title: Utilizing soil indicators to explain historical vegetation changes of a peatland subjected to flood inundation

authors: Blyth, James Mitchell

subjects: Atmospheric ammonia

abstract: Flooding and land use changes can be a significant source of nutrients to wetlands and contribute to ecosystem changes at a community level. We studied changes in vegetation composition and peat properties in a New Zealand wetland incorporated into a flood control scheme. Lack of hydrological records pre-development of the flood control scheme allowed the opportunity to use nutrient and physical indicators developed for restiad vegetation groups, to identify if increased flooding was the primary cause for ecological succession. Vegetation changes along a 2.3-km transect were related to hydrological processes, peat characteristics and atmospheric ammonia inputs. Measurements for peat and vegetation composition were taken from 27 sites, whereas hydrological analysis incorporated seven automated water level sites and a historical investigation of 46years of river flood records. Ammonia deposition was higher on the farmland/wetland fringe (4.0kgNha-1year-1) but decreased to background levels (2-2.5kgNha-1year-1) 500m into the wetland. Classification and ordination of vegetation data with environmental variables identified six main groups along a gradient from low nutrients and stable water tables (farthest from the river) to high nutrients and a dynamic water table near the river. Invasion over 50years of the native scrub tree Leptospermum scoparium into restiad bog was linked to enhanced nutrient inputs and physical degradation from flooding, portrayed through levels higher than restiad indicator target ranges. This study shows that target ranges for vegetation indicators can be used as a tool to identify ecological succession and invasion.

text: Utilizing soil indicators to explain historical vegetation changes of a peatland subjected to flood inundation Flooding and land use changes can be a significant source of nutrients to wetlands and contribute to ecosystem changes at a community level. We studied changes in vegetation composition and peat properties in a New Zealand wetland incorporated into a flood control scheme. Lack of hydrological records pre-development of the flood control scheme allowed the opportunity to use nutrient and physical indicators developed for restiad vegetation groups, to identify if increased flooding was the primary cause for ecological succession. Vegetation changes along a 2.3-km transect were related to hydrological processes, peat characteristics and atmospheric ammonia inputs. Measurements for peat and vegetation composition were taken from 27 sites, whereas hydrological analysis incorporated seven automated water level sites and a historical investigation of 46years of river flood records. Ammonia deposition was higher on the farmland/wetland fringe (4.0kgNha-1year-1) but decreased to background levels (2-2.5kgNha-1year-1) 500m into the wetland. Classification and ordination of vegetation data with environmental variables identified six main groups along a gradient from low nutrients and stable water tables (farthest from the river) to high nutrients and a dynamic water table near the river. Invasion over 50years of the native scrub tree Leptospermum scoparium into restiad bog was linked to enhanced nutrient inputs and physical degradation from flooding, portrayed through levels higher than restiad indicator target ranges. This study shows that target ranges for vegetation indicators can be used as a tool to identify ecological succession and invasion.

year: 2013

title: Smallholder sugarcane growers, indigenous technical knowledge, and the sugar industry crisis in Fiji

authors: Dean, Mohseen Riaz Ud

subjects: Smallholder

abstract: This is a cross-disciplinary study that draws upon the agronomic, ecological, and social sciences to analyse the current crisis facing the sugar industry in Fiji. Its particular focus is the livelihood crisis facing the smallholder sugarcane growers, and it explores the potential of their local and traditional farming knowledge as a source of solutions for both crises. It argues, however, that present proposals for reforming the sugar industry in Fiji are wedded to the industrial agricultural paradigm and a globalized corporate food regime that is the source of the problems it currently faces and which threatens the future of the smallholder sugarcane farming system along with its local traditional knowledge. The thesis draws inspiration from Agroecology as an agricultural paradigm alternative to the conventional industrial paradigm to advocate for greater attention to be given to smallholder sugarcane growers and their local and traditional farming knowledge in seeking solutions to the crisis of the sugar industry in Fiji.

To explore these complex issues, the thesis adopts a cross-disciplinary, mixed-method approach. Participant observation, focus group discussions, and informal interviews with smallholder sugarcane farmers were used to elicit their views, feeling, thoughts and opinions on the Fiji sugar industry, their relationships with other sugar industry actors, and their own indigenous technical knowledge. Livelihood survey methods and agroecosystem analysis were used to gather quantitative data on household and farm status. This information was analysed using IBM® Social Science software: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft® Office Excel Spreadsheet, to provide an up-to-date profile of livelihood and farming situation of smallholder sugarcane growers. Semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders were used to identify the agricultural problems and socio-economic issues facing the industry and their differing views on the solutions proposed to solve them. Archival material was used to obtain information on past efforts of the sugar industry to develop solutions to problems at the local, national and international levels, and existing academic literature was reviewed for additional information on the contemporary situation of the smallholder sugarcane growers and the Fiji sugar industry as a whole.

text: Smallholder sugarcane growers, indigenous technical knowledge, and the sugar industry crisis in Fiji This is a cross-disciplinary study that draws upon the agronomic, ecological, and social sciences to analyse the current crisis facing the sugar industry in Fiji. Its particular focus is the livelihood crisis facing the smallholder sugarcane growers, and it explores the potential of their local and traditional farming knowledge as a source of solutions for both crises. It argues, however, that present proposals for reforming the sugar industry in Fiji are wedded to the industrial agricultural paradigm and a globalized corporate food regime that is the source of the problems it currently faces and which threatens the future of the smallholder sugarcane farming system along with its local traditional knowledge. The thesis draws inspiration from Agroecology as an agricultural paradigm alternative to the conventional industrial paradigm to advocate for greater attention to be given to smallholder sugarcane growers and their local and traditional farming knowledge in seeking solutions to the crisis of the sugar industry in Fiji.

To explore these complex issues, the thesis adopts a cross-disciplinary, mixed-method approach. Participant observation, focus group discussions, and informal interviews with smallholder sugarcane farmers were used to elicit their views, feeling, thoughts and opinions on the Fiji sugar industry, their relationships with other sugar industry actors, and their own indigenous technical knowledge. Livelihood survey methods and agroecosystem analysis were used to gather quantitative data on household and farm status. This information was analysed using IBM® Social Science software: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft® Office Excel Spreadsheet, to provide an up-to-date profile of livelihood and farming situation of smallholder sugarcane growers. Semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders were used to identify the agricultural problems and socio-economic issues facing the industry and their differing views on the solutions proposed to solve them. Archival material was used to obtain information on past efforts of the sugar industry to develop solutions to problems at the local, national and international levels, and existing academic literature was reviewed for additional information on the contemporary situation of the smallholder sugarcane growers and the Fiji sugar industry as a whole.

year: 2019

title: Disrupted spaces: Racism and the lived experience of Maori identity formation

authors: Te Hiwi, Erika

subjects: Maori

abstract: In 2004, when Don Brash –then leader of the National Party, hit the headlines with his controversial ‘Orewa’ speech, so-called ‘mainstream’ New Zealanders, felt that at last they had their hero. Brash articulated what this group felt was the source of trouble in contemporary Aotearoa society – brown privilege. Letters to the editor and talkback lines ran hot with many applauding Brash’s calls for an end to the treaty gravy train and ‘race-based’ funding in health; anecdotes abounded of Māori students up and down the country getting a ‘free-ride’ through education and taking prized positions in training programmes from better qualified Pākehā. It was, according to the writers and callers, an oppressive Apartheid-style system favouring Māori that had to end.

text: Disrupted spaces: Racism and the lived experience of Maori identity formation In 2004, when Don Brash –then leader of the National Party, hit the headlines with his controversial ‘Orewa’ speech, so-called ‘mainstream’ New Zealanders, felt that at last they had their hero. Brash articulated what this group felt was the source of trouble in contemporary Aotearoa society – brown privilege. Letters to the editor and talkback lines ran hot with many applauding Brash’s calls for an end to the treaty gravy train and ‘race-based’ funding in health; anecdotes abounded of Māori students up and down the country getting a ‘free-ride’ through education and taking prized positions in training programmes from better qualified Pākehā. It was, according to the writers and callers, an oppressive Apartheid-style system favouring Māori that had to end.

year: 2008