Contamination of urban areas is directly connected with the lack of adequate waste management planning. Problems mostly arise in former military bases, garages, warehouses and areas with other facilities. For many decades environmental problems caused by pollution in areas of military use were not managed in Latvia. The aim of this research is to assess visual environmental quality and study heavy metal contents in soil of ‘Jaunais Mežaparks’ after demolishing works in the capital of Latvia – Riga, as well as to provide comparison to the former military ‘Daugavgrīva’ site. Research was carried out from November 2011 to February 2012 by soil sampling and further analysis and comparison of the heavy metal content in soil with target and boundary levels in legislation. ‘Jaunais Mežaparks’ is a former military area which is planned to be reused in future. The former military site is planned to be used as the residential neighborhood and is situated close to important recreational object in Mežaparks area – Lake Ķīšezers. According to Riga Development Plan old military sites must be remediated in accordance with environmental legislation if the contamination exceeds critical concentration values. Thus, this case study includes assessment of visual pollution as well as soil heavy metal contamination study. Recommended actions as well as direct remediation technologies to reduce the poisonous impact of contamination to environment in this area are proposed.

Hydro-physical properties of heavy or presses soil as well as water regime may be improved by various ways, taking into account the texture of soil and climatic conditions. Drainage is the tool for productive farming and economic benefit generation. Hydrological activity of drainage typically depends on project installation quality, anthropogenic and climatic factors. It is important to assess drainage activity under different meteorological conditions. One of methods to improve drainage performance is its installation with thickened humus layer. Lithuanian soil humus layer is close to arable layer and is equal to approximately 20–25 cm. The impact of humus on heavy-textured soil is multiple, since not only moisture regimes, biological activity, sorption capacity, chemical and biological characteristics, stability of plant nutrition are related with its quantity. The dynamics of drainage activity in soil with thickened (up to 40–50 cm) humus layer and with humus layer of natural thickness (20–30 cm) during various seasons of period of 1989–2009 is reviewed. Especially important indicator of drainage functioning – water runoff dynamics. The present article analyses the variation of climatic conditions and drainage runoff in the object. It is determined that the lowest quantity of precipitation in the researched territory during the research period is in spring and winter but the highest – in summer and autumn. During the research period the highest drainage runoff in the field I was during winter season (46.3%), in the field II – in winter and spring almost the same (32–33%).

Agriculture is a unique sector, because it is associated with negative outcomes stemming from imperfectly predictable biological and climatic variables. These variables include natural adversities (for example, pests and diseases), climatic factors are not within the control of agricultural producers. So in agriculture it is very important to identify and evaluate risk, only then decisions made in farm will bring profit and other positive results. Scientific literature distinguishes a lot of methods for risk evaluation, but it is not clear what methods could be adapted in agriculture sector. This article presents main risk types in agriculture and their features as well as introduces most popular risk evaluation methods and their possible use in assessing risks in agriculture.

Short rotation forests (SRF) can be used for biomass production for energy applications in Latvia. Establishment of plantations could be one of possibilities how to reach targets of renewable energy resource (RES) consumption of 40% in 2020. In Latvia’s conditions, one of most suitable species that could be used for SRF is willow (Salix sp.). Abandoned agricultural lands are suitable for establishment of plantations. Productivity of 8 oven- dried tons (ODT) ha-1 year -1 can lead to Rate of Return (IRR) of 17.1% and Net Present Value (NPV) 1099 Latvian Lats (LVL) if the biomass price is 33 LVL ODT-1. Establishment, harvesting and transporting costs account for 88% of the total cost of production. Price of wood chip and fuel plays the most important role in economics of plantation.

Volunteer work has been identified as a relatively new kind of leisure activities. It plays an important role in various, at the same time it is a great possibility to learn, acquire new skills and accumulate human capital while taking part in volunteer activities. Therefore, the objective of the study is to research the policies related to voluntary work and their relevance in realization and development of volunteer work in Latvia. Theoretical literature shows that in Latvia the volunteer work is mentioned in some policies – economic, youth policies and civil society. In the framework of economic policy successful development of volunteering enhances the progress of economic processes in the state in two ways by making contributions to Gross Domestic Product; by accumulating person’s human capital, results illustrate that although the term “voluntary work” has a long history, infrastructure for realization of the voluntary work has not been developed in Latvia, and regulatory enactments do not cover voluntary work in an adequate manner. After the analysis the author believes that volunteering is widely discussed in the youth policy as there is law and a range of structured documents where aspects of volunteer work are mentioned. According to the results of research, in the frame of civil society it must be noted that in Latvia the voluntary work movement has to be examined in the context of the establishment of non-governmental organizations because voluntary work movement started to develop in a purposeful and organized manner only in 1998 in non-governmental organizations.

One can reasonably argue that issues related to the increased use of renewable energy resources in the energy production processes in Latvia, are at the forefront and will remain there in the future. This relates to the aspect that Latvia is not rich in non-renewable energy resources (around 70% of total primary energy consumption in Latvia is ensured by import, which can lead to undesired effects in many areas), but at the same time, there are available renewable energy resources in Latvia, with an untapped potential to be recognized. In particular this applies to fuel wood, which is already (year 2012) the most important domestic fuel in Latvia. In this context it is important to emphasize that, according to the particular study results, if unexpected socio-economic developments do not take place, raw wood material resources required for different types of fuel wood production in Latvia should be available in the same amount as it is now if not more. As for increasing the amount of fuel wood use in Latvia, an enormous ‘potential’ can be seen in general use boiler houses, where there are currently no technological limitations to utilize this ‘potential’. General use cogeneration plants can be recognized as an even greater ‘potential’ for greater use of fuel wood in Latvia, but given the circumstances of energy supply in Latvia, the ‘potential’ is currently available on a very limited basis. At the same time it is important to note that both of these ‘potentials’ could be significantly reduced in the next few years.

The Baltic Sea problems in context of erosion always have been very topical and since ancient times have been caused by uncontrollable and unpredictable natural factors (storms). These factors combine with the impact of human economic activities of the direct effect of factors -building offshore and aquatorium, deficit of sediment and marine dredging and growth of recreational tourism growth that promote load of coastal vegetation and dune relief. The identification of costs and benefits is significant step for evaluation of the impact of the Project and usefulness of the costs. The positive impact or benefits can occur at once, after a while or long term perspective. The economic evaluation techniques particularly cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis for coastal protection in this case used for ascertain the most effective alternative. The sensitivity analysis was made for verifying impact of alternatives on taken solution. The aim of research is to verify the economic methods for application to coastal management in Latvia. The world’s coastal scientists believe that the future of coastal policy will become increasingly polarized and discussed; therefore, gradual implementation of the assessment process and development of socio-economic indicators is recommended.

The review looks at the current status of cavy production in Cameroon and situates cavy culture in the area of their contribution to meat production, income generation for cavy farmers in Cameroon. It also reviews research and development of cavy culture in Cameroon. It indicates that cavy culture is an affordable way out of malnutrition for rural women and their families as well as a sustainable way of income generation for these women. It highlights the work done by the various promotion agencies like Heifer international Cameroon and the programme for the support of non-conventional livestock production (PAPENOC) in capacity building for cavy farmers as well as providing material support (improved animals, forage resources and veterinary care). It stresses the need for capacity building for cavy farmers as a means of promoting cavy culture in Cameroon and summarises present and past student/staff research on cavies at the Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang in collaboration with the Institut de Recherches Zootechniques et Vétérinaires (presently Institute of Research for Agricultural Development-IRAD). Development needs are also summarised in the challenges for research on breeding and selection, nutrition, animal health and management practices. The paper indicates that cavy production in Cameroon will have a face lift as a new project on ‘Harnessing husbandry of domestic cavy for alternative and rapid access to food and income in Cameroon and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’ has been implemented since early 2012. It concludes that this project offers a golden opportunity to move the agenda for domestic cavy production forward in Cameroon.

peer reviewed | La République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) souffre, à l’instar d’une majorité de pays africains, d’une précarité alimentaire conséquente. Le développement du secteur de l’élevage y est une pièce importante de la stratégie de lutte contre cette insécurité alimentaire, par l’apport de protéines de haute qualité aux populations pauvres ainsi que plus globalement par la création de richesses et la diversification du secteur agricole. A ce titre, le secteur avicole offre incontestablement, par son cycle de production court, une solution rapide et abordable par le plus grand nombre. Cette étude aborde les contraintes à la production de la poule locale au Bas-Congo. Plusieurs facteurs y sont identifiés, tels que les pathologies, l’alimentation, l’habitat et les prédateurs. L’amélioration de la situation économique et nutritionnelle des paysans de la Province du Bas-Congo peut être envisagée en améliorant le potentiel de production des poulets de race locale. Afin d’y arriver, une attention particulière doit être accordée à une alimentation équilibrée et une meilleure conduite générale de l’élevage, incluant un accès aux soins vétérinaires. L’amélioration génétique des races locales est également une voie envisageable, pour autant que l’adéquation entre l’animal et le cadre de son élevage soit respectée.

A cross-sectional survey on fasciolosis was conducted in March 2009 in Taveta Division. Bura Ndogo, Challa, Kiwalwa, Kitogoto and Lake Jipe Gicheha settlements participated in the study. A total of 338 (197 cattle, 111 goats and 30 sheep) faecal samples from 42 herds were examined using the sedimentation technique. Similarly, husbandry practices and aspects of herd owner education in the same settlements were captured using a standard questionnaire. Selective deworming targeted at the sick and /or weak looking animals was done by some herd owners interviewed. Fasciolosis prevalence in cattle, goats and sheep was 25.9%, 23.4% and 33.3%, respectively. Extensive grazing and age stratum 7 - 12 months were identified as potential fasciolosis risk factors with the latter being significantly (p<0.05) associated with the disease. On the contrary, home watering, training on livestock husbandry practices and deworming were significant (p< 0.05) protective factors of fasciolosis. Improved husbandry practices assisted by the selective anthelmintic treatments targeting the young animals were identified as feasible fasciolosis control options for Taveta division. In conclusion, the results of the study have clearly shown that fasciolosis is widespread in Taveta Division making it necessary for further longitudinal studies on the disease for establishment of an effective control programme