Sustainable Environmental Conservation in East Africa through Agroforestry Systems: A Case of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania
Msafiri Yusuph Mkonda,
Xinhua He
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, July 2017
Pages:
49-56
Received:
17 June 2017
Accepted:
30 June 2017
Published:
26 July 2017
Abstract: Sustainable conservation of any ecosystem needs a balance between resource utilization and management. The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of East Africa which covers a large area more particularly in Tanzania needs such kind of balance for its sustainability. With potential biophysical resources such as fluvial, vertisols and xerosols soils with the annual rainfall exceeds 1200 mm per year, may attracts more degradation than conservation. This review aims to assess the influence of agroforestry and related farming systems in the intensification of sustainable conservation in the area. Thereby, we reviewed 39 peer reviewed publications from the data base and some secondary data to attain the goal. It is discernible that agroforestry has increased crop yields for over 50% in the area. However, the ongoing degradation threatens the sustainability of the EAM. Forest degradation will offset over 100 million tons of carbon that is stored in the EAM. Besides, environmental degradation will significantly affect the water sources that feed over 3.5 million people in the downstream. Then, the supply of water for Hydro-Electric Power, environmental requirements and agricultural activities in the downstream will be adequate affected. To curb the authentic and potential degradation, the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Funds (EAMCEF) is operational in the area. Norway is among the great funders of EAMCEF. Therefore, for the robustness of sustainable conservation in EAM, a collective effort from various stakeholders especially donors are needed.
Abstract: Sustainable conservation of any ecosystem needs a balance between resource utilization and management. The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of East Africa which covers a large area more particularly in Tanzania needs such kind of balance for its sustainability. With potential biophysical resources such as fluvial, vertisols and xerosols soils with the a...
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Performance Evaluation of a Solar Cooker with Low Cost Heat Storage Material
Abhishek Saxena,
Mehmet Karakilcik
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, July 2017
Pages:
57-63
Received:
5 June 2017
Accepted:
26 June 2017
Published:
31 July 2017
Abstract: A solar box cooker (SBC) has been developed for the thermal performance evaluation by operating it on a low cost thermal storage. For this, a mixture of sand and granular carbon has been prepared and tested for an optimum ratio under a solar collector. After testing, the ratio of 4:6 (sand: carbon) has been observed to maintain a high temperature range with long term heat storage. This mixture has been used as thermal heat storage inside the SBC. The experimentation procedure has been conducted under climatic conditions of Moradabad, India. Results indicated that the first Figure of merit (F1) was 0.13 m2°C /W, second Figure of merit (F2) was 0.44 m2°C /W, thermal efficiency was estimated to be 37.1%, cooking power was estimated as 44.81% and overall heat loss coefficient was 3.01 W/m2°C. The system was found feasible for cooking during the off sunshine conditions.
Abstract: A solar box cooker (SBC) has been developed for the thermal performance evaluation by operating it on a low cost thermal storage. For this, a mixture of sand and granular carbon has been prepared and tested for an optimum ratio under a solar collector. After testing, the ratio of 4:6 (sand: carbon) has been observed to maintain a high temperature r...
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