Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna Research Articles

The legal framework of the European Union in the field of combating environmental crimes

The article focuses on the activities of the European Union regarding the development of an effective legal framework for combating environmental crimes considering modern realities. It is noted that the existing norms on combating environmental crime in the EU are based on the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU which sets the competence of the EU to define criminal offenses and sanctions in the spheres of EU policy to which harmonization measures apply (Article 83(2)). Attention is paid to the provisions of the following directives: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law and replacing Directive 2008/99/EC, which supplemented the list of illegal acts with new categories of crimes, established a deterrent level of sanctions, which ensures a more consistent application of conditions for enterprises in the EU; Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage, which sets rules based on the «polluter pays» principle and related directives 2000/60/EC, 2008/56/EC, 2009/147/EC and 92/43/EEC. It is noted that the EU constantly works on improving the provisions of the acts adopted by it in the specified area, as evidenced by the directives, on the basis of which changes and amendments were made to the above-mentioned directives, regarding safety issues, waste management, simplification of reporting obligations in the field of environmental legislation (Directives 2006/21/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2013/30/EC, Regulation (EC) 2019/101).
 Attention is focused on acts related to the protection of certain objects, including: 1) acts aimed at combating pollution from ships: Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties, including criminal penalties, for pollution offence (as amended), Council Framework Decision 2005/667/JHA of 12 July 2005 to strengthen the criminal-law framework for the enforcement of the law against ship-source pollution; 2) acts on combating trade in wild animals: Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (as amended), Commission regulation (EC) No 865/2006 (as amended), Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 97 (as amended), Revision of the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking of 2022.
 It is noted that EU legislation is based on international universal acts adopted within the UN in the relevant field (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) of 1973, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) of 1975), which simplifies law enforcement and the introduction of measures to combat environmental crime.
 The importance of strategic acts adopted by the EU, including the Agenda and Action Plan on Drugs 2021–2025 and the Biodiversity strategy for 2030 is emphasized. Relevant conclusions have been drawn.

Dugong dugon (Muller 1776) and Its Habitat in Coastal Areas and Small Islands of East Java Province, Indonesia

Dugong dugon, an endangered marine mammal is listed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Dugongs are classified as herbivorous mammals that live in the shallows associated with seagrass beds. The objectives of this study are (1) to collect data on dugong encounters in East Java, both direct encounters and literature studies; and (2) to analyze seagrass meadows that are potentially dugong grazing habitats in East Java. This study was conducted from January to July 2023 in the coastal area of East Java. Dugong and seagrass data, which were descriptively analyzed, were obtained from the literature, questionnaire interview, and by direct observation. Distribution of dugongs in East Java is known to be in the southeastern side of Banyuwangi, Situbondo, Sumenep, Lamongan, and Bawean Island. Direct encounters with live and dead dugongs in East Java have been recorded in several locations, including Bawean Island. Seagrass beds in East Java can be found on the coastal area of Lamongan, Bawean Island - Gresik, Sumenep, Bangkalan, Situbondo, Banyuwangi, Malang, and Pacitan. The seagrass species found in these eight areas are: E. acoroides, T. hemprichii, C. modocea rotundata, C. serrulata, H. pinifolia, H. uninervis, H. decipiens, H. ovalis, H. minor, S. iseotifolium, and T. ciliatum. Although, dugong status is fully protected in Indonesia, and its distribution is limited, further steps are needed to protect dugongs and their food habitats. Marine Protected Area is one of the policies that could be recommended to protect dugongs and their habitat.

The illegal trade in rosewood in Indonesia

Rosewoods are among the most valuable traded hardwoods, and there is a significant illegal trade. From 2017 onwards the international trade in all species of Dalbergia rosewood is regulated through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. I focus on two species of rosewood that occur in parts of Indonesia, Dalbergia latifolia and D. sissoo, to assess the extent of the illegal trade and to analyse geographical and temporal patterns of wildlife crime. Based on 67 seizure reports from 2014 to 2022 I show that (a) 117 logs of D. sissoo and 4,285 logs of D. latifolia were confiscated, (b) seizures occurred on the islands of Sumatra (16 seizures; 1,190 logs), Java (43; 1,780 logs), and Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and Timor (8; 1,408 logs), (c) while there was an increase in the number of seizures per year, there were no seasonal differences in seizure activities. For 10% of the logs there was supporting evidence that they were taken from State managed forests and 18% was taken from conservation areas, thus causing more damage than just the removal of individual trees. Seizures in Indonesia over this period equals 0.12 ± 0.04% of the legal rosewood export. The illegal trade is dominated by Indonesians rather than foreign nationals and the direction of trade is towards Java from where > 95% will be exported to China. While policies are in place concerning rosewood seizures and stockpiling (including auctioning or destruction) in practise it is unclear where seized rosewood ends up. When used with caution, analysis of seizure data offers a valuable means to gain insights in illicit activities that normally remain hidden from view.

An Assessment of the Implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Kenya

International trade is hastening extinction for many species of plants and animals despite the fact that many countries have ratified CITES. The adoption of treaties is often symbolic as many countries, especially in the developing world where most biodiversity is found, experience a lack of fit between international agreements and national laws and institutions. Our main objective here is to assess the extent of jurisdictional and institutional fit in the implementation of CITES in Kenya, an important issue given the amount of international trade in wild products and the importance of wildlife tourism to the country. The specific objectives are to assess the following: the capacity and level of coordination among state actors and conservation mandates in national policy and law using a mixed methods approach involving a literature review and 38 key informant surveys representing professional expertise from various stakeholder groups. We found that over 60% of respondents indicated only moderate capacity for the implementation of CITES and coordination between local and central governments. Some participants indicated that judicial officers lack adequate conservation knowledge, thus hampering enforcement via low prosecution rates. A moderate (at best) structural fit involving inefficiencies such as conflicting processes, unequal enforcement, and suboptimal coordination implies a degree of failure in developing the implementation capacity of CITES within Kenya. Our results also show a mismatch between agency staffing and workload at several levels of government, and we make suggestions for improvement.

A price on their heads? Assessing foreign demand as a driver of hornbill hunting in Cameroon

Unsustainable hunting to supply wildlife markets is a global threat to bird species and a key driver of biodiversity declines across Africa. Despite well-documented negative impacts of wildlife trade on many bird species, such as Asian hornbills and African vultures, its consequences for African hornbills remain poorly understood. Here, we use data from both online trade and interviews with hunters in Cameroon to investigate the implications of foreign demand for African hornbills, using a twofold approach. First, we explored factors associated with the prices of hornbill skulls, the most heavily traded and expensive hornbill products, in online markets. Second, we examined the relationship between hunting pressure and market demand using semi-structured interviews with hornbill hunters and traders in Cameroon. In our online sales analysis, we considered factors including numbers of sales, species conservation status, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listing, body size, sex, and skull length (including bill and casque). In addition, we considered the number of sound recordings available for focal species, as this factor is highly correlated with species range size and may serve as a proxy for detectability in the field. We then used generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM) to identify variables closely associated with the prices of hornbill skulls online. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to examine the relationship between hunting pressure and the local and foreign demands in Cameroon. We found that online trade included skulls and other products from 20 African and five Asian hornbill species, the latter of which were all CITES-listed. The median online price for a hornbill skull was £117. Nearly half (nine out of 20) of the African hornbill species found in online trade were native to Cameroon. The three most heavily traded species—Yellow-casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna elata), Black-casqued Hornbill (C. atrata), and White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis)—accounted for 66% of online hornbill products. Larger-bodied hornbill species classified as threatened, subject to CITES regulations, and species with higher numbers of sound recordings available tended to command higher prices online and thus likely face higher hunting pressure. We also found that foreign demand has a significant impact on hornbill hunting pressure, particularly among younger hunters. Approximately 73% of Cameroonian hunters interviewed targeted hornbills, with 91% of these motivated to acquire hornbill heads for trade, and 98% intending to sell their products to foreign buyers. Our findings highlight the urgent need to address the negative impacts of international wildlife trade and implement measures to protect African hornbill populations from increasing threats of overexploitation.

Resources and utilization of medicinal plants in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative

The protection, development, and utilization of medicinal plant resources are important cornerstones of maintaining human health. However, due to factors such as the reduction of high-quality land resources, deterioration of ecological environments, and excessive and disorderly resource development, medicinal plant resources are becoming scarce, and some of them are insufficiently supplied. With the proposal of "the Belt and Road" Initiative, the cooperation between China and "the Belt and Road" partners(the countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative)is increasingly close, which provides a new opportunity for carrying out trade of medicinal plant resources and alleviating the problem of imbalance and relative inadequacy of medicinal plant resources in countries. This study first determined the distribution and species information of plant resources in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative by investigating the database of plant distribution and that of medicinal plant resources. Then, according to the published data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES), this study identified the rare and endangered medicinal plants and the medicinal plants under trade control in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative and finally sorted out the list of potential medicinal plant resources in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative that can be used by China. This data resource can not only be used for the overall protection of important endangered species but also scientifically guide the development and utilization of medicinal resources, providing guidance and a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of medicinal plant resources in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative.

African and Asian elephant ivory discrimination using a portable strip test

Currently, the global elephant population has significantly declined due to the poaching of elephants for their ivory, and this is the reason why elephants are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, Thailand allows the legal trade of ivory from registered, domesticated Asian elephants, leading to the smuggling of African elephant ivory, and passing them off as Asian elephant ivory. Therefore, this research aims to develop and validate a portable strip test to discriminate between Asian and African elephants DNA, using Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) and Lateral Flow Dipstick assay (LFD) according to international standards. The results showed that the strip test can be successfully developed with 100% accuracy (n = 105). This kit is specific to elephants, has a detection limit of 0.125 ng of DNA, and can effectively discriminate a variety of elephant ivory, including raw ivory, ivory products, and aged ivory over 25 years old, which had been damaged by fire, all with 100% accuracy (n = 117). Additionally, the developed strip test is designed to be portable and cost-effective. It does not require expensive laboratory equipment and provides a faster analysis process compared with conventional PCR-based methods. This will expedite the legal process and enforcement of laws related to elephant conservation, reducing the opportunities for illegal activities, and enabling timely prosecution under relevant wildlife conservation laws in Thailand and internationally.

Orchid diversity across different forest types on Mt. Malindang, Philippines

Abstract. Labajo-Villantes Y, Cootes J, Luo Y-B, Nuneza OM. 2024. Orchid diversity across different forest types on Mt. Malindang, Philippines. Biodiversitas 25: 605-615. Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park is one of the most significant biodiversity and conservation areas and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. There have been many biodiversity studies on Mt. Malindang, but information on orchid taxonomy and distribution is limited. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive inventory of orchids using an exploratory method. Samplings were conducted in different forest types: montane, mossy, dipterocarp, mixed dipterocarp, and almaciga. A total of 114 orchid species with 55 endemics were recorded. Three of these (Phalaenopsis x intermedia Lindl., Paphiopedilum hennisianum (M.W.Wood) Fowlie, and Paphiopedilum haynaldianum (Rchb.f.) Stein) were under Appendix I (can only be exported under specific circumstances). At the same time, 78 were under the Appendix II (follow controlled trades) categories of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. P. hennisianum and P. haynaldianum, listed as endangered species globally, were observed in montane and mossy forests, respectively. Among the six sampling sites, the montane forest was the most species-rich, with the most endemics, followed by the mossy forest. Almaciga and mixed dipterocarp forests were closely related with 100% similarity. The results of this study are valuable to Mt. Malindang's ecological profile for more effective protection and conservation plans.

Conservation status of flora and fauna in the nickel mining area of PT Hengjaya Mineralindo

Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a high level of biodiversity from the sea to the mountains. Likewise, the island of Sulawesi has a variety of endemic flora and fauna with an extraordinary level of endemicity. This rich flora and fauna face various threats that cause ecosystem degradation. This research is intended to review the level of flora and fauna status in the Sulawesi region, especially in the PT Hengjaya Mineralindo mining area in Bungku Pesisir and Bahodopi District, Central Sulawesi. Based on observations in areas with code HA WD 06, HA Pit Central, HA Arboretum 1 and HA Arboretum 2 areas, it was found that some flora and fauna were categorized as being in conservation status by Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P 106 Concerning Protected Plants and Animals, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Thus, the company will always strive to encourage ecological succession to achieve ecosystem stability in the future through sustainable practices.

The Trade of Porcupines in Malaysia With International Trade Links

Background and Research Aims Porcupines are frequently traded in Asia but evidence of this remains undocumented. This study was undertaken to address the dearth of information on porcupine trade dynamics using Malaysia as a case study. Methods To accomplish this, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outlets throughout the country were surveyed, the existence of porcupine farms were determined and porcupine seizures in Malaysia from 2011 – 2019 were analysed. Results The data revealed that porcupines are coveted predominantly for bezoars used in TCM and for breeding stock. Porcupine bezoars were found in 90% of TCM outlets surveyed though it is likely that the market consists of genuine and fake products. Porcupine farming appears to be gaining popularity and predominantly caters to a demand for breeding pairs. There were 47 seizures amounting to 110 porcupines of at least three species. Seizures included mostly live animals but also meat and quills. Conclusion The harvesting and consumption of porcupines is legally permitted in Malaysia. However, it is evident that illegal hunting of porcupines is also occurring. Captive breeding is unlikely to reduce poaching of porcupines considering the high value associated with wild-sourced bezoars. Local use is also driving international trade of bezoars particularly from Indonesia. Implications for Conservation Research on porcupine trade dynamics in Southeast Asia is limited. This is a conservation concern particularly as porcupines are valued as commercial commodities. As Asian porcupines face a multitude of synergistic threats ( i.e., habitat loss, human conflict and illegal hunting), understanding these cumulative impacts on wild populations is a conservation priority. More research on international trade dynamics is also warranted as it is currently occurring without any regulation or monitoring. Listing porcupines in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) could potentially mitigate this.

Effectiveness of small-scale marine ornamental fish rearing and community-based coral transplantation technique in Tanjung Tiram, Tondonggeu and Mekar village, Indonesia

Indonesia is the second largest exporter of ornamental fish in the world, with the value more than USD 20.5 million in the first semester of 2023. Ornamental corals are also being traded under strict supervision since several coral species are listed in Appendix II of the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). To harvest these high-value commodities in sustainable manner, we designed a small scale of marine ornamental fish rearing and community-based coral transplantation techniques in coastal waters of Tanjung Tiram village, Tondonggeu village and Mekar village by utilizing its suitable natural habitat and involving coastal communities. A study then carried out to analyse the growth rate of 480 fragments of transplanted ornamental coral and survival rate of 200 reared Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) using fixed net cage in each site. This study reveals that the growth rate of ornamental corals in Mekar Village is better than in other sites. The survival rate (SR) of ornamental corals in Mekar Village is also higher than in Tanjung Tiram Village. This result indicates that the water quality conditions in Mekar Village are better for ornamental coral transplantation, then transplantation activities should be focused surround this island. This initiative looks promising and can also be developed further as marine tourism site that generate additional income for coastal communities.

Floristic Diversity of Vascular Plants in Community Managed Forest of Sankhu village, Lalitpur District, Nepal

The plant diversity of an area reveals its biodiversity, usage patterns, and conservation status which play a significant role in shaping the country's conservation plans and strategies. The present study aims to describe the vascular plants diversity of Lakuribhanjyang community forest in Lalitpur, Central Nepal. This community forest comprises an area of 43.5 hectares and the altitude ranged 1763m to 1833m asl. The study recorded 111 plant species from 102 genera and 64 families in the Lakuribhanjyang community forest. Among the documented species, trees (49 species) were dominantly followed by herbs (33 species), shrubs (18 species), and climbers (11 species). A total of 90 dicots, 7 monocots, 4 gymnosperms, and 10 pteridophytes were documented. Plants from the Moraceae family (6 spp.) dominated the research area, followed by plants from Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae each with 5 species each. Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Bidens pilosa, Senna tora and Lantana camara were the invasive plant species that were found in the study area. Similarly, Choerospondias axillaris, Dioscorea deltoidea, Lithocarpus fenestratus, Senegalia catechu, Valeriana jatamansi and Zanthoxylum armatum were the endangered and threatened vascular plants listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that was found in this region.

Conscience of Science: Ethical Imperatives in Zoological Research

Zoological science is an intricate field which requires intimate considerations and guidelines to make sure that limits and boundaries are set for the ethical and humane conduction of research. A number of bioethical laws and international conventions have been designed by bioethical and committees and review boards that serve as moral compass steering towards responsible and humane scientific research. Animal Welfare Act (AWA) sets standards for the responsible treatment of animals in research, transport, exhibition and animal dealers, handling and research protocols, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals that is published by National research Council of Unites States provides a framework for the proper use and optimal care of animals for in vivo research in laboratory experiments [1]. Similarly, European Union Directive 2010/63/EU is a directive which outlines the standards for the animal protection used for research purposes in the Europe. It states 3Rs of animal testing i.e., Refinement, Reduction and Replacement, and necessitates that researchers consider alternatives before resorting to the animal experiments. An elaborate directive, Declaration of Helsinki, primarily focuses on human research ethics but has principle related o animal research ethics as well [2]. Likewise, another Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora also called as CITES, deals with the trade of endangered animals ensuring that any research which involves endangered species is conducted ethically with proper permits and prevents illegal and unethical exploitation of animals [3]. Last but not the least, the ARRIVE guidelines provide a checklist of essential information which must be included while publishing the research data which describes animal experiments, promotes transparency and improve the quality of reporting in the animal research. The current global conditions necessitate ethical consciousness in zoological research. These considerations extend beyond laboratory settings and encompass wildlife conservation and the prevention of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19. Innovations in non-invasive research methods, genetic analyses, and data-driven insights pave the way for more ethical and efficient scientific practices. Ethical consciousness aligning with the pursuit of knowledge nurtures a landscape where wonder of discovery and the ethical treatment of animals walk hand in hand.

Seasonal variation and threat assessment of bird diversity at Gajedi Wetland, Rupandehi, Nepal

Wetlands provide important breeding, feeding, and resting habitats that support bird species; however, these wetlands are under anthropogenic pressure. This study aimed to record the diversity of birds and identify the major threats to them. The study was conducted in Gajedi Wetland, Rupandehi, Nepal. The point count method was used, where six vantage points separated by 300 m were taken. The observation was carried out from October 2022 to January 2023 using direct observation and call record methods. We recorded 1067 individual birds of 84 species under 61 genera belonging to 38 families of 16 orders. Out of 84 species, 67 were residents, 16 were winter migrants, and one was summer migrant. Shannon-Wiener function, Simpson’s diversity index and Margalef’s Richness Index were higher in winter, compared to autumn. However, Pielou’s evenness index was greater in the autumn season than in the winter season. The rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameria) was the most abundant species. We observed eight nationally threatened, one globally threatened, two globally near-threatened species and five species listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Recreational activities were among the major threats to birds in Gajedi Wetland. We recommend a complete survey including all season to produce a more comprehensive checklist and reduce anthropogenic activities around the wetland.

National spatial and temporal patterns of the global wildlife trade

The international wildlife trade is a vast global business contributing billions of dollars to national economies and spanning thousands of species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) outlines a framework for the effective management of the global trade in threatened species. A key question is understanding how exports and imports between the 184 CITES Parties have changed across space and time, and how the successful implementation of CITES’ legal requirements impacts these patterns. Focusing on birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles traded from wild sources between 2000 and 2020, we highlight a small number of Parties imported or exported the majority of trade volume and that these Parties vary distinctly between taxa. Imports and exports of wild-sourced origin were mostly declining or fluctuating over time, with the majority of Parties maintaining very low but fluctuating volumes, even for Parties with high historic total volumes (>10,000 individuals). Nevertheless, reptiles had eight high-volume exporters with increasing trends, while exports of Indonesian reptiles and USA mammals had high and stable roles in trade. Parties with legislation that meets all the Convention’s legal requirements had faster-declining bird, mammal, and reptile import volumes versus those without, while export volumes were not associated with differing legislative status. This research highlights the declining role in the trade of many Parties that historically traded high volumes, but the emergence of a few newly dominant Parties as suppliers for whom confirming the robustness of their sustainability assessments is an urgent priority.

Identification of tropical wood species in paper: a new chemotaxonomic method based on extractives

Abstract The European Deforestation Regulation 2023/1115 (EUDR) prohibits trading of wood and wood products obtained from illegal logging on the EU market. While the identification of solid wood via anatomy, chemistry and genetics has already been established, there is a lack of identification methods for pulp and paper that complement anatomy. This publication presents a newly developed chemotaxonomic method for identifying mixed tropical hardwood (MTH) species in pulp and paper products based on their extractives analyzed with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). The measured data was processed and compared to identify marker substances and was then merged into a fingerprint database for identifying MTH species in paper of unknown composition. As database references, fully bleached kraft pulps were produced from 38 anatomically identified wood samples and then cryo-ball milled and extracted successively with n-hexane and acetone. The results show that the remaining wood extractives generated from bleached pulps are specific enough to find chemical relevant marker substances to detect MTH species. As chemical composition and anatomy are independent characteristics of wood, this paper makes a completely independent method available, which potentially improves the screening for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) protected species.

Growth, yield and metabolite substantiated, eco-physiological evaluation of overcoming accessional and agro-climatic differences in ex-situ raised Valeriana jatamansi Jones. at lower altitude of Sikkim Himalayan region

Valeriana jatamansi Jones. syn. V. wallichi (Family: Caprifoliaceae) is globally known and amongst the 27 listed medicinal plants under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) by National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, Government of India. V. jatamansi is a temperate Himalayan critically vulnerable plant enlisted as plants of conservation concern under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix-II with regulated foreign trade. Deplete wild population of V. jatamansi has prioritized conservation via ex-situ raising. The study conducted for V. jatamansi ex-situ raising at Sikkim Himalayan low altitude (tropical hills) region in different potting mix and evaluated for growth, yield and metabolite content substantiated with eco-physiological parameters. The eco-physiological parameters include pigment variations, stability, and the amount of hydroxyvalerenic acid & valerenic acid in below ground quantified using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The study reveals black soil (BS), forest soil (FS), Vermi-compost (VC) and Sand (S) favoured the growth and yield. This is also substantiated by the eco-physiological parameters. The soil nutritional and physical parameters favour higher metabolites hydroxyvalerenic acid and valerenic acid accumulation. The study leads to successful plants raising with increased metabolites. The study paves the way forward, overcoming accessional and agro-climatic differences in growth, yield and metabolite, as appropriately monitored potting media help in consistent & optimized yield and metabolites in V. jatamansi.

Assessing avian diversity and conservation status in Dighal Wetlands, Haryana, India

Birds are considered sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and functionality in freshwater wetlands. Assessment of birdassemblages in wetland habitats is, therefore, emphasised from a sustainable management perspective. Bird surveys were conducted from October 2020 to September 2022. These surveys aimed to assess the community composition and status of avifauna in Dighal wetlands, an important bird area in the Jhajjar District of Haryana, India. Data collection employed point counts and opportunistic encounter methods. A total of 154 bird species belonging to 108 genera, 47 families, and 18 orders were recorded. Of these, 75 species were residents, 60 were winter migrants, and 10 were summer migrants. The greatest species richness was observed for the order Passeriformes (54), followed by Charadriiformes (22), Anseriformes (17), and the rest of the 15 orders. Anatidae was the most dominant family with 17 species, constituting 11% of the bird community in the study area. Data on local abundance revealed that 10 species were common, 23 were fairly common, 83 were uncommon, and 38 were rare in the study area. Among the recorded avifauna, one species is classified as Endangered, three as Vulnerable, and eight as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 17 species are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); and 11 are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These wetlands also support 40 species of birds, which have a declining population trend globally. The occurrence of migrants and species of global conservation priority underscores the importance of these wetlands as a conservation site and wintering ground for avifauna due to the extensive food resources and rich biodiversity they support. The present study provides baseline information for future research on monitoring bird assemblages and proper management of the Dighal wetlands of Haryana.

Policy feedback and the enforcement of international wildlife treaties in Germany

AbstractLaws are only as good as their enforcement. International treaties are no exception. We investigate how Germany implements international wildlife protection treaties, namely the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Bern Convention. We find that Germany's federal system allows for uneven enforcement of national legislation across the 16 federal states. We utilize Policy Feedback Theory as a theoretical lens to examine how federalism (re‐)produces different enforcement regimes. We rely on qualitative analysis of interviews of German street‐level bureaucrats, government officials, and NGO representatives. We find that macrolevel context impacts how institutions enforce wildlife protection policies. Particularly, Germany's federal structure permits either centralized, decentralized, or cooperative arrangements that result in differences in resources, affecting the ways bureaucrats view their roles and responsibilities. These resource and interpretive effects further feedback into the contextual structure of the federal enforcement system.

Is the demand for fish swim bladders driving the extinction of globally endangered marine wildlife?

Abstract International trade in croaker swim bladders or maws and incidental catches in fisheries targeting croakers for their maws pose a global problem that needs addressing to protect target croakers and globally threatened small cetaceans, sharks, rays and marine turtles. The lesson of the likely imminent extinction of the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico, owing to entanglement in gillnets targeting the totoaba croaker for its maw, is that the underlying threats to marine species must be addressed well before precipitous declines make their extinction inevitable. Opportunistic interviews with fishers and fish traders in Bangladesh indicate that the increasing demand for fish maws, selling for as much as 5,000 USD per kg, may be intensifying small‐scale coastal fisheries and bycatches of globally threatened marine wildlife, especially due to the potential for a windfall profit. In 137 croaker catches made in gillnets, sharks were bycaught in 22%, marine turtles in 8% and rays in 3% of catches. Of particular concern were six bycatches of 125 Critically Endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), 11 bycatches of 20 Vulnerable (VU) olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and two bycatches of 13 VU longtail butterfly rays (Gymnura poecilura). A recent IUCN Motion for ‘Controlling and monitoring trade in croaker swim bladders to protect target croakers and reduce incidental catches of threatened marine megafauna’ recommends conducting an analysis on the impacts of the demand for and trade in fish maws on croaker species and threatened marine megafauna, regulating trade in fish maws through national laws and developing a potential proposal to list croaker species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To prevent species extinctions, additional measures focusing on fishery management will be needed.