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Research Article
Participatory Forest Management and Rural Livelihoods: Evidence from Sagi-Tagata State Forest, Southwestern Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
169-177
Received:
17 June 2025
Accepted:
3 July 2025
Published:
24 July 2025
Abstract: In developing countries, participatory forest management (PFM) has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing forest conservation and boosting rural livelihoods. This research investigates the impact of PFM on household living standards and changes in forest cover in the Sagi-Tagata State Forest, situated in the Alle District of southwestern Ethiopia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating household surveys (n = 284), focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and analysis of satellite imagery spanning from 2003 to 2023. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 24 for descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to assess livelihood changes before and after PFM, and one-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc tests for income diversification. Binary logistic regression identified factors influencing PFM participation, including education, gender, age, landholding size, training, credit access, and proximity to forests and markets. Cloud-free Landsat images (2003, 2013, 2023) from USGS were used for land use/land cover analysis. The findings reveal that PFM has led to considerable enhancements in income diversification for households and improved access to forest resources. Despite a reduction in forest cover from 89% in 2003 to 62% in 2023, the pace of forest degradation notably slowed following the implementation of PFM. Logistic regression analysis identified education level, access to credit, landholding size, and proximity to forest resources as key factors influencing participation in PFM. These results emphasize that, when underpinned by suitable institutional and economic frameworks, PFM can effectively facilitate sustainable forest management and rural development.
Abstract: In developing countries, participatory forest management (PFM) has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing forest conservation and boosting rural livelihoods. This research investigates the impact of PFM on household living standards and changes in forest cover in the Sagi-Tagata State Forest, situated in the Alle District of southwestern Eth...
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Research Article
Profitability of Market Garden Production in South Benin: Financial Index of Irrigation Systems on Farmers’ Income
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
178-187
Received:
26 June 2025
Accepted:
9 July 2025
Published:
30 July 2025
Abstract: This study looks into the profitability of irrigation systems for market gardeners in South Benin. The coexistence of multiple irrigation systems in market gardening without a clear understanding of their economic effects, combined with the contextual variability of previous studies and the evolving costs of equipment acquisition and operation, justifies the need for an updated analysis of financial profitability in South Benin. This area has good weather for farming, but gardeners are facing changing rainfall due to climate change. The objective of this study is to assess and compare the financial profitability of the main irrigation systems in order to provide evidence-based guidance for producers and policymakers seeking sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions. Total of 729 market gardeners were surveyed chosen with randomization and data about their background in farming, watering practices, and money matters was collected. This data was analyzed using statistical methods under Stata version 15, such as descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and inferential statistics like t-tests of student, Chi 2 of pearson and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The study focused on socioeconomics characteristics description, financial rentability indicators calculation and comparison by irrigation systems. The results show that vegetable growers are profitable no matter the irrigation system used including perforated pipe irrigation, center pivot irrigation, drip irrigation, manual watering other methods than the above, or no method at all. Market gardeners average approximately 374,232 XOF in turnover, 260,548 XOF in value added, 162,626 XOF in gross income, and 159,352 XOF in net income, regardless of irrigation methods. However, their net income varies a lot. The manual watering type turned out to be the most profitable, with drip irrigation coming in second. The study also found that other variables like crop choice, training, and market access also influence the market gardeners’ profit. While this study focuses on short-term profit, more research needs to be done to understand how different watering methods affect long-term profit, water use, and environment.
Abstract: This study looks into the profitability of irrigation systems for market gardeners in South Benin. The coexistence of multiple irrigation systems in market gardening without a clear understanding of their economic effects, combined with the contextual variability of previous studies and the evolving costs of equipment acquisition and operation, jus...
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Research Article
Examining the Development Level of Green Agriculture and Regional Differences in China in the Context of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
188-197
Received:
16 June 2025
Accepted:
8 July 2025
Published:
30 July 2025
Abstract: Green agriculture played an active part in green development, it is a necessary way for China to achieve Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality. Based on the background of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality and the requirements of sustainable development, the study constructed the evaluation index system of China's green agriculture development level and empirically analyzed the development level of China's green agriculture along with regional development gaps based on the empirical data from 2014 to 2021. The research found that China's green agriculture development level from 2014 to 2021 has been rising each year. Yet, there were certain differences in the development level of green agriculture in 31 provinces (direct-administered municipalities and autonomous regions), and the green agriculture Development in four major regions was not balanced, showing the regional distribution characterized by highest in the east, second in the west, third in the center and lowest in the northeast region, and the gap between the East and Northeast was large, which seriously restricted the further improvement of China's green agriculture development level. To facilitate the realization of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality, China's green agriculture development should strengthen the technical support to form a resource-saving and environment-friendly modernized agricultural development system. At the same time, multiple measures should be taken to narrow the development gap between different regions.
Abstract: Green agriculture played an active part in green development, it is a necessary way for China to achieve Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality. Based on the background of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality and the requirements of sustainable development, the study constructed the evaluation index system of China's green agriculture development level and...
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Research Article
The Threat of Climate Change to Vegetation Health and Land Degradation in Iraq's Diverse Climatic Environment
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
198-217
Received:
23 June 2025
Accepted:
8 July 2025
Published:
15 August 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20251304.14
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Abstract: The fifth-ranking position determines that Iraq is one of the nation’s facing extreme climate difficulties. Iraq fights against the increase in heat while coping with a lack of precipitation and intensifying dry spells, in addition to facing water shortages and land degradation, along with recurring dust storms. Extreme climate changes have a major impact on environmental stability and farming output, as well as the overall sustainability of the system. This study uses global meteorological data combined with satellite imagery to study the climatic parameter transformations in Iraq from 1981 to 2020, as well as their consequences on water balance, vegetation growth, and land degradation. The research analyses MODIS Vegetation Indices (MOD13) together with 252 satellite images throughout Iraq, starting from 2000 to 2020. Research data helped determine spatial-temporal changes regarding land degradation and vegetation density alongside their relationship to climatic elements. Key climatic variables demonstrate both time-dependent and geographic changes across Iraq between 1981 and 2020, which impact vegetation maintenance while leading to land degradation. The research findings demonstrate concerning temperature growth that average of 0.97°C/decade, because this rapid temperature increase worsens environmental destruction. Rain levels in Iraq have been decreasing throughout the years, until more than 70% of the country receives between 100 to 300mm of annual rainfall. The reduced precipitation has led to rising evapotranspiration losses that amounted to 14,732.18 million m3 in the second decade, followed by 25,459.13 million m3 in the third decade, and finally reaching 32,390.20 million m3 in the fourth decade compared to the first decade. The increased aridity index forces greater adverse impacts on vegetation density, which leads to faster land degradation. The widespread destruction of Iraq's natural lands has reached more than 68% because of desertification processes. The rising climate change dangers to Iraqi ecosystems require immediate adaptations for combating desertification and enhancing land administration methods.
Abstract: The fifth-ranking position determines that Iraq is one of the nation’s facing extreme climate difficulties. Iraq fights against the increase in heat while coping with a lack of precipitation and intensifying dry spells, in addition to facing water shortages and land degradation, along with recurring dust storms. Extreme climate changes have a major...
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