Download or read book Avian Communities and Their Relation to Arthropods and Vegetation Structure in Cacao and Banana Agroforestry Systems of Talamanca Costa Rica written by Chad B. Wilsey and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Conventional and Organic Coffee Plantations and their Effects on Arthropods and Avifauna A Biodiversity Check in Costa Rica written by Moritz Stüber and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2018-10-15 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2018 in the subject Agrarian Studies, grade: 1,7, University of Hohenheim (Zentrum Ökologischer Landbau Universität Hohenheim), language: English, abstract: When it comes to ecological measures and sustainability, Costa Rica (CR) is one of the most developed countries in Latin America. During the past two years CR was able to be nearly 100% eco-power self-sufficient. Moreover it is planning to be the first country worldwide to prohibit disposable plastic and one of the organic pioneers in the region. Organic food export and people’s ecologic awareness have been rising. As the biodiversity in CR is one of the highest worldwide, the country’s nature protection strategy is a topic to focus on and worth to be studied. Latin American studies on organic management as a tool for biodiversity conservation are rare. Organic Agriculture (OA), as written in the IFOAM 1972, always committed to the conservation of biodiversity. There were only few attempts to include biodiversity conservation into the existing organic standards and guidelines. First in 2005, biodiversity conservation, as part of the draft “Biodiversity and Landscape Standards” was mentioned and integrated into the IFOAM Basic Standards. In CR, one of the principal promoters of OA is the CEDECO (Educative Corporation of Development in Costa Rica). Their research often focused on arthropods since many species are known to be biological indicators of an ecosystem’s health status. Exemplary insects of their studies are butterflies or dung beetles. Many birds are insect-/ omnivorous, thus directly linked to arthropod abundance. Organic coffee plantations in CR are tried to be integrated into nature (agroforestry), which results in a different habitat than the conventional ones. Instead of shrub-sized coffee plants, there is a sudden interaction with the canopy and a more diverse shrub-layer. In the following report, the focus will be laid on species that experienced a success story but also those who might not. It will be demonstrated by changes in vegetation, diversity changes above and beneath ground and the way the farmer can profit from each species.
Download or read book Biology and Management of the Banana Weevil Cosmopolites Sordidus Germar in the Socioeconomic and Agroecological Context of the Indigenous Territories of Talamanca Costa Rica written by Ruth Dahlquist and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The banana weevil is a pest on bananas and plantains throughout the tropics. No published studies exist on the banana weevil in smallholder banana and plantain systems within the Bribri-Cabécar Indigenous Territories in Talamanca, Costa Rica. These include monoculture plantain and organic banana in agroforestry systems. Concerns exist over pesticide use in plantain and conversion of agroforestry systems to monoculture plantain. Alternatives to pesticides in plantain and improved pest management in organic banana to increase profitability of agroforestry systems are needed. Such efforts must be undertaken with an understanding of the socioeconomic and agroecological context of the indigenous territories. We conducted a livelihoods analysis of cacao agroforestry systems comparing cacao to plantain and organic banana. Existing production data was integrated with data from household interviews to identify factors in the decline of cacao agroforestry systems. We also conducted a rapid rural appraisal with plantain and organic banana producers. Semi-structured interviews with 75 farmers examined current pest management practices and perceptions of pest status and biology. In plantain, 63% of farmers used combination nematicide-insecticides for banana weevil control. Most organic banana farmers (61%) did not use banana weevil management practices. We assessed banana weevil damage levels and yield in 21 organic banana agroforestry farms. Yield was correlated with damage in the banana corm cortex, and 94.7% of damage was in the cortex. To determine efficacy of pheromone traps for banana weevil management in smallholder plantain farms, we evaluated weevil damage and yield before and after 58 weeks of trapping. Traps were placed in six farms at recommended rates, and six farms without traps were controls. Weevil damage decreased by 33% in farms with traps, and did not decrease in control farms. There was no reduction in trap catches, indicating that damage reduction can occur without reduction of weevil populations. We evaluated movement patterns of banana weevils in response to host plant volatiles at 1 and 2 m distances in the field. Weevils were tagged, released, and relocated using harmonic radar. Weevils oriented to host plant volatiles at 1 m but not 2 m, and displayed positive orthokinesis at both distances.
Download or read book Learning about Neighbour Trees in Cocoa Growing Systems written by Richard Asare and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The aim of this manual is to provide an opportunity for adult learning and contribute to farmer-based dissemination of information. The manual provides technical information that addresses forest tree species selection and propagation in cocoa fields, policy and legislation on timber trees on farm, and determination of compensation due to farmers for felled timber trees on cocoa farms. This information is then followed by guided decision-making exercises designed to reinforce cocoa farmers? observation skills, decision-making capacity and knowledge on timber tree species incorporated in cocoa growing systems in West Africa.
Download or read book Costa Rican Ecosystems written by Maarten Kappelle and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2016-04-15 with total page 798 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1502, Christopher Columbus named Costa Rica, and while gold and silver never materialized to justify the moniker of rich coast in purely economic terms, scientists and ecotravelers alike have long appreciated its incredible wealth. Wealth in Costa Rica is best measured by its biodiversityhome to a dizzying number of plants and animals, many endemic, it s a country that has long encouraged and welcomed researchers from the world over, and is exemplary in the creation and commitment to indigenous conservation and management programs. Costa Rica is considered to have the best preserved natural resources in Latin America. Approximately nine percent (about 1,000,000 acres) of Costa Rica has been protected in 15 national parks, and a comparable amount of land is protected as wildlife refuges, forest reserves or Indian reservations. This long-awaited synthesis of Costa Rican ecosystems is an authoritative presentation of the paleoecology, biogeography, structure, conservation, and sustainable use of Costa Rica s ecosystems. It systematically covers the entire range of Costa Rica s natural and managed, terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, including its island systems (Cocos Islands), the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and shores (coasts, coral reefs, mangrove forests), its lowlands (dry, season and wet forests), its highlands (the northern volcanoes and southern Talamanca s), and its estuaries, rivers, lakes, swamps and bogs. The volume s integrated, comprehensive format will be welcomed by tropical and temperate biologists alike, by biogeographers, plant and animal ecologists, marine biologists, conservation biologists, foresters, policy-makers and all scientists, natural history specialists and all with an interest in Costa Rica s ecosystems."
Download or read book Agroforestry and Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Landscapes written by Götz Schroth and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2013-03-22 with total page 537 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agroforestry -- the practice of integrating trees and other large woody perennials on farms and throughout the agricultural landscape -- is increasingly recognized as a useful and promising strategy that diversifies production for greater social, economic, and environmental benefits. Agroforestry and BiodiversityConservation in Tropical Landscapes brings together 46 scientists and practitioners from 13 countries with decades of field experience in tropical regions to explore how agroforestry practices can help promote biodiversity conservation in human-dominated landscapes, to synthesize the current state of knowledge in the field, and to identify areas where further research is needed. Agroforestry and Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Landscapes is the first comprehensive synthesis of the role of agroforestry systems in conserving biodiversity in tropical landscapes, and contains in-depth review chapters of most agroforestry systems, with examples from many different countries. It is a valuable source of information for scientists, researchers, professors, and students in the fields of conservation biology, resource management, tropical ecology, rural development, agroforestry, and agroecology.
Download or read book Temperate Agroforestry Systems written by Andrew M Gordon and published by CABI. This book was released on 2018-03-07 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Organic animal production has increased rapidly in recent years to keep up with the increasing consumer demand for organic meats. There are many guidelines and restrictions on what should go into the feedstuffs of organically farmed animals, from which difficulties arise when trying to ensure a well-balanced, nutritious diet without the use of any supplements. The book has been completely updated and revised to address how to formulate organic diets in situations where there is a declining supply of organic feed, as well as the feasibility of utilizing novel feedstuffs and their acceptability by consumers of organic meat products. Including the experiences of producers in relation to appropriate breeds and production systems for forage-based organic production, this book is an important read for researchers and students of organic food animal production, veterinary sciences and food; as well as food industry personnel and organic farmers.
Download or read book Monitoring Bird Populations by Point Counts written by C. John Ralph and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1998-05 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Point counts of birds are the most widely used quantitative method and involve an observer recording birds from a single point for a standardized time period. In response to the need for standardization of methods to monitor bird populations by census, researchers met to present data from various investigations working under a wide variety of conditions, and to examine various aspects of point count methodology. Statistical aspects of sampling and analysis were discussed and applied to the objectives of point counts. The final chapter presents these standards and their applications to point count methodology.
Download or read book Tropical Agroforestry written by Alain Atangana and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-10-29 with total page 389 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agroforestry is recognized as a sustainable land-use management in the tropics, as it provides environmental-friendly ecosystems; it also provides people with their every day need for food and cash. Since the recognition of agroforestry as a science, curricula have been developed for agroforestry programs for undergraduate and graduate trainings in Universities. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and make available educational material. This textbook strives to provide up-to-date information on tropical agroforestry to serve as educational material in the tropical context. The authoritative textbook of Nair (1993) on agroforestry was published 18 years ago, and before the advent of tree domestication, an important agroforestry practice today. In addition, many other research activities, such as carbon sequestration and integrated pest management, have been included in the agroforestry agenda. This textbook is intended for agroforestry students, teachers, and practitioners.
Download or read book Agroforestry for Ecosystem Services and Environmental Benefits written by Shibu Jose and published by Springer. This book was released on 2012-03-14 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agroforestry systems are believed to provide a number of ecosystem services; however, until recently evidence in the agroforestry literature supporting these perceived benefits has been lacking. This volume brings together a series of papers from around the globe to address recent findings on the ecosystem services and environmental benefits provided by agroforestry. Specifically, this volume examines four major ecosystem services and environmental benefits: (1) carbon sequestration, (2) biodiversity conservation, (3) soil enrichment and (4) air and water quality. Past and present evidence clearly indicates that agroforestry, as part of a multifunctional working landscape, can be a viable land-use option that, in addition to alleviating poverty, offers a number of ecosystem services and environmental benefits. This realization should help promote agroforestry and its role as an integral part of a multifunctional working landscape the world over. The book should be particularly useful to students, professionals, researchers and policy makers involved in natural resource management, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management. Reprinted from Agroforestry Systems, Volume 76, No. 1 (2009)
Download or read book Defining Common Ground for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor written by Kenton Miller and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work is intended to catalyze actions necessary to plan and implement the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. It introduces the MBC Initiative, examines its implications for stakeholder groups, and identifies the challenges that must be addressed if the MBC is to be effectively implemented.
Download or read book Tropical Homegardens written by B.M. Kumar and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-04-21 with total page 383 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘Homegardens’ are integrated tree–crop–animal production systems, often established on small parcels of land surrounding homesteads, and primarily found in tropical environments. This multi-authored volume contains peer-reviewed chapters from the world’s leading researchers and professionals in this topic. It summarizes the current state of knowledge on homegarden systems, with a view to using this knowledge as a basis for improving both homegardens and other similar multistrata agroforestry systems.
Download or read book The Green Republic written by Sterling Evans and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2010-06-28 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With over 25 percent of its land set aside in national parks and other protected areas, Costa Rica is renowned worldwide as "the green republic." In this very readable history of conservation in Costa Rica, Sterling Evans explores the establishment of the country's national park system as a response to the rapid destruction of its tropical ecosystems due to the expansion of export-related agriculture. Drawing on interviews with key players in the conservation movement, as well as archival research, Evans traces the emergence of a conservation ethic among Costa Ricans and the tangible forms it has taken. In Part I, he describes the development of the national park system and "the grand contradiction" that conservation occurred simultaneously with massive deforestation in unprotected areas. In Part II, he examines other aspects of Costa Rica's conservation experience, including the important roles played by environmental education and nongovernmental organizations, campesino and indigenous movements, ecotourism, and the work of the National Biodiversity Institute.
Download or read book Smallholders Householders written by Robert McC. Netting and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 1993 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contrasting the prevailing theories of the evolution of agriculture, the author argues that the practice of smallholding is more efficient and less environmentally degrading than that of industrial agriculture which depends heavily on fossil fuel, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. He presents a convincing case for his argument with examples taken from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, and demonstrates that there are fundamental commonalities among smallholder cultures. "Smallholders, Householders" is a detailed and innovative analysis of the agricultural efficiency and conservation of resources practiced around the world by smallholders.
Download or read book Tropical Forestry Handbook written by Laslo Pancel and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-12-14 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a cross-section of all outstanding experience in all fields of tropical forestry under a drastically changing environment induced by climate change. It sheds light on the existing know-how and presents it in a concise and efficient way for the scientist and professional in charge of planning, implementing and evaluating forest resources. The Tropical Forestry Handbook provides proven and/or promising alternative concepts which can be applied to solve organizational, administrative and technical challenges prevailing in the tropics. Presented are state of the art methods in all fields concerning tropical forestry. Emphasize is given to methods which are adapted to- and which safeguard - environmental conditions.
Download or read book Sustainable Agriculture Reviews written by Eric Lichtfouse and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-02-19 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book features articles that analyze current agricultural issues and knowledge. It also proposes novel, environmentally friendly solutions that are based on integrated information from such fields as agronomy, soil science, molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, economics and the social sciences.Coverage examines ways to produce food and energy in a sustainable way for humans and their children. Inside, readers will find articles that explore climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, poor-nation starvation, rich-nation obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control and biodiversity depletion. Instead of solving problems using the classical painkiller approach, which seeks to limit negative impacts, sustainable agriculture treats challenges at their source. Because most societal issues are in fact intertwined, global, and fast-developing, sustainable agriculture will bring solutions that have the potential to build a more peaceful world. This book will help scientists, decision-makers, professors, farmers and politicians build safer agriculture, energy and food systems for future generations.
Download or read book Tropical Agroecosystems written by John H. Vandermeer and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2002-12-03 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tropical areas present ecological, cultural and political problems that demand analysis that is distinct from general ecological analysis. The tropical environment is special in many ways, from the lack of a biological down season (winter), to generally poor soil conditions, to a reliance on traditional methods of agriculture in an undeveloped soci
