Forest Communities Research Articles

Macrofungal sporocarp community in the lichen Scots pine forests.

The lichen-rich pine forests of Cladonio-Pinetum represent special habitats protected under the Natura 2000 scheme. A rapid decline in their density has been observed in recent years. Macrofungi are an important component of the community and sensitive bioindicators; therefore, observations of the response of their sporocarps can be used to draw conclusions about changes induced in habitats. In our study, we tried to detect differences in species richness, composition, and biomass of the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in areas rich in lichens indicating the good state of the community, and rich in bryophytes signaling its progressive degradation. The influence of precipitation and temperature on species richness and biomass was checked, and the possibility of using the sporocarps-based method to assess the effectiveness of active protection treatments, which are a form of partial protection carried out to maintain specific natural habitats. For detailed studies, six plots were selected from which sporocarps were collected, dried and weighed. A total of 1,575 sporocarps, representing 49 taxa were collected. A higher number of taxa (39) in lichen-rich plots were found. In bryophyte-rich areas, 27 taxa were recorded. The total yield was 13,151 g dry weight ha-1. In lichen-rich plots, the biomass was almost half lower.

Riqueza y distribución de leguminosas en un gradiente ambiental dentro del Área Natural Protegida Altas Cumbres, Tamaulipas, México

Background: Altas Cumbres is a protected natural area located in the center of the state of Tamaulipas, which has not been sufficiently studied. Although legumes are a family well represented in the area, until now, no studies had been carried out to reveal their richness and distribution. Questions: How many and which legume species are found in the study area and how are they distributed along an environmental gradient? Species study: Fabaceae family. Study site and dates: Altas Cumbres, Tamaulipas, Mexico, during 2022 and 2023. Methods: Botanical material was collected and identified using specialized bibliography; Herbarium specimens and online databases were reviewed. An analysis of similarity was carried out with the sites studied, using the Jaccard index to obtain β diversity and observe its distribution. Results: A total of 132 species were obtained, belonging to 57 genera and three subfamilies. The greatest diversity of legumes belonged to the subfamily Papilionoideae (86 species / 37 genera), followed by Caesalpinoideae (41/18) and finally Cercidoideae (5/2). Herbaceous plants were dominant with respect to woody plants. Most species were recorded in an elevation range between 300 and 499 m asl, in submontane scrub and pine-oak forest communities. Conclusions: Altas Cumbres is an important reservoir for legumes from Tamaulipas and Sierra Madre Oriental considering its high richness and endemism (33 species restricted to Mexico).

The role of landscape context in shaping bat assemblages in African cacao plantations

Cacao production is mostly concentrated in Africa, with this continent exporting an impressive 68.4 % of the world's cacao. The increasing demand for cacao from the Global North has already led to massive deforestation in Ghana and Ivory Coast and cacao-driven deforestation is likely to continue changing landscapes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bats are affected by these landscape changes due to their dependence on multiple resources spread at a large spatial scale. Although bats can save cacao farmers millions of euros through pest suppression, no study has investigated how landscape context affects bat communities in African cacao plantations. Here for the first time, we studied how abundance and richness of insectivorous, frugivorous and nectarivorous bats within cacao landscapes could be affected by cover type and the distance between these habitats and each cacao plantation. We sampled bats using mist-nets in 38 cacao plantations spread throughout southern Cameroon from 2017 to 2020. We found that guilds responded differently to the distance and amount of cover of each of the land cover types, with the scale of response being habitat-dependent. Overall, insectivorous bats were associated positively with high cover of natural habitats (e.g., tree cover, rangeland, and flooded vegetation), and negatively with nearby anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., logging and intensive agriculture). Frugivorous and nectarivorous bats were associated to the presence of natural habitats with water and of nearby anthropogenic habitats (e.g., human settlements, community forests and unpaved roads), probably due to the presence of more fruiting and flowering trees. Considering the associations found between the landscape metrics and bats, we propose three different conceptual designs to manage cacao landscapes: one for insectivores, one for frugivores/nectarivores and a third design that maximises the trade-offs between these three guilds. By safeguarding the diversity of these three guilds farmers can maintain pest suppression services within their plantations and guarantee healthy and long-lasting sustainable cacao landscapes through bats' pollination and seed dispersal.

Assessment of Species-Based Ecosystem Services and Its Usefulness in Forest-Savanna Ecological Zone

Forest ecosystems are the main species rich ecosystem on earth, having a significant role in the provision of massive benefits to the populace who depended on them for sustenance. This study aimed at assessing the forest provisioning ecosystem service and use in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study include the identification of forest provisioning ecosystem services and their uses, people’s dependence for livelihood and quantity of ecosystem services supplied by community forests. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 8 sampled communities while Nikolopoulou convenience sampling technique was adopted for selecting sampling size of 200 persons. Also, 31 key informants were interviewed across the study area. The responses from the entire sampled questionnaire and interview were analyzed using Microsoft excel and statistical package for social sciences. The study revealed that a good number of the forest resources such as Elaeis guineensis, Garcinia kola, Bambusa vulgaris, Azadirachta indica and Brophyllum pinnatum have multiple uses. The result also revealed that the nature of forest determines the quantity of ecosystem service benefits supplied. Hence, those community forests with weak policies supply less than 40% of resources because their traditional laws of entering and harvesting forest resources are no longer effective, while those with strong policies like restriction into their sacred groves, forest reserves and swampy forests supply above 40%. The chi-square value of 352.873 with 28 degrees of freedom (DF) proved that there is strong relationship between the nature of forest and the quantity of ecosystem services provided. This research concludes that forest ecosystem in Ihiala L.G.A, supplies a wide variety of plant and animal species to the populace, which they basically use for timber, firewood, food and medicine. Nonetheless, without alternative and diversified livelihood, the supply is becoming unsustainable. It recommends that since palm tree and its resources are averagely abundant in the study area, there is need to support the establishment of basket making training centre in various communities and as such, make it an attractive skill acquisition programme.

Insect seedling herbivory is influenced by multiple factors, but the plant apparency theory is more supported than other hypotheses – A case study in a subtropical forest

Insect herbivory is ubiquitous in various ecosystems, and directly influences the growth and survival of individual plants, especially during their vulnerable early life stages like the seedling phase. This, in turn, exerts a significant influence on forest community diversity and structure, as well as ecosystem function and stability. Notable variation in herbivory has been detected both among and within plant species. For decades, many hypotheses have been proposed to explain such variations, including both biotic and abiotic variables. However, most studies have considered only one or several of these hypotheses by focusing on a few potential variables, and their results were usually inconsistent; thus, the factors driving herbivory remain unclear. In this study, we examined leaf herbivory by insects of woody species seedlings in a subtropical forest in southwestern China over two seasons. In total, 24 potential variables that represented abiotic resource availability, characters of individual seedlings, conspecific and heterospecific species, and the whole seedling community were selected to test several commonly discussed alternative herbivory hypotheses. Overall, our findings showed that the plant apparency hypothesis was more supported than the other hypotheses in explaining insect seedling herbivory. Our results further indicated that the mechanisms and causes of insect herbivory are complex, multifactorial, species-specific and vary with seasons, indicating that there may be no uniform rules in explaining herbivory for all seedlings. Consequently, such complexity may play an important role in promoting species coexistence and biodiversity maintenance in seedling communities, which may further translate into the following generation of saplings or even adult communities. Changes in the community of insect herbivores and/or variables influencing insect herbivory, may disrupt stability of the original seedling community, thus affecting the regeneration and development of the entire forest community. Therefore, we suggest that issues related to insect herbivory should be considered when developing forest management and conservation.

A global analysis of the effects of forest thinning on soil N stocks and dynamics

Forest thinning is a critical management measure for changing the forest community structure and improving the soil microclimate and nitrogen (N) cycle. However, differences in forest types, thinning intensity, recovery time, and climate conditions make the accumulation of soil N under forest thinning uncertain; especially the soil N accumulation rate is still lacking. This study systematically discusses the effects of forest thinning on the rate of soil N stock change (RNC) and analyzes the relationship between the RNC and the rate of soil carbon (C) stock change (RCC) by synthesizing 387 global data points. Forest thinning significantly increased the soil N stock, with the RNC being +0.07 Mg/ha yr−1. The RNCs in coniferous and mixed forests (+0.07 and +0.09 Mg/ha yr−1, respectively) were higher than that in broadleaf forest (−0.03 Mg/ha yr−1). Heavy forest thinning inhibited soil N accumulation; however, light forest thinning and long-term recovery were more conducive to improving it. The RNC decreased with increasing precipitation and temperature under forest thinning. Additionally, the RNC was positively correlated with the RCC. Overall, heavy forest thinning decreases the soil N accumulation rate in the global forest ecosystem; conversely, long-term recovery increases it. Reducing the forest thinning intensity and extending the recovery time can accelerate soil N accumulation and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Expanding the roles of malaria post workers in Thailand: A qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives.

In Thailand, since the 2000s, malaria post (MP) workers have been tasked with promptly detecting and treating all malaria cases to prevent onward transmission in the communities. Expanding their roles to provide health services beyond malaria has been proposed as a strategy to sustain their activities until elimination is reached. This article examines the perspectives of stakeholders on community-based malaria care to assess prospects for expanding the role of MPs. The study incorporated in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). In forested communities and local health facilities in northeast Thailand bordering Lao PDR and Cambodia, where malaria transmission is low, IDIs were conducted with 13 MPs and 23 community members. An additional 14 policymakers and implementers across the health sector in Thailand were interviewed. The respondents highlighted how in these border areas population groups most at risk of malaria, namely forest goers and migrants, are reluctant to visit public health facilities. In these areas, MP workers are well integrated in their communities and remain relevant although the communities no longer see malaria as spriority. Common conditions such as dengue, diabetes, insect bites, diarrhea, mental illness and substance abuse, were identified as local health concerns needing potential add-on services from MP workers. Although challenges in terms of training, supervision, and financing were raised, opportunities included additional funds from local administrative offices to maintain and integrate malaria activities with other health programmes. Changes to the roles of MPs should be adapted to changing local needs, some of which were identified in this study, should avoid duplication and potential tensions with other local health programmes, and need to build on the capacity of the community and primary care system. These enabling factors are worthy of consideration by any malaria programmes looking into maintaining their village malaria workers in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Trees on the Diversity of Forest Communities Worldwide Are Greater than Those of Ectotrophic Mycorrhiza Trees

The interaction between woody plants and mycorrhizal fungi is an important biological interaction; however, the driving factors behind the diversity of mycorrhizal trees formed through the symbiosis of mycorrhizal fungi and woody plants remain unclear. In this study, we collected and compiled the woody plant data of 34 forest dynamic plots containing 3350 species from habitats around the world and divided them into AM and EcM trees. We tested the contribution of AM and EcM trees to tree diversity and its components in forest communities worldwide. Our results showed that AM trees rather than EcM trees affect the tree diversity of forest communities, and that the diversity of AM trees has a significant latitudinal gradient pattern. Climate variables, especially temperature, are strongly correlated with the diversity patterns for AM trees rather than EcM trees. Topography is the most significant factor affecting the diversity of EcM trees. Our findings highlight the importance of AM trees for the tree diversity of forest communities worldwide. Our findings have important implications for understanding the response of complex woody plant communities with different types of mycorrhizal symbiosis to climate change.

Feasibility Analysis of Community Forest Ecotourism Potential in Tumpak Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency

The Tumpak Village Community Forest Area has various potentials, with natural views as the main attraction. This research aims to determine the priority scale for developing this area through a feasibility level analysis using rules based on the Analysis of Operational Areas of Natural Tourist Attraction Objects (ADO-ODTWA). This research is quantitative and uses a survey method, with scoring analysis based on criteria in the ADO-ODTWA rules. Primary data was obtained through field observations, in-depth interviews, and distributing questionnaires. Meanwhile, secondary data was obtained through literature reviews, journal articles, books and geospatial data. The research results show that the Tumpak Village Community Forest area has a high level of feasibility and has the potential to be developed as ecotourism. Criteria for obtaining a high classification include ecotourism attractiveness, availability of accommodation, surrounding environmental conditions, supporting facilities, and availability of clean water. The criteria for the medium classification include accessibility, management and services that still need improvement, as well as marketing that is still limited. Management and development of this area can be carried out with a focus on managing potential tourist attractions and improving the required infrastructure. In addition, increasing accessibility requires support from the Regional Government of Central Lombok Regency to improve road infrastructure.

Reconstructing the rapid transitions of ecosystems during the mid-late Holocene: A pollen record from Haixing wetland in Bohai Bay, North China

Vegetation in coastal regions is sensitive to climate and sea-level changes. However, currently there is still a lack of understanding about the stability of the Holocene coastal ecosystem and the rapid conversion processes of different coastal wetland ecosystems. In this study, the high-resolution vegetation succession history of the southwest coast of Bohai Bay during the mid-late Holocene was revealed, based on pollen analysis and REVEALS model, and the rate of vegetation change was estimated. Furthermore, the characteristics and mechanisms of different ecosystem changes were explored. The results indicate that there was a prolonged transition from shallow sea to lagoon before the formation of the Haixing wetland during the interval of 7500–4100 cal yr BP. The rate of watershed vegetation change increase significantly under the common influence of the 4.2 ka event and human activities, causing a regime shift in the mountain forest ecosystems and a decrease in landscape resilience. It was characterized by a substantial reduction in broad-leaved forests (from>30% to<5%), especially for Quercus (∼3%), which have not recovered to pre-event levels since the end of the 4.2 ka event. Since 3500 cal yr BP, the Haixing area was completely detached from the influence of the Bohai Sea, forming freshwater wetlands. The local vegetation rapidly shifted from alkali-tolerant communities that followed the sea retreat to freshwater marsh plant communities. During 2000–1100 cal yr BP, under the strong impact of human activities, the succession of forest and grassland communities in the basin became more frequent. The area of coastal salt marshes expanded, with salt-tolerant plant communities taking the absolute advantage. The wetland vegetation landscape became closer to the modern appearance. Overall, our study provides new evidence for understanding the rapid evolution of coastal ecosystems in East Asia influenced by a combination of climate, hydrology and humans. It will help guide the coastal regions in facing the challenges of future global climate changes.

Forest floor nematode communities and associated tree canopies: Is there an ecological linkage?

We searched for patterns supporting the hypothesis of compositional and functional linkage between forest floor nematode communities and dominant tree canopies, while controlling for some relevant soil and climate variables. Twenty-one forest sampling sites scattered throughout the South-Eastern Carpathian basin were selected under spruce, beech, and hornbeam-oak canopies. The relative contribution of forest canopy type to nematode assemblage differentiation was estimated through nematode taxonomic composition and feeding guild structure. The forest canopy type had a significant effect on nematode taxon/feeding guild composition and diversity at stand level. Several (diagnostic) nematode taxa and feeding guilds were positively associated with and accurately predicted the forest canopy types considered. Apart from the herbivorous nematodes, all the other trophic guilds were significantly related, in terms of their relative abundance, to the forest canopy type. Both nematode taxonomic and trophic diversity were significantly higher under beech canopy compared with its two counterparts. The highest total nematode beta diversity, either taxonomic or trophic, was attained between hornbeam-oak and spruce canopies. Nematode taxonomic and trophic beta diversity between forest canopy types were largely determined by taxon replacement and respectively, by a nested trophic structure. Overall, four concordant and two discordant patterns were revealed between nematode taxon and feeding guild composition with respect to overlying forest canopy, all underpinning the addressed ecological linkage. The present results bring evidence regarding the important contribution of the forest canopy, along with climatic variables, in driving the taxonomic and functional composition/diversity of nematode communities from the soil organic horizon.

A case study on the impact of coppicing on small mammal diversity: First evidence from the high Agri Valley in the Basilicata Region, Italy

Forestry seems to have a significant impact on the diversity and composition of forest small mammal communities. Coppicing is one of the most widely adopted silvicultural systems in Europe and its effect on the entire small mammals community remains unclear. Thus, our study aimed to preliminary assess the stand-level effect of different coppice woodland elements on community richness, focusing on forest small mammal species. Furthermore, a second aim was to assess the effect of these woodland stand elements on different small mammal taxonomic groups to evaluate possible differential responses within the community. We identified three different coppice age classes, and selected a total of 15 coppice-with-standards forest stands. Additionally, we collected data about understory shrub structure and composition. Fur samples were collected using the hair tube sampling method. We found a significant effect of the coppice age on the number of species detected in communities. Furthermore, we found a differential response between glirid and murid families, with glirid being positively affected by a higher shrub abundance, which is instead severely reduced by coppicing.

Soil microbial influences over coexistence potential in multispecies plant communities in a subtropical forest.

Soil microbes have long been recognized to substantially affect the coexistence of pairwise plant species across terrestrial ecosystems. However, projecting their impacts on the coexistence of multispecies plant systems remains a pressing challenge. To address this challenge, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with 540 seedlings of five tree species in a subtropical forest in China and evaluated microbial effects on multispecies coexistence using the structural method, which quantifies how the structure of species interactions influences the likelihood for multiple species to persist. Specifically, we grew seedlings alone or with competitors in different microbial contexts and fitted individual biomass to a population dynamic model to calculate intra- and interspecific interaction strength with and without soil microbes. We then used these interaction structures to calculate two metrics of multispecies coexistence, structural niche differences (which promote coexistence) and structural fitness differences (which drive exclusion), for all possible communities comprising two to five plant species. We found that soil microbes generally increased both the structural niche and fitness differences across all communities, with a much stronger effect on structural fitness differences. A further examination of functional traits between plant species pairs found that trait differences are stronger predictors of structural niche differences than of structural fitness differences, and that soil microbes have the potential to change trait-mediated plant interactions. Our findings underscore that soil microbes strongly influence the coexistence of multispecies plant systems, and also add to the experimental evidence that the influence is more on fitness differences rather than on niche differences.

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on the temporal dynamics of soil microbial community and multifunctionality in young and mature subtropical forests

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on the temporal dynamics of soil microbial community and multifunctionality in young and mature subtropical forests

Assessment of the current state of myrmical complexes in the territory of the Meshchansky forest

The role of ants in forests is an open and ambiguous question in myrmecology. Some scientists attribute the functionality of ants to the control of pest populations, others consider ants an important component in the forest ecosystem, others point to their special significance in maintaining the balance of forest communities.The study of ant hills occurrence in the forests of North-Kazakhstan region is necessary in order to identify the dynamics of ant populations, to determine the factors affecting their distribution, and to develop recommendations for the conservation of biodiversity of forest ecosystems of the North-Kazakhstan region. This study will provide data on the status of anthills and their role in forest communities, which is important for the development of effective forest management strategies and preservation of the natural balance of anthills in the forests of North Kazakhstan region.

Minimum area of primitive broad-leaved Korean pine forest community based on biomass

Based on the survey data of nine primitive broad-leaved Korean pine forest plots ranging from 1 to 10.4 ha in Heilongjiang Province, this study used the moving window method and GIS technology to analyze the variation characteristics of the spatial distribution pattern of forest biomass in each plot. We explored the minimum area that can reflect the structural and functional characteristics of the primitive broad-leaved Korean pine forest, and used computer simulation random sampling method to verify the accuracy of the minimum area. The results showed that: (1) Through the analysis of the spatial distribution raster map of biomass deviation in the plots at various scales of 10 − 100 m, there is a minimum area (0.64 ha) for the critical range of biomass density variation in the primitive broad-leaved Korean pine forest. This minimum area based on biomass density can indirectly reflect the comprehensive characteristics of productivity level per unit area, structure, function, and environmental quality of the primitive broad-leaved Korean pine forest community. (2) Using computer simulation random sampling, it was found that only by sampling in a specific plot larger than or equal to the minimum area can equivalent or similar results be achieved as random sampling within the plot, indicating that the minimum area determined by the moving window method is accurate. (3) The minimum area determined in this paper is an excellent indicator reflecting the complexity of community structure, which can be used for comparing changes in community structure and function before and after external disturbances, and has a good evaluation effect. This minimum area can also be used as a basis for scientific and reasonable setting of plot size in the investigation and monitoring work of broad-leaved Korean pine forests in this region, thereby achieving the goals of improving work efficiency and saving work costs.

Seasonal variations in the structure of avian community in Zambezi riparian forest

Among the different biomes in southern Africa, tropical riparian forests appear to be especially rich in terms of biodiversity, but little is known about avian communities occupying these forests. In this paper, bird counts were conducted in May, July–August, and October–November in 2013 and 2014. The line transect method was used. A transect 16.6 km long was designed along the Zambezi River between S 17.4975 E 24.3478 and S 17.4874 E 24.447. In total, 146 bird species were recorded. The number of species detected each season varied from 95 to 100. The number of dominant species was consistently low, varying between 2 and 3 depending on the month. However, the cumulative dominance and the dominance index were much higher in the dry season (May–August) than in the wet season (October–November). Two species were dominant each month: Euplectes axillaris and Pycnonotus tricolor. Vidua macroura and Estrilda astrild were dominant only in October, while Streptopelia capicola was dominant only in May. The group of subdominants was much more diverse than dominants and included 13 species. The Shannon diversity index increased between July and November from 3.45 to 4.05 but Simpson's diversity index did not show any seasonal trend. Pielou's evenness index was higher in the wet season (0.82–0.88) than in the dry season (0.76–0.79). The proportions of the main feeding guilds were much the same throughout the year, except for November, when the proportion of insectivores markedly increased, while that of granivores decreased. Riparian forest corridors in urbanized environments may be viewed as main instruments for offsetting the negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/0ssr1v)

Shifts in species composition in kelp forest communities: implications of differences in total phenolic composition among species

Shifts in species composition in kelp forest communities: implications of differences in total phenolic composition among species

Evaluating mangrove community forestry outcomes: a mixed synthetic control and field-based approach

Abstract Contemporary evaluations of outcomes in human-managed systems have been constrained by a lack of counterfactual analysis. Community forestry (CF), a widely adopted strategy to achieve both conservation and management in coupled human-environment systems, is no exception, and counterfactual analysis would greatly enhance CF research. We used a mixed method approach incorporating quantification of deforestation and forest regrowth rates, synthetic control analysis, and focus groups discussions to evaluate mangrove CF outcomes in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar, from to 1990–2021. CF resulted in an overall increase in net forest gain and reduction in net forest loss across sites. More than two-thirds of CF sites had superior outcomes relative to synthetic controls for at least one metric (deforestation or forest regrowth); however, CF tended to perform better for only one outcome while avoiding underperformance in the other. The annual rate of forest regrowth in CFs accelerated beginning three years prior to certification and peaked two years after certification, likely related to pre-certification engagement with the Forest Department or non-government organizations. Moreover, control sites near CFs experienced more rapid forest regrowth than controls further from CFs, suggesting spillover effects. The predominant challenge facing successful CF management was illegal extraction and overharvesting, and poor performing CFs experienced a complex array of challenges facing forest regrowth, likely related to the private nature of individual land claims within the CFs. Most supporting factors for CF were related to community management capacity, strongly indicating a need for extended close engagement with competent government and non-government actors to develop long-term management and governance capacities, which are sustainably funded. Our mixed-method approach can be replicated in other human-managed systems to evaluate the biophysical impacts of policies and gain insights into the underlying drivers of outcomes.

Larger and older church forests promote bird species richness, diversity and resilience across northwest Ethiopia's deforested landscapes

Birds are vital bioindicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health, but their persistence and ecological roles are under severe threat from human activities in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia. Rapid land and forest degradation driven by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and the rising demand for fuelwood imperil avian community structure and ecosystem functions in this region. However, amidst this ecological challenge, church forests have emerged as crucial sanctuaries. Despite their small size and isolation from each other by mainly agricultural land-use, these church forests provide indispensable ecosystem services and play a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity. Understanding the significance of church forests for avian biodiversity and the factors influencing bird species richness and community composition is paramount. To this end, a comprehensive survey was conducted in 24 church forests between November and December 2018. Data collection involved both point counts utilizing Audiomoth acoustic loggers and transect surveys. The study revealed a total of 131 bird species in the surveyed church forests, including endemic and threatened species. These birds exhibited diverse foraging habits and functional traits. Notably, church forest size and canopy cover were positively associated with species richness, highlighting the importance of preserving and potentially expanding these forested areas. Furthermore, the research identified key factors driving the similarity of bird communities in church forests, notably forest surface area, canopy cover, and altitude. Importantly, resilience metrics demonstrated significant positive relationships with species richness, emphasizing the conservation value of these unique ecosystems. Our study underscores the critical role of church forests in safeguarding avian biodiversity in the Lake Tana Basin, and our findings advocate for conservation efforts aimed at preserving and enhancing the region's church forests, as their continued degradation could jeopardize both ecological and socio-economic potential in this network of remnant forests.