Contributions Of Biogeotextiles To Sustainable
Development And Soil Conservation In
Developing Countries: The BORASSUS Project
Author(s)
M. A. Fullen , C. A. Booth , et al. (see last page for other authors)
Abstract
Field and laboratory studies indicate that geotextile mats constructed from palm
leaves are an effective, sustainable and economically viable soil conservation
technique. The three-year (2005–08) EU-funded BORASSUS Project (Contract
Number INCO-CT-2005-510745) is evaluating their long-term effectiveness in
controlling soil erosion and assessing their sustainability and economic viability.
These studies are in progress in 10 countries, both in the ‘industrial north’ (in
Europe) and in the ‘developing south’ (Africa, South America and South-East
Asia). This paper focuses on agro-environmental applications and potential in the
‘developing south’ (The Gambia, South Africa, Brazil, China, Thailand and
Vietnam). Biogeotextiles offer potentially novel bioengineering solutions to
environmental problems, including technologies for soil conservation,
sustainable plant production and use of indigenous plants, improved ecosystem
management, decreasing deforestation, improving agroforestry and cost-effective
geotextile applications in diverse environments. Biogeotextiles may provide
socio-economic platforms for sustainable development and the benefits for
developing countries may include poverty alleviation, engagement of local
people as stakeholders, employment for disadvantaged groups, small and
medium enterprise (SME) development, earning hard currency, environmental
education and local community involvement in land reclamation and
environmental education programmes. These benefits are achieved through:
(a) promotion of sustainable and environmentally-friendly palm agriculture to
discourage deforestation, promoting both reforestation and agroforestry;
(b) construction of palm geotextiles enabling development of a rural
labour-intensive industry, particularly encouraging employment of
socially-disadvantaged groups and (c) export of palm geotextiles to
industrialized countries could earn hard currency for developing economies,
based on the principles of fair trade.
Keywords: soil and water conservation, bioengineering technology,
socio-economic development.
Keywords
soil and water conservation, bioengineering technology,
socio-economic development.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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