We compared the dead wood (DW) conditions of Chesh- meh-sar forest and Sardab forest with different management history, including reserve forest and harvested forest. The First forest took 100% inventory from all th...We compared the dead wood (DW) conditions of Chesh- meh-sar forest and Sardab forest with different management history, including reserve forest and harvested forest. The First forest took 100% inventory from all the available DW. Also dead trees were compared in terms of species, shape, location and quality of fracture in both forests. Volumes of dead wood in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forests were 207.47 and 142.74 m3, respectively. Due to this significant difference, impact on the management level was determined. In Cheshmeh-sar forest, 42% of dead trees were standing and 58% were fallen type while in Sardab forest 38.6% were standing and 61.4% fallen. But the difference was not statis- tically significant l^etween them (p = 0.0587). In terms of quality, dead trees of hard, soft and hollow had the highest frequency, respectively. However, 71.5% of DW was seen as hard dead in Cheshmeh-sar forest while hard dead trees in Sardab forests were 54.2%. Soft quality degree of dead trees which formed in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forest were calcu- lated as 26.6% and 43.4% respectively. Also 30% of the dead trees of Sardab forest were eradicated while in Cheshmeh-sar this amount was reduced to 12%. Due to this significant difference ((P=0/018), it is concluded that the type of management and human interference are affecting the quality of dead trees and makes us to think the human in- terferences could effect on the ecosystem of touched forests.展开更多
Dependency on forest resources poses a threat to the environment in Patharghata, Bangladesh. Therefore, this study explores the role of forest resource in the life and livelihood of coastal people as well as to unders...Dependency on forest resources poses a threat to the environment in Patharghata, Bangladesh. Therefore, this study explores the role of forest resource in the life and livelihood of coastal people as well as to understand the effectiveness of forest and status of forest dependency in and around south-central coast in Patharghata, Bangladesh. We collected data randomly from 105 household heads through both open and close-ended questionnaire. To investigate the forest dependency and people’s perception regarding alternative solutions, Microsoft excel software program has been applied. The findings reveal that usage of fuelwood in cooking, housing structure, fish catching, honey & fodder collection significantly contributes to household dependency on forest resources, while other variables seem to be insignificant. Our study amplifies that the share of forest income to the total household income was only 19% while other earning sources provide</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">d</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 81% income. The result shows that respondent people collect forest resources primarily for cooking purpose with a share of 71% where 9% forest resources are collected as fodder followed by 8% forest resource collection as food and sheltering purposes. Moreover, the study found that using alternative cooking system, artificial instruments, declaring the forest as tourist spot, changes in housing structure, occupation are some effective options to reduce forest dependency. The study concludes that these alternative options need more financial and other support from the government, non-government and other civil society organizations to cut down forest resource dependency.展开更多
Tropical peat comprises decomposed dead plant material and acts like a sponge to absorb water,making it fully saturated.However,drought periods dry it readily and increases its vulnerability to fire.Peat fires emit gr...Tropical peat comprises decomposed dead plant material and acts like a sponge to absorb water,making it fully saturated.However,drought periods dry it readily and increases its vulnerability to fire.Peat fires emit greenhouse gases and particles contributing to haze,and prevention by constructing fire-break canals to reduce fire spread into forest reserves is crucial.This paper aims to determine peat physical and chemical properties near a fire-break canal at different fire frequency areas.Peat sampling was conducted at two forest reserves in Malaysia which represent low fire frequency and high fire frequency areas.The results show that peat properties were not affected by the construction of a fire-break canal,however lignin and cellulose content increased significantly from the distance of the canal in both areas.The study concluded that fire frequency did not significantly influence peat properties except for porosity.The higher fibre content in the high frequency area did not influence moisture content nor the ability to regain moisture.Thus,fire frequency might contribute differently to changes in physical and chemical properties,hence management efforts to construct fire-break canals and restoration efforts should protect peatlands from further degradation.These findings will benefit future management and planning for forest reserves.展开更多
Subri River Forest Reserve(SR)is the most extensive forest area in Ghana with an accompanying rich floral species.Over the years,logging from both legally prescribed and illegal operations remain the predominant fores...Subri River Forest Reserve(SR)is the most extensive forest area in Ghana with an accompanying rich floral species.Over the years,logging from both legally prescribed and illegal operations remain the predominant forest disturbance in SR.Gap creation following logging is crucial in determining tree species composition and diversity.Hence,the study evaluated the composition and diversity of naturally regenerated tree species in logging gaps of different sizes and,again examined the roles of these tree species in fulfilling the economic and ecological agenda of sustainable forest management after logging in SR.Twelve gaps were randomly selected:4 each were grouped into small size(≤200 m^(2)),medium size(201–300 m^(2)),and large size(≥300 m^(2)).Data were gathered from 1 m^(2) circular area at gap centres and repeatedly inside 1 m width strip along 20 m individual N-S-E-W transects.Species diversity differed significantly between gap sizes.Higher diversity indices were measured in large size gaps.Gap sizes shared similar species.There were significant differences among various height groupings of tree species across all three gap sizes.Pioneers preferred medium to large size gaps,while shadetolerant tree species preferred small size gaps for their abundance.Vulnerable and Lower Risk Near Threatened tree species under Conservation Status and,Premium and Commercial tree species under Utilisation Status preferred small size gaps for their proliferation and conservation.Therefore,we recommend the single tree-based selective logging for ensuring creations of small to medium size(200–300 m^(2))gaps through adjustments to the logging permit process,revision of Allocation Quota Permit,strict adherence to the 40-year polycyclic selection system,along with more dedicated enforcement and monitoring.Changes along these protocols would tremendously facilitate natural regeneration of different suites of timber species resulting in the improvement of the overall biodiversity conservation associated with the forest,more sustainable forest harvests and more income to those who receive permits.展开更多
Assessment of regional forest carbon stocks and underlying controls is critical for guiding forest management in the context of carbon sequestration. We investigated the variations in tree biomass carbon stocks relati...Assessment of regional forest carbon stocks and underlying controls is critical for guiding forest management in the context of carbon sequestration. We investigated the variations in tree biomass carbon stocks relating to forest types, and estimated the total tree biomass carbon stocks and projected gains through natural stand development by 2020 and 2050 in the Daqing Mountain Nature Reserve based on Category II data of the Forest Inventory of Inner Mongolia for the period ending 2008. Over a total area of 388,577 ha,this nature reserve currently stores an estimated 2221 Gg C in tree aboveground biomass alone, with potential to grow by more than 30 % to reach 2938 Gg C by 2020 and nearly double to 4092 Gg C by 2050 through natural development of the existing forest stands. The tree biomass carbon density and potential gain in tree biomass carbon stocks vary markedly among forest types and with stand development.The variations in the potential change of tree biomass carbon density for the periods 2008–2020 and 2008–2050 among forest types partly reflect the varying relationships of tree biomass carbon density with stand age for different tree species, and partly are attributable to variations in the stand age structure among different forest types. Of the major forest types, the ranking of projected changes in tree biomass carbon density are not consistent with variations in the relationship between tree biomass carbon density and stand age, neither are they explainable by variations in stand age structures, implying the interactive effect between forest type and stand dynamics on temporal changes in tree biomass carbon density. Birch rank highest for future biomass carbon sequestration because of its dominance in cover area and better age structure for potential gain in tree biomass carbon stocks. Poplar and larch were out-performers compared to other forest types given their greater contribution to total tree biomass carbon stocks relative to their distributional areas. Findings in this study illustrate that protection and proper management of under-aged forests can deliver marked gains in biomass carbon sequestration. This is of great importance to policy-makers as well as to scientific communities in seeking effective solutions for adaptive forest management and mitigation of anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions using forest ecosystems.展开更多
The paper investigated the forest fringe community’s participation in forest reserve sustainability in Ghana using Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana as a case study. The key issues examined are the forest reserve managemen...The paper investigated the forest fringe community’s participation in forest reserve sustainability in Ghana using Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana as a case study. The key issues examined are the forest reserve management strategies, stakeholder’s participation and livelihood activities of forest fringe communities. Two stage sampling technique was used to sample forty-two respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire in an interview form was used to solicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicate that there is a management plan for the forest reserve but Forest Services Division (FSD) does not follow its prescriptions strictly, the involvement of Forest Fringe Communities (FFCs) by FSD in the management of the forest reserve was insignificant and evidence of FSD not establishing income generating activity for FFCs livelihood sustenance. It is therefore recommended that community members should be empowered to play the role of co-managers of the forest reserve and there should be regular visit and interaction between FSD and the FFCs.展开更多
Remote sensing (RS) and GIS are important methods for land use assessment and land cover transition. In this study, land use/land cover changes in the Ago-Owu Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria have been assessed. La...Remote sensing (RS) and GIS are important methods for land use assessment and land cover transition. In this study, land use/land cover changes in the Ago-Owu Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria have been assessed. Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI were acquired for 1986, 2002 and 2017 respectively. The three scenes corresponded to path 190 and row 055 of WRS-2 (Worldwide Reference System). The processing of the imagery was preceded by the clipping of the study area from the satellite image. The boundary of the reserve was carefully digitized and used to clip the imagery to produce an image map of the forest reserve. Using the supervised image classification procedure, training sites were used to produce land use/land cover maps. The same classification scheme was used for the 1986, 2002 and 2017 images to facilitate the detection of change. The differences in the area covered by the different polygons between the three sets of images were measured in km2. The results show that during 1986 and 2017, there is a dramatic increase of build-up areas with a change of 55.65 km2 and sparse vegetation (farmland and grassland) with a change of 53.97 km2, while a dramatic decrease of dense vegetation (forest areas) with a change of 109.61 km2. The consequence of these results is that over the years, the population of people living in the forest reserve has increased and many of them are engaged in farming, leading to an increase in farmland. In addition, logging activities continued unabated in the forest reserve, as demonstrated by a sharp increase in the deforested area within the reserve. The maps produced in this study will serve as a planning tool for the Osun State Forestry Department to plan reforestation activities for the forest reserve.展开更多
In recent years, debates on the alarming rate of forest depletion emanating from growth in urban settlement and changed urban land-use patterns have gained prominence across the globe. The present study adopts a deman...In recent years, debates on the alarming rate of forest depletion emanating from growth in urban settlement and changed urban land-use patterns have gained prominence across the globe. The present study adopts a demandside management approach to investigate household’s willingness-to-pay for the restoration and maintenance of protected forest reserves in three municipalities in Ghana. Using survey data of 733 households from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, we model the demand for forest restoration and maintenance, respectively, by means of the contingent valuation technique. As part of the findings, the study shows evidence that a household is willing to pay Gh¢50.99($8.67) and Gh¢31.12($5.29) per annum to restore and maintain the protected forests,respectively. These amounts constitute less than one percent of the average household income per month.Consequently, critical validity tests are conducted to validate the robustness of the results. This study provides willingness-to-pay estimates for forest and forest resources, and its associated determinants. These estimates seek to bridge the information gap and inform policy decisions toward the overarching aim of ensuring sustainable forest management in Ghana.展开更多
This study aims to estimate the tree diversity status of Rashad Forest Reserves in the Rashad locality of the South Kordofan State of Sudan. For data collection, eight sample plots (20 × 20</span><b> ...This study aims to estimate the tree diversity status of Rashad Forest Reserves in the Rashad locality of the South Kordofan State of Sudan. For data collection, eight sample plots (20 × 20</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">m) were taken randomly, and parameters were determined: </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">trees</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> species diversity, composition, relative density, dominance, important value index, and species richness in the Rashad forest reserve. The results show that a total of 237 and 56 tree species, including 22 families, have been identified in the study area. Fabaceae family and species numbers have the highest number of 13 species in 8 genera, followed by Combretaceae with 8 species belonging to 3 different genera, Malvaceae with 5 species belonging to 4 different genera, Apocynaceae with 3 species belonging to 3 different genera. The Arecaceae, Burseraceae, Capparaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, and Rubiaceae families each had two species, and all the other 11 families had one species each. Among the 56 different tree species found within the reserve. The results also indicated that </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Tamarindus indica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ziziphus </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">spina</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">christi</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (L.) Desf. had the highest relative density and dominance of 4.64% and 11% respectively. </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Adansonia digitata</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Grewia </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">villosa</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Willd, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Vepris </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nobilis</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (Delile) Mziray had density and dominance of 4.80% and 9%.</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Followed by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Anogeissus </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">leiocarpa</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (DC.) Guill. & Perr, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Adansonia digitata</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Catunaregam </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nilotica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (Stapf) Tirveng. (Syn: </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Xeromphis </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nilotica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (Stapf) Keay, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Vangueria madagascariensis</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> J. F. Gmel. with 3.38% and 8%, respectively.</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Eleven species recorded the least relative dominance of 0.42%.</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) value stood at 3.82. And as diversity indices varied with location depending on the species available within an ecological zone, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Rashad</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> forest reserve is blessed with a moderate diversity index.展开更多
The study was carried out in Wawa-Zange Forest Reserve. The aim was to investigate the Herbaceous Species Composition and Diversity. Point Centered Quarter (PCQ) Sampling method was used to conduct the study. Data obt...The study was carried out in Wawa-Zange Forest Reserve. The aim was to investigate the Herbaceous Species Composition and Diversity. Point Centered Quarter (PCQ) Sampling method was used to conduct the study. Data obtained was analyzed for Frequency, Relative Frequency, Density, Relative Density and Importance Value Index. The result obtained showed a total number of twenty<span style="font-family:;" "="">.</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> Herbaceous Plant Species. Out of this number 17 were Forbs and 3 were Grasses. They belonged to 9 families and 19 genera. The family Fabaceae (Subfamily Caesalpinoideae, Papilionoideae and Mimosoideae) had 5 species, and Malvaceae had 5 species while Poaceae had 3 species, Rubiaceae had 2 species. Euphorbiaceae, Linderniaceae, Acanthaceae, Commelinaceae and Arecaceae had 1 species each. Simpson’s index of diversity (1 - D) was (0.60) while Shannon-Wiener index was (2.21).</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">The species with the highest importance value index was <i>Urena</i> <i>lobata</i> L</span><span style="font-family:;" "="">.</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> (65.47%) and the species with lowest importance value index were <i>Palisota</i> <i>hirsuta</i>, <i>Cassia</i> <i>rotundifolia</i>, <i>Amorphophallus</i> <i>abyssinicus</i>, and <i>Corchorus</i> <i>olitorius</i> with (2.93%).</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">These plants therefore require urgent conservation measures.</span>展开更多
Forest fire has received considerable attention in literature because it is considered one of the most common factors causing disturbances in ecosystems and at the same time considered vital in maintaining ecosystems....Forest fire has received considerable attention in literature because it is considered one of the most common factors causing disturbances in ecosystems and at the same time considered vital in maintaining ecosystems.Firewise Approach(FWA)has been proposed and used for controlling forest fire and achieving sustainable forest management.The approach requires involvement of communities in managing forest fire incidences in reserved forests.Despite considerable period since FWA has been practiced,there is insufficient scholarly knowledge on effectiveness of the approach in managing forest fire.This paper examines the effectiveness of FWA in managing forest fires in Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve(UNFR).The study employed cross-section research design that involved quantitative and qualitative data collection.The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS)software and content analysis.The study found alternating periods:the period of overall decrease of wildfire incidences within initial five years of practising the approach.The study concludes that the FWA is useful in reducing forest fire incidences during early period of practising the approach and another period of huge fire occurrence beyond five years.However,the FWA has challenges of sustaining successes in controlling forest fires including limited fire management training to common community.The study recommends sustaining communities’trainings on forest fire management.展开更多
Forests that are close to growing urban centres have been subject to constant deforestation and degradation from various factors. This study assesses the drivers of land cover dynamics in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest r...Forests that are close to growing urban centres have been subject to constant deforestation and degradation from various factors. This study assesses the drivers of land cover dynamics in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves in the context of urban and peri-urban expansion of Dar es Salaam for the past three decades. The study adopted review of relevant literature and household survey from three settlements surrounding the forest reserves. One hundred and fifty (150) households were collected from Buyuni, Chanika and Masaki in Ilala and Kisarawe and administered with semi-structured questionnaire to collect information on migration, use of forest products by communities and perception on climate change and variability. SPSS computer program was used to analyse the questionnaire data while tables and graphs were adopted for presentation of the results. Rural-urban and internal urban migration in Dar es Salaam was identified as one of the primary drivers of land cover dynamics in peri-urban areas and adjoining environments. The migration was intensified by push drivers which include urban growth, market of land and reliance on forest product among community members as source of their livelihoods. The increased rainfall variability accompanied with high temperature has contributed to frequent droughts which compromises rainfed agriculture. Thus, the successful conservation of the forest will require strengthened enforcement of protection measures supported with introduction of alternative livelihood strategies for majority of poor community members.展开更多
This study was carried out in the forest reserve of Mbalmayo, Center Region of Cameroon, with the aim to analyze the dynamics of land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the past 30 years. The databases used were made ...This study was carried out in the forest reserve of Mbalmayo, Center Region of Cameroon, with the aim to analyze the dynamics of land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the past 30 years. The databases used were made up of 3 Landsat satellite images (5TM of 1990, 7ETM+ of 2005 and 8OLI of 2020). The satellite images were processed using ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine software. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted to investigate the relationships between the local population and the forest reserve. The Mbalmayo forest reserve is consisted of seven main land cover namely: mature secondary forest, young secondary forest, savanna, fallows and crops, built, bare soil and water surface. The dynamics of the forest cover undergoes more significant changes between the years 1990-2005 with losses estimate at 4762 ha compared to the years 2005-2020 (2231 ha), with a marked decrease in the area of dense forests. This regression is much more important in dense forest vegetation. The forest cover lost 6993 ha (26.92%) of its surface, which corresponds to an average rate of deforestation of 233.1 ha/year. The survey revealed the need for NTFPs for the Mbalmayo reserve forest populations. Indeed, all respondents agreed that they use non-timber forest products from the forest, mainly for medication (37%), wood (34%) and food (24%). Therefore, it becomes urgent to redefine a management plan for the Mbalmayo forest reserve which will define how the forest must be managed in order to avoid the loss of large areas of forests disappearing each year under the human action, which exerts pressure on forest species, thus leading to their possible disappearance.展开更多
Objective-To investigate forest cover change in Masese Local Forest Reserve and its effects on the livelihoods of the dependent communities;to establish the occurrence of forest cover change in Masese Local Forest Res...Objective-To investigate forest cover change in Masese Local Forest Reserve and its effects on the livelihoods of the dependent communities;to establish the occurrence of forest cover change in Masese Local Forest Reserve;to determine the extent of forest cover change in Masese from 1990to 2005;to determine the tree species that have been affected by forest cover change in Masese; and to assess the effects of forest cover change on the livelihoods of the dependent communities. Methods-Interviews and questionnaire were conducted with a proportion of 36households from Maondo and 84households from Mulimambango settlements.Scenes of landsat images of 1990,2000, 2005and Earth Google image for Masese were used for map analysis.Also remote sensing was used to analyze landsat images and Google image to detect forest and non-forest classes.Results and Conclusion-Forest cover change has adverse implication on the provision of wood forest products and nonwood forest products to the dependent local communities.The declining status of dominant Baikiaea Forest that has exploitable species for building materials and fuel wood has affected the livelihoods of the dependent local communities.There is also increased cost and shortage of fire wood and building materials due to deforestation in Masese Forest Reserve.展开更多
Savanna woodlands in Sudan host great biodiversity, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. Although the importance of the Acacia trees in th...Savanna woodlands in Sudan host great biodiversity, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. Although the importance of the Acacia trees in these areas is well known, up-to-date information about these woodlands' diversity is limited and changes in their woody vegetation composition, density, diversity and relative frequency are not monitored over time. This study explored tree diversity and stand stage structure in Nuara Reserved Forest, a typical savanna woodland ecosystem in southeastern Sudan. A total of 638 circular sample plots(1000 m^2 for each) were established using a systematic sampling grid method. The distance between plots was 200 m. In each plot, all living trees with diameter at breast height(DBH) ≥5.00 cm were identified and counted, and their DBH values were recorded. From these data, tree composition, diversity, density and stage structure were assessed. There were 12,259 individual trees representing four species(Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia Senegal and Acacia mellifera) that belong to two families. The dominant species was Acacia seyal. Average tree density was 191 trees/hm^2 and the Shannon-Weiner index for trees diversity was 0.204. Overall, young trees comprised 86.30% of the forest. The state of tree richness and density in the study area was low compared to other similar environments in the region and around the world. We recommended adoption of a proper management system that includes monitoring of woody vegetation diversity in this forest, and management actions to enhance tree diversity and sustain ecosystem services to local communities. In addition to care for the dominant Acacia seyal stands, more attention and conservation should be devoted to reestablishing Acacia senegal and Acacia mellifera trees because of their high ecological and economic values for local communities.展开更多
Introduction:Human dependence on forests is a multifaceted phenomenon.The degree of reliance on forests varies geographically,overtime and across communities.These dynamics underpin the importance of understanding the...Introduction:Human dependence on forests is a multifaceted phenomenon.The degree of reliance on forests varies geographically,overtime and across communities.These dynamics underpin the importance of understanding the determinants of household reliance on forests for the long-term sustainable forest management and conservation.This paper presents an analysis of socio-economic determinants on the level of household forest dependency in Chobe enclave,Botswana.The study hypothesised that the level of household forest dependency will significantly differ across a range of socio-economic factors.Methods:Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 183 households,randomly selected from three communities bordering Chobe Forest Reserve.Binary logistic regression model was used for analysing data.Results:Results showed that age and education significantly influenced household reliance on forests,while other socio-economic factors were not significant.Forest dependency was observed to be decreasing with an increase on both respondent age and educational level.Therefore,the youth were likely to be more reliant on forest products compared to their elderly counterpart while higher educational attainment lessened reliance on forest products.Conclusion:In order to foster a balance between forest dependency and biodiversity conservation,alternative opportunities and provision and access to higher education aimed at diversifying young people’s livelihood activities are vital in reducing forest dependency,hence protecting forests for posterity.展开更多
Aims Non-native invasive plants can alter soil chemistry through litter production and decomposition to facilitate their invasion.However,the important roles of these underlying processes in plant invasion remain poor...Aims Non-native invasive plants can alter soil chemistry through litter production and decomposition to facilitate their invasion.However,the important roles of these underlying processes in plant invasion remain poorly understood,particularly in tropical forest ecosys-tems.Here,we compared litter production,quality and decompos-ition of two invasive species(Broussonetia papyrifera and Cedrela odorata)and two co-occurring native species(Celtis mildbraedii and Funtumia elastica),and soil properties under them to elucidate their roles in the invasion of a tropical forest in Ghana.Methods Leaf litter production rates were determined using 36 mesh traps installed in the study area,while litter quality and soil physico-chemical properties were determined using standard protocols.A 6-month decomposition experiment using the litterbag technique was conducted to compare the decomposition rates of the species.Important Findings Litter production varied among the species and over time,with B.papyrifera producing 0.35-4.27 tons ha−1 y−1 from October to January;the other species produced 0.03^(-1).74 tons ha−1 y−1 over the same period.In the litterbag experiment,B.papyrifera recorded the lowest mass remaining(11-36%),followed by C.odorata(17-51%),F.elastica(31-55%)and C.mildbraedii(48-62%)in that order.Broussonetia papyrifera had the highest nitrogen(3.91%)and phosphorus(0.24%)but lowest lignin(12.20%)concentrations and the lowest C:N(10.87)ratio,indicating higher litter quality com-pared to the other species.Soil under B.paprifera was richest in phosphorus and nitrogen compared to the other species.Overall,our results indicate that the production of more nutrient-rich and rapidly decomposing leaf litter by B.papyrifera may constitute an important positive feedback mechanism driving its invasion and impacts in this tropical forest.展开更多
文摘We compared the dead wood (DW) conditions of Chesh- meh-sar forest and Sardab forest with different management history, including reserve forest and harvested forest. The First forest took 100% inventory from all the available DW. Also dead trees were compared in terms of species, shape, location and quality of fracture in both forests. Volumes of dead wood in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forests were 207.47 and 142.74 m3, respectively. Due to this significant difference, impact on the management level was determined. In Cheshmeh-sar forest, 42% of dead trees were standing and 58% were fallen type while in Sardab forest 38.6% were standing and 61.4% fallen. But the difference was not statis- tically significant l^etween them (p = 0.0587). In terms of quality, dead trees of hard, soft and hollow had the highest frequency, respectively. However, 71.5% of DW was seen as hard dead in Cheshmeh-sar forest while hard dead trees in Sardab forests were 54.2%. Soft quality degree of dead trees which formed in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forest were calcu- lated as 26.6% and 43.4% respectively. Also 30% of the dead trees of Sardab forest were eradicated while in Cheshmeh-sar this amount was reduced to 12%. Due to this significant difference ((P=0/018), it is concluded that the type of management and human interference are affecting the quality of dead trees and makes us to think the human in- terferences could effect on the ecosystem of touched forests.
文摘Dependency on forest resources poses a threat to the environment in Patharghata, Bangladesh. Therefore, this study explores the role of forest resource in the life and livelihood of coastal people as well as to understand the effectiveness of forest and status of forest dependency in and around south-central coast in Patharghata, Bangladesh. We collected data randomly from 105 household heads through both open and close-ended questionnaire. To investigate the forest dependency and people’s perception regarding alternative solutions, Microsoft excel software program has been applied. The findings reveal that usage of fuelwood in cooking, housing structure, fish catching, honey & fodder collection significantly contributes to household dependency on forest resources, while other variables seem to be insignificant. Our study amplifies that the share of forest income to the total household income was only 19% while other earning sources provide</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">d</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 81% income. The result shows that respondent people collect forest resources primarily for cooking purpose with a share of 71% where 9% forest resources are collected as fodder followed by 8% forest resource collection as food and sheltering purposes. Moreover, the study found that using alternative cooking system, artificial instruments, declaring the forest as tourist spot, changes in housing structure, occupation are some effective options to reduce forest dependency. The study concludes that these alternative options need more financial and other support from the government, non-government and other civil society organizations to cut down forest resource dependency.
基金This research was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia via the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme(FRGS/1/2020/WAB03/UPM/02/1)。
文摘Tropical peat comprises decomposed dead plant material and acts like a sponge to absorb water,making it fully saturated.However,drought periods dry it readily and increases its vulnerability to fire.Peat fires emit greenhouse gases and particles contributing to haze,and prevention by constructing fire-break canals to reduce fire spread into forest reserves is crucial.This paper aims to determine peat physical and chemical properties near a fire-break canal at different fire frequency areas.Peat sampling was conducted at two forest reserves in Malaysia which represent low fire frequency and high fire frequency areas.The results show that peat properties were not affected by the construction of a fire-break canal,however lignin and cellulose content increased significantly from the distance of the canal in both areas.The study concluded that fire frequency did not significantly influence peat properties except for porosity.The higher fibre content in the high frequency area did not influence moisture content nor the ability to regain moisture.Thus,fire frequency might contribute differently to changes in physical and chemical properties,hence management efforts to construct fire-break canals and restoration efforts should protect peatlands from further degradation.These findings will benefit future management and planning for forest reserves.
基金funded by the Internal Grant Agency of Mendel University in Brno(LDF_VP_2019015)the Framework of Bilateral Mobility Program for Traineeship of Doctoral Students,MENDELU。
文摘Subri River Forest Reserve(SR)is the most extensive forest area in Ghana with an accompanying rich floral species.Over the years,logging from both legally prescribed and illegal operations remain the predominant forest disturbance in SR.Gap creation following logging is crucial in determining tree species composition and diversity.Hence,the study evaluated the composition and diversity of naturally regenerated tree species in logging gaps of different sizes and,again examined the roles of these tree species in fulfilling the economic and ecological agenda of sustainable forest management after logging in SR.Twelve gaps were randomly selected:4 each were grouped into small size(≤200 m^(2)),medium size(201–300 m^(2)),and large size(≥300 m^(2)).Data were gathered from 1 m^(2) circular area at gap centres and repeatedly inside 1 m width strip along 20 m individual N-S-E-W transects.Species diversity differed significantly between gap sizes.Higher diversity indices were measured in large size gaps.Gap sizes shared similar species.There were significant differences among various height groupings of tree species across all three gap sizes.Pioneers preferred medium to large size gaps,while shadetolerant tree species preferred small size gaps for their abundance.Vulnerable and Lower Risk Near Threatened tree species under Conservation Status and,Premium and Commercial tree species under Utilisation Status preferred small size gaps for their proliferation and conservation.Therefore,we recommend the single tree-based selective logging for ensuring creations of small to medium size(200–300 m^(2))gaps through adjustments to the logging permit process,revision of Allocation Quota Permit,strict adherence to the 40-year polycyclic selection system,along with more dedicated enforcement and monitoring.Changes along these protocols would tremendously facilitate natural regeneration of different suites of timber species resulting in the improvement of the overall biodiversity conservation associated with the forest,more sustainable forest harvests and more income to those who receive permits.
基金funded by the Program for Public–Welfare Forestry of the State Forestry Administration of China(Grant No.201104008)
文摘Assessment of regional forest carbon stocks and underlying controls is critical for guiding forest management in the context of carbon sequestration. We investigated the variations in tree biomass carbon stocks relating to forest types, and estimated the total tree biomass carbon stocks and projected gains through natural stand development by 2020 and 2050 in the Daqing Mountain Nature Reserve based on Category II data of the Forest Inventory of Inner Mongolia for the period ending 2008. Over a total area of 388,577 ha,this nature reserve currently stores an estimated 2221 Gg C in tree aboveground biomass alone, with potential to grow by more than 30 % to reach 2938 Gg C by 2020 and nearly double to 4092 Gg C by 2050 through natural development of the existing forest stands. The tree biomass carbon density and potential gain in tree biomass carbon stocks vary markedly among forest types and with stand development.The variations in the potential change of tree biomass carbon density for the periods 2008–2020 and 2008–2050 among forest types partly reflect the varying relationships of tree biomass carbon density with stand age for different tree species, and partly are attributable to variations in the stand age structure among different forest types. Of the major forest types, the ranking of projected changes in tree biomass carbon density are not consistent with variations in the relationship between tree biomass carbon density and stand age, neither are they explainable by variations in stand age structures, implying the interactive effect between forest type and stand dynamics on temporal changes in tree biomass carbon density. Birch rank highest for future biomass carbon sequestration because of its dominance in cover area and better age structure for potential gain in tree biomass carbon stocks. Poplar and larch were out-performers compared to other forest types given their greater contribution to total tree biomass carbon stocks relative to their distributional areas. Findings in this study illustrate that protection and proper management of under-aged forests can deliver marked gains in biomass carbon sequestration. This is of great importance to policy-makers as well as to scientific communities in seeking effective solutions for adaptive forest management and mitigation of anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions using forest ecosystems.
文摘The paper investigated the forest fringe community’s participation in forest reserve sustainability in Ghana using Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana as a case study. The key issues examined are the forest reserve management strategies, stakeholder’s participation and livelihood activities of forest fringe communities. Two stage sampling technique was used to sample forty-two respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire in an interview form was used to solicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicate that there is a management plan for the forest reserve but Forest Services Division (FSD) does not follow its prescriptions strictly, the involvement of Forest Fringe Communities (FFCs) by FSD in the management of the forest reserve was insignificant and evidence of FSD not establishing income generating activity for FFCs livelihood sustenance. It is therefore recommended that community members should be empowered to play the role of co-managers of the forest reserve and there should be regular visit and interaction between FSD and the FFCs.
文摘Remote sensing (RS) and GIS are important methods for land use assessment and land cover transition. In this study, land use/land cover changes in the Ago-Owu Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria have been assessed. Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI were acquired for 1986, 2002 and 2017 respectively. The three scenes corresponded to path 190 and row 055 of WRS-2 (Worldwide Reference System). The processing of the imagery was preceded by the clipping of the study area from the satellite image. The boundary of the reserve was carefully digitized and used to clip the imagery to produce an image map of the forest reserve. Using the supervised image classification procedure, training sites were used to produce land use/land cover maps. The same classification scheme was used for the 1986, 2002 and 2017 images to facilitate the detection of change. The differences in the area covered by the different polygons between the three sets of images were measured in km2. The results show that during 1986 and 2017, there is a dramatic increase of build-up areas with a change of 55.65 km2 and sparse vegetation (farmland and grassland) with a change of 53.97 km2, while a dramatic decrease of dense vegetation (forest areas) with a change of 109.61 km2. The consequence of these results is that over the years, the population of people living in the forest reserve has increased and many of them are engaged in farming, leading to an increase in farmland. In addition, logging activities continued unabated in the forest reserve, as demonstrated by a sharp increase in the deforested area within the reserve. The maps produced in this study will serve as a planning tool for the Osun State Forestry Department to plan reforestation activities for the forest reserve.
基金financial support from the Global Greengrants Fund,UK/Europe/USA(Grant Number:2018-2472).
文摘In recent years, debates on the alarming rate of forest depletion emanating from growth in urban settlement and changed urban land-use patterns have gained prominence across the globe. The present study adopts a demandside management approach to investigate household’s willingness-to-pay for the restoration and maintenance of protected forest reserves in three municipalities in Ghana. Using survey data of 733 households from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, we model the demand for forest restoration and maintenance, respectively, by means of the contingent valuation technique. As part of the findings, the study shows evidence that a household is willing to pay Gh¢50.99($8.67) and Gh¢31.12($5.29) per annum to restore and maintain the protected forests,respectively. These amounts constitute less than one percent of the average household income per month.Consequently, critical validity tests are conducted to validate the robustness of the results. This study provides willingness-to-pay estimates for forest and forest resources, and its associated determinants. These estimates seek to bridge the information gap and inform policy decisions toward the overarching aim of ensuring sustainable forest management in Ghana.
文摘This study aims to estimate the tree diversity status of Rashad Forest Reserves in the Rashad locality of the South Kordofan State of Sudan. For data collection, eight sample plots (20 × 20</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">m) were taken randomly, and parameters were determined: </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">trees</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> species diversity, composition, relative density, dominance, important value index, and species richness in the Rashad forest reserve. The results show that a total of 237 and 56 tree species, including 22 families, have been identified in the study area. Fabaceae family and species numbers have the highest number of 13 species in 8 genera, followed by Combretaceae with 8 species belonging to 3 different genera, Malvaceae with 5 species belonging to 4 different genera, Apocynaceae with 3 species belonging to 3 different genera. The Arecaceae, Burseraceae, Capparaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, and Rubiaceae families each had two species, and all the other 11 families had one species each. Among the 56 different tree species found within the reserve. The results also indicated that </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Tamarindus indica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ziziphus </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">spina</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">christi</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (L.) Desf. had the highest relative density and dominance of 4.64% and 11% respectively. </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Adansonia digitata</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Grewia </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">villosa</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Willd, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Vepris </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nobilis</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (Delile) Mziray had density and dominance of 4.80% and 9%.</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Followed by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Anogeissus </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">leiocarpa</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (DC.) Guill. & Perr, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Adansonia digitata</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Catunaregam </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nilotica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (Stapf) Tirveng. (Syn: </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Xeromphis </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nilotica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (Stapf) Keay, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Vangueria madagascariensis</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> J. F. Gmel. with 3.38% and 8%, respectively.</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Eleven species recorded the least relative dominance of 0.42%.</span><b> </b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) value stood at 3.82. And as diversity indices varied with location depending on the species available within an ecological zone, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Rashad</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> forest reserve is blessed with a moderate diversity index.
文摘The study was carried out in Wawa-Zange Forest Reserve. The aim was to investigate the Herbaceous Species Composition and Diversity. Point Centered Quarter (PCQ) Sampling method was used to conduct the study. Data obtained was analyzed for Frequency, Relative Frequency, Density, Relative Density and Importance Value Index. The result obtained showed a total number of twenty<span style="font-family:;" "="">.</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> Herbaceous Plant Species. Out of this number 17 were Forbs and 3 were Grasses. They belonged to 9 families and 19 genera. The family Fabaceae (Subfamily Caesalpinoideae, Papilionoideae and Mimosoideae) had 5 species, and Malvaceae had 5 species while Poaceae had 3 species, Rubiaceae had 2 species. Euphorbiaceae, Linderniaceae, Acanthaceae, Commelinaceae and Arecaceae had 1 species each. Simpson’s index of diversity (1 - D) was (0.60) while Shannon-Wiener index was (2.21).</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">The species with the highest importance value index was <i>Urena</i> <i>lobata</i> L</span><span style="font-family:;" "="">.</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> (65.47%) and the species with lowest importance value index were <i>Palisota</i> <i>hirsuta</i>, <i>Cassia</i> <i>rotundifolia</i>, <i>Amorphophallus</i> <i>abyssinicus</i>, and <i>Corchorus</i> <i>olitorius</i> with (2.93%).</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">These plants therefore require urgent conservation measures.</span>
文摘Forest fire has received considerable attention in literature because it is considered one of the most common factors causing disturbances in ecosystems and at the same time considered vital in maintaining ecosystems.Firewise Approach(FWA)has been proposed and used for controlling forest fire and achieving sustainable forest management.The approach requires involvement of communities in managing forest fire incidences in reserved forests.Despite considerable period since FWA has been practiced,there is insufficient scholarly knowledge on effectiveness of the approach in managing forest fire.This paper examines the effectiveness of FWA in managing forest fires in Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve(UNFR).The study employed cross-section research design that involved quantitative and qualitative data collection.The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS)software and content analysis.The study found alternating periods:the period of overall decrease of wildfire incidences within initial five years of practising the approach.The study concludes that the FWA is useful in reducing forest fire incidences during early period of practising the approach and another period of huge fire occurrence beyond five years.However,the FWA has challenges of sustaining successes in controlling forest fires including limited fire management training to common community.The study recommends sustaining communities’trainings on forest fire management.
文摘Forests that are close to growing urban centres have been subject to constant deforestation and degradation from various factors. This study assesses the drivers of land cover dynamics in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves in the context of urban and peri-urban expansion of Dar es Salaam for the past three decades. The study adopted review of relevant literature and household survey from three settlements surrounding the forest reserves. One hundred and fifty (150) households were collected from Buyuni, Chanika and Masaki in Ilala and Kisarawe and administered with semi-structured questionnaire to collect information on migration, use of forest products by communities and perception on climate change and variability. SPSS computer program was used to analyse the questionnaire data while tables and graphs were adopted for presentation of the results. Rural-urban and internal urban migration in Dar es Salaam was identified as one of the primary drivers of land cover dynamics in peri-urban areas and adjoining environments. The migration was intensified by push drivers which include urban growth, market of land and reliance on forest product among community members as source of their livelihoods. The increased rainfall variability accompanied with high temperature has contributed to frequent droughts which compromises rainfed agriculture. Thus, the successful conservation of the forest will require strengthened enforcement of protection measures supported with introduction of alternative livelihood strategies for majority of poor community members.
文摘This study was carried out in the forest reserve of Mbalmayo, Center Region of Cameroon, with the aim to analyze the dynamics of land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the past 30 years. The databases used were made up of 3 Landsat satellite images (5TM of 1990, 7ETM+ of 2005 and 8OLI of 2020). The satellite images were processed using ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine software. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted to investigate the relationships between the local population and the forest reserve. The Mbalmayo forest reserve is consisted of seven main land cover namely: mature secondary forest, young secondary forest, savanna, fallows and crops, built, bare soil and water surface. The dynamics of the forest cover undergoes more significant changes between the years 1990-2005 with losses estimate at 4762 ha compared to the years 2005-2020 (2231 ha), with a marked decrease in the area of dense forests. This regression is much more important in dense forest vegetation. The forest cover lost 6993 ha (26.92%) of its surface, which corresponds to an average rate of deforestation of 233.1 ha/year. The survey revealed the need for NTFPs for the Mbalmayo reserve forest populations. Indeed, all respondents agreed that they use non-timber forest products from the forest, mainly for medication (37%), wood (34%) and food (24%). Therefore, it becomes urgent to redefine a management plan for the Mbalmayo forest reserve which will define how the forest must be managed in order to avoid the loss of large areas of forests disappearing each year under the human action, which exerts pressure on forest species, thus leading to their possible disappearance.
文摘Objective-To investigate forest cover change in Masese Local Forest Reserve and its effects on the livelihoods of the dependent communities;to establish the occurrence of forest cover change in Masese Local Forest Reserve;to determine the extent of forest cover change in Masese from 1990to 2005;to determine the tree species that have been affected by forest cover change in Masese; and to assess the effects of forest cover change on the livelihoods of the dependent communities. Methods-Interviews and questionnaire were conducted with a proportion of 36households from Maondo and 84households from Mulimambango settlements.Scenes of landsat images of 1990,2000, 2005and Earth Google image for Masese were used for map analysis.Also remote sensing was used to analyze landsat images and Google image to detect forest and non-forest classes.Results and Conclusion-Forest cover change has adverse implication on the provision of wood forest products and nonwood forest products to the dependent local communities.The declining status of dominant Baikiaea Forest that has exploitable species for building materials and fuel wood has affected the livelihoods of the dependent local communities.There is also increased cost and shortage of fire wood and building materials due to deforestation in Masese Forest Reserve.
文摘Savanna woodlands in Sudan host great biodiversity, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. Although the importance of the Acacia trees in these areas is well known, up-to-date information about these woodlands' diversity is limited and changes in their woody vegetation composition, density, diversity and relative frequency are not monitored over time. This study explored tree diversity and stand stage structure in Nuara Reserved Forest, a typical savanna woodland ecosystem in southeastern Sudan. A total of 638 circular sample plots(1000 m^2 for each) were established using a systematic sampling grid method. The distance between plots was 200 m. In each plot, all living trees with diameter at breast height(DBH) ≥5.00 cm were identified and counted, and their DBH values were recorded. From these data, tree composition, diversity, density and stage structure were assessed. There were 12,259 individual trees representing four species(Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia Senegal and Acacia mellifera) that belong to two families. The dominant species was Acacia seyal. Average tree density was 191 trees/hm^2 and the Shannon-Weiner index for trees diversity was 0.204. Overall, young trees comprised 86.30% of the forest. The state of tree richness and density in the study area was low compared to other similar environments in the region and around the world. We recommended adoption of a proper management system that includes monitoring of woody vegetation diversity in this forest, and management actions to enhance tree diversity and sustain ecosystem services to local communities. In addition to care for the dominant Acacia seyal stands, more attention and conservation should be devoted to reestablishing Acacia senegal and Acacia mellifera trees because of their high ecological and economic values for local communities.
文摘Introduction:Human dependence on forests is a multifaceted phenomenon.The degree of reliance on forests varies geographically,overtime and across communities.These dynamics underpin the importance of understanding the determinants of household reliance on forests for the long-term sustainable forest management and conservation.This paper presents an analysis of socio-economic determinants on the level of household forest dependency in Chobe enclave,Botswana.The study hypothesised that the level of household forest dependency will significantly differ across a range of socio-economic factors.Methods:Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 183 households,randomly selected from three communities bordering Chobe Forest Reserve.Binary logistic regression model was used for analysing data.Results:Results showed that age and education significantly influenced household reliance on forests,while other socio-economic factors were not significant.Forest dependency was observed to be decreasing with an increase on both respondent age and educational level.Therefore,the youth were likely to be more reliant on forest products compared to their elderly counterpart while higher educational attainment lessened reliance on forest products.Conclusion:In order to foster a balance between forest dependency and biodiversity conservation,alternative opportunities and provision and access to higher education aimed at diversifying young people’s livelihood activities are vital in reducing forest dependency,hence protecting forests for posterity.
文摘Aims Non-native invasive plants can alter soil chemistry through litter production and decomposition to facilitate their invasion.However,the important roles of these underlying processes in plant invasion remain poorly understood,particularly in tropical forest ecosys-tems.Here,we compared litter production,quality and decompos-ition of two invasive species(Broussonetia papyrifera and Cedrela odorata)and two co-occurring native species(Celtis mildbraedii and Funtumia elastica),and soil properties under them to elucidate their roles in the invasion of a tropical forest in Ghana.Methods Leaf litter production rates were determined using 36 mesh traps installed in the study area,while litter quality and soil physico-chemical properties were determined using standard protocols.A 6-month decomposition experiment using the litterbag technique was conducted to compare the decomposition rates of the species.Important Findings Litter production varied among the species and over time,with B.papyrifera producing 0.35-4.27 tons ha−1 y−1 from October to January;the other species produced 0.03^(-1).74 tons ha−1 y−1 over the same period.In the litterbag experiment,B.papyrifera recorded the lowest mass remaining(11-36%),followed by C.odorata(17-51%),F.elastica(31-55%)and C.mildbraedii(48-62%)in that order.Broussonetia papyrifera had the highest nitrogen(3.91%)and phosphorus(0.24%)but lowest lignin(12.20%)concentrations and the lowest C:N(10.87)ratio,indicating higher litter quality com-pared to the other species.Soil under B.paprifera was richest in phosphorus and nitrogen compared to the other species.Overall,our results indicate that the production of more nutrient-rich and rapidly decomposing leaf litter by B.papyrifera may constitute an important positive feedback mechanism driving its invasion and impacts in this tropical forest.