techniques as well as modern techniques which are derived from the traditional ones.

There has been an increased interest in the use of vegetative barriers in acid-infertile upland management systems in Southeast Asia. This paper analyses the experimental designs and policies in early-1990s of using vetiver grass barriers (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) in microwatersheds with short-rotation tree plantations in Vinh Phu Province, Vietnam. Four different mixed tree-vetiver models on degraded Ferric-Plinthic Acrisols are discussed.

This paper examines the effectiveness of European Union (EU) agroforestry programmes in reversing land degradation processes in the Mação region of central Portugal. Since the 1980s, the region has experienced severe forest fires, which have had serious consequences for the local ecosystem in terms of land degradation processes and changes in the hydrological cycle. In an attempt to reverse this situation, agroforestry programmes and aid schemes have been introduced to improve land management practices and increase the forest area and stabilize soil.

Soil erosion by water constitutes a threat to the maintenance of the subsistence living of the Ethiopian rural population. Past efforts at Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) did not bring about significant results, mainly because of the top-down approach pursued. Uprooting this past oversight and instating a participatory approach has since then been strongly recommended as the correct strategy. This paper analyses the extent of farmers' participation in current SWC activities in the Chemoga watershed, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State.

Ce guide présente des méthodes sélectionnées et des outils de diagnostic participatif des contraintes et des potentialités (DPCP) au niveau des familles et des communautés agricoles, afin de mieux comprendre les contraintes de gestion des sols et des éléments nutritifs des plantes et d’associer les agriculteurs dans la résolution de ces dernières.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...

BACKGROUND TO THE MISSION:

International mission team members;
Myanmar fisheries sector...

MYANMAR - MISSION REPORT ON INLAND AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES:

Myanmar - aquaculture and inland fisheries:

Analyses the World Bank’s Policy Research Report (PRR) from a gender perspective and is critical of the consultation process on it thus far. It has important implications for women in Africa. The Bank believes land should be viewed not as a source of subsistence but of capital. It ignores women’s unpaid labour as a factor in agricultural productivity. It treats the household as an undifferentiated unit and ignores that the family often functions as a site of oppression. The Bank stresses ‘motivated’ family labour but ignores that much of women’s labour is far from voluntary.

Based on 2002 fieldwork in four rural communities in Manica Province. Divided into 5 sections: overview – main points; case studies and methodology; effects of the 1997 Land Law in rural communities; problems encountered during implementation; recommendations; conclusion. Includes suspicion of the legal system, effects of legal knowledge, greater awareness of rights, class inequalities, conflicts between political parties, corruption and ignorance of local officials, attitudes to investors.

A comprehensive research report covers the literature, includes a large survey of farm households throughout Ethiopia, and surveys the opinions of professionals. Land tenure is now a hotly debated issue; land scarcity and degradation are serious. Tenure security is seen as more important than the form of ownership. Almost three-quarters of farmers surveyed fear future distributions of land. Government is afraid that moving from state to private ownership will lead to massive evictions through distress sales, but over 90% farmers said they would not sell their land if they could.