This study develops a basis for a land information system for the 40 ha subtropical highland catchment of Wang Jia, Yunnan Province, China. Information, including meteorology, geology, geomorphology, biology, pedology and crop productivity, was integrated using a geomorphopedological approach and expressed as maps using GIS. The developed protocol is proposed as a generic system, applicable to agricultural land evaluation in subtropical highland catchments. The results demonstrate that Wang Jia Catchment is relatively representative of the region, in terms of geomorphological features and land cover. Catchment soils, developed from residual, colluvial and alluvial materials of sandstone, shale and dolomite on different landscapes, were still young and strongly influenced by their geological parent material. Soils were normally slightly acidic to neutral. Soil fertility varied from poor to very fertile. Maize yield was significantly correlated with soil pH, total N, available N, P and K and thus the Soil Fertility Index. In 2002, maize yield was significantly correlated with manure and urea applications. There was considerable potential to increase maize yield with modified and innovative cropping practices in the catchment. Adopted primarily as a soil conservation practice, contour cultivation did not increase maize yield compared to downslope cultivation. Polythene mulch tended to increase maize yield in most years. These results largely accord with the results from controlled research plots in the same catchment. Analysis of intra-plot variations showed that soil samples from planting pits had higher total soil organic matter, total N, available N, available P and available K than inter-row samples, but with higher standard deviations. Most soil fertility parameters for inter-row samples were more similar to traditional random composite samples. These results suggest if composite samples were taken only from inter-rows, the results would have been similar, but the risk of sampling error would have been reduced. The land information system established in this study is suitable for designing, evaluating and monitoring sustainable agricultural practices central to soil conservation and crop yield improvement and thus contributing to decision-making for sustainable agricultural land management in this region.

Thesis deals with the mapping of our species of amphibians and reptiles in the hills of St. Thomas and the right bank of Lipno. Findings of older data in the atlas and the lack of extension work to monitor the biodiversity of species inspired me to map the location. Alignment of the square with the border position was more than 40 years, closed intensive human activities. This reasoning was that the richness and diversity of amphibians and reptiles could be acknowledge. The aim was to monitor the designated area and to identify the occurrence of individual species of amphibians and reptiles. Locate their habitats in which they propose to Match and protect this natural heritage for the future.

During 2014, research undertaken at the sites of Cerro San Bernardo (ACO3; 2,000 m above sea level) and Challaca (CH1; 2,015 m above sea level) revealed the first documented Nasca sites (260 B.C – A.D. 640) in the yunga ecozone of the upper drainage of the Ica River. Both sites also demonstrated evidence of an even earlier, Early Horizon occupation (840 – 260 B.C.). These two sites are located on small, mainly granite, knolls situated on the Northern and Southern banks of the upper drainage of the Ica River. From these sites, it is possible to oversee an extensive area of cultivation that extends from the mountains to the East down to the Western boundary of the Challaca-Tiraxi Canyon. An area, which these sites could well have controlled. Geographically, the canyon divides the Ica Highlands from the coastal area, giving this juncture geopolitical importance. It is possible that the strategic location of this Nasca enclave in the Ica Highlands was aimed at controlling access between coastal polities and highland sectors, while exploiting this zones rich, high-altitude resources. Probably, occupation of this strategic sector commenced during the Early Horizon (840 – 260 B.C.), pointing to a long presence by coastal groups in the highlands. The aim of this article then, is to tease-out patterns of control, interaction, and the type of frontier in existence between the Nasca and coeval, neighboring, highland cultural groups, thereby providing new evidence concerning Nasca presence in the upper drainage of the Ica River. / Las investigaciones iniciadas en el año 2014 en el Cerro San Bernardo (ACO3; 2000 metros sobre el nivel del mar) y Challaca (CH1; 2015 metros sobre el nivel del mar) nos han permitido hallar los primeros sitios Nasca (260 a.C a 640 d.C.) en la ecozona yunga de la cuenca alta del río Ica. Los dos sitios también registran la posibilidad de una ocupación aún más temprana que se remonta al Horizonte Temprano (840 a 260 a.C.). Estos dos sitios se ubican sobre cerros pequeños, que están conformados principalmente por granito, y que se localizan al norte y sur sobre los márgenes de la cuenca alta del río Ica. Desde estos sitios, se puede divisar una extensa área de cultivo que se extiende desde los cerros al este, hasta el oeste y el límite del cañón de Challaca-Tiraxi, la cual podría estar bajo su control. Geográficamente, el cañón divide la sierra de Ica del área costera, a partir de lo cual le brinda una ubicación geopolítica importante. Es posible que la localización estratégica de este enclave Nasca en la sierra de Ica haya sido para controlar el acceso desde las sociedades costeras a los sectores de la sierra, mientras se nutría de los recursos de esta rica zona alta. Probablemente, la ocupación de este punto estratégico se inició durante el Horizonte Temprano (840 a 260 a.C.), lo cual significaría una presencia larga por parte de los grupos costeños en la sierra. Ante este contexto, el objetivo del presente trabajo es indagar sobre los patrones de control, interacción y el tipo de frontera entre los Nasca y los grupos culturales serranos, vecinos, sincrónicos, aportando nuevas evidencias sobre la presencia Nasca en la cuenca alta del río Ica.

The Gulf of Guinea Highlands is a unique mountane range of volcanic origin, situated on the African mainland in the borther of Nigeria and Cameroon, and the Gulf of Guinea islands of Bioko, S?o Tomé and Príncipe. This area is highly unique as the only large mountains in central and western Africa. The high degree of isolation of these mountains generated high degree of endemism of many groups of organisms; the whole region is thus one of the world biodiversity hotspots (known as the West African Forests). Despite its tremnedous conservation importance, this mountain range is under strong anthropogenic influence, as one of the most densely populated areas in tropical Africa. Despite all these factors, the conservation efforts in West Africa focused mainly on lowland areas of rain forests, whilst only few conservation effort is focused to the mountain habitats. As the other result, the lack of comprehensive biogeographic and phytogeographical studies of mountain flora and fauna is obvious. In this work, I have summarized the results of all crucial studies of the biogeography of the Gulf of Guinea Highlands. I also obtained sequences of three mitochondrial genes (COI, COII, and ND1) of an endemic montane butterfly Bicyclus anisops. Variability in the studied genes was relatively low. Phylogenetic analyses separated haplotypes into 7 well-established groups (1st Mt. Cameroon, 2nd Nkogam I, 3rd Nkogam II, 4th Bakossi-Kupe-Manengouba-Bani, 5th Mbam, 7th Hosséré Enla Fabo 6th all others localities (tj. Bamenda-Banso Mts., Acha Tugi, Mbam, Ngel Nyaki, Gotel Mts.)) but did not significantly resolved relationships among them. Based on the hyplotype diversity of B. anisops as an umbrella species, Mt. Cameroon, Nkogam, Mbam Massif, Mbiame, Hosséré Enla Fabo, Mt. Manengouba, Mt. Kupe and Mt. Oku are considered as localities of the highest conservation importance.

The examined area is related to previously mapped localities in the Novohradské Mountains and the foothills and creates a comprehensive insight into the landscape, not only from the geomorphological point of view. The goal is to create a geomorphological map at a scale of 1:25000, and some more detailed plans of the most interesting localities, using GPS technology. The maps were processed using ArcGIS 9.1 software and ZABAGED maps. The text section of the thesis contains a characteristics of various relief forms in the studied locations. Furthermore, an overall analysis of the physical-geographical elements that influence the landscape character was elaborated. The fieldwork was executed in 2010 and 2011.

This study developed a general framework that can be applied to integrating environmental sustainability aspects into economic development planning in the case of exploiting water resources through inter-basin water transfers (IBWT). Using the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) between Lesotho and South Africa (SA), the study used the multi-country ecological social accounting matrix (MC-ESAM) for Lesotho and SA to integrate ecological implications of the LHWP with the economic benefits of the project. The study further used the developed MC-ESAM multipliers to analyse the impact of lost ecological services downstream the LHWP dams in Lesotho on the wellbeing of households directly affected by the project in Lesotho and the general economies of Lesotho and SA. The MC-ESAM multipliers were also used to analyse different policy scenarios aimed at compensating affected households in Lesotho for ecological losses. The results revealed that while the LHWP has significant direct and indirect benefits in terms of social and economic development in Lesotho and SA, the project has serious unitended impacts on ecological resources and services, with resultant deleterious wellbeing implications for populations residing within the reaches of the LHWP rivers and downstream the LHWP dams in Lesotho. The results from the MC-ESAM multiplier analysis indicated that not only the income of populations directly affected by the project in Lesotho is likely to fall, but also that of other households and social groups, as well as the general economies of Lesotho. Also, because of economic dependence of Lesotho on SA in terms of imports, SA will also loose. The policy simulation results showed that compensating the ecological losses would greatly improve the welfare of directly affected populations and the rest of Lesotho economy. The empirical analysis and policy simulations results showed relatively small impacts in general, but were significant for groups of people directly affected by the project in Lesotho. The study demonstrated the importance of integrating ecological consequences into impact assessment of IBWT before such transfers can be implemented to ensure Pareto optimality and of considering economy-wide impacts and multi-sector, multi-country linkages associated with IBWT for a holistic impact assessment of IBWT. / Thesis (PhD (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

The origin and classification of open and mosaic ecosystems, particularly in the tropics and subtropics, have led to controversy worldwide. This has affected biodiversity conservation and, in some cases, promoted the establishment of afforestation projects based on the assumption that open and mosaic ecosystems are degraded forests. Although this initiative can have benefits in terms of carbon storage and climate mitigation if carefully planned and managed, it can also cause biodiversity loss and degradation when afforestation takes place in areas that were previously open ecosystems, or where unsuitable species are used. Madagascar, a world biodiversity hotspot, is one of the countries targeted for the implementation of afforestation projects. The Central Highlands of Madagascar, dominated by grassland matrix with forest patches, is the main region targeted. The nature and origin of the landscape are hotly debated, however, and it is not clear whether these open ecosystems are ancient or anthropogenically derived. Understanding of landscape history is therefore required to identify and conserve ancient open ecosystems, and to distinguish them from areas that have been deforested by people. This research aims to reconstruct the vegetation history and environmental change in the Central Highlands of Madagascar during the Holocene using palaeoecological methods, in order to inform appropriate conservation and management plans. We provide new records of vegetation, hydrological change, fire and herbivory activities by using a multiproxy approach, which includes fossil pollen, stable carbon isotopes, diatoms, charcoal and coprophilous spores, that allows for a comprehensive investigation into the history and drivers of vegetation change. Sediment cores were collected from two sites, Tampoketsa-Ankazobe wetland and Lake Dangovavy, located in the eastern and western slopes of the highlands, respectively. Results indicated that the surrounding area of both sites was composed of mosaic ecosystems, comprising of forest patches of variable extent in a matrix of open grassland and ericoid shrubland vegetation, at least from the Early and Mid-Holocene to ca. 1000 cal years BP, driven mainly by climate variability and fire occurrence. In Tampoketsa-Ankazobe wetland (eastern slopes), the vegetation was characterised by a mosaic of ericoid shrubland and mid-elevation forest taxa, between ca. 11 200 and 8300 cal years BP, under warm/wet period and low fire occurrence. The vegetation in the area changed to a mosaic of ericoid shrubland with more dominance of high-elevation forest from ca. 8300 to 1000 cal years BP under a drier climate and consistent low fire occurrence. The abundance of shrubs and trees during those two periods were confirmed by the dominance of C3 plants as reflected by the stable carbon isotopes results, and coincided with low herbivory activities in the TampoketsaAnkazobe site from ca. 11 200 to 1000 cal years BP. In parallel, the pollen record from Lake Dangovavy (western slopes), between ca. 6200 and 5400 cal years BP, suggests a mosaic ecosystem, dominated by more C3 montane grass, ericoid shrubland and high elevation forest patches promoted by cool/dry climate with low fire occurrence and herbivory activities. Between ca. 5400 and 4200 cal years BP, vegetation in the area was dominated by a mosaic of ericoid shrubland and mid-elevation forest under a wetter period, moderate fire occurrence, and herbivory activities. This mosaic was controlled by climate, fire refugia and herbivory feedbacks. The vegetation changed into a forest-savanna mosaic with an abundance of grassland and pioneer/fire-resistant trees between ca. 4200 and 3000 cal years BP. The period was characterised by an initial increase of local fire followed by a regional drought event. This suggests that a threshold might have been reached, with a resulting shift in vegetation composition. Between ca. 3000 and 1000 cal years BP, reoccurrence of ericoid shrubland with woodland savanna taxa was recorded in the area. The vegetation was conditioned by variation of climate from wet (until ca. 2000 cal years BP) to dry period (ca. 2000–⁠1000 cal years BP) with moderate fire occurrence and herbivory activities. In addition, stable carbon isotope results show that between ca. 6200 to 1000 cal years BP, the site was characterised by C3 plants. During the last ca.1000 cal years BP, pollen records from both sites in the Central Highlands of Madagascar showed a shift to a more open landscape dominated by grassland. Trees and shrubland in the highlands experienced a massive decrease and this correlated with an abundance of C4 plants associated with reduced diversity. The shift of vegetation during this period was likely a result of a centennial severe drought period at ca. 950 cal years BP, as recorded in the literature and confirmed by the peak in aerophilous taxa in our diatom record. The drought was followed by a dramatic increase of fire occurrence and herbivory activities in the region, as recorded in the charcoal and spore records from both sites, indicating human activities at ca. 700 and 500 cal years BP for Lake Dangovavy and Tampoketsa-Ankazobe wetland, respectively. Though the vegetation at both sites in Central Highlands of Madagascar was very dynamic until ca. 1000 cal years BP, complex interactions between climate and fire allowed the forest and ericoid elements to persist, consistent with a heterogeneous mosaic landscape. This changed from 1000 years ago with the occurrence of a regional severe drought event followed by an increase in human activities leading to an increase of grass, a decline in forest and ericoid elements. Our findings suggest that although, the eastern and western slopes in Madagascar might have different vegetation histories over time as a response to the complex climatic-fire drivers at least until ca. 1000 cal years BP, they both: a) Contained ancient open ecosystems such as grasslands and/or ericoid shrubland, and a mosaic landscape which should be considered typical of the highland region. b) Experienced a loss of forest, woodland and mosaic elements, a trend that is consistent with the anthropogenic conversion of some forests to grasslands since ca. 1000 cal years BP. Such findings have implications in terms of conservation, fire management and afforestation projects in the Central Highlands, and provide additional knowledge that contributes to the understanding of its ecological processes and history prior to human arrival on the island. Indeed: 1) Ancient grasslands and ericoid shrubland need to be identified and conserved because of their antiquity and unique biodiversity. To date, there has been some focus on ancient grasslands, but the presence of ancient heathlands has not been discussed. 2) It is important to distinguish ancient from derived grasslands and to target the latter for reforestation, using species that are typical of the remaining forest patches. 3) Fire management should be conducted at a local scale and should incorporate the landscape fire history, considering, for example, the differences between two slopes in the Central Highlands.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地域研究) / 甲第24255号 / 地博第308号 / 新制||地||119(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科グローバル地域研究専攻 / (主査)教授 河野 泰之, 教授 長岡 慎介, 教授 D'SOUZA Rohan Ignatious / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Area Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM

The research explores the potential impact of climate change on water availability in the highlands of Yemen across various future scenarios. To overcome the challenge of limited ground observations in Yemen, the study first evaluated multiple advanced climate datasets, including satellite-based, reanalysis, and gauge-based data. It then employed statistical downscaling to produce more accurate projections with higher spatial resolution and used the SWAT hydrological model to examine how key water components will be affected by changes in precipitation and temperature. Additionally, the study included a socio-economic analysis to identify practical adaptation measures to mitigate the impact on water availability, with a particular emphasis on local strategies that can be effectively implemented by the community.:List of Figures v List of Tables x Abbreviations and Symbols xii Abstract xv General Abstract xvii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Overview 2 1.2 Description of the study area 5 1.3 Objectives of the study 7 1.4 Arrangement of the research chapters 8 1.5 A List of the Papers and their Contributions to the Thesis 10 Evaluation the Performance of Several Precipitation Products over the Highland Region of Yemen for Water Resources Management 13 2.1 Introduction 15 2.2 Study area and climate data 18 2.2.1 Region of interest 18 2.2.2 Data sets 19 2.2.3 Satellite-based data 20 2.2.4 Reanalysis data 21 2.2.5 Gauge-based data 22 2.3 Materials and Methods 24 2.3.1 Quality control of ground data 24 2.3.2 Comparing the precipitation products against observations 24 2.4 Results 27 2.4.1 Examination of rainfall daily estimates 27 2.4.2 Monthly evaluation 30 2.4.3 Annual timescale evaluation 36 2.5 Discussion 39 2.6 Conclusion 40 Projection of Climate Variability on the Yemeni Highlands by Statistical Down-Scaling for the Period 2010-2100 44 3.1 Introduction 47 3.2 The study area 52 3.3 Methodology and data sets 54 3.3.1 High-resolution gridded data 55 3.3.2 Reanalysis data 55 3.3.3 Global Climate Models (GCMs) data 56 3.3.4 Assessment of GCMs ensembles (CMIP5 and CMIP6) 57 3.3.5 The Statistical Down-Scaling Model (SDSM) 58 3.3.6 Predictors and steps of calibration and validation of SDSM 60 3.4 Results 60 3.4.1 Calibration and validation of precipitation 60 3.4.2 Calibration result of the temperature 65 3.4.3 Current condition of precipitation across the region 66 3.4.4 Seasonal future scenarios of precipitation 68 3.4.5 Annual projections of precipitation 72 3.4.6 Evaluation of SDSM precipitation output with GCMs estimates against rainfall observations 74 3.4.7 Long-term changes in maximum temperature 75 3.4.8 Long-term changes in minimum temperature 77 3.4.9 Evaluation of SDSM output and GCMs estimates against observed temperature 78 3.5 Discussion 79 3.6 Summary and conclusion 82 4 Hydrological Investigation of Climate Change Impacts on Water Balance Components in the Terraced Watersheds of Yemeni Highlands Region 85 4.1 Introduction 86 4.2 Materials and methods 88 4.2.1 Description of the catchments 88 4.2.2 Soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) 91 4.2.3 Topography and watershed configuration 92 4.2.4 Soil data 92 4.2.5 Land use and land cover (LULC) data 93 4.2.6 Hydro-meteorological data 94 4.2.7 Elevation bands and terraces integration 96 4.3 Model performance metrics 99 4.4 Results 100 4.4.1 Sensitivity analysis 100 4.4.2 Result of calibration and validation 102 4.4.3 Climate change projected change on the region 105 4.4.4 Impact assessment of the hydrological regime of Sana’a catchment 107 4.4.5 Assessment of hydrological regime of Surdod catchment 109 4.4.6 Assessment of climate change impact on the hydrological regime of Siham watershed 111 4.5 Discussion 113 4.6 Summary and conclusion 118 5 Potential of Traditional Adaptation Measures in Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change 120 5.1 Introduction 121 5.2 Materials and methods 125 5.2.1 The study area 125 5.2.2 Data collection 125 5.3 Result and discussion 127 5.3.1 Agricultural water management 127 5.3.2 Farming measures 132 5.3.3 Soil protection measures 134 5.3.4 Conservation of natural resources 135 5.3.5 Household measures 137 5.3.6 Social aspects and challenges 139 5.4 Conclusion 142 6 General Conclusion and Recommendations 145 6.1 General conclusion 145 6.1.1 Summary 146 6.1.2 General recommendations 148 Acknowledgement 151 Bibliography 179 7 Supplementary Materials 180 7.1 Supplementary material Chapter 3 181 7.2 Supplementary materials chapter 4 184

"Region" is nowadays one of the most frequented term in the discourse of the humanities. In the approach of the History, the region is used as a theoretical and methodological concept, whose content has wide range in other social sciences, such as Human Geography and Sociology. This thesis deals with the possibility of the utilization of this term in the historical research applicated on the particular case of the Bohemian- Moravian Highlands. Thesis describes the recent state of the research and the progress in the approach to the term of region. The main concepts which can be used in the case of the Highlands are also shown and described. This particular region was chosen because of its specificity - it's a central periphery, which formed itself into a centralized and institutionalized modern region, the Vysočina Region, during the 20th century. The basic way-out is Anssi Paasi's theory of the shaping of regions. According to it, region can be found in many dimensions in the process of its creation - not just in a physical shape, but also in a symbolic shape, in the making of its identity. Eventually, region has got variable social and economic characteristics. The meaning in which region is percepted and imagined is also changed by these processes of creation - the role of the region is changing...