ABSTRACT Populations of avian species continue to decline worldwide due to the various types of habitat degradation. This is the case with Hinde’s Babbler which is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List with isolated populations confined to some parts of central and eastern Kenya. The purpose of this study was to asses and compare its current population status in MNP, Ngaya Forest Reserve and agricultural landscapes. This survey was conducted between June and December, 2015 covering dry...
General Information Bushmeat consumption, the consumption of meat from wild forest animals, is an important part of livelihoods in rural West- and Central Africa. In the Congo Basin, bushmeat protein supply was estimated at 30 g person'1 day'1 (Democratic Republique of Congo) to 180 g person'1 day'1 (Gabon) (2002-2003). Based on extraction-production models it has been suggested that supply would drop by 81% by 2050 in a ‘no-change’ scenario of current extraction levels (Fa et al. 2003). ...
ABSTRACT East African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) is a dioecious shrub growing to 1-7 m tall depending on environmental factors and genetic variation. Sandalwood is widely exploited for extraction of oil, which is used in the fragrance, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. Efforts are being made to domesticate the species in order to reduce pressure from its natural habitat. However, little is known in regard to its ecological factors, range of oil yields and quality across its distri...
ABSTRACT The distribution of non-human primates in tropical forests is highly influenced by vegetation structure, interspecific interactions and human-induced threats. Reported disturbance in the form of charcoal burning, farming, tree extraction for construction poles or timber, encroachment along the forest boundaries and unplanned infrastructure interferes with the forest edges and interiors, which affect the distribution of primate species. The purpose of this study was to assess the pop...
ABSTRACT The study investigated stem distributions and height-diameter relationships of two Irvingiaceae species in Oban Forest, Cross River State, Nigeria with a view to suggesting appropriate management strategies for their conservation in the area. Using systematic sampling technique, six 2km-transect was cut in each of the primary and secondary forests in the area. Four 50m×50m plots were laid alternately along each transect. Thus, twenty-four plots were used in each of the two forest ty...
ABSTRACT The need for conservation of forests resources, which are presently under continuous depletion, is topical to sustainable development in Nigeria. Despite this, the annual rate of forest depletion in Anambra State is alarming. One of the adduced reasons for this had been inadequate access of residents who rely on forest resources for their livelihood to environmental amelioration information. This study therefore reports the media in use or that could be employed to effectively keep A...
ABSTRACT Most ecological assessments often focus on one ecosystem without investigating the integrity of contiguous ecosystems and implications thereof on the habitat of interest. From a conservation perspective, ignored ex situ processes may counteract management interventions in an ecosystem of interest if the former aren’t taken into account. This study sought to assess land-use cover change and its potential relationship or impact on the integrity of contiguous mangroves downstream. Car...
ABSTRACT This study examined the percentage distribution of benefits obtained from Ibadan urban forest reserves across policy relevant socio-economic classes of the populace in order to draw research and policy implications. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse data obtained from a multi-stage random survey of 397 residents of Ibadan metropolis. The results show that benefits obtained from the urban forest reserves do not depend significantly on gender (x2=2.57; p>...
It is generally accepted that escalating concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) are driving changes in climate patterns. Policy mechanisms such as ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation’ (or REDD+) aim to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere through compensating landowners to manage their land as carbon sinks. However, for such a scheme to succeed accurate quantification and reporting of the sequestered carbon must be conducted using verifiable metho...
Abstract This thesis quantifies the economic values of East Mau forest ecosystem using Market based, Contingent Valuation and Benefit Transfer techniques. Data was collected from households, sawmills and forest product traders within and adjacent to East Mau forest. Additional data were obtained from published and unpublished sources. Descriptive statistics and parametric tests were applied to describe forest ecosystem values. Difference in forest incomes across locations; ethnicity and wealt...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evaluate the physical changes that occur in the soil due to conversion of forest to arable land. Six locations in Enugu State that were selected for this purpose include Ugbo-Okpara (Li), Ugbo-nabo (L2), Ugwogo-Nike (L3), Iyi- Ukwu (L4), Edem (L5) and Ugwo (L6). Soil parameters determined include bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, macro porosity, micro porosity, total porosity, organic carbon, pH, Dithionate citrate bi-carbonate (DCB) Iron oxide...
ABSTRACT Village Community Banks aimed to reduce extreme poverty among community group members and enable members share knowledge on how to generate income which could be alternative sources of income rather than depending on illegal exploitation of forest resources for the economic purpose. This study aimed at assessing economic contribution of VICOBA in conserving forest resources. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain 5 villages adjacent to both Kazimzumbwi and Pugu Forest Rese...
ABSTRACT Fragmentation and its effects on avifauna is a study that was conducted in upper River Njoro watershed covering about 280km2 . The watershed is under threat from increasing human activities that have led to rapid changes in land cover and deterioration of environmental and habitat conditions for birds. These include replacement of indigenous trees with exotic types, clearing of riparian vegetation, cultivation of river banks, deforestation and forest fragmentation. The study’s mai...
Abstract Among the key uncertainties in the sustainable management of forest for non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is the high diversity of species and paucity of information on indigenous use pattern. In designing appropriate strategies for sustainable management of non-timber forest products, therefore, it is important to identify species with high local importance with the potential for sustainable and profitable extraction in a managed system. In this study, we assessed the use of two q...
Abstract Among the key uncertainties in the sustainable management of forest for non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is the high diversity of species and paucity of information on indigenous use pattern. In designing appropriate strategies for sustainable management of non-timber forest products, therefore, it is important to identify species with high local importance with the potential for sustainable and profitable extraction in a managed system. In this study, we assessed the use of two q...