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Abstract: At the beginning of the 1990s, the World Bank introduced conditionalities to reform the forest concession regime in Central Africa and continuously intervened, inter alia, in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon and the DRC up to 2010. The reforms were designed to achieve two immediate objectives: (i) increase the price of the resource through competitive market procedures or, if inapplicable, through taxation, (ii) break down the patronage system that governed the forest permits allocation. These efforts have been supported by national reformers, and fought against by various vested interests such as the timber companies, but also officials in the forest departments. Because of the difficult political economy, reform ambitions have been lowered, and only a certain proportion of the policy measures initially contemplated has been implemented. This called for a completion of the reform agenda and fine tuning. But by the middle of the 2000s, the evolution of paradigms in tropical forestry gave the critics of the WB policy of concession reforms opportunities to challenge the orientations followed hitherto in Central Africa. The 2013 Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) report of the WB forestry policy, criticizing the WB's management efforts to reform concession regimes in Africa, testified to this change of paradigm. The critics are of mixed mind, with community advocates favoring more pressure on the African governments to dismantle the concession regime and proponents of "performance-based aid" seeing REDD+ as an opportunity to withdraw from direct sectoral intervention. Paradoxically, in spite of REDD+ initiatives and rhetoric, forestry has tumbled in the national policy agendas and forest concessions or protected areas are encroached by agribusiness plantations and mines with the implicit support of large fractions within governments. © 2018 Commonwealth Forestry Association. All rights reserved.
Source title: International Forestry Review
DOI: 10.1505/146554817822295948
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053058394&doi=10.1505%2f146554817822295948&partnerID=40&md5=835820e06e789644fef3ff04f19759a6
Correspondence Address: Karsenty, A.; French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), UR GREEN, TA C-47 / F, Campus international de Baillarguet, France; email: alain.karsenty@cirad.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Central Africa ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Agriculture ; Mining

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Abstract: To ‘save’ the Virunga National Park, located in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Commission (EC) allocates development aid to the paramilitary training of the park guards, their salaries, and mixed patrols of the guards together with the Congolese army. Moreover, the ‘development’ projects the EC supports around the park have militarising effects as they are based on a soft counter-insurgency approach to conservation and to address dynamics of violent conflict. This amounts to the ‘green militarisation’ of development aid. This article describes how a personalised network of policymakers within the EC renders militarised conservation-related violence and controversy around the Virunga park invisible, by framing contestations and violence in and around the park as solely caused by economic factors and motivations. Moreover, by ‘hiding’ the fact that the EC aid is used to fund armed conservation practices, policymakers circumvent political debate about the use of development funds for (para)military expenditures. While the existing literature focuses on the importance of securitised discourses to explain the militarisation of conservation, this article indicates that in addition, it is important to focus on these more mundane practices of securitisation within international organisations that ultimately fund the militarisation of conservation. © 2017 Southseries Inc., www.thirdworldquarterly.com.
Source title: Third World Quarterly
DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2017.1282815
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85011636374&doi=10.1080%2f01436597.2017.1282815&partnerID=40&md5=68e2e14b6ef9b2762e8abe71946b5ec6
Correspondence Address: Marijnen, E.; Institute for European Studies, Vrije Universiteit BrusselsBelgium; email: Esther.marijnen@vub.ac.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Virunga
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Conservation initiatives ; Armed conflicts ; Governance / Policy ; Hunting / Poaching ; Perceptions / Behaviors

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Abstract: We present our progress results of SAR tomographic imaging using L-band NASA/JPL UAVSAR data collected in Gabon during the 2016 AfriSAR campaign. Several tomographic experiments were conducted in February 2016 over four different sites with a broad diversity of vegetation types, soil characteristics and weather conditions. Here we describe the campaign objectives and report on the status of the UAVSAR tomographic processor for retrieving the 3D structure of forests. We discuss several algorithms, including stack formation, phase calibration and structure retrieval. The availability of NASA/GSFC LVIS waveforms enables cross-comparison of the radar-derived structure with the lidar-derived structure. Results are reported for the Lopé National Park and demonstrate the maturity of the 3D UAVSAR tomographic processing for ecosystem science and applications. © 2017 IEEE.
Source title: International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
DOI: 10.1109/IGARSS.2017.8127498
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041849815&doi=10.1109%2fIGARSS.2017.8127498&partnerID=40&md5=2c230713cd420b0b15b079e62ec85716
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Conference Paper
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: In this paper we report on the context and evaluation of a system for an automatic interpretation of sightings of individual western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) as captured in facial field photography in the wild. This effort aligns with a growing need for effective and integrated monitoring approaches for assessing the status of biodiversity at high spatio-Temporal scales. Manual field photography and the utilisation of autonomous camera traps have already transformed the way ecological surveys are conducted. In principle, many environments can now be monitored continuously, and with a higher spatio-Temporal resolution than ever before. Yet, the manual effort required to process photographic data to derive relevant information delimits any large scale application of this methodology. The described system applies existing computer vision techniques including deep convolutional neural networks to cover the tasks of detection and localisation, as well as individual identification of gorillas in a practically relevant setup. We evaluate the approach on a relatively large and challenging data corpus of 12,765 field images of 147 individual gorillas with image-level labels (i.e. missing bounding boxes) photographed at Mbeli Bai at the Nouabal-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. Results indicate a facial detection rate of 90.8% AP and an individual identification accuracy for ranking within the Top 5 set of 80.3%. We conclude that, whilst keeping the human in the loop is critical, this result is practically relevant as it exemplifies model transferability and has the potential to assist manual identification efforts. We argue further that there is significant need towards integrating computer vision deeper into ecological sampling methodologies and field practice to move the discipline forward and open up new research horizons. © 2017 IEEE.
Source title: Proceedings - 2017 IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision Workshops, ICCVW 2017
DOI: 10.1109/ICCVW.2017.333
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046295255&doi=10.1109%2fICCVW.2017.333&partnerID=40&md5=4839af25b8d7e2fa5e839bcd4d01bc55
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Conference Paper
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Nouabalé-Ndoki
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: Volcanoes emit SO2, CO2, and H2S, but also trace elements gases and particles such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Sb. Active moss bag biomonitoring, an easy to apply and low budget method, was used to determine trace element release from volcanic areas of different geological context and climates. Exposure height variations (0.7–1.6 m above ground) due to different availability of natural tie points did not affect the results. Accumulation was linear for exposure durations from three days to nine weeks, so values were comparable by normalization to moss exposure time. Uncovered moss bags showed higher accumulation than co-exposed covered ones because of additional dust and wet deposition while washout by rain was negligible. The selection of a specific moss significantly affected element accumulation with moss of lower shoot compactness accumulating more. For all volcanic areas, highest accumulation was found for S (1–1000 ?mol·(g·d)? 1), followed by Fe and Mg (0.1–10 ?mol·(g·d)? 1), Sr, Ba, Pb, Cr, Li (10? 4–10? 1 ?mol·(g·d)? 1), then Co, Mo and the volatile elements As, Sb, Se, Tl, Bi (10? 6–10? 2 ?mol·(g·d)? 1). For most elements, open conduit volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli, Nyiragongo) showed higher moss accumulation rates than more quiescent hydrothermal areas (Vulcano > Nisyros > Yellowstone National Park) and a correlation of S, Fe, and Pb from eruptive ash and lava emissions. For some volatile elements (S, As, Se), higher accumulation was observed within fumarolic fields compared to crater rims of open conduit volcanoes which is a relevant information for risk assessment of tourist exposure to volcanic gases. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Source title: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.07.004
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85025456431&doi=10.1016%2fj.jvolgeores.2017.07.004&partnerID=40&md5=a4dff4fa54915cdee875a3b979270608
Correspondence Address: Planer-Friedrich, B.; Environmental Geochemistry, Bayreuth Center for Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Germany; email: b.planer-friedrich@uni-bayreuth.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Virunga
Main topic: Environment ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Geology / Pedology ; Volcanism ; Plants

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Abstract: Applying environmental education in primate range countries is an important long-term activity to stimulate pro-conservation behavior. Within captive settings, mega-charismatic species, such as great apes are often used to increase knowledge and positively influence attitudes of visitors. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term video and theater program developed for a Western audience and adapted to rural people living in two villages around Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. We assessed the knowledge gain and attitude change using oral evaluation in the local language (N = 111). Overall pre-program knowledge about Western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) was high. Detailed multivariate analysis of pre-program knowledge revealed differences in knowledge between two villages and people with different jobs while attitudes largely were similar between groups. The short-term education program was successful in raising knowledge, particularly of those people with less pre-program knowledge. We also noted an overall significant attitude improvement. Our data indicate short-term education programs are useful in quickly raising knowledge as well improving attitudes. Furthermore, education messages need to be clearly adapted to the daily livelihood realities of the audience, and multi-variate analysis can help to identify potential target groups for education programs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22692
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030128449&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22692&partnerID=40&md5=d1c7530a9f7395269afde39c50a1a683
Correspondence Address: Breuer, T.; Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation ProgramUnited States; email: tbreuer@wcs.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Nouabalé-Ndoki
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Perceptions / Behaviors ; Tourism ; Conservation initiatives ; Periphery / Management ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates

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Abstract: Policymakers and recreation site managers use changes in fee structure, either introducing park entrance fees or increasing existing ones, to generate revenues, improve services, and reduce damages associated with over-use. Increase in park usage fee, however, can make the park inaccessible to certain segments of tourists. Understanding park users' response to changes in fees and its implication on park use equity is, thus, important to achieving a park's full potential in a socially and environmentally responsible way. This information is crucial especially for developing countries, where the issue has received relatively less attention and national park systems are chronically underfunded. This paper contributes to the literature on park access fees by: empirically assessing park use equity between and among international and national tourists visiting Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, and; developing an approach for determining predictors and mean willingness to pay values for park entrance. Results of our survey-based approach show a positive willingness to pay values for park entrance and fee increases. Our results also show that it is possible to raise revenue without exacerbating existing park use differences. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Tourism Management
DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2017.01.019
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85012053623&doi=10.1016%2fj.tourman.2017.01.019&partnerID=40&md5=02c54ff5c12de549e96ccecc0f35fb36
Correspondence Address: Lal, P.; Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, United States; email: lalp@mail.montclair.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Tourism ; Governance / Policy

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Abstract: Most emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses originating from wildlife among which vector-borne diseases constitute a major risk for global human health. Understanding the transmission routes of mosquito-borne pathogens in wildlife crucially depends on recording mosquito blood-feeding patterns. During an extensive longitudinal survey to study sylvatic anophelines in two wildlife reserves in Gabon, we collected 2,415 mosquitoes of which only 0.3% were blood-fed. The molecular analysis of the blood meals contained in guts indicated that all the engorged mosquitoes fed on wild ungulates. This direct approach gave only limited insights into the trophic behavior of the captured mosquitoes. Therefore, we developed a complementary indirect approach that exploits the occurrence of natural infections by host-specific haemosporidian parasites to infer Anopheles trophic behavior. This method showed that 74 infected individuals carried parasites of great apes (58%), ungulates (30%), rodents (11%) and bats (1%). Accordingly, on the basis of haemosporidian host specificity, we could infer different feeding patterns. Some mosquito species had a restricted host range (An. nili only fed on rodents, whereas An. carnevalei, An. coustani, An. obscurus, and An. paludis only fed on wild ungulates). Other species had a wider host range (An. gabonensis could feed on rodents and wild ungulates, whereas An. moucheti and An. vinckei bit rodents, wild ungulates and great apes). An. marshallii was the species with the largest host range (rodents, wild ungulates, great apes, and bats). The indirect method substantially increased the information that could be extracted from the sample by providing details about host-feeding patterns of all the mosquito species collected (both fed and unfed). Molecular sequences of hematophagous arthropods and their parasites will be increasingly available in the future; exploitation of such data with the approach we propose here should provide key insights into the feeding patterns of vectors and the ecology of vector-borne diseases. © 2017 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2769
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030710192&doi=10.1002%2fece3.2769&partnerID=40&md5=e675e4af2cf25cb72e7c2edf4fb934ef
Correspondence Address: Prugnolle, F.; Laboratoire MIVEGEC, UMR 224-5290 CNRS-IRD-UM, IRDFrance; email: franck.prugnolle@ird.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé ; Lékédi
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Human & animal health

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Abstract: The genus Megistacantha Golvan, 1960 was originally described as monotypic with Megistacantha horridum (Lühe, 1912) from a mormyrid fish in Africa as its type- and only species. This species was described from one female specimen, but no description of the male was provided. In this study, the male of M. horridum is described for the first time. In addition, a new species, Megistacantha sanghaensis n. sp., is described from the Cornish jack Mormyrops anguilloides L., a mormyrid fish from the River Sangha, Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic. The diagnosis of Megistacantha Golvan, 1960 is amended and a key to its two species is provided. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Source title: Systematic Parasitology
DOI: 10.1007/s11230-016-9672-6
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84991327514&doi=10.1007%2fs11230-016-9672-6&partnerID=40&md5=d8c7b448d36635c542d070a5badd08a1
Correspondence Address: Kvach, Y.; Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kv?tná 8, Czech Republic; email: yuriy.kvach@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Fish ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: This paper concerns the links between discourse and the marginalization and exclusion of the Baka people living in the Dja Reserve in East Cameron. The findings reveal how various factors mediate the experience of marginalisation and exclusion after displacement and resettlements. Central to these factors is the concept of ‘access’ – access to the dominant discourse. The paper deconstructs the concept of access into ‘potential’ and ‘realised’ access. It also shows how ‘potential’ access to dominant discourse can influence ‘realised’ access to resources in newly resettled communities. © 2016 Taylor & Francis.
Source title: International Journal of Environmental Studies
DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2016.1148446
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84961566792&doi=10.1080%2f00207233.2016.1148446&partnerID=40&md5=4961529b7d3afc359ced0ddeebccbb5c
Correspondence Address: Awuh, H.E.; Division of Geography, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Belgium; email: Harrison.awuh@student.kuleuven.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Periphery / Management ; Governance / Policy

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Abstract: Recent studies show widespread encroachment of forest into savannas with important consequences for the global carbon cycle and land-atmosphere interactions. However, little research has focused on in situ measurements of the successional sequence of savanna to forest in Africa. Using long-term inventory plots we quantify changes in vegetation structure, above-ground biomass (AGB) and biodiversity of trees ?10 cm diameter over 20 years for five vegetation types: savanna; colonising forest (F1), monodominant Okoume forest (F2); young Marantaceae forest (F3); and mixed Marantaceae forest (F4) in Lopé National Park, central Gabon, plus novel 3D terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) measurements to assess forest structure differences. Over 20 years no plot changed to a new stage in the putative succession, but F1 forests strongly moved towards the structure, AGB and diversity of F2 forests. Overall, savanna plots showed no detectable change in structure, AGB or diversity using this method, with zero trees ?10 cm diameter in 1993 and 2013. F1 and F2 forests increased in AGB, mainly as a result of adding recruited stems (F1) and increased Basal Area (F2), whereas F3 and F4 forests did not change substantially in structure, AGB or diversity. Critically, the stability of the F3 stage implies that this stage may be maintained for long periods. Soil carbon was low, and did not show a successional gradient as for AGB and diversity. TLS vertical plant profiles showed distinctive differences amongst the vegetation types, indicating that this technique can improve ecological understanding. We highlight two points: (i) as forest colonises, changes in biodiversity are much slower than changes in forest structure or AGB; and (ii) all forest types store substantial quantities of carbon. Multidecadal monitoring is likely to be required to assess the speed of transition between vegetation types. © 2016 Cuni-Sanchez et al. This is an open ccess article distributed under the terms of the reative Commons Attribution License, which permits nrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Source title: PLoS ONE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156934
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84976641641&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0156934&partnerID=40&md5=884960a2a02c5c3117d5e6697640314c
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: Objectives Great ape teeth must remain functional over long lifespans. The molars of the most folivorous apes, the mountain gorillas, must maintain shearing function for 40+ years while the animals consume large quantities of mechanically challenging foods. While other folivorous primates experience dental senescence, which compromises their occlusal surfaces and affects their reproductive success as they age, it is unknown whether dental senescence also occurs in mountain gorillas. In this article, we quantified and evaluated how mountain gorilla molars change throughout their long lifespans. Materials and Methods We collected high-resolution replicas of M1s (n = 15), M2s (n = 13), and M3s (n = 11) from a cross-sectional sample of wild mountain gorilla skeletons from the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in age from 4 to 43 years. We employed dental topographic analyses to track how aspects of occlusal slope, angularity, relief index, and orientation patch count rotated change with age. In addition, we measured the relative length of shearing crests in two- and three-dimensions. Results Occlusal topography was found to decrease, while 2D relative shearing crest length increased, and 3D relative crest lengths were maintained with age. Discussion Our findings indicate that shearing function is maintained throughout the long lifetimes of mountain gorillas. Unlike the dental senescence experienced by other folivorous primates, mountain gorillas do not appear to possess senesced molars despite their long lifetimes, mechanically challenging diets, and decreases in occlusal topography with age. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Physical Anthropology
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22943
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84969433203&doi=10.1002%2fajpa.22943&partnerID=40&md5=6ed587a2d91546de79aa8786e7ff83b6
Correspondence Address: Glowacka, H.; Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State UniversityUnited States; email: halszka.glowacka@asu.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Evidence for convergence is often based on overall similarity as interpreted by human eyes. We use geometric morphometrics and an analysis of phylogenetic signal to determine if similarity in form between two sympatric species of cyprinid fishes in a community from the Dja River of Cameroon is due convergence or shared evolutionary history. The two species, Enteromiusaspilus and E.guirali, are deep-bodied and are very similar in color and appear to school together. The species co-occur with seven other species of Enteromius that have the more fusiform shape seen in other small barbs across Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and COI genes suggests that they are not sister taxa, and there is no phylogenetic signal when the phylogeny is overlaid on shape space. The convergence between the two is likely due to a variety of factors including predator avoidance and crypsis in open water, social mimicry to increase the benefit of the selfish herd effect, and increased protection of E.aspilus via Batesian mimicry of E.guirali, which has a protective dorsal spine. © 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
Source title: Evolutionary Ecology
DOI: 10.1007/s10682-015-9811-6
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84948394512&doi=10.1007%2fs10682-015-9811-6&partnerID=40&md5=23569bff28d4148eb508e0638bfaaac0
Correspondence Address: Armbruster, J.W.; Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess, Auburn UniversityUnited States; email: armbrjw@auburn.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Fish ; Genetics

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Abstract: Shell Gabon-a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc-has been operating in Gabon since 1960. Since this time Shell's exploration has taken place across a large area of the costal south-west of Gabon, resulting in major discoveries at Gamba (the largest oil field in Gabon at the time) and Rabi in 1985 (the largest onshore oil field in sub-Saharan Africa). The south-west costal area in which Shell operates also known as the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas is a landscape of high national and international importance for its biodiversity; hosting two of the most beautiful national parks, two Ramsar sites, one wildlife reserve and three hunting reserves, and where oil pipeline, oil machineries cohabite with many endangered species such as western gorillas, chimpanzees, sea turtles, and the forest elephants our African giant. Following internal standards and national legislation requirements on sustainable development, Shell Gabon, an ISO 14001 standard certified company, has recently developed (first Oil & Gas company in Gabon) a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which identifies critical habitats, priority biodiversity, and outlines Shell Gabon's approach to managing biodiversity impacts and risks. Ultimately the BAP has been integrated into Shell Gabon's Environmental Management System aiming at enforcing operating procedures on biodiversity aspects. Examples might include reducing the number of roads built and their width; speed controls; limiting the size of platform constructions and use of existing platforms wherever possible for drilling; prohibition of hunting, fishing and transporting bush meat and weapons in production areas; promoting anti-poaching activities together with the Government authorities, local NGOs' and one long lasting partner, the Smithsonian Institute. For almost two decades, Shell Gabon has made a significant contribution to the understanding of biodiversity, making the Gamba complex of protected areas a safe haven where wild life cohabits with oil operations. Oil & Gas exploration in sensitive and priority biodiversity areas is achievable.
Source title: Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE African Health, Safety, Security and Environment and Social Responsibility Conference and Exhibition 2016
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040347047&partnerID=40&md5=18537c8a5c0fda8cd7d2652b50f8d31d
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Conference Paper
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Loango ; Moukalaba-Doudou
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Energy ; Conservation initiatives ; Periphery / Management

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Abstract: The composition and vertical zonation of modern benthic foraminifera was studied at two intertidal mangrove environments in the Akanda National Park, Gabon. Foraminifera inhabiting the muddy substrates were found to represent a unique assemblage and are distinct from other nearshore biotas. A total of twenty one benthic species were recorded. Numerical analyses of faunal assemblages indicate that the distribution of taxa is vertically constrained, divided into two faunal zones that are elevation dependent. A low-diverse agglutinated foraminiferal assemblage, dominated by Ammotium salsum and Ammobaculites pseudospirale, was found to characterize the elevated landward field area in muddy substrates around Avicennia germinans mangroves. The assemblage is composed of agglutinated taxa only and is indicative for High Mean Water Neap Tide elevations. A moderately diverse assemblage of agglutinated and calcareous foraminifera was recovered from around Rhizomosa racemose stands and represents biotas at Mean Low Water Neap Tide elevation. The assemblage is dominated by species of Miliammina, Arenoporella mexicana, Ammotium salsum and Astrononion stelligerum. The species richness of individual assemblages was found to be tide-related and reveals a strong trend of decreasing diversity moving up the shore. These distributions resemble typical intertidal zonation patterns in mangroves and estuaries and highlight their potential for sealevel reconstructions. The study constitutes the first survey of mangrove foraminifera from Gabon. © 2016 E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, Germany.
Source title: Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie - Abhandlungen
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/2016/0602
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84999847987&doi=10.1127%2fnjgpa%2f2016%2f0602&partnerID=40&md5=d4c47d1443d93d96869b0c52403c79aa
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Akanda
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Microorganisms ; Diversity ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Using ethnographic interviews and biological measures, this article investigates changing health and nutrition of a hunter-gatherer population transitioning from a forest-based subsistence system to a horticultural and market-driven lifestyle.METHODS: This study represents biological and dietary recall data for adult female foragers (18+; n?=?60) across two villages, Mossapoula (MS) and Yandoumbé (YDBE), in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas (APDS), Central African Republic (CAR). Standard anthropometric measurements (height, weight, skinfolds) and hemoglobin values were collected to assess short-term nutritional status.RESULTS: BMI was similar across all three age classes in YDBE, but differed amongst women of MS (ANOVA; F?=?6.34, df?=?30, P?=?0.005).Values were lowest among the older women in older age class 3 who also had the greatest number of dependents. Overall SS values were significantly negatively correlated with the number of biological children (r?=?-0.33, P?=?0.01) in both villages.CONCLUSIONS: Here, we identify older BaAka women, caring for their own children and grandchildren, as particularly vulnerable to economic changes and food insecurity. We found older women, especially those in a community with greater restrictions on access to forest resources to have more dependents, reduced market integration, and low BMI relative to younger women in the population. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:453-460, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council
DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22817
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85028273636&doi=10.1002%2fajhb.22817&partnerID=40&md5=042ba60092fad410b315887932cf57f0
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Humans ; Health
Subtopic: Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Income-generating activities ; Periphery / Management ; Human health

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Abstract: This work is a contribution to the survey of the biodiversity and the abundance of the termites in the Yoko Forestry Reserve in Kisangani. To the total 6 exits have been done during 3 months; from March 2013 to May 2013. The harvests of the specimens took place in three habitats namely, the primary forest, the secondary forest and the fallow. We used the standardized method proposed by Jones and Eggleton (2000), that consists to delimit a transect line of 100 m long and 2 m large in a given habitat. In total 497 specimens of termites have been harvested. They belong to one family, the Termitidae, four subfamilies, namely Termitinae, Macrotermitinae, Amitermitinae, Nasutitermitinae and 24 species. In order to compare biodiversity, we have used the Ramade method (1984) where we calculated the indications of biodiversity: Index of Shannon Wienner (H'), Index of equitability (E) and Index of Simpson (D). From the comparison of the data for the three microhabitats, it appears that the primary forest is the most diversified and the distribution of the termite fauna is not equitable in the three micro-habitats. Among the species, Unguitermes acutifrons and Basidentitermes maleaensis were collected and are quoted for the first time in the region of Kisangani. Concerning the distribution of the species in the Yoko Forestry Reserve, 19 species are hosted in primary forest, 15 species in secondary forest and 13 species in fallow.
Source title: Geo-Eco-Trop
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014336603&partnerID=40&md5=a24b3b03c83261ed0333eca47edac415
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: French
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Yoko
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Diversity ; Abundance ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: Small mammals can impede tree regeneration by injuring seedlings and saplings in several ways. One fatal way is by severing their stems, but apparently this type of predation is not well-studied in tropical rain forest. Here, we report on the incidence of 'stem-cutting' to new, wild seedlings of two locally dominant, canopy tree species monitored in 40 paired forest understorey and gap-habitat areas in Korup, Cameroon following a 2007 masting event. In gap areas, which are required for the upward growth and sapling recruitment of both species, 137 seedlings of the long-lived, light-demanding, fast-growing large tropical tree (Microberlinia bisulcata) were highly susceptible to stem-cutting (83% of deaths) - it killed 39% of all seedlings over a c. 2-y period. In stark contrast, seedlings of the more shade-tolerant, slower-growing tree species (Tetraberlinia bifoliolata) were hardly attacked (4.3%). In the understorey, however, stem-cutting was virtually absent. Across the gap areas, the incidence of stem-cutting of M. bisulcata seedlings showed significant spatial variation that could not be explained significantly by either canopy openness or Janzen-Connell type effects (proximity and basal area of conspecific adult trees). To examine physical and chemical traits that might explain the species difference to being cut, bark and wood tissues were collected from a separate sample of seedlings in gaps (i.e. not monitored for stem-cutting). These analyses suggested that, compared with T. bifoliolata, the lower stem density, higher Mg and K and fatty acid concentrations in bark, and fewer phenolic and terpene compounds in M. bisulcata seedlings made them more palatable and attractive to small-mammal predators, likely rodents. We conclude that selective stem-cutting is a potent countervailing force to the current local canopy dominance of the grove-forming M. bisulcata by limiting the recruitment and abundance of its saplings. Given the ubiquity of gaps and ground-dwelling rodents in pantropical forests, it would be surprising if this form of lethal browsing was restricted to Korup. Copyright © 2015 Cambridge University Press.
Source title: Journal of Tropical Ecology
DOI: 10.1017/S0266467415000504
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84952637830&doi=10.1017%2fS0266467415000504&partnerID=40&md5=1dbb8b5b15c72a598a89bca5a3b8e81d
Correspondence Address: Norghauer, J.M.; Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 21 Altenbergrain, Switzerland; email: julian.norghauer@ips.unibe.ch
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), the World's largest primate, is confined to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is threatened by civil war and insecurity. During the war, armed groups in mining camps relied on hunting bushmeat, including gorillas. Insecurity and the presence of several militia groups across Grauer's gorilla's range made it very difficult to assess their population size. Here we use a novel method that enables rigorous assessment of local community and ranger-collected data on gorilla occupancy to evaluate the impacts of civil war on Grauer's gorilla, which prior to the war was estimated to number 16,900 individuals. We show that gorilla numbers in their stronghold of Kahuzi- Biega National Park have declined by 87%. Encounter rate data of gorilla nests at 10 sites across its range indicate declines of 82-100% at six of these sites. Spatial occupancy analysis identifies three key areas as the most critical sites for the remaining populations of this ape and that the range of this taxon is around 19,700 km2. We estimate that only 3,800 Grauer's gorillas remain in the wild, a 77% decline in one generation, justifying its elevation to Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. © 2016 Plumptre et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Source title: PLoS ONE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162697
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84992515530&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0162697&partnerID=40&md5=43d2001f3f5f29c1bdb90e3f89140826
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Kahuzi-Biega ; Itombwe ; Maiko ; Tayna ; Kisimba Ikobo
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Abundance ; Armed conflicts ; Hunting / Poaching

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Abstract: The research paper demonstrates the contribution of indigenous knowledge and farming practices to climate change resilience. The study involved a purposive sample of 100 indigenous knowledge holders living adjacent to the Nyungwe National Park (NNP) and Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda. The major threats to climate change included deforestation, floods, changes in volcanic activity and changes in solar radiation and the use of chemical fertilizers. The majority of local farmers (75%) perceived indigenous farming systems and practices to be effective in climate change resilience. It is cheap, relying mostly on less external inputs, local and indigenous varieties, crop residues, and cow dung and produces a significant contribution on climate change resilience and has less side effects compared to the modern farming systems and practices. It is therefore imperative to incorporate IKS into modern farming systems and practices to increase agricultural productivity without compromising on environment and nature conservation. © 2016, © 2016 Kamla-Raj.
Source title: Journal of Social Sciences
DOI: 10.1080/09718923.2016.11893524
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85058210386&doi=10.1080%2f09718923.2016.11893524&partnerID=40&md5=b6d87034e06f885be8fe542512d6352f
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe ; Volcans
Main topic: Humans ; Environment
Subtopic: Periphery / Management ; Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Agriculture ; Climate