In this article we described the concept of ＂regional sediment management＂ （RSM）, and identified opportunities for and impediments to implementing regional approaches to sediment management, and also summarized th...In this article we described the concept of ＂regional sediment management＂ （RSM）, and identified opportunities for and impediments to implementing regional approaches to sediment management, and also summarized the background information and applications of RSM. Furthermore, we considered the needs of RSM studies and, suggested the framework for developing RSM strategies, and described the specific studies for the Xiamen region.展开更多
This article offers a brief description of the water resources situation of the Kingdom of Thailand, a country with a population of over 65 million people and a surface area of 513,120 km^2. The average annual rainfal...This article offers a brief description of the water resources situation of the Kingdom of Thailand, a country with a population of over 65 million people and a surface area of 513,120 km^2. The average annual rainfall is 1,430 mm and the total water resources are estimated at 215,000 Mm^3 （million of m^3）-year^-1. The hydric demand in the country is 70,000 Mm^3.year^-1, 6% of which is groundwater in origin. Over 70% of the water is used for agriculture. Thailand is the world＇s leading exporter of rice. The main problems faced by the Water Authority in Thailand are pollution, floods and droughts, depending on the geographical zone. From the hydrogeological point of view, the Central Plain is the main groundwater reservoir in the nation. Intensive extraction of groundwater over a long period of time has caused three main problems： a decline in groundwater levels, land subsidence, and seawater intrusion. These problems have been especially pressing in the area known as Greater Bangkok.展开更多
Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the is...Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the issue of sustainability of their contribution to the food security equation is still a dilemma. This study therefore examined the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with women farmers in accessing and controlling land for sustained agriculture in Northern Ghana. The study was mainly qualitative and utilized various participatory dialogue processes including focus group discussions and key informant interviews of selected women farmer groups, individual farmers, opinion leaders and traditional authorities in eight communities across four districts in three regions of Northern Ghana. The data was analysed thematically. Results of the study showed that women are disadvantaged in all the possible means of acquiring land for agricultural production-- inheritance, marriage, rent, shared cropping, outright purchase, and gift. It was evident that women have appreciable levels of access to land, but have low level of control of such lands for sustained food production. Several factors, such as low income, socio-cultural factors, climate change, mining, urbanization, low level of education, and low levels of awareness of property and inheritance rights, associate women＇s vulnerability to limited land in the study area. The findings of the study imply that any policy geared toward women empowerment in agriculture must not only target their access to land but also consider enhancing their control over agricultural land. The study therefore recommended that in order to increase food production and security in the study regions, there is the need to strengthen women＇s capacity to defend their land tenure rights and enhance their access and control over land within the context of natural resource management.展开更多
基金This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the contracts Nos.4027066,40472156
文摘In this article we described the concept of ＂regional sediment management＂ （RSM）, and identified opportunities for and impediments to implementing regional approaches to sediment management, and also summarized the background information and applications of RSM. Furthermore, we considered the needs of RSM studies and, suggested the framework for developing RSM strategies, and described the specific studies for the Xiamen region.
文摘This article offers a brief description of the water resources situation of the Kingdom of Thailand, a country with a population of over 65 million people and a surface area of 513,120 km^2. The average annual rainfall is 1,430 mm and the total water resources are estimated at 215,000 Mm^3 （million of m^3）-year^-1. The hydric demand in the country is 70,000 Mm^3.year^-1, 6% of which is groundwater in origin. Over 70% of the water is used for agriculture. Thailand is the world＇s leading exporter of rice. The main problems faced by the Water Authority in Thailand are pollution, floods and droughts, depending on the geographical zone. From the hydrogeological point of view, the Central Plain is the main groundwater reservoir in the nation. Intensive extraction of groundwater over a long period of time has caused three main problems： a decline in groundwater levels, land subsidence, and seawater intrusion. These problems have been especially pressing in the area known as Greater Bangkok.
文摘Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the issue of sustainability of their contribution to the food security equation is still a dilemma. This study therefore examined the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with women farmers in accessing and controlling land for sustained agriculture in Northern Ghana. The study was mainly qualitative and utilized various participatory dialogue processes including focus group discussions and key informant interviews of selected women farmer groups, individual farmers, opinion leaders and traditional authorities in eight communities across four districts in three regions of Northern Ghana. The data was analysed thematically. Results of the study showed that women are disadvantaged in all the possible means of acquiring land for agricultural production-- inheritance, marriage, rent, shared cropping, outright purchase, and gift. It was evident that women have appreciable levels of access to land, but have low level of control of such lands for sustained food production. Several factors, such as low income, socio-cultural factors, climate change, mining, urbanization, low level of education, and low levels of awareness of property and inheritance rights, associate women＇s vulnerability to limited land in the study area. The findings of the study imply that any policy geared toward women empowerment in agriculture must not only target their access to land but also consider enhancing their control over agricultural land. The study therefore recommended that in order to increase food production and security in the study regions, there is the need to strengthen women＇s capacity to defend their land tenure rights and enhance their access and control over land within the context of natural resource management.
