Regie Lloren

Cocoa, a tropical evergreen tree native species to the Amazon rainforest, is a highly favored plantation crop of smallholder farmers and a source of livelihood in tropical lowlands of South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. Ceratocystis wilt is one among many fungal diseases that cause economic losses in cocoa production. This narrative review aims to evaluate gaps in understanding Ceratocystis wilt of cocoa. The study utilized the PRISMA framework which serves as guide for a semi-structured review. Through the scientific databases, a total of 202 articles were identified, comprising 51 from the Web of Science and 151 from ScienceDirect. Data extraction was done by categorizing the obtained literature. Results revealed that C. cacaofunesta is an ascomycetes fungus and was first described as C. fimbriata and later re-defined as C. cacaofunesta verified using molecular technique and morphological differences. Its symptoms include leaf chlorosis, and entry of infection is through the wound in the stem caused by contaminated cutting tools and insect attack. As a necrotrophic fungus, it feeds on its host’s nutrients. It is also a homothallic species that can self-fertilise and strive at a temperature between 18 to 28 degrees Celsius. Effective control measures can be costly and negatively impact the environment. However, mitigation measures can be taken, such as exclusion and eradication as preventive measures. This narrative review provides a significant future research undertaking, such as identifying diagnostic protocol for C. cacaofunesta and helping mitigate the disease through providing information dissemination on the farmer’s level for early detection.

Mulching is considered as a sustainable farming practice that promotes environmental conservation and improves productivity. The study was carried out to evaluate the determinants of mulching adoption among cacao farmers in the province of Camiguin, Philippines. The study was administered to 87 out of 201 cacao farmers using stratified sampling technique in the entire province of Camiguin last March 2023. Data collected were subjected to probit regression analysis using free software RStudio and R 4.3.0, where the dependent variable was the adopters of mulching, and the independent variables were age, access to extension workers, experience in cacao farming in years, knowledge, and training of mulching. Results from the probit model revealed a positive and strong relationship between adoption and knowledge of mulching (p-value=0.01) and training of mulching (p-value=0.01). The current study provides empirical evidence that knowledge and training are two vital determinants of adoption on mulching among cacao farmers in Camiguin. Educating farmers about mulching improves their knowledge and skills and increases productivity on their farms to attain sustainable agricultural production. Further studies may be conducted to assess the economic impact of adoption on farmers’ income and well-being.

Forest education plays a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting sustainable forest management amidst global challenges. However, existing programs struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving crises and uncertainties that contribute to deforestation and forest degradation. To tackle these challenges, integrating innovative approaches into forest education is essential. This paper showcases the transformative use of a strategy game, MineSet, as an innovative teaching method for integrated forest management. The game facilitates deeply engaging experiences that provide unique insights into complex issues like deforestation. By assuming various stakeholder roles, graduate students actively engage with and confront the intricate tradeoffs inherent in forest management. This interactive and immersive role-play game not only fosters critical thinking skills but also promotes collaborative problem-solving, making MineSet a highly innovative and attractive tool in forest education. The importance of extended debriefings, facilitation throughout the game, and ongoing discussions should not be underestimated, as they establish meaningful and necessary connections between in-game events, validated educational material, and published research outcomes. Moreover, the game equips students with practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of landscape approaches, using the Congo Basin as a case study. We emphasize the potential of innovative forest education to foster sustainability, stimulate critical thinking, resolve conflicts, and prevent costly forest losses.

Forest education is pivotal for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting sustainable forest management in the face of global challenges. However, existing programs struggle to keep up with rapidly changing crises and uncertainties that contribute to deforestation and forest degradation. To address these challenges, integrating innovative approaches into forest education is crucial. This paper demonstrates the transformative use of a role-playing game as an innovative teaching method for integrated forest management. The game provides students with practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of landscape approaches, using the Congo Basin as a case study. Our research focuses on sustainable forest governance, stakeholder roles, and valuing natural assets and ecosystem services, supporting the transformation of economic, political, and social/cultural relationships at various scales. We highlight the potential of innovative forest education to foster sustainability, trigger critical thinking, resolve conflicts, and prevent costly forest losses.

Island’s vulnerability is anchored towards stewardship to accommodate environmental conservation and economic activity. Vulnerability poses risk and uncertainty of island households. Household as an important entity plays a role for island development. This study aimed to identify the profile of rural households, evaluate the shocks as well as coping mechanisms employed by the rural households. Stratified random sampling was undertaken to identify the 377 randomly selected samples from the municipalities of Catarman and Sagay in the province of Camiguin, Philippines. The survey was conducted from February to March 2019. Household’s data collected includes age of the respondent, sex of the respondent, household size, household income in range, educational attainment of respondent, farm size, and tenurial status. Respondents were asked to rank the shocks and risks encountered as well as the coping mechanisms. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that post-harvest losses played a significant role in agricultural shocks while could not buy food due to food price increase as economic shocks. Selling of livestock, land and other assets got the highest rank for mechanisms to cope up with shocks. Improved storage facilities and efficient transport system can be taken into consideration to improve the quality of agricultural products to be marketed inside and outside the island to minimize post-harvest losses.