Ideal Free Distributions of Mobile Pastoralists in Multiple Seasonal Grazing Areas
Abstract The pastoral system in the Far North Region of Cameroon is best described as an open system in which mobile pastoralists have open access to common-pool grazing resources. We hypothesized that there is a self-organizing management system of open access to common-pool grazing resources and predicted that we would find an Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) of mobile pastoralists within seasonal grazing areas. In this paper we used mobility data and remote sensing data from two seasonal grazing areas at the end of the dry season in three consecutive years to evaluate that hypothesis. We found evidence of an IFD in the two seasonal grazing areas of the Logone Floodplain and the Lake Maga area. These findings offer further support for our hypothesis that there is a complex adaptive system in which pastoralists distribute themselves effectively over available grazing resources.
Pastoralist Responses to Floodplain Rehabilitation in North Cameroon
This paper examines the responses of mobile pastoralists to a floodplain rehabilitation program in north Cameroon. From 1993 to 1999, we measured changes in number of camps and herds, and the time they spent in the 600 km2 of the Logone floodplain that was reflooded in 1994. The first year, few pastoralists anticipated the reflooding or its impact, and the increase in grazing intensity was caused by a prolonged stay of pastoralists who already used the area for transit. The following three years showed a sharp increase in the number of camps and herds, which stabilized from 1997 onwards. Overall, grazing intensity increased threefold, following the gradually recovering perennial grasslands, with no signs of overexploitation of the area. These developments closely match the ideal preemptive distribution model. We also examined how reflooding affected pastoral incursions in the Waza National Park located in the floodplain.
English Code-Mixing and Code-Switching in Thai Songs
This study aims to investigate the attitudes of Thai people toward English code-mixing and code-switching in Thai songs and to find out if English code-mixing and code-switching in Thai songs could be an effective pedagogical instrument for learning the English language. The researcher selected a target population of 50 Thai participants (25 adolescent and 25 middle aged participants) and, by using a questionnaire, surveyed their attitudes towards the mixing and switching of English vocabulary in Thai songs. In addition to the questionnaire, two from the 50 participants were interviewed. One was an adolescent who has a very good knowledge of English and the other was a middle aged participant with almost no knowledge of English. The findings show that a majority of the middle aged participants disagree on the positive attitudes and reasons of people who listen to Thai songs which mix and switch the English language while a majority of the adolescent participants believe that some people who listen to Thai songs which mix and switch the English language are knowledgeable as well as show good taste and have a high social status. On the other hand, both the adolescent and middle aged group agree that some Thai songs which mix and switch the English language sound annoying and are inconsistent in conveying the meaning of the lyrics. Both groups also agree that Thai songs which mix and switch the English language may help listeners to enhance their knowledge of the English language. When interviewed individually, the participant who is very good in the English language tended to emphasize only the English competency of the listeners; while the participant who does not have any knowledge of the English language tended to emphasize the listeners‟ liking of the lyrics, the meaning and the melody of the songs. However, the use, as a pedagogical instrument, of Thai songs which mix and switch the English language could open up an additional choice for language learners in English vocabulary learning. Such songs would be acceptable as an effective pedagogical instrument for learning the English language if the English words in the songs also show correct English syntax.