scholarly journals Peri-urban conservation in the Mondah forest of Libreville, Gabon: Red List assessments of endemic plant species, and avoiding protected area downsizing

Oryx ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Walters ◽  
E. Ngagnia Ndjabounda ◽  
D. Ikabanga ◽  
J. P. Biteau ◽  
O. Hymas ◽  
...  

AbstractUrban development is an increasing threat to the integrity of formerly remote protected areas, in some cases resulting in their downgrading, downsizing or degazetting. One-quarter of previously remote protected areas are now within 17 km of a city and thus face the threat of urbanization. Here we describe a case of avoided downgrading, downsizing and degazetting of a protected area in the Mondah forest of Gabon, north of Libreville. Since its creation in 1934 the Forêt Classée de la Mondah has been downsized regularly, losing 40% of its area over 80 years. During this time the forest surrounding the Forêt Classée was subject to usage for urban and peri-urban needs, including agriculture, sand extraction, collection of medicinal plants, ceremonies, and housing construction. In 2010 the area was threatened with further downsizing. The presence of narrowly endemic plant species in the area was suspected, and mapping and evaluation of these species was proposed in an effort to maintain the protected area boundaries. Botanical field work, including ex situ conservation measures and participant observation in nearby forest communities, was conducted; 24 endemic species, all threatened by urbanization, were evaluated using the criteria for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The borders of the protected area were maintained because of its role in maintaining irreplaceable habitat for threatened species. The area was renamed Raponda Walker Arboretum in 2012.

2016 ◽  
Vol 413 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 261-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Boisson ◽  
Michel-Pierre Faucon ◽  
Soizig Le Stradic ◽  
Bastien Lange ◽  
Nathalie Verbruggen ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Couch ◽  
Denise Molmou ◽  
Sékou Magassouba ◽  
Saïdou Doumbouya ◽  
Mamadou Diawara ◽  
...  

AbstractTo achieve conservation success, we need to support the recovery of threatened species. Yet, <5% of plant species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List have Species Conservation Action Plans (CAPs). If we are to move from a Red List to a Green List for threatened plant species, CAPs need to be devised and implemented. Guinea is one of the most botanically diverse countries in West Africa. Recent research found that nearly 4000 vascular plants occur in Guinea, a 30% increase from previous estimates. 273 of these plant species are now assessed as threatened with global extinction. There is increasing pressure on the environment from the extractive industry and a growing population. In parallel with implementation of an Important Plant Area programme in Guinea, CAPs were developed for 20 threatened plant species. These plans elaborate conservation efforts needed first to safeguard threatened species both in situ and ex situ and then to support their recovery. We document the approach used to assemble the Species Conservation Action Plans, and we discuss the importance of having up to date field information, IUCN Red List assessments, and use of a collaborative approach. The need for these plans is increasingly important with recent calculations suggesting a third of African plants are threatened with extinction. This paper outlines initial detailed plant conservation planning in Guinea and offers a template for conservation practitioners in other tropical African countries to follow.


Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna J. Walentowitz ◽  
Severin D. H. Irl ◽  
Aurelio Jesús Acevedo Rodríguez ◽  
Ángel Palomares-Martínez ◽  
Vanessa Vetter ◽  
...  

Invasive plant species are increasingly altering species composition and the functioning of ecosystems from a local to a global scale. The grass species Pennisetum setaceum has recently raised concerns as an invader on different archipelagos worldwide. Among these affected archipelagos are the Canary Islands, which are a hotspot of endemism. Consequently, conservation managers and stakeholders are interested in the potential spreading of this species in the archipelago. We identify the current extent of the suitable habitat for P. setaceum on the island of La Palma to assess how it affects island ecosystems, protected areas (PAs), and endemic plant species richness. We recorded in situ occurrences of P. setaceum from 2010 to 2018 and compiled additional ones from databases at a 500 m × 500 m resolution. To assess the current suitable habitat and possible distribution patterns of P. setaceum on the island, we built an ensemble model. We projected habitat suitability for island ecosystems and PAs and identified risks for total as well as endemic plant species richness. The suitable habitat for P. setaceum is calculated to cover 34.7% of the surface of La Palma. In open ecosystems at low to mid elevations, where native ecosystems are already under pressure by land use and human activities, the spread of the invader will likely lead to additional threats to endemic plant species. Forest ecosystems (e.g., broadleaved evergreen and coniferous forests) are not likely to be affected by the spread of P. setaceum because of its heliophilous nature. Our projection of suitable habitat of P. setaceum within ecosystems and PAs on La Palma supports conservationists and policymakers in prioritizing management and control measures and acts as an example for the potential threat of this graminoid invader on other islands.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-151
Author(s):  
Hari Basnet ◽  
Anu Rai

The yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula is encountered frequently by many researchers or nature guides but the information remains unavailable to the wider scientific community. The conservation efforts are already stretched thin and the species being Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species points to the reality that a dedicated budget for studying its ecology and distribution will not be readily available. We try to amend this data gap by presenting a non-targeted survey of the yellow-throated marten from May 2013 to January 2020 recorded during the field work in the mid hills and mountains of Nepal. The species was reported from 22 different sites which includes five protected areas of Nepal. Among them, we reported the species for the first time from Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and districts of Achham, Bajura and Gulmi. We recommend a guideline to be developed for recording the opportunistic sightings and encourage researchers to share their records that will improve understanding of yellow-throated marten distribution in Nepal.


2022 ◽  
Vol 93-94 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Victoria Gritsenko

Gymnospermium odessanum is a rare relict endemic plant species. The research was carried out during G. odessanum flowering in 2019–2021 at the botanical-geographical plot “Steppes of Ukraine” of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NBG). Ecological and coenotic conditions of introduction at the NBG differ from natural habitats of the species and are not optimal for its vegetation. However, this species demonstrated ecological-coenotic plasticity and, over the decades, has formed a stable homeostatic introduction coenopopulation here. As of 2021, the area of introduction coenopopulation of G. odessanum at the NBG was 2,075 m2. It comprises 412 individuals of this species (including 40 seedlings, 241 juvenile, 45 immature, 40 virginal, 45 generative, and 1 sub-senile plants). Coenopopulation fragments with a high density of G. odessanum individuals are rare here, so the average density is low – only 0.2 individuals per 1 m2. In 2021, in the spectrum of age states, the total percentage of pregenerative individuals was very high and reached 88.8 %; the share of generative individuals was 10.9 %.In general, the age structure of the introduction coenopopulation of G. odessanum is characterized by long-term (2010–2021) stability. The spatial distribution of individuals in the introduction coenopopulation is of two kinds – random and in groups. This is due to combined myrmecochoric and barochoric propagation. Also due to myrmecochory, this coenopopulation tends to spread the area. Compared to natural coenopopulations, the introduction coenopopulation of G. odessanum at the NBG is characterized by a larger area, a much significant number, and, at the same time, a low average density of individuals. However, like in most of natural populations, its age spectrum is left-sided.The conducted research testifies the successful formation of the introduction coenopopulation of G. odessanum in the meadow-steppe cultural phytocoenosis of the NBG. This introduction coenopopulation is an example of a successful multi-year scientific experiment and effective ex situ protection and preservation of G. odessanum on the northern border of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, far beyond the natural range of this endemic plant species.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natacha Coelho ◽  
Sandra Gonçalves ◽  
Anabela Romano

Endemic plant species are usually more vulnerable to anthropogenic threats and natural changes and, therefore, hold a higher extinction risk. The preservation of these species is a major concern on a worldwide context and in situ protection alone will not guarantee their conservation. Ex situ conservation measures must be undertaken to support the conservation of these species, and seed banking is the more efficient and cost-effective method. However, when seed banking is not an option, alternative approaches should be considered. Biotechnological tools provide new and complementary options for plant conservation including short-, medium-, and long-term strategies, and their application for plant species conservation has increased considerably in the last years. This review provides information about the status of the use biotechnology-based techniques for the conservation of endemic plant species. Particular attention is given to cryopreservation, since is the only long-term ex situ conservation strategy that can complement and support the other conservation measures. The cryopreservation of plant genetic resources is, however, more focused on crop or economically important species and few studies are available for endemic plant species. The plant material used, the cryopreservation methods employed, and the assessment of cryogenic effects are reviewed. The reasons to explain the difficulties in cryopreserving these species are discussed and new strategies are proposed to facilitate and increase the interest on this matter. We expect that further studies on the conservation of endemic plant species will increase in a near future, thus contributing to maintain these valuable genetic resources.


Biologija ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Behxhet Mustafa ◽  
Avni Hajdari ◽  
Xhavit Mala ◽  
Zeqir Veselaj ◽  
Bledar Pulaj ◽  
...  

The Pashtrik Mountain is one of the  biodiversity centres in Kosovo and in the Balkans too, but so far there has not been a proper study with the aim to designate this area as a  protected area. The  natural values of this area changed dramatically during the  last decade, especially in terms of biodiversity. With the aim to evaluate the current situation of the biodiversity, its flora, fauna, and plant communities were investigated. Its biodiversity values were assessed based on the review of the available relevant literature sources as well as the field research conducted during the period 2012– 2014. The study results show that the Pashtrik Mountain is rich in biodiversity values associated with a high diversity of ecosystems, landscape and other natural values. On the other hand, due to the lack of a protection status and appropriate biodiversity conservation programs, many of the species are threatened and some of them are critically endangered. Taking into consideration the natural values, the biodiversity and landscape of the  area based on the  provisions of the Law for Nature Conservation of Kosovo (Law No. 02/L18) Pashtrik should be declared as “Protected Landscape” that belongs to the category V protected areas according to IUCN, with an area of 25,060.00 hectares. Within the proposed protected area, a territory of 282 hectares should be declared as Strict Nature Reserve (1st category of protected areas of IUCN), since it is an area inhabited by the population of the steno-endemic plant species <i>Cynoglossum krasniqii</i> T. Wrab. Furthermore, the area needs the development of its spatial and management plan covering all aspects of vegetation, biodiversity, water, energy, waste, building and infrastructure in consultation and participation of all stakeholders, addressing related problems, such as illegal logging, constructions, transport, waste management, etc.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Mouga

Oceanic islands are known for their high levels of plant diversity, due to disjunct geographical distribution that leads to speciation. The main factors contributing to genetic speciation includes the creation of a barrier within a previously widely distributed taxon and the limited dispersal of seeds, which favours genetic differentiation and, thus, fosters rapid speciation. Plant survival and population fitness vary according to environmental factors and to human interference. This chapter depicts the importance of oceanic islands as biodiversity hotspots, discusses the threats to which endemic plants on islands are exposed, namely climate change, invasive alien species, urbanisation, touristic activities, fire, changes in agriculture practices and collecting pressure. The best practices worldwide to protect endemic plant species in protected areas are also addressed, namely the implementation of prevention and mitigation actions, the programs executed to protect endemic species, and management plans to avoid future threats.


Author(s):  
Wiguna Rahman ◽  
Joana Magos Brehm ◽  
Nigel Maxted ◽  
Jade Phillips ◽  
Aremi R. Contreras-Toledo ◽  
...  

AbstractConservation programmes are always limited by available resources. Careful planning is therefore required to increase the efficiency of conservation and gap analysis can be used for this purpose. This method was used to assess the representativeness of current ex situ and in situ conservation actions of 234 priority crop wild relatives (CWR) in Indonesia. This analysis also included species distribution modelling, the creation of an ecogeographical land characterization map, and a complementarity analysis to identify priorities area for in situ conservation and for further collecting of ex situ conservation programmes. The results show that both current ex situ and in situ conservation actions are insufficient. Sixty-six percent of priority CWRs have no recorded ex situ collections. Eighty CWRs with ex situ collections are still under-represented in the national genebanks and 65 CWRs have no presence records within the existing protected area network although 60 are predicted to exist in several protected areas according to their potential distribution models. The complementarity analysis shows that a minimum of 61 complementary grid areas (complementary based on grid cells) are required to conserve all priority taxa and 40 complementary protected areas (complementary based on existing protected areas) are required to conserve those with known populations within the existing in situ protected area network. The top ten of complementary protected areas are proposed as the initial areas for the development of CWR genetic reserves network in Indonesia. It is recommended to enhanced coordination between ex situ and in situ conservation stakeholders for sustaining the long term conservation of CWR in Indonesia. Implementation of the research recommendations will provide for the first time an effective conservation planning of Indonesia’s CWR diversity and will significantly enhance the country’s food and nutritional security.


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