| Autor: |
Badmos, Biola K., Villamor, Grace B., Agodzo, Sampson K., Odai, Samuel N., Guug, Samuel S. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies; Dec2014, Vol. 8 Issue 2, p15-35, 21p |
| Abstrakt: |
In sub-Saharan Africa, studies on land-use/cover change have focused more on transformation from forest or woodland to other types of land-use/cover. Few studies have addressed the dynamics in agricultural landscapes which could accompany impacts on the environment. This paper identified potential drivers of agricultural land-use/cover via household surveys and interviews of stakeholders, as well as information gathered from literature. Identified drivers were used to develop descriptive scenarios (what-if questions) that were presented to farmers during participatory scenario exploration exercises. The scenarios were used to view the farmers' agricultural land-use/cover options under changing climatic and socio-economic conditions. The parameters used include climate change resulting from rainfall, and socioeconomic variables like availability of finance, access to fertiliser and change in the price of seeds. The agricultural land-use change options identified includes maize, soy-bean, potatoes, etc. Rainfall availability, tradition and land suitability influences farmers' agricultural land-use change options. We observed that climate change (rainfall)-related scenarios may influence the replacement of crop(s) from agricultural land (agricultural-land-conversion) while socio-economic scenarios may influence the incorporation of crop(s) to an existing agricultural land (agricultural-land-modification). Farmers may change their agricultural land-use/cover under certain conditions/stressors and this might have accompanied environmental impact. In this part of the world, in-depth and well documented impacts of agricultural land-use/cover on the environment are scant. Therefore, to effectively relate policy in this direction, it will be necessary to investigate more on the likely environmental trade-offs associated with diverse agricultural land-use/covers. In addition, minimising the associated trade-offs should be our priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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