THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM: LOCALLY MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES

Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Root Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Immigration into Strawberry Plots Protected by Fence or Portable Trench Barriers

Physical exclusion shows some potential as a novel root weevil control strategy, but barriers to root weevil immigration may also exclude beneficial insects, such as ground beetles. A field study was undertaken in 1997 to assess the impact of two physical barriers—portable plastic trenches and aluminum fences with Teflon tape—on root weevil and ground beetle immigration into plots of strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa (Duchesne). Barypeithes pellucidus (Boheman) and Nemocestes incomptus (Horn), each comprised 43% of the root weevils caught at the site. Most (86%) of the ground beetles caught in control plots were longer than 1 cm, the width of the gap in the portable trench top. Trenches excluded 75 and 63% of B. pellucidus and N. incomptus, respectively, without significantly reducing immigration of large (<1 cm) ground beetles. Fences excluded 65, 84, and 99% of B. pellucidus, N. incomptus, and large ground beetles, respectively. Adding diatomaceous earth to trenches did not increase their efficacy, and fences without Teflon tape excluded ground beetles but not root weevils. The reduction in the population of root weevils and other strawberry pests caused by the use of barriers reduced damage to strawberry plant leaves and increased strawberry plant survival relative to unprotected control plots. Advantages and disadvantages of these physical control tools are discussed with a view to creating superior tools for root weevil exclusion, compatible with an integrated pest management approach. Portable trenches may offer a means of selectively excluding root weevils but not ground beetles

Natural Windbreaks Sustain Bird Diversity in a Tea- Dominated Landscape

Windbreaks often form networks of forest habitats that improve connectivity and thus conserve biodiversity, but little is known of such effects in the tropics. We determined bird species richness and community composition in windbreaks composed of remnant native vegetation amongst tea plantations (natural windbreaks), and compared it with the surrounding primary forests. Fifty-one, ten-minute point counts were conducted in each habitat type over three days. Despite the limited sampling period, our bird inventories in both natural windbreaks and primary forests were nearly complete, as indicated by bootstrap true richness estimator. Bird species richness and abundance between primary forests and windbreaks were similar, however a difference in bird community composition was observed. Abundances of important functional groups such as frugivores and insectivores did not vary between habitat types but nectarivores were more abundant in windbreaks, potentially as a result of the use of windbreaks as traveling routes, foraging and nesting sites. This preliminary study suggests that natural windbreaks may be important habitats for the persistence of bird species in a production landscape. However, a better understanding of the required physical and compositional characteristics for windbreaks to sustain bird communities is needed for effective conservation management

Farmers' perceptions of trees on their land in the Santa Cruz area, Biological Corridor Volcanica Central-Talamanca, Costa Rica

The Biological Corridor Volcanica Central-Talamanca aims to restore and maintain the biological connectivity between protected areas in Costa Rica. Trees outside forest such as live fences, dispersed trees within pastures and riparian areas, play productive and conservation roles and increase connectivity in the agricultural landscapes. The study aims to explore farmers' perceptions of trees on their land in the Santa Cruz area, north-west of the biological corridor. Semi-structured interviews with key informants and farmers were conducted. Farmers maintained trees outside forest on their land and attributed diverse values to trees including technical, through the provision of live fences or shelter for cattle, economic, as a source of timber, fuelwood or fruits, and ecological, for wildlife and watershed protection but also social, cultural, aesthetic and heritage values. They reported limitations to have trees such as lack of capital, labour and land and lack of adapted species and technical assistance. More investigations are needed especially on the relation between tree cover and landscape functional connectivity. Still, local authorities and organisations including the BCVCT's committee should ensure and encourage trees outside forest uses in the agricultural landscape through a strategic planning including the promotion of the conversion of fences to live fences, farmers training and education, technical assistance and the adaptation of existing incentives such as Payments for Ecosystem Services. (Résumé d'auteur

THE MODEL OF BEEF CATTLE KEEPING IN THE SZIGETKÖZ FLOODPLAINS

Pasture management in floodplains, adjusting to the natural cycles, has important environmental and social welfare functions. It can only be implemented if there is a balance between the interests of society and those of economy. This paper uses a theoretical model to assess the profitability aspects and results. This information can provide theoretical input for the actual use of floodplain pastures. On the basis of our calculations we reckon that our elaborated model is worth realizing in practice. However, we have to emphasize that our calculations cover only the evaluation of the economic rewards of pasture management in floodplains, the investigation of its social usefulness will constitute the following chapter of our work. -------------------------------------------------------- A természet működési rendjéhez igazodó ártéri legelÅ‘gazdálkodás környezeti és közjóléti funkciói egyaránt jelentÅ‘sek, érvényre juttatásuk feltétele a társadalom és gazdaság érdekviszonyainak összhangja. Tanulmányunk egy elméleti modellen vizsgálja a gazdaságossági szempontokat és eredményeket, melyek ismerete az ártéri legelÅ‘k tényleges hasznosításához adhat elvi eligazítást. Feltételezésünk szerint a modell kialakításával – mely egy, a szigetközi tájba, mint mintatérbe illeszkedÅ‘ hagyományos legeltetéses módban tartandó, magyar tarka fajtából álló húshasznú tehenészet – biztosítható a folyó menti területek komplex használata, a természeti rendszerek és az azokhoz kötÅ‘dÅ‘ ökológiai folyamatok sértetlensége.theoretical model, farm modeling, profitability analysis, elméleti modell, farm-modellezés, gazdaságossági elemzés, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics,

New types of dwellings for prospective construction after 1981

Architectural considerations for the next stage of mass housing construction in the U.S.S.R. are explored. The architects are concerned with both the aesthetic and functional quality of the constructions, in terms of the prospective inhabitants as well as the environments in which they will be located. Experimental building designs emphasize: variety of appearance, environmental control, and the communal life

Integrating Agroforestry Practices for Wildlife Habitat (2008)

"Agricultural practices and land-use decisions influence wildlife habitat and use by wildlife. Some actions can enhance habitats, while others negatively impact wildlife. Certain land-use practices have resulted in a decrease in the quality and diversity of available wildlife habitat on the farm. For example, more efficient farming practices, larger field sizes and the loss of field borders, such as those provided by windbreaks and brushy fence rows, have generally had a negative impact on habitat."--First page.by Dusty Walter (Technology Transfer Specialist, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry), and Robert A. Pierce II (MU Extension Fisheries and Wildlife Specialist

Rainforest Reforestation and Biodiversity Benefits: A Case Study from the Australian Wet Tropics

This paper examines the effectiveness of a rainforest reforestation program (the Community Rainforest Reforestation Program in north-eastern Queensland, Australia) in providing amenity and biodiversity benefits. This program involved small areas of mainly mixed native timber species on private farmland. Government support was provided for the program, for both timber production and environmental reasons. Survey results reveal that landholders have planted trees, and intend to manage plantations, for diverse reasons, including conservation purposes. The plantings appear to be of environmental value, forming wildlife corridors and buffer areas. In this respect, the CRRP has achieved a limited success in meeting the implicit goal of biological conservation