Promoting tree-based intercropping systems in the political arena : a cognitive analysis of public policies in agriculture, natural resources and rural development in Quebec

Paper presented at the 13th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 19-21, 2013 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.In Poppy, L., Kort, J., Schroeder, B., Pollock, T., and Soolanayakanahally, R., eds. Agroforestry: Innovations in Agriculture. Proceedings, 13th North American Agroforestry Conference, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 19-21, 2013.In Quebec, tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems are considered as potential contributors to climate change adaptation as well as ecological goods and services providers. TBI systems are consequently promoted by stakeholders as complex systems accurately addressing issues related to environmental deterioration, landscape degradation and rural devitalization. However, financing the implementation of these systems on farms remains a challenge. In fact, no clear policy on agroforestry or TBI systems has been developed and implemented yet in the province, complicating the work of both receptive farmers and experts. Thus, we could wonder how the arguments put forward by TBI systems promoters are or can be integrated at all in the mainstream ideas now driving three specific public policies (agriculture, natural resources and rural development). Our research uses qualitative methods and a content analysis based on Muller�s notion of referentials to understand how TBI systems can be integrated in the pre-existing referentials of actors in the agriculture, natural resources and rural development public policies. Based on the analysis of formal publications and semi-directed interviews, our preliminary results show that the referentials driving agriculture, natural resources and rural development policies are slowly shifting from strict economic development to multifunctionality and sustainable development. TBI systems may then have the opportunity to be integrated in these policies� referentials, especially when they are promoted as multifunctional and sustainable systems. Nonetheless, the integration of TBI systems is insufficient to produce large-scale policies given the present policies referentials, but may lead to small-scale initiatives support.Genevi�ve Laroche (1), Jean Mercier (2) and Alain Olivier (1) ; 1. D�partement de phytologie, Facult� des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Universit� Laval, Qu�bec, Canada. 2. D�partement de sciences politiques, Facult� des sciences humaines et sociales, Universit� Laval, Qu�bec, Canada.Includes bibliographical references

Fast, Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Extraction of Cu(II) and Zn(II) by Hybrid Silicas Impregnated with Acidic Organic Extractants

The extraction of copper and zinc by mesostructured silicas impregnated with organic acidic chelators, an acylisoxazolone 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone (HPBI), an acylpyrazolone 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-stearoyl-5-pyrazolone (HPMSP) and an organophosphoric acid di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid (DEHPA) was performed in a sulfate medium. Various factors such as the pH of the aqueous phase, the chelators concentration in the silica matrix, the extraction equilibrium time and the extraction capacity of the two cations on silica were studied. The cations were extracted at very acidic pH with very high extraction rates. The stripping of cations was achieved at pHs that were more acidic than those utilized for the extraction by maintaining the structure intact. Finally, their separation was successfully conducted in the cases of the three chelators

Quantifying forest carbon stocks and changes in support of the Kyoto Protocol

This thesis brings together research conducted on field based, remote sensing and modelling approaches to meet reporting requirements set by the Kyoto Protocol. Parties are given the option to meet part of their greenhouse gases reduction requirements through the conservation and enhancement of the carbon stored in forest ecosystems. Two contrasting forests (Monks Wood, UK, 52°24' N, 0°14' W and Thetford UK, 52°30' N, 0°30' E) were selected for the development and assessment of the selected methods. Field-based measurements were used to quantify carbon stocks in Monks Wood, providing the first exhaustive assessment of the carbon content held in a UK semi-natural woodland. The total carbon content of the stands varied from 346 to 616 tonnes per hectare (t ha-1) and highlighted the importance of broadleaved woodlands as carbon stores in the UK. A quantitative appraisal of remote sensing methods was also provided. For land cover discrimination, both optical and radar remote sensing have been successful. For forest carbon stock estimation, LiDAR approaches may provide the only viable remote sensing tool for this purpose. As a result, a LiDAR-based method was developed and the results compared to field-based estimates. At the stand level, the agreement between the field-based and the LiDAR estimates was r=0.85. At the woodland level, due to the enhanced capability of LiDAR to monitor the natural variability of carbon across the woodland, the estimates were nearly 24% lower than those from the ground. Remote sensing of field-based approaches are unsuitable alone for quantifying below-ground carbon content and can be resource intensive. Process-based models enable an estimation of below-ground components to be made. Much uncertainty however arises from the lack of information available on model parameter values. The 3-PG model was used to simulate forest production in Thetford forest and a Bayesian calibration was applied. The results showed that this statistical approach could provide an overall framework for integrating and quantifying the uncertainty in the combined field based, remote sensing and modelling datasets, a result highly relevant in the context of the Kyoto Protocol.</p

Quantifying forest carbon stocks and changes in support of the Kyoto Protocol

This thesis brings together research conducted on field based, remote sensing and modelling approaches to meet reporting requirements set by the Kyoto Protocol. Parties are given the option to meet part of their greenhouse gases reduction requirements through the conservation and enhancement of the carbon stored in forest ecosystems. Two contrasting forests (Monks Wood, UK, 52°24' N, 0°14' W and Thetford UK, 52°30' N, 0°30' E) were selected for the development and assessment of the selected methods. Field-based measurements were used to quantify carbon stocks in Monks Wood, providing the first exhaustive assessment of the carbon content held in a UK semi-natural woodland. The total carbon content of the stands varied from 346 to 616 tonnes per hectare (t ha-1) and highlighted the importance of broadleaved woodlands as carbon stores in the UK. A quantitative appraisal of remote sensing methods was also provided. For land cover discrimination, both optical and radar remote sensing have been successful. For forest carbon stock estimation, LiDAR approaches may provide the only viable remote sensing tool for this purpose. As a result, a LiDAR-based method was developed and the results compared to field-based estimates. At the stand level, the agreement between the field-based and the LiDAR estimates was r=0.85. At the woodland level, due to the enhanced capability of LiDAR to monitor the natural variability of carbon across the woodland, the estimates were nearly 24% lower than those from the ground. Remote sensing of field-based approaches are unsuitable alone for quantifying below-ground carbon content and can be resource intensive. Process-based models enable an estimation of below-ground components to be made. Much uncertainty however arises from the lack of information available on model parameter values. The 3-PG model was used to simulate forest production in Thetford forest and a Bayesian calibration was applied. The results showed that this statistical approach could provide an overall framework for integrating and quantifying the uncertainty in the combined field based, remote sensing and modelling datasets, a result highly relevant in the context of the Kyoto Protocol