Teaching Documents by John Conway
Papers by John Conway
The Zambian government's policy (Ministry of Tourism, 1999) classifies tourism as an economic act... more The Zambian government's policy (Ministry of Tourism, 1999) classifies tourism as an economic activity to be developed by the private sector to provide foreign exchange earnings for the nation, employment and income for local communities and as a catalyst for sustainable development. The mission statement specifically refers to "quality product developments that are consistent with the conservation of the unique natural and cultural heritage". The policy demands that all tourism developments are in keeping with the National Environment Action Plan and do not compete with local communities for scarce resources. Recently (Post News, 2010) the Minister for Tourism has proposed developing new activities that involve a greater appreciation of the environment of the Falls.
This paper explores the potential for farmers’ engagement on the issues related to greenhouse gas... more This paper explores the potential for farmers’ engagement on the issues related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation in extensive low-input livestock farming systems. The framework used was based on Participatory Action Research. This involved integrating quantitative evidence on GHG emission impacts at the farm level and qualitative data on the obstacles to the adoption of innovation based on farmers’ perceptions and attitudes to climate change. The study aims at building social capital among 14 farmers in the South West and West Midlands regions in England, and it evaluates the potential for the adoption of emission mitigation strategies. The Rapid Farm Practices Appraisal (RFPA) tool was created to assess farm practices based on their mitigation potential. Practices were assessed twice over 6–9 months. Semi-structured interviews were used to assess barriers and opportunities to farmer engagement and on-farm innovation. Farmers were invited to a focus group meeting to network with other farmers and engage with researchers. All farmers participated in the 2 farm assessments, but only half the farmers adopted changes in farm management. All farmers appreciated the RFPA tool, the clearness of the information provided and the focus of the tool on practices directly. The main obstacles to innovation were limited financial capital, lack of trust in government action and confusion over the effectiveness of farm advice on mitigation. The lack of long-term flexibility of agricultural policies and the source of information greatly influenced the acceptance of advice. Results suggest the potential for the expansion of the RFPA tool to include economic assessment of farm practices and the engagement of a larger pool of farmers and farming systems. The tool could be used to support the GHG Action Plan and future environmental policies, and as an integrated self-assessment tool for farmers under Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
Association of Applied Biologists, Dec 18, 2013
The agricultural sector has been particularly under pressure in recent years to provide not only ... more The agricultural sector has been particularly under pressure in recent years to provide not only food, animal feed and energy crops, but also to be a key player in environmental conservation and biodiversity, and more recently in the provision of ecosystem services. Therefore, farmers are not only responsible for producing food for society, but also have to preserve the environment, improve waste recycling, prevent air, soil and water pollution and provide a habitat for flora and fauna, all for the benefit of society. Furthermore, small-scale farming has to face financial constraints that may also adversely affect the successful implementation of good agricultural practices. Small-scale farmers often feel isolated and consider researchers and policy makers distant from their farming realities; they tend to rely on local communities, interest groups or networks of influence in order to help them cope with innovation, policy changes and most recently, the impact of climate change. However, translational research can help in this respect by valuing farmers’ knowledge and providing guidance and advice to small-scale farmers on how to implement management practices that are not only proven to mitigate the effects of climate change on agricultural production but build on their own experiences and expertise.
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Teaching Documents by John Conway
Papers by John Conway