REUSING WOODS AND LEAVES – THE RAMIAL CHIP WOOD

Applying RCW on a seedbed

One of the key methods of going green is to reuse things around us. This week I write about an innovative method of reusing wood. This I learnt during my training at the Songhai Centre Port- Novo, Benin Republic. You can read about my Songhai Experience here. This very interesting method is referred to as Ramial Chip Wood Application (RCW).

RAMIAL CHIP WOOD (RCW)

Ramial chip woods are gotten from the crushing of stems, branches and leaves that are non- acidic for fertilization of the soil. The application of chipped wood is done to replicate the effect of natural falling leaves from a tree to the soil and the effect it has after decomposition. Non-acidic wood is said to be used here majorly and decomposition start at about 7 to 8 months. It should be noted that one could have 80% - 20% ratio of non- acidic to acidic wood.

Ramial chipped wood is considered the number one means of fertilizing the soil. There is also a secretion of various antibiotics from bacteria in the chip wood. This helps to protect crop from certain attacks.

Ramial chipped wood is not immediately functional. Thus it is good to mix the use of both RCW and compose. It actually takes 2-3 yrs to start fertilizing the soil. The interesting thing however is that research work shows that such soil fertilized by RCW remains same for another five (5) years.

BENEFITS OF RCW

·         Maintains soil humidity

·         Contributes to destroying weeds

·         Fertilization of the soil

·         Long time preservation of soil nutrients

·         Protection of crop from certain attacks.

·         A good material for mulching

It is however important to note that RCW result in carrying out deforestation especially when entire trees are cut down. Thus it is emphasis to replant after cutting down old tress.

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Growing benefits from forest carbon projects

Forests have a significant role within climate change, and their crucial role in climate change

mitigation and adaptation. It has a potential source of GHG, releasing CO₂ emissions; they also have great potential as sinks, removing CO₂ from the atmosphere, converting it to carbon, which is stored as biomass. Forests as a source of emissions aggravate climate change, while forests as a sink contribute to climate change mitigation. Forests are also sensitive to the effects of changes in temperature, precipitation and seasonal patterns, so their ecosystems are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. 

Forests provide a range of ecosystems services, which today have little direct cash - generating value, but do have significant indirect economic value to people`s livelihoods. The lack of a cash compensation for the benefits from ecosystem services leads to forest degradation and deforestation, often with disastrous environmental and social effects. Conversely, income from payments for ecosystem services, when appropriately structured, leads to the preservation and regeneration of forest resources. Carbon sequestration in forest systems is rapidly becoming the primary ecosystem service for which a sizeable market is emerging. A forest carbon credit represents either the removal of carbon from the atmosphere and storage in the form of biomass (e.g. wood and long – lived wood products). By combining carbon credits with poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation, other social co - benefits and non - carbon ecosystem functions are economically rewarded. The ecosystem service can be monetized as carbon credits, which can form a significant additional income stream. This income could make forestry community more viable in combining forest conservation and biodiversity with poverty reduction and environmental governance.

http://www.earthtimes.org/going-green/timber-plantations-forests/1683/

However, through the products and environmental services they provide, forests also help to make human populations less vulnerable to the damaging effects of climate change, and are therefore important in adaptation strategies, such as:

• The sustainable use of timber and non-timber forest products for alternative livelihoods;

• On-farm plantations for protection of watercourses and provision of shade and dry season fodder for livestock, and;

• Maintenance of biodiversity corridors as shifting seasonal patterns cause wildlife habitats to change. 

So there are many sound reasons why forests have become increasingly linked with efforts to address climate change over recent years.

Photo by worldwildlife.org

Growing or establishing forests can help to combat climate change through absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere, storing carbon in various carbon pools, and, once they leave the forest, in harvested wood products. Forest owners and managers can accelerate this process by managing and conserving existing forest areas, or by creating new ones. A carbon offset projects would be a strong step forward for the preservation of forest resources, forestry projects and the livelihood of the people.

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Act today! Tomorrow will be too late…

A world in which poverty and inequity are endemic will always be prone to ecological and other crises. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development is about finding better ways of doing things, both for the present and future. We need to solve today`s global challenges to have a better tomorrow. Nowadays weface several development challenges: floods, droughts, food shortage, poor access to energy and more.

What can we do?

Invest in Energy efficiency: Investing in efficiency is critical to meeting future demand and mitigation climate change. It reduces GHG and improves productivity. Investing in energy efficiency can save significant amounts of money in a short time. This sector also provides a range of new jobs and income opportunities including advisors, engineers, researches and many more.

Reduce Deforestation: Deforestation is the second leading contributor of carbon emission worldwide. Ending deforestation and protecting forests will not only preserve biodiversity and defend the rights of forest communities, but it is also one of the quickest and cost effective ways of curbing global warming.

Confront water stress:  Water scarcity affects every continent of the globe. According to the World Bank about 700 million people in 43 countries are under water stress. It is important to ensure healthy, secure and sustainable water for our communities, environment and economy - our quality of life depends on it.

Support agriculture and agribusiness: One billion people around the world still live in extreme poverty. Agriculture growth and productivity remains central to poverty reduction, particularly in the poorest countries, where a large share of the population relies on agriculture and agribusiness for their livelihood.

Address long-term needs for food security: Food security is an outcome of livelihoods, therefore it is essential to support and protect livelihoods as well as help vulnerable meet their immediate basic needs for food.

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ARE YOU LIVING SUSTAINABLY?

LIVING SUSTAINABLY WOULD MEAN MAKING EVERYDAY GREEN

With all the pressure on our environment, climate and our surrounding it is important that everyone starts to think sustainability. Sustainability can however not come about if we do not begin to live a sustaining lifestyle. You might begin to wonder what I mean by that.

In the a report on Sustainable living by the St’ Luke’s University in Canada, it explains “sustainable living is making conscious choices in everyday life and begin aware that you are making a choice when you leave the tap running while brushing your teeth, or while shopping for groceries’’. It thus requires a conscious effort on the part of each individual to live a sustaining life.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING – PRACTICAL WAYS

1.      AT HOME – The home is the starting point. Charity begins at home. The home front provides amble opportunity to practice sustainable living. Here are a few ways

·         Hang your cloths dry rather than using a dryer

·         Cover pots when cooking

·         Use energy saving bulbs

·         Turn off lights when not in use

·         If you use an heater or air conditioning system, don’t heat or cool an empty house

·         Shut off water when soaping during a shower or brushing your teeth

2.      RESPONSIBLE BUYING- When making decisions on where to make purchases you also have to think sustainability. You have to think different and weigh your options properly. These could include if possible buying locally. Local products help reduce transportation costs and environmental impacts while contributing to the local economy. Aside from this purchasing clothing made completely or partly form sustainable materials can support the agricultural industries.

3.      WASTE REDUCTION- This involves using fewer materials in the home, office, and school. Recycling is closely related to this. Recycling and waste reduction protects our environment because it reduces the demand on land fill space and it is also good for the economy of any country.

4.      TRANSPORTATION- One key way to reduce the carbon footprint on our environment is sustainable transportation. This allows the basic of individuals to be met without putting the future generation at risk of not meeting the same need. Here are some tips;

·         Use the public transport instead of your car thus reducing fuel use and harmful emissions

·         Carpool with your friends and colleagues. This reduces the number of cars on the road and road congestion too.

·         If you can why don’t you cycle or skate to work

·         Buy vehicles with a record of fuel efficiency

We need to secure our environment both for our use and that of the generations to come. We need to remain healthy and strong. And we can only achieve this when and if we GOGREEN so we can STAY COOL.

Follow these tips and you can be sure of a better life.

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WAYS TO REUSING AND RECYCLING AGRICULTURAL WASTE

Moving waste material to the compost production unit.

I look back this week to my days training at the Songhai Centre in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin. And as I do this, I cannot but look back at how what a lot of materials from agricultural production are reused or recycled.  I would also highlight some practical ways that I have come about in my studies as a Young Professional in Agricultural Research for Development.

1.       Animal Dung and poultry droppings: These two wastes both from animals such as pigs and cattle and droppings from layers or broilers are very useful in the production of biogas. In third world countries like Nigeria where I come from, the cost of power (electricity) is high and irregularity in supply. Thus Biogas is a very good means of generating power. Biogas can be used for cooking and even electricity generation.

2.       Bark of ginger – I found this very thrilling when I first came across it. I was working in the agro processing section. Each time we were to produce ginger juice; we had to peel the gingers. But we didn’t just throw away the bark, we grinded it into powder and used as seasoning in the meat and fish processing unit where it is used in grilling. This results in a very sweet taste and aroma when you eat. Individuals in food processing can take a clue from this.

3.       Water Hyacinths: even though this is seen as a harmful plant or sea weed, it has it usefulness when used. Water hyacinths can be used to detoxify water bodies in enclosed areas. More specifically I recall chopping large quantity of water hyacinth for biogas production. It is mixed with the droppings and dung in biogas production.

4.       Cocoa Shells:  once the beans have been shelled. The empty shell can be dried in the sun or drying machines and then ground in a mill to a powder. This can then in turn be fed to livestock. This shell contains theobromine, fat, vitamin D and has a better nutritional output. Research shows that the cocoa shell flour may be served as a substitute to maize to feed poultry, cattle and pigs up to 35% of their ration. The milled shell can also be used as crop fertilizer.

5.       Feed residues from Grass cutter rearing; when grass cutters eat they usually leave behind bits from their feed especially when given guinea grass. This residue is used in Maggot production for fish farming. This residue is mixed with waste from the abattoir and used to serve as an attractant for houseflies which in turn lay eggs to form maggots after 72hours.

By and large, it is clear how if we look critically into agriculture we discover that the so called waste can be reused to do so many practical things that would not only help reduce waste but also increase productivity and cut down cost.

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Benefits of 3R`s: Reducing - Reusing - Recycling 

With our current consumer driven lifestyle, the volume of waste is growing every year. A helpful way to think of environmental conservation is to think of 3R`s

3R`s are the essential components of environmentally - responsible consumer behavior “Reduce - Reuse - Recycle”. 3R`s are the most effective options to protect, conserve and promote the nature and built environment for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Nowadays many of the problems created by waste can be solved by reducing the amount of waste we produce. Making a new product requires a lot of energy and materials, but less energy is used in recycling products.  It prevents waste from being sent to landfill, hence reduces our impact on climate change.

The other thing is waste minimization, which reduces what we use and therefore the amount of waste we discard. It is worth noting that waste minimization is not recycling. It is all about reducing waste at source (not creating in the first place). For instance, using disposable or buying food we do not need on impulse or because there is a special offer and then wasting it. In terms of waste management, it is the best option.

Many things have a second or even a third life, if you do not want to use them, there are people who will reuse it. At specialized reuse centers and consignment shops you can find everything from books to building materials. Usually they are less expensive and just as good as new.

There are many reasons why we should all reduce our waste - reuse and recycle our resources, some of them are:

•          It saves energy
•          It prevents pollution
•          Saves money
•          Helps sustain the environment for future generations
•          Reduces GHG that contribute to global climate change

You want to know more about sustainable lifestyle? 

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The President of Uruguay, José Mujica met with the GCARD2 - Social Media Reporters 

During the GCARD2, the Social Media Reporters had a chance to meet up with the President of Uruguay.

The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2) was organized in Punta del Este, Uruguay, 29 October - 1 November 2012. GCARD2, it focused on the ways to implement the tasks identified in the GCARD RoadMap with special attention to "Foresight and partnership for innovation and impact on small-holder livelihoods". See the GCARD 2 leaflet. Read more http://www.egfar.org/gcard
See also the GCARD2 Uruguayan website at http://www.gcard2012.uy/
(Additional information, not vetted as official communications, can be found on the GCARD blog http://gcardblog.wordpress.com/)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GFARforum