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Assessment of Forage Productivity and Livestockwildlife Competition over Utilization of Alpine Pastures in Hushe and Thallay Valleys of Baltistan

Thesis Info

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External Link

Author

Raza, Ghulam

Program

PhD

Institute

Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University

City

Rawalpindi

Province

Punjab

Country

Pakistan

Thesis Completing Year

2015

Thesis Completion Status

Completed

Subject

Applied Sciences

Language

English

Link

http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/6825/1/Ghulam_Raza_Forestry_%26_Range_Management_PMAS_2015.pdf

Added

2021-02-17 19:49:13

Modified

2024-03-24 20:25:49

ARI ID

1676725539654

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The present study was conducted to assess the vegetation cover, productivity, carrying capacity in the alpine rangelands of Gilgit-Baltistan. The assessment of the population of domestic ungulates, wild ungulates and their habitat characteristics was also carried out. At the end the diet composition and diet selection of wild ungulates and domestic small ruminants for important fodder resources were assessed, so that the severity of grazing pressures on these rangelands could be assessed. A model was developed in the area of competition keeping in view the availability and preferences of livestock and wild ungulates for the future sustainable use of rangeland resources. The study was conducted during July and August of 2012-13; diet competition was assessed during the winter season of the same year. The line transect method was used to assess the cover and productivity of rangelands. A total of 1320 quadrats were selected in both the Hushe and Thallay valleys in 2012 and 2013. Cover abundance of the individual species within each quadrat was measured and recorded. The vegetation cover was higher in Thallay Valley, showing coverage over 60% area, while the Hushe Valley showed 36% area covered by vegetation, however, the productivity of the Hushe range was relatively higher (275.5 Kg/ha) than in the Thallay Valley (240.5 Kg/ha). Within the vegetation cover distribution, the Hushe range was mainly dominated by forb (22.38%); the Thallay Valley was also dominated with forb (25.42%), in which Artemisia was dominant. This means the palatable species has been replaced by less palatable and drought resistant species due to the combined effect of overgrazing and environmental factors. In Hushe Valley, the average carrying capacity was found as 19 hectare/Animal. Unit/5 months. In Thallay Valley, the average carrying capacity was found as 16 hectare/Animal.Unit/5 xxiv months. This extremely low productivity and carrying capacity of range shows the critical condition of range sites in the valleys due to heavy grazing by livestock and climatic factors, specifically rain fall and soil characteristics such as organic matter and soil phosphorus. A livestock survey was conducted to check the grazing pressure with a semi structured questionnaire and the type of livestock was noted in each village. For assessment of Capra ibex in Hushe, two permanent trails - one upstream (7 km) from Hushe village to Dumsum Junction and one downstream (5 km) from Hushe village to Hushe Bridge - were established along the Hushe River. In Hushe Valley, the average livestock holdings per household were 17.14 animals. In Thallay Valley, the average livestock holding size was 15.25 animals per household. The number of dzomo per household has decreased because of the changing trend from agriculture to employment. The dzomo needs to be grazed on the pasture because of their grazing behavior which people can’t afford due to their jobs. The grazing period was dependent upon climatic condition and the harsh winter was a factor to control livestock numbers in both valleys. The population density of Himalayan Ibex was 3.44 animal / km2 during winters in the Hushe Valley. In winter, ibex come down to the surroundings of the main Hushe Nallah (3000-3600 m) for grazing, due to a shortage of grasses at higher altitude because of snow cover. The number of ibex seems to be increasing due to non-interferences of human beings. The average number of trophy size ibex was 3.54 in each of studied locations. This study revealed that the number of hunting licenses may need to be increased for the sustainable conservation of ibex and co-existence of both livestock and ibex, and to reduce the pressure on rangeland grasses. xxv For the assessment of competition, a total of 150 faecal pellets were collected. Each of 50 samples for Himalayan Ibex (hereafter referred to as ibex), domestic goat and domestic sheep (hereafter referred to as goat and sheep) were collected from Hushe Valley during the winter season from November 2012 to February 2013. The images of faecal fragments were compared with the plant reference photomicrographs. Frequency occurrence, relative importance value (RIV) and diet selection value (DSV) were calculated to estimate the diet overlap between the wild ungulates and domestic ungulates and thus to measure their overall diet similarity. The present study revealed that the shrub Rosa webbiana is the most preferred plant species in winter for ibex, goat and sheep with the highest diet selection values. The Salix illensis is also an important source of food for sheep and goat. The Artemisia bravifolia shows considerable contribution to the diet of ibex. The diet overlap index between ibex and goat was calculated as 0.86. The diet overlap index between ibex and sheep was 0.85, whereas the diet overlap index between sheep and goat was 0.96. The value of ( ) is closer to each other and closer to 1.00, which showed potential of competition among all species in winter season. This high diet overlap in winter was due to the downward movement of ibex in winter to search for food. The livestock also graze during day time in the surrounding areas therefore there is a possibility of high competition for the available forage in winter season. The results of the present study revealed that there is a high amount of pressure on the lower rangeland resources in winter seasons, as livestock graze in the lower ranges more frequently
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اسرارِ خمار

اسرار خمار
ہوا کے ہاتھوں میں چھالے پڑے ہوئے تھے
خوشبو کے ہالے میں طاق تھا
پروانوں کے طواف سے!
چاندنی میں سرخ سبز آیتوں کے انکشاف سے!
جمال فسوں کے دلفریب در کھل رہے تھے
دل کی شرطوں میں دف بج رہی تھی
زمان عصر کے زاویوں میں!
اک ناقہ خمار میں ڈوبی چل رہی تھی
شبنمی چاندنی میں اسرار خواب ڈھل رہے تھے
خوشبو کی بدلتی تاثیر میں!
صوفیوں نے بھی باب وفا کے قریب بزم سجا رکھی تھی
آباد حویلیوں سے!
لذت معنی کے علمدار۔۔۔سبز موسم کے راز داں آ رہے تھے
شفیق مسافتوں کے۔۔۔زلفہ اور صودابہ کی۔۔۔!
دھڑکنوں کے راز کھل رہے تھے
قدیم خیالوں کا پتہ دیتے ہوئے!
کئی آہو سبز ساحلوں کی طرف نکل رہے تھے
ستاروں کی چال اور زائچے بدل رہے تھے۔۔۔۔

Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Compared to Valsartan and Amlodipine in Stage 2 Hypertension

Background: Hypertension is a growing medical and public health issue. The United States and European treatment guidelines have been issued to attain smooth control of hypertension in various categories of patients. It is a need of time to unveil safe combination therapies in various populations. Objectives: (i) To determine the efficacy of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide versus valsartan and amlodipine (ii) To determine the safety and tolerability of both combinations. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted at Shalamar Hospital Lahore. 126 patients with stage 2 hypertension were recruited from the medical outdoor of Shalamar Hospital Lahore after getting informed consent. In group A, 63 patients were given valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. In group B, 63 patients were given valsartan and amlodipine. Blood pressure (BP) of both study groups was recorded on day zero, 2nd, 4th, and 8th weeks and the readings were entered on a Proforma. The efficacy of drug combinations was accessed in both groups by recording the change in mean systolic blood pressure (MSBP) and mean diastolic blood pressure (MDBP). The safety and tolerability of the drug combinations were assessed in terms of side effects and laboratory findings. Results: In group A, there was a 39±7mmzHg and 18±1mmHg decrease in MSBP and MDBP, respectively, from baseline BP. In group B, there was a 26.7±4mmHg and 14±2 mmHg decrease in MSBP and MDBP, respectively, from baseline BP. Both combinations were safe, and no significant difference in the efficacy of both combinations was observed after 8-week of treatment. Conclusion: Both combinations are effective for control of BP, but the valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide combination (group A) appears to have better tolerability and greater effect in decreasing BP as compared to the combination of valsartan and amlodipine (group B), although this difference is not statistically significant.  

Tunneling or Propping: Evidence from Family Business Groups of Pakistan

Corporate governance has two types of agency issues with respect to ownership and control of firms. The Type I agency issue is related to conflict of interest between shareholders and firm’s managers (i.e., principal-agent conflict); whereas, the Type II agency issue (i.e., principal-principal conflict) is between controlling (majority) shareholders and minority shareholders. The tunneling and propping in business group firms are examples of Type II agency issue. Tunneling is the process of expropriation or transfer of business resources by controlling shareholders from low cash-flow rights (CFR) firms to high CFR firms in a business group. Tunneling is carried out through certain transactions at the cost of minority shareholders in group firms. Whereas, propping is the opposite process through which resources are provided by controlling shareholders to firms under financial distress in a business group. This thesis examines these Type II agency issues between controlling and minority shareholders of firms related to family business groups of Pakistan. A family business group is a combination of two, or more firms under the control of a particular family. In this regard, the study examines whether tunneling, or propping is carried out in family business group firms, how it occurs and what impact it has on minority shareholders of these firms? The thesis has three major parts: first, this study explores regulatory and corporate environments in Pakistan; develops the pyramid ownership structures of family business groups; and examines the cash flow leverage, cash-flow rights and voting (control) rights of ultimate owners in family business group firms. The study finds that corporations in Pakistan have high degree of ownership concentration. Controlling shareholders own about 87% of firms with equal to or greater than 10% shareholding and 60% of firms with equal to or greater than 20% shareholding. Moreover, most of the businesses in Pakistan are controlled by families. In 62% of business group firms, families own about 20% or more top shareholdings. The study also finds considerable difference in voting, and cash-flow rights in family business group firms, which provides incentives for expropriation of resources. Secondly, the thesis focuses on finding the empirical evidence of tunneling, or propping in family business groups firms of Pakistan by taking a sample of 326 non-financial firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the period 2004-17. The study finds that majority or controlling shareholders expropriate minority shareholders by tunneling or transferring resources from group affiliated firms containing low CFR of majority owners. While measuring the sensitivities of firms to the industry earnings shocks through indirect methodology; the empirical results elucidate that about 31% resources are tunneled from low to high CFR group firms. The study further finds that equity held by directors (representing majority shareholders) has negative relationship with earnings of minority shareholders of low CFR group firms. Thirdly, the thesis examines different categories of four thousand five hundred Related Party Transactions (RPTs) taken place among sample firms during the period 2008-2013. Using the direct methodology, the study categorizes, classifies, describes and analyses the RPTs. The study finds that group affiliated firms extensively involve in RPTs as compared to non-group, foreign and state-owned firms. The controlling shareholders significantly use various RPTs for both, tunneling and propping depending upon the characteristics of firms, and corporate governance. Moreover, the study finds that considerable amount of intra-group loans is outstanding on firms’ financial statements. Besides, direct cash payments, cash receipts, assets sales and trade of goods & services have been observed as major RPTs, and sources of Type II agency issues. The study further finds that market assigns lower multiple of reported earnings for the top other receivable balance firms and vice versa. The study finally finds that firms are less likely to reduce their outstanding other receivables balances despite qualified audit opinions and lower returns. Overall, the results show that business interests of dispersed minority shareholders are xi significantly affected by crafty operations of majority shareholders in family business group firms mainly because of pyramid ownership structure and inadequate enforcement mechanism of corporate governance.These findings have certain implications for regulatory institutions, firm management, shareholders, and researchers.