The Tarahumara are one of the most isolated and intact indigenous groups in Mexico. Their agriculture has traditionally been practiced within the steep canyons and uplands of the Sierra Madre Occidental in southwestern Chihuahua. Adapting to these rugged conditions, the Tarahumara developed a variety of agricultural techniques that allowed them to be self-sufficient in food production and independent of external inputs. As varied and ingenious as their techniques are, they share one main objective -- to overcome the lack of organic matter in the stony mountain soils. Since the arrival of the Spaniards, the addition of organic matter has involved large amounts of animal manure to increase organic matter in the soil and maintain fertility. The focus of this study is to investigate new agricultural techniques that the Tarahumara are adopting due to the pressures of globalization and alleged climate change. These new technologies may still include many traditional agricultural methods, but they are increasingly using commercially available fertilizers and other modern agricultural additions, thereby losing self-sufficiency. This study includes in depth interviews with 28 Tarahumara farmers to better understand the modern agricultural techniques, their motivations, and overall sustainability. Soil samples determined the viability of Tarahumara agricultural techniques on soil fertility by examining the visual description, organic matter content, soil texture, and a chemical analysis. The analyses showed that traditional Tarahumara agricultural practices are efficient and sustainable, while modern additions are often ill-suited for their environment and are disruptive to Tarahumara culture. / text

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Natural protected areas are places intended to protect nature, but it is now accepted that their social impact must be compatible with the ideals of 'sustainable development': they must conserve nature while improving, or at least not injuring, the socio-economic status of human communities. In Mexico, recent conservation policy has emphasized the creation of biosphere reserves, a type of protected area designed as a practical application of the concept of sustainable development. Previous research has shown that in Mexico and elsewhere, such reserves are often created in areas that are environmentally marginal and where, therefore, the lives and livelihoods of inhabitants are precarious at best. This makes the dual challenges of protecting nature and aiding social and economic development particularly acute. This study explores these challenges by considering the socio-economic patterns within protected areas along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of central Mexico. The study measured sustainable development, as indexed by the Mexican government, at both the regional and local scales, combining census data and interviews with residents in the Sierra Gorda Reserve. This combination of methodologies allowed for a fuller description of the social impacts of protected areas at different scales. The study found that while overall the lives of residents in or near natural protected areas improved steadily between 1990 and 2000, these areas are also characterized by high migration levels and an aging population, which may threaten the future sustainability of these communities. The study concludes by suggesting that migration is a key factor which should be included in Mexico's assessments of sustainable development, and that the concept of a community's social resilience is extremely useful in informing future studies.

This study provides an analysis of the experience of persons disabled by war in the peace processes of Sierra Leone such as the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Program, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Special Court and the electoral process. The research findings are a result of participant observation and qualitative interviewing methodologies carried out over two months of intensive in-country field research. The main themes that resulted from the research are: Inclusion and Participation in Decision Making, Utilizing Unique Initiatives, Dissension among the Disabled, Justice Unfulfilled, Recognizing the Unintended Consequences of Peace Building, and Experiences with Policy Makers. The results of these findings are discussed in relation to current notions of peace, reconciliation, justice and retribution. Particular attention is paid to the current relationship between the international community and persons disabled by war in Sierra Leone, and recommendations are made by participants regarding ways to strengthen and build on that relationship.

Zugl.: Bremen, Univ., Diss., 2005

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University--San Marcos, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-121). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1997. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-48). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Flinders University, School of Political and International Studies. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 221-238) Also available online.

Thesis--George-August-Universität. / Spanish summary. Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-142).

Based on the author's Thesis (doctoral)--University of Lagos. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 309-332) and index.