Records of Olive Ridley Marine Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea Eschscholtz 1829) in Venezuelan Waters: A Review of Historical Data Sets and Threats

We assess all the records of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in an exhaustive review of multiple data sources between 1977 and 2018 in Venezuela. We compiled 35 records of olive ridleys in the country. Our findings confirm the almost year-round presence of this species in Venezuelan waters

Microcredit and savings associations for building rural household resilience: A case study of selected village development fund and savings groups in Koh Kong and Mondul Kiri, Cambodia

This case study was conducted to generate insights on the financial sustainability of selected VDFSGs and to gather information on members’ perceptions of the usefulness of these institutions in coping with household and climate change-related shocks or stresses. Financial sustainability was analyzed by conducting a detailed financial analysis of six selected VDFSGs to determine the sufficiency of interest payments as revenue to cover total costs as well as to evaluate loan recovery and equity build- up. Members’ perception of the usefulness of VDFSGs in helping them to cope with and adjust to family and climate change-related shocks/stresses was determined by conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) among selected representatives of VDFSG members. Useful feedback of the financial performance and areas for improvement were generated. The Pu Hong, Pu Chhob, and Prek Svay VDFSGs were considered financially sustainable based on the results of the study. The study also revealed that the VDFSGs are considered most useful when there are crop failures due to extreme weather events and when there are medical emergencies in the household. The FGD participants and key informants expressed confidence that they are in a better position to cope with their vulnerabilities due to the presence of a VDFSG in their village

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Native Pigs as a Climate-Smart Agriculture Option in the Philippines

The Climate-Smart Village (CSV) approach is one of the initiatives that was developed to address the impact of climate change on marginalized rural households, and one of the climate-smart agriculture (CSA) options implemented in the Philippines was raising native pigs. A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to assess the financial benefits of raising native pigs by determining the net income generated by the village households. A total of 52 households from Guinyangan, Quezon and Ivisan, Capiz were interviewed as survey participants while, village and municipal officials acted as key informants. Our findings showed that majority of the households surveyed generated positive net income in raising native pigs. However, 2020 profits decreased possibly due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also revealed the reliance of producers in commercial feeds instead of maximizing the available forage; keeping of livestock as inventories resulting to additional costs; and the lack of record keeping practices and absence of a price monitoring system causing the producers to be dependent on the prices offered by the buyers. Thus, providing education and training support on monitoring and assessing costs of raising pigs, and marketing assistance would be valuable to the households

Strengthening climate change adaptation research : mobilizing and enabling international research partnerships; the summary report on the international workshop, 6-7 Feb. 2007, Ottawa, Canada

As highlighted in the recent Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, there is unequivocal scientific evidence that global climate is changing. Although one cannot predict exactly how the climate will change, or where and when it will be felt most severely, it is an inescapable fact that change will occur because of anthropogenic causes. Both Canada and less developed countries need to understand how societies and economies can minimize the negative long-term consequences of these changes by developing effective adaptation measures. Canada, and all other industrialized countries, have both a moral responsibility and vested interests in helping others plan for adaptation to ongoing climate change. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) convened this meeting to explore ways to mobilize and organize international research partnerships involving Canadian researchers and funding partners. Presentations of both regional and thematic perspectives were followed by discussion of research priorities and the elements and modalities that would constitute effective research partnerships. Participants agreed that there is a range of activities where collaboration between researchers from Canada and developing countries will bring mutual benefits and could facilitate progress to solve some of the most urgent problems that people from the South and the North are facing now as a consequence of changes in the climate. General consensus was that multidisciplinary, action research was a prerequisite to success. This research will be far from easy; it will indeed be scientifically challenging. Canadian researchers have much to gain from interaction with Southern researchers, who have, in many cases, made advances in methodological approaches to this type of research. Important for success are mechanisms to engage Canadian and Southern scientists in discussions of areas of interest and to facilitate funding collaboration among Canada’s major grant-making institutions. Young researchers and students are key resources and will play central roles in the process. This meeting was a first step in the creation of an international dialogue to engage community leaders, scientists, and political decision-makers and policymakers in a process of research-based adaptation to the problems associated with global climate change. To continue this effort, IDRC will soon convene a second meeting among potential Canadian funding partners to explore the mechanics and details of an initiative to encourage and support international research partnerships around adaptation to climate change, and will continue to keep participants informed of future developments. This report outlines the context and objectives of the meeting, highlights key points made during presentations, and proposes the next steps in mobilizing international research partnerships related to climate change adaptation