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Socio-Ecological Drivers of Land Use Change and Wetland Conversion in Kilombero Valley Floodoplain, Tanzania
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
1-11
Received:
13 November 2018
Accepted:
7 December 2018
Published:
24 January 2019
Abstract: Connections between social drivers (human activities) and ecological drivers (natural events) are currently considered as the key factors affecting land use change in tropical wetland ecosystem. However, the complexity interaction of these socio-ecological drivers is often poorly understood. This paper examined the interaction of these two systems in the Kilombero valley floodplain. Kilombero valley floodplain is one of the largest tropical wetland in Africa offering a wide spectrum of habitats for plant and animal species sustaining several ecosystem services and ecological functions, which has been under threat of wetland loss and degradation. The study used the documentary review approach to investigate the interaction of socio and ecological systems in the study area. The study revealed that population growth, market growth and price incentive for cash crops and timber products coupled with improved infrastructures, policy and institutional framework are the social drivers, while flat terrain characteristics, heavy black alluvial soils coupled with high water holding capacity, increased temperature and rainfall variability accompanied with prolonged dry spells are the ecological drivers of land use change and wetland conversion in the study area. However, there are relationships among these drivers, as they act simultaneously as well as differently to influence land use changes in the study area. The study recommended that socio-ecological interactions and the needs of local communities whose livelihood is highly dependent on wetland resources must be central to the development of wetland policies and wetland management approaches.
Abstract: Connections between social drivers (human activities) and ecological drivers (natural events) are currently considered as the key factors affecting land use change in tropical wetland ecosystem. However, the complexity interaction of these socio-ecological drivers is often poorly understood. This paper examined the interaction of these two systems ...
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Farming System Characterization of Arsizone: Case of Small-Scale Farming
Tamrat Gebiso Challa,
Aman Nebo Tibesso,
Ashebir Tsegayie Mamo
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
12-24
Received:
2 November 2018
Accepted:
1 February 2019
Published:
28 February 2019
Abstract: Precise technological intervention and policy support needs identification and characterization of farm types. Therefore, farming system characterization is a vital activity for agricultural technologies generators or researchers, development practitioners and policy makers. Therefore, this farming system characterization research activity was initiated with objectives of identifying and characterizing the crop production system, identifying and prioritizing the major production system of agriculture in Arsi zone and to forward the possible intervention mechanisms for each farming typology. In general the farming system in Arsi zone is a crop-livestock mixed farming with small amount of lowland pastoralists. In this research further classification of farming typologies were identified. Accordingly, around seven broadly categorized farming typologies were identified which are lowland agro-pastoral, coffee-khat tree based, irrigation based, highland barley-root crop based maize-sorghum based, mechanized wheat belt farm type and non-mechanized wheat belt. The production potentials and constraints for each farming system typology were also discussed in this research output report. Constraints that could be tackled by research centers and development practitioners like office of agriculture and natural resource development, livestock resource development, irrigation development offices and support institutions like cooperatives and credit institutions were identified and prioritized. Though there is tendency of hasty generalization of Arsi zone as wheat enterprise specialized farming typology from policy makers, in this research finding it was recognized that Arsi zone has a diversified farming system that need multiple solutions from different experts and disciplines.
Abstract: Precise technological intervention and policy support needs identification and characterization of farm types. Therefore, farming system characterization is a vital activity for agricultural technologies generators or researchers, development practitioners and policy makers. Therefore, this farming system characterization research activity was init...
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Space Technology, an Essential Infrastructure for Rural Area Development
Onuh Spencer Ojogba,
Aiyeola Sikiru Yommy,
Tofade Temidayo Christopher,
Linda Ojone Adesina
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
25-31
Received:
14 January 2019
Accepted:
1 March 2019
Published:
21 March 2019
Abstract: Over the past five decades, space technology has been regarded as either the dream and future of mankind or an endeavor of the Cold War space race. Neither of these views is relevant today. The essential role space serves today is that it is a critical infrastructure for the world. Space is no longer the “big boys club”. Today, about 60 countries own and operate at least one satellite, and almost everyone benefits from the services these satellites provide. Space technology has become an indispensable infrastructure on which everyone relies. Space technology has the capabilities to provide information vital for the environment, education, food security, public health, water resource management, human rights, disaster relief and nuclear security. Services derived from this technology not only improve the efficiency and effectiveness of many terrestrial activities but also provide much of the information and understanding needed to prevent and mitigate a variety of risks. Space-based technologies are embraced in developing countries and some of the applications are rooted in education. This was not so in the past, as the technologies were considered ancillary tools for only wealthy nations. Space technology includes the spacecraft otherwise known as satellite, space stations, other supporting infrastructure, equipment, and procedures. The development of space technology can play significant roles in the development of rural areas in Nigeria. The areas of application include, education, telemedicine, agriculture, and communication. This paper focuses on the use of space technology in the development of rural areas.
Abstract: Over the past five decades, space technology has been regarded as either the dream and future of mankind or an endeavor of the Cold War space race. Neither of these views is relevant today. The essential role space serves today is that it is a critical infrastructure for the world. Space is no longer the “big boys club”. Today, about 60 countries o...
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Decision-making Model of Virtual Power Plant for Participating in Spot Market Transaction Based on Hybrid Stochastic and Robust Approach
Dong Jun,
Nie Linpeng,
Pa Lidan
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
32-43
Received:
23 March 2019
Accepted:
26 April 2019
Published:
30 May 2019
Abstract: China is vigorously promoting the reform of the electricity spot market after the notice on the development of pilot projects for the spot electricity market was issued in 2017. At the same time, china is upgrading and renovating its energy structure, in the context of structural reform on the energy supply side, the decentralized form of clean energy utilization will develop rapidly. With the continuous improvement of the trading mechanism in spot market, it has become an inevitable trend that many distributed power resources will be involved in electricity market to participate in market transaction. Therefore, in order to promote distributed energy to participate in spot market, virtual power plant technique is paid increasing attentions. Combining the current hot issue, this paper constructs a decision-making model of virtual power plant for participating in spot market transaction based on hybrid stochastic and robust method, which can provide a quantitative decision analysis tool for virtual power plant operators to participate in spot market transactions. The main contribution of this paper are as follows:1) we proposed a transaction decision model that based on hybrid stochastic optimization and robust optimization methods and example simulation was given to illustrate the effectiveness of the model; 2) this paper focused on the electricity market in china.
Abstract: China is vigorously promoting the reform of the electricity spot market after the notice on the development of pilot projects for the spot electricity market was issued in 2017. At the same time, china is upgrading and renovating its energy structure, in the context of structural reform on the energy supply side, the decentralized form of clean ene...
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