Vegetation dynamics of canopy tree species of Lendrikia Reserve Forest, Kandhamal, Odisha, India

We assess the conservation status of all tree species in order to identify conservation gaps and prioritize genetic conservation efforts. A thorough assessment would consider genetic variation in each species across the species range, but for most tree species, such information is simply not available. For this reason, we used spatial variation associated with Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification zones (BEC zones) representing different macroclimates as a proxy for adaptive genetic variation. We re-assessed the 2005 conservation status calculated in this manner using updated datasets collected in 2017, considered both in situ and ex situ conservation, and used an adjusted criterion for small-stature tree species. Results of our gap analysis revealed that overall, the native tree species in 89% of the conservation units (defined as species-by-biogeoclimatic-zone combinations) were well protected in situ. Of the 43 native tree species in the province, 12 species had conservation gaps in one or more biogeoclimatic zones. When in situ and ex situ conservation were considered jointly, the overall percentage of conservation units that were adequately protected improved to 91%. Needs for additional ex situ collections or in situ protection are discussed in terms of both BEC zones and individual species. In most cases, we recommend seed collection as the most feasible short-term option to cover gaps in protected area coverage.

The objective of this document is to provide an analysis of the existing seed sources in the tropical dry forest of northern Peru (Tumbes-Piura dry forests and Maraon dry forests), in addition to providing preliminary information on the conservation status of tree species of interest and those used in reforestation experiences and restoration. The information was generated primarily to inform the planning and implementation of future activities within the framework of the ICRAF project "Agroforestry seed sources for restoration and genetic conservation (FuenteS)". Information was collected on existing seed sources using a structured questionnaire completed with information from primary and secondary sources.

The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya. This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical forest ecosystems in different ecological zones, which are being affected by climate change to a level that they are becoming carbon sources instead of sinks. Stratified sampling technique was used to categorize tropical forests into rain, moist deciduous and dry zone forests depending on the average annual rainfall received. Simple random sampling technique was used to select three tropical forests in each category. Modified consistent sampling technique was used to develop 10 main 20 m × 100 m plots in each forest, with 20 2 m × 50 m sub-plots in each plot. Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 10 sub-plots from each main plot for inventory study. Non-destructive approach based on allometric equations using trees’ diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and species’ wood specific gravity were used in estimating tree carbon stock in each forest. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and litter nutrient concentration (total phosphorus and nitrogen) were determined in each forest based on standard laboratory procedures. The results indicated that, whilst trees in rain forests recorded a significantly higher (p < 0.001) DBH (20.36 cm) and total tree height (12.1 m), trees in dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher (p < 0.001) specific gravity (0.67 kg m−3). Dry zone tropical forests stored a significantly lower amount of total tree carbon of 73 Mg ha−1, compared to tropical rain forests (439.5 Mg ha−1) and moist deciduous tropical forests (449 Mg ha−1). The SOC content was significantly higher in tropical rainforests (3.9%), compared to soils from moist deciduous (2.9%) and dry zone forests (1.8%). While litter from tropical rain forests recorded a significantly higher amount of total nitrogen (3.4%), litter from dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher concentration of total phosphorus (0.27%). In conclusion, ecological gradient that is dictated by the prevailing temperatures and precipitation affects the tropical forests carbon stock potential and litter nutrient concentration. This implies that, the changing climate is having a serious implication on the ecosystem services such as carbon stock and nutrients cycling in tropical forests.

Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary (HWS), located in the Fatikchari upazila of Chittagong district, Bangladesh with a land area of 2,908.5 acres, is a Protected Area IUCN Category II. Once the forest was very rich in flora and fauna but apparently, it seems that some lesser known species may have been disappeared from the area due to changes in overall conditions. The study was conducted through systematic quadrat method where the size of the plot was 20 m×20 m. A total of 162 tree species (having ≥5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) belonging to 50 families were recorded where Euphorbiaceae family possess the highest number of species (18) followed by Moraceae (12 species). Conservation status of the plants indicated that 52% species (85 species) were Least Concern (LC) which was maximum among the conservation categories. However, the Vulnerable, Endangered, Near Threatened and Critically Endangered tree species were represented by 20% (32 species), 6% (9 species), 1% (1 species) and 2% (3 species) respectively. The study created a baseline of information on the tree species diversity of the protected area which is expected to be helpful to the future researchers as well as in taking managerial actions by the policy makers.

This study explored the floristic composition, diversity and biomass in Gunung Inas Forest Reserve (GIFR), Kedah, an area facing potential threats from large-scale monoculture durian plantations. Three 0.53 ha plots were established to assess trees with a diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm. As a result, a total of 53 individuals were identified, representing 16 species, 16 genera and 12 families. The Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index was recorded at H’=2.77 and Margalef’s Richness Index at DMG=8.7, indicating low level of diversity and richness of tree in the forest. Moderate Evenness Index of E=0.71 portrayed the almost equal distribution of the tree species in the forest. Anacardiaceae had the highest FIVi at 24.79 % while Swintonia schewenkii was the most important species with SIVi = 12.48. Total tree biomass was estimated at 76.3 t/ha which was contributed by 66.04 t/ha and 10.22 t/ha of above ground biomass and below ground biomass, respectively. Furthermore, the study identified 2 of the 16 recorded tree species within the study area as threatened, highlighting the potential conservation concerns within this ecosystem. Overall, this study provides baseline data for future ecological research and calls for conservation efforts to protect this forest's biodiversity against potential threats.

Tropical forests of Bangladesh are facing rapid loss in floristic diversity and resultant changes of vegetation necessitates the assessment of plant composition and diversity. The present study was conducted to assess the composition of native tree species of Rampahar Forest Reserve of Rangamati hill district, Bangladesh. Rampahar is a remnant tropical semi-evergreen natural forest extending to an area of 648 ha. Simple random sampling method with 20 m × 20 m sized 20 and 5 m × 5 m sized 10 samples plots were used to study both tree species composition and seedling status of tree species. A total of 50 tree species under 28 families and 15 regenerating tree species under 13 families were recorded in the study area. Family Moraceae possessed the highest number of tree species (6 species) while families Anacardiaceae and Sterculiaceae possessed the highest number (2 species) for regenerating tree species. The survey indicated that Protium serratum (Wall. ex Colebr.) Engl. is the most dominant tree species with the highest relative density (RD), relative frequency (RF) and importance value index (IVI). Basal area of all the tree species was 13.13 m 2 /ha where Ficus religiosa was represented by the highest basal area (1.14 m 2 /ha). Protium serratum was also a dominant regenerating tree species with highest RD (15.24%), RF (16.30%) and IVI (50.09). The native trees species of this remnant forest need attention for immediate conservation

Tropical forests, largely restricted between 23.5° south and north of the equator, are famous for both their high biological diversity and high rates of deforestation. The tropical forest biome covers about 22 million km2 of the world’s terrestrial surface (see Matthews, et al. 2000; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2010, both cited under General Overviews). Tropical forests are characterized by a multilayered, angiosperm-dominated canopy, with high species richness and varied life forms (including herbs, shrubs, epiphytes, lianas, and trees). Rainfall seasonality is the primary driver of the four main types of forest physiognomy, along with temperature: Closed canopy rain forest, moist deciduous forest, dry forest and savanna, and upland or montane forest. In this bibliography, we focus mostly on tropical rain forest and tropical humid forest—forest that receives substantial rainfall with or without a dry season—where most research has been conducted. Abundant tree families in the Neotropics include Fabaceae, Arecaceae, and Lecythidaceae, whereas Dipterocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Meliaceae are abundant in the Paleotropics; dominance by a single species is rare. Tropical forests are estimated to contain at least half of all known plant species. This diversity has led to the intense study of the evolution of diversity, mechanisms of species coexistence, and plant–animal interactions. Tropical forests are usually highly productive and have long been populated by people. However, more recent conversion of tropical forests to arable land and pastures have led to the loss of 0.45 percent per year of tropical forest cover, which has stark implications for forest fragmentation, biodiversity, and climate change (see Ramankutty, et al. 2008, cited under Tropical Forest Extent and Loss; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2010, cited under General Overviews; Malhi, et al. 2014 and Lewis, et al. 2015, both cited under Tropical Forest Extent and Loss).

The GlobalTreeSearch database provides the names of all tree species known to science and the countries where these trees grow. TreeeX is a visual exploration system that supports multifaceted analyses of the GlobalTreeSearch data. Investigating research questions on biodiversity and conservation on a global or national scale are visually supported by interactive choropleth maps that color countries according to frequency, diversity or uniqueness of prevalent tree species. By combining the GlobalTreeSearch and ThreatSearch data sets, additional information on the conservation status of trees can be visualized globally and nationally through TreeeX. Similarities and differences in tree diversity, endemism and conservation status to other countries can be analyzed in detail. Several examples outline the system’s capability of delivering insights concerning the geographical diversity of tree species.

Eucalyptus argophloia is a species with a small geographic range occurring in a productive landscape with a subhumid climate. The past distribution of the species was assessed from remnant vegetation and standing paddock trees. The species grows in three specific vegetation types within its geographic range, and based on densities in remnant vegetation and reduction of habitat, it is estimated that the population has been reduced by 94.2%. There is very little regeneration of the species including on ungrazed roadsides, and further decline of the species is expected. The species can be categorised under IUCN Red Listing criteria as Critically Endangered. The present study provides a method for using habitat association, population decline and stand structure for conservation assessment of threatened tree species in productive landscapes.

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Based on &amp;#64257;eldwork for licensing environmental impact studies in Bahia, northeastern Brazil, we present new records of &amp;#64257;ve tree species, including two species known only from their type locality. The records mostly originate from highly human-modi&amp;#64257;ed areas in Atlantic Forest, which we argue that should not be underestimated by environmental licensing studies. We assess the conservation status of the &amp;#64257;ve species and highlight the importance of using trained botanists for recording species of conservation concern. Our data demonstrate that studies for environmental licensing can contribute knowledge and aid in biodiversity conservation.

Trees are fundamental for Earth’s biodiversity as primary producers and ecosystem engineers and are responsible for many of nature’s contributions to people. Yet, many tree species at present are threatened with extinction by human activities. Accurate identification of threatened tree species is necessary to quantify the current biodiversity crisis and to prioritize conservation efforts. However, the most comprehensive dataset of tree species extinction risk—the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN RL)—lacks assessments for a substantial number of known tree species. The RL is based on a time-consuming expert-based assessment process, which hampers the inclusion of less-known species and the continued updating of extinction risk assessments. In this study, we used a computational pipeline to approximate RL extinction risk assessments for more than 21,000 tree species (leading to an overall assessment of 89% of all known tree species) using a supervised learning approach trained based on available IUCN RL assessments. We harvested the occurrence data for tree species worldwide from online databases, which we used with other publicly available data to design features characterizing the species’ geographic range, biome and climatic affinities, and exposure to human footprint. We trained deep neural network models to predict their conservation status, based on these features. We estimated 43% of the assessed tree species to be threatened with extinction and found taxonomic and geographic heterogeneities in the distribution of threatened species. The results are consistent with the recent estimates by the Global Tree Assessment initiative, indicating that our approach provides robust and time-efficient approximations of species’ IUCN RL extinction risk assessments.

Himchari National Park (HNP) was declared as a Protected Area (PA) in 1980 under the section 23(II) of Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation Act 1974 of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The total area of the HNP is about 1,729 ha (4,271.15 acres) under the jurisdiction of Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division, Cox’s Bazar district. Once the forest was very rich in flora and fauna, but many of the species have disappeared due to habitat destruction, over-exploitation, habitat fragmentation, fire hazard, encroachment, indiscriminate harvesting of tree species and Non-Timber Forest products. The study was conducted through extensive whole area survey and quadrat survey methods. A total of 117 tree species (having ≥ 5 cm dbh) belonging to 37 families was recorded from the HNP. Moraceae family possesses the highest species (14) followed by Mimosaceae (8), Euphorbiaceae (7), Myrtaceae (6) and 5 species each by Anacardiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Meliaceae and Verbenaceae. A total of 69 tree species (59%) was found as Least Concern (LC) representing maximum tree species among all the categories. Vulnerable, Endangered, Near Threatened and Critically Endangered tree species were represented by 16 species (14%), 4 species (3%), 2 species (2%) and 2 species (2%), respectively. It is necessary to take effective measures for the protection, sustainable management, proper utilization and conservation of tree species in an aim to conserve the forest genetic resources of the Himchari natural forests. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2018, 4(2): 1-10

The Barak valley is located in the southern part of Assam (India) and the phytogeographically, the valley belongs Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, harbours rich arboreal diversity and a strong tradition of ethnobotanical knowledge among certain local communities and the different tribes. The present study is to provide a comprehensive review that synthesizes available information on the ethnobotanical uses of threatened species and conservation status of tree species. A total of 290 tree species belonging to 206 genera and 70 families have been recorded from the valley, reflecting remarkable floristic richness. These tree species play a crucial role in the livelihood such as, providing food, medicine, timber, fuelwood, fodder, and cultural resources. IUCN Red list assessment reveals that as the threatened categories, 2% (7 species) Vulnerable, 3% (8 species) Endangered, and 1% (2 species) Critically Endangered and the majority of the species falls under the Least Concern category of 72% (206 species), while 16% (45 species) are Not Evaluated and 4% (10 species) are Data Deficient. The threatened species indicating that due to the increasing of anthropogenic pressure, habitat loss, overexploitation, illegal plantation, and lack of awareness on forest ecosystem are major threats to tree diversity in the valley. This review highlights the ethnobotanical knowledge of threatened species with scientific conservation strategies. The study establishes a valuable baseline dataset for ethnobotanical, future ecological monitoring, conservation planning, and sustainable utilization of tree resources in the valley.

Abstract: Trees play an important role in the Earths biodiversity and to the human population. The Global Tree Assessment aims to assess the extinction risk of all 60,000 tree species according IUCN Red List criteria to reveal patterns of threat and promote effective measures to face them. Since assessment is mainly driven on occurrence data, we took the opportunity to develop a computational pathway to automatize the process of assessment using a machine learning approach, i.e. we trained a deep neural network model on features including geographic, biome, climatic and human footprint data. Given the resulting prediction of the threat status among tree species we investigated to reveal patterns of strongly threatened taxa and geographic regions.