In this study, we estimate empirically the multiple benefits of a subsidy policy that would offer payments to farmers in return for the adoption of conservation tillage and compare the outcomes of alternative targeting designs for such a policy. Using data for roughly 12,000 National Resource Inventory (NRI) points, we simulate for the state of Iowa the least-cost policy schemes for offering payment incentives. We use an economic model of conservation tillage adoption to evaluate the costs of adoption, and we use a model that simulates physical processes (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate, or EPIC) to estimate the environmental benefits of adoption at each of the NRI points. We assess the costs and environmental consequences of two targeting options. The first is a practice-based policy instrument that maximizes the acres of land in conservation tillage, regardless of the level of environmental benefits achieved. The second is a performance-based instrument that yields the highest amount of environmental benefits per dollar spent. We consider four performance-based benefits: carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, reduction in nitrogen runoff, reduction of erosion of soil by wind, and reduction of erosion of soil by water. We find that the practice-based instrument provides high proportions of the four benefits relative to the performance-based instrument, especially at higher budget levels. Similarly, we estimate that targeting one of the four benefits provides high percentages of the other benefits compared to the amounts obtainable if they were targeted directly.

Multiple Benefits of Carbon-Friendly Agricultural Practices: Empirical Assessment of Conservation Tillage

The study documented perception of forest fringe community of Chilapata reserve forest in West Bengal, India, from September 2013 to May 2015 through questionnaire-based personal in-depth interviews involving 400 respondents and group discussions. 
Adaptation strategies used by the community in response to impact of climate change were also documented. Majority of the respondents were farmers with marginal land holding. Almost all the respondents perceived the phenomena of climate change. The overall perception of the community toward change in temperature-related events and precipitation is high with average perception score of 0.74, while it is medium for change in regularity of climate events with score of 0.51. In spite of such perceptions, the community had low average livelihood impact perception score of 0.23. Considering the adaptation strategies based on knowledge–adoption index, the adaptation in response to climate change is at medium level with average mean score of 0.63. A total of 17 coping options were identified. Pre-monsoon dry seeding, agroforestry, crop rotation, short duration crop varieties and use of organic products were popular. The study recommend a need for scientists, government and non-government agents and other stakeholders to support efforts by farmers to adapt to effects of climate change through technological, policy and financial interventions with an aim of improving livelihoods and food security.

Climate change perceptions and response strategies of forest fringe communities in Indian Eastern Himalaya

This study was an attempt to document the indigenous Lepcha people’s perception on climate change-related issues in five villages of Dzongu Valley located in Kanchandzonga Biosphere Reserve, India. Personal structured questionnaire was used for interview of 300 households selected randomly. Results showed that 85 % of the households have perceived climate change, mainly in the form of increasing temperature and unpredictable pattern of rainfall. In terms of climate change-related events, 75 % of the households believed that wind is becoming warmer and stronger over the past years. Majority of the households have observed changes in crop phenology, while about 90 % agreed that the incidences of insect pest and diseases have increased over the years, especially in their large cardamom crop. A comparison of community perceptions, climatic observations and scientific literature shows that the community have correctly perceived temperature change, unpredictable occurrence of rainfall and increased incidence of insect pest and diseases, which have largely influenced the experiences and perceptions regarding climate-related events. Results reveal that households have adopted the use of locally available material as mulches against soil erosion, to conserve the soil moisture and manage soil temperature. Majority of the households have diversified their cropping system through traditional agroforestry systems and intercropping. Unfortunately, most of the households were unaware about the scientific sustainable approaches to combating impact of climate change. This documentation will aid in assessing the needs in terms of actions and information for facilitating climate change-related adaptation locally in Sikkim state of India.

Farmers perception and awareness of climate change: a case study from Kanchandzonga Biosphere Reserve, India

The objective of this study is to evaluate the contributions of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) practices to the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus balance, design practical pathways, and analyze barriers towards achievement of EbA-WEF balance. An area case study and descriptive methods were used to analyze data collected from 50 community forests (CFs) spread across three regions in The Gambia. Extensive information from relevant literature sources was also referred to in this study. Fourteen priority EbA practices were established and categorized into four major groups based on their application similarities. Among the anticipated ecosystem services were enhanced water resource conservation, food and feed production, enhanced energy supply, and improved community livelihoods to enhance their resilience. Pathways on how each practice under the broad category contributes to water, energy, and food were developed to demonstrate how they individually and collectively contribute towards the nexus balance. Key enablers identified included a conducive policy framework, institutional support, diverse incentives, information, knowledge, and technology transfer, and climate and non-climate barriers were cited as impediments. The paper concludes by outlining recommendations to overcome the established barriers.

Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Practices as a Nature-Based Solution to Promote Water-Energy-Food Nexus Balance

Carbon sequestration in agricultural, forest, and grassland soils has been promoted as a means by which substantial amounts of CO2 may be removed from the atmosphere, but few studies have evaluated the associated impacts on changes in soil N or net global warming potential (GWP). The purpose of this research was to ( 1) review the literature to examine how changes in grassland management that affect soil C also impact soil N, ( 2) assess the impact of different types of grassland management on changes in soil N and rates of change, and (3) evaluate changes in N2O fluxes from differently managed grassland ecosystems to assess net impacts on GWP. Soil C and N stocks either both increased or both decreased for most studies. Soil C and N sequestration were tightly linked, resulting in little change in C: N ratios with changes in management. Within grazing treatments N2O made a minor contribution to GWP (0.1-4%), but increases in N2O fluxes offset significant portions of C sequestration gains due to fertilization (10-125%) and conversion (average = 27%). Results from this work demonstrate that even when improved management practices result in considerable rates of C and N sequestration, changes in N2O fluxes can offset a substantial portion of gains by C sequestration. Even for cases in which C sequestration rates are not entirely offset by increases in N2O fluxes, small increases in N2O fluxes can substantially reduce C sequestration benefits. Conversely, reduction of N2O fluxes in grassland soils brought about by changes in management represents an opportunity to reduce the contribution of grasslands to net greenhouse gas forcing.

Nitrogen pools and fluxes in grassland soils sequestering carbon

Climate change vis-à-vis agriculture: Indian and global view—implications, abatement, adaptation and trade-off

Wood biomass from forest is the major source of domestic energy in most of the developing countries The present study was an attempt to document information on wood collection consumption and species used for domestic energy needs by residents of both rural and urban villages in Ranchi district of Jharkhand state India in different seasons round the year Wood fuel is the major domestic fuel in the study area which is mainly collected from forests or non ndash forest lands or purchased The fuel need is also supplemented by coal in urban localities The consumption of wood and coal in both urban and rural areas increases during winter and gradually decreases from rainy to summer season The quantity of wood consumption per family in study area varied from ndash Kg day in urban areas while it was ndash Kg day in rural areas The wood of species Mangifera indica Syzigium cumini Gmelina arborea Madhuca indica and Dalbergia sissoo were found mostly used for domestic energy purposes because of their availability Firewood extraction by indigenous rural and urban poor in our study area are no way causing loss to forest or threatening tree species to risk as they are using dead stems twigs or branches of trees either from non ndash forest lands or from forest those species which are in lesser priority list of IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature Instead there should be capacity built for involvement of urban poor in more and more afforestation reforestation programmes of multi ndash purpose species in non ndash forest lands and their rights safeguarded so that they can also use firewood solely for their domestic energy need and not supplement hydrocarbon fossils like coal

https://medcrave.org.medcraveonline.com/index.php/FREIJ/article/download/15780/29083

Fuelwood extraction by indigenous rural and urban poors do not risk trees and forest a case study from Jharkhand India

Background: West Bengal is a state rich in floral biodiversity, with a high occurrence of medicinal plants being used. The state is populated by several ethnic communities, which still rely on various ethnomedical practises. Unfortunately information relating to the medicinally useful species is not holistic or is fraganmentory. We thus felt for a meta-analysis and abridged the available information of the state Methods: The purpose of the present study was to annotate the published information on ethnomedicinal plants used by various indigenous communities of West Bengal, India. We therefore searched the published Journal articles, book chapters, and scientific reports using Web of Science, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar, individual journal databases and personal communication to review the ethnomedicinal information of the state. Resutls: The meta-analysis resulted to a repository of 377 plant species represented by 99 families and 278 genera which were utilized for folk medicinal purposes. These ethnomedicinal plant species were used to treat a total of 126 different ailments and diseases. Stomach related problems were found common among the ethnic groups for which about half of the listed plant species were used for its treatment. Santal ethnic group was found richest with traditional knowledge related to folk medicinal purposes of 195 plant species. Some plant species Aerva lanata and Aristolochia indica were found commonly utilized by the communities. Leaves were prominently used plant part for folk therapies. Harvesting of the plants or their parts was largely unsustainable and is a matter of concern which needs urgent conservation action. Moreover, neglect and disregard to traditional culture and lores by the younger generation of the traditional communities is causing rapid decline and making the traditional knowledge system of these communities obsolete. Conclusion: Documentation of ethnomedicinal plant species and the associated traditional knowledge is vital for well being of future generation as well as their conservation. This meta-analysis will be useful as baseline information for research on new drug development which will give national and global recognition to the traditional knowledge system of these ethnic societies while, will boost their healthcare, ecological, socioeconomic and bio-cultural perspectives.

Species richness and folk therapeutic uses of ethnomedicinal plants in West Bengal, India – A meta-analysis

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), commonly known as a natural sweetener plant or sweet herb grabs the economic and scientific interests owing to its sweetness and therapeutic properties present in its leaves mainly due to the presence of steviol glycosides (SGs), with stevioside being the most abundant, followed by rebaudioside. Stevioside, the most abundant active component, is greatly preferred by diabetic patients since it is a non-calorie sweetener and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a dietary supplement. This shows the benefits of stevia over other artificial sweeteners as an ingredient for the food business, subsequently, making stevia an increasingly appropriate substitute for saccharine in various drinks, beverages, and bakery products. Stevia also offers therapeutic benefits having anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects. These beneficial effects largely focused on the importance of stevia. Sexually developed plants were not efficient because of low fertility and reduced viability. However, quality planting material can be produced through biotechnological approaches like micropropagation. To date, a great deal of studies has been completed on the tissue culture intervened approaches for the mass propagation of stevia. In this chapter, the above-mentioned approaches and their significance are emphasized for the large-scale production of identical plant materials and for the improvement of important calorie-free SGs.

In Vitro Approaches for Mass Propagation of Stevia rebaudiana

Livestock are an essential component of lives of rural farmers of India and it is important to assess how proper Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) can lead to improvement in the status of fodder and livestock and in turn improve the livelihood of the poor. The present paper tries to report fodder and livestock status through soil and water conservation taking case of two semi-arid districts of Madhya Pradesh in India. The reported improvement in fodder ranged from 30% to 100% in Ratlam district and Mandsaur district and most fodder development had taken place in the tribal belt of Ratlam district. The net change observed in number of local breed cows in Ratlam district is 0.37 units of cow/household which implies that almost every third household had purchased a new cow. In Mandsaur district, almost every fifth household had purchased a cow. Net increase in income of Rs. 2214.67 from sale of milk and other products was recorded in Ratlam district and in Mandsaur district it was Rs.1625 in Lower Reaches and Rs. 1278 in Upper Reaches. The paper also suggested the species those utilized for moisture conservation as well as for fodder purpose during lean periods.

Sumit Chakravarty

Papers

Climate change vis-à-vis agriculture: Indian and global view—implications, abatement, adaptation and trade-off

Fuelwood extraction by indigenous rural and urban poors do not risk trees and forest a case study from Jharkhand India

Species richness and folk therapeutic uses of ethnomedicinal plants in West Bengal, India – A meta-analysis

In Vitro Approaches for Mass Propagation of Stevia rebaudiana

Improvement in livestock status through soil and water conservation: case of two semi-arid districts of Madhya Pradesh in India.