Conservation Of Natural Resources Research Articles

Evaluation of Land Use Land Cover Changes in Nan Province, Thailand, Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data and Google Earth Engine

Land use and land cover (LULC) conversion has become a chronic problem in Nan province. The primary factors of changes are lacking arable land, agricultural practices, and agriculture expansion. This study evaluated the usefulness of multi-sensor Landsat-5 (LS5), Landsat-8 (LS8), Sentinel-1 (S1), and Sentinel-2 (S2) satellite data for monitoring changes in LULC in Nan province, Thailand during a 30-year period (1990-2019), using a random forest (RF) model and the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Information of established land management policies was also used to describe the LULC changes. The median composite of the input variables selection from multi-sensor data were used to generate datasets. A total of 36 datasets showed the overall accuracy (OA) ranged from 51.70% to 96.95%. Sentinel-2 satellite images combined with the Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI) and topographic variables provided the highest OA (96.95%). Combination of optical (i.e., S2 and LS8) and S1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data expressed better classification accuracy than individual S1 data. Forest cover decreased continuously during five consecutive periods. Coverage of maize and Pará rubber trees rapidly expanded in 2010-2014. These changes indicate an adverse consequence of the established economic development promoted by industrial and export agriculture. The findings strongly support the use of the RF technique, GEE platform and multi-sensor satellite data to enhance LULC classification accuracy in mountainous area. This study recommended that certain informative and science-based evidence will encourage local policymakers to identify priority areas for land management and natural resource conservation.

Certified forest management and conservation of medium and large-sized mammals: biodiversity, trampling, browsing and seed removal in the Argentine Austral Yungas

Timber extraction is one of the most widespread human activities in forested environments, and subsequent environmental degradation and impacts on wildlife have been extensively studied. Reduced impact logging under certification standards could help reconcile forest production with biodiversity conservation. However, whether this is a convenient strategy for the conservation of the medium and large-sized mammal assemblage of the Argentine Austral Yungas remains unknown. Here, we compared species richness, diversity and composition, sign frequency and species identity of medium and large mammals considering body mass and trophic guilds, as well as three mammal-plant interactions (seedling trampling, plant browsing and fruit removal) between an area under logging certification and a similar unlogged area (control). Our results indicate that, 3–4 years after logging stopped, 16 of the 32 variables analyzed showed no changes between the logged area and the control (species composition, richness and 2 diversity indices, frequency of herbivores and omnivores, frequency of 7 species, browsing rate in the 2 lowest strata and trampling rate). In the logged area, we found a higher frequency of medium-sized mammals and 5 mammals species, a higher browsing rate in the upper stratum and a higher fruit removal rate. However, we also found a lower frequency of carnivores, large mammals, and of six mammal species. Although in our study we found certain species-specific differences, with a predominance of generalist species and certain reduced biological interactions in the logged compared to the unlogged area, we propose that forest intervention under responsible management may help to conserve a significant proportion of medium and large-sized mammal diversity of the Argentine Austral Yungas. Effective forest management, which balances the conservation of natural resources with sustainable use, is a crucial solution to preserving biodiversity. Both environmental and governmental organizations should prioritize and support this approach as a way to mitigate deforestation and promote responsible use of our forests.

Information Technology Governance Audit Using COBIT 5 Framework in the Natural Resources Conservation Office

One of the organizations that requires the implementation of good information technology governance is the natural resources conservation office. The audit was conducted to determine the level of IT process capability based on the COBIT 5 standard and to determine the level of gaps (gaps) owned by the natural resources conservation office. The process of implementing the audit begins with observing the agency's environment related to activity data and its implementation, then mapping the data with business objectives according to COBIT 5, followed by mapping business objectives with IT objectives to obtain IT processes. The IT processes obtained are then selected to obtain important IT processes according to company officials. The TI process obtained is then processed using the Guttman method. The results of the IT process capability level, namely EDM01, EDM02 and APO09, are at level 3 (established). The gaps found need to be given a corrective strategy to achieve the capability expected by the institution, namely 4 (predictable process) by providing recommendations regarding steps to achieve the expected capability value. The recommendations and improvements provided use ISO/IEC 15504:2 and ISO27002 standards which were obtained by mapping IT processes on COBIT 5.

Improving sustainable practices in tuna purse seine fish aggregating device (FAD) fisheries worldwide through continued collaboration with fishers

More than a decade of bottom-up collaborative workshops and research with fishers from the principal tropical tuna purse seine fleets to reduce ecological impacts associated with the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) has yielded novel improved sustainable fishing practices in all oceans. This integrative effort is founded on participatory knowledge-exchange workshops organized by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), referred to as “ISSF Skippers Workshops”, where scientists, fishers, and key stakeholders examine and develop together ways and tools to minimize fishery impacts. Workshops organized since 2010 have reached fleet members in 23 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, with over 4,000 attendances, mostly skippers and crew, operating in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. Structured and continued open transparent discussions on ocean-specific options to minimize FAD associated bycatch, ghost fishing and marine pollution have produced an array of novel co-constructed solutions and a better understanding of ecosystem and fishery dynamics. Dedicated at sea research cruises in commercial purse seiners have enabled testing some of the ideas proposed in workshops. Results obtained were then communicated back to fishers for a double loop learning system resulting in solution refinement and/or adoption. Furthermore, fishers’ increased trust and stewardship have stimulated unprecedented large-scale science-industry research projects across oceans, such as multi-fleet biodegradable FAD trials, the adoption and widespread use of non-entangling FADs, and the development and adoption of best practices for the safe handling and release of vulnerable bycatch. This model of collaborative research is broadly applicable to other natural resource conservation fields. Support for long-term inclusive programs enabling harvesters to proactively collaborate in impact mitigation research contributes to improved scientific advice, voluntary compliance, and adaptive management for lasting sustainability trajectories.

Legal Protection of Biological Resources and Its Ecosystems in Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the implementation of the conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their ecosystems in Indonesia and what are the inhibiting and supporting factors in the implementation of Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their ecosystems in Indonesia. Biological natural resources are one of the most important elements in an ecosystem. The elements of living natural resources and their ecosystems are interdependent with each other, so their use also affects each other causing damage and the extinction of one of them will result in the disruption of the ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to have conservation as the management of living natural resources that is carried out regularly. The research uses a normative juridical approach (socio-legal research) as the basis for describing ideas. The result of this research is that efforts to use it sustainably in conservation are often forgotten. In addition, conservation within the framework of decentralization has led to disharmony in relations between the central government, provincial governments, and district/city governments. As a result, the welfare of the community around the area or within the conservation area is decreasing. Efforts that should be made in the context of overcoming law enforcement on the conservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems in Indonesia cannot be carried out only with penal (criminal) policies but must be carried out through integral efforts between penal and non-penal policies (without criminal). Crimes or criminal acts occur because of social conditions that are conducive factors for the occurrence of crime, therefore non-penal measures that can be taken are eliminating conducive factors that cause criminal acts in the field of conservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems.

Knowing but not doing: Quantifying the research-implementation gap in conservation paleobiology

Conservation paleobiology aims to provide a longer-term perspective on environmental problems to inform decisions about natural resource conservation. As such, conservation paleobiology research falls short when geohistorical data and insights do not inform conservation practice, contributing to the well-known idea that a “gap” exists between the production and use of science in the environmental realm. Our study quantified the extent of this research-implementation (or knowing-doing) gap through a systematic literature review and survey questionnaire. We determined whether empirical studies in conservation paleobiology with a link to conservation, management, or restoration documented the use of geohistorical data to implement some form of action or if there was a specific mention of how the geohistorical data could be used in theory. Results indicate that “applied” conservation paleobiology has a poor record of translating research into action. Tangible conservation impacts were evident in only 10.8% of studies. Over half of these studies included coauthors affiliated with a conservation organization. Among the studies coded as having a theoretical application, 25.2% specified how the geohistorical data could be implemented to enhance conservation, management, or restoration actions. All studies documenting action used geohistorical data from the geologically recent past where the species and habitats are familiar to those found today. Drawing insights from the bright spots we identified, we offer some practical suggestions to narrow the gap between knowing and doing in conservation paleobiology.

A literature review of climate-smart landscapes as a tool in soil-water management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Worldwide, information is needed about the social landscape management as there is no known studies that have documented how climate-smart landscape approaches improve soil and water status. In Sub-Saharan Africa, effective social landscape governance necessitates a certain amount of social capital, including trust and agreed-upon standards. Climate-smart landscapes are key to successful soil and water management but little effort have been made to critically improve effective soil and water resources. The study was guided by the specific objectives, which include examining equitable climate-smart landscapes and finding out the major challenges facing the implementation of climate-smart landscapes. Using "landscape governance" AND "climate smart landscape," 31 papers (31) were obtained from the Web of Science (WOS) and twenty-nine (27) from the Scopus databases using search engines from (1992-2022). On equitable climate-smart landscapes, it was found that multi-stakeholder participation in landscape management is an iterative and changing process that can assist in addressing and resolving disputes as well as facilitating fair negotiation procedures for underrepresented and minority groups. Proper planning and the implementation of a comprehensive planning framework that links various planning activities and decision-making processes are required for landscape approaches to be successful. The major challenges included policies and institutions, financial difficulties in the conservation of natural resources, and socio-economic issues. The novelty from this study is to inform policy makers on climate-smart landscape approaches to ease soil and water management.

The geography of giving: Nonprofit philanthropy, public parks and land conservation in the United States

AbstractFaced with budget cutbacks, state and local governments struggle to adequately fund public parks and support land conservation. “Support nonprofits” are charitable organizations soliciting voluntary contributions of money, property, and service to protect parks and natural systems (Gazley, 2015). From 2000 to 2015, the number of support nonprofits increased by 188% and total nonprofit revenue increased by 263%, outpacing growth in public charities nationwide (NCCS). The rapid growth in support nonprofits prompts key questions about access and equity: Which communities benefit from support nonprofits? Do support nonprofits advocate for public land conservation? Using a novel national dataset pairing large nonprofits with the counties they serve, the article has three key findings: (1) counties in metropolitan areas with well‐educated, liberal residents are more likely to have a support nonprofit fundraising for public land, and (2) there is no correlation between public funding for parks and support nonprofit presence. In addition to philanthropy, (3) counties with support nonprofits are more likely to pass ballot initiatives funding public land conservation. It is imperative that policy‐makers and conservation advocates consider how nonprofit philanthropy maps on to—and augments—existing inequality in access to parks and natural resource conservation.

Conservation and Sustenance of Natural Resources; Creating Awareness through Social Media amongst Rural Population in Greater Noida

Earth is the only planet that supports life with abundant natural resources. However, industrial explosion in the past few decades have led to depletion of many natural resources. The dependency of life is majorly supported by fresh water, which is the most important natural resource. In today's world of fast depleting resources, there is a need to discover methods and awareness programmes to support conservation and sustenance of natural resources. This study emphasizes on awareness amongst rural population that accounts to 136.64 crores as per the census survey of 2019; rural population is 68.84% which is not a negligible number. Owing to the size of the rural population, it is imperative to create awareness about the environmental aspects and remedies so they can learn and further it as a legacy to coming generations. Social media plays a very vital role in everyday life and can be used as an important tool to spread awareness with great efficiency. This research aims to find out the level of awareness regarding “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” among rural people through social media. In this study, researcher will explore the dependency of social media, attain knowledge, and resolve issues. This study will emphasize on the water cleanliness issue highlighting prominent campaign of “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” through social medium tools (WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, MoJo, MaxTakatak, and YouTube) to get comprehensive results. In this study, four villages will be covered, and one hundred rural people will be the target audience. Finally, researcher concludes that social medium tools can create effective role in awareness of environmental issues that can encourage rural people to understand critical environment situations and strategically handle with care for the safe environment. As a result, better awareness programmes can be developed for the rural population through social media.

Moisture Damage Characterization of Rubber-Modified Asphalt Mixture Containing Waste Steel Slag under Multiple Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Recycling waste materials has become popular in the pavement industry because of its potential for significant environmental benefits, conservation of natural resources, and sustainability. This study investigated the feasibility of simultaneously recycling waste steel slag and tire rubber in bituminous pavements and analyze the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures made of these solid wastes. The physical and chemical characteristics of the aggregates and the adhesive behavior of the aggregate–bitumen system were explored to determine their impact on moisture sensitivity. Accordingly, two different methods, freeze–thaw splitting test and fracture energy tests, were employed to assess the moisture stability of mixes in a multiple freeze–thaw environment. The microstructure of the interface between the aggregate and bitumen was investigated, and the long-term moisture damage process of the mixes was clarified and verified. The results indicate that the natural hyperalkalinity and porous structure of the steel slag have a favorable effect on the adhesion performance. Cohesive failure was found to be the primary mode of failure of loose asphalt mixtures in a multiple freeze–thaw environment. We tentatively propose that the adhesion energy loss is a secondary failure mode of the loose asphalt mixtures. The addition of 100% steel slag and asphalt rubber had the greatest impact on improving the long-term moisture resistance of the asphalt mixtures. The present work is beneficial for the practical application of waste tire rubber and steel slag in highway engineering.

Nelsonia goldmani(Rodentia: Cricetidae)

AbstractNelsonia goldmani Merriam, 1903 is a cricetid rodent commonly called Goldman’s diminutive woodrat. It is a woodrat of medium size with grayish dorsal pelage; the characteristic long tail is covered with long hairs and ends with a black tip. Nelsonia goldmani is one of two species in the genus Nelsonia. It is endemic to the central-west highlands of Mexico, recorded in a few localities of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt at elevations from 2,000 to 3,100 m. It inhabits areas near rocky ravines, cliffs, and hillsides with coniferous, pine–oak, and cloud forests. Nelsonia goldmani is listed as “Endangered” (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources due to its fragmented distribution and the decrease in the quality and extent of its habitat.

Effectiveness of Public–Private Efforts to Conserve Tricolored Blackbird Colonies on Agricultural Lands in the San Joaquin Valley, California

Since the early 1990s when much of the population of the Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) began nesting in fields of triticale grown for dairy silage in the San Joaquin Valley, many colonies have been destroyed inadvertently during harvest. After previous inconsistent efforts, in 2015 a Regional Conservation Partnership Program brought the dairy industry, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Audubon California, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other partners together in an effort to stem the losses. The program located colonies and compensated farmers for crop value lost when the harvest was delayed until after the blackbirds fledged and encouraged creation of alternative nesting habitat to attract nesting birds away from agricultural fields. Before 2015, data on the numbers of colonies in silage fields, and on the blackbirds’ productivity conserved and lost, are complete only for 2005–2009, when only 43% of colonies encompassing 60% of the monitored nestings avoided destruction. From 2015 to 2022, 93% of colonies representing 96% of nesting attempts were conserved, and the number of birds nesting in silage increased by as much as 100,000. The program’s success resulted from the adequacy of federal funding, protection provided by the species’ listing as endangered by the state of California, and effective communications and cooperation among the partners and within the dairy industry. Protection of colonies in silage fields since 2015 likely contributed to the substantial increase in the numbers of birds nesting in this habitat and perhaps to an increase in California’s Tricolored Blackbird population as a whole. Continued effort is needed to achieve the species’ recovery.

An Improved Curve-Number Method

The standard curve-number method has shown limited accuracy in estimating observed rainfall-runoff relations, particularly for less extreme rainfall events. Consequently, the Natural Resources Conservation Service is considering revising the standard initial abstraction ratio and associated published curve numbers to improve the performance of the method. A form of the curve-number equation is presented here that improves the prediction accuracy of the curve-number method without the need to adjust the initial abstraction ratio or the existing guideline curve numbers, and the improved runoff estimation is at least as good as could be achieved by adjusting the initial abstraction ratio. The improved curve-number equation can also be used to analytically estimate curve numbers corresponding to any given initial abstraction ratio, and it is demonstrated that these estimates are supported by field measurements.

Pemanfaatan Air Hutan Oleh Desa Penyangga di Taman Nasional Bali Barat

Water is one of the most important elements in human life. Water resources are the most valuable gift from God Almighty because they provide benefits in realizing prosperity for the entire community. No one can deny that water is a basic need for all life, whether human, animal or plant, which cannot be replaced by other substances. So it must receive special attention because it involves not only human life but also other creatures, especially if we are talking within the scope of natural resource conservation, which in this case is a National Park. All parties involved in the management of the National Park as a conservation area must have a systematic effort in managing the area which is carried out by planning, protecting, monitoring, controlling, and utilizing which is carried out without destroying the landscape and changing the function of the area. management and utilization of existing water resources in the national park area, especially those used by buffer villages. The results obtained are the problem of using zones that are not in accordance with the established zoning and to overcome this, it is necessary to change the zoning from the core zone to the utilization zone so that the utilization of ground water in the core zone can be utilized as well as possible.

The existence of black macaque (Macaca nigra) population in Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi of Indonesia: The valuable economical investment of the endemic fauna in the forest environmental sustainability

The existence survey of the black macaque (Macaca nigra) population was conducted at the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park (BNWNP), Bolaang Mongondow, and North Sulawesi of Indonesia from December 2021 to November 2022. The survey using line transect by ‘Complete Count’ method was used to determine population size. The direct observations and questionnaire surveys of the local people were applied to identify the potential threats to the macaque existence. The population comprised 183 individuals from four multimale-multifemale groups and fourteen solitary individuals. The group density was 1.22 groups/km2, and the group size ranged from 34 to 55 individuals (mean of 42.25 ± 9.53). The mean ratio of adults to non-adults were 1:1.35, and the adult male to female ratio was 1:0.96. Macaca nigra was observed to forage and sleep inside range forest adjacent to the limited production forest. The survival of the macaque was threatened by the habitat loss, fragmentation, illegal logging and illegal mining. Other local human activities in opening forest for clove plantation were identified as potential stressors. Therefore, it should be recommended strictly to implement the existing management plan by the Directorate General of Natural Resources Conservation of the Republic of Indonesia. The monitoring and strengthening the capacity of forest departmental staffs should be focused to conserve the endemic fauna including M. nigra and flora vegetation of the animals’ habitats as the valuable economical investment in the forest environmental sustainability of the BNWNP.

PENANAMAN BIBIT POHON SEBAGAI BENTUK KEPEDULIAN TERHADAP LINGKUNGAN DI TWA (TAMAN WISATA ALAM) PANTAI PANJANG BENGKULU

One of the steps taken to increase a sense of concern for the environment is to plant tree seeds. The planting was carried out at the Long Beach Bengkulu Nature Park (TWA). The choice of location was based on the condition of the area which was damaged by human activity, including the amount of scattered garbage and the surrounding area which was barren due to community activities which of course had a negative impact on the surrounding environment. The activity which was carried out on October 15 2022 involved the STIA Bengkulu Academic Community and the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (KSDA) by planting Agathis, Durian, Rambutan and Mahogany tree species, which in total totaled 200 tree seeds. The responsibility for the maintenance of this plant is a shared responsibility between MAPALA agra Buana STIA Bengkulu and the Bengkulu KSDA Center. This activity is expected to increase the awareness of the people of Bengkulu City on the importance of protecting and preserving forests, especially in the Nature Tourism Park area.

Implementation of Turtle Conservation Policy in the Nipah Essential Ecosystem Area for the Sustainability of Aquatic Resources and Environment

Aquatic resources are one of the natural resources that can be renewed, but if their use is carried out excessively without paying attention to sustainability, it will have a bad impact on the aquatic resources themselves. This study discusses policies related to sea turtle conservation activities, the purpose of this study is to find out the policies that have been made related to sea turtle conservation and its implementation in the field, this is done to realize the sustainability of resources and the aquatic environment. This study was conducted in the Nipah Essential Ecosystem Area (KEE), Malaka Village, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The existence of this ecosystem area can directly or indirectly help in natural resource conservation activities in the Nipah coastal environment. One of the policies that have been implemented to preserve turtle habitat is by conserving sea turtle habitat, and educational activities on the importance of sea turtles for natural resources and the aquatic environment. Conservation activities carried out in the Nipah Essential Ecosystem Area (KEE) have an implementation score of 100% meaning that policies related to sea turtle conservation in the Nipah Essential Ecosystem Area have been implemented properly, this happens because of the cooperation of various parties between local communities, the TCC (Turtle Conservation Community) community, local governments, and the central government. With a high implementation score, sea turtle habitats will be better preserved, and natural resources and aquatic environments will become sustainable.

New indicators of ecological resilience and invasion resistance to support prioritization and management in the sagebrush biome, United States

Ecosystem transformations to altered or novel ecological states are accelerating across the globe. Indicators of ecological resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion can aid in assessing risks and prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration. The sagebrush biome encompasses parts of 11 western states and is experiencing rapid transformations due to human population growth, invasive species, altered disturbance regimes, and climate change. We built on prior use of static soil moisture and temperature regimes to develop new, ecologically relevant and climate responsive indicators of both resilience and resistance. Our new indicators were based on climate and soil water availability variables derived from process-based ecohydrological models that allow predictions of future conditions. We asked: (1) Which variables best indicate resilience and resistance? (2) What are the relationships among the indicator variables and resilience and resistance categories? (3) How do patterns of resilience and resistance vary across the area? We assembled a large database (n = 24,045) of vegetation sample plots from regional monitoring programs and derived multiple climate and soil water availability variables for each plot from ecohydrological simulations. We used USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service National Soils Survey Information, Ecological Site Descriptions, and expert knowledge to develop and assign ecological types and resilience and resistance categories to each plot. We used random forest models to derive a set of 19 climate and water availability variables that best predicted resilience and resistance categories. Our models had relatively high multiclass accuracy (80% for resilience; 75% for resistance). Top indicator variables for both resilience and resistance included mean temperature, coldest month temperature, climatic water deficit, and summer and driest month precipitation. Variable relationships and patterns differed among ecoregions but reflected environmental gradients; low resilience and resistance were indicated by warm and dry conditions with high climatic water deficits, and moderately high to high resilience and resistance were characterized by cooler and moister conditions with low climatic water deficits. The new, ecologically-relevant indicators provide information on the vulnerability of resources and likely success of management actions, and can be used to develop new approaches and tools for prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration actions.

The Species Richness-Environment Relationship for Cherries (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) across the Northern Hemisphere

Understanding large-scale patterns of biodiversity and their drivers remains significant in biogeography. Cherries species (Prunus subgenus Cerasus, Rosaceae) are economically and ecologically important in ecosystems and human agricultural activities. However, the mechanisms underlying the patterns of the species richness–environment relationship in Cerasus remain poorly understood. We collected and filtered worldwide specimen data to map the species richness of Cerasus at the global scale. The map of Cerasus species richness was created using 21,043 reliable recorded specimens. The center of Cerasus diversity was determined using spatial cluster analysis. Stepwise regression analysis was carried out using five groups of 21 environmental variables and an integrated model was included to assess the impact of the overall environment. We calibrated each of the four integrated models and used them to predict the global Cerasus species richness and that of the other continents. Our results revealed that Cerasus species have two centers of diversity (the southwest of China and Honshu Island in Japan) with differing environmental variables influencing the distribution patterns of these two centers. In the southwest of China, hygrothermal conditions are the main driving factor while in Japan, habitat heterogeneity is the main driving factor. The relationship between the abundance of Cerasus and the various groups of factors generally supports both the productivity and the habitat heterogeneity hypotheses. However, these hypotheses do not fully explain the Cerasus species richness pattern, indicating that other factors such as historical environment, topography, and human activities likely played a role in pattern formation. The high level of habitat heterogeneity and better hygrothermal conditions may have played an important role in the establishment of its globally consistent richness–climate relationship. Our results can provide valuable information for the classification and conservation of Cerasus natural resources as well as contribute to furthering our understanding of biogeography at a global scale.

Quali-Quantitative Fingerprinting of the Fruit Extract of Uapaca bojeri Bail. (Euphorbiaceae) and Its Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antihyperglycemic Effects: An Example of Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Madagascar.

Antioxidants are important supplements for the human body for their roles in human life for the maintenance of homeostasis. Tapia fruits (Uapaca bojeri) are used by the riverain population of the Tapia forests in Madagascar as complementary foods. This study aims to quantify the main antioxidants in the U. bojeri fruits to verify their contribution to the enhancement of their anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic effects. Standard phytochemical screening was used for qualitative analysis, while spectrophotometric (TPC, TAC, and TFC) and chromatographic analyses (HPLC) were used to quantify several phytochemicals in U. bojeri fruits. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays. The writhing test was used for the analgesic effects, the carrageenan-induced paw edema was used for the anti-inflammatory activity, and OGTT was used to test the anti-hyperglycemia property of the MEUB in mice. Several phytocompounds were detected and quantified in the fruits, including succinic acid (67.73%) as the main quantified compound. Fruits exerted a good antioxidant capacity and showed analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic activities in mice. Isolation of the bioactive compounds should be carried out to confirm these pharmacological properties and develop health-promoting food products or medicinal applications derived from this species.