Helmut Lieth - Böcker

The symposium on high salinity tolerant plants, held at the University of Al Ain in December 1990, dealt primarily with plants tolerting salinity levels exceeding that of ocean water and which at the same time are promising for utilization in agriculture or forestry. The papers of the proceedings of this symposium have been published in two volumes. This volume (1) deals with mangroves and inland high salinity tolerant plants and ecosystems and is divided into the following categories: 1. Vegetation analyses and descriptions of mangroves; 2. Ecosystem analyses; 3. Physiological analyses; 4. Utilization of mangroves and salt-marsh plants; 5. Soil and water analyses. Volume 2 deals with the improvement of salinity tolerance for traditional crops under marginal soils and irrigation water and is published in "Tasks for Vegetation Science" series (TAVS) Vol. 28.

The Symposium on high salinity tolerant plants, held at the University of Al Ain in December 1990, dealt primarily with plants tolerating salinity levels exceeding that of ocean water and which at the same time are promising for utilization in agriculture or forestry. These plants could be very useful for a country like the UAE where fresh water resources are very scarce and the groundwater available at some places is already very salty. More than 60 million woody trees/shrubs have been planted so far and more are planned for the inland plains underlain with brackish groundwater. These species were no solution for the widely barren shoreline of the UAE. Here mangrove species were of potential use, and one species, Avicennia marina, occurs widely and has been successfully planted for about a decade. Converting the tree plantations into economically useful cropping systems is still a problem requiring much research and development. The book deals in several sections with conventional irrigations systems using marginal water. The species used in these systems are mostly hybrids of conventional crops.The irrigation systems, however, have similar problems as may be expected for irrigation with seawater. Papers show the participants' experiments in this area. The volume serves as a link between scientists working for the improvement of classical irrigation systems and those interested in the application of a new dimension of salinity levels for irrigation water.

The destruction of the tropical forests continues rapidly. We all know that this has global, ecological and economic consequences. The problem is of such magnitude that it can only be compared to warfare. The destruction of tropical forests is not only detrimental to the global ecology but also poses a serious threat to the people living in these areas. Furthermore, the overutilization of such a valuable resource poses a serious threat to the next generations. Besides the problem generated for the people in these regions, and for the earth in general, there is a moral obligation to preserve the vast biological diversity in the tropical forests. We have a commitment to all species on earth as well as man and, therefore, need to preserve as many as possible, if not all. This book discusses the problem from different angles: from forestry, ecology and nature conservation. The two main problem areas are: first the wise utilization of that portion of the forest which will be used especially the introduction of planned forestry in such areas and second the development of a good plan for nature conservation in the tropics.

The last decade of the 20th century witnessed a sharp increase in losses of arable land from salinisation. In Europe this was especially hard for the farmers in the Mediterranean countries where irrigation farming is very common and many fields have reached a soil salinity level which prevents farmers from raising common crops. This is a world wide problem in dry and semi-dry tropical regions. The losses in soil fertility in certain regions, is so severe that rural populations are either, starving, leaving their villages or requesting permanent living support through foreign aid. Several scientists in Europe have developed research projects for the sustainable utilisation of halophytes. Together with their North African, Arabian and South Asian colleagues they developed a research network which produced rapidly promising aspects for cashcrop halophytes. Most of their work was based on the collection of papers from an international meeting in Al Ain/UAE. This volume presents examples of research from that meeting and the presentation of research topics.It was found that two avenues were of immediate need: the development of pilot projects and the organization of an international society for halophyte utilisation. Both aspects are dealt with in this book and together with other recent relevant publications will serve as a guide for future efforts to develop the common utilisation of cashcrop halophytes. This volume should be of value for all scientists and persons interested in R and D projects for the future use of halophytes and saline irrigation systems.

Focusing on Venezuela and Mexico, this edited volume from the International Society of Halophyte Utilisation (ISHU) explores the environmental issues facing South and Central America's coastal ecosystems, and discusses the uses of mangrove species and other halophytes in addressing issues of both coastal pollution and upland soil salinisation.The book draws on expertise from Europe and South America to present a series of case studies that detail Venezuela’s saline ecosystems and examine the economic potential of mangrove restoration and halophyte production. It includes cutting-edge research into the establishment of new mangrove stands which could serve as prototypes for the sustainable use of halophytes, including Chenopodium quinoa and Tamarix aphylla. Moreover, the detailed examples from Venezuela and other Caribbean countries provide useful models for comparison with halophyte utilisation in other parts of the world – especially the Mediterranean region, where much of the earlier research of the ISHU had been conducted.Including insights from 50 years of research on the Venezuelan coastline this unique book provides a useful reference for researchers working on saline ecosystems and economically useful halophytes around the world.

The destruction of the tropical forests continues rapidly. We all know that this has global, ecological and economic consequences. The problem is of such magnitude that it can only be compared to warfare. The destruction of tropical forests is both detrimental to the global ecology as well as posing a serious threat to the people living in these areas. Furthermore, the overutilization of such a valuable resource poses a serious threat to the next generations. Besides the problem generated for the people in these regions, and for the earth in general, there is a moral obligation to preserve the vast biological diversity in the tropical forests. We have a commitment to all species on earth as well as man and, therefore, need to preserve as many as possible, if not all. This book discusses the problem from different angles: from forestry, ecology and nature conservation. The two main problem areas are: first the wise utilization of that portion of the forest which will be used - especially the introduction of planned forestry in such areas and second the development of a good plan for nature conservation in the tropics.

This volume is a landmark in the development of the of pilot plantations in order to demonstrate the eco­ halophyte ecology research and development for the logical sustainability and the economic feasibility of saline irrigated production systems. following reasons: This book is intended to provide starting points for 1. The volume brings together contributions from work at several levels of research from physiology many countries from which otherwise little infor­ through chemistry and practical applications to taxon­ mation is available in the international literature. omy and floristic analyses. The volume is structured in this way and shows the different approaches possible 2. The volume summarises through individual con­ in different parts of the world limited by the interest of tributors the state of research possibilities in many the local scientists, laboratory and monetary resources developing countries. available or suggested by the type of information 3. The volume documents the latest work by the mem­ needed for further studies. bers of the European Union's Concerted Action Towards the end of this book we report on the initi­ Group "Sustainable utilisation of halophytes in the ation of the new scientific society dealing with the Mediterranean and subtropical dry regions". problems to be solved to create new cash crop halo­ phytes which is very much needed for the immediate 4. The volume reports contributions from the work­ future in many developing countries with desert or shop held at the beginning of the EXPO 2000, semi desert climates.

Focusing on Venezuela and Mexico, this edited volume from the International Society of Halophyte Utilisation (ISHU) explores the environmental issues facing South and Central America's coastal ecosystems, and discusses the uses of mangrove species and other halophytes in addressing issues of both coastal pollution and upland soil salinisation.The book draws on expertise from Europe and South America to present a series of case studies that detail Venezuela’s saline ecosystems and examine the economic potential of mangrove restoration and halophyte production. It includes cutting-edge research into the establishment of new mangrove stands which could serve as prototypes for the sustainable use of halophytes, including Chenopodium quinoa and Tamarix aphylla. Moreover, the detailed examples from Venezuela and other Caribbean countries provide useful models for comparison with halophyte utilisation in other parts of the world – especially the Mediterranean region, where much of the earlier research of the ISHU had been conducted.Including insights from 50 years of research on the Venezuelan coastline this unique book provides a useful reference for researchers working on saline ecosystems and economically useful halophytes around the world.

The symposium on high salinity tolerant plants, held at the University of Al Ain in December 1990, dealt primarily with plants tolerating salinity levels exceeding that of ocean water and which at the same time are promising for utilization in agriculture or forestry. The papers of the proceedings of this symposium have been published in two volumes. This volume (1) deals with mangroves and inland high salinity tolerant plants and ecosystems and is divided into the following categories: 1. Vegetation analyses and descriptions of mangroves; 2. Ecosystem analyses; 3. Physiological analyses; 4. Utilization of mangroves and saltmarsh plants; 5. Soil and water analyses. Volume 2 deals with the improvement of salinity tolerance for traditional crops under marginal soils and irrigation water and is published in `Tasks for Vegetation Science' series (TAVS) Vol. 28.

The Symposium on high salinity tolerant plants, held at the University of Al Ain in December 1990, dealt primarily with plants tolerating salinity levels exceeding that of ocean water and which at the same time are promising for utilization in agriculture or forestry. These plants could be very useful for a country like the UAE where fresh water resources are very scarce and the groundwater available at some places is already very salty. More than 60 million woody trees/shrubs have been planted so far and more are planned for the inland plains underlain with brackish groundwater. These species were no solution for the widely barren shoreline of the UAE. Here mangrove species were of potential use, and one species, Avicennia Marina, occurs widely and has been successfully planted for about a decade. Converting the tree plantations into economically useful cropping systems is still a problem requiring much research and development. The book deals in several sections with conventional irrigation systems using marginal water. The species used in these systems are mostly hybrids of conventional crops. The irrigation systems, however, have similar problems as may be expected for irrigation with seawater. Papers show the participants' experiments in this area. The volume serves as a link between scientists working for the improvement of classical irrigation systems and those interested in the application of a new dimension of salinity levels for irrigation water.