NEW PUBLICATIONS

New publication releases

The following publications were compiled from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC) Newsletter, research and contributions:

Environmental impacts of ecotourism

This is Volume 2 of the Ecotourism Book Series released in August 2004 by CABI-Publishing. Edited by R. Buckley, this book discusses the impacts of tourism activities such as hiking and camping as well as off-road vehicles and recreational boats, among other things, on certain ecosystems such as marine environments, polar coasts and mountain environments. The book presents these impacts through expert reviews on the activities, ecosystems and management strategies and case studies. For more information, please visit http://www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop/

Food industrialisation and food power: implications for food governance

Written by Tim Lang, this paper examines the policy and market implications that resulted in poor primary producers having to contend with contracts and unrealistic specifications, and rich consumers needing to buy goods from production chains that, although inexpensive, could not assure quality. It also discusses the state’s role in regulating the industry. This paper is available for free and can be downloaded from http://www.iied.org.

Integrated Resource and Environmental Management (IREM): the human dimension

Released in September 2004, this book defines and describes IREM as both a management process and a philosophy in the context of real-world applications, planning frameworks and complex systems.

Aside from presenting an overview and the history of natural resource management, A.W. Ewert, D.C. Baker and G.C. Bissix discuss issues on conflicts, property rights and the role of science in the management of natural resources. For more information, please visit http://www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop/

The Overstory book: Cultivating connections with trees (2^nd edition)

Released by the Permanent Agricultural Resources (PAR) in July 2004. Edited by Craig R. Elevitch, the book compiles 127 concise, easy-to-read, single-subject chapters on the following topics:

• agricultural and conservation techniques from indigenous people;

• beneficial microorganisms;

• fruit trees, timber trees, vine crops, vegetables, mushrooms, etc.;

• integration of wildlife, birds, insects and free-range livestock;

• effective designs of tree-based windbreaks, noise barriers, live fences and erosion buffers;

• access and production of high-quality seeds, seedlings and plant materials;

• role of trees in restoring fertility, productivity and biodiversity;

• multipurpose plans, including trees, palms, and bamboos;

• marketing of products; and

• access to helpful organizations, people and publications.

For more information, please visit http://www.agroforestry.net or E-mail: [email protected].

(with contribution from Liisa Tahvanainen)

(Contributed by Craig Elevitch)

Valuing agroforestry systems: methods and applications

Written by leading experts in economics and agroforestry, this book compiles 14 case studies from all continents, describing and demonstrating the application of various economic analysis techniques to agroforestry systems, policies and projects. Chapters provide an overview of the different agroforestry systems and valuation methodologies, analytical methods for the profitability of agroforestry systems, environmental economic valuation methods of market and nonmarket benefits of agroforestry systems, among other things. Edited by Janaki Alavalapati and Evan Mercer, it was published by the Kluwer Academic Publishers. For more information, please visit http://www.cplpress.com/.

New releases from ICRAF

Regina Palar ([email protected])

The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) announces its new information materials for 2004:

Below-ground interactions in tropical agroecosystems

This book provides a synthesis of plant-soil-plant interactions and processes from the plot to landscape scale, relevant to many types of multispecies agroecosystems (agroforestry, intercropping, etc.). It also links basic research, practical applications and indigenous knowledge in a wide range of systems, with or without trees, and considers the implications of below-ground interactions for the environment and global change issues. Specifically, the book discusses root architecture and dynamics, plant-soil biota interactions, soil biodiversity and food webs, water and nutrient cycling, as well as necessary linkages to modelling approaches. To purchase copies, please contact Tim Hardwick at [email protected].

Tree seed procurement-diffusion pathways in Wonogiri and Ponorogo, Java: Indonesia’s main source of tree seed (ICRAF-SEA Working Paper, No. 2004-1)

It describes the operation of seed suppliers in the Wonogiri-Ponorogo area of Indonesia, which includes Wonogiri, Central Java and Ponorogo, East Java and its neighboring districts (kabupaten). The paper also discusses how to overcome poor practices in general seed collection. This working paper can be downloaded for free at
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/upload/workingpaper/ICRAFSEA%20workingppr%20-%202004_1.pdf

CD on agroforestry models and database

Produced in 2004, this CD compiles all models and databases, including AKT5, GenRiver, FALLOW, SpatRain, SLIM, SEXI-FS, WaNuLCAS, PedoTransfer Resource database and Tree&Wood database, produced by The World Agroforestry Center and its partners. For free distribution, please visit http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/index.asp

WaNuLCAS 3.01

Released in 2004, the WaNuLCAS Version 3.01 manual guides users of the WaNULCAS model by providing options to simulate root growth using the voxel automata rules and simulate the dynamics of soil structure due to macrofauna activities or litter layer formation. For free distribution, please visit http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFModels/wanulcas/downloadb.htm

Rewarding the Upland Poor for the Environmental Services (RUPES) newsletters

The RUPES project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and coordinated by ICRAF, which convenes a consortium of partners to build and test working models of best practices for successful environmental transfer agreements adapted to the Asian context. The RUPES newsletters highlight the project’s current activities and reports interesting and relevant information on how the poor are being rewarded for environmental services. In each issue, the activities of one or more of the RUPES action research sites are presented. Updates on regional studies associated with the RUPES project are also presented, including associate web links and conferences, meetings or workshops around Asia that are considered relevant to RUPES. For online subscription, please visit http://www.worldagroforestrycentre/Networks/RUPES or contact [email protected].

Tree seed management: seed sources, seed collection and seed handling

This manual was developed to help smallholders and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Indonesia build the technical skills required to properly collect and manage tree seeds. Produced through the collaboration of ICRAF, Winrock International and the Indonesia

Forest Seed Project (IFSP), the manual collected inputs from foresters, tree seed specialists, development workers, NGOs and farmers over a 20-month iterative process.

The draft manual, compiled by ICRAF and Winrock staff members, and based on their own experiences and reviews of technical documents, was used in four seed source management and seed collection training courses for farmers and NGO field staff members. The manual also referred to the Indonesian version, published in early 2002 and translated into English.

This manual will be valuable to individuals and organizations involved in tree farming and seed collection activities at the local level. The manual can be downloaded from http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/seedsupplier/index.asp.

FAO publication updates

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations announces the following new publication releases. Information is available online at http://www.fao.org/

Conservation of natural resources for sustainable agriculture: training modules

Released in 2004, this CD-ROM aims to increase awareness on the benefits of conservation agriculture (CA) and address the need for technical training materials in this field. Topics include the concepts and principles of CA, cover crops, soil, tools and equipment, weeds, pests and diseases, livestock and economic benefits. It also provides exercises on these topics.

ECOCROP 1: The crop environmental requirements database and ECOCROP 2: The crop environmental response database

ECOCROP 1 helps to identify plant species suitable for specific environments, habitats and uses. It contains 2 100 economically important plant species that can match the critical climate and soil requirements entered in by the user.

ECOCROP 2, on the other hand, helps record, organize and compare studies on crop responses to environmental and management factors. This database contains crop response information on 20 crop varieties that are of economic importance worldwide.

Empowering small producers: manuals on producer organization and group development

Released in 2004, this multilanguage CD-ROM compiles the set of FAO-published training manuals since 1990. The manuals deal on self-help group formation, enterprise management, savings and intergroup association development, agricultural cooperative development and finance, along with guidelines for incorporating group-based approaches into large-scale rural investment projects. The manuals and guidelines are intended for use by policy makers, staff of nongoverment organizations and field workers involved in promoting sustainable rural producer groups and cooperatives in developing countries.

The Ethics of sustainable agricultural intensification

This FAO Ethics Series No. 3 presents three approaches to ethical analysis. The utilitarian approach argues that the need for food is the basis for agricultural intensification. The virtue approach argues that "people’s duty work for the good of the society." The rights-based approach presents how an "individual’s pursuit of such good can be constrained by the rights of others." Debates on these three approaches will hopefully enable researchers to "assume ethical responsibilities for the intensification of agriculture."

Leasing agricultural land

Intended for grassroots organizations, this first issue of FAO Land Tenure Notes discusses fair and secure leasing arrangements that can improve access to land for farming and improved agricultural production and access to food.

Photo library on soil erosion processes

This FAO Land and Water Digital Media Series No. 28, released in 2004, serves as the photographic index to the "Guidelines for mapping and measurement of rainfall-induced erosion processes in the Mediterranean coastal areas." The guidelines were developed through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Mediterranean Action Plan and Priority Action Programme. The action plan is also included in the CD-ROM that details the mapping of soil erosion processes.

Site-specific grasses and herbs: seed production and use for restoration of mountain environments

The significance of site-specific grasses and herbs has grown over the years. This FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No. 32, written by B. Krautzer, G. Peratoner and F. Bozzo, describes 25 grasses and herbs that occur naturally and can restore middle and high Alpine zones. It discusses how the nonregulated seed production of selected species of these grasses and herbs can be lucrative for farmers and seed producers.

Unasylva No. 216, Volume 55, 2004/1: Reinventing forestry education

The first issue of Unasylva for 2004 discusses the effectiveness of forestry education nowadays, considering a redefining of the concepts "forestry" and "forester." The article calls for forestry education to "embrace a wide range of disciplines - e.g. gender studies, political and social sciences" if there are to be effective professional foresters in the future.

Unasylva No. 217. Volume 55, 2004/2: Forest threats

The second issue of Unasylva for 2004 presents how destructive agents such as fire, hurricanes, droughts, ice storms and insect outbreaks are threatening the forests and causing global climate change. The issue discusses these destructive agents and the corresponding measures to overcome them.

Wild edible fungi: a global overview of their use and importance to people

Written by E. Boa, this Non-Wood Forest Products No. 17 presents the biology, ecology, management and importance of wild edible fungi, considered an important group of nonwood forest products.