SNR 532 and FS 432/532 Individual Student Projects
PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is threefold:
1) to cause you to think and write carefully about some specific aspects of agroforestry,
2) to give you to practice to collect biophysical and socio-economic data for a given site,
3) to assess and analyze the data and prepare an agroforestry management plan.
The paper should be 5-7 pages long (typed and double spaced).
CONTENT: The topic for your paper should focus on one of the agroforestry practices in the tropics or temperate zone – alley cropping, home gardens, silvopasture, wind breaks, riparian buffers, and trees for amenity. In developing your project paper, you must cite 4 outside resources other than the INTERNET and a standard bibliography that will allow others to actually find the works you are citing. INTERNET sources should include the complete URL address and, if possible, the author or publishing authority and date of publication.
LEVEL OF EFFORT: This project is 25% of your grade for this course.
IMPORTANT DATES:
|
TH 4/19 |
Submit 3 questions (typewritten) that you hope to answer in your project (10/100 pts) |
|
TH 4/26 |
Meet with |
|
TH 5/31 |
Submit your completed project (90/100 pts). |
PROJECT SUPPORT: The
instructor for this course will advise you as needed; and his e-mail address is
in the syllabus.
The help sheet is at http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/instruction/classign/snr532.htm
CITATIONS:Within your paper, include the last name or names of the author(s), followed by the date, and the page number (or numbers) on which you found the information.For example:(Nair, 1993, p 13).
Within your bibliography, use any standard format, but always include enough information that the reader can find the source if he/she wishes.
Guidelines for Individual Projects: Students are required to visit agroforestry farms and/or urban forestry sites in rural or urban areas where they live. They are required to identify one of the agroforestry practices in their vicinity; collect the necessary land-use and socio-economic data that will help them to analyze and write their project report. Depending on the geographic location where students live, they are advised to identify one agroforestry practice such as mixed farming, silvopasture, agroforestry for soil conservation etc. Students who live in urban areas should consider agroforestry practices such as trees for shade, wind breaks, trees for amenity values etc. The report should include description of the area, current land-use and socio-economic conditions, and proposed alternative agroforestry practice(s) for improvement.Students are encouraged to include sketches of the area, maps and pictures as part of their report. Below are some useful steps to follow when working on an individual project.
1. Identify a farming system or natural resource problem you would like to work on as a class project. A project can be identified based on student experience and interest and/or with instructor guidance.
2. Describe the current status of the land use system, including soils types and fertility status, and the crops, fruits, livestock, tree and/or shrub species that are included.
3. Identify the socio-economic issues by consulting farmers and/or land owners in the study area. Document factors that determines the production and resource utilization such as, farm size, family size, household incomes, land tenure, and other social, ethical and policy issues.
4. Identify and prioritize land use and socio-economic problems that affect sustainable production and utilization of resources in the study area.
5. Select appropriate Agroforestry practice(s) that provide solutions to the land-use problems identified.
6.Each student is required to submit a final report based on the field work they conducted.
