7 research outputs found
Prospects and challenges of biodiversity in small-holder systems
There is a wide diversity of cultivated banana (Musa spp.) found
growing in small-holder systems around the world. The main types of
bananas that are important for small-holders differ from region to
region. Diversity is important for small-holders for many reasons.
Diversity-rich production systems help to ensure a continuous supply of
food throughout the year, losses due to pest and disease attack or
unfavourable environmental conditions are reduced and a diverse range
of products with different uses can be produced in a small area. Most
importantly, diversity-rich production systems are sustainable,
flexible and adaptable to change. Several challenges exist in ensuring
the maintenance of diversity in small-holder systems. These include the
need to combine increased production in the face of growing population
pressure, with the need to conserve diversity for the future. To
address these challenges, strategies have to be developed which allow
improved, high yielding varieties to become part of the farming systems
without replacing traditional varieties. At the same time conservation
strategies, which combine In situ and Ex situ approaches in a
complementary manner must be developed. This paper reviews the various
methods of conservation available and emphasises the need for farmers,
as the main users, custodians and beneficiaries of diversity, to be
fully involved in the development of any such strategies.Il y a une large diversité des bananes cultivées (Musa spp)
trouvée plantée dans des systèmes de petits fermiers
dans le monde. Les principaux types de bananes qui sont importants pour
les petits fermiers différent d'une région à une autre.
La diversité est importante pour les petits fermiers pour
plusieurs raisons. Les systèmes de production de la riche
diversité aide à assurer un approvisionnement de nourriture
tout au long de l'année, les pertes dues aux attaques des pestes
et maladies ou aux conditions environnementales défavorables sont
réduites et une diverse gamme des produits avec différents
usages peut être produite dans une petite aire. Plus important,
les systèmes de production de la riche diversité sont
durables, flexibles et adaptables au changement. Plusieurs défies
existent pour garantir la maintenance dans les systèmes de
diversité des petits fermiers. Ceux ci incluent le besoin de
combiner l'augmentation de production en face de la pression de la
croissance de la population, avec le besoin de conserver la
diversité pour l'avenir. Pour adresser ces défies, des
stratégies doivent être développées lesquelles
stratégies permettent d'améliorer les variétés de
production élevée pour devenir une part des systèmes de
culture sans remplacer les variétés traditionnelles. En
même temps des stratégies de conservation, qui combinent les
approches In situ et Ex situ dans de manière complémentaire
doivent être développées. Cet article révise les
diverses méthodes de conservation disponibles et souligne le
besoin des fermiers, comme les principaux usagers, conservateurs et
bénéficiaires de la diversité, à être
pleinement impliqués dans le développement de pareilles
stratégies
Longitudinal trends in exercise capacity and health status after pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD
AbstractPulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programmes produce initial improvements in exercise tolerance and health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is limited data on the longer term effects of PR. This study has examined whether the initial benefits gained in exercise tolerance and health status may be maintained after a 1-year follow-up programme. Sixty-six patients with COPD were assessed with the MRC Dyspnoea Scale and found to be moderately disabled due to dyspnoea (MRC Grades 3 and 4). These patients were then randomised to an 8 week outpatient programme of either exercise training and education (Exercise group) or to education alone (Control group). Exercise performance was assessed with the shuttle walking test and health status assessed with two disease-specific measures, the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire. After PR, all patients were invited to attend monthly follow-up sessions for 1 year. Fifty-six patients were available for follow-up immediately after the programme and were assessed at 6 months and 1 year.This study has shown that the patients in the Exercise group maintained improvements in exercise capacity and health status up to 6 months after an 8 week programme. At 1 year there was a significant difference between the Exercise and Control groups in terms of exercise tolerance due to a considerable decline experienced by the Control group. However, neither group had maintained improvements in health status at 1 year. Further study is required to assess whether benefit may be sustained for a longer period using alternative follow-up strategies