Conversion of arable land (maize) to pasture will affect the soil organic matter (SOM) content. Changes in the SOM content were studied using a size- and density-fractionation method and C-13 analysis. Twenty-six years of maize cropping had resulted in a depletion of carbon stored in the macro-organic fractions (>150 mu m) and an increase in the 250 mu m), light (b.d. 150 mu m) and light (b.d. 150 mu m; b.d. >1.13 g cm(-3)) in the 0- to 20-cm layer was still 40-50% lower than in the continuous pasture plots.

El presente Decreto declara Zona Intangible de Conservación, vedada a todo tipo de actividad extractiva, las tierra de habitación y desarrollo de los grupos Huaorani, conocidos como Tagaeri Taromenane, y otros eventuales que permanecen sin contacto, ubicadas hacia el sur de las tierras adjudicadas a la nacionalidad Huaorani y del Parque Nacional Yasuní (PNY).

This review explores environmental change in northern and south-central Kenya, roughly covering three decades from the 1960s to the 1990s. The report answers three questions:has vegetation change occurred in these districts?if vegetation change has occurred, why and how has this happened?what are the trends for livestock populations?The article concludes that:rangeland sites have been fundamentally altered by woody encroachment over the past 40 years.

Research project using participatory methods to improve the effectiveness of indigenous and modern soil and water conservation practices through a process of joint experimentation involving farmers, researchers, extension and NGO staff. Countries covered are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

The objectives of this study are to analyze and synthesize the experience of the World Bank and other agencies in dryland management, with special emphasis on Africa.Recommendations are provided on "good policies and practices" in drylands management, which can support actions to fulfil obligations arising from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) for member countries and for international organizations, such as the World Bank.

Brief analysis of the situation within Cambodia’s forestry sector, and a round up of information obtained during Global Witness’ investigations.

A growing recognition of the need to delimit the role of the government, to promote the market framework, and to rely on the private sector as the engine of growth, offers the prospect of a new beginning in rural development in Africa. Rural people must take a more dominant role, both in shaping their economic prospects and in assuming the responsibility for a high quality of stewardship of natural resources. To help to bring about such an empowerment of the people, governments and the donors will need to undertake some drastic reforms in the old systems and habits of governance.

This paper outlines a framework for understanding the complexity of land degradation processes, their impacts, and offers insights into their remediation.