Economic Livelihood Research Articles

A Study on Agrarian Economy in the Hills of Manipur with Special Reference to Thadou-Kuki Ethnic Group

Jhum-based agriculture has been the dominant mode of economic activity in terms of production and livelihoods for tribal people of Manipur. Thadou tribe has the highest population among all the tribes in Manipur, and their economy has been characterised by jhumming. But in recent times there has been a significant change in the way, these tribes practice their economic activities and livelihoods. The study is based on 15 villages of four different sub-divisions of three hill districts of Manipur where Thadou-Kukis are settled in large numbers. The study seeks to understand the occupational patterns of Thadou-Kuki group and the nature of its agrarian economy using village level data. The study finds that the occupational patterns of this group are changing and they are giving up jhum-based paddy cultivation for other cash crops and non-agricultural sectors. Settled cultivation is practiced widespread but due to the non-application of modern inputs, there has been a huge shortage of rice. Agricultural diversification is taking place in jhum area and there are inter-regional variations in the way the villages practice diversification. Some villages are growing poppy in a large scale and some high-value crops like ginger, king chilly and sesame. The nature of Thadou-Kuki agrarian economy is no more a homogenous one; it is now more of a differentiated agrarian economy. The state of the agrarian economy in the surveyed villages indicates a transitional flux where there is a huge food grain deficit and at the same time diversification is not taking smoothly.

Crisis as Opportunity: The Politics of ‘Seva’ and the Hindu Nationalist Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kerala, South India

The paper examines how Hindu nationalist social service organizations, specifically the Deseeya Seva Bharathi (DSB), reconfigured the religious conception of ‘Seva’ to advance the project of constructing a Hindu social identity during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Kerala. The southern Indian state of Kerala has remained an exception in the story of the rise of the Hindu nationalist movement in contemporary India, which has repeatedly failed to make any considerable political inroads in the state. However, the disastrous economic consequences and livelihood challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, which was heavily dependent on foreign remittance and service industries, have opened up new spaces of engagement for Hindu nationalists. Drawing on the fieldwork conducted in central Kerala during the pandemic, this paper will elaborate on how the DSB used the crisis moment of the pandemic to reach out to economically and socially disadvantaged communities using the language of ‘Seva’ to build a Hindu social identity, which imbues the influence of majoritarian Hindu nationalist politics. The paper argues that the DSB’s articulation of ‘Seva’ as a distinct and superior form of social service that is ‘self-less’, ‘non-instrumental’ and ‘non-reciprocal’ is significant in understanding the growing appeal of Hindu nationalist social service in the contested political sphere of Kerala, which is marked by competing social provisions by the state as well as other secular and religious groups. The paper notes that the reconfiguration of ‘Seva’ as a continuous religious concept enables Hindu nationalists to attain greater acceptance and legitimacy that even the secular state welfare could not achieve, while also concealing the inherent instrumental nature of its social service towards the construction of a Hindu social identity in the region.

Relationship between Demographic, Socioeconomic Factors, and Psychological Responses of Health Care Providers during COVID–19 Pandemic, Kenya

Context: Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), spread across the globe, causing distress among various populations, including healthcare providers. This disease has had an unparalleled effect on the world's economic situation, livelihood, and mental and physical well-being across the globe.
 Aim: To assess the healthcare providers' psychological responses and related demographic and socioeconomic factors during the COVID-19 pandemic at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
 Methods: This was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisumu County, Kenya. A stratified sampling method was used in the selection of 202 healthcare providers. The questionnaire used consisted of four components: demographic and socioeconomic factors. Standardized questionnaires measured the symptoms of depression and anxiety, the 9–item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ - 9) and the 7–item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD - 7), respectively.
 Results: Among 202 healthcare providers, the overall prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 57.4% and 59.9%, respectively. After using Pearson Chi-square for the relationship of GAD with demographic characteristics, it was revealed that age (OR 0.1, p = <0.001), gender (OR 0.4, p = 0.002), and marital status (OR 4.2, p = <0.001) were significantly associated. Also, the relationship of GAD with socioeconomic factors revealed that the level of education (OR 0.5, p = 0.019), income level (OR 4.6, p = <0.001), living alone (OR 0.4, p = 0.004), living with partner and children (OR 2.4, p = 0.002), living with parent (OR 2.7, p = 0.001) and employment terms (OR 3.3, p = <0.001), were related with symptoms of anxiety. Concerning depressive symptoms and demographic characteristics, age (OR 0.5, p = 0.006) and marital status (OR 3.2, p = <0.001) were significantly associated. Also, the relationship of depression with socioeconomic factors revealed that living alone (OR 0.4, p = 0.002), living with a partner (OR 4, p = 0.007), living with a partner and children (OR 1.7, p = 0.045), living with parent (OR 2.5, p = 0.001) and having a chronic medical condition (OR 0.5, p = 0.048) were related with depressive symptoms.
 Conclusion: There was a relatively high prevalence of anxiety and depression among JOOTRH healthcare providers during the pandemic. Those with a partner and children, those living without parents, high-income level, level of education undergraduate and above, were married, above 30 years, female, and being on permanent employment were significantly related to anxiety. Those living with someone else, without a chronic medical condition, being over 30 years and married were more likely to have depression than their counterparts. The study recommends providing psychological support to healthcare providers to enhance their psychological resilience during pandemics.

Advancing Sustainable Development in the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya Region Through Certification Strategies

This study investigates the potential of certification as a driving force for sustainable development in the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region, characterized by its unique high-altitude ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and susceptibility to climate change. Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the tourism, renewable energy, and agriculture sectors, the research emphasizes their critical role in the region's economic growth and livelihoods. Nonetheless, the implementation of certification in the HKH region encounters several obstacles, including constrained resources, regulatory barriers, financial accessibility, and limited marketing capabilities. By examining certification initiatives in Bhutan and Nepal, such as organic certification and energy labeling, this study elucidates the advantages and challenges associated with both mandatory and voluntary certification schemes. To address these concerns, the establishment of an HKH Standards and Certification Council is proposed. This Council would facilitate the development and adoption of credible certification and accreditation processes, thereby promoting sustainability and energy efficiency throughout the region. By supporting SMEs, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the relevance, accessibility, and efficacy of standards for small businesses, the HKH Standards and Certification Council could significantly contribute to the sustainable development of the HKH region.

Areas within the United States at the Highest Risk for African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Introduction

Domestic livestock production is a major component of the agricultural sector, contributing to food security and human health and nutrition and serving as the economic livelihood for millions worldwide. The impact of disease on global systems and processes cannot be understated, as illustrated by the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic through economic and social system shocks and food system disruptions. This study outlines a method to identify the most likely sites of introduction into the United States for three of the most concerning foreign animal diseases: African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF), and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). We first created an index measuring the amount of potentially contaminated meat products entering the regions of interest using the most recently available Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Monitoring (AQIM) air passenger inspection dataset, the AQIM USPS/foreign mail, and the targeted USPS/foreign mail interception datasets. The risk of introduction of a given virus was then estimated using this index, as well as the density of operations of the livestock species and the likelihood of infected material contaminating the local herds. Using the most recently available version of the datasets, the most likely places of introduction for ASF and CSF were identified to be in central Florida, while FMD was estimated to have been most likely introduced to swine in western California and to cattle in northeastern Texas. The method illustrated in this study is important as it may provide insights on risk and can be used to guide surveillance activities and optimize the use of limited resources to combat the establishment of these diseases in the U.S.

A participatory climate vulnerability assessment for recreational tidal flats fisheries in Belize and The Bahamas

Recreational fishing is a pillar of the multibillion-dollar tourism sector in the Caribbean, supporting economic development and community livelihoods. However, as climate change drives increased habitat degradation, key recreational target species may experience declines. To effectively prioritize adaptation and mitigation efforts it is critical to project climate change impacts on recreational species and the communities that depend on them. We conducted a comprehensive climate vulnerability assessment (CVA) for three recreationally important tidal flats species in Belize and The Bahamas: bonefish (Albula vulpes), tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), and permit (Trachinotus falcatus). Species vulnerability was assessed by coupling 1) a research-based CVA to evaluate the sensitivity and exposure of species to climate impacts with 2) a participatory workshop involving 17 fishing guides, resource managers, and science and policy experts working in fisheries systems in Belize and/or The Bahamas. The workshop elicited local expert knowledge to resolve and contextualize CVA scoring and to identify strategies to increase climate resilience. According to the research-based CVA, key climate factors in the Caribbean are expected to see a ‘very high’ magnitude of change by 2050. All three species exhibit ‘very high’ vulnerability to these changes based on life history traits and reliance on nearshore habitats that are exposed to rapid temperature increases and storm damage. The expert stakeholder group confirmed a ‘very high’ magnitude of expected climate impacts in the Caribbean region, to which bonefish, the most valuable species, is likely to have a ‘very high’ vulnerability. However, stakeholders perceived tarpon and permit to be less vulnerable to these impacts than the CVA predicted, based on “on the water” observations of their habitat flexibility and resilience to disturbance. The group identified strategies at the individual, community, national, and international levels to enhance climate resilience in the recreational fishing sector. Our work highlights how participatory CVA processes can support a stronger understanding of species’ vulnerability while building capacity and collaboration to increase climate change readiness.

Study on the Spatial and Temporal Evolution of High-Quality Development in Nine Provinces of the Yellow River Basin

High-quality development (HQD) is a positive initiative in China to promote sustainable development. Promoting HQD in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a major national strategy for China. The YRB is an important ecological barrier and economic zone in China, which comprises nine provinces, including Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the HQD of the nine provinces in the YRB. It clarifies the basic connotation of HQD and constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for HQD according to the principles of comprehensiveness, distinctiveness, openness, refinement and feasibility. The comprehensive evaluation index system includes four dimensions: economic development, technology innovation, society and livelihood, and ecological security, which contain 28 secondary indicators. The combined method of coupling development and entropy weight termed the “technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS)” was selected to make a comprehensive evaluation of the HQD of the nine provinces in the YRB from the time dimension and the space dimension, respectively. It was found that there are still problems, such as the differentiation of HQD, the low comprehensive development degree (CDD), and the low development coupling degree (DCD) in some provinces.

The Deadly Intersections of COVID‐19: Race, States, Inequalities and Global Society edited by SuneraThobani, Bristol University Press, 2022, 176 pp., $83.95 (hardback).

The Deadly Intersections of COVID‐19: Race, States, Inequalities and Global Society edited by SuneraThobani, Bristol University Press, 2022, 176 pp., $83.95 (hardback).

Sistem Informasi Geografi dan Penginderaan Jauh dalam Pemetaan Zona Longsor Lahan di Kawasan Terbangun

Landslide is a natural hazard that is quite widespread throughout the world and has caused casualties and ruined people's economic livelihoods. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods combined with a spatial approach to analyze primary and secondary data from satellite imagery, observation, and related agencies. Data processing is conducted using Global Mapper 20, Arcgis 10.8.1 and Ermapper 8.1 software s . The results obtained from this study show that the vulnerability to landslides is relatively high, with a large area around 51.63%. This area is spread over hilly areas. For built land, its level of vulnerability to landslide in both the high and very high categories, namely in zones Z-4 and Z-5, is caused by slopes of 25 to > 40%, with rock types with a high degree of weathering and with built-up land cover . The use of remote sensing and geographic information system in assessing landslide in the research area can be used as a guide for the proper use of land to avoid disasters that may occur.

Ethnolinguistic Study of the Traditional Indonesian Parenting song “Dindang Maayun Anak”: Cultural Reflection in the Socio-cultural Life of the Banjar in South Kalimantan

This study aims to describe the reflection of the Dindang Maayun Anak song in the Banjar culture in South Kalimantan. The Dindang song contains linguistic units containing cultural functions and meanings in the Banjar community. Therefore, ethnolinguistic analysis was conducted through intralingual and extralingual equivalences. Subsequently, cultural semantic analysis is used to examine the cultural reflection in this study. The researchers recorded 53 stanzas of the dindang song, based on which 16 data were classified as words/terms, 9 data were classified as phrases, and 6 data were classified as sentences, reflecting local culture. The analysis showed that the Dindang Maayun Anak song reflects (1) the religious way of life-based on the Baiman, Bauntung, and Batuah philosophies as the implementation of Iman, Islam, and Ihsan teachings. (2) Trading, raising, and catching fish, alongside farming based on the economic system and livelihoods in the wetland, and (3) knowledge of nature, flora, and fauna. It also reflects the (4) parenting patterns based on the Baiman, Bauntung, and Batuah philosophies, (5) living equipment and technology that supports their economic system and livelihoods, (6) Banjar language as a lingua franca and means of expressing beliefs, knowledge, evaluation, and feelings. Furthermore, the Baiman, Bauntung, and Batuah philosophy is conceptualized differently by the traditional leader, Kesultanan Banjar (non-formal leader), formal (government) leader and modern education expert in South Kalimantan. The reflection of the three B’s is a prayer (for ordinary people), a motto (in a local government, and a school vision.

Climate Change and Environmental Security in Bangladesh

Climate change is a major non-traditional Security (NTS) issue which poses a massive threat to global environmental security. Climate change is still occurring, manifested in rising temperatures, increased river and coastal flooding and erosion, rising sea levels, increasing salinity, and more frequent, severe weather events. It is evident that men and women are affected differently by the environmental consequences of climate change. Women become more vulnerable to climate change impacts and environmental disasters. The paper aims to show the interrelationship of climate change, environmental security and gender in Bangladesh. Moreover, the paper examines the impacts of climate change in environmental security from the gender perspective exploring the condition of women during disasters and their vulnerabilities under climate change scenario in Bangladesh. Secondary data have been used and analyzed to identify the overall condition of women during hazardous situations in Bangladesh. Available data reveal that a number of climate-induced hazards are already affecting many women especially in the coastal zone, low-lying areas and north- west part of the country. The paper finds that climate change has disproportionate impacts on women in Bangladesh affecting their food security, water security, health security, economic livelihood as well as internal migration. Finally, the paper provides policy recommendations dealing with the gender differentiated climate change vulnerabilities experienced by Bangladesh.

Long-Term Perspective on Fishing and Mammal Defaunation in the Atlantic Forest Coast of Brazil Using Archaeological Faunal Remains

Background and research aim: Escalating anthropogenic threats to the Atlantic Forest, a renowned biodiversity hotspot, has placed the region in the spotlight for current conservation efforts. Faunal overexploitation and habitat degradation are among key factors driving the region’s recent declines in faunal populations and biodiversity. Assessing the scale of these impacts is complicated by the near-complete absence of historical reference baselines. Methodology: Here, we provide a contribution to bridge this knowledge gap by analysing faunal remains from two historical archaeological sites, Morro Grande 1 (MG1) and Praia Grande Unidade 21 (PG-U21), in Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina state, Brazil) dated between 1750 to 1950 AD. Results: Our results revealed that fishing and hunting played a crucial role in household consumption and economic livelihoods during the European colonisation of southern Brazil. Native terrestrial mammals made up a significant proportion of faunal remains at both sites. This suggests that species currently undergoing population declines were exploited in the region for at least the past two centuries. Conclusion: This study provides compelling evidence that the selective hunting of medium- and large-bodied native terrestrial mammals has persisted in the region for over 4500 years, and requires us to reconsider the idea of a heavy reliance on domestic animals during early European colonisation of southern Brazil. Our study thus traces the causes of regional terrestrial mammal defaunation back to the Pre-colonial and Historical times. Implication for conservation: We recommend the integration of historical and archaeological data into modern faunal population assessments and conservation initiatives to set more informed reference baselines.

The subsistence strategies of Qin humans in the Guanzhong Plain before the establishment of Qin Empire: A combined stable isotope and archaeobotanical approach

The turbulent stage before the unification of China under the first Empire, the Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC), witnessed remarkable changes in economic livelihood and social conditions. This study aims to investigate the subsistence strategies of humans living in the Guanzhong Plain during the Late Qin State (350–221 BC) by using carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on animal and human bone collagen, as well as starch grain analysis of human dental calculus, from Podi cemetery, Shannxi Province, China. We argue that Podi humans likely relied on a mixed subsistence strategy based on animal husbandry practices and diverse crop agricultural pattern which consist of millet, soybean, wheat, and probably supplemented by hunting and gathering (Job's tears, nuts and tubers) economy. Combined with bioarcheological studies on Qin humans, we infer that previously traditional animal husbandry economy was still being practiced in the Qin period along with the inclusion of a newly introduced agricultural economy.

Accounting of marine and coastal ecosystems at the Ramsar Site, Estuarine Delta System of the Magdalena River, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia

The Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta Ramsar Site (CGSM) is the most important Caribbean estuarine wetland in Colombia. The site represents a strategically important ecosystem supporting the national and local economy. However, their ability to provide ecosystem services has been seriously affected mainly due to changes in land use, disturbances of water flows, man-made climate change and interannual climatic variability. These circumstances led to its inclusion in the Montreux Record, a register of wetland sites on the ‘List of Wetlands of International Importance’ where variations in ecological character have happened, are happening or are likely to happen as an outcome of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. This paper presents the first account of marine and coastal ecosystems developed in Colombia at the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta. Following the principles for ecosystem accounting of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting—Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA), we developed accounting tables of extent and condition of ecosystems, biophysical and monetary flows of climate regulation and fishing supply and the monetary account of ecosystem assets. Results of the ecosystem account allow visualising the importance of ecosystem services of the wetland, its capacity to provide economic benefits, social welfare and livelihoods at local and national level. Finally, we identify main gaps of information, highlight the applicability of ecosystem accounting to policy- and decision-making on economic and environmental issues and evaluate the challenges to implement it.

Identification of Psychological-Motivational, Humanistic-Educational, and Cultural Factors Affecting the Sports Performance of Tourist Cyclists

Background & Aims: Productivity and profitability among cycling tourists are important. The aim of this study was to identify the psychological-motivational, humanistic-educational and cultural factors in the sports efficiency of tourist cyclists. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out as qualitative-quantitative research that included interviewing experts and designing a questionnaire. The questionnaire included psychological-motivational, human-educational, cultural, and welfare factors, which were prepared through interviews with 13 experts, and 278 subjects were examined using a random sampling method. Results: The results of open code interviews and questionnaires were as follows. These findings were managers’ expertise and experience in the field of sports tourism, focusing on training and increasing motivation of the organization’s educated employees, detecting and solving economic problems, increasing welfare and livelihood, and using the PLS software. The relationships between the categories and the identified variables were psychological-motivational, human-educational, cultural, and productive cycling tourism, and had a good fit. Conclusion: Psychological-motivational, human-educational and cultural factors had an effect on the sports efficiency of tourist cyclists and the model had a good fit. Therefore, based on the results, the tourism organization should have effective and accurate procedures in applying the present model to be productive and consider influential factors (both psychological-motivational, human-educational, and cultural) in their programs.

Discovery of Avian Paramyxoviruses APMV-1 and APMV-6 in Shorebirds and Waterfowl in Southern Ukraine.

Emerging RNA virus infections are a growing concern among domestic poultry industries due to the severe impact they can have on flock health and economic livelihoods. Avian paramyxoviruses (APMV; avulaviruses, AaV) are pathogenic, negative-sense RNA viruses that cause serious infections in the respiratory and central nervous systems. APMV was detected in multiple avian species during the 2017 wild bird migration season in Ukraine and studied using PCR, virus isolation, and sequencing. Of 4090 wild bird samples collected, mostly from southern Ukraine, eleven isolates were grown in ovo and identified for APMV serotype by hemagglutinin inhibition test as: APMV-1, APMV-4, APMV-6, and APMV-7. To build One Health's capacity to characterize APMV virulence and analyze the potential risks of spillover to immunologically naïve populations, we sequenced virus genomes in veterinary research labs in Ukraine using a nanopore (MinION) platform. RNA was extracted and amplified using a multiplex tiling primer approach to specifically capture full-length APMV-1 (n = 5) and APMV-6 (n = 2) genomes at high read depth. All APMV-1 and APMV-6 fusion (F) proteins possessed a monobasic cleavage site, suggesting these APMVs were likely low virulence, annually circulating strains. Utilization of this low-cost method will identify gaps in viral evolution and circulation in this understudied but important critical region for Eurasia.

Marine Industry Promotion Strategy Study

There is a keen focus in Taiwan on the country's Blue Economy and establishing and developing ocean sustainability and, alongside this, promoting economic growth, jobs and livelihoods. Ching-Hui Chen, Pei-Chi Chu, Hsuan-Wen Chen and Shin-Yi Lin are industry researchers of the Metal Industry Research and Development Centre (MIRDC), an agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and are collaborating with Professor Shih-Ming Kao of National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU) and Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) to help develop the local marine industry. The team is working to establish an assessment and guidance mechanism for local governments that will push forward marine development. This involves far-reaching collaboration to improve understanding of the current status of the 19 coastal counties and cities in Taiwan, each of which has its own different marine resources and characteristics, and identifying potential areas for development and bottlenecks. The researchers are building inventories of local marine industries using the PEST (politics, economy, society and technology) overall environmental model. They are using different data, including relevant procurement bids from the past decade and organised five marine industry focus symposiums to which representatives from industry, government, and academia were invited to discuss and identify the developmental needs and directions of local marine industries.

Labour Market Shocks and Parental Investments during the Covid-19 Pandemic

This paper studies spill-over effects of parental labour market shocks at two time points in the Covid-19 crisis: right after its onset in April 2020, and in January 2021. We use rich data from the UK to look at the consequences of immediate and persistent shocks that hit parents’ economic livelihoods. These negative labour market shocks have substantially larger impacts when suffered by fathers than by mothers. Children of fathers that suffered the most severe shocks - earnings dropping to zero - are the ones that are consistently impacted. In April 2020, they were 10 percentage points less likely to have received additional paid learning resources, but their fathers were spending about 30 more minutes per day helping them with school work. However, by January 2021, this latter association switches sign, as the negative spill-over onto children’s education occurred for those fathers facing more persistent, negative labour market shocks as the crisis progressed. The paper discusses potential mechanisms driving these results, finding a sustained deterioration of household finances and a worsening of father’s mental health to be factors at play.

The contribution of fishing to human well-being in Brazilian coastal communities

Artisanal fishing is the main economic and cultural livelihood on the Brazilian coast, strongly contributing to the well-being of fishing communities. However, access to these benefits depends on both local governance and the availability of resources. Here, we investigate Brazilian artisanal fishers’ perceptions of cultural, economic, governance, health and social contributions that artisanal fishing makes to their well-being. We also investigate the influence of geographic (e.g., level of protection) and socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., gender, income and amount of experience) on these perceptions. To do this we conducted 230 structured interviews with fishers from three different areas, two that fish inside protected areas and one that fishes in an urbanized, unprotected area. Our results demonstrate that fishers recognize a wide range of potential well-being benefits from artisanal fishing. Nevertheless, fishers from different areas had significantly different perceptions of cultural, economic, health, and social benefits from artisanal fishing. Perceptions of economic and social benefits seem to be influenced by income while cultural benefits were more influenced by income and gender. Perception of the health benefits of fishing was most influenced by the amount of fishing experience. In contrast to other studies, that primarily focus on the economic benefits of fishing, our research provides a multidimensional perspective of the benefits generated by the practice of artisanal fishing in Brazil. These data can support political decisions that strengthen the management and governance of artisanal fishing, contributing to increasing the well-being of fishing communities and the conservation of limited fisheries resources.

The Trends and Magnitude of Tree Plantation Growing in Rural Communities of Kigezi Sub-region, South Western Uganda

The study documents the trends and magnitude of tree plantation growth in the Kigezi Sub-region of South Western Uganda. In most developing countries, national governments have been promoting and supporting rural communities with tree-planting programs in the region. A trend analysis was used to determine the escalating tree plantation growth in the sub-region. Landsat (TM/ETM+) satellite images were used to capture the trends, and a survey was also used to obtain information on the distribution patterns of established tree plantations. A randomly selected sample of 389 tree plantation growers was surveyed. The research approaches adopted were to supplement and strengthen the findings and also to provide an opportunity for the researcher to understand in-depth how tree plantations grow in the rural livelihood economy. Recommendations from this study emphasise the strengthening of the existing policy reforms. Also, interventions to harness sustainable forestry management should be used to provide integrated benefits to all, ranging from safeguarding local livelihoods to protecting the biodiversity and ecosystems provided by forests and reducing rural poverty in the Kigezi sub-region