Mountains in East Africa: the missing Commonwealth dimension
Mountains play a vital ro˘le in the global ecosystem and economy. They are a source of most of the world's fresh water and many mountain regions possess key sites of biodiversity, while forested areas are both economically and ecologically important. While international agencies variously highlight mountain issues, there is virtually no direct involvement of Commonwealth-based activities, despite the fact that the Commonwealth contains some of the world's most significant mountain areas. In the wake of the 2002 International Year of the Mountains, the author draws on 15 years of studies of the East African Mountains to examine the successes and failures of government policies and international interventions.
Not all African land is being degraded: a recent survey of trees on farms in Kenya reveals rapidly increasing forest resources
This article presents results from a survey of woody biomass on farmland in Kenya. The survey covered the 10 mill. ha of high-potential land where 80% of the country's population lives. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, a rapid increase of planted woody biomass between years 1986-1992 was discovered. The annual increase was estimated at 4.7%. The survey also revealed that wood on farmlands can become a major source of raw materials for the wood industry, since the standing volume is larger than that found in conventional forests. Previous conclusions, i.e. that population density is positively correlated with the volume of planted woody biomass, were confirmed by the survey finding of a high (r2 = 0.64) correlation at the district level. The results imply that some pessimistic opinions on land-use development in Kenya are false. Instead of increasing fuelwood deficit and land degradation following rapid population growth, Kenyan farmers seem to apply wise and sustainable-management practices, including tree growing. It is suggested that the land-tenure system-most agricultural land in high-potential Kenya is privately owned-is a significant reason for the recent development.
Geographic And Environmental Influence On Maya Settlement Patterns Of The Northwest Yucatan: An Explanation For The Sparsely Settled Western Cenote Zone
Most settlement pattern research and GIS analysis of the ancient Maya of the Northern Yucatan have focused on water availability in a dry landscape where cenotes are often the only water source. While water is of paramount importance, permanent settlement secondarily requires farmable soil, a resource often as precious as water in many parts of the Yucatan. The dynamics between these resources reveal areas of ideal settlement and more challenging landscapes for which the Maya developed strategies to overcome environmental conditions. A region of the southwest "Cenote Zone", however, appears to have presented the ancient Maya with insurmountably poor environmental conditions despite abundant water resources. The lack of dense population and stone architecture in this area emphasizes the lack of a simple correlation between cenotes and settlement. This thesis uses GIS analysis to identify and explore such problematic settlement areas to better understand the factors and complexities involved in the more successful settlements of neighboring regions. iv This work is dedicated to my late father, who first introduced me to the Mundo Maya through a visit to the ruins of Tikal at the age of nine, and who instilled in me strength, curiosity, and a love for exploring the world. v ACKLOWLEDGEMENTS I'd like to acknowledge Dr. Arlen Chase and Dr. Diane Chase for providing such outstanding opportunities and instruction, and for leading by example both in the field and in the classroom. Dr. John Walker for his eye-opening perspectives, GIS instruction, inspiring hard-working attitude, and patience in the field. Dr. Clifford Brown and Dr. Walter Witschey for their invaluable correspondence and for their contributions to mapping and GIS data of Maya sites.