No Passports Required: Exploring the Significance of Transnational Boundary Conservation Areas and Implications for Multinational Conservation Initiatives for Giraffe (Giraffa spp.)

To Achieve Big Wins for Terrestrial Conservation, Prioritize Protection of Ecoregions Closest to Meeting Targets

Meru Betiri National Park (MBNP) is one of the conservation areas with an essential bird habitat in East Java. In the conservation monitoring and evaluation framework, we studied the diversity and existence of birds in the bird hotspot (Pringtali Block) as an implication for bird conservation in the MBNP. Bird observations were collected during January-February 2023 at the Pringtali Block using the point count method at six representative sites. The primary data recorded included bird species, abundance of each species, and frequency of encounters. Meanwhile, the secondary data were obtained from web queries covering bird conservation status and distribution through https://www.iucnredlist.org/. Data analysis was conducted in three stages: determining species composition, species diversity index (H'), and species existence value (Ef). The results recorded 70 bird species, consisting of 57 genera and 33 families, in the Pringtali Block of MBNP. The diversity index of birds was included in the high category (H' = 3.31). The average existence value (Ef) of the bird is 48.57 or x̄=3 s, which are included in the medium category. This reveals that birds in the Pringtali block have important structural and functional values in the MBNP ecosystem. This value also illustrates the importance of the presence of a bird species in the ecosystem and represents the uniqueness of the bird species. The birds with the highest Ef values were the Javan Hawk-eagle Nisaetus bartelsi (86.67) and White-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis (86.67). Both species have low frequencies, are an endangered category, and are endemic to Java. Therefore, conservation efforts associated with MBNP have been successful.

Comparing the performance of species distribution models of Zostera marina: Implications for conservation

In Garrett Hardin’s popular essay on “The Tragedy of the Commons”, he presents a model of a shared commons where herdsmen graze their cattle to illustrate the tension between group and self-interest that characterizes so many social dilemmas. However, Hardin is not explicit that consumption can actually vary widely among herdsman, although later, when discussing population growth, he clarifies that “people vary”. People do indeed vary, and here we explore further the prevalence of asymmetrical contributions to the tragedy of the commons. We also provide several examples to demonstrate that asymmetries have been frequently underappreciated by conservation initiatives. Given that many of today’s major environmental problems, such as climate change, freshwater shortages, and overfishing, are problems of users or groups of users over-consuming common resources asymmetrically, we believe identifying patterns of consumption is a necessary first step in solving any social dilemma, and can help elucidate priority areas for conservation.

Rule-breaking in terrestrial protected areas of sub-Saharan Africa: A review of drivers, deterrent measures and implications for conservation

A major threat to marine ecosystems is the establishment and proliferation of invasive alien species. This study addresses gaps in our knowledge regarding marine alien invertebrate species in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR) and adjacent Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Western Cape of South Africa, together a potentially important area for south-coast marine conservation. Understanding the distribution and geographical expansion of these species is critical for conservation planning. A quantitative systematic survey of the intertidal rocky shore region was undertaken. The mytilid Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata were the only alien species recorded along the coastline, which included the MPA. The abundance of M. galloprovincialis was significantly higher outside the MPA, and the abundance of W. subtorquata was significantly higher inside the MPA. With only two alien species recorded, the Betty’s Bay MPA and its surroundings support relatively few marine alien species with regards to rocky shore invertebrate biodiversity. Conservation implications: It is important that the Betty’s Bay MPA and its adjacent coastline maintain its current status as an area with relatively few marine alien species. The conservation implications on management require routine surveys of this region to detect early introductions of any additional species.

Abstract. Tettey CND, Anderson RS, Kyerematen R. 2020. Rapid assessment of butterfly diversity of two proposed Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) in the Western North Region of Ghana: Implication for conservation. Biodiversitas 21: 3699-3706. Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) are non-reserved land masses with local communities living in them that contain important components of biodiversity and are open to free access. Biodiversity in these off-reserve areas in Ghana is fast depleting due to unsustainable anthropogenic activities. The Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (RBA) method was conducted in the proposed Manzan and Yawmatwa CREMAs in Sefwi-Debiso; in the Western North Region of Ghana using butterflies as indicator taxa to estimate species richness and diversity in two proposed CREMAs to prioritize these rapidly diminishing forest areas for conservation. A total of 1,352 individual butterflies were recorded at the end of a two-week rapid assessment; with 83 species belonging to five families (Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae). The findings of the study revealed that 38.5% of the butterfly population belongs to species associated with severe forest disturbance; indicating that these ecosystems are gradually being threatened by ongoing anthropogenic activities. Management efforts aimed at butterfly conservation should be geared towards protecting these proposed CREMAs from excessive human disturbances.

Management of Yellowstone bison and brucellosis transmission risk – Implications for conservation and restoration

The relative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity have been a topic of discussion for decades. While it is acknowledged that habitat amount can mediate the effects of habitat fragmentation, it is unclear what other factors may drive inter- and intraspecific variation in fragmentation effects and their implications for conservation. We tested whether the effects of forest fragmentation on 362 bird species' occurrence in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil are mediated by distance to geographic range edge and habitat amount, and whether these effects explain intraspecific variation across populations. Using a single binomial linear mixed effects model, we found that fragmentation had mostly negative effects on occurrence probability up to 1080 km from the species' range edge, independent of habitat amount. We also show that above this distance, fragmentation has predominantly positive effects, more accentuated in deforested landscapes. We demonstrate that fragmentation effects can be both positive and negative, indicating that different populations of the same species can respond differently depending on distance to range edge and local forest cover. Our results help clarify one of the drivers of contradictory results found in the fragmentation literature and highlight the importance of preventing habitat fragmentation for the conservation of endangered populations. Conservation initiatives should focus on minimising fragmentation closer to range edges of target species and in regions where species range edges overlap.

Although overhunting is amongst the main threats to biodiversity, wild meat is culturally and nutritionally important for many communities. Conservation initiatives should therefore address the drivers of hunting, rather than its practice alone. Here we gathered information from structured interviews with 68 local households to assess the drivers of hunting in a highly threatened Amazonian savannah complex, the Cerrado of Amapá in Brazil. We used regression models to evaluate the influence of socio-economic parameters and spatial variables on hunting prevalence and frequency. The only identified driver of hunting prevalence was forest cover, whereas five variables had significant effects on hunting frequency. The positive effect of forest cover and the negative effect of hunter's age on hunting frequency suggest that logistical and physical feasibility are important drivers of hunting frequency. Furthermore, we suggest that the negative effect of distance to urban centres may be related to the profitability of hunting. We base this on the negative effect of river length in the vicinity of households and per capita monthly income on hunting frequency, which corroborates the tendency of hunting frequency to decrease when alternatives to wild meat are more readily available. We argue that to reduce unsustainable hunting it is necessary both to raise awareness amongst local communities and involve them in the creation of management plans that conserve biodiversity and meet economic and social needs.

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) encompasses diverse species, including several staple food crops, of which a few were domesticated on the African continent. This study assessed yam genetic diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to inform breeding and conservation initiatives. A diverse collection of 1,247 yam accessions representing six species (D. rotundata, D. alata, D. praehensilis, D. bulbifera, D. cayenensis, and D. dumetorum) sourced from six African countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda) was used in this study. Genetic diversity was assessed using 7,648 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, selected from previously sequenced datasets between the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) collaboration. Findings showed a substantial inter- and intra-specific variation in African yam germplasm, with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.165 to 0.464 and an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.324 across populations. Population structure was assessed using ADMIXTURE (with cross-validation error for optimal K), DAPC (with BIC for K), and an IBS-based Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated moderate differentiation among countries (FST = 0.07), and higher differentiation among species (average FST = 0.14). Clustering patterns and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of evolutionary relationships among D. cayenensis, D. praehensilis, and D. rotundata, providing insights into D. rotundata domestication history in West Africa. These findings enhance our understanding of genetic relationships within the Dioscorea genus.

Background and research aims Bees are important pollinators of flowering wild plants and agricultural crops that contribute significantly towards food security, improving people’s livelihoods, and maintaining genetic diversity in plant communities. However, the decline of the bee population due to anthropogenic changes and limited knowledge of bees is threatening bee diversity, particularly in sub–Saharan Africa. Negative perceptions, that is, fear and disgust, are common emotions that lead to a lack of support for bee conservation. Understanding local people’s perceptions is vital as it can help in bee conservation decision making and proper protection actions. Methods We conducted the study in the Mbeya and Songwe regions of Tanzania to assess the knowledge and perception of local people about bee–pollinators and conservation using a structured questionnaire Results We found that the majority of respondents (91%) have heard about bees (χ2 = 6275, p < 0.001) and their conservation initiatives (71%), and about 84% of respondents consider bees to be important (χ2 = 168.9, p = 0.001). Moreover, Apis mellifera had the highest identification rate, with 52.7% of respondents. A binary logistic model revealed that respondents' knowledge of bee–pollinators and pollination is not influenced by their age (except for respondents aged 15–18 years, p = 0.012) and education level. While 74% of respondents claimed to be afraid of bees, 79% stated that bees are dangerous to humans. The most common cause is personal experience with bee stings. Poor farm management practices, for example, use of fire and deforestation, were noted by 79% of respondents as the most human activities threatening bee–pollinators. Conclusion Overall, the respondents were more familiar with A. mellifera compared to non–Apis bee species. Implications for conservation Thus, we suggest that implementation of pollinator management programs is vital to ensure their survival and reduce the perceived threat by dispelling myths and encouraging interest in bees.

This case study sought to broaden the scope of inquiry into factors influencing human-wildlife coexistence beyond immediately tangible wildlife impacts and challenges with flagship wildlife species. Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya, were interviewed regarding challenges with wildlife, particularly perceptions of disease transmission from wildlife to domestic livestock. Responses revealed experiences with numerous diseases and multiple perceived associations between wildlife and livestock disease. Responses aligned with prior research that elephants severely compromise pastoralists’ well-being, but concerns were overwhelmingly articulated as fear affecting daily activities rather than in more directly quantifiable terms. Findings did not indicate concerns with lions, despite their focus in scholarship and conservation initiatives. Responses indicated the need to view human-wildlife coexistence more broadly to include species beyond iconic wildlife, and to recognize that subjective concerns (e.g., fear, disease transmission to livestock) in addition to quantifiable events (e.g., human deaths, livestock predation) might affect attitudes toward wildlife conservation.

ABSTRACTThe Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata; Manidae, Pholidota), a species categorized as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, is one of nine extant pangolin species in Asia. This study investigated habitat preference, habitat suitability, and illegal trade routes of the Indian pangolin in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Habitat preference was determined by analyzing the distribution and density of pangolin signs across various land cover types. Habitat suitability for the species was assessed using the MaxEnt modeling approach and field data. Trade routes were identified using information from hunters, poachers, dealers, and local communities to understand the threats related to illegal wildlife trafficking. Results indicated significant differences in burrow distributions across habitats (χ2 = 17.756, df = 6, p < 0.01), which suggest ecological preferences and adaptations. We complemented MaxEnt with Random Forest and Support Vector Machine models trained with the same predictors and spatial folds to validate robustness and characterize non‐linear effects. Across held‐out folds, SVM performed best, with RF and MaxEnt yielding comparable but lower discrimination; a TSS‐weighted ensemble provided a stable consensus SVM (mean AUC ≈ 0.61; TSS ≈ 0.33). Variable‐importance and partial‐dependence analyses consistently highlighted Elevation, NDMI, and NDWI as influential predictors. Several routes used for the illegal trade of Indian pangolin scales and whole animals were identified. The study also highlights the ongoing issues of illegal poaching and habitat intrusion, worsened by low local awareness and inadequate enforcement. The findings support a comprehensive conservation strategy that includes strict enforcement of wildlife protection laws, increased penalties for poaching, community‐based monitoring through targeted awareness campaigns, local wildlife patrols, and ongoing scientific research to support habitat restoration, adaptive management, and evidence‐based policy development. Community‐based conservation initiatives and improved wildlife law enforcement at key trafficking hubs could significantly reduce poaching pressure.

The Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) is a vagrant passage and wintering species whose presence and distribution in Serbia have been inadequately studied. This study presents new findings of T. ferruginea in Serbia based on two sources of data: unpublished eBird checklists from 2014 to 2019 and new data collected from 2020 to 2023. Observations were conducted at various localities across Serbia, including Jezero Ćelije, Begečka Jama, Smilovci Lake, Aleksandrovačko Lake, Sava shipyard, fish farms of Novi Kneževac, Bečej, and Čenta, as well as the Special Nature Reserve Slano Kopovo. These sightings contribute to our understanding of the species' distribution within Serbia and underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring efforts. The potential impacts of these results on upcoming research and conservation initiatives, which are focused on safeguarding the populations of T. ferruginea within the area, are examined.