Sustainable Cocoa Production in Ghana: a Case Study of Farmer Field School and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A study was conducted to gather empirical evidence on the effectiveness of Farmer Field School (FFS) and the strengths of the approach in imparting knowledge and empowering farmers. The study was conducted on a cocoa farm where all activities were carried out during Field School sessions for an entire cocoa cropping season. There were 49 participants in the school. The FFS farm was divided into three plots: the integrated crop and pest management (ICPM) plot, ICPM+ fertilizer and farmer practice (FP). Data were collected on the FFS graduates and analysed. This study provides empirical evidence on four issues: the effectiveness of FFS training, the potential contribution of farmer–to–farmer diffusion, the positive change in farm management practices and the social impact of child labour and school enrolment. The results confirm the power of discovery learning and that farmers from the FFS were better informed than those without FFS training. FFS provided farmers with new skills and knowledge on cocoa ICPM and that FFS graduates demonstrated superior knowledge on cocoa ICPM as compared to their level of knowledge prior to the FFS. However, the tendency of FFS participants to retain knowledge and diff use new skills and practices more than concepts and principles suggests the need to review some aspects of the training and extend it to all cocoa growing areas in the country. Twenty –five FFS graduates spontaneously provided hands-on informal training to seventy–five other farmers on key ICPM practices, demonstrating a tremendous potential contribution of farmer–to–farmer diffusion. The study showed that FFS can be a strong starting point for farmer empowerment, but suggests that the social and technical outcomes can only be sustained if the appropriate local and national level institutions, support systems and policy framework in relation to agricultural extension and research are developed

Composition floristique et potentiel fourrager des principaux ligneux des parcours d’accueil des transhumants dans la Basse et Moyenne Vallée de l’Ouémé en zone guinéo-soudanienne du Bénin

Objectifs: Les ligneux fourragers constituent une ressource alimentaire dans la zone d’accueille des bovins transhumants en saison sèche. L’objectif de cette étude était d’inventorier les ligneux fourragers des parcours des transhumants de la Basse et Moyenne Vallée de l’Ouémé, d’évaluer leur contribution pour l'alimentation des bovins transhumants en saison sèche et d’analyser leurs modes d’utilisation en vue de l'amélioration de la gestion de l'écosystème.Méthodologie et Résultats: Des suivis des troupeaux au pâturage ont été effectués pour identifier les principaux ligneux fourragers. Les mesures sur les ligneux ont été réalisées dans 181 placeaux de 50 m X 50 m installées au hasard selon le type de sol et de végétation. La méthode non destructive été a utilisée pour évaluer la biomasse foliaire. Pterocarpus santalinoides (Teck africain), Kigelia africana (Saucissonier), Lonchocharpus sericeus (Lilas du Sénégal) Mitragyna inermis (Pied d’éléphant), Daniellia oliveri (baumier d’Ilorin) et Vitex doniana (Prunier noir) étaient les ligneux présentant un grand intérêt pastoral. La biomasse foliaire a varié de 5 à 346,90 kg MS / ha et la capacité de charge de 0,003 à 0,185 unité de bétail tropical par hectare. Le mode d'exploitation des ligneux est basé sur l'élagage des branches et l'abattage.Conclusions et application des résultats: La présente étude a montré que les ligneux fourragers tels que D. oliveri, K. africana, L. sericeus, M. inermis, P. santalinoides et V. doniana sont prioritaires pour l'alimentation des bovins transhumants pendant la saison sèche. Cependant, les modes d'utilisation et le surpâturage compromettent leur régénération naturelle. Il est nécessaire d'améliorer la gestion durable des pâturages afin de continuer à alimenter le bétail pendant la saison sèche. Il est également important de développer des moyens efficaces de régénération de ces espèces ligneuses en utilisant des politiques de gestion participative des ressources mises en oeuvre pour assurer la durabilité des services sociaux et pastoraux.Mots clés: ligneux fourragers, caractéristique structurale, biomasse foliaire, capacité de charge, végétation, BéninEnglish Title: Floristic composition and forage potential of the main tree fodder of transhumant rangeland in the Lower and Medium Oueme Valley in the Guineo-Sudanean zone of BeninEnglish AbstractObjectives: Tree forage is a feed resource in area receiving the transhumant ruminants, during the dry season. The objective of this study was to inventory fodder trees of the rangelands of the Lower and Mean Valley of Oueme, to evaluate their contribution to animal feeding and to analyze the modes of use in order for better management of the ecosystem.Methodology and Results: Grazing surveys were conducted to identify the main forage trees. The data were collected in 181 plots of 50 m X 50 m installed randomly according to type of soil and vegetation. The nondestructive method was used to evaluate tree leaf biomass. Fodder tree plants such as Pterocarpussantalinoides (African teak), Kigelia africana (Sausage tree), Lonchocharpus sericeus (Senegal lilac) Mitragyna inermis(Elephant foot), Daniellia oliveri (West African copal) and Vitex doniana (Black plum tree) have shown great pastoral interest. Leaf biomass varied from 5 to 346.90 kg MS / ha and carrying capacity from 0.003 to 0,185 Tropical Livestock Unit per ha. The mode of use of the trees leaves is based on the pruning of the branches and the felling.Conclusions and application of findings: The present study showed that the fodder trees such as D. oliveri, K. africana, L. sericeus, M. inermis, P. santalinoides, and V. doniana are priorities for rangelands feeding during dry season by transhumant farmer. However, the modes of use and the overgrazing of trees, compromise their natural regeneration. There is a need to improve sustainable management of rangelands in order to continue to feed the cattle during the dry season. So, it’s also important to develop effective means of regeneration of these woody species by using participatory resource management policies implemented to ensure sustainability of social and pastoral services.Keywords: Ligneous forage, structural characteristic, leaf biomass, carrying capacity, vegetation, Beni

Auricular Point Acupressure Smartphone Application to Manage Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Longitudinal, One-Group, Open Pilot Trial

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is the most common self-reported chronic pain condition. Current treatment for CMP is limited. Methods: This was a two-phase study. In Phase 1, three auricular point acupressure (APA)-naïve participants were recruited to explore their experiences of APA and a smartphone app was developed based on their feedback. In Phase 2, a prospective longitudinal study was used to examine the effectiveness of the smartphone app to self-manage CMP. Results: Phase 1 resulted in the successful development of the APA smartphone app. In Phase 2, after four weeks of APA, participants reported reduced pain intensity (30%), pain interference (35%), and disability (40%), as well as improved physical function (47%). The mean score for the participants’ perception of treatment efficacy was 4.94 (SD = 2.08, scale of 0–7) indicating that approximately 70% of participants rated global improvements with noticeable changes. The majority (88%, n = 22) of the participants were satisfied with the treatment: 32% [8] were very satisfied and 56% [n = 14] were somewhat satisfied. The average frequency of pressing APA seeds per day was 2.93 times (SD = 2.27, range 0–10) and 1.60 minutes per time (SD = 2.64, range 0–10); the participants were able to adhere to the suggested pressing time per day, although they only pressed the ear points about 53% of the suggested time. Conclusion: It is feasible for individuals to learn APA from the smartphone app and successfully self-administer APA to manage their pain. Participants found the app useful and were satisfied with the information provided through the app

Pantropical variability in tree crown allometry

Aim Tree crowns determine light interception, carbon and water exchange. Thus, understanding the factors causing tree crown allometry to vary at the tree and stand level matters greatly for the development of future vegetation modelling and for the calibration of remote sensing products. Nevertheless, we know little about large‐scale variation and determinants in tropical tree crown allometry. In this study, we explored the continental variation in scaling exponents of site‐specific crown allometry and assessed their relationships with environmental and stand‐level variables in the tropics. Location Global tropics. Time period Early 21st century. Major taxa studied Woody plants. Methods Using a dataset of 87,737 trees distributed among 245 forest and savanna sites across the tropics, we fitted site‐specific allometric relationships between crown dimensions (crown depth, diameter and volume) and stem diameter using power‐law models. Stand‐level and environmental drivers of crown allometric relationships were assessed at pantropical and continental scales. Results The scaling exponents of allometric relationships between stem diameter and crown dimensions were higher in savannas than in forests. We identified that continental crown models were better than pantropical crown models and that continental differences in crown allometric relationships were driven by both stand‐level (wood density) and environmental (precipitation, cation exchange capacity and soil texture) variables for both tropical biomes. For a given diameter, forest trees from Asia and savanna trees from Australia had smaller crown dimensions than trees in Africa and America, with crown volumes for some Asian forest trees being smaller than those of trees in African forests. Main conclusions Our results provide new insight into geographical variability, with large continental differences in tropical tree crown allometry that were driven by stand‐level and environmental variables. They have implications for the assessment of ecosystem function and for the monitoring of woody biomass by remote sensing techniques in the global tropics

Selected key ecosystem services, functions, and the relationship with biodiversity in natural forest ecosystems

Thesis (PhDFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ecosystem services (ES) are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. Biodiversity is a relevant component in this context, as it supports most ecosystem functions. The worldwide decline in natural ecosystem biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems will likely limit the opportunities to improve the services provided if an explicit focus is not put on their maintenance and improvement in future management decisions. This thesis aims at contributing to the knowledge base of ES provision and its relation with biodiversity in South African Mistbelt forests. First, a socio-empirical study was conducted with households from different localities in Limpopo province to assess the relative importance and use of ES by local population. Questionnaires, descriptive rank analysis, logistic regressions and Poisson mixed effect models were used. Results revealed that provisioning and supporting ES (timber and firewood, edible plants and honey) were the most important, and that age, gender, income as well as prior recreational experiences played important roles in respondents’ perceptions. “Timber and firewood” and “honey” were selected for further investigation in Mistbelt natural forests in Limpopo. Second, the potential of Mistbelt forests as foraging habitat for managed honey bees, and as tree biomass and carbon sinks was investigated. Forest inventory was conducted to collect data on woody plant species (plant density, diameter, total height, pollen and nectar values of honey bee plant species; branch and wood core samples, leaf area, plant maximum height). The diversity of honey bee plant species, temporal availability of honey bee forage and relationship of plant diversity with forage production, were explored, using descriptive analysis and general linear models. As results, 48% of the woody plant species recorded in the inventory were honey bee plant species. The highest potential of forage supply was observed during the last quarter of the year. Bee plant species richness, not overall plant richness, showed the greater effect on forage provision. New multispecies biomass models were established and used to estimate aboveground biomass and carbon stocks, and examine the relationship of aboveground carbon with tree species diversity and structural variables. Allometric models with “DBH2xH” were the best fitting. Biomass and carbon stand values of 358.1 Mg ha-1 and 179.0 Mg ha-1, respectively, were obtained. Basal area of most important species, and of largest trees, as well as plant richness were positively correlated with carbon stock. The relationship of biomass and carbon stock with biodiversity components was the final focus. An analysis scrutinised the effects of taxonomic diversity on carbon storage. Correlations were explored through functional traits-based diversity and dominance, using structural equation and linear mixed-effects models. Results showed that taxonomic diversity effects on carbon stock were positive, and mediated by functional diversity and functional dominance. The effects, however, were greater for functional diversity than for functional dominance. In sum, a novel contribution was made to the ES provision of South African Mistbelt forests, which provides a base for the assessment of these forests and their contribution and underpins the need to protect these ecosystems as a natural heritage.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ekostelsel dienste (ED) is voordele vir menselike gebruik wat verkry word uit ekostelsels. In hierdie konteks, is biodiversiteit ʼn relevante komponent, aangesien dit ondersteuning verleen aan verskeie ekostelseldienste. Die wêreldwye afname in natuurlike- ekostelsel biodiversiteit en die agteruitgang van ekostelsels sal moontlik die geleenthede beperk om die dienste te verbeter, indien instandhouding en verbetering nie ʼn prioriteit is in toekomstige bestuursbesluite nie. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om ʼn bydra te lewer tot die basiese kennis van ED voorsiening en die verwantskap tussen ED en biodiversiteit in Suid-Afrikaanse Afromontaan woude. Eerstens is ʼn sosio-empiriese studie uitgevoer onder plaaslike huishoudings verspreid oor die Limpopo provinsie om die behoefte en gebruik van ED deur die bevolking te assesseer. Daar is van vraelyste, ʼn beskrywende rangontleding, logistiese regressie en Poisson-gemengde-effek modelle gebruik gemaak. Die resultate het getoon dat die voorsienende-en ondersteunende-ED (hout en vuurmaakhout, eetbare plante en heuning) die belangrikste was en dat ouderdom, geslag, inkomste en vorige ervarings ʼn belangrike rol gespeel het in die respondente se terugvoer. Die “hout en vuurmaakhout” en “heuning” veranderlikes is gekies vir verdere ondersoek. Tweedens is daar ondersoek ingestel om die potensiaal van Misgordel woude om byeplase van voeding te voorsien te evalueer, asook die potensiaal vir die gebruik van Misgordel woude as ʼn bron van boom biomassa en die vermoë van die woud om as ʼn koolstofstoor op te berg. Bosopmetings is uitgevoer op houtagtige plantspesies om die volgende inligting te bekom: plantdigtheid, boomdeursnee, totale hoogte, stuifmeel en nektar waardes vir heuningby plantspesies; tak en kernhout monsters, blaaroppervlakte en maksimum plant hoogte. Die diversiteit van plant spesies wat deur bye benut word, tydelike beskikbaarheid van heuningby voer en die verhouding tussen plantdiversiteit en voerproduksie is ondersoek. Lineêre modelle en beskrywende statistiek is gebruik. Resultate het getoon dat 48% van die opgetekende houtagtige plant spesies deur bye benut word. Die grootste voerpotensiaal was tydens die laaste kwartaal van die jaar waargeneem. Nuut geformuleerde multispesie biomassa modelle is gebruik om die bogrondse biomassa en koolstofvoorraade te bereken, asook om die verhouding tussen bogrondse koolstof opberging met boomspesie diversiteit en strukturele veranderlikes te ondersoek. Allometriese modelle met “DBH2xH” was die mees geskikte modelle. Waardes vir biomassa en koolstofinhoud van die opstand was 358.1 Mg ha-1 en 179.0 Mg ha-1 onderskeidelik. Die basale-oppervlakte van die belangrikste en die grootste bome, asook plant spesie diversiteit het positief gekorreleer met die koolstofvoorraade. Laastens is die verhouding tussen biomassa en koolstofvoorraade met die biodiversiteit komponente ondersoek. Korrelasies is ondersoek deur die integrasie van funksionele diversiteit en dominansie in strukturele en lineêre gemengde-effek-modelle. Resultate het bewys dat die effek van taksonomiese diversiteit op die koolstofstoorvermoë positief is en dat dit deur funksionele diversiteit en funksionele dominansie bepaal word. Die effekte was meer beduidend vir funksionele diversiteit. Ten slotte, is ʼn nuwe bydrae gemaak tot die voorsiening van ED in Afromontaan woude. Dit dien as ʼn basis vir die assessering van hierdie woude en hulle bydrae, en dit ondersteun die noodsaaklikheid om hierdie ekostelsels as ʼn natuurlike erfenis te beskerm

Patterns of biomass allocation between foliage and woody structure : the effects of tree size and specific functional traits

CITATION: Mensah, S., Kakai, R. G. & Seifert, T. 2016. Patterns of biomass allocation between foliage and woody structure : the effects of tree size and specific functional traits. Annals of Forest Research, 59(1):49-60, doi:0.15287/afr.2016.458.The original publication is available at http://www.afrjournal.orgENGLISH ABSTRACT: Biomass allocation is closely related to species traits, resources availability and competitive abilities, and therefore it is often used to capture resource utilisation within plants. In this study, we searched for patterns in biomass allocation between foliage and wood (stem plus branch), and how they changed with tree size (diameter), species identity and functional traits (leaf area and specific wood density). Using data on the aboveground biomass of 89 trees from six species in a Mistbelt forest (South Africa), we evaluated the leaf to wood mass ratio (LWR). The effects of tree size, species identity and specific traits on LWR were tested using Generalised Linear Models. Tree size (diameter) was the main driver of biomass allocation, with 44.43 % of variance explained. As expected, LWR declined significantly with increasing tree diameter. Leaf area (30.17% explained variance) and wood density (12.61% explained variance) also showed significant effects, after size effect was accounted for. Results also showed clear differences among species and between groups of species. Per unit of wood mass, more biomass is allocated to the foliage in the species with the larger leaf area. Inversely, less biomass is allocated to the foliage in species with higher wood density. Moreover, with increasing diameter, lower wood density species tended to allocate more biomass to foliage and less biomass to stems and branches. Overall, our results emphasise the influence of plant size and functional traits on biomass allocation, but showed that neither tree diameter and species identity nor leaf area and wood density are the only important variables.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaarhttp://www.afrjournal.org/index.php/afr/article/view/458Publisher's versio

Do functional identity and divergence promote aboveground carbon differently in tropical semi-arid forests and savannas?

Various studies have shown that plant species richness can promote ecosystem functions such as biomass storage. However, it is less well known whether this is mostly driven by the dominance of a few species and their associated traits (functional identity), or by complementarity among species that highly vary in their traits (functional diversity). The relative contribution of functional diversity and functional identity on biomass and carbon storage may in part depend on the type of functional traits that are considered, and on ecosystem type. Here, we used forest inventory data from West African semi-arid environments, and functional traits (wood density and tree maximum height) to examine the effects of functional trait identity (FI or community weighted mean; CWM) and diversity (FD or single functional divergence; FDvar) on aboveground carbon (AGC) storage in both forests and savannas. We fitted simple linear and structural equation models to test the direct and indirect effects of functional traits on AGC, while accounting for potential effects of vegetation stand structure such as stand density and basal area. When evaluated independently, CWM of tree maximum height and FDvar of wood density correlated positively with AGC, in both forests and savannas, whereas species richness was unrelated to AGC. However, structural equation models indicated different mechanisms by which these biodiversity components drove AGC in forests and savannas. In forests, species richness had an indirect, positive effect on AGC via basal area, but also an indirect, negative effect, through a reduction in CWM of maximum height. In savannas, species richness had a direct, negative effect on AGC, while both CWM of maximum height (through an increase in basal area) and FDvar of wood density had positive effects. Our study suggests that integrative models are crucial for understanding the effects of species richness, functional trait diversity, and identity on AGC across forests. Furthermore, our study shows that relationships between biodiversity and AGC differ among ecosystem types. In both forests and savannas, FI played an important role, as AGC was maximized in communities dominated by species with a high maximum height. However, only in savannas a high FD additionally promoted AGC.</p

Forest Landscape Restoration under Global Environmental Change: Challenges and a Future Roadmap

The adverse impacts of ecosystem degradation have raised the need for forest landscape restoration (FLR) to be included in international sustainability agendas. However, the path towards successful FLR implementation faces numerous biophysical, socioeconomic and governance challenges because FLR operates within complex socioecological systems. In the present study, we review and discuss FLR challenges in the context of global environmental change. We propose a roadmap consisting of five interlinked steps to overcome these challenges: (1) advancing ecological knowledge supporting FLR, (2) adapting FLR management to environmental change through strengthening globally distributed experimental networks, (3) implementing modelling approaches, (4) improving socioeconomic and governance dimensions, and (5) developing evidence-based knowledge platforms. The roadmap offers an iterative and adaptive framework for the continuous evaluation and improvement of FLR strategies and outcomes

Seasonal variation of environment and conspecific density-dependence effects on early seedling growth of a tropical tree in semi-arid savannahs

Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain species coexistence and maintainance of local species diversity in tree communities. Among the proposed mechanisms, negative density dependence theory (NDD) predicts that seedling growth rate declines at high conspecific densities. However, local environmental conditions and seasonality may also modulate the strength of NDD. We used data from dry and wet seasons in West African semi-arid savannas to explore the importance of NDD and environmental heterogeneity in predicting seedling growth of Afzelia africana Sm, a threatened species with high economic and cutural values. First, we analysed variation of seedling growth in dry and wet seasons, and between vegetation types (tree and shrub savannas). Next, we assessed the effects of environmental heterogeneity (soil type, slope and elevation) and biotic factors (conspecific/heterospecific seedling and adult densities, leaf fungal infection, herbivory) on seedling growth in dry and wet seasons, while controlling for initial seedling size. We predicted that seedling growth would be higher in the wet than in the dry season, and in shrub savannas than in tree savannas due to variation in stand density and intensity of competitive biotic interactions. We also hypothesized that slope and negative density dependence would influence seedling growth and that, the density-dependent effects would vary with environmental heterogeneity and seasonality. Results showed two distinct patterns of seedling growth primarily driven by seasonality: a higher growth rate in the wet season due to water availability and a smaller growth rate during the dry season, possibly because seedlings develop adaptation to drought and fire at the expense of their growth. Growth rate was also higher on flat and gentle slope. Density-dependent effects on seedling growth were only observed with conspecific adults. Seasonality modulated the strength of the density-dependent effect, which was significantly negative in the wet season and nonsignificant in the dry season. This study suggests that A. africana early seedling growth is modulated by interacting effects of seasonality, terrain slope and adult conspecific density. Campaigns for reforestation with A. africana in the semi-arid areas will require increased attention on the seedlings during the long periods of drought