Using well recorded data of 42 years from a former cattle ranch at the coast of Tanzania,
Peter J. Edwards showed impressively how farm management can influence a very fragile ecosystem. Changes in soil nutrient relationships and changes in vegetation mainly due to the grazing and the penetrating bush encroachment of
Acacia zanzibarica were the result.
Lutz Merbold’s case study in Miombo woodlands of Western Zambia unraveled the Charcoal Trap. An increase in energy demand and the migration of the people to the urban areas for employment call for an increased demand of charcoal since it has a higher energy density and is cheaper for transport. He concluded that the resulting increase of deforestation and thus additional carbon emissions are very large in developing countries. Depending on the resilience of woodlands, the lost carbon from forest degradation may be regained by reestablishment of forests and the consideration of alternative energy sources.
The third talk took the audience to India’s coffee production.
Virgine Boreux introduced the relationship between bee pollination of three main pollinators identified and the fruit set of coffee plantations. Pollination by bees has a long term impact extending until harvest. The study showed that the fewer sites that are flowering simultaneously, the higher bee abundance was found. In conclusion, irrigation triggering the flowering of the coffee could be used to attract bees. Thus asynchronous irrigation to the monsoon rains can be used in effective plantation management.
A very interesting insight into the effects of the Darfur Crisis gave the last talk by
Mahgoub Suliman Mohamedian. The Darfur Crisis lasting since 2003 destroyed the settlements of vast rural areas which forced 1.56 Mio people to leave for camps. The original shelters need to be rebuilt with local material affecting the natural resources and carbon emissions. The expected resettlements will have a great impact on Darfur natural resources. Therefore, the study recommended using alternative material rather than woody biomass for reconstruction of future shelter.
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