Germination characteristics of Rhinanthus minor influence field emergence, competitiveness and potential use in restoration projects.

The facultative root hemi-parasite Rhinanthus minor is often used in grassland habitat restoration projects to regulate ecosystem structure and function. Its impact on community productivity and diversity as a function of resource supply, sward composition and management has been widely investigated. However, there is a lack of information about the possible influence of seed quality on the efficacy of the hemi-parasite. Ten seed lots from commercial sources were sown in the field and their germination characteristics investigated in the laboratory. Seeds from four lots were also germinated and sown in pots alongside plants of two host species, Lotus corniculatus and Holcus lanatus. Plant establishment, height and flowering density were evaluated for the hemi-parasite, while plant biomass was measured for both R. minor and its host. Two aspects of seed quality influenced the field emergence of seed lots of R. minor, the radicle emergence (%) and the length of the lag period from the beginning of imbibition to germination (mean germination time), which indicates seed vigour. A longer lag period (lower vigour) was associated with higher levels of seedling mortality and lower plant vigour, in terms of plant height and biomass accumulation and was also reflected in the parasitic impact of the seed lots. Seed quality, specifically germination and vigour, can influence the establishment, survival, subsequent plant productivity and parasitic impact of R. minor in vegetation restoration projects. Seed quality is discussed as a key factor to consider when predicting the impact of the hemi-parasite on community productivity and diversity.

Responses of Primula vulgaris to light quality in the maternal and germination environments.

In the model species Arabidopsis thaliana phytochromes mediate dormancy and germination responses to seasonal cues experienced during seed maturation on the maternal plants. However, the effect of the maternal light environment on seed germination in native wild species has not been well studied. This is particularly important given its practical application in the context of environmental restoration, when there can be marked changes in the canopy. Plants of Primula vulgaris were grown in the field over two vegetative seasons under four shading treatments from low to high ratio of red to far-red light (R:FR). Leaf and seed traits were assessed in response to the light treatments. The germination of seeds from these four maternal environments (pre-dispersal) was investigated at seven light and five temperature treatments (post-dispersal). Thinner leaves, larger leaf area and greater chlorophyll content were found in plants growing in reduced R:FR. Shading in the maternal environment led to increased seed size and yield, although the conditions experienced by the maternal plants had no effect on seed germination. Seeds responded strongly to the cues experienced in their immediate germination environment. Germination was always enhanced under higher R:FR conditions. The observed phenotypic trait variation plays a major role in the ability of P. vulgaris to grow in a wide range of light conditions. However, the increased germination capacity in response to a higher R:FR for all maternal environments suggests potential for seedling establishment under vegetative shade only in the presence of canopy gaps.

What quantitative and qualitative methods have been developed to measure community empowerment at a national level?

Community empowerment has been frequently studied at subnational levels but it is less clear how to measure it at a national level. Mixed methods approaches would be advantageous, using quantitative data from databases plus qualitative information to derive a range of variables and indicators. This report identifies assessment methods that have been used and evidence for integrating qualitative and quantitative data for national assessments. When resources are limited or there is no current practice of measurement of community empowerment, the simplest approach is to combine a selection of quantitative variables and indicators available in statistical databases. When resources can be allocated, a more systematic approach would supplement such accessible data with some form of rapid qualitative assessment. Ideally, a formal national monitoring and evaluation system would be instituted that collects all the relevant quantitative and qualitative data and combines these into a regularly updated assessment.

[Empowerment and health promotion programming]. / Berücksichtigung des Empowerments in der Programmplanung von Gesundheitsförderung.

Health promotion often presents a tension between "bottom up" and "top down" programming. "Bottom-up" is associated with community empowerment and begins on issues of concern to particular groups or individuals and regards an increase in overall control as an important element of the health outcome. "Top-down" is associated with disease prevention efforts and begins by seeking to involve beneficiaries on issues defined by health agencies. It regards improvements in health behaviours or bio-medical indicators as the important outcome and community empowerment is viewed simply as a means to the end of health behaviour change. The tension between these two approaches is not unresolvable, and this article presents a framework, the "parallel-track", intended to assist health promotion practitioners to systematically accommodate community empowerment goals within "top-down" health programming.

[Measuring, evaluating and strategic development of community capacity and empowerment: introduction of a qualitative tool]. / Messung, Bewertung und strategische Weiterentwicklung von Gemeindekapazität und -empowerment: Vorstellen eines qualitativen Instruments.

This article addresses the questions of why some communities have more ability than others, why some communities are more capable at accessing resources, at influencing decision makers, are better organised and are better able at mobilising themselves towards empowerment. The difference in ability can be attributed to the level of knowledge, skills and competencies or capacity that a community has and which it can draw upon to address its concerns about the lives and health of its members. This article discusses a qualitative tool that has been extensively used in health promotion programmes to build community capacity and empowerment. The article defines the key concepts and unpacks capacity building into nine specific 'domains'. The article goes on to describe how the 'tool' can be implemented by practitioners to build and measure capacity and empowerment. The article provides an actual example from practice on the use of an innovative form of visual representation of the findings of the measurement.

Measuring community empowerment: a fresh look at organizational domains.

In 1986, the Ottawa Charter identified community empowerment as being a central theme of health promotion discourse. Community empowerment became a topical issue in the health promotion literature soon afterwards, though its roots also come from earlier literature in community psychology, community organizing and liberation education. Subsequent international conferences to address health promotion in Sundsvall, Adelaide and Jakarta have acted to reinforce this concept. It is as relevant today as it was more than a decade ago. The literature surrounding health promotion has since moved onto other overlapping theoretical perspectives, such as community capacity and social capital. And yet the critical issue of making community empowerment operational in a programme context remains thorny and elusive. Community empowerment is still difficult to measure and implement as a part of health promotion. This article offers a fresh look at key theoretical and practical questions in regard to the measurement of community empowerment. The theoretical questions help to unpack community empowerment in an attempt to clarify how the application of this concept can be best approached. The practical questions address the basic design characteristics for methodologies to measure community empowerment within the context of international health promotion programming. The purpose of this article is to allow researchers and practitioners to address again the important issue of making community empowerment operational.

A planning framework for community empowerment goals within health promotion.

Health promotion often comprises a tension between 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' programming. The former, more associated with concepts of community empowerment, begins on issues of concern to particular groups or individuals, and regards some improvement in their overall power or capacity as the important health outcome. The latter, more associated with disease prevention efforts, begins by seeking to involve particular groups or individuals in issues and activities largely defined by health agencies, and regards improvement in particular behaviours as the important health outcome. Community empowerment is viewed more instrumentally as a means to the end of health behaviour change. The tension between these two approaches is not unresolvable, but this requires a different orientation on the part of those responsible for planning more conventional, top-down programmes. This article presents a framework intended to assist planners, implementers and evaluators to systematically consider community empowerment goals within top-down health promotion programming. The framework 'unpacks' the tensions in health promotion at each stage of the more conventional, top-down programme cycle, by presenting a parallel 'empowerment' track. The framework also presents a new technology for the assessment and strategic planning of nine identified 'domains' that represent the organizational influences on the process of community empowerment. Future papers analyze the design of this assessment and planning methodology, and discuss the findings of its field-testing in rural communities in Fiji.

An investigation into the utilisation of participatory health education materials by selected agents

The findings of this study show that it is worthwhile using a participatory approach to health education which can enhance the work of the agents and are often popular with the target groups who retain many of the messages portrayed in the materials. However; the discussion-based nature of the methodologies mean that they are time consuming and requires the agent to possess the necessary skills for their utilisation. The materials may be suitable for workshop settings but many other factors must be considered before they are utilised in the community; schools and clinics. These considerations emphasise the need for thorough material design; pre-testing; production and evaluation. It should not be taken for granted that expensively produced glossy materials will be automatically utilised by agents and the messages absorbed by the target groups. Health education is readily accepted as the responsibility of many agents but in practice very few personnel were found to carry out these activities even when fully supported by a well resourced health education unit. This emphasises the need to have many more community level health education personnel who have the responsibility to plan; implement; coordinate and monitor such programmes

An investigation into the utilisation of Christian church groups as health education agents in Kumasi

The findings show that there is a decentralised system within practically all Christian church denominations included in this study for purposes of preventive health education. Curative services may be coordinated and supported from the national level in some churches. Most churches have access to limited funds and are expected to be financially self-sufficient at the local level and are therefore less interested in activities which may create a burden on their resources. Few churches received donor assistance for health education programmes. Churches are able to provide a venue; furnishings and personnel for health education programmes.Most churches were able to identify health education agents who could be trained to coordinate health education activities in their denomination. In view of the findings of this study several suggestions are given for health education support to Christian church groups