Firewood Harvesting Research Articles

The impacts of climate change, energy policy and traditional ecological practices on future firewood availability for Diné (Navajo) People.

Local-scale human-environment relationships are fundamental to energy sovereignty, and in many contexts, Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) is integral to such relationships. For example, Tribal leaders in southwestern USA identify firewood harvested from local woodlands as vital. For Diné people, firewood is central to cultural and physical survival and offers a reliable fuel for energy embedded in local ecological systems. However, there are two acute problems: first, climate change-induced drought will diminish local sources of firewood; second, policies aimed at reducing reliance on greenhouse-gas-emitting energy sources may limit alternatives like coal for home use, thereby increasing firewood demand to unsustainable levels. We develop an agent-based model trained with ecological and community-generated ethnographic data to assess the future of firewood availability under varying climate, demand and IEK scenarios. We find that the long-term sustainability of Indigenous firewood harvesting is maximized under low-emissions and low-to-moderate demand scenarios when harvesters adhere to IEK guidance. Results show how Indigenous ecological practices and resulting ecological legacies maintain resilient socio-environmental systems. Insights offered focus on creating energy equity for Indigenous people and broad lessons about how Indigenous knowledge is integral for adapting to climate change. This article is part of the theme issue 'Climate change adaptation needs a science of culture'.

Application of SWAT and WEAP Models for Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Two Rivers Dam Catchment, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Kaptagat Forest, the main source of the Ellegerini River, which feeds the Ellegerini Dam and Two Rivers Dam, is under threat of extinction due to human activity. The Two Rivers Dam catchment that has over the years been a source of water in Uasin Gishu County is slowly depleting and urgent measures are required to restore it. Activities including commercial logging, charcoal burning and firewood harvesting have exerted a lot of pressure on the catchment, posing a great threat to the livelihoods of the people of Eldoret town who depend on the reservoirs for water supply. The main objective of this study was to customise SWAT and WEAP models for the sustainable management of water resources in the Two Rivers Dam catchment. The specific objectives were to set up and apply the SWAT model to generate simulated river flows draining to the Two Rivers and Ellegerini Reservoirs as an input to the WEAP model to determine the impact of land use change on the hydrological function of the Two Rivers Dam catchment, to set up, calibrate and validate a WEAP model for the Two Rivers Dam catchment and to apply the WEAP model in analyses of various management and infrastructural development projects scenarios to enhance river flow and water storage in the Two Rivers and Ellegerini Reservoirs. The goodness of fit SWAT model statistical evaluation indices attained during the calibration period was R2 = 0.854, NSE = 0.822 and Bias = 0.392. Additionally, for the validation period, the R2 = 0.786, NSE = 0.815 and Bias = 0.381. The modelled results indicate that the land use change resulted in decreased baseflow and increased surface runoff hence the high fluctuations of water levels in the Two Rivers and Ellegerini reservoirs. The WEAP model results for actual and simulated water demand in the calibration period of 2019, the R2 = 0.88, while during the validation period in the year 2020, the R2 = 0.85. The results of the model simulation indicated that the management option that had the most impact on all the scenarios was the reduction of unaccounted-for water, while the one with the least impact was increased water use efficiency. It was concluded that the models were able to simulate the observed conditions reasonably well and can therefore be used to effectively manage water resources and assist the relevant stakeholders in decision-making. The study recommended that forested areas need to be properly conserved in order to restore the hydrological function of the catchment.

Firewood and Energy Sovereignty on Navajo Nation

Climate-induced drought jeopardizes future access to sufficient energy sources for many people reliant on firewood, especially those underrepresented in forest management decision-making. To identify where interventions might be most effective in facilitating self-determination and sustained firewood harvest, we investigate the case of Diné firewood harvesters. Using data from surveys, interviews and participant observations, we articulate who uses firewood and why, what the costs of firewood are, and who imposes those costs. Reducing both the cost and need for firewood for the Diné and others would support energy sovereignty by facilitating sustained access to firewood.

Private enterprise in logging in 1919-1921: the idea of the center and the opposition of the regions

The article considers the policy of the Main Forestry Committee of the Supreme Economic Council on attracting private capital for firewood harvesting to combat the fuel crisis in 1919-1921, which has not been studied in the scientific literature. The research is based mainly on archival materials introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, and media publications of this period. The author used the materials of two central (GARF and RGAE) and four regional (Penza, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk regions) state archives. The struggle of regional leaders against the ill-conceived policy of the center for the introduction of private capital for logging is shown. The conclusion is made about the fallacy of the widespread use of private entrepreneurs without taking into account local conditions for logging in the provinces of European Russia in an extreme situation of the economic crisis.

Development of a Watershed Management Plan to Protect Soil and Water Resources, Case of Imady Region Amoron’ny Mania

Unsustainable development has often threatened watershed ecology in many parts of the world, and population growth has played a major role in this process. Our study consists of the development of a watershed management plan. The degradation of environments by bushfire, timber exploitation, and firewood harvesting dew soil and pollutes spring water, in addition, there are also negative impacts on the physicochemical property of the soil. This research aims to put in place a watershed management plan to restore the soil and the soil pit against erosion. The development also allows for the protection of water resources and the pollution generated by this degradation. The study specifies the physical characteristics of the watershed: altitude, slope, and constant of Graveluis. We also examine the physicochemical properties of the soil: structure, texture, and pH. After the study of the soil, we also determined the measure of the flow of the source, the organoleptic analysis, and also the physicochemical and bacteriological analysis. The results of this work once made available to the authorities of the basic data could be exploited in the framework of the improvement of the quality of water intended for human consumption. To fight against water pollution, the easiest measure to apply is a large awareness campaign.

Spatiotemporal Changes (1945–2020) in a Grazed Landscape of Northern Greece, in Relation to Socioeconomic Changes

The spatiotemporal changes of the grazed Greek landscapes in the last 75 years resemble those evidenced in most parts of the northern Mediterranean region, where woody vegetation encroached on open areas changing landscape structure and diversity. These landscape transitions are deeply influenced by demographic and socioeconomic changes that exacerbate the abandonment of traditional management practices including livestock farming and wood harvesting. The aim of this paper was to examine the spatiotemporal changes regarding land use/land cover (LULC) types in a typical grazed landscape of the Lagadas area in northern Greece in the period 1945–2020 and try to associate them with socioeconomic changes. Special attention was given to grassland evolution. Cartographic material in various forms, such as historic (LULC) data sets in shapefile format (1945, 1960 and 1993), recent land use maps (Corine Land Cover of 2018), and satellite images (Google Earth images from 2017 to 2020) was analyzed with Geographic Information Systems software and landscape metrics. Socioeconomic inventory data and grazing animal numbers were also collected and analyzed from diachronic census reports of Greek authorities. Spatiotemporal changes in the Lagadas landscape showed that grasslands, open shrublands and silvopastoral areas decreased during the examined period in favor of dense shrublands and forests, causing a significant reduction in landscape diversity and heterogeneity. Main demographic and socioeconomic drivers were the decrease of the local population, population aging and a significant reduction of employment in the primary economic sector over time. These changes were coupled with reductions in the number of grazing animals (sheep, goats, and cattle), firewood harvesting and charcoal production and were identified as the main reasons for landscape change. Grasslands have become increasingly fragmented and isolated over the years. Future sustainable livestock husbandry in the area is seriously threatened by the ongoing reduction of grasslands and open shrublands.

Review of Deforestation in Ugandan Tropical Rainforest Reserves: A Threat to Natural Medicine

Deforestation in Ugandan Tropical Rainforest Reserves as threat to natural medicine is still undocumented. In this study, we reviewed literature on deforestation most especially from 1990-2020 in the Tropical Rainforest Reserves. We examine the trend of deforestation, impact of deforestation on medicinal plant species’ and threatened medicinal plant species in the Tropical Rainforest Reserves in Uganda. Secondary data from National Forestry Authority on deforestation (1990-2020) was analysed to determine the trend of forest deforestation while PubMed®, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS databases were also used to provide information on the threatened medicinal plants. Our results show that there has been an annual incredible decline of 17% in the trend of deforestation both in Tropical Rainforest Reserves (low-stocked and well-stocked). The results of the review also noticed a 0.86 strong positive correlation in the decline of both Tropical Rainforest Reserves. This review also documented 13 medicinal plants as the most threatened in the Ugandan Tropical Rainforest Reserves. The medicinal plants in Uganda include Dioscorea bulbifera, Cytropsis articulata, Prunus africana, Warburgia ugandensis, Entandrophragma utile, Irvingia gabonensis, Spathodea campanulate, Aloe ferox, Vernonia amygdalina, Erythrina abyssinica, Moringa oleifera, Hoslundia opposita Vahl and Milicia excelsa. Our study articulates human activities that are affecting medicinal plants include agricultural expansion, timber harvesting, charcoal burning, firewood harvesting, weak forest policies and laws, un clear forest boundaries infrastructure development e.g., roads.

Distribution and conservation status of the golden monkeyCercopithecus mitis kandtiin Rwanda

AbstractHabitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to primate populations globally. The Endangered golden monkeyCercopithecus mitis kandtiis only found in two small forest fragments: the Virunga massif in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Gishwati Forest in Rwanda. Little is known about the abundance and distribution of this subspecies, or threats to its survival. During 2007–2018, we collected data along 893.7 km of line transects and 354.2 km of recce trails in Volcanoes National Park and in Gishwati–Mukura National Park to estimate golden monkey density and examine any threats. In Volcanoes National Park, golden monkeys were found almost exclusively in the bamboo zone, and in Gishwati–Mukura National Park they occurred only in the remnant tropical montane Gishwati Forest. In Volcanoes National Park, density was estimated to be 7.89 (95% CI: 3.85–16.19), 5.41 (2.64–11.08), and 5.47 (3.68–8.14) groups per km2in 2007, 2011 and 2017–2018, respectively. This corresponds to a total of 4,331 individuals (95% CI: 2,723–5,938) in 2007, 4,487 (2,903–6,071) in 2011 and 4,626 (4,165–5,088) in 2017–2018. In Gishwati Forest, group density averaged 1.98 (95% CI: 1.27–3.16) per km2, corresponding to 172 (95% CI: 154–190) individuals in 2017–2018. Survey results from Volcanoes National Park suggest that the golden monkey population has been stable during 2007–2018. Limited habitat, illegal activities such as harvesting of bamboo and firewood, and the presence of feral dogs, threaten the golden monkey in Rwanda and require continued monitoring. The development of a conservation action plan is a priority to protect this species.

Mapping Ecosystem Services of Forest Stands: Case Study of Maamora, Morocco

The concept of ecosystem services (ES) is increasingly used to analyze the relationships and interactions between humans and nature. Understanding the ecosystem services’ flow and the ecosystems’ capacity to generate these services is an essential element in considering the sustainability of ecosystem uses and the development of ecosystem accounts. For such purpose, we conduct spatially explicit analyses of nine ecosystem services in the Maamora forest, Morocco. The ecosystem services included are timber and industry wood harvest, firewood harvest, cork gathering, forage production, acorn gathering, forest carbon storage, and recreational hiking. Results make it possible to distinguish between the forest capacity to provide ecosystem services from their current use (demand) and assess them quantitatively. It came out that both capacity and flow differ in spatial extent as well as in quantity. Distinguishing capacity and flow of ES also provided an estimate of over-or under-utilization of services, and offer the possibility to map the ecosystem service provision hotspots (SPA) and degraded SPHs. The respective assessment of capacity and flux in a space-explicit manner can therefore support the monitoring of the forest ecosystem use sustainability.

Net precipitation, infiltration and overland flow production in three types of community-managed forest in the Mid-hills of East Central Nepal

It is widely believed that community forest management concurrently improves the social, ecological and economic conditions of local populations. Accordingly, large areas of Nepal's Mid-hills’ forests are used and managed by local Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs). The CFUGs plant seedlings as well as thin and prune forest trees at varying intensities as determined by local forest conditions and the need for forest products (mainly timber, firewood, livestock fodder and compostable litter). However, the hydrological effects of these activities are uncertain. We present results of throughfall (Tf), stemflow (Sf) and overland flow (OF) measurements made between June 2015 and December 2016 (including two consecutive rainy seasons) in three types of community-managed forests subject to different levels of community usage in the Kavre district (East Central Nepal): (i) regenerating natural broad-leaved (BF), (ii) predominantly-planted pine (PF), and (iii) mixed pine-broad-leaved (MF). The BF and MF were used more intensively than the PF. Overall Tf fractions were 72.0%, 73.7% and 77.5% of incident precipitation (P) for the BF, MF and PF, respectively, with corresponding Sf fractions of 1.6%, 1.3% and 0.6%. Overall rainfall interception fractions were 26.4%, 25.1% and 21.9% for the BF, MF and PF, respectively, and reflected the trend in leaf area index. Total amounts of OF constituted 11.4%. 9.8% and 4.7% of net precipitation (Tf+Sf) inputs to the forest floor in the BF, MF and PF, respectively and broadly followed the relative intensity of forest usage. Observed amounts of OF in the study forests represent ca. 50–115 mm of foregone infiltration opportunity per year under average rainfall, implying reductions in the recharge of soil and groundwater reserves of ∼6% in the PF to 12–14% in the MF and BF. Our results thus show that regular harvesting of litter, fodder and firewood combined with surface compaction by human traffic constitute important determinants of hillslope hydrological functioning, particularly regarding amounts of foregone infiltration and runoff as OF in the more intensively used community-managed forests of Nepal's Mid-hills.

Local knowledge, perceptions and the cultural significance of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan

ABSTRACT Bhutan has an extensive protected area network and people living inside are integral partners with the conservation landscape. Despite this, little is known on local people’s traditional knowledge, cultural beliefs, and perceptions on wildlife. We investigated drivers of local knowledge, threats and cultural significance of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) through semi-structured questionnaire surveys (N= 664 participants) on local residents in Jigme Dorji and Phrumsengla National Parks. A conditional inference tree analysis explained that knowledge of the red panda and encounters with the species varied by demography, occupation and locality. Although the majority of respondents were not knowledgeable of the species, residents living within the elevational range of red pandas exhibited greater knowledge. Civil servants, farmers, foresters, park staff, and teachers also had significantly greater knowledge of red pandas than monks, road workers, and students. Informally educated older (≥41 years) respondents placed higher cultural significance on the red panda relative to much younger respondents. Although past studies in Jigme Dorji National Park have identified habitat destruction and fragmentation due to linear infrastructural development – such as the construction of new power transmission lines – as significant anthropogenic threats to the red panda, respondents listed only non-timber forest products collection, forest fires, timber and firewood harvesting, climate change, livestock grazing, and kills by domestic dogs as some of the most prevailing threats to the red panda in our study area. Recognizing and incorporating the intrinsic value of wildlife within the protected area–people framework and utilizing traditional cultural perceptions of threatened species like the red panda, can be a valuable tool in strengthening public support for species conservation. This study further advocates an urgent need for educational programs to promote ecological and cultural values of the red panda in schools and the wider public.

Trends and drivers of forest cover change in the Cherangany hills forest ecosystem, western Kenya

Detecting and monitoring forest cover change and its drivers has become a vital component of forest management globally as it helps in decision-making and policy development. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatio-temporal trends of forest cover change and its drivers from 1985 to 2020 in the Cherangany hills forest ecosystem, Kenya. Landsat satellite data and Google Earth Engine (GEE) algorithms were used for land cover mapping and change detection. In addition, a literature review was undertaken to establish the drivers of forest cover change over time in the study area.The results show an overall decline in the forest, water features, and built-up areas land cover categories in the study area while croplands, grasslands, and bareland registered gains. The percentage area under forests declined by about 14.1% (13,782 ha) during the 35 years. This loss translates to an annual average forest loss of 0.40% or 394 ha. Conversely, cropland and grassland registered an increase of about 8.1% (7944 ha) and 5.8% (5616 ha) respectively over the 35-year study period. The drivers of forest cover change in the ecosystem comprised the conversion of forests to croplands and grasslands, grazing, encroachment, illegal logging, firewood harvesting, charcoal production, forest fires, excisions, climate change, population growth, policy, and institutional failures.The findings of this study will help the relevant forest managers re-evaluate the past conservation and management strategies and focus the rehabilitation efforts on the forest ecosystem’s degradation hotspots for sustainable forest management.

Disturbance impacts on the persistence niche of key species in the Baikiaea–Guibourtia–Pterocarpus woodlands of north-western Zimbabwe

The persistence niche (studied through different modes of regeneration) of three key species (Baikiaea plurijuga (Harms), Guibourtia coleosperma (Benth.) J. Leonard, and Pterocarpus angolensis) (DC) under five different disturbance regimes (eight years after cessation of disturbance) was studied in the Baikiaea–Guibourtia–Pterocarpus woodlands of north-western Zimbabwe. The disturbance regimes were: protected area (no disturbance); timber concession area (timber harvesting); pole and firewood harvesting sites; abandoned crop fields (after clearing for agriculture); and burnt sites (fire disturbance). Influence of stump diameter and height on regeneration factors was investigated. For each disturbance regime, six main plots (100 m × 100 m) each were systematically laid out (20 m apart) to assess regeneration. In each main plot, 10 m wide transects (5 m apart) were surveyed for seedlings and saplings of the target species (at least 100 plants of each species), resulting in 7 transects per main plot, 42 transects in each study site and 210 transects in total. Number of seedlings with or without a rootstock (i.e., just grown from seed) was recorded. Diameter of stumps was measured at the cut surface. Shoot height was measured from their origin. Each target species was associated with mode of regeneration (χ² = 27 642, p < 0.001). Most plants regenerated from root suckers. Regeneration mode is dependent on disturbance regime (B. plurijuga χ² = 225.66, p < 0.001; G. coleosperma χ² = 158.62, p < 0.001; and P. angolensis χ² = 144.01, p < 0.001). Stump diameter negatively influenced number of sprouts for B. plurijuga and P. angolensis, but positively influenced sprout height for all species. Stump height positively influenced sprout height for G. coleosperma and P. angolensis. The study therefore concludes that disturbances are necessary in facilitating sprouting and growth of suppressed shoots. Stump height and diameter influence the ability of stumps to regrow vegetatively through sprouting. Weak relationships between stump diameter/height and coppice density and shoot height suggest that there are other factors that affect vegetative regrowth through coppicing.

Natural Drying and Chemical Characteristics of Hybrid Poplar Firewood Produced from Agricultural Bioenergy Buffers in Southern Québec, Canada

Implementing bioenergy buffers on farmland using fast-growing tree species could reduce firewood harvest pressure in woodlots and increase forest connectivity, while improving carbon sequestration, phytoremediation, stream habitats, soil stabilization and hydrological regulation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the natural drying and chemical characteristics of hybrid poplar firewood produced from bioenergy buffers, and to compare these characteristics with those of native species harvested in adjacent woodlots. In Trial A, 110 cm-long unsplit logs (a feedstock for biomass furnaces) were produced to evaluate the effect of log diameter class on firewood quality. In this trial, hybrid poplar firewood characteristics were also compared with Populus tremuloides, Acer rubrum and Fraxinus americana. In Trial B, the effect of hybrid poplar genotype and cover treatment was evaluated on the moisture content of short split logs (40 cm long). Firewood of satisfactory quality was produced on a yearly cycle for short split logs, and on a biannual cycle for long unsplit logs. Covering short split log cords with metal sheeting lowered the final moisture content (from 20.7% to 17.3%) and reduced its variability, while genotype did not significantly affect final moisture content. In Trial A, larger-diameter logs from hybrid poplar had lower element concentrations, but slightly higher moisture content after two years. A two-fold variation in N concentration was observed between diameter classes, suggesting that burning larger poplar logs would minimize atmospheric N pollution. Heating value, carbon and calcium concentrations increased following the seasoning of hybrid poplar firewood. After the first seasoning year outdoors, hybrid poplar had the highest moisture content (33.1%) compared to native species (24.1–29.5%). However, after the second seasoning year in an unheated warehouse, the opposite was observed (14.3% for hybrid poplar vs. 15.0–21.5% for native species). Heating value, carbon and nitrogen concentrations were similar between tree species, while high phosphorus and base cation concentrations characterized hybrid poplar, suggesting higher ash production. Poplar bioenergy buffers could provide a complementary source of firewood for heating in the fall and in the spring, when the heat demand is lower than during cold winter months.

Firewood consumption and extraction from community forests in East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya: Its impact on woody species diversity and population structure

Firewood serves as the principal source of energy for cooking and heating, for many rural communities, but the impact of firewood extraction on the forest is often undermined. The present study was undertaken to assess the firewood consumption pattern by households living near community forests of East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya and the impact of such activity on species diversity and population structure on such forests. Data on firewood consumption and preferred firewood species, and impacts of firewood harvesting on species diversity and population structure were collected through household surveys and phytosociological studies respectively. The surveyed households showed high dependency on firewood and the consumption pattern varies with the family size. The preferred firewood species are those of hardwood trees such as Quercus spp., Lithocarpus spp., Castanopsis spp. and Myrica spp. Firewood extraction have negative impact on forests, resulting in decrease in species diversity and population of the preferred firewood species. Statistical analysis revealed that species richness and diversity and density differ significantly in protected and unprotected forests. Despite low per capita consumption of firewood and precautionary measures like regulated harvesting in the study area, firewood harvesting cannot be ignored as an important cause of forest degradation and biodiversity loss. More research into local ecological and cultural contexts and perceptions concerning costs and benefits can help devise sustainable management options, including alternative sources of fuel.

English

Anthropogenic disturbances&nbsp; (cultivation, harvesting of poles and firewood and protection) play a pivotal role in the recovery and growth of Baikiaea-Guibourtia-Pterocarpus woodland species. The aim of this study is to determine the reliability of tree growth rings in age determination and average radial growth of re-growing woodland stands. The relationship between stem diameter, number of growth rings, and age of selected stands was also investigated. The research assisted in understanding the growth patterns of the key commercial timber species (Baikiaea plurijuga, Guibourtia coleosperma and Pterocarpus angolensis) of the seasonally dry Baikiaea-Guibourtia-Pterocarpus woodlands around Gwaai and Tsholotsho in north-western Zimbabwe. Tree rings were physically counted on basal stem cross-sections collected from 20 trees of different age, for each species in each disturbance regime. STATISTICA statistical package version 7.0 (StaSoft inc, 1984 - 2006) was used for data analysis. The Simple Regression Model was used to test for relationships. The relationship between age and growth rings, showed a strong correlation (p&lt;0.0001). Diameter and number of growth rings had a poor correlation. This showed that growth rings and not diameter can be used to determine the age of the three key timber species. Mean annual ring width was significantly different between species within the same disturbance category (p&lt;0.005) within a specific stand age. Mean radial growth was highest in abandoned crop fields, compared to pole and firewood collection sites. It was therefore concluded that forest managers need to adopt disturbance regimes that prompt optimal mean radial growth of at least key species in the woodlands. &nbsp; Key words: Disturbance, mean radial growth, tree rings, Baikiaea plurijuga, Guibourtia coleosperma; Pterocarpus angolensis. &nbsp

Effects of firewood harvesting intensity on biodiversity and ecosystem services in shrublands of northern Patagonia

BackgroundForest management has historically focused on provisioning of goods (e.g. timber, biomass), but there is an increasing interest to manage forests also to maintain biodiversity and to provide other ecosystem services (ES).MethodsWe evaluated the effects of firewood harvesting intensity on biodiversity and different ES in three contrasting shrubland sites in northern Patagonia (Argentina). At each site, four harvesting treatments, representing various levels of harvest intensity, were randomly assigned to eight permanent sample plots of 31.5 m × 45 m during 2013–2014.ResultsWe found that the effects of increasing harvesting intensity on plant diversity changed from negative to positive (and from nonlinear to more linear responses) with increasing site productivity. Harvesting intensity showed contrasting effects on variables related to fire protection ecosystem service, since it reduced fuel amount (potentially reducing fire spread) but also reduced live fuel moisture content (potentially increasing flammability) at the three sites. Two variables related to soil formation and protection ES, leaf litter cover and aerial soil cover, decreased with harvesting intensity at the three sites.ConclusionsWe conclude that shrubland management for firewood production may enhance biodiversity without compromising certain important ES. The intensity of harvesting should be determined according to site conditions and forecasted impacts on biodiversity, fire and soil formation and protection.

Changing Livelihoods in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa (2002–2016): Diminishing Employment and Expanding Social Protection

Despite long-standing patterns of agrarian change in South and Southern Africa, rural locales remain home to millions of people, characterised by widespread poverty and vulnerability. This is evident in South Africa’s former ‘homelands’, the site where this study examined changes in rural livelihoods over a 14-year period. Detailed survey data (collected in 2002 and 2016) from two villages in the Pondoland region of Eastern Cape province, and augmented by in-depth fieldwork, are analysed to explore the drivers of contemporary livelihood change. Key livelihood activities are examined, namely paid employment, social grant receipt, horticulture and livestock production, marine-resource and firewood harvesting. So too are changes within, and between, these diverse livelihood activities over time. Both monetised (income-earning) activities, and ‘unremunerated’ or unmonetised activities (for example, subsistence agriculture or marine-resource harvesting) are measured, aggregated and compared, in order to consider the drivers, consequences and prospective future trajectories of livelihood change. Key findings for impoverished households in the villages are that waged work has decreased significantly, while expanding social welfare provision has prevented plunges into deeper poverty. Agriculture and marine-resource harvesting remain dynamic, albeit unevenly engaged in by villagers. Amid these larger patterns, local-level variations are evident, with discrepant employment and agricultural production patterns across villages. The role of the state is ambiguous, being both a restrictor and enabler of local livelihoods. As jobs and other livelihood opportunities diminish, the villagers express frustration with the state, but remain simultaneously heavily reliant on state fiscal transfers, through grants and public employment schemes. The findings speak not only to the dynamics of rural livelihoods in South Africa’s former homelands; they also point to changes in rural dwellers’ livelihoods, within contexts of agrarian change, rural dispossession, inequality and receding prospects for employment, increasingly evident across the global south.

First insights into rodent trapping in Oku village, north-west Cameroon, based on interviews with local hunters

AbstractMount Oku, in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, is known for its rodent diversity. It is located in an area with a high human population density (up to 400/km2), resulting in intense pressure on natural resources. Threats to biodiversity include overgrazing by cattle and goats in grassland areas and montane forests, firewood harvesting, agriculture, bee keeping, debarking ofPrunustrees for medicinal uses, and bushmeat hunting. We used data from interviews with 106 local hunters to provide insights into rodent trapping in Oku village. Trapping took place primarily in closed canopy forest. The majority of hunters (88.8%) set at least 100 traps per week, with a mean of 38 rodents trapped per hunter per week. The two most captured species were the Vulnerable Hartwig's praomysPraomys hartwigiand the Endangered Mount Oku ratLamottemys okuensis, both of which have declining populations. Rodents were harvested mainly for household consumption and/or local trade, but 65.1% of interviewees also usedP. hartwigifor traditional medicine. Our findings suggest that rodent trapping in Oku village requires conservation attention, and that further quantitative studies are needed to assess its sustainability.

Community perceptions of the status and threats facing mangroves of Mida Creek, Kenya: Implications for community based management

The management of forest ecosystems globally is shifting from a top-down-approach, through centralised management by the state, to a more inclusive bottom-up approach involving community participation. Increasingly, there is a realisation that sustainable management of natural resources is dependent on the inclusion of local people or institutions through actions such as Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). However, successful implementation of CBNRM depends on understanding the perception that local communities have of an ecosystem's resources. In this context, the present study examines the perceptions of local people on the status and threats facing the mangrove ecosystem of Mida Creek in Kenya. After consultation with these people, a closed ended questionnaire has been produced, investigating the perception of the local community on the degradation status of mangroves, as well as on the main threats affecting the mangroves. Furthermore, the study analysed the influence of the respondents' social characteristics on the choices they make about the degradation status and threats affecting the mangroves. Results show that 12% of the respondents consider the mangroves to be ‘degraded’ while 40% consider mangroves to be ‘somewhat degraded’. The perceived drivers of mangrove degradation were human-induced activities such as firewood harvesting, pollution from plastics and faeces, pollution from oil spills, overharvesting for building materials and encroachment for settlements. Age, the size of the household and the location of the respondent were some of the variables that also affected the respondent's perceptions. Since problem identification is an important first step for tracing the causal chain behind resource degradation, the outcomes of this study are important for designing policies that could ameliorate problems. It also highlights the importance of involving the community in the initial stages of developing management policies, since they hold views that are necessary for policy change and improvement.