Fate of ENSO Phase on Upper Northern Thailand, a Case Study in Chiang Mai

AbstractThis paper presents the impact of ENSO phase (El Niño and La Niña) on the variability of temperature and rainfall in Chiang Mai province, Upper Northern Thailand, and to identify the relation between ENSO index and temperature and rainfall. The study used data from four weather stations located at the altitude ranging from 320 to 1400 m a.s.l., covering the period of 1988 to 2011. We used two indexes, NIÑO3 (sea surface temperature based) and SOI (Southern Oscillation Index, atmospheric pressure based) to relate their impacts on temperature and rainfall several months in advance. The relationships of ENSO phases and the weather elements were higher by using SOI than NIÑO3. The corresponding results of correlation between 3-month running mean of SOI and monthly rainfall, Tmax and Tmin are found, especially during March to June in strong and medium ENSO years. The anomaly of Tmax related on SOI was shown higher than Tmin. Considering monthly rainfall, a significant decrease was found in May and June in only strong and medium ENSO events and the rainfall pattern differed significantly from the normal pattern. The variations of temperature and rainfall could be predicted by the SOI one to several months in advance and can be applied in other provinces in mountainous zone in Upper Northern Thailand

Comparison of Estimation Methods for Daily Reference Evapotranspiration Under Limited Climate Data in Upper Northern Thailand

2Center for Agricultural Resource System Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailan

<Research Report>Farmers' Perceptions of Imperata cylindrica Infestation in a Slash-and-Burn Cultivation Area of Northern Lao PDR

This paper discusses farmers' perceptions of Imperata infestation and its impact on agricultural land uses in a slash-and-burn area of Nambak District in Luang Prabang Province, northern Laos. Our study showed that slash-and-burn cultivation (SBC), which has been practiced for generations, remains the main agricultural land use system and provides an important source of food and income for farmers. Imperata, which first took root one and a half decades ago, is gradually proliferating, affecting the livelihoods of nearly 38% of households in the five target villages of this study. The positive cause-and-effect relationship among such factors as accelerated land clearing, young fallows, declining soil fertility, and land shortages—suggested to be the main cause of the Imperata infestation—has reduced not only cultivable land but also its productivity. According to the majority of farmers, the most significant problems caused by Imperata infestation are reduced crop yields, increased weeding, and reduced crop growth. To overcome the problems, farmers employ a combination of strategies—the most common being weeding, fallowing the land, applying chemicals, and exchanging labor. However, the implementation of these strategies is encumbered by many constraints, primarily lack of labor and capital, rice insufficiency, and limited land. Given the constraints and the available technologies, it will be very difficult for farmers in the study area to adopt a more permanent, diversified, and productive agricultural system, which is a high priority of government development policy in the uplands. To meet this challenge, the thrust of research and development communities working in the uplands should be on more systematic and integrated interventions that combine technological, social, economic, and political resolutions based on knowledge of the causes of Imperata infestation, the problems it creates, management strategies to cope with the infestation, and the specific constraints perceived by farmers

Sustainability Interventions on Agro-Ecosystems: An Experience from Yunnan Province, China

Increasing agricultural production, without having a pronounced negative impact on ecosystems, continues to be a massive challenge. Interventions in sustainability that improve agro-ecosystems are thus crucial. Current literature focuses on sustainability concepts, assessment tools, and intervention impacts, yet lacks in intervention mechanisms and implementation processes. Therefore, this study aims to present an intervention framework on agro-ecosystems that helps transform sustainability concepts into implementation actions. We first create the intervention framework on agro-ecosystems using a systematic approach, and then analyze the intervention mechanism. Next, we formulate the agro-ecological sustainability index (AESI) and its sub-indices to assess the results of interventions. We find that, by integrating interventions, we can reverse the sustainability trend from deterioration to recovery and improvement; however, with a spatial difference. We highlight that the process for a successful intervention comprises (1) utilizing an integrated intervention portfolio, (2) acting with a long-term perspective, (3) utilizing adaptive implementation, and (4) strengthening local institutions. We suggest closely monitoring the impact of interventions, diversifying farmers’ income sources, and enhancing capacity building for young generations. Additionally, we suggest conducting multidisciplinary research and strengthening local government capacity to hedge against future risks. Our intervention framework and Yunnan’s intervention experience provides a useful lesson for other policymakers and researchers to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

Imperata Grassland Mapping in Northern Uplands of Lao PDR: Area, Distribution, Characteristics, and Implications for Slash-and-Burn Cultivation

Slash-and-burn cultivation (SBC) is an important food and cash crop production system in mountainous regions of many countries in Southeast Asia. While links between unsustainable SBC and the formation of Imperata grassland (IGL) have been well documented, there has been limited research on the issues with the intention of providing appropriate information to communities in Laos aiming at better use of natural resources. This paper reveals the IGL area, distribution, and characteristics in the uplands of northern Laos, and discusses the importance of IGL for upland development based on the synthesis of remotely sensed Landsat-5 TM and GIS data. We have demonstrated the potential use of geoinformation technology as a set of informatics tools that can be applied in other area studies in Laos. Nineteen land uses/land covers of 196,317 hectares in Nambak District in northern Laos were mapped with an overall accuracy of 92.1% and a kappa statistic of 91.3%. IGL achieved >90% mapping accuracy. The current IGL was estimated at about 2.5% (4,878 hectares) of the district area and characterized as a "micro-grassland," with most patch sizes being less than half a hectare. About 37% of the district area in the southeastern part was identified as the most Imperata-infested zone. The study suggests that improper SBC intensification into more permanent crop production systems is a major cause of Imperata infestation in the upland areas and that the spread of IGL can be a threat to the productivity and sustainability of traditional SBC systems and already intensified land use systems. In order to utilize land resources more effectively, government intervention is indispensable; and development efforts should initially focus on the most affected areas

Simulating Stakeholder-Based Land-Use Change Scenarios and Their Implication on Above-Ground Carbon and Environmental Management in Northern Thailand

The objective of this study was to examine whether the coupling of a land-use change (LUC) model with a carbon-stock accounting approach and participatory procedures can be beneficial in a data-limited environment to derive implications for environmental management. Stakeholder-based LUC scenarios referring to different storylines of agricultural intensification and reforestation were simulated to explore their impact on above-ground carbon (AGC) for a period of twenty years (2009–2029). The watershed of Mae Sa Mai, Northern Thailand was used as a case study for this purpose. Coupled model simulations revealed that AGC stocks could be increased by up to 1.7 Gg C through expansion of forests or orchard areas. A loss of up to 0.4 Gg C would occur if vegetable production continue to expand at the expense of orchard and fallow areas. The coupled model approach was useful due to its moderate data demands, enabling the comparison of land-use types differing in AGC build-up rates and rotation times. The scenario analysis depicted clear differences in the occurrence of LUC hotspots, highlighting the importance of assessing the impact of potential future LUC pathways at the landscape level. The use of LUC scenarios based on local stakeholder scenarios offer a higher credibility for climate mitigation strategies but also underline the need to co-design policy frameworks that acknowledge the heterogeneity of stakeholder needs and environmental management frameworks

Sustaining Biomaterials in Bioeconomy: Roles of Education and Learning in Mekong River Basin

The demands to improve the livelihood of small farmers require a systemic shift from fossil fuel-based and destructive approaches to sustainable renewable raw materials and non-destructive approaches. This should be accompanied by a fundamental reorganization of education and learning policies to create new bio-oriented value chains for biomaterials, food, wood, and energy, as well as in large parts of the health, manufacturing, and service industries. In the long run, the successful implementation of bio-oriented production depends on the systemic linking of both first- and second-hand learning in communities in rural as well as urban settings. The purpose of this paper is to present a concept for the co-design of a new curriculum to better equip new graduates with the ability to support the effort of the sustainable production of biomaterials that are non-destructive to the environment. To sustain biomaterials and enhance non-destructive ways of thinking, learning needs a community of practice in both online and onsite platforms&mdash;allowing students to better understand and support cascade use. Therefore, the use of by-products and recycling products after use will increase in importance. A community of practice, and institutions, must create education and learning platforms for improved actions regarding biomaterials across generations and experiences, which will subsequently be integrated into the circular value chains of the bioeconomy. The first- and second-hand learning to sustain these value chains depends on higher education and learning institutions with both legal mandates and systems approaches