Adoption Of Best Management Practices Research Articles

Proposal on Species‐Specific Synergistic Conservation Measures for Critically Endangered Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

ABSTRACTThe gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a critically endangered freshwater reptile endemic to the Indian subcontinent, faces severe threats from various anthropogenic stressors. Despite positive conservation efforts, a holistic approach is essential for improved outcomes. This involves (1) identification of new conservation priority sites, (2) establishment of gharial populations outside protected areas, (3) interlinking ecosystem processes, (4) conducting census of gharial annually, (5) efficient use of digital technology, (6) adoption of best management practices to mitigate various threats, (7) assessment of inbreeding depression in gharial, (8) rescue and rehabilitation training for local communities, (9) interstate and trans‐boundary commission and (10) survey on socio‐economic status of local communities. Implementing the proposed synergistic measures will not only strengthen conservation efforts but also enhance the livelihoods of local communities, ensuring a sustainable future for this species.

The adoption of Best Management Practices: empirical evidence from oil palm farming in rural Ghana

ABSTRACT Purpose We examine how farmer characteristics, farm, institutional, perception and shock factors influence the adoption of the Best Management Practices (BMPs). A thorough understanding of how relevant drivers affect the adoption decision of diverse BMPs can contribute to the development of evidence-based policies. Approach We use a household survey of 1031 smallholder oil palm farmers in the forest zones of Ghana to assess the determinants of farmers’ adoption decisions. We employ a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model after a principal component analysis is used to extract five latent components. Findings Our findings indicate that different farmer characteristics, farm, institutional, perception and shock factors have differential associations with the adoption of diverse BMPs. Key among these are the positive perception of BMPs, access to mills, perception of soil fertility and pests and diseases. Practical implications Specific BMPs must be tailored to meet the prevailing individual socio-economic characteristics and challenges of farmers to facilitate their adoption and scale-up. Educational programmes and dissemination of information by extension agents and research institutions are needed in the promotion of BMPs to enhance effective uptake. Theoretical implication The paper contributes to the growing literature especially on the uptake of diverse management practices, utilizing both behavioural and socio-economic theories underpinning adoption, thus providing empirical evidence that adoption is influenced by both behavioural and socio-economic factors. Originality/value In the bid to increase agricultural productivity, while preserving ecosystem services, the adoption of sustainable management practices remains key for all stakeholders and policy makers. This paper presents credible information for policy makers in Ghana and Africa in designing polices to influence their adoptions.

Spatial Variation in Agricultural BMPs and Relationships with Nutrient Yields Across New York State Watersheds

Agricultural nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus can subsequently be transported to waterways and are often managed through the adoption of best management practices (BMPs). However, we have a poor understanding of how the use of BMPs varies spatially and how BMP adoption might be related to nutrient yields in surface waters. To address this, we performed a survey of agricultural landowners across New York State and compared this with estimates of annual incremental nitrogen and phosphorus yields of agricultural origin from the Spatially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model. Using these socio-behavioral data and SPARROW predictions, we perform colocation analysis to identify areas where watersheds with high nutrient yield from agriculture are collocated with non-use of agricultural BMPs. This colocation analysis offers a novel methodology for identifying areas where monitoring of waterways and promotion of best management practices could be targeted to achieve the greatest benefits.

Awareness and perceived barriers to the adoption of best management practices for the transportation of lactating cull dairy cows of dairy producers in Ontario

The objectives of this study were to understand dairy farmers' awareness and perceived barriers to the implementation of best management practices (BMP) for the transportation of lactating culled cows being moved to auction or abattoir. An invitation to participate was emailed to all dairy farms in Ontario, Canada. Responses to this invitation were used to recruit additional participants through criterion purposive snowball sampling. In total, 28 dairy producers participated in one of 5 semi-structured focus groups. All focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with applied thematic analysis. Four themes were identified including 1) transfer of responsibility, 2) interpersonal relationships, 3) juggling priorities, and 4) complexities of long-term planning. While individual participant knowledge varied, participants described misconceptions that other producers held surrounding transport duration and distances, or the number of possible sales points for lactating culled cows. Participants did not agree whether the producer's responsibility ended once the cow left their property or if shared responsibility remained among all stakeholders from the farm to the final destination. Participants discussed the importance of existing trusted relationships with local cattle transporters and veterinarians to ensure information on best practices are shared. Participants also discussed how business pressures (e.g., production demands, space limitations) often challenge their ability to dry off lactating cows before transport; however, participants mentioned the degree of milk production may influence the destination of their animal (e.g., direct to slaughter for animals with high milk production). Some participants described a dynamic balance between business pressures and the potential for declining welfare of the animals under consideration to be culled during lactation. Participants posited that producers who did not prioritize proactive herd management and producers nearing retirement had limited long-term planning for culling individual cows, which might lead to transport of vulnerable or unfit animals. Finally, the lack of access to transportation direct to local slaughter was identified as an important barrier to adherence with the BMP for cull cows. In summary, many participants did not have an accurate understanding of what happens to cull cows after departing the farm and were unsure if they maintained a level of responsibility for an animal after being transported from their farm. Given the priority placed by participants on trusted interpersonal relationships, greater availability of peer-to-peer training of farmers and professional accreditation of animal transporters in addition to structural changes to increase local slaughter capacity may increase implementation of BMP and enhance lactating cull cow welfare.

Navigating agricultural nonpoint source pollution governance: A social network analysis of best management practices in central Pennsylvania.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is representative of governance challenges relating to agricultural nonpoint source pollution and, more generally, of sustainable resources governance in complex multi-actor settings. We assess information flows around Best Management Practices (BMPs) undertaken by dairy farmers in central Pennsylvania, a subregion of the watershed. We apply a mixed-method approach, combining Social Network Analysis, the analysis of BMP-messaging (i.e. information source, flow, and their influences), and qualitative content analysis of stakeholders' interviews. Key strategic actors were identified through network centrality measures such as degree of node, betweenness centrality, and clustering coefficient. The perceived influence/credibility (by farmers) of BMP-messages and their source, allowed for the identification of strategic entry points for BMP-messages diffusion. Finally, the inductive coding process of stakeholders' interviews revealed major hindrances and opportunities for BMPs adoption. We demonstrate how improved targeting of policy interventions for BMPs uptake may be achieved, by better distributing entry-points across stakeholders. Our results reveal governance gaps and opportunities, on which we draw to provide insights for better tailored policy interventions. We propose strategies to optimize the coverage of policy mixes and the dissemination of BMP-messages by building on network diversity and actors' complementarities, and by targeting intervention towards specific BMPs and actors. We suggest that (i) conservation incentives could target supply chain actors as conservation intermediaries; (ii) compliance-control of manure management planning could be conducted by accredited private certifiers; (iii) policy should focus on incentivizing inter-farmers interaction (e.g. farmers' mobility, training, knowledge-exchange, and engagement in multi-stakeholders collaboration) via financial or non-pecuniary compensation; (iv) collective incentives could help better coordinate conservation efforts at the landscape or (sub-)watershed scale; (v) all relevant stakeholders (including farmers) should be concerted and included in the discussion, proposition, co-design and decision process of policy, in order to take their respective interests and responsibilities into account.

Farmer adoption-based prompt networking and modeling for targeting optimal agro-conservation practices

Despite the availability of robust agricultural models, the successful on-ground implementation of all Best Management Practices (BMPs) remains elusive due to the lack of consideration for farmers' preferences. This study develops a unique network-based optimization technique coupled with Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) which delineates combined set of cost-effective BMPs at field-scale based on farmer's conservation identity in Ganges River Basin, India. SWAT was calibrated and validated using 10-year monthly discharge and nitrate data, and the selected BMPs were simulated using sequential uncertainty fitting framework. Farmers belonging to the Shahpur subdistrict were found to have the maximum normalized conservation identity of 90%, whereas the northeastern portion of the watershed contributed a maximum nitrate load of 7.5–9.92 kg/acre to the watershed outlet. An optimized combination of BMPs (riparian buffer-conservation tillage) with an efficiency of 0.28 was obtained through the modified network technique that targeted subbasins of the Morna subdistrict using farmer conservation identities. The results provide valuable guidance for watershed modelers, conservation planners, and researchers in pinpointing regions for targeted farmer training, subsidies, and other initiatives aimed at facilitating prompt field-scale BMP adoption. A flexible feature of the approach is its ability to modify the BMP action plans by replacing even technically feasible, cost-effective combinations based on farmers' preferences.

Best management practice adoption amongst potato producers in Ontario: a study of drivers and barriers

Best management practices (BMPs) are practical, affordable alternatives to conventional production systems. They contribute to improving the agricultural production system’s ability to address social, economic, and ecological challenges. BMPs enhance the viability and sustainability of agriculture when successfully applied, but in systems where intensive industrial agriculture predominates, their use is limited. Working with potato producers (large, medium, and small scale) in South-Western and Central Ontario, Canada this project applied a Systems Thinking approach to understand motivating drivers and structural, institutional, and organizational barriers impacting the adoption of BMPs for potato cultivation. This study used a mixed-methods approach for two years to collect quantitative and qualitative data using a farm-level survey, focus groups, workshops, and participant observation. Data was collected regarding demographics, management approaches, social networking, and perceived challenges with BMPs uptake. Our data analysis revealed that family and future generations, ecosystem, soil and human health, community and social relationships, and efficiency and profitability were motivating drivers (based on beliefs and values) influencing management decisions. However, structural, institutional, and organizational barriers (including market access, regulation, production efficiencies and competition), mediate producers’ abilities to act according to these motivations. Small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale producers are impacted by these barriers differently. In understanding the decision-making factors which drive BMP uptake in Ontario’s potato sector, policy and program design can leverage drivers and reduce barriers.

A soil health assessment tool for vegetable cropping systems in tropical soils based on beta-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, and soil organic carbon

Vegetable production is characterized by a strong dependence on external inputs and intense tillage, which can harm soil health (SH) by reducing organic matter levels, soil biota diversity, and overall ecosystem functions. Tools to assess SH affected by organic and conventional vegetable production systems are crucial and still scarce. This study aimed to develop a practical and reliable SH assessment tool for vegetable production systems in tropical soils by integrating Cornell's Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health (CASH) with the four-quadrant model (4QM). Furthermore, the study evaluated the relationship between management practices and SH status. Arylsulfatase (ARYL) and β-glucosidase (GLU) activities, and soil organic carbon (SOC) were analyzed in 90 soil samples (0 to 10 cm depth) collected from 53 organic and conventional vegetable farms in the Federal District, Brazil. The adoption of practices aimed at improving or maintaining SH was significantly greater on organic farms than on conventionally managed farms, resulting in a SOC content and ARYL activity 27 % and 86 % higher in organic farms than in conventional systems, respectively (P < 0.05). ARYL proved to be more accurate in separating organic and conventional fields than GLU, highlighting its potential for SH evaluation in vegetable production systems. The integration of CASH and the 4QM, along with ARYL, GLU, and SOC measurements, effectively addressed the complexity of both organic and conventional vegetable production systems. This combined approach facilitated differentiation between systems based on varying levels of adoption of best management practices (BMPs). Further research is needed to assess the performance of this approach across different soil types and regions where vegetables are cultivated.

Determinants of Management Practices among Manufacturing Firms in Pakistan

A strong case for looking at management quality as a source of productivity has been assembled in recent years by studies showing that variations in management quality account for a big part of the productivity gap across firms and countries. In this paper, we investigate the determinants of management quality among Pakistani manufacturing firms, using a new World Bank Enterprise Survey that provides firm-level information on the use of modern management practices. Our findings suggest that the adoption of good management practices is influenced by such characteristics as firm size, product market competition, ownership type, and the information available to staff and managers. We also find that such considerations are more relevant for medium and large firms than for small firms. Finally, we find that the link between management practices and productivity is not uniform and varies from practice to practice.

Impact of adoption of better management practices and nutrition-sensitive training on the productivity, livelihoods and food security of small-scale aquaculture producers in Myanmar

Small-scale aquaculture is a major source of food in Myanmar. Beyond its importance for food security and nutrition, small-scale aquaculture contributes to the livelihoods of many rural households and is a potentially valuable strategy for rural development. However, small-scale aquaculture producers have limited access to improved production technologies and information, which hampers the productivity and socioeconomic performance of small-scale aquaculture systems. In this study we assessed the impact of the adoption of better management practices and exposure to nutrition-sensitive training by 379 small-scale aquaculture producers in the Sagaing and Shan regions of Myanmar. We focused on whether and how the exposure to these interventions affected household food security through improvements in productivity and livelihoods. We used Propensity Score Matching to compare the performance of groups that were exposed to the intervention for one or two years, for seven impact variables. Exposure to the intervention had a positive effect for most impact variables, with differentiated effects among variables, group comparisons and regions. In terms of food security, beneficiaries had significantly higher dietary diversity (measured as the Food Consumption Score, FCS), but there were no significant differences for fish self-consumption (measured in kg/week). Longer exposure to the interventions produced significantly higher positive effects across most impact variables for the 2-year beneficiaries compared to 1-year beneficiaries and control groups. Our study suggests that the length of exposure to such interventions can be important in mediating the actual impact of small-scale aquaculture systems on household food security and livelihoods. Sustained help to small-scale producers should be considered in initiatives and development projects seeking to enhance the food security and rural development of small-scale aquaculture systems in Myanmar, and beyond.

An adoption spectrum for sustainable agriculture practices: A new framework applied to cover crop adoption

CONTEXTThe adoption of sustainable agriculture practices is critical for future ecological, food security, and farmer livelihood goals. Traditionally, the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices is treated as a binary decision, which simplifies the known complexity around behavior change. Furthermore, this approach ignores farmers that have previously utilized a practice, the extent to which a farmer adopts a practice across their farm, as well as the complexity of different sustainable agriculture practices, which may evolve over time. OBJECTIVEThis analysis explores the complexity of farmer adoption of best management practices by developing a framework that considers adoption across multiple components and beyond a simple outcome. METHODSWe develop a new framework for the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices that proposes four key elements: Entirety, variability, sophistication, and longevity. We incorporate this framework into a latent class analysis, using data from a nationwide survey of U.S. row crop farmers' focused on cover crop adoption. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSWe identify five types of adopters, including non-adopters, previous adopters, conservative new adopters, innovative new adopters, and early adopters. This analysis challenges existing innovation theories, which typically indicate that early adopters are the primary innovators within an innovation system. Instead, we identify a class of new farmer adopters that have the highest adoption of innovative, sophisticated practices. Utilizing multinomial logit models, we further examine the factors that influence farmers' adoption classification. We find self-efficacy, perceived production risks, social-environmental altruism, communication and networking, other conservation practice use, diversity of cash crops, livestock operations and farming size have various effects on farmers' different adoption types. SIGNIFICANCEThe framework and its application for cover crop adoption provide a structured opportunity to further our understanding of sustainable agriculture practice adoption. Given our identification of five types of adopters, and their unique needs, interests, and propensity to adoption of varying levels, these results provide practical implications for successful farmer learning and extension services. In particular, we highlight that adoption may have multiple forms that should be considered in policy development and technical assistance, including not only “new” adoption, but also re-adoption, as well as continued and increasingly complex adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.

Carbon offsets and agriculture: Options, obstacles, and opinions

AbstractWhile carbon offsets in agriculture can play a role in addressing climate change, they are not a perfect substitute for direct emission reductions. As shown in this paper through various arguments and case studies, climate policies in Canada have avoided the use of offsets to be sold in carbon markets, preferring instead to incentivize adoption of best management practices (BMPs) that provide environmental benefits along with climate mitigation benefits. We argue that this is a preferred policy option due to the perils and pitfalls inherent in the measurement and monitoring required to identify offset credits. While an appropriate approach might be to penalize Canadian farmers for any emissions their activities cause, this may do more harm than good. Canadian agricultural production is highly efficient and technologically advanced; therefore, reductions in Canada's contribution to the global food supply will result in less‐efficient production occurring elsewhere (i.e., leakage) that increases global greenhouse gas emissions.

Cost and returns of groundnut crop in Andhra Pradesh

The cost of cultivation data of Groundnut at Triennium Ending 2016-17 in Andhra Pradesh state reveals that thevalue of main product (`51003) of groundnut is lesser than the total cost of cultivation (`58588). Operational costs are 69% and fixed costs are 31% in total cost, among which human labour cost is highest (28.53%) followed by seed cost (17.21%), net returns are `15690 at cost A2, and negative (`-7585) at cost C2, which reveals that the farmers income is negative by considering own labour costs. Replacing human labour with low cost machines, development of some more HYV by the researchers, adoption of best management practices by the farmers, raise of MSP by the Government to meet the total expenditure are the suggestions that arise from the study.

Data envelopment analysis based energy optimization for improving energy efficiency in wheat established following rice residue management in rice-wheat cropping system

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a winter cereal crop with higher energy footprints. We therefore aimed to budget energy use, establish input-output relationships, and to perform data envelopment analysis (DEA) based optimization in wheat established with innovative super seeder technology. Data-set of 45 decision-making units (DMUs) collected during face-to-face interviews were changed to energy units for enhancing their energy efficiency. These results revealed that total energy input (EI) of 22.6 GJ ha−1 and output energy of 125.3 GJ ha−1 yielded energy productivity of 0.231 kg MJ−1. The net energy gain (102.7 GJ ha−1) accomplished with an energy ratio of 5.6 indicates that super seeder technology was energy-efficient. Direct and indirect energy share ∼53.2 and 46.8%, whilst renewable and non-renewable energy comprised ∼24.8 and 75.2% of EI, respectively. Fertilizer-N emerged as the major energy input (∼44.7% of EI), followed by irrigation water (∼17.4%) and electricity (15.1%). The DEA based benchmarking elucidated 23 DMUs (∼51.1% of total studied) as efficient, whilst others inefficient. An average technical efficiency of 0.89 illustrates ∼11% EI saving possibilities by the adoption of best management practices. These results underpin the overwhelming significance of efficient fertilizer-N, irrigation water and electricity for reduced energy footprints in north-western India.

Factors affecting the bundled adoption of irrigation and nutrient best management practices for improving water quality and quantity in Florida

AbstractThis study focuses on clustering irrigation and nutrient best management practices (BMPs) that help to improve water quality and quantity using a multiple indicator multiple causation model. Data from a survey of Florida growers' irrigation and nutrient practices are used to identify bundles that growers adopt using a cluster analysis. Identified bundles are regressed on grower and farm characteristics. Growers with a college degree or more, income greater than $100,000, greater farm experience, larger operations, organic production, and who produce multiple crops are more likely to adopt the specified practice bundles. Our results can help increase participation in BMPs adoption programs.

Economic and risk analysis of sustainable practice adoption among U.S. corn growers

CONTEXTAgricultural sustainability has three main pillars: a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social equity. Most programs, however, focus on environmental benefits when establishing protocols for farms, de-emphasizing or ignoring the economic and social aspects. This focus on the environmental aspects of agricultural sustainability misses the importance of economic factors that are commonly found to be key determinants of farmer adoption of best management practices. More research on the economic effects of sustainability practices on farm income and risk would improve understanding and facilitate communication with farmers about the tradeoffs and risks when using the protocols. OBJECTIVESOur study has two primary objectives. First, we quantify the effects of sustainable practice adoption on the mean, variance, and skewness of yield for U.S. corn farmers. Second, based on the estimated yield risk model, we quantify the effects of sustainable practice adoption on farmer returns and the cost of risk to better understand the impacts of sustainability on farmer welfare. METHODSUsing the 2010 Agricultural Resource Management Survey, we construct a composite indicator proxying the intensity of sustainable practice adoption for 73 practices mostly intended to reduce soil erosion and improve nutrient and pest management. We use this indicator in a flexible moment-based approach to analyze field-level corn yield data. Estimation results are used to quantify expected farmer returns and the cost of risk (the risk premium). The cost of risk is decomposed into costs from variance (symmetric variation around the mean) and from skewness (downside risk from unusually low yields). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSResults indicate that substantial opportunities exist for US corn growers to increase sustainable practice adoption. Increased sustainable practice adoption significantly increased mean yield and decreased yield variance and skewness. In addition, increased adoption of sustainable practices increased expected farmer returns and, in most cases, also increased the cost of risk mostly from increased costs from lower skewness (greater downside risk). The positive effect of increased expected income always dominated the negative effect of increased costs of risk, so that on average farmer welfare increased with higher levels of sustainable practice adoption. SIGNIFICANCEOur study helps fill a literature gap by evaluating the economic aspects of sustainability, specifically farm income and the cost of risk. The results provide critical information for policy making and program establishing.

Pay-for-practice or Pay-for-performance? A coupled agent-based evaluation tool for assessing sediment management incentive policies

Cost-shared programs have been applied to incentivize the adoption of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to address the long-standing water quality issue in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, US. However, the business-as-usual (BAU) incentive program (i.e., pay-for-practice, paying cost share for implementing BMPs) is likely to miss the Total Maximum Daily Load target to reduce 20% of the total suspended sediment (TSS) in 2010 by 2025. Some field experiments indicate that pay-by-performance (PFP; paying lower cost share but with additional bonus payment per unit sediment reduction) can better motivate community involvement leading to greater water quality control outcomes. However, the effectiveness of different incentive policies is still unclear at a basin scale. We propose a coupled agent-based modeling tool to quantify the performance of different incentive policies. The tool considers farmers’ (i.e., agents’) BMP adoption dynamics affected by the social norm and the potential bonus payment. Specifically, we compare individual-based PFP (PFPi) and group-based PFP (PFPg) with BAU. Results of our proposed model applied to the selected study area, the Susquehanna River Basin, Chesapeake Bay’s largest tributary watershed, suggest that PFP can achieve higher TSS reduction with less cost. PFPg shows the best basin-wide TSS reduction associated with the least uncertainty among all tested policies. Also, the performance of PFPg is less impacted by the change in the bonus payment compared to PFPi attributed to farmers’ collaboration efforts. Potentially, the proposed policy evaluation tool can better inform an achievable target with policy suggestions in assistance with social studies (e.g., surveys and behavioral experiments).

Climate policy and Canadian crop production: A qualitative study of farmers’ attitudes and perceptions towards nitrous oxide reductions

The pressure to change agricultural practices in order to mitigate emissions is high, with persisting environmental, social, and economic dimensions. In December 2020, the Government of Canada released A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, a climate plan that proposed Canada's first national emission reduction target for the agricultural sector. This target aimed to reduce fertilizer-based emissions by 30 percent of 2020 levels by 2030. This target relies on the adoption of Best Management Practices for fertilizer use at the on-farm level. Choice to adopt the emission reduction strategies and practices is ultimately decided by the landowner, operator, and/or producer. The proposed target was met with significant resistance opposition from producers and producer groups across Canada's agricultural sector, particularly in western Canada, with claims that the target was the equivalent to a ban on fertilizer.This research aims to better understand the attitudes and perceptions towards the emission reduction target and more generally around emissions mitigation strategies within the crop sectors. This report takes a qualitative approach by conducting 26 h-long interviews with stakeholders along the production chain. Interviews with producers, geneticists, actors in crop inputs and manufacturing, and stakeholders in agricultural production policy and advocacy were conducted over July and August 2022. Participants were asked questions about climate change, the role of different levels of government in the development of emission regulations, potential strategies on a short- and long-term horizon basis, and incentives. Interviews were transcribed and categorically defined, highlighting reoccurring themes. These themes provide insight into awareness of different strategies considered by different actors within the agricultural supply chain, and potentially anticipate avenues which the Government of Alberta should prioritize in developing policies. Ensuring future protocols account for benchmarks of current agricultural operations and management is critical for accessible and producer-inclusive policy, that optimizes transition risks and secures the pathway forward, balancing the precarious equilibrium of burden on agricultural producers, food security, and sustainable, resilient agriculture.

Modeling Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of BMPs Adoption for Stormwater Management in Urban Areas

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is a severe problem in the U.S. and worldwide. Best management practices (BMPs) have been widely used to control stormwater and reduce NPS pollution. Previous research has shown that socio-economic factors affect households’ adoption of BMPs, but few studies have quantitatively analyzed the spatio-temporal dynamics of household BMP adoption under different socio-economic conditions. In this paper, diverse regression approaches (linear, LASSO, support vector, random forest) were used on the ten-year data of household BMP adoption in socio-economically diverse areas of Washington, D.C., to model BMP adoption behaviors. The model with the best performance (random forest regression, R2 = 0.67, PBIAS = 7.2) was used to simulate spatio-temporal patterns of household BMP adoption in two nearby watersheds (Watts Branch watershed between Washington, D.C., and Maryland; Watershed 263 in Baltimore), each of which are characterized by different socio-economic (population density, median household income, renter rate, average area per household, etc.) and physical attributes (total area, percentage of canopy in residential area, average distance to nearest BMPs, etc.). The BMP adoption rate was considerably higher at the Watts Branch watershed (14 BMPs per 1000 housing units) than at Watershed 263 (4 BMPs per 1000 housing units) due to distinct differences in the watershed characteristics (lower renter rate and poverty rate; higher median household income, education level, and canopy rate in residential areas). This research shows that adoption behavior tends to cluster in urban areas across socio-economic boundaries and that targeted, community-specific social interventions are needed to reach the NPS control goal.

Supporting smallholder acacia farmers in Viet Nam to transition to sawlog production: Opportunities and challenges

Acacia plantations are a significant forestry resource in Viet Nam, with the majority of the area under smallholder ownership, typically with 1–5 ha per household. Currently most acacias are grown in short rotations and sold for export as woodchips. Short rotation plantations suit smallholder farmers as they can receive a return relatively quickly (within 4–5 years). However the country has a high reliance on imports of sawlogs, some of which could be substituted by growing acacias to sawlog size on longer (5–10 year) rotations. Thus the Vietnamese government has developed a strategy to encourage smallholder acacia farmers to convert to sawlog production from their acacia estate. Sawlog production could potentially give greater returns to growers but also requires enhanced silvicultural management, greater tolerance of risk and longer times for return on investment. We explored smallholder farmers' preferences for support programs if they are to adopt longer rotation plantations in two contrasting provinces: Thua Thien Hue in Central Viet Nam and Hoa Binh in North Viet Nam. We found that farmers are happy to embrace longer rotations if they could source finance, are able to handle larger sized logs and if they could see others also growing longer rotations. We also explored the effects of contrasting training styles on adoption of best management practices (BMPs) – either standard top-down extension training, or a more collaborative active-learning extension training approach. We found that a collaborative, active-learning approach led to greater adoption of BMPs, but also that the traditional approach to extension was almost as effective. There is significant demand amongst the growers to improve their silvicultural management, and they are very responsive to training and knowledge circulation amongst the community. Factors influencing farmers' adoption of acacia BMPs were also identified and they included intrinsic factors (such as farmers' goals and inspirations), extrinsic factors (such as farm location and satisfaction with acacias) as well as extension. Extrinsic factors (21.5%), intrinsic factors (7.0%) and extension (5.5%) explained a total of 34% of the variation in adoption behaviour at 9 months following training. Farmers in the study demonstrated that they had the capacity, ability and willingness to uptake BMPs but to encourage greater adoption, extension training should be complemented with other support incentives such as seedlings or fertiliser subsidies to bridge the financial gap that some poorer farmers face. Extending acacia rotations to 7 years carries additional risks to farmers and many farmers would require financial assistance to facilitate acceptance of these risks.