Forest Reserve Research Articles

Recognition of Invasive Characteristics of Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham. (Arecaceae), an Introduced Palm Species in Sri Lanka

Areca triandra Roxb. Ex Buch-Ham native to the Southeast Asian region has been introduced to many tropical areas including Sri Lanka. Although the common occurrence of A. triandra is noticeable in the southwest region of Sri Lanka, there was no prior study and literature available to investigate the aggressiveness and invasive potential of this species. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify the level of invasiveness and risk level of A. triandra in natural areas by (a) assessing the distribution range, (b) identifying the biological strategies for rapid colonization through a population assessment and reproductive biology assessment. An extensive literature survey was conducted to determine the distribution range of A. triandra in Sri Lanka. A population assessment was conducted in Meethirigala Forest Reserve (MFR) and Yagirala Forest Reserve (YFR). Mature A. triandra percentage, crown cover percentage, and reproductive biology assessment were conducted by establishing six 20 m×20 m plots, and A. triandra seedling percentage was evaluated by using twenty-four 1 m×1 m plots by covering different topographic conditions such as mid-slope and valley. To evaluate the invasiveness and risk level, a protocol for the prioritization of invasive species in Sri Lanka developed by the United Nations Development Organization (UNDP) was used. Results show that the common occurrence of A. triandra was noticeable in the southwest region of Sri Lanka. The abundance of mature individuals of A. triandra account for 57% with an average crown cover of 46% and seedlings account for 69% of the ground layer. The species thrives in locations subjected to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and the high crown cover and dominance of seedlings negatively affect the understory by suppressing native vegetation. This palm is clump-forming with 66% of plants with multiple stems. Sexual reproduction produced a large number of fruits; 150-200 fruits per infructescence and an average of 370 fruits per clump. Direct observation showed that the bright red fleshy pericarp of the fruit attracts frugivores, such as the Asian Koel and Green Imperial Pigeon. Protocol criteria evaluation has resulted in A. triandra being under ―Alert‖ status with the risk level of ―Moderate‖ for the invasiveness under natural conditions. Invasive potential with dense populations, clustering stems, high canopy cover, high fruit production, and effective seed dispersal confirms that A. triandra is displacing and threatening the native ecosystems. Immediate actions should be taken to control A. triandra populations for preventing further spread in natural ecosystems. 
 Keywords: Areca triandra, Arecaceae family, Invasive species, Frugivores, Infructescence

Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Driving Community-assisted Forest Landscape Restoration in Endane Biodiversity Corridor, Sri Lanka

The ecosystem services: direct or indirect benefits of ecosystems to human well-being, need to be recognized in conservation and restoration decision-making. In the human-dominated southwest Sri Lanka, we have established a forest landscape restoration project (Endane Biodiversity Corridor) linking a peripheral forest reserve to Sinharaja Rainforest Complex. The ecosystem services provided by tea monocultures, abandoned tea lands, and lowland home gardens were estimated employing a range of methods for estimating respective ecosystem service values with data collected from household surveys, key stakeholder interviews, and survey of tree flora in 20 m × 20 m plots for estimating aboveground carbon stock. The benefit transfer approach was used to value the supporting and regulating services. The total value of ecosystem services provided by this forest corridor landscape was 6,465 USD ha/yr in 2021. This amount included: provisioning services of 1,950 USD ha/yr, supporting services of 645 USD ha/yr, regulating services of 3,807 USD ha/yr, and cultural services of 38.8 USD ha/yr. Overall, our forest corridor landscape of 59.3 ha provided 382,362 of USD of ecosystem services a year. In comparison to tea monoculture, species-rich home gardens generate a high amount of provisioning services. Our study site is prone to ecosystem degradation due to human activities like forest land encroachment, illegal gem mining, and over-harvesting of forest products. However, we recognize the opportunity of enhancing the biodiversity of monoculture tea gardens and home gardens of the corridor following the principles of agroforestry and enrichment planting. These results i.e., the ecosystem service values among different land uses, are imperative for financing and encouraging community participation for forest restoration activities.
 Keywords: Forest resources assessment, Forest restoration, Common-based restoration

Elephant Based Volunteer Tourism in Sri Lanka (On the Perception of Volunteer Service Providers and Volunteer Participants in Elephant Related Activities)


 
 
 Volunteer tourism is an emerging sector of modern tourism. Elephant based volunteering activities, which means activities related to conservation and protection of animal rights and welfare related to elephants, plays a contemporary role among them, that perceive the aspect of animal conservation and preservation while also promoting tourism which describes both well-being of the elephants and tourism markets. This study is a collaboration to depict these types of contemplating the current profile of elephant-related activities and volunteer tourism in Sri Lanka, while creating and promoting a niche market for elephant-based volunteer tourism that would guide to identify and understand volunteer service providers and volunteer participant‘s perspective of captive and non- captive elephant welfare. The researcher has selected Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Wasgamuwa National Park, Hurulu Eco Park and Minneriya Forest Reserve as the research sites for the study. The population of the study is consisted with all the participants of elephant-based volunteer programs and volunteer service providers related to the elephant related activities of Sri Lanka. As the sample the researcher selected 30 participants who they are both volunteer service providers and volunteer participants from the areas of selected research sites. For selecting the sample, the researcher adopted purposive sampling technique. Qualitative method is adopted for the study and structured interviews were used as primary data resource, while journal articles, research papers, books and online sources were used as secondary data sources and thematic analysis method was utilized in analyzing the data. According to the findings the elephants are using in entertainment purposes which are; elephant back riding, elephant shows, perahara events, elephant seeing safaris, elephant based souvenirs and products and photography. As the data analysis the short comings in elephant-based tourism are lack of awareness about the concepts throughout the country, lack of government involvement and unavailability of strict legal structure, lack of consideration about the animal welfare by the respective organizations and restriction of animal freedom. Major opportunities generated by the elephant-based volunteering activities includes generation of good income through the tourism industry and volunteering is a major tool of self-improvement. When searching for the challenges in promoting elephant-based volunteering activities the following are identified; language barriers, unacceptable human behavior and attitudes, monetary constraints and improper uses of private tour operators. When discussing about promoting elephant-based volunteering activities, based on the research it can be suggested to use social media for promoting, holding awareness programs in forest areas as well as in urban areas, conducting collaborative research studies and taking measures to alter the attitudes of people.
 
 
 
 
 Keywords: Volunteer tourism, Elephant-based tourism, Animal welfare, Volunteer service providers
 
 
 
 
 
 

Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Driving Community-assisted Forest Landscape Restoration in Endane Biodiversity Corridor, Sri Lanka

The ecosystem services: direct or indirect benefits of ecosystems to human well-being, need to be recognized in conservation and restoration decision-making. In the human-dominated southwest Sri Lanka, we have established a forest landscape restoration project (Endane Biodiversity Corridor) linking a peripheral forest reserve to Sinharaja Rainforest Complex. The ecosystem services provided by tea monocultures, abandoned tea lands, and lowland home gardens were estimated employing a range of methods for estimating respective ecosystem service values with data collected from household surveys, key stakeholder interviews, and survey of tree flora in 20 m × 20 m plots for estimating aboveground carbon stock. The benefit transfer approach was used to value the supporting and regulating services. The total value of ecosystem services provided by this forest corridor landscape was 6,465 USD ha/yr in 2021. This amount included: provisioning services of 1,950 USD ha/yr, supporting services of 645 USD ha/yr, regulating services of 3,807 USD ha/yr, and cultural services of 38.8 USD ha/yr. Overall, our forest corridor landscape of 59.3 ha provided 382,362 of USD of ecosystem services a year. In comparison to tea monoculture, species-rich home gardens generate a high amount of provisioning services. Our study site is prone to ecosystem degradation due to human activities like forest land encroachment, illegal gem mining, and over- harvesting of forest products. However, we recognize the opportunity of enhancing the biodiversity of monoculture tea gardens and home gardens of the corridor following the principles of agroforestry and enrichment planting. These results i.e., the ecosystem service values among different land uses, are imperative for financing and encouraging community participation for forest restoration activities.
 
 
 
 
 Keywords: Forest resources assessment, Forest restoration, Common-based restoration
 
 
 

Evaluating the future risk of coastal Ramsar wetlands in India to extreme rainfalls using fuzzy logic

Wetlands are often found in areas that undergo periodic flooding, such as coastal seas, lakes, and rivers. Coastal wetlands are particularly vulnerable to climate change effects, such as changes in precipitation patterns, risk of extreme rainfall, and cyclones/storms. This study assessed the uncertainties associated with extreme rainfalls in terms of return levels (RLs; 20 and 50 years) and quantified the potential risk level of these events in the future for coastal wetlands in India. The extreme precipitation indices (EPIs) were evaluated using a non-stationary approach, and the results showed that Thane Creek had the highest RLs, followed by Kolleru Lake. The risk level for each wetland was assessed using the fuzzy logic approach, which considered parameters such as exposure, vulnerability, and threat. The overall risk assessment showed that Thane Creek, Kolleru Lake, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, and Tampara Lake are at a “High” risk level for both RLs of EPIs. Furthermore, the automated Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) thresholding technique was employed in Google Earth Engine to create inundation maps of wetlands. This study also indicated that Thane Creek is at risk of flooding based on the analysis of spatiotemporal changes. The impact evaluation of Thane Creek showed that rapid urbanization has encroached upon the creek's boundaries. Therefore, the variability of EPIs may be affected by climatic oscillations, leading to an upsurge in extreme rainfalls, causing the coastal wetlands to flood. Policymakers can use these findings to develop effective strategies for the proper management of coastal wetlands.

Application of Geospatial Technology to Assess Pressures and Threats to Nature Related to Human Activities in Wilpattu National Park

Expanding agricultural land is one of the humanities largest and most considerable environmental impacts. It has transformed habitats and is one of the greatest pressures and threats to biodiversity. By 2020, with an estimated population of 22 million, the per capita arable land is about 0.158 hectares. This indicates heavy pressure on agricultural land use. This agricultural land use causes deforestation. Illegal deforestation results in the destruction of habitat and the restriction of wildlife movements. Apart from the direct destruction of habitats of flora and fauna that provide humans with valuable resources, removing forest cover puts many essential natural functions out of order, which may lead to a range of severe consequences. There have been many attempts at human encroachment at Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka, and its Forest Reserves; however, it has never been done at this scale with the awareness of the Government Authorities, who failed to act. The Easter end of the Wilpattu National Park lies between the divisional secretariat of Mahaviachchi, Karuwalagasweva, Nochchiyagama, and Rajanganaya. The buffer zone of 1.6km has been marked from the Wilpattu reserve boundary. This study uses the integrated land use assessment by applying a land use evaluation model that evaluates biophysical and human-related data in eight GN Divisions (Hunuvilagama, Kuda Vilachchiya, Track 13, Matha Kiramam, Palaikuli, Pahalapuliyankulam, Parana Eluwankulam, and Andiyapuliyankulam) in buffer zone in Wilpattu National Park. Environmental impact has been assessed based on image classification and area calculations. According to the analysis done in the human settlement, it indicates encroachment of the restricted zone for human settlement. The area of this buffer zone is approximately 33,147 ha. About 9,190 ha of this buffer zone area has been utilized by humans in various ways. Spatial- temporal data in 2003-2019 satellite image classification identified permanent building/housing units within the 1.6 km restricted zone, which has been increased in marginal villages. Mullikulam and Eluwankulam GN Divisions are the most critical and rapidly encroached areas in the forest village in the Wilpattu National Park. According to the GIS-based maps, cultivation, road construction, and residence are significant factors influencing the major ecosystems in the eastern part of the Wilpattu Park Boundary. Mahavilachchi and Nochchiyagama can be identified as the villages where elephants roam more and the areas where elephant-human conflict occurs regularly. Paddy and hay farming are primarily practiced in the areas close to the Wilpattu reserve zone. Additionally, coconut, banana, mango, and cashew crops are cultivated.
 
 Keywords: Wilpattu, Agriculture, Deforestation, Buffer zone, Human

A taxonomic review of Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae: Landrevinae).

The taxonomy of the crickets from the genus Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 is reviewed. Two species new to science are described here, one from Peninsular Malaysia (part of Malay Peninsula) and another from East Malaysia (part of Borneo): Odontogryllodes undatus Tan, Muhammad & Abdullah sp. nov. from Panti Forest Reserve and Odontogryllodes magnus Tan, Japir & Chung sp. nov. from Tenompok Forest Reserve, respectively. We also present an updated key to the species of Odontogryllodes. In total, nine species are currently known.

Wildlife harvesting from the Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna, Nigeria: The prosperity–posterity crossroad

This study examined the harvesting of wildlife from the Afaka Forest Reserve from the standpoint of economic benefits and sustainability. The data for this study were collected using questionnaire and interview in 2017 from eight communities around the Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling approach was adopted to collect data from 134 respondents who harvest wildlife from the Reserve. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, and Gini Index analysis. The findings revealed that wildlife incomes from animals like rabbits, porcupines, bats, and monitor lizards contributed 18.41% of total incomes of communities living around the Afaka Forest Reserve in Kaduna State in 2015. Sixty-one percent of the respondents harvested wildlife at least once in a week. Gross margin was highest in porcupine harvesting (N26, 872.73) while the highest return per Naira invested (N8.02) accrued to harvesting of insects. The average gross margin was N10, 610.86 while average return on investment was N2.35. Wildlife income had a reducing effect on income inequality as the marginal effect of wildlife income on Gini index of total income was -0.0883 meaning a 10% increase in wildlife incomes reduces inequality by about 0.9%. The study recommends that wildlife harvesting regulations which curb indiscriminate harvesting should be enforced alongside continuous sensitization of communities on the importance of sustainable harvesting practices towards a balanced prosperity-posterity equation.

The Dynamics of Stand Structure Development and Natural Regeneration of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Plitvice Lakes National Park

The authors investigate the structural characteristics, regeneration processes, growth, development, and survival of a young generation of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) based on three periodic measurements (1998, 2009, and 2018). The studied forest community (Lamio orvale-Fagetum sylvaticae (Ht. 1938) Bohridi 1963) is situated within a forest reserve in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. Monitoring was carried out according to UN/ECE (2000) for systematic and repeated research. The basic structural indicators, structural canopy elements, and appearance of the young generation were measured as the basic conditions of natural restoration in repeated phytocenological surveys (1980, 1988, 2004). The distribution of the number of trees of the first two measurements (1998–2009) indicates a distribution with pronounced right asymmetry. The structural dynamics observed during the surveys and alongside vegetation surveys indicate the dynamics of the growth and development of beech. The results show that the main drivers of development dynamics in protected forest ecosystems are structural breaks (gaps) that occur in stands due to the action of abiotic and biotic factors. The passive management model in effect in the national park should be replaced with a more active approach to facilitate natural processes with the aim of preserving and renewing the forest ecosystem.

Community resilience in Bondo community, Southern Malawi: balancing energy, water and biodiversity

Purpose This study aims to investigate the intricate relationships between a community energy system, water resources and biodiversity conservation, with a specific focus on augmenting community energy resilience in Bondo. The primary objective is to gain an in-depth understanding of how community members perceive and experience the challenges related to balancing the often-conflicting demands of energy, water and biodiversity conservation within this context. Design/methodology/approach The research uses a qualitative approach to unravel the multifaceted dynamics of community energy systems, water resources and biodiversity conservation in Bondo. Data were collected through focus groups and direct observations, enabling a nuanced exploration of community perspectives and lived experiences. The subsequent analysis of this qualitative data follows established thematic analysis procedures. Findings The study's findings shed light on the formidable barriers that impede rural communities in Malawi from accessing electricity effectively. Even in communities fortunate enough to have electricity connections, the lack of knowledge regarding productive electricity use results in community energy systems operating at significantly reduced load factors. Furthermore, the intricate challenge of managing a biodiversity hotspot persists, exacerbated by the densely populated peripheral communities' continued reliance on forest, land and water resources. These activities, in turn, contribute to ecosystem degradation. Originality/value In a context where government-led management of forest reserves and game reserves has not yielded the expected results due to a multitude of factors, there arises a compelling need for innovative approaches. One such innovation involves fostering partnerships between the government and experienced trusts as lead organisations, providing a fresh perspective on addressing the complex interplay between community energy systems, water resources and biodiversity conservation. This novel approach opens doors to explore alternative pathways for achieving the delicate balance between human energy needs and the preservation of vital ecosystems.

Site-specific additionality in aboveground carbon sequestration in set-aside forests in Flanders (northern Belgium)

IntroductionIn situ carbon sequestration in forests is important in the context of climate change mitigation, and setting aside managed forests has been proposed as an option for increased carbon sequestration. Comparing set-aside and managed forests may provide insights and rules of thumb on the potential for additional in situ carbon sequestration in set-aside forest.MethodsIn an observational study, we compared re-inventory data from the network of set-aside forest reserves in Flanders, which have been unmanaged for 17–66 years (2 surveys with a 10 years interval), with re-inventory data from the regional forest inventory, representing the overall forest area in Flanders (2 surveys with a 15 years interval).ResultsThe aboveground carbon pools and sequestration rates were higher in the set-aside forests compared to the average forest in Flanders. In the average Flemish forest, the aboveground carbon pool increased from 64.7 to 85.1 tC ha−1, over a period of 15 years. In the set-aside forests, the mean pool was higher at the first measurement and further increased from 84.8 to 102.4 tC ha−1, over a period of 10 years. The mean aboveground annual carbon sequestration rate was 1.3 tC ha−1 year−1 in the average forest in Flanders and 1.8 tC ha−1 year−1 in the set-aside forests. The stocks and fluxes depended on the soil conditions and were higher in set-aside forests on silt and sandy silt sites compared to wet and sand sites. The set-aside forests on dry sites showed additionality in in situ aboveground carbon sequestration. We saw no indication of approaching a culmination point in the first decades following set-aside: plots with high carbon pools did not show lower carbon sequestration. In conclusion, set-aside forests can combine high carbon pools with high sequestration rates on suitable sites. Under the current management policy, we expect Flemish forests—regular and set-aside—to further increase their carbon pools in the coming decades.

Determinants of forest law compliances among inhabitants of local communities surrounding tropical wildlife and forest reserve in Ghana

Globally, there has been a continuous increase in forest degradation despite the existence of forest laws, treaties, and international conventions. This situation calls for the need to identify factors associated with individual forest law compliance behaviour. In this study, utilitarian value, legitimacy of forest laws, social norms as well demographic factors as determinants of compliance with forest laws have been examined. The study was conducted among 252 participants in communities within the statutory catchment of the Owabi reserve which has in it a forest reserve, Ramsar site and reservoir. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25, AMOS Graphics and Stata 14 were used to perform descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and fractional regression analysis with the data collected for the study. The study found below average level of compliance with forest law as shown by a forest law compliance index (FCI) of less than 0.5. The findings also show a positive effect of social norms (β = 0.091, p = 0.03) and education (β = 0.092, p = 0.02) on forest law compliance whereas being indigene (residential status) negatively affect forest law compliance (β = −0.101, p = 0.016) at 5%. The findings led to the conclusion that promoting compliance with forest laws requires enhancing and strengthening positive social norms regarding community interaction with forests as well as education and awareness creation. We, therefore, recommend public education and awareness creation on forest laws by relevant forest management agencies and the adoption of lateral, collaborative and co-management approaches in forest law enforcement to benefit from the positive effect of social norms and education on forest law compliance.

Nature Forest Reserves in Tanzania and their importance for conservation.

Since 1997 Tanzania has undertaken a process to identify and declare a network of Nature Forest Reserves (NFRs) with high biodiversity values, from within its existing portfolio of national Forest Reserves, with 16 new NFRs declared since 2015. The current network of 22 gazetted NFRs covered 948,871 hectares in 2023. NFRs now cover a range of Tanzanian habitat types, including all main forest types-wet, seasonal, and dry-as well as wetlands and grasslands. NFRs contain at least 178 of Tanzania's 242 endemic vertebrate species, of which at least 50% are threatened with extinction, and 553 Tanzanian endemic plant taxa (species, subspecies, and varieties), of which at least 50% are threatened. NFRs also support 41 single-site endemic vertebrate species and 76 single-site endemic plant taxa. Time series analysis of management effectiveness tracking tool (METT) data shows that NFR management effectiveness is increasing, especially where donor funds have been available. Improved management and investment have resulted in measurable reductions of some critical threats in NFRs. Still, ongoing challenges remain to fully contain issues of illegal logging, charcoal production, firewood, pole-cutting, illegal hunting and snaring of birds and mammals, fire, wildlife trade, and the unpredictable impacts of climate change. Increased tourism, diversified revenue generation and investment schemes, involving communities in management, and stepping up control measures for remaining threats are all required to create a network of economically self-sustaining NFRs able to conserve critical biodiversity values.

Phytocoenology research on the populations of the species Centaurea Thirkei Sch.Bip. from the Republic of Moldova

For the first time, the phytocoenological study of the populations of the critically endangered species [Critically Endangered (CR)], included in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova, Centaurea thirkei Sch.Bip, was carried out from the Forest Reserve “Hîrtopul Moisei”. As a result of the phytocoenological research carried out in the reserve, out of the 13 geobotanical reliefs made, only 2 of them could be grouped at the association level (in Iridio variegatae-Quercetum pubescentis Pînzaru, Cantemir et Belous 2022), the others remain to be described at the level of phytocoenoses, not reaching the required number of descriptions to be grouped into associations. The population study included the estimation of population characteristics, such as: the population (number of individuals), their density, age composition, dimensional structure, etc. We propose expanding the area of the reservation by including plot no. 15 which contains natural sectors with Q. pubescens and small groups of Centaurea thirkei Sch.Bip.

Deforestation as a Site of Conflict and Differentiation: The Case of the Rohingya Refugee Influx in the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary

Deforestation as a Site of Conflict and Differentiation: The Case of the Rohingya Refugee Influx in the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring the movement, habitat use and mortality of captive‐bred reintroduced gharials in the Mahanadi River, India

Abstract Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are endemic to the Indian subcontinent and meet IUCN Red List criteria for critically endangered. The Mahanadi River, located in the southernmost part of the gharial range, currently has a few individuals survived although historically had many more. Between 2019 and 2021, the movement, habitat use and survival rate of 13 captive‐bred (juvenile = 6, subadult = 5, adult = 2) reintroduced gharials were monitored using very high frequency (VHF) radio transmitters tracked manually from the river banks. Kernel density estimates and generalized linear model (GLM) were used to investigate the home range and habitat use of individuals. Tagged gharials travelled throughout the river system, with the highest movement during summer and the least in winter. Females moved further and established larger linear home ranges than males. Kernel home ranges were established in and around the Satkosia Gorge wildlife sanctuary, which has favourable ecological conditions for gharials, namely, deep water, sandbars, abundant fish and low human disturbance. Gharial mortality was detected during the study, and post‐mortem examination indicated anthropogenic causes. The use of explosives for fishing, entanglement in fishing nets and a lack of ecological awareness within local communities were identified as key factors that need to be addressed if gharials are to survive the Mahanadi River.

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Deforestation in the Central Taraba State: A Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing Analysis

Deforestation, the widespread clearance of forests for various land uses, has become a significant global environmental issue with far-reaching consequences. Deforestation in the study area was identified, categorized, assessed, and interpreted using Landsat 5, 7, and 8 from the years 2008, 2014, and 2020, respectively. A geographic information system (GIS) database of land use and land cover categories and their changes were created. The results showed that several anthropogenic human activities, including agriculture and wood harvesting, were driving a general retreat of the forest area. The study further shows that between 2008 and 2020, forest area decreased by 8.5% with an annual rate of 0.33%, other vegetative areas increased by 2% with an annual rate of 0.077%, and non-vegetative areas increased by 1.5% with an annual rate of 0.58%. The hotspot map shows that the rate at which the reserve is deteriorating and the conversion of the forest area to other vegetation and bare ground are only a matter of time. The study recommended that the government should adopt rigorous policies to protect forest reserves from unauthorized habitation by encouraging the use of alternative firewood fuel sources to reduce the pressure on the forest.

Unravelling the dynamics: Large mammal occupancy modelling in a West African tropical forest

AbstractThis study investigates the response of large mammal populations to human‐induced modifications in the Omo‐Shasha‐Oluwa Forest Reserves landscape. The impact of habitat alterations on species diversity and distribution remains poorly understood in this region. Over four seasons from May 2017 to April 2019, 52 sites were surveyed, revealing the presence of 12 large mammal species across six families. Maxwell's duiker exhibited the highest overall occupancy (0.897 ± 0.062), while the Forest elephant had the lowest (0.115 ± 0.043). Forest buffalo experienced the greatest increase in site occupancy (0.290 ± 0.076 to 0.358 ± 0.098), whereas the Mona monkey saw the most significant decrease (0.713 to 0.651). The study employed single‐species, multi‐season occupancy modelling, predicting colonisation and extinction events solely for the civet (ϒ = 0.347 ± 0.154; ε = 0.041 ± 0.031) and Red river hog (ϒ = 0.158 ± 0.098; ε = 0.098 ± 0.059). The likelihood of Civet cat and Red river hog colonisation increased with distance from the nearest settlement. These findings enhance our understanding of habitat characteristics influencing large mammal distribution, offering valuable insights for the conservation of these species in forest landscapes.

Host plants and nymph morphology of an endemic treehopper, Pyrgonota bifoliata, in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, Luzon, Philippines

ABSTRACT Pyrgonota bifoliata (Insecta: Hemiptera: Membracidae) is a distinct endemic Philippine treehopper species complex distinguished by its extremely elevated and bifurcated pronotal structures. An earlier study suggested that P. bifoliata is a host specialist that feeds on Bridelia (Phyllanthaceae) in northern Luzon and Rubus (Rosaceae) in southern Mindanao. However, the host plant range across the geographical distribution of the P. bifoliata species complex is still poorly understood. In this study, field observations and DNA barcoding were performed to determine the host plant range of P. bifoliata in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve of Laguna Province on the island of Luzon. The morphology of the last-instar nymph of P. bifoliata was described to facilitate the identification of the species and its host plants. Behavioural interactions between P. bifoliata and its associated ants were also recorded. The results revealed that Piper umbellatum (Piperaceae) and Saurauia latibractea (Actinidiaceae) were the major host plants used by both nymphs and adults of P. bifoliata. The findings indicate that P. bifoliata in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve of central Luzon is a polyphagous host generalist that primarily utilises two distantly related plant species. The adults of P. bifoliata also occur on Alangium longiflorum (Cornaceae) and Ficus ulmifolia (Moraceae). The nymphs of P. bifoliata are gregarious in small groups and visited by three ant species (Crematogaster sp., Pheidole sp. and Technomyrmex sp.); however, the adults of P. bifoliata are solitary and are never observed with ants. Unlike other treehoppers that are subsocial, the females of P. bifoliata exhibited no maternal care behaviours, such as egg or nymph guarding.

Enhancing Oil Palm FFB Yields by Water Management: Sumber Tani Agung Resources’ Experiences

Oil palms (Elaeis guineensis) are generally able to grow economically on various soil types, especially across the regions of Malaysia and Indonesia. However, Fresh Fruit Bunche (FFB) production was lesser in flood-prone areas. In Sumber Tani Agung Resources (STAR), two estates namely (i) Seret Ayon (4289 ha) and (ii) Lembah Bawang (2511 ha) were facing problems of frequent flooding. Annual rainfall of these two estates would fall within 3500 mm - 4000 mm. Out of this, almost 30-40% of the total annual rainfall was recorded in the period of October-December. Furthermore, during the same period, high rainwater from the Forest Reserve of Bengkayang resulted from high water volume in the streams/rivers running across these estates. This caused high incidences of flooding. Therefore, a yield improvement program was embarked on to arise the existing height of riverbanks, literally speaking an ‘embankment or bund management’ on both banks of the river. A survey should be conducted first to demarcate areas that are prone to flooding incidences. Based on the survey results, areas that need improvement by ‘embankment’ would be identified and actions such as construction of flap-gates, building of embankments, and construction of drainage/reservoirs can be made. Outlet drains were desilted and thus, improved the water flow for smooth removal of excess water during the high pour and flooding seasons. FFB yields were satisfactorily increased from 11-14 mt/ha/yr during 2017-2018 to 25-33 mt/ha/yr in 2022. Besides improving FFB yields, palm growth also satisfactorily improved in frequently flooding areas, especially after three years of water management by embankment. In this paper, the commercial FFB yield of Seret Ayon Estate and Lembah Bawang Estate was collected and compared to those from before and after the implementation of efficient water management by embankment.