An overview of participatory research and learning processes and their relevance to watershed management and development

This paper outlines general concepts of participatory research and learning; the relevance of participatory approaches to natural resources management and watershed management in particular; elements of good practice for participatory research and learning in the context of gendered, adaptive watershed management; and considerations for proposal development and review

Equity, well-being and ecosystem health: participatory research for natural resource management

A new vision of humanity’s relationship to nature is gathering strength. We are beginning to see our world as a living system, in which we ourselves are embedded. And we are gaining a greater awareness of our dependence on nature’s ecological services and on one other. Our emerging mental map of the world shows it as an integrated whole rather than a collection of parts. Of course, much human behavior suggests otherwise. As a result of our activities, the earth’s forests are receding, while its deserts are expanding. Topsoil is diminishing, and the ozone layer, which protects us from ultraviolet radiation, is being depleted. Concentrations of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere are rising, while the numbers of plant and animal species are shrinking. The human population continues to expand, as the gap between rich and poor widens. Nonetheless, people in all walks of life are realizing that the major problems of our time are interconnected and that the only viable solutions are those that satisfy today’s needs without diminishing future prospects. We have made a start toward building sustainable communities, in which we can fulfil our own aspirations while leaving a healthy world for tomorrow’s children. To make this vision a reality means creating equitable social and economic arrangements that protect and maintain the ecological services that earth provides--and learning to live within our ecological means. This publication shows how scientists from centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are working with farmers, communities, and organizations to improve the health and well-being of people and our environment. Toward this end the various projects described here are developing and practicing innovative participatory approaches for research on natural resource management (NRM). This research deals with such issues as resource monitoring, policy and legal frameworks, participatory learning, collective resource management, and learning communities. The case studies presented in this publication demonstrate the critical role of participatory approaches in NRM research, highlighting the roles of different stakeholders, the significance of scales and time dimensions, the inevitability of tradeoffs, and the challenges of dealing with complexity

Fragile web : the international agricultural research system

French version available in IDRC Digital Library: Trame fragile : le système international de recherche agricoleArabic version available in IDRC Digital Librar

Research on post-harvest technology

Meeting: TAC Meeting, 9th, 3-7 Feb. 1975, Roma, ITMonograph on the need for improved and relevant post-harvest grain processing systems in developing countries. Discusses the need to increase the efficiency of storage, drying, and food processing to promote grain plant production

Reducing the costs of GHG estimates in agriculture to inform low emissions development: Report from an international workshop

Sixty practitioners, policy makers and scientists reviewed and shared knowledge on the available robust and low-cost methods and data for GHG emission estimation in agriculture in a CCAFS/FAO workshop in Rome, October 2014. The participants emphasized that iterative interaction between data collection, data quality assurance and modelling is needed as well as protocol development for GHG estimation in agriculture. Emission factor development is also key, including in regional, national and sub-national levels. Easily accessible platforms where to store data and models would enhance sharing and better coordination. The country level coordination is also important in order to harmonize data collection practices, tools and methods. As countries are at different level in terms of GHG inventories and access to data, capacity need assessment will help providing right type, targeted support for capacity development. It is also important to ensure the policy level awareness raising, engagement and commitment. Linking adaptation and mitigation will reduce data needs and provide incentives for action. New tools for estimation are being developed, including remote sensing and crowd-sourcing, modeling and utilizing the national surveys and agriculture censuses that can help reduce data costs