Indigenous Approach to the Control of Soil Erosion among Small Scale Farmers in Asa L.G.A., Kwara State, Nigeria.

Using Asa L.G.A. as a case study, the article focuses on the understanding of the indigenous methods of controlling soil erosion in Kwara State. Participant observation, an anthropological method of data collection was employed among sixty respondents who were randomly selected from the set of aged farmers in the study area. Six different effective control measures were identified including ‘Ebe ati Pooro', ‘Idian', ‘Agbin-Taala', ‘Agbin-la', ‘Agbin-Po' and one that can be likened to ‘fallowing'. It was however observed that whereas farmers have more often than not practiced these control measures for intensions that are primarily different from controlling erosion, their practices coincidentally assist in averting soil erosion to considerable degree. The paper therefore draws attention to the fact that more respective attention to local knowledge and practices are necessary basis for effective and appropriate environmental policies, particularly in developing countries. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, Soil erosion, Asa, Kwara Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management Vol. 1 (1) 2008: pp. 1-

Waste Ergonomics Optimization in Ilorin, Nigeria

In order to ease and achieve best desired results in waste management procedures and operations in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State of Nigeria, the government, through the Kwara State Waste Management Corporation (KWMC), has provided different equipment including vehicles and containers. The distribution and utilization of these equipments are very vital. This paper attempts to examine this using TORA-Optimization model and GIS technique. Data required for this study (facilities and equipments, including container types, vehicle types and cost, maintenance cost of equipments, and manpower welfare) were sourced secondarily from the archives of KWMC, and primarily through interviews from some randomly selected street cleaners and drivers. The study observed that the optimal use of these equipments in the study area is highly decry-able. This can be attributed to non adoption of land use system for planning by KWMC. Appropriate recommendations are presented.Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies of Management Vol. 1 (2) 2008: pp. 83-9

Morphometric Analysis of Ogunpa and Ogbere Drainage Basins, Ibadan, Nigeria

The paper analysed the morphometric parameters of Ogbere and Ogunpa drainage basins located on basement complex rock in Southwestern Nigeria. Data used were generated from topographical map of Ibadan North-easton scale 1:25,000 published by Federal Survey of Nigeria (1975). Result obtained indicated that studied basins exhibits high spatial variation in their morphometric properties. The study further revealed that morphometricproperties of Ogunpa drainage basin are likely to induce high magnitude flood compared to morphometric properties of Ogbere drainage basin. The study thus suggested a number of management practices that can be used in reducing rates of environmental degradation in the basins

In vitro Anticancer Screening of 24 Locally Used Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Background: Plants that are used as traditional medicine represent a relevant pool for selecting plant candidates that may have anticancer properties. In this study, the ethnomedicinal approach was used to select several medicinal plants native to Nigeria, on the basis of their local or traditional uses. The collected plants were then evaluated for cytoxicity. Methods: The antitumor activity of methanolic extracts obtained from 24 of the selected plants, were evaluated in vitro on five human cancer cell lines. Results: Results obtained from the plants screened indicate that 18 plant extracts of folk medicine exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cell lines. Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan was found to demonstrate potent anti-cancer activity in this study exhibiting IC50 = 0.2-1.3 $\mu$g/ml. Conclusions: Based on the significantly potent activity of some plants extracts reported here, further studies aimed at mechanism elucidation and bio-guided isolation of active anticancer compounds is currently underway.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Gene Expression Profiles in Human and Mouse Primary Cells Provide New Insights into the Differential Actions of Vitamin D-3 Metabolites

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25(OH)2D3) had earlier been regarded as the only active hormone. The newly identified actions of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24R,25(OH)2D3) broadened the vitamin D3 endocrine system, however, the current data are fragmented and a systematic understanding is lacking. Here we performed the first systematic study of global gene expression to clarify their similarities and differences. Three metabolites at physiologically comparable levels were utilized to treat human and mouse fibroblasts prior to DNA microarray analyses. Human primary prostate stromal P29SN cells (hP29SN), which convert 25(OH)D3 into 1α,25(OH)2D3 by 1α-hydroxylase (encoded by the gene CYP27B1), displayed regulation of 164, 171, and 175 genes by treatment with 1α,25(OH)2D3, 25(OH)D3, and 24R,25(OH)2D3, respectively. Mouse primary Cyp27b1 knockout fibroblasts (mCyp27b1−/−), which lack 1α-hydroxylation, displayed regulation of 619, 469, and 66 genes using the same respective treatments. The number of shared genes regulated by two metabolites is much lower in hP29SN than in mCyp27b1−/−. By using DAVID Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis tools and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis, we identified the agonistic regulation of calcium homeostasis and bone remodeling between 1α,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3 and unique non-classical actions of each metabolite in physiological and pathological processes, including cell cycle, keratinocyte differentiation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis signaling, gene transcription, immunomodulation, epigenetics, cell differentiation, and membrane protein expression. In conclusion, there are three distinct vitamin D3 hormones with clearly different biological activities. This study presents a new conceptual insight into the vitamin D3 endocrine system, which may guide the strategic use of vitamin D3 in disease prevention and treatment.Peer reviewe

In search for methodology for the collection and evaluation of farmers' indigenous environmental knowledge

Many of the conventional geographical methods of eliciting indigenous information from farmers are often unsuitable. Therefore this article suggests that pre-testing and evaluation of the conventionalmethods of eliciting information need to be conducted. Attempt was made particularly to search for the appropriate method of collecting and evaluating farmers’ indigenous environmental knowledge indeveloping countries. The article concludes that information about farmers’ knowledge of their environment in developing countries can not be obtained using a ‘single-method’ approach. An ‘integrated-data-acquisition’ technique is thereby considered as the appropriate method, the choice ofwhich will largely depend on the researchers’ understanding of the people’s cultural characteristics, perception and decision-making process

Indigenous Knowledge System of waste management in Nigeria

642-647The paper examines the Indigenous Knowledge Systems of waste management in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on waste reduction techniques of reuse and recycling. In spite of the efforts of public and private agencies, heaps of wastes are still seen in Nigerian major cities. This observation has directed concerns towards the exploration of the indigenous waste management practices for possible adoption. Any developmental effort must be culturally feasible and relevant. The study observes the existence of indigenous techniques of waste management which were hitherto adequate for the volume and types of wastes generated long before the growing population in Nigeria. The study recommends further research on the existing methods to be complimented with the scientific and technological efforts, creation of awareness, encouragement of industries and businesses, creation of processing facilities and Waste Marketing Board as well as allowing the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) to stand and operate independent of the Ministry of Environment

Indigenous approach to weather forecasting in Asa L.G.A, Kwara State, Nigeria

Two hundred (200) people of ages above forty-five (45) years and mostly males were randomly selected and interviewed across Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, to elicit information on their indigenous methods of weather forecast. The study observed that over 95% of the respondents know much about weather forecast. They identified five weather systems, which they are capable of forecasting using accumulated experiences. These include rainfall, thunderstorm, windstorm, harmattan and sunshine. The occurrence of some of these as observed, can also be modified (induced or prevented). Whereas, indigenous weather forecasting is appreciated for its role in agricultural development, their modifications are however, discouraged for their possible effects on natural processes. To sum up, indigenous methods are seen as complimentary rather than contradiction to western-based methods. Consequently, the study recommends that outcomes of indigenous knowledge-based researches should be utilised and integrated in development processes

The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel

Adaptation, Africa, Indigenous knowledge, Mitigation, Sahel, Sustainable development,