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Climate change heavily impacts smallholder farming worldwide. Cross-scale vulnerability assessment has a high potential to identify nested measures for reducing vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Despite their high practical value, there are currently only limited examples of cross-scale assessments. The presented study aims at assessing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers in the Northeast of Brazil across three scales: regional, farm and field scale. In doing so, it builds on existing vulnerability indices and compares results between indices at the same scale and across scales. In total, six independent indices are tested, two at each scale. The calculated indices include social, economic and ecological indicators, based on municipal statistics, meteorological data, farm interviews and soil analyses. Subsequently, indices and overlapping indicators are normalized for intra- and cross-scale comparison. The results show considerable differences between indices across and within scales. They indicate different activities to reduce vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Major shortcomings arise from the conceptual differences between the indices. We therefore recommend the development of hierarchical indices, which are adapted to local conditions and contain more overlapping indicators for a better understanding of the nested vulnerabilities of smallholder farmers., Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe, 978

Climate change heavily impacts smallholder farming worldwide. Cross-scale vulnerability assessment has a high potential to identify nested measures for reducing vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Despite their high practical value, there are currently only limited examples of cross-scale assessments. The presented study aims at assessing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers in the Northeast of Brazil across three scales: regional, farm and field scale. In doing so, it builds on existing vulnerability indices and compares results between indices at the same scale and across scales. In total, six independent indices are tested, two at each scale. The calculated indices include social, economic and ecological indicators, based on municipal statistics, meteorological data, farm interviews and soil analyses. Subsequently, indices and overlapping indicators are normalized for intra- and cross-scale comparison. The results show considerable differences between indices across and within scales. They indicate different activities to reduce vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Major shortcomings arise from the conceptual differences between the indices. We therefore recommend the development of hierarchical indices, which are adapted to local conditions and contain more overlapping indicators for a better understanding of the nested vulnerabilities of smallholder farmers.

With the current economic situation of the Philippines, participation to full-time classroom education has become challenging, because most of the undergraduate students need to work to support their families or earn funds to continue their studies. To encourage out-of-school youths and adults to finish secondary education, the Philippine Department of Education implemented the Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency Test (ALS A&E) to evaluate the competencies and readiness of learners to accelerate academic levels. The Alternative Learning Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ALEAP) was offered for out-of-school youth and adults who wish to pursue their studies outside of the traditional full-time classroom-based education. However, the existing program does not offer much for late enrollees and individuals who are not able to consistently go to class. Missed lessons are no longer taught again which make it challenging for learners to cope and catch up. This study focused on developing an online ALEAP system that answers in the shortcomings of traditional classroom set-up of aspiring students who want to pursue higher level or college degrees. The developed systems offers online lessons and review materials that will make ALS A&E takers more chance of passing and have a better future. The developed system were able to pass all functional testing and provided a good user acceptance testing that proves its readiness to deploy to intended users.

The Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) reports on the status and considerations for management of Northeast-Atlantic mackerel, blue whiting, Western and North Sea horse mackerel, Northeast-Atlantic boarfish, Norwegian spring-spawning herring, striped red mullet (Subareas 6, 8 and Divisions 7.a-c, e-k and 9.a), and red gurnard (Subareas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) stocks. Northeast-Atlantic (NEA) Mackerel. This species is widely distributed throughout the ICES area and currently supports one of the most valuable European fisheries. Mackerel is fished by a variety of fleets from many countries (ranging from open boats using handlines on the Iberian coasts to large freezer trawlers and Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) vessels in the Northern Area). The assessment methodology was modified during the 2019 inter-benchmark process. The 2019 WGWIDE assessment was an update of the benchmarked assessment incorporating a new year for the catch information, for all surveys (egg survey, IESSNS survey and recruitment index) and for the RFID tagging recapture. After a strong increase from the late 2000s to 2014, the SSB has been declining since 2015, but remains at high levels (well above MSY Btrigger), The estimated fishing mortality has been steadily declining since the mid-2000s, and is now estimated to be close to FMSY. This decrease of the fishing mortality, while the stock has been sustaining high catches (consistently in excess to ICES advice) is explained by a succession of good recruitments, indicating a current high productivity for this stock. Blue Whiting. This pelagic gadoid is widely distributed in the eastern part of the North Atlantic. The assessment this year followed the Stock Annex based the conclusions from the Inter-Benchmark Protocol of Blue Whiting (IBPBLW 2016). The method for calculating mean weight at age for the preliminary (2019) was however changed, such that the observed values were used. Previously, a three year average was used. Most of the annual catches are taken in the first halfyear, which makes it possible to use preliminary catches for 2019 in the assessment. This is done to reduce the effect of potential biases from the single survey used for this assessment. The SSB of the stock is large but declining since 2018. F has been reduced in recent years, but is still above FMSY. Recruitments in 2017–2019 are estimated to be low, following a period of high recruitments. Western Horse Mackerel. This species is widely distributed throughout the Northeast Atlantic: it spawns in the Bay of Biscay, and in UK and Irish waters; after spawning, parts of the stock migrate northwards into the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea. The stock is assessed using the Stock Synthesis integrated assessment model. The 2019 assessment is an update of the benchmark assessment with the inclusion of the 2018 data. According to the assessment results, the 20154-2018 recruitment estimates are the highest observed since 2008 (and higher than the geometric mean estimated over the years 1983–2018). Fishing mortality since 2012 has been decreasing overall, dropping to low values in 2015–2018 due to lower catches and a reduced proportion of fraction of the adult population in the exploited stock; it is however currently above FMSY. SSB in 2017 was estimated as the lowest in the time-series, below the limit reference point and is just above in 2018. The updated assessment shows the same trend as the previous ones, but rescales the absolute level of SSB and F over the most recent decade and, although this years’ revision is smaller, this indicates that there is still considerable uncertainty associated with it. An interbenchmark workshop occurred prior to the 2019 assessment working group: the workshop revised the biomass reference points from 911587t to 1168272t for MSYBtrigger and 0.108 to 0.074 for FMSY, hence the significant drop in adviceNorth Sea Horse Mackerel. After being benchmarked in January 2017, the CGFS and NS-IBTS survey indices were modelled with a zero-inflated model to produce a combined index. The observed trend in the last decade suggests that the stock is still at a low level in comparison with values earlier in the time-series. In 2017, the survey index showed a declining trend, and the stock remained at a low level in 2018. The result of the Length-Based Methods to estimate proxy MSY reference points for North Sea Horse Mackerel indicated that in 2018 fishing mortality was slightly above FMSY. Northeast Atlantic Boarfish. This is a small, pelagic, planktivorous, shoaling species, found at depths of 0 to 600 m. The species is widely distributed from Norway to Senegal. The directed fishery for boarfish in the NEA is a relatively new one with large catches during the early 2000s when the fishery was unregulated. Catches have reduced significantly since 2012 to the current level. Annual catch advice is provided using the data limited category 3 approach based on output from an exploratory Bayesian surplus production assessment model. The assessment model utilises catch data, an acoustic survey estimate of stock size and indices from a number of bottom-trawl surveys. The current assessment indicates that biomass peaked in 2012 at twice the historic mean before a rapid decline until 2014. Since this time the biomass level has been relatively stable. Norwegian Spring Spawning Herring. This is one of the largest herring stocks in the world. It is highly migratory and distributed throughout large parts of the NE Atlantic. This stock was benchmarked in 2016 (WKPELA). The assessment model introduced in the benchmark (XSAM), incorporates uncertainty in the input data, and has been used to provide advice after the benchmark. The SSB on 1 January 2019 is estimated by XSAM to be above Bpa (3.184 million t). The stock is declining and there is an upward revision of SSB for later years in this year’s assessment. The revision is, however, within the confidence limits of the model. Fishing mortality in 2018 is estimated to be below the management plan F that was used to give advice for 2018. A new management plan was implemented for the 2019 advisory year. Striped Red Mullet in North Sea, Bay of Biscay, Southern Celtic Seas, Atlantic Iberian Waters. This stock has been considered by WGWIDE since 2016. It is a category 5 stock without information on abundance or exploitation in relation to proxy reference points and indicators, and the evaluation is based on commercial landings. A time series of biological sampling of catches is being developed, and it may be possible to produce an analytical assessment in the near future, The advice for this stock, following the ICES precautionary approach, was given in 2017 for 2018, 2019 and 2020. Northeast-Atlantic Red Gurnard. This stock was first considered by WGWIDE in 2016, and this represents the second time the group has advised upon it. This is a category 6 stock, with large uncertainties in landings data due to poor resolution at the species level. Landings have fluctuated without trend since 2006, and discards remain significant –over 90% of catch in some cases. There remains no indication of where fishing mortality is relative to proxies and no stock indicators, and the evaluation is based on commercial landings, given the caveat that they will be incomplete. Advice for this stock is provided on the basis of the ICES precautionary approach for 2020 and 2021.

This article explores whether a shift in development paradigm resulted in coexistence with semi-aridity for residents of the Semi-Arid region of Brazil (SAB). If so, which strategies contributed and which conditions facilitated it? We conducted a comparative analysis of the transformations that occurred in 10 territories of the SAB during two time periods: PI (1973–2001) when “development” policies almost exclusively aimed to “combat drought and its effects”; and PII (2002–2016) when a concept of coexistence with semi-aridity informed policy making. Our study from the 10 territories of the SAB show significant changes between PI and PII. On average, there was a substantial improvement in Access to Water Infrastructure (+33%∆), Diversification of Production Systems (Animals +36%∆; Crops +61%∆), Management of Common Pool Resources (+45%∆), Involvement in Spaces of Political Organizing (+24%∆), and Access to Public Programs (+29%∆). As such, “coexistence” went from concept to action as a consequence of structural, agroecological, social, and management transformations in combination with a strengthening of mechanisms for community reciprocity. These were characterized by (a) the creation of resource reserves for use during times of drought; (b) the efficient use of available natural resources; and (c) enhanced articulation between diverse actors.

El presente artículo objetivó explorar si ha sido posible hacer realidad la propuesta brasileña de convivencia con la semi-aridez, y de haber sido así, establecer cuáles estrategias han contribuido, y cuáles condiciones gruesas han sido necesarias para ello. En contexto, fue realizado un análisis comparativo, de las transformaciones que ocurrieron en 10 territorios del semiárido brasileño, en dos periodos de tiempo PI (1973-2001) con políticas de combate a las sequias vs PII (2002- 2016) con la implementación de políticas gubernamentales de desarrollo bajo el concepto de convivencia con la semi-áridez. Las variables y procesos analizados incluyeron (a) Capital Físico; (b) Acceso a Infra-Estructura Hídrica; (c) Diversificación de sistemas de Producción (vegetal y animal); (d) Gestión de Bienes Común; (e) Integración en Espacios Políticos Organizativos y (f ) Acceso a Políticas Públicas. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que hubo cambios significativos en los indicadores analizados en el periodo PII, en comparación al periodo de (PI), en los 10 territorios analizados, como resultado del acceso a políticas públicas de convivencia con la sequía. Comparando el P-II con el P-I, en promedio, hubo una mejoría sustantiva en el Acceso a Infra-estructura Hídrica (121%), Diversidad de los sistemas Producción (Animal, 99% y Vegetal 229%), Participación en la Gestión de Bienes Comunes (66%), Integración en Espacio Políticos Organizativos (148%) y Participación en Políticas Publicas (99%). La convivencia pasó de ser un concepto a convertirse en hecho como consecuencia del conjunto de transformaciones estructurales, agroecológicas, sociales y de manejo en combinación con el fortalecimiento de mecanismos de reciprocidad comunitaria, caracterizados por a) movilización social y canalización para crear almacenamiento de recursos con el fin de utilizarlos en periodos de sequias, b) la reducción de la pérdida de recursos de los agro-ecosistemas y uso su eficaz y c) la articulación, organización y momentos sinérgicos de comunicación entre los diversos atores. Summary: The objective of this article is to explore whether the proposal of living with semi-aridity was realized, and if so to identify which strategies contributed and which general conditions were necessary for it. We conducted a comparative analysis of the transformations that occurred in 10 territories of the SAB during two periods of time – PI (1973-2001) with policies struggle with drought) and PII (2002-2016) with public policy for development based on this concept of living with semi-aridity. The variables and processes that we analyzed included: (a) Physical Capital; (b) Access to Hydrologic Infrastructure; (c) Diversification of Systems of Production (both crop and animal); (d) Management of Common Pool Resources; (e) Integration of Spaces for Political Organizing; and (f ) Access to Public Policy. The results show that there were significant changes in the indicators analyzed in the PII period, compared to the period of (PI), in the 10 territories analyzed, as a result of access to public policies to coexist with drought. Comparing PII with P-I, on average, there was a substantial improvement in Access to Hydrologic Infrastructure (121%), Diversification of Systems of Production (Animal, 99% and Crop, 229%), Management of Common Pool Resources (66%) Integration of Spaces for Political Organizing (148%) and Access to Public Policy (99%). As such, “living with” was converted from a concept into action as a consequence of a combination of structural, agroecological, social, and management transformations in combination with a strengthening of mechanisms of community reciprocity characterized by: (a) social mobilization and channeling to create resource stocks for use during times of drought; (b) the reduction in the loss of resources from agroecosystems and the efficient use of available resources; and (c) the communication, organization, and synergetic moments between diverse actors.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar, ao longo de dois anos, o efeito residual da adubação orgânica com esterco ou biomassa de gliricídia sobre os nutrientes do solo e sobre a produtividade e acúmulo de nutrientes pelo milho cultivado isolado (SA) ou consorciado em aléias de gliricídia (CA). O trabalho foi desenvolvido em Esperança, PB instalado em parcelas subdivididas, arranjadas em blocos casualizados, em que os sistemas (CA) e (SA) corresponderam aos tratamentos principais e os tratamentos de adubação com esterco, gliricídia e as parcelas-controle, aos tratamentos secundários, com quatro repetições. A adubação com esterco demonstrou maior efeito residual sobre a produtividade do milho nas parcelas do tratamento SA. No sistema CA o efeito residual foi reduzido, provavelmente pela competição por água e nutrientes entre o milho e gliricídia, indicando maior necessidade de adubação neste tipo de sistema. Os teores de P, K, Ca e Mg do solo em ambos os sistemas e ao longo dos dois anos do estudo foram mais elevados nas parcelas adubadas com esterco.The objective of the present study was to evaluate, during a period of two years, the residual effects of organic fertilization with animal manure or gliridicia prunings on the fertility of soil and on productivity and nutrient accumulation by maize cultivated either isolated (SA) or intercropped within alleys of gliricidia (CA). The study was conducted during 2006 and 2007 in the Centro Agroecológico São Miguel, headquarters of the NGO AS-PTA, in Esperança, PB, Brazil. The experiment was established in a split-plot design, arranged in randomized blocks, with the type of cropping system (SA or CA) as the main treatments and the organic fertilization (animal manure, gliricidia prunings or control plots) as the secondary treatments, with four replications. The organic fertilization with animal manure led to a residual effect increasing maize productivity during the two years, but the fertilization with gliricidia prunings had no residual effect. The residual effect on maize productivity was more pronounced in the SA plots, compared to the plots with gliricidia alleys (CA). Probably, the lower residual effect within the CA system was due to the competition between maize and gliricidia for resources (nutrients, water and light), which indicates the need for higher rates or more frequent fertilizer applications in these systems. The contents of P, K, Ca and Mg in the soil was higher in the plots that received animal manure within both types of cropping systems.