Forest Reserve Research Articles

Human- common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius)-conflict in the Dhidhessa Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding, Southwestern Ethiopia.

The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is one of the most endangered mega herbivore in Africa. Although the human-hippo conflict (HHC) is currently escalating due to habitat loss, little is known about the scope of the conflict and potential mitigation measures. From 2021 to 2022, the extent of HHC, the perception of local inhabitants towards the animal, and its impacts on the conservation of the hippo were assessed within and in the surrounding areas of Dhidhessa Wildlife Sanctuary, southwestern Ethiopia. A total of 227 households were used as a data sources, participating in the questionnaire survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Direct field observations were also used as key data source. Crop raiding and damage (63%, n = 143), was the most severely reported source of conflict, followed by direct human attack (22.9%, n = 52). Livestock predation and increased hippo mortality were also common types of HHC in the area. According to the study, the majority of respondents (74.4%, n = 169) agreed that the trend of conflict was increasing, while 16.7% (n = 38) argued that there was no change. Food scarcities in the buffer zone, as well as agricultural expansion in the area, have been identified as major drivers of HHC. The majority of respondents had a negative attitude toward hippo conservation; however, there were differences based on gender, age, and educational level. The major traditional hippo conflict mitigation strategies in the area include guarding, fencing, and trenching. Field observation revealed that a large extent of the former grazing and ranging areas of hippo in the area are heavily encroached and taken over by large private and public agricultural investments. Vacating and recovering at least the former buffer areas dedicated to the wildlife in the area and modern, non-lethal mitigation strategies are recommended for better conservation and safeguarding of the currently good-sized hippo population of the sanctuary.

Ethnomedicinal uses of potential medicinal plants in Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary of Odisha, India

Ethnomedicinal uses of potential medicinal plants in Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary of Odisha, India

Spider Diversity (Arachnida: Araneae) in Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary’s Different Ecosystems, Terai Region, Uttar Pradesh, India

Spiders are essential parts of all ecosystems in which they exist, and they’re recognized to be good markers of the diversity and health of terrestrial populations. However, the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary’s spiders are poorly documented, with hardly any information on their systematics, diversity, or ecology. The current study aims to look into the spider faunal richness in a few habitats in the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, India. The chosen environments yielded a total of 65 species, divided into 46 genera and 20 families. The maximum species richness was found at Razia Taal (Site C), while the lowest was found at Hathiakunda Naala (Site D). The spiders were divided into seven functional categories based on their guild structure: stalkers, orb-web builders, ambushers, space-web builders, ground runners, foliage runners, and sheet-web builders. Finally, the highest species richness is linked to the flora and fauna of these locations. The findings of this study provide useful and up-to-date information on the diversity of species found in the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, and the data may be used for future spider research.

Tourism on the roof of the world: Socio-ecological impacts of tourism on the Indian Trans-Himalaya

Tourism is a rapidly developing industry in ecologically sensitive remote areas, especially in developing countries. Although a lucrative livelihood alternative, it is often responsible for degrading the environment and stratifying the socio-economic setup, if not managed prudently. We assessed the impact of tourism on ecological integrity and local livelihood in wetlands of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS), Indian Trans-Himalaya. Change in behaviour of wetland birds was studied using flight initiation distance (FID) approach to understand the ecological sensitivity of CWLS. We evaluated livelihood contribution of tourism and attitude of local people towards tourism as a futuristic livelihood opportunity using questionnaire-based interviews and focus group discussions. Although traditional communities of CWLS see tourism as a livelihood opportunity; they are still sceptical about its effectiveness and indicated leakage of tourism benefits. People were also dubious about its impact on their socio-cultural and environmental structure. FID estimates have shown level of sensitivity among wetland birds towards presence of tourists. We recommend, site-specific FID based ‘minimum approach distances’ of most sensitive species for delineating buffers around wetlands to ensure no disturbance to waterbirds. Community managed nature-based tourism is suggested to maximise the tourism benefits to local people. Prototypical sustainable tourism activities should be endorsed in the region that can elicit advancement of local economy and efficacy of conservation efforts.

Studies on changes in NDVI at Painganga wildlife sanctuary with the help of remote sensing and gis analysis

Studies on changes in NDVI at Painganga wildlife sanctuary with the help of remote sensing and gis analysis

IUCN Conservation Status and Global Population Trends of Avifauna in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh

IUCN Conservation Status and Global Population Trends of Avifauna in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh

Algal and cyanobacterial species present in hot spring of Garampani wildlife Sanctuary, Karbi Anglong

Algal and cyanobacterial species present in hot spring of Garampani wildlife Sanctuary, Karbi Anglong

First sightings of mimic octopus Thaumoctopus mimicus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidia) from the Southwest Indian Ocean with photographic records from the Inhambane Province of southern Mozambique

Abstract Two separate sightings, two years apart, of the mimic octopus Thaumoctopus mimicus Norman & Hochberg, 2005 are reported from the Inhambane Province of southern Mozambique within the protected waters of the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary. Individuals were encountered in May 2020 and 2022 in shallow waters, at a depth of less than 30 cm. Both individuals were fully exposed moving along a sandy substrate at the water's edge in a tidal flat. These represent the first documented sightings of T. mimicus in Mozambique, confirming the occurrence of the species along the eastern coast of Africa and extending this species' known range west from the Arabian Sea and south from the Red Sea.

Species Diversity and Tree Seedling Dynamics in Moist Evergreen Rain Forest at Khlong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranong Province

Species Diversity and Tree Seedling Dynamics in Moist Evergreen Rain Forest at Khlong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranong Province

Nesting and Breeding Aspects of Terrestrial Avifauna of Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary (India) and its Vicinity

Nesting and Breeding Aspects of Terrestrial Avifauna of Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary (India) and its Vicinity

Effects of Social Capital on Forest Management Practices among Food Crop Farmers in Oyo State Forest Reserves, Nigeria

Forest management is essential to Nigeria’s economic and ecological development. Decline and desertification are results of the difficulties farmers faced. Social capital fortifies the cooperative approach to mitigating these associated problems. This study looked into how Oyo State food crop producers’ social capital affected their ability to manage their forests. In order to gather data, standardised questionnaires were used to choose 223 respondents using multistage random selection techniques. The objectives were examined using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Farm size, agricultural experience, distance from the farm, number of years spent in school, and use of extension services all affected the adoption of forest management practises (FMP). Gender, the heterogeneity index, the collective labour participation index, meeting attendance, and membership index density are all instruments that have a combined positive and substantial effect on FMP. FMP is favourably and strongly correlated with each of these variables. According to this study, an average respondent’s influence on farm management increases with the size of the association to which he belongs. In the meanwhile, it was discovered that the Decision Making Index and the Meeting Attendance Index, which have positive and negative relationships with farm management, respectively, were not statistically significant in explaining this influence on farm management.

Pediatric Respiratory Pathogens Circulate in Children and Adults in Communities Near Susceptible Wild Great Ape Populations in Uganda

Respiratory infections are a leading cause of death in developing countries. Infants and young children are especially susceptible to disease because they lack immunity, whereas adults who have acquired immunity can be infected asymptomatically. Great ape species, all of which are endangered, are similarly susceptible to respiratory illnesses caused by human respiratory pathogens. We obtained 432 nasopharyngeal swab samples (127 from adults and 305 from children) in a cross‐sectional study that took place between February and October 2022 at four sites in Western Uganda (Budongo Central Forest Reserve, Bulindi Town Council, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Kibale National Park) where the participants live in communities where interaction with apes is frequent. Prior research at Kibale has shown that locally circulating human respiratory pathogens have led to multiple lethal outbreaks in wild eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). We used a multiplex PCR panel to characterize respiratory pathogens, with the goal of assessing whether respiratory illnesses in the chimpanzees of Budongo and Bulindi and the mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) of Bwindi might have originated in local children and been introduced to the apes via asymptomatic adult carriers. The prevalence of respiratory pathogens was twice as high in Bwindi (44.0%) as it was in Budongo (24.0%) and Bulindi (20.8%), while the prevalence was intermediate at Kibale (34.4%). Rates of respiratory pathogen detection were higher but statistically indistinguishable in children compared to adults at Budongo and Bulindi, and children were 15.0 times more likely than adults to have positive detections at Kibale. At Bwindi, however, the pattern was reversed, with adults 2.6 times more likely than children to have positive detections. Rhinovirus, metapneumovirus, human parainfluenza virus 3, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronavirus OC43, all of which have been identified as causative agents of respiratory disease outbreaks in great ape populations across sub‐Saharan Africa, accounted for three quarters (73.6%) of detected pathogens. Our data support the idea that human respiratory pathogens that can infect great apes occur at high frequencies in human populations in Western Uganda that live close to and interact with wild apes that have suffered from lethal outbreaks caused by these same pathogens. Reducing respiratory infections in local children, thereby reducing both carriage of those infections into the forest by people and ape exposure to these pathogens when they enter human spaces, should decrease the risk of respiratory disease outbreaks in apes.

Biodiversity Assessment of Avifauna in the Forest Reservation of Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), Philippines

Biodiversity Assessment of Avifauna in the Forest Reservation of Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), Philippines

Mangrove Dynamics Evaluation at Matang Mangrove Forest Reserved by Multi-temporal Satellite Imageries

Mangrove ecosystems support a wide range of terrestrial and marine organisms by offering sustenance, reproductive habitats, and nurturing environments. The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR), spanning over 40,000 ha, poses challenges in effectively managing and evaluating the entire area. Hence, remote sensing techniques are employed to effectively monitor and map the temporal fluctuations of land use and land cover occurring within mangrove forest areas. In this study, dynamics over nine (9) years (2011to 2020) of the mangrove ecosystem were evaluated using RapidEye 2011 and Landsat 8 (OLI) 2020 satellite imageries. Change detection was implemented using pixel-by-pixel modelling analysis. The present study revealed the conversion of mangrove area to waterbody at 4625.1 ha (16.7%), dryland forest at 1886.1 ha (6.8%), and oil palm plantations at 186.9 ha (0.7%). The area conversion was attributed to erosion, logging operations, the establishment of aquaculture facilities, and agricultural practices. Hence,the acquisition of data pertaining to the present condition of mangrove forest species, as well as the temporal fluctuations in the study area, holds significant importance for all stakeholders involved in the preservation of this ecosystem.

Use of Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (Pelis) in the Rehabilitation of Nyamweru Forest Reserve, Kiambu County, Kenya.

PELIS is a program globally known as the Taungya system, which involves the allocation of parcels of land to forest-adjacent communities to grow tree seedlings as well as carry out cultivation of crops during the early stages of tree seedlings growth until they form canopies, with the aim of increasing forest cover. The program has been successful in some countries, but it has failed in other countries, especially developing countries. This study investigated the impeding factors to the realization of the PELIS program, using a case study of the Nyamweru forest reserve in Kiambu County, Lari sub-county, Kenya. Descriptive research design was employed, with a sample size of 40 respondents. About 80% of the results showed an apparent weakness of the institutions mandated in the governance of the forest to effectively manage PELIS program. The study concluded that all the challenges experienced under the PELIS program can be linked to poor forest governance practices. The study recommended, that an integrated watershed resource management, adoption of a bottom-up approach in order to achieve participatory forest management in all aspects of the PELIS program, and development of a platform for awareness creation, such training and use of current technologies, to strengthen and enhance social capital in PELIS program Management in order to, rejuvenate and achieve the constitutional recommended 10% of forest cover in Kenya.

Birds’ Diversity in Kalfou Forest Reserve and Its Peripheral Zone, Far North, Cameroon

Birds’ Diversity in Kalfou Forest Reserve and Its Peripheral Zone, Far North, Cameroon

Community Engagement in Protected Area Conservation and Livelihood Outcomes in the Dja Forest Reserve, Cameroon

For several decades, perspectives on community engagement in protected area conservation has gained traction in scientific and policy circles especially in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet, qualitative analysis of the livelihood outcomes of community engagement around pristine protected areas account for only a very negligible part of the literature. To bridge this qualitative knowledge gap, this paper using the Dja Landscape to (i) explore the dimensions of community engagement, mirrored through the interventions of community based organisations , and 2)analyses the pattern of change in livelihood capitals for 4 communities in the Dja landscape. Data was generated through focus group discussion FGD (n=5) and interviews (n=32). The directed content analysis revealed the following:

Contraurbanização na floresta periurbana de Guadalajara, México

Abstract Forests and farms are often replaced by counter-urbanization, in which people move from urban to rural areas, causing the progressive growth of rural areas beyond cities. This article delves into the counterurbanization process in the peri-urban forest of Guadalajara, Mexico known as “Bosque La Primavera'' (BLP), discussing three key elements: (1) the absence of a forest buffer zone, (2) the shift from agricultural to industrial and tertiary activities, and (3) green tourism and neo-ruralism moving to the countryside. A mixed methodological approach based on the Theory of Change (ToC) was used. Data was collected from an organization implementing a forest conservation program in 2020 and 2021. Twelve interviews were conducted with brigade members and academics. From the counterurbanization perspective, this study illustrates how unregulated urbanization, land use changes, and green tourism have all contributed to the progressive degradation of forest reserves in the BLP. Due to the growing links between urban and rural areas, rural economies in peri-urban forests are gradually being replaced by industrial and tertiary practices, whereas tourist amenities require new services that alter rural living patterns.

The relationship between the abundance of non-native tree species and the community structure of resident woody species in tropical montane forest of West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Non-native tree species are globally claimed as liable to the encroachment of natural forests in their proximity resulting to the loss of biodiversity. This study was conducted in Magamba Nature Forest Reserve (MNFR) in West Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. A total of 96 (20 m x 20 m) plots were established to record all woody plants with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm while two nested plots of 2 m x 5 m were set to measure any plant with DBH ≥ 1 cm but less than 5 cm. Furthermore, two nested plots of 1 m x 1 m were established within the bigger plot in order to assess and record seedlings (DBH < 1 cm). Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were used to assess the relationship between total abundance, species diversity, richness, evenness, and biomass of resident species and the abundance of Acacia melanoxylon and Eucalyptus grandis. Findings show a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of abundance of all resident woody species, adults, saplings and seedlings with an increase in the abundance of A. melanoxylon. The study also showed that the species richness and diversity of all resident species decreased with increasing the abundance of non-native species (p < 0.05). The abundance of E. grandis did not show significant (p > 0.05) association when assessed against the total abundance, species diversity, richness and evenness of all the resident woody species. This non-significant result may not necessarily mean no effect. This is because the P-value does not explain the size of the effect in biological data. Further analysis revealed that, the biomass of resident species was negatively related to the abundance of non-native species A. melanoxylon (p = 0.003) and E. grandis (p = 0.038). The negative relationship between the abundance, richness, diversity, evenness, and biomass of the resident woody species and the abundance of non-native species portrayed in this study raise an alarm. Therefore, there is need for setting monitoring and control mechanism to stop further spread of the non-native tree species in MNFR and hence, save the remaining biodiversity of the area.

Causes, Impacts and Mitigation Measures of Human Large Mammal Conflict in Estie Densa Forest Reserve, Estie District, Northern Ethiopia

Causes, Impacts and Mitigation Measures of Human Large Mammal Conflict in Estie Densa Forest Reserve, Estie District, Northern Ethiopia