Traditional Agrobiodiversity Conservation

Este libro recopila experiencias sobre huertas familiares y comunitarias que se cultivan desde el árido desierto de Atacama hasta el lluvioso archipiélago de Chiloé, transitando por valles mediterráneos, ecosistemas urbanos y bosques montañosos de los Andes.

Los distintos capítulos que componen esta obra buscan (i) integrar visiones de distintas disciplinas y oficios asociados a las huertas familiares y comunitarias, (ii) inspirar el desarrollo de preguntas novedosas y necesarias, junto con el fortalecimiento de metodologías colaborativas de investigación de sistemas agrícolas de pequeña escala, (iii) cultivar el conocimiento, prácticas y creencias que permitan el florecimiento de huertas en los distintos territorios urbano-rurales del país, y (iv) articular los intereses, aspiraciones e inspiraciones de distintas personas y movimientos interesados en la soberanía alimentaria de base local/territorial y de pensamiento global.

"With the emergence of education for sustainable development (ESD), robust literature on ethics and ESD has emerged; however, ecocentric perspective developed within environmental ethics is marginalized in current ESDebate. The questions discussed in this article are as follows: Why is the distinction between anthropocentric and ecocentric view of environment salient to ESD? How can this distinction be operationalized and measured? Until now, little has been done to address complement quantitative studies of environmental attitudes by qualitative studies, exploring the sociocultural context in which ecocentric or anthropocentric attitudes are being formed. Neither of existing scales engaged with the interface between environmental ethics and sustainable development.
This article will discuss ESD in the context of environmental ethics and present the results of the case study conducted with the Dutch Bachelor-level students. Results of qualitative evaluation of the scale measuring ecocentric and anthropocentric attitudes will be presented, and the new Ecocentric and Anthropocentric Attitudes toward the Sustainable Development (EAATSD) scale will be proposed.""""

Resumen - Los huertos familiares de la Península de Yucatán han sido los más estudiados en el continente americano; el acervo científico generado representa una oportunidad para integrar un cuerpo de conocimiento que pueda servir de referencia tanto para investigaciones en otras regiones como para la formulación de políticas y toma de decisiones. Tomando como base alrededor de un centenar de documentos–trabajos publicados desde 1980 hasta 2017 y que incluyen cuatro libros coordinados con recopilaciones de estudios de casosobre huertos familiares en los tres estados que componen la Península de Yucatán (Campeche, Quintana Roo y Yucatán), y siguiendo la propuesta de Lope-Alzina y Howard (2012), en este documentose aborda a los huertos a partir de tres dimensiones -composición, estructura y funciones- como punto de partida para entender su complejidad. A la fecha, se ha generado un importante avance en el tema, desde trabajos meramente descriptivos hasta enfoques más analíticos que abordan aspectos múltiples del huerto; estos últimos han ido en aumento y representan un avance para ir comprendiendo la complejidad del huerto y su intrínseca relación con el grupo doméstico y el grupo social (comunidad). Los estudiosos de los huertos familiares en la Península de Yucatán, hemos dejado por sentado el valor de este sistema tradicional y la necesidad de preservarlo como espacio de producción, que genera tanto beneficios tangibles como intangibles; es prioritario transferir este conocimiento a la agenda nacional para la adecuada formulación de políticas y toma de decisiones en el tema.
Palabras clave: Agroecosistemas Tradicionales; Composición, Estructura y Funciones del Huerto Familiar; SocioEcosistemas; Solar Maya; Traspatios.
Quatro décadas de estudos em hortas familiares de Maya-Yucateco: caminhando para compreender sua
variação e complexidade Resumo - As hortas familiares da península de Yucatán foram as mais estudadas no continente americano; O patrimônio científico gerado representa uma oportunidade para integrar um conjunto de conhecimentos que podem servir de referência tanto para pesquisas em outras regiões quanto para formulação de políticas e tomada de decisões. Com base em cerca de uma centena de documentos - trabalhos publicados de 1980 a 2017 e incluindo quatro livros coordenados com compilações de estudos de caso em hortas familiares nos três estados que compõem a Península de Yucatán (Campeche, Quintana Roo e Yucatán) e seguindo a proposta de Lope-Alzina e Howard (2012), neste artigo, os pomares são abordados a partir de três dimensões - composição, estrutura e funções - como ponto de partida para entender sua complexidade. Até o momento, um progresso importante foi gerado no assunto, desde trabalhos meramente descritivos até abordagens mais analíticas que focam em múltiplos aspectos do pomar; estes últimos têm aumentado e representam um avanço para entender a complexidade do jardim e sua relação intrínseca com o grupo doméstico e o grupo social (comunidade). Pesquisadores de hortas familiares na Península de Yucatán têm certeza do valor deste sistema tradicional e a necessidade de preserválo como espaço de produção, o que gera benefícios tangíveis e intangíveis; É uma prioridade transferir esse conhecimento para a agenda nacional para a formulação adequada de políticas e tomada de decisão sobre o assunto.
Palavras-Chave: Agroecossistemas Tradicionais; Composição, Estrutura e Funções das Hortas Familiares; Socioecossistemas; Solar Maya; Quintais.
Four decades of study on Maya-Yucatec homegardens: a way to understanding their variation and complexity
Abstract - The homegardens in the Yucatan Peninsula have been the most studied ones in the American continent. The scientific heritage resulted from these studies represents an opportunity to integrate a body of knowledge that can serve as a reference source both for research in other regions and for policy formulation and decision making. Based on a review of about one hundred studies – works published from 1980 to 2017, including four coordinated books with compilations of case studies in home gardens in the three states of the Yucatan Peninsula (Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan) – and following the proposal of Lope-Alzina and Howard (2012), this article deals with three dimensions (composition, structure and functions) of homegardens/ orchards as a starting point to understand their complexity. Until now, significant progress has been made on this subject, both including descriptive studies and further analytical approaches which focus on multiple aspects of the orchards. Such approaches have been performed more frequently and represent an advance in the understanding of the complexity of homegardens and their intrinsic relationship with the domestic group and social group (community). Researchers of homegardens in the Yucatan Peninsula are sure of the importance of this traditional system and the need to keep it as a production space, generating tangible and intangible benefits. It is a priority to transfer this knowledge to the Mexican national agenda for the appropriate formulation of policies and decision-making on the subject.
Keywords: Traditional Agroecosystems; Composition, Structure and Functions of Homegardens; Socio-Ecosystems; Mayan Solar; Backyard

This paper examines the potential of geographic analysis to inform development policy that is capable of effectively empowering rural women working in agriculture and, in so doing, reducing local hunger and biodiversity loss. Despite decades of research documenting the importance of women’s work in maintaining food security and crop diversity, and despite over 15 years of renewed commitments to gender mainstreaming at national and international levels, women and gender currently remain at the margins of agricultural policy. Existing approaches to gender analysis, which lack a rigorous geographic approach, are largely inadequate to engage the increasingly globalized social and institutional structures that gender mainstreaming seeks to transform. This paper employs a ‘countertopographic’ methodology, developed by human geographers to trace structural similarities between disparate places, in order to analyze the mobile and dynamic connections between gender, food production, and development. Through the juxtaposition of rural women’s experiences in four distinct agricultural settings, this paper demonstrates how inequality and inequity in particular locales are produced in relation to broad-scale political and economic change. A geographic conceptual framework may thus have the fluidity to confront the disempowerment of rural women in a globalizing world.

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peoples have depended on a wide variety of native fungi, plant and animal species for food, medicine, ceremonies, community and economic health for count- less generations. Climate change stands to impact the species and ecosystems that constitute tribal traditional foods that are vital to tribal culture, economy and traditional ways of life. This paper examines the impacts of climate change on tribal traditional foods by providing cultural context for the importance of traditional foods to tribal culture, recognizing that tribal access to traditional food resources is strongly influenced by the legal and regulatory relationship with the federal government, and examining the multi-faceted relationship that tribes have with places, ecological processes and species. Tribal participation in local, regional and national climate change adaption strategies, with a focus on food-based resources, can inform and strengthen the ability of both tribes and other governmental resource managers to address and adapt to climate change impacts.

Se destaca la importancia de la soberania nacional como aspecto fundamental de la soberania nacional, muy ligado a la seguridad nacional y a la garantia de los derechos de los ciudadanos. Y se desmonta la consideracion exclusiva de los alimentos como un bien privado, tan propia del sistema capitalista industrial, para proponer su consideracion como bien publico multidimensional (necesidad, derecho, cultura y comercio) y que debe ser gobernado de manera diferente, no exclusivamente por leyes de mercado. El Estado podria proporcionar alimentos gratis para todos, lo alimentario ha de tener su propio tratado internacional fuera de la OMC y hay que prohibir la especulacion financiera con un bien esencial.

The present investigation was carried out to study the genetic variability for yield and yield attributes and to screen genotypes for resistance to early blight disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The pooled analysis of variance revealed significant variation among the genotypes studied for all the characters except primary branches per plant. The genotype H-24 was found to be the best among the genotypes for yield (1309.50g/plant) and fruit cluster per plant (37.33) and ultimately resulted in highest yield per ha (401.64q). The genotype 2012/TOLCVRES-3 had significantly highest for single fruit weight (71.33g). Another genotype, NDT-3 was the best for fruit diameter (6.47cm). Sel-35 had more fruits and fruit clusters per plant. High GCV were observed for fruit cluster and fruits per plant, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per ha. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for fruits per plant, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, fruit clusters per plant and fruit yield per ha indicating the presence of additive gene effects which may be utilized for improvement through phenotypic selection for yield improvement. High heritability with moderate to low genetic advance was observed for days to 50% flowering and fruiting, first and last picking, plant height and fruit diameter. Fruit yield per plant was positively correlated with fruit diameter, single fruit weight and yield per ha suggesting that selection based on these characters would result better genotypes with higher yield. Path coefficient analysis study revealed positive direct effect for fruit diameter, single fruit weight, fruits and fruit cluster per plant on yield per plant and selection based on these characters would be more reliable for yield improvement.

INDICE 1.-AMÉRICA LATINA Y SU CRISIS SOCIAL: MÁS POBRES Y HAMBRIENTOS PERO CON MÁS ALIMENTOS 2.-LOS DERECHOS ECONÓMICOS, SOCIALES Y CULTURALES EN LA REGIÓN: DOS PASOS ADELANTE, UN PASO ATRÁS. 2.1.-Breve retazo histórico: consolidación a pesar de todo 2.2.-Los DESC a finales del siglo XX: un avance más teórico que real para el ciudadano

In this ethnobotanical study, the authors provide the first quantitative analysis of the use of wild edible plants in Estonia, describing the domains and assessing the food importance of different species. The information was collected using free-listing written questionnaires and concerned plants used by the respondents in their childhood. As part of a major study, this article covers the responses of professionals with some botanical education at vocational or university level, to ensure the greatest possible reliability without using voucher specimens. Fifty-eight respondents provided information on the use of 137 plant taxa, corresponding to approximately 6% of the native and naturalized vascular plants of Estonia. According to use frequency, the most typical wild food plant of Estonia is a fruit, eaten raw as a snack. The results clearly signal that the majority of famine and food shortage plants had already been forgotten by the end of the 20th century, but new plants have been introduced as green vegetables for making salads. Despite changes in the nomenclature of the plants, the use of wild food plants in Estonia was still thriving at the turn of the 20th century, covering many domains already forgotten in urbanized modern Europe.

No contexto da rápida expansão da agricultura industrial no Cerrado, muito pouco se sabe sobre o funcionamento dos sistemas agrícolas tradicionais e o manejo da agrobiodiversidade nesse bioma. Nas últimas décadas, muitas comunidades tradicionais desenvolveram e adaptaram sistemas agrícolas complexos e diversificados com base na agricultura itinerante de corte e queima, na pesca, na coleta de produtos da biodiversidade e nos conhecimentos e usos das espécies vegetais. Essas comunidades e seus sistemas produtivos são, muitas vezes, invisíveis às políticas públicas e à população. Quais são, então, os processos biológicos, sociais e espaciais que estão na base da conservação da agrobiodiversidade no Cerrado? Como pensar políticas
agroambientais adaptadas às suas especificidades e potencialidades?
Este artigo não pretende trazer respostas conclusivas para essas perguntas, mas sim apresentar elementos para alimentar essa reflexão.
A partir de uma revisão bibliográfica, de observações de campo e da realização de uma oficina sobre o tema, procura-se caracterizar os
sistemas agropecuários tradicionais no Cerrado e analisar suas transformações ao longo do tempo para discutir seus desafios e potenciais em termos de conservação dos ecossistemas, desenvolvimento local e perspectivas de reconhecimento, valorização e aperfeiçoamento.

Traditional crops contribute to food security and agroecological sustainability, but their diversity is increasingly threatened by complex interplays of local and global sociocultural and economic change. Molecular markers are powerful tools to measure and characterize this diversity, and comparisons among different molecular marker systems are necessary to assess their appropriateness in different research contexts. Using a common sample set, we compare amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (simple sequence repeats; SSRs) techniques to assess their utility in research on the Andean tuber crop oca (Oxalis tuberosa Molina, Oxalidaceae). We find that 26 of 27 individuals have distinct AFLP genotypes, and all 27 individuals have distinct SSR genotypes. Both markers systems cluster samples in agreement with morphotype groups and separate clusters with similar strength, but more variation occurs within AFLP-based clusters than within SSR-based clusters. In addition, correlation between marker systems of pairwise distances is positive and significant (R = 0.831, p = 0.001). Ultimately, we discuss each system's advantages and disadvantages for future oca diversity research.

La yuca es determinante para la seguridad alimentaria de cientos de millones de personas alrededor del mundo. A pesar de que el principal medio de propagación del cultivo es a través de semilla asexual por estacas (tallos maduros) se ha revelado una relativamente alta diversidad intraespecífica, principalmente en los sistemas de cultivo de manejo tradicional. En esta revisión se documentan algunos estudios realizados sobre la diversidad de la yuca, tanto por marcadores moleculares como morfológicos, centrándose en aquellos realizados en el Amazonas. También se exponen los principales factores que han determinado el aprovechamiento y conservación de esta diversidad, tales como la aparición espontánea de semillas de origen sexual, el sistema de chagras indígenas, la memoria biocultural y la facilidad de intercambio de semilla entre comunidades. Finalmente, se pone de manifiesto que en los sistemas de manejo tradicional la conservación y uso de la diversidad intraespecífica se constituye en un elemento prioritario que se ha perdido en los sistemas de cultivo a gran escala. En los sistemas de manejo tradicional existe un vínculo etnobotánico que pervive e invita a buscar prácticas alternativas que aseguran un mantenimiento de la diversidad, permitiendo una productividad eficiente e incluso se hace un mejor manejo para disminuir los riesgos de incidencia de algunas plagas y enfermedades.

Cassava is crucial for the food security of hundreds of millions of people around the world. Even though the main source of propagation of the crop is through asexual seed by stakes (stems-cuttings) a relative high intraspecific diversity has been identified, mainly in the traditionally managed cultivation systems. Some studies on the diversity of cassava, based on molecular and morphological markers, are documented focusing on those made in the Amazon in this review. Also, the main factors that have determined the use and conservation of this diversity are exposed, such as the spontaneous appearance of seeds of sexual origin, the system of indigenous chagras, the biocultural memory and the ease of seed exchange between communities. From this perspective, it is evident that in traditional management systems the conservation and use of intraspecific diversity is a priority element that has been lost in large-scale farming systems. In traditional management systems, there is an ethnobotanical link that survives and invites us to seek alternative practices that ensure the maintenance of diversity, allowing efficient productivity and even better management to reduce the risk of incidence of some pests and diseases.

Citation/Citar este artículo como: Pérez D, Mora R, López-Carrascal C. Conservación de la diversidad de yuca en los sistemas tradicionales de cultivo de la Amazonía. Acta biol. Colomb. 2019;24(2):202-212. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15446/abc.v24n2.75428

We describe for the first time a current indigenous soil management system in West Africa, in which targeted
waste deposition transforms highly weathered, nutrient- and carbon- poor tropical soils into enduringly
fertile, carbon- rich black soils, hereafter “African Dark Earths” (Af DE ). In comparisons between Af DE and
adjacent soils ( AS ), Af DE store 200–300% more organic carbon and contain 2–26 times greater pyrogenic carbon
(PyC). PyC persists much longer in soil as compared with other types of organic carbon, making it
important for long- term carbon storage and soil fertility. In contrast with the nutrient- poor and strongly
acidic ( pH 4.3–5.3) AS , Af DE exhibit slightly acidic ( pH 5.6–6.4) conditions ideal for plant growth, 1.4–3.6
times greater cation exchange capacity, and 1.3–2.2 and 5–270 times more plant- available nitrogen and phosphorus,
respectively. Anthropological investigations reveal that Af DE make a disproportionately large contribution
(24%) to total farm household income despite its limited spatial extent. Radiocarbon ( 14 C) aging of
PyC indicates the recent development of these soils (115–692 years before present). Af DE provide a model for
improving the fertility of highly degraded soils in an environmentally and socially appropriate way, in
resource- poor and food- insecure regions of the world. The method is also “climate- smart”, as these soils
sequester carbon and enhance the climate- change mitigation potential of carbon- poor tropical soils.

Rice is the major food grain of India and is being cultivated on 36.95
million ha. land and present productivity is about 120.6 million tons per year.
Agriculture in West Bengal is the means of livelihood of about 65% of the population of
the state living in villages with over 95% as small and marginal farmers. West Bengal is
great reservoir of rice. There are 5,556 rice varieties were recorded in the year 1975 from
this state. Bankura district of West Bengal is also a great producer of rice. There are so
many rice landraces were cultivated in this district in near past. But in present situation
rice cultivation is restricted to 5-10 high yielding variety and few landraces varieties. In
this study characterization of twenty landraces of rice presently available in this district
was performed using DUS testing protocol. Agro-morphic characterization of these
twenty landraces was done during 2011-12 & 2012-13 kharif session at the Village of
Ranbahal, PO- Amarkanan of this District. In this study we observed that out of the 20
investigated varieties 11 varieties are distinctive according to the five essential and the
eighteen additional characters proposed by the DUS guideline. The present work is so
much important in respect to the present scenario of agro-biodiversity of this region as
well as identification, conservation and documentation of landraces variety for future
crop improvement.

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peoples have depended on a wide variety of native fungi, plant and animal species for food, medicine, ceremonies, community and economic health for countless generations. Climate change stands to impact the species and ecosystems that constitute Climatic Change

The veredas (palm swamps) of the cerrado biome are legally protected as Áreas de Preservação Permanente (Permanent Preservation Areas), and the use of fire in these wetlands is prohibited. We carried out a preliminary assessment of environmental impacts of the local use of agricultural fire in veredas through a collaborative research project in Jalapão (Tocantins, Brazil). We found that "roças de esgoto" (drained peat swamp swidden fields) form the basis of the agricultural system of this region. These fields ensure production throughout the year, provide more income than "roças de toco" (rainfed swidden fields), and may function as a repository of agrobiodiversity on a regional scale. This study suggests that the use of fire in veredas associated with roças de esgoto does not lead to significant deforestation, that is, to the disappearance of the forest physiognomy, but instead helps maintain tree cover during the fallow period, possibly accelerating natural succession.

Six species of the genus Prunus occur inAndalusia. Matters regarding their ecology, ethnobotanical aspectsand conservation are discussed, as well as knowledge about thegermplasm of those species with greater economic importance and theirdegree of conservation, namely: P.avium, P.mahaleb and P.insititia. Various conservation measures areproposed for wild germplasm and for the germplasm of local varieties:a) conservation efforts should target the best populations,except in the case of P.avium and P.insititia, where every individual should beaddressed, including both wild and local cultivars; b) theDehesa del Camarate (Sierra Nevada) is proposed as an areafor in situ germplasm conservation; c) theawareness of the importance of Prunus germplasmshould be increased among forest workers, environmental managers andthe public; d) some silvicultural techniques are proposed, suchas mixed Prunus patches, hedge treatment,Z-tree selection at the early stages and the protection ofroot suckers; e) improved, selected P.avium and P.mahaleb germplasm should be used at highlyproductive sites since these two species can be cultivated as highvalue timber trees; f) some Prunus speciescan also provide profitable NTFPs in the region. Details regardingdifferent collection areas are covered. Finally, some topics arerecommended for scientific research. Three tables and a distributionmap of Prunus species in Andalusia areincluded.

This research contributes to a better understanding of the criteria used for the selection of plants for making beverages. Worldwide, not only the leaves of Camellia sinensis, but also various other plants are used for making tea. We argue that the selection of plants for making tea (in Estonian teetaimed) depends on specific features possessed by or attributed to the plants. 54 plant taxa and one lichen were identified as being used for making tea, based on the analysis of Estonian historical handwritten archival records on plant use for the period from 1887 to 1994. The influence of popular literature on the use of plants for making tea was also assessed. The suitability of a plant for making tea depends on a combination of factors like multifunctional use, mild taste and attributed medicinal properties. The variety of medicinal properties attributed to teetaimed in folk medicine allowed herbal tea drinking to be considered as mild disease prevention. Hence, the roots of the Estonian tea tradition lie in the medicinal use of the plants, not oriental ceremonial tea drinking.

Desde que la conservación in situ es considerada estrategia complementaria a la conservación ex situ para preservar los recursos fitogenéticos en evolución, numerosas investigaciones se han realizado para comprender el rol esencial de los agricultores tradicionales en la creación y conservación de la diversidad de especies cultivadas. En estos trabajos de carácter interdisciplinario, se han integrado de una forma u otra las ciencias naturales y sociales. Con acento en los procesos biológicos, la mayoría se enfocan al estudio de las prácticas campesinas y su influencia en la estructura y dinámica de la diversidad genética de los cultivos. Menos numerosos son los estudios que desde una perspectiva social, dilucidan las razones socioeconómicas y culturales de esta variabilidad genética. Con el fin de comprender las motivaciones de los productores de maíz del municipio de Chiquilistlán, Jalisco, para mantener un conjunto diverso de variedades nativas en sus parcelas, o bien, optar por variedades mejoradas, se analizaron desde la visión antropológica  6 casos de estudio y se utilizaron distintas técnicas para conocer su contexto: grupos de enfoque, informantes clave, colecta y caracterización preliminar que identifica la presencia aproximada de 11 razas. Los resultados coinciden con estudios anteriores al indicar que la diversidad de variedades nativas que manejan los campesinos, puede ser explicada por la utilidad que derivan de sus distintos atributos, más que de la variedad misma; por ello, eligen diferentes variedades buscando la multiplicidad de atributos de su interés. Por otro lado, la opción entre variedades nativas o mejoradas, se da bajo la influencia de un entramado dinámico y complejo de distintos factores: 1) el objetivo de la estrategia de producción, 2) el tipo de valor o valores (de intercambio, cultural, etc.) que atribuyen al maíz, 3) los recursos, conocimientos y prácticas que guían la estrategia y 4) el contexto (agroecológico, socioeconómico, etc.) en el que se define dicha estrategia.

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peoples have depended on a wide variety of native fungi, plant and animal species for food, medicine, ceremonies, community and economic health for countless generations. Climate change stands to impact the species and ecosystems that constitute Climatic Change

Rice is the staple food grain of West
Bengal. The unfortunate aspect is that out of over
five thousand land races, more than 90% of the
landraces disappeared from the rice field of Bengal.
More than 95% of cultivation of lateritic region of
West Bengal is done by using high yielding varieties
only. The landraces are valuable as they possess treasure
of genetic material which may prove valuable in
future crop development and improvement programs.
Our information about them is incomplete and is therefore
urgent to collect and conserve these land races
of rice.

Rice is the staple food crop of Asian region including India. West Bengal state of India is known as bowl of rice because it constitute major food item and is being cultivated in major portion of agricultural field. India being centre of origin of rice, can boast of large number of local varieties and land races. According to an estimate, we have more than 50,000 varieties of rice. But unfortunately, most of those varieties are fast disappearing because of faulty agricultural practices. Farmers now lured by high yielding varies have confined themselves to merely fifteen such races and have stopped cultivating local varieties. Needless to mention, these varieties are of immense value in agriculture as they are treasure house of innumerable important genes as they have evolved in particular environment science millions of years. Further, HYVs are highly susceptible to diseases. Developments of disease resistant varieties are possible only with help of such genes which are available in land races only. So far, 65 rare and traditional varieties of rice have been documented and is being tried to be propagated on small farm areas. Kalamkati, Danarguri, Tulsibhog, Nagrasail, Vutmuri, Sitasail, Gobindabhog, Neta, Rupsail, Chandrakanta, Daransail, Kataribhog, Daharnagra, Badshabhog etc. are some noteworthy indigenous cultivars of rice from West Bengal. The paper deals with botanical features of some of these varieties and attempts being taken to conserve them.

Missouri to consider the ways in which a global crisis now underway-the loss of tens of thousands of plant species-can be addressed. These threatened plants include species vital to the lives of people throughout the world, including plants used for food and nutrition, medicine, cultural and spiritual purposes, and the maintenance of livelihoods; they are needed to redress poverty, provide food security, and ensure sustainable development in many nations. Plants and their associated biocultural knowledge play an essential role in the ecosystem services that support all life on Earth.

Diversity block was constructed in Makwanpur and Sarlahi district after assessing status of rice varieties by four cell analysis. The VDC selected for this purpose are Raigaun, Makwanpur and Parwanipur, Sarlahi. 32 and 27 varieties were planted and characterized respectively in these two districts. The varieties were found to be cultivated from a varied temporal sequence. The positive and negative traits were evaluated minutely to assess the preference of those varieties. The current trend of these varieties were also assessed which showed that total of 5 varieties has increasing trend, 12 varieties were constant whereas38 varieties has decreasing trend. These varieties can be value added, marketed and enhancement can be done accordingly.
Keywords: Diversity block; Traits; Characterized;Trend

Esta serie de Documentos de Trabajo de la Representación de FAO en Guatemala contiene material de investigación preparado por técnicos de los programas de terreno, oficiales de la Representación, consultores contratados e investigadores asociados. Su difusión en forma de documento preliminar tiene como objetivo estimular el debate sobre el tema tratado y recibir aportes críticos que enriquezcan el documento. Se espera que muchos de estos documentos de trabajo sean posteriormente publicados en otro formato de mayor calidad, una vez revisado y mejorado.

Rice is the staple food grain in India as well as three fourth of the total World population.
The demand of food production (mainly rice production) will reach up to 130
million tons for 138.89 crore people in the year 2025. We have to compete with three
major problem to sustain our food security, which are (i) rice land is shrinking day by
day due to industrialization, urbanization and crop diversification, (ii) lack of water
for agricultural field and (iii) environmental stress. A growing body of evidence suggests
that lack of water is already constraining agricultural output in many parts of the
World. Along with climate, soil fertility, the genetic potential of those crops and agrobiodiversity,
water is a key determinants of total grain productivity. Agro-biodiversity
conservation is an important task for sustainable agriculture and future food security.
A reduction in agro-biodiversity would make agriculture vulnerable to changing environment
and accentuate poverty. To sustain food production according to the present
and future demand we have to improve our rice varieties because present HYVs
are easily susceptible to various pathogenic attack and environmental stress; they also
fail to stabilize their yield production. On the other hand we observe that traditional
rice varieties of Red and Lateritic region of West Bengal have sustained yield stability
in spite of different environmental stress (drought, flood etc.) and mutated pathogenic
attack as well as their requirement of small amount of water. But high yielding varieties,
which are the back bone of green revolution, have indirectly stimulated erosion
of landraces and wild varieties of rice of this region. Presently more than 90% of rice
cultivation is being done using high yielding varieties only. Obviously landraces are
disappearing fast. Present HYVs are so evolved that they are compatible with low
land irrigated agricultural field and they have failed to perform considerably in this
extreme environmental condition. Importance of landraces can never be denied in
agriculture system, because improvement in existing variety depends upon desirable
genes which are possibly present in landraces and wild varieties only. As traditional
rice varieties have evolved in response to changing local selection pressure, they still
maintain a high level of genetic variation which is an important instrument for future
crop improvement. Thus we have to protect, cultivate and restore these traditional
varieties for sustainable agriculture, which are now in a state of extinction.

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peoples have depended on a wide variety of native fungi, plant and animal species for food, medicine, ceremonies, community and economic health for countless generations. Climate change stands to impact the species and ecosystems that constitute Climatic Change

Landrace (or in situ) varieties of important crop species are becoming increasingly important to global agriculture as gene banks have increasing trouble keeping pace with the need for genetic material for plant breeders. However genetic erosion (or permanent loss of genetically diverse landrace varieties) poses significant threat to the viability of important genetic material. Processes associated with food insecurity are thought to separate farming communities from agricultural systems in which landrace varieties are important components. While such processes are thought to operate in similar fashion across different cultural ecologies to erode the presence of genetic material, this paper presents evidence from highland Ethiopia in which many of these same processes operate in reverse to instead conserve agrobiodiversity. However conservation of such landrace varieties in this way presents a particular and problematic dilemma to which straightforward answers remain elusive.

Rice is the staple food crop of Asian region including India. West Bengal state of India is known as bowl of rice
because it constitute major food item and is being cultivated in major portion of agricultural field. India being
the centre of origin of rice, can boast of large number of local varieties and land races. According to an estimate,
we have more than 50,000 varieties of rice (Kothari and Singh1994). But unfortunately, most of those varieties
are fast disappearing because of faulty agricultural practices. Farmers now lured by high yielding varietis have
confined themselves to merely fifteen such races and have stopped cultivating local varieties. Needless to mention,
these varieties are of immense value in agriculture as they are treasure house of innumerable important genes as
they have evolved in particular environment scince millions of years. Further, high yielding varieties (HYV) are
highly susceptible to diseases. Developments of disease resistant varieties are possible only with help of such
genes which are available in land races only. So far, 65 rare and traditional varieties of rice have been
documented by the authors and is being tried to be propagated on small farm areas. Kalamkati, Danarguri,
Tulsibhog, Nagrasal, Vutmuri, Sitasal, Gobindabhog, Neta, Rupsal, Chandrakanta, Dharansal, Kataribhog,
Daharnagra, Badshabhog etc. are some noteworthy indigenous cultivars of rice from West Bengal. The
paper deals with botanical features of some of these varieties and attempts are being taken to conserve them.

In our experiments we aimed at testing of photosynthetic thermostability using chlorophyll
fluorescence measurements in non-stressed and in drought-stressed conditions. All measurements were realized at 6 species (Vigna unguiculata, Corchorus olitorius, Cucurbita pepo, Amaranthus sp., Brassica rapa, and Hordeum vulgare as a reference). Plants were grown in pots in climatized growth chamber in moderate conditions. The main practice was temperature test with the chlorophyll fluorescence measurements realized after exposure at 38 to 50°C in circulation water bath. We determined critical temperature values for basal fluorescence - F0 increase, maximum quantum yield of photochemistry FV/FM and we identified also temperature inducing K-step appearance in rapid fluorescence kinetic indicating impairment of oxygen evolving complex (OEC). Our results show significant differences among species in critical temperature. As the most susceptible species was found Brassica
and Amaranthus substantially affected by temperatures about 40°C with almost neglible increase of critical temperature in drought-stressed conditions, moderate susceptibility in Barley with increase of thermostability caused by moderate drought and high heat tolerance in Cucurbita, Vigna and Corchorus. If we focus on individual florescence parameters used for testing, the K-steps appeared at temperature 1-2°C higher than initial FV/FM decrease, the antennae deconection indicated by F0 increase appeared generally at 3-4°C higher temperature, in some cases was not evident even at 50°C.

We present a detailed ethnographic case study of sorghum seed acquisitions in a smallholder farming society in northern Cameroon. The effects of variability in household demographics and socioeconomic status on observed patterns of seed provisioning are explored alongside other variables such as age and gender. Our data set comprised 223 seed acquisition events. Independence tests (Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests) were carried out to test for significant dependencies between individual-or household-level characteristics and properties of seed acquisition events (categories of seed source, social relationship of exchange, and type of landrace). Results indicate that wealth is a structuring factor of the local seed circulation network in as much as it is highly correlated with household composition and size. Members from wealthy households benefit from a more diverse set of seed sources. Their greater number of coresidents and the importance of intrahousehold dynamics of seed transactions also play a role in making wealthy farmers more seed secure than others. The methodological implications of our findings indicate that when documenting seed exchange networks, the collection of data through a single informant or the undertaking of social network analyses at the household level may induce important biases.

Species diversity in home gardens in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) has increased during recent decades. Now, 587 species are cultivated, including 75 endangered species. Species were introduced from natural ecosystems, agroecosystems and the market. Use and management of species respond to local needs and reflect co-evolutionary bio-cultural management. Gardens are important in a dynamic concept of in-situ conservation of traditional knowledge of agrobiodiversity and endangered species or local cultivars.

Education for sustainable development in an intense subject and dissemination of good practices are of tremendous need for actors of academia and for those of vocational education, too. Managers and employees must extend their current skills related to sustainability and become leaders in the field. The article presents the last years' experience on the development of a skills development schema on leadership in sustainability and teaching and educating sustainability. These two training skills and the related training materials have been developed through two international projects and partnerships at the European level: (1) LeadSUS-Leadership in sustainability-Sustainability Manager, (2013-1-RO1-LEO05-28771) developed from 2013 to 2016 and having impact on a target group consisting of companies' employees (most of them managers); (2) TeachSUS-Teaching and educating for Sustainability, (2018-1-R001-KA204-049253) that will be develop from 2018 to 2020 and that will target vocational education and training (VET) actors. After a brief presentation of developed skill cards related to educational programs in sustainable development filed, a critical analysis of the implementation potential will underline the strengths and weakness of the actual educational system of higher education to assimilate and implement the proposals (tested and validated with a significant group of trainees).

Missouri to consider the ways in which a global crisis now underway-the loss of tens of thousands of plant species-can be addressed. These threatened plants include species vital to the lives of people throughout the world, including plants used for food and nutrition, medicine, cultural and spiritual purposes, and the maintenance of livelihoods; they are needed to redress poverty, provide food security, and ensure sustainable development in many nations. Plants and their associated biocultural knowledge play an essential role in the ecosystem services that support all life on Earth.

FR - Cet article analyse certains aspects du mouvement français de réappropriation paysanne des semences, en particulier son choix stratégique de se présenter comme acteur de la conservation des ressources génétiques cultivées. L’auteure aborde l’implication de chercheurs (incluant la sienne) dans la construction d’un tel cadrage. L’histoire montre que ce cadrage a été politiquement productif sur certaines scènes et à des moments donnés, mais qu’il a pour écueil de réduire les semences paysannes à leur dimension génétique et les agriculteurs qui les cultivent au rôle de gardiens de la biodiversité. L’évolution du mouvement et du contexte réglementaire montre que des repositionnements sont possibles. Dans la conclusion, l’auteure réfléchit au bon usage du réductionnisme. Suivant Olivier de Sardan, elle distingue deux approches du réductionnisme chez les chercheurs (méthodologique et idéologique) pour défendre la première. En contrepoint, elle propose de nommer « réductionnisme stratégique » (en référence à Spivak) « le choix stratégique des acteurs de ne mettre en avant qu’un aspect limitatif de leurs pratiques et de leur projet ». Les chercheurs se font les alliés intellectuels des mouvements sociaux lorsque leur propre réductionnisme méthodologique s’aligne sur celui, stratégique, des acteurs.

EN - This article analyzes some aspects of the French movement for a farmers’ seed reappropriation, in particular its strategic choice to present itself as an actor in the conservation of cultivated genetic resources. The article discusses the involvement of researchers (including the author) in the construction of such a framework. History shows that this framing has been politically productive on certain scenes and at given times. Its pitfall though is that it reduces peasant seeds to their genetic dimension and the farmers involved to biodiversity custodians. The evolution of the movement and the regulatory context show that repositioning is possible. In the conclusion the author reflects on the proper use of reductionism. Borrowing from Olivier de Sardan, she distinguishes two approaches to reductionism among researchers—methodological and ideological—to defend the first. As a counterpoint, she proposes to call strategic reductionism (in reference to Spivak) « the strategic choice of the actors to put forward only a limited aspect of their practices and their project ». Researchers become the intellectual allies of social movements when their own methodological reductionism aligns with the strategic reductionism of the actors.

ES - Este artículo analiza algunos aspectos del movimiento francés de reapropiación campesina de los granos de siembra, particularmente su decisión estratégica de presentarse como actor de la conservación de los recursos genéticos cultivados. El artículo aborda la implicación de los investigadores (la autora incluida) en la construcción de dicho enfoque. La historia muestra que dicho enfoque ha sido políticamente productivo en algunas situaciones y momentos dados, pero que tiene el inconveniente de reducir las semillas campesinas a su dimensión genética y los agricultores que las cultivan, al rol de custodios de la biodiversidad. La evolución del movimiento y del contexto de reglamentación muestra que es posible realizar algunos reajustes. La conclusión desarrolla una reflexión sobre el buen uso del reduccionismo. De acuerdo con Olivier de Sardan, el autor distingue dos enfoques del reduccionismo entre los investigadores — metodológico e ideológico — y defiende el primero. En contrapunto propone denominar reduccionismo estratégico (en referencia a Spivak) «la opción estratégica de los actores de poner de relieve sólo un aspecto limitativo de sus prácticas y de su proyecto». Los investigadores se convierten en aliados de los intelectuales de los movimientos sociales cuando su propio reduccionismo metodológico se alinea con el estratégico de los actores.

Rice is the staple food grain of West Bengal and Bankura district of this state is major producer of this
grain. The unfortunate aspect is that out of over fifty land races none is being cultivated in organized
way. More than 90% of cultivation is done using high yielding varieties only. Needless to mention, the
land races are valuable as they possess treasure of genetic material which may prove valuable in future
crop development and improvement programs. As most of the land races are in informal agriculture
sectors, our information about them is incomplete. It is therefore urgent to collect agronomic and other
characters of land races. Future of productivity of rice solely depends upon conservation of these land
races.

The paper proposes a progressive access control scheme for JPEG2000 image codestreams based on chaotic maps. The access control scheme provides the possibility to access partially decrypted images from a single encrypted JPEG 2000 stream. The underlying encryption algorithm is based on chaotic permutations of pixel gray levels, positions, and wavelet filter coefficients. Depending on the key provided to the user, the decryption process will stop at a given resolution. The two major characteristics of the access control scheme is that it provides a unifying encryption-compression approach and is fully compliant with the JPEG 2000 encoding process.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4698136

Missouri to consider the ways in which a global crisis now underway-the loss of tens of thousands of plant species-can be addressed. These threatened plants include species vital to the lives of people throughout the world, including plants used for food and nutrition, medicine, cultural and spiritual purposes, and the maintenance of livelihoods; they are needed to redress poverty, provide food security, and ensure sustainable development in many nations. Plants and their associated biocultural knowledge play an essential role in the ecosystem services that support all life on Earth.