Impact Of Fences Research Articles

Geomorphing effect of sand fences in primary dunes of Gulf of Riga

Finding a the most appropriate solution for the problems caused by coastal eros ion is very important, as erosion prevention and habitat management measures must promote the restoration of the natural balance (order of things before anthropogenic disturbances) and restore the coastal status quo as much as possible [6; 2]. Dune fences are a very widespread erosion management tool on developed sandy coastal areas due to ease of installation, inexpensiveness, and generally positive public attitude [1]. Effectiveness and impact of fences have also been studied in many places around the world, however previous studies in Latvia have been very limited and episodic [16]. This article shows the observed dune and high beach area evolution of the coast in Riga, a somewhat developed coastal section on the top of the Gulf of Riga, Latvia, over a 4-year period from 2017 to 2020. Dune fences were installed along several short, but significantly disturbed sections of coast in 2018 and 2019. Implementation area is one of the busiest parts of the coast of Latvia dealing with the highest level of anthropogenic disturbance. Data has been derived from cross-shore transects (n=12) along the 17 km long coastal section between Daugava and Gauja river mouths. The findings generally indicate a very intense initial wind driven sand accumulation in the target areas compared to the background situation. It also seems that such a method may in the longer term be responsible for reduction of the primary dune height and beach width.

Migration and disturbance: impact of fencing and development on Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) spring movements in British Columbia

Due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, including land-use transformation globally, the natural process of animal migration is undergoing alterations across many taxa. Small-scale migrants provide useful systems at workable scales for investigating the influence of disturbance and landscape barriers on natural movement patterns and migrations. The Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus Holbrook, 1840) in British Columbia, Canada, is a small, migrant predator that undertakes seasonal spring movements from its communal hibernaculum to summer hunting and mating grounds and reverses its movements in autumn. From 2011 to 2016, we examined changes to spring migration movements in 27 male Western Rattlesnakes encountering both mitigative fencing barriers and disturbed habitats. Individuals moving through disturbed habitats or intercepted by mitigative fencing demonstrated shorter migration distances and reduced spring path sinuosity compared with individuals migrating in undisturbed habitats. Specifically, individuals encountering a fence during spring movements completed shorter total spring migration path lengths and occupied smaller home ranges over the course of the entire active season. Total spring migration distance also was strongly associated with the distance that individuals traveled until they first encountered human disturbance. This study contributes significantly to our knowledge of how fencing barriers may impact normal behavioural patterns in smaller vertebrates.

The Impact of Fencing on Regeneration, Tree Growth and Carbon Stock in Desa Forest, Tigray, Ethiopia

Dryland forests of Ethiopia are facing a rapid rate of deforestation and degradation. This affects the growth and survival of plant density, diversity, growth and carbon stock...

A fence runs through it: A call for greater attention to the influence of fences on wildlife and ecosystems

Fencing is a nearly ubiquitous infrastructure that influences landscapes across space and time, and the impact of fences on wildlife and ecosystems is of global concern. Yet the prevalence and commonness of fences has contributed to their “invisibility” and a lack of attention in research and conservation, resulting in a scarcity of empirical data regarding their effects. Stakeholders, including scientists, conservationists, resource managers, and private landholders, have limited understanding of how fences affect individual animals, populations, or ecosystem processes. Because fences are largely unmapped and undocumented, we do not know their full spatial extent, nor do we fully comprehend the interactions of fences with wild species, whether positive or negative. To better understand and manage fence effects on wildlife and ecosystems, we advocate for an expanded effort to examine all aspects of fence ecology: the empirical investigation of the interactions between fences, wildlife, ecosystems, and societal needs. We first illustrate the global prevalence of fencing, and outline fence function and common designs. Second, we review the pros and cons of fencing relative to wildlife conservation. Lastly, we identify knowledge gaps and suggest research needs in fence ecology. We hope to inspire fellow scientists and conservationists to “see” and study fences as a broad-scale infrastructure that has widespread influence. Once we better understand the influences and cumulative effects of fences, we can develop and implement practical solutions for sustaining wildlife and ecosystems in balance with social needs.

Impact of Fencing and Irrigation on Species Composition and Diversity of Desert Plant Communities in the United Arab Emirates

AbstractGrazing and water are among the most important factors influencing community structure and productivity in natural rangelands. Little is known about the independent effects of grazing and water and their interaction on plant community structure and productivity in rangelands of the arid Arab Gulf deserts. Paired sampling plots were used to compare plant species composition, diversity and plant abundances and sizes inside and outside 14‐month irrigated and 30‐month non‐irrigated exclosures constructed during dry years on sandy dunes of the arid Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The results showed that the negative impacts of high grazing pressures on plant productivity (plant sizes and abundances) and diversity were stronger in the non‐irrigated sites. Both irrigation (IR) and protection (PR) enhanced plant diversity and productivity of the overgrazed degraded Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The combined effects of PR and IR resulted in the occurrence of a total of 22 species inside the irrigated exclosures; however, none of them appeared in the irrigated grazed sites. Eighteen palatable species occurred inside, but not outside, the irrigated exclosures. Chamaephytes, which are more sensitive to human and animal disturbances, recovered more than other life forms under PR and IR. Dipterygium glaucum showed a great potential to be used for restoration projects under water IR in the Arab Gulf deserts. It is concluded that grazing and water independently affected plant diversity and productivity, but the relative role of grazing is more important than that of water in conserving desert plants, especially the palatable ones. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reptile bycatch in a pest-exclusion fence established for wildlife reintroductions

Conservation fences have been used as a tool to stop threatening processes from acting against endangered wildlife, yet little is known of the impacts of fences on non-target native species. In this study, we intensively monitored a pest-exclusion fence for 16 months to assess impacts on a reptile community in south-eastern Australia. We registered 1052 reptile records of six species along the fence. Encounters and mortality were greatest for eastern long-necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis), whereas impacts on lizards (Tiliqua rugosa, Tiliqua scincoides, Pogona barbata, Egernia cunninghami) and snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) were more moderate. We recorded several Chelodina longicollis recaptures at the fence and many of these were later found dead at the fence, indicating persistent attempts to navigate past the fence. We conservatively estimate that the fence resulted in the death of 3.3% and disrupted movements of 20.9% of the turtle population within the enclosure. Movement disruption and high mortality were also observed for turtles attempting to enter the nature reserve, effectively isolating the reserve population from others in the wider landscape. Of 98 turtle mortalities, the most common cause of death was overheating, followed by predation, vehicular collision, and entanglement. Turtle interactions were clustered in areas with more wetlands and less urban development, and temporally correlated with high rainfall and solar radiation, and low temperature. Thus, managers could focus at times and locations to mitigate impacts on turtles. We believe the impact of fences on non-target species is a widespread and unrecognized threat, and suggest that future and on-going conservation fencing projects consider risks to non-target native species, and where possible, apply mitigation strategies that maintain natural movement corridors and minimize mortality risk.

Higher stakes – the hidden risks of school security fences for children’s learning environments

In a move away from the open or low-fenced grounds that have traditionally been a feature of Australian school design, the last decade has seen a growth in the installation of high-security fences around schools. These structures, far from being passive and neutral, act to redefine the possibilities for movement and connectivity in the local landscape. This paper looks beyond the impact of fences on safety and security to explore the wider implications of these structures. By bringing together perspectives on children’s experience of independent mobility, belonging and attachment to place, the paper opens up new avenues for thinking about how children’s learning is shaped by the relationship between school, community and the boundaries between them. It provides a starting point for understanding how high-security boundaries can impact on children’s learning and why at times these structures may pose more risks than those they aim to address.

Communal area grazing strategies: institutions and traditional practices

Grazing strategies found in communal areas are a result of interactions between social, ecological and institutional factors. To understand the processes in operation, and help in improving management, the perceptions of communal people on institutional structures, utilisation patterns and possible intervention for improving their grazing lands were studied. A more comprehensive understanding of communal rangeland grazing strategies is important as the mere transplanting of large-scale commercial farming management strategies would be met with viability and acceptability constraints. In addition to participatory rural appraisals, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among a sample of 553 households in Amathole, Chris Hani and Ukhahlamba districts of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Although the need for fences and paddocks was highlighted as the best intervention to improve range management in communal areas, lack of strong local-level institutions, little or no knowledge of veld management, absence of rules and lack of seasonal restrictions on rangeland resource use are additional constraints that would minimise the impact of fencing. It is concluded that communal range management remains complex and there is a need to consider socioeconomic and ecological factors, as well as institutional factors, in any planned grazing management intervention. Strengthening of local-level institutions and helping in ways to effectively utilise stockposts and abandoned fields will improve the management of communal rangelands.

Impact of fencing on the recovery of the ground flora on heavily eroded slopes of a deciduous forest.

This paper seeks to outline early stages in the recovery of forest ground flora on eroded slopes impacted by recreation activities and to suggest how these data might be applied in the formulation of management policies for forest recreation areas. Based on a fencing experiment in the Sonian Forest near Brussels, we investigated whether, over a 6-year period, the vegetation was able to recover after having been destroyed by recreation use. Short-term trends in overall species composition were already observable during this 6-year study. Species recovery on eroded hills was related to slope, aspect, and soil type. During the considered time scale, the proportion of hemicryptophytes and the number of ancient forest species increased significantly. A downward trend was detected for Ellenberg's nitrogen and temperature indexes and for the proportion of therophytes and pioneer plants of disturbed places. Changes in species' frequencies suggest six recovery strategies: early, late, expanding, disappearing, transient, and fluctuating species. Aside from seedling reproduction from overstory influences, Luzula sylvatica appeared to be the most resilient of the species identified in the study since this species has the highest global frequency in our sampling plots and has increased its cover during the study period. Study results indicate that (1) protection from recreation has initiated the recovery of species in the herb layer, but (2) it may take a long time before vegetation previously present in the ground flora may recover in both density and species composition.