No. 41, Spring/Summer 1997The CCD, Part II: Asia & Americas
No. 41, Spring/Summer 1997
The CCD, Part II: Asia & Americas
Compiled and annotated by Carla Casler
Books
Dryland Forestry: Planning and Management Distribution Center 1 Wiley Drive Somerset, NJ 08875-1272 USA Fax: (908) 302- 2300 Web: http://www.wiley.com/ The primary objective of this book is to present the kinds of information required to understand and integrate biophysical and socioeconomic components into environmentally sound, sustainable forest management practices in dryland environments. The introduction provides background information dryland environments and their critical problems, including desertification. The main contents of the book comprise sections on: -- Sustainable Development of Dryland Regions --Planning and Assessing Forestry Projects, Multiple Use Management --Technical Considerations --Special Topics, such as fuelwood production, agroforestry, windbreaks and sand dune stabilization, soil erosion control, and rehabilitation of saline environments --Implementing and Supporting Activities Greening of Commom Lands in Jhansi through Village Resource Development: A Case Study Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra Building 1 Copernicus Marg New Delhi 110 001 INDIA Tel: +91 (11) 384521 Fax: +91 (11) 382633 This publication documents the success of two projects to reclaim the degraded lands of the Bundelkhand region of India. The Agricultural Department of Uttar Pradesh began a Watershed Development Project with the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) to improve the moisture regime of arable lands through contour bunding, gully plugging, construction of check dams and other methods. The degraded common lands were improved throught joint efforts of this project with support of the National wastelands Development Board of the Ministry of Environment and Forests which recruited the active participation of the village people. The cooperation and participation of the village people were critical to the success of this project. Dryland Forestry Research (Proceedings of an IFS/IUFRO Workshop, Hyytiala, Finland, 31 July-4 August 1995) Grev Turegatan 14 S-114 38 Stockholm SWEDEN The international workshop, Dryland Forestry Research, was organized by the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO) in collaboration with the International Foundation for Science (IFS). Keynote lectures covered topics on indigenous knowledge, dryland management, and forestry research planning. Stressed Ecosystems and Sustainable Agriculture 52 LaBombard Road North Lebanon, NH 03766 USA Degraded ecosystems which cannot support their original biotic communities or agriculture without relatively high inputs are stressed. Emerging stresses on natural resources and evironment are generally population driven. Mankind is faced with the challenge of not only increasing productivity but also preserving the resource base to achieve intergenerational equity. This synthesis report is the result of a workshop held at Hyderabad, India during 15-20 February 1993 sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), and the Soil Management Support Services of the US Agency for International Development. The most promising solution in the quest for sustainability appears to be a holistic, multidisciplinary approach utilizing indigenous knowledge. NewslettersWasteland News, a quarterly newsletter of the Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra Building 1 Copernicus Marg New Delhi 110 001 INDIA Wasteland News covers a range of subjects catering to the diverse needs of people engaged in various aspects of land improvement, with a focus on India. The Feb.-April 1997 issue (vol. XII, no. 3), includes such articles as: --Combating drought and desertification through people's participation --Grass without roots - seeds for regenerating wastelands --Fodder trees and shrubs as livestock feed supplements --Gramna - a promising grass for sandy soils --Microwatershed treatment: a case study of degraded forests restoration Dry Country News Box 23 Radium Springs, New Mexico 88054 USA E-mail: drynews@zianet.com Web: http://www.zianet.com/drynews/ This newsletter is primarily aimed at residents of the southwestern deserts of North America, but the information it contains often has broader applications to dryland residents in general. Issue no. 17 contains practical articles on such topics as how to cook a turkey in a solar oven or how to build a solar still. Other articles include: --Rainwater catchments as a way of life --Two cultural perspectives on rain --Desert Herbs --Gardening in the high desert --Vegetable varieties for USDA Zone 8 Ecostan News 219 North Avenue, Weston, MA 02193 USA Tel: (617) 497-6558 E-mail: esievers@igc.org or Tashkent, Uzbekistan Tel: (3712) 91-3935 E-mail: tashkent@glas.apc.org Web: http://web.mit.edu/sts/leep/Ecostan/enindex.html [July 1999, no longer being published; this URL leads to back issues] Ecostan News provides political and environmental news from Central Asia, including Karakalpakstan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Information is collected from personal communication, local newspapers, site visits, and translations of the work of leading environmental thinkers in the region. Both an English and a Russian version are published. An invaluable resource for people interested in this region. CD-ROMs
Sonoran Desert: a Multimedia Field Trip to the Cactus Desert of Arizona 2 High Street Watlington Oxon OX9 5PS UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 (1491) 613711 Fax: +44 (1491) 613733 Web: http://ibis.nott.ac.uk/Biodiversity/2000/desert/about.html This CD-ROM gives an excellent introduction to the variety and complexity of the landscape, plant and animal life of the Sonoran Desert. It is useful for adults and children, providing a unique way to "explore" the Sonoran Desert. There are "Treks and Trails" which simulate the changing views of driving or hiking in the desert. A person can change to a night view of the scene depicted, also. The scenes often contain "hot spots" which provide a close-up or a video of a plant or animal. Besides this interactive "motion" exploration, there are "rooms" in the Field Centre which provide another way to do research. There is a Conference Room which simulates a lecture and questions from the audience. There also is a Library and Media Room, which offers a Glossary, a Bibliography, a Checklist, Photo Album, Movie Viewer and Image Viewer. The video sequences are provided by the BBC Natural History Unit. Currently available for PCs only; a Mac version is planned. Desert Landscaping: Plants for a Water-Scarce Environment The University of Arizona 350 N. Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719 USA E-mail: wrrc@ccit.arizona.edu Web: http://ag.arizona.edu/AZWATER/cd/cd.html This CD-ROM is a good reference tool for gardeners who need information on low water-use plants. The Plant Selector section allows the user to choose conditions for plants (e.g. groundcover plants that are good for erosion control). A number of plants are offered with small photos that can be "clicked on" to get a larger illustration with further information, size of plant, water usage, hardiness, sun exposure, flower color and flower season--there is also the option of "additional information" which includes the botanical family, leaf description, place of origin, and additional attributes, such as "attracts hummingbirds." Other features include Landscaping Tips; Plant Trivia; Plant List (an index by plant name that allows access to photos and background information of over 600 plants); and a bibliography listing several books that provide further information on this subject. Available in both PC and Mac versions. |
Carla Casler is a Project Librarian at the Arid Lands Information Center, Office of Arid Lands Studies, The University of Arizona.
About the Arid Lands Newsletter
 |
 |
 |
 |