scholarly journals Effect of Human Disturbances on Mahungu Green Belt Forest Reserve (MGFR) in Dodoma City, Central Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Canisius John Kayombo ◽  
Chrispinus D. K. Rubanza ◽  
Richard A Giliba
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Conservation Education ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Forest Patch ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Green Belt ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Alternative Sources

Human disturbances are the human activities, whether legally or illegally conducted in an ecosystem as they may lead to removal or death of plants. The study was piloted at Mahungu Green Belt Forest Reserve (MGFR) in 2015 to examine the effect of human disturbances. Systematic random sampling was applied. A total of 36 plots of 50 m x 50 m were established in the seven transects at an interval of 400 m.  Ongoing human activities were identified and recorded. GPS was applied to locate plots, aligning transects and recording coordinates. The compass was used to direct the transect. 100 m tape was used to measure the plots. Inferential statistics was applied whereby human activities frequency and relative frequency were calculated. The identified and recorded most frequently occurred human activities were firewood collection, charcoal making, grazing and trespass routes. MGFR is potential in terms of biological diversity; it is recommended that; introduction ecotourism as and environmentally friendly projects; determination of all plant species of MGFR; education campaigns by Dodoma Universities; encourage woodlot development at household level; awareness creation; provision of environmental conservation education; enhance non-woody income-generating projects; discourage settlement expansion into the remaining forest patch; funds should be made available throughout to ensure regular patrols by field security guides, and enhance alternative sources of energy to the local people

scholarly journals Mammals of medium and large size in Santa Rita do Sapucaí, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

Check List ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Aires Eduardo ◽  
Marcelo Passamani
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Leopardus Pardalis ◽  
Large Size ◽  
The World ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Callithrix Aurita

The diversity of Brazilian vertebrates is regarded among the highest in the world. However, the biological diversity is still mostly unknown and a good part of it is seriously threatened by human activities. This study aimed to inventory the medium and large size mammals present in the Reserva Biológica de Santa Rita do Sapucaí, an Atlantic forest reserve located in Santa Rita do Sapucaí, southeastern Brazil. Sand-plots, photographic traps and searches for animal tracks on pre-existent trails in the area, were carried out once every two months between May 2006 and February 2007. The sand-plots and tracks were inspected during five consecutive days per sampling. We obtained 108 records of 15 species, mostly of carnivorans. Two confirmed species are threatened with extinction in Brazil (Callithrix aurita and Leopardus pardalis). The results suggest that the sampled reserve has high species richness and plays an important role in conservation of mammals in this landscape, including species threatened with extinction.

Illegal rattan extraction trends in the Ankasa Conservation Area in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
R. Obour, D. Amankwaa, A. Asare
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
The North ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products

Protected Areas (PAs) are created for the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, but many of Ghana’s PAs are subjectto severe pressures and threats, the main pressures being the illegal extraction of natural resources. Rattans are indisputablyone of the most important Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Ghana’s Protected Areas that is without doubt one of thereasons for which it has drawn the attention of researchers. In this study the illegal rattan extraction patterns in the AnkasaConservation Area (ACA) in Ghana was inspected. Simple random sampling and Snowball sampling techniques were used. Datacollection employed the use of semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and field enumeration of rattans as well as an analysisof Effective Patrol Man-days (EPMDS) from 2004 to 2012. The results showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.75, p<0.05, r2 = 0.557) between patrol effort and rattan extraction encounters. In addition, there was a general reduction in illegalrattan extraction encounters from 2004 to 2012 at a rate of 4.3 per year. The highest illegal rattan extraction incidences wererecorded in 2006 (76 encounters), 2005 (35 encounters), 2008 (22 encounters), 2004 (18 encounters) and the least incidencewere recorded in both 2010 (3 encounters) and 2011 (3 encounters).The research also revealed that Eremospatha macrocarpawas the most extracted rattan species followed by Laccosperma secundiflorum. The major rattan extraction and trade routesoriginate in the northern parts and in the area east of the reserve and also south of Draw River Forest Reserve. Generally, rattanpoaching in Ankasa Conservation Area has declined, but there are still human incursions in the northern part of the reserve. Thestudy recommended an intensification of patrols in the north of the reserve. Also, enrichment planting and Agroforestry practicesof inter-cropping rattans with seasonal crops should be pursued vigorously for the local communities.

Adapting environmental conservation legislation for an enlarged European Union: experience from the Habitats Directive

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
DOUGLAS EVANS ◽  
ANDRÁS DEMETER ◽  
PETER GAJDOŠ ◽  
ĽUBOŠ HALADA
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Scientific Support ◽  
Union Experience ◽  
Biodiversity Governance ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Initial Base

SUMMARYThe European Union's (EU's) Habitats Directive includes annexes listing the habitats and species requiring protection. As new countries join the EU these lists need to be amended to remain pertinent. In 2004 and 2007, 12 countries, mostly in central Europe, joined the EU and were asked to propose native species or habitats that required protection; this formed an initial base for negotiations with the European Commission in consultation with the existing member states and with scientific support from the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity. The 12 countries made 831 proposals, resulting in the addition of 191 species and 33 habitats, and geographical exemptions for eight species. Although the Directive provided definitions, these needed to be supplemented with additional criteria to permit assessments of the proposals. The process involved many actors at both European and national level. This illustrates the development of biodiversity governance and provides potential lessons for future activities, including the need for scientific guidance and the importance of involving all relevant actors.

scholarly journals Cultural Practices and Environment along the Bishnumati River in Kathmandu

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Shobha Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
River Stretch ◽  
Environmentally Sensitive ◽  
The City

The Bishnumati River is one of the major sources of water in Kathmandu city for domestic and agricultural uses. But the quality of the river environment has been degraded seriously since the last few years. This paper is an attempt to explore environmental condition along the Bishnumati River with specific focus on human activities, perception and institutional efforts in dealing with the river environment. Based on field observation, household survey, and key informant survey in eight segments along the river stretch from the city periphery to down town, the information acquired indicate that human activities related to environmentally sensitive phenomena were very much dominant in degrading the river environment. The local inhabitants were aware of the river environmental conservation. The local public agencies were however not seriousness in implementing the waste management activities, but instead they practiced environmentally sensitive activities at the riverbanks. Efforts at both local community and public agencies levels are most warranted to protect the Bishnumati river environment from further degradation. The Geographical Journal of Nepal, Vol. 7, 2009: 53-60

scholarly journals Fish associated with aquatic macrophytes in the Chacororé-Sinhá Mariana Lake system and Mutum River, Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
EB. Pacheco ◽  
CJ. Da-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Eichhornia Crassipes ◽  
Aquatic Macrophytes ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Aquatic Macrophyte ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Left Bank ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Analysis Of Similarity ◽  
Eichhornia Azurea ◽  
Macrophyte Species

On the left bank of the Cuibá River, one of the main tributaries of the Pantanal in Mato Grosso, are located the Chacororé and Sinhá Mariana Lakes and the Mutum River, the littoral regions of which are covered with aquatic macrophytes, dominated by the species Eichhornia crassipes and Eichhornia azurea. To examine the ichthyofauna associated with this vegetation, in the year 2003, 3510 fish were collected, distributed among 83 species, and the limnological variables verified near the macrophyte stands where they were sampled. The most abundant and richest order was the Characiformes, followed by the Gymnotiformes and Siluriformes. Analysis of similarity showed a very low, or null, index that the limnological conditions and morphology of the aquatic macrophyte species provide habitat sufficiently homogeneous to give. The limnological conditions and morphology of the aquatic macrophyte species provide a sufficient habitat heterogeneity to give very low, or null, index values. Thus, environmental conservation measures should be more effective in promoting the conservation of the species, given the high levels of biological diversity found in the habitats studied.

scholarly journals Economic valuation of plant diversity storage service provided by Brazilian rupestrian grassland ecosystems

2013 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
FM. Resende ◽  
GW. Fernandes ◽  
MS. Coelho
Keyword(s):  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Serra Do Cipó ◽  
Grassland Ecosystems ◽  
Storage Service ◽  
Belo Horizonte

The rupestrian grassland ecosystems provide various goods and services to society and support a significant amount of biological diversity. Notably the rich plant diversity has high levels of endemism and a variety of uses among the local communities and general society. Despite the socio-ecological importance of these ecosystems, they are subjected to significant anthropogenic pressures. The goal of this study is to perform economic valuation of the plant diversity storage service provided by rupestrian grassland ecosystems to provide grounds for the development of conservation policies and encourage sustainable practices in these ecosystems. Given the intense human disturbances and unique flora, the Serra do Cipó (southern portion of the Espinhaço Range in southeast Brazil) was selected for the study. We estimate the monetary value related to the plant diversity storage service provided by the study area using the maintenance costs of native plants in the living collections of the botanical garden managed by the Zoobotanical Foundation - Belo Horizonte (located 97 km from Serra do Cipó). The plant diversity storage value provided by Serra do Cipó ecosystems is significant, reaching US$25.26 million year–1. This study contributes to the development of perspectives related to the conservation of rupestrian grassland ecosystems as well as others threatened tropical ecosystems with high biodiversity

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