ABSTRACT
El objetivo del presente documento es presentar los beneficios productivos y ecológicos de los sistemas silvopastoriles (SSP). Asimismo, mostrar el caso del proyecto GEF-Silvopastoril en relación al impacto del pago de servicios ambientales sobre la transformación de pasturas degradadas a SSP. En Centroamérica los SSP conspicuos son los árboles dispersos en potrero y las cercas vivas. La cobertura arbórea en potreros varía entre 6.8 y 16.5 por ciento y el 55 por ciento del total de los individuos son representados por menos de 5 especies. La sombra de los árboles en potrero puede mejorar la producción de leche y carne en nivel del 15 20 por ciento, además, de otros productos arbóreos como madera, postes, leña, follaje para alimentación animal y frutos. En la generación de servicios ecológicos, los potreros con alta cobertura arbórea han mostrado resultados significativos en la protección del suelo (reduciendo la erosión), secuestro de carbono y la conservación de la biodiversidad (en términos de riqueza y abundancia). Para una mayor adopción de SSP en fincas, es necesario el uso de incentivos. En este sentido, el proyecto GEF-Silvopastoril en Costa Rica y Nicaragua por medio del PSA encontró que los productores en un período de 4 años redujeron las pasturas degradadas en 13 y 20 por ciento del área de la zona piloto en cada país respectivamente; dicho uso transformado principalmente en pasturas mejoradas con alta densidad de árboles (36 y 15 por ciento para cada país respectivamente). Además, las cerca vivas tuvieron un crecimiento del 63 y 142 por ciento para cada país respectivamente.
The aim of the present document is to show the productive and ecological benefits of the silvopastoril systems (SPS). Likewise, to show the case of the GEF-Silvopastoral project in relation to the impact of the payment of environmental services on the transformation of degraded pastures to SPS. In Central America the eminent SPS are the dispersed trees in pastures and live fences. The tree cover in pastures change between 6.8 and 16.5 percent, and 55 percent of the whole of individuals are represented by less than 5 species. The shade of the trees in pastures can improve the production of milk and meat in level of 15 20 percent. In addition of other arboreal products as wood, posts, firewood, foliage and fruit animal feeding. In the generation of ecological services, the pastureland with high tree cover has showed significant results in the soil protection (reducing the erosion), carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation (in terms of richness and abundance). The use of incentives is keys to promote the adoption of SPS in cattle farms. In the sense, the GEF-Silvopastoral project in Costa Rica and Nicaragua by means of the SPS reduced the degraded pastures in the pilot zone the 13 and 20 percent in every country respectively. This use was changed mainly to improved pastures with high tree density (36 and 15 percent for every country respectively). Furthermore, the live fences had a increasing of 63 and 142 percent for each country respectively.
Subject(s)
Agriculture , Forestry , Animals , Ecology , PastureABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Occupational respiratory allergy to green coffee beans (GCB) and to castor beans (CB) was studied in 112 workers in a modern coffee manufacturing plant of Trieste (Italy), where the process is completely automatic, the environmental conditions are good and where exposure to CB can be considered absent because since 1970, only new sacks have been used for coffee transportation. METHODS: All subjects were interviewed by a trained doctor using a questionnaire to investigate allergic symptoms and predisposing factors. Sensitization to GCB and to common allergens (pollens, molds, house dust mites) were evaluated by the skin-prick test. The serum of subjects with a positive skin-prick test to CGB or who had symptoms at work was tested for specific IgE (RAST) for GCB and CB. Lung function was evaluated by a Ponigraph spirometer. RESULTS: Sensitization to GCB was found in 25.8% of green coffee workers (31 cases), in 2.7% of roasted coffee workers (37 cases) and in 4.5% of the clerks (44 cases), p < 0.01. The evaluation of IgE specific for CB gave positive results only in 3 of 10 subjects sensitized to GCB. A total of 20% of GCB workers (6 cases) complained of work-related respiratory symptoms (asthma and/or rhinitis) compared with only one subject in the roasted coffee group and one in the control group (p < 0.01). Asthma was reported by 2/31 of the green coffee workers and by 1/44 of roasted coffee workers. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant correlation between sensitization to GCB and work related symptoms (p < 0.01), common allergic symptoms (p < 0.05) and atopy by prick test (< 0.01). These results point to the need to evaluate atopic status in workers and identify the most susceptible subjects, with the aim of informing them of their at-risk status and monitoring their progress. This makes it possible to diagnose sooner those symptoms possibly indicative of a work-related disease, because even in presence of good environmental conditions and even when symptoms are mild, it is almost always the atopic subjects who are affected.
