Conservation, Volume 5, Issue 1 (March 2025) – 15 articles

There are distinct management approaches for communal properties and commercial agricultural properties concerning bush encroachment. The utilisation of community-based knowledge possesses the capacity to enhance our comprehension of localised circumstances and provide valuable experience in endeavours targeted at supporting local communities. The perception of bush encroachment control as a sustained endeavour rather than a singular occurrence is of utmost importance. This may include considering other solutions that may not always be the most convenient or cost-effective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the predominant methods employed by rural communities in semi-arid savannah rangelands in Southern Africa to manage bush encroachment. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search was conducted in the field of communal strategies of bush encroachment management. The findings of this study indicate that the predominant and commonly utilised management strategy for mitigating bush encroachment includes the extraction of plants for medicinal applications, followed by firewood extraction. Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems have played a pivotal role in communal bush encroachment management. It is recommended that communal approaches to bush encroachment management in Southern Africa’s semi-arid savannah rangelands harness the power of indigenous knowledge while benefiting from modern scientific insights, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable management practices. This can be accomplished by fostering community involvement and active participation, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, enhancing skills and expertise, preserving and safeguarding indigenous wisdom through documentation, and harmoniously blending traditional and scientific methodologies. Full article

The composition and diversity of the sensitive benthic Charophyta were examined in 13 lakes and 1 pond located in the Kaçkar Mountains National Park during the summer and autumn months of 2020. While a total of 78 taxa were identified, Cosmarium became the main genus of the flora with 33 species. In the flora, the filamentous members of the Charophyta (12 species) were also noteworthy. Intraspecies variability is very high, with a Subspecies/Species index of 1.11, which reflects the sensitivity of the identified charophyte flora as an indicator of conservation efficiency. The physico-chemical analysis results and bioindicator species indicate that the investigated waters are fresh, with low salinity and a circumneutral or slightly alkaline pH, and are not organically polluted. Comparative statistics and RDA divide the studied lakes into two clusters (northern and southern in the park territory) and reveal the complex factors related to salinity and oxygen saturation as regulators of species abundance in communities. Full article

As fisheries face intersecting ecological and economic crises, small-scale fishers and Indigenous fishing communities have been organising globally to protect their rights. Yet governance of commercial small-scale fisheries in Canada has been dominated by colonial state actors in the interests of both conservation and economic growth. Meanwhile, agroecology has been considered an appropriate framework for reenvisaging and reshaping food systems in Canada’s North. We propose four dimensions of agroecological fishing: governance, knowledge, economies, and socio-cultural values. We apply these to the Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation fishery in the Northwest Territories. We suggest that these agroecological fisheries dimensions, underpinned by Indigenous values and practices of stewardship, offer an alternative paradigm for the conservation of fish, waters, and fishing communities. Full article

The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of East Africa, have a longstanding historical connection to the fishing sector. Despite its cultural and ecological significance, the sector’s social, economic, and sustainable dimensions remain underexplored. This research contextualises the fishing industry in the Canary Islands and evaluates the impact of COVID-19. From 2012 to 2022, the sector contributed just 0.14% to the region’s GDP, compared to 3.75% nationally, a 3.5% difference, despite the high value of species like bigeye tuna and bluefin tuna. This disparity highlights the limited economic weight of local fisheries. This study also reveals how the pandemic exacerbated existing challenges, threatening the sector’s sustainability. However, traditional fishing practices in the Canary Islands, with their lower environmental impact, play a vital role in preserving marine ecosystems, combating climate change, and alleviating broader economic pressures. These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to ensure the sector’s resilience and sustainability after the pandemic. Full article

The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo), a flagship species of conservation significance, has expanded its range beyond the Gir protected areas into multi-use landscapes, including the coastal regions of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. This study examines the dietary patterns of Asiatic lions in this unique coastal region. Using scat analysis, we identified the prey species consumed and quantified their contributions to the lions’ diet. Results indicate that the lions predominantly consumed wild prey, such as Boselaphus tragocamelus, Sus scrofa, and Axis axis, which together constituted 64% of their diet. Domestic prey contributed 31%. In terms of biomass, wild prey accounted for 70%, with Boselaphus tragocamelus alone contributing 51%. The dietary niche breadth, calculated using Levin’s index, was 0.36, suggesting a relatively specialized diet. This study underscores the importance of prey abundance and habitat structure in shaping lion predation patterns. Lions’ reliance on wild prey, particularly Boselaphus tragocamelus and Sus scrofa, highlights their crucial role in the coastal region. Additionally, the inclusion of domestic prey, such as feral cattle, may reflect their high availability and reduced anti-predator behaviors. These findings emphasize the need for robust prey population monitoring and habitat conservation to ensure the long-term survival of Asiatic lions in the coastal region. Full article

Wandering dogs are a threat to Aotearoa New Zealand’s endemic kiwi bird species because kiwi have not evolved defenses against mammalian predators. New Zealanders can protect kiwi by reporting wandering dogs, and this also protects the dogs themselves. This study explored New Zealanders’ reporting intentions and behavior, as well as attitudes and beliefs about wandering dogs, harm to kiwi, and dog welfare. Guided by the I₃ framework, we also assessed respondents’ involvement with the intervention of reporting, and involvement with both dog welfare and kiwi welfare. A sample of 250 New Zealanders completed the questionnaire online. Attitudes and behavior were consistent with involvement, and patterns for involvement with kiwi welfare and involvement with dog welfare were similar. The results indicated that almost all respondents fell into one of two quadrants based on involvement—both quadrants were highly involved with dog and kiwi welfare but varied on involvement with reporting. This pattern suggests that promotion campaigns are likely to be an effective intervention to increase the reporting of wandering dogs. Promotional campaigns might focus on dog welfare or kiwi welfare, and should highlight the link between reporting, dogs, and harm to kiwi. Full article

Nabatean thyme (Thymbra nabateorum (Danin & Hedge) Bräuchler) is a perennial herb species under the Lamiaceae family, first described in 1998. The species is thought to be endemic to Jordan with only six known records. However, recent fieldwork has uncovered new patches of Nabatean thyme in northwestern Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to determine the global conservation status and update the distribution of Nabatean thyme. To achieve this, we conducted extensive fieldwork and used the collected occurrences to calculate species Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO). We recorded Nabatean thyme in sandstone grooves within open plains at altitudes of 850 to 1350 m, with its largest population occurring outside its historical range, rendering it endemic to northwest Arabia. The primary threats to Nabatean thyme across its range include overgrazing, excessive harvesting for medicinal purposes, and habitat fragmentation. Nabatean thyme has an EOO of 47,585 km² and an AOO of 136 km². Accordingly, we recommend considering Nabatean thyme as an Endangered species under the B2ab(iii) and C2a(ii) IUCN criteria. We recommend integrating both in situ and ex situ conservation programs to improve the conservation status and ensure the sustainability of Nabatean thyme. Full article

The endangered San Joaquin kit fox (SJKF) (Vulpes macrotis mutica), which is endemic to the San Joaquin Valley in California, has lost most of its natural habitat due to urban sprawl and change in land use over time. Many studies have been conducted to restore and protect the remaining habitat, involving presence/absence surveys prior to urban development using camera monitoring, tracking dogs, tracking plates, spotlighting, and trapping. While these traditional methods work well, they can be invasive, expensive, labor-intensive, and require permits to perform. In our study, we used a non-invasive method based on DNA extraction from scat collected in the environment, followed by a diagnostic Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based approach on mitochondrial DNA fragments and investigated the presence of the SJKF on four case study sites that shared a high SJKF habitat suitability index but are under the threat of development. We found that the diagnostic PCR was able to accurately differentiate between different canids present at the sites, in a time- and cost-effective manner. Including this non-invasive method in the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s standardized recommendations for survey methods would help to improve future environmental assessments for SJKF populations in the Central Valley of California. Full article

The province of Sankuru, located within the Democratic Republic of Congo, is distinguished by its extensive rubber plantations, which have a long history in the region. These plantations have had a considerable impact on the region’s agrarian landscape over time. In addition to the exploitation of latex, for which the conditions are currently very limited, these plantations provide goods and services to the local population and are dominated by rural communities that are highly dependent on these natural resources. This study aimed to characterize the socio-demographic and agrarian profile of historical rubber plantations while assessing the occurrence of the ecosystem services (ESs) they provide. Particular attention will be paid to the farmers’ perceptions of these services, an essential element for the rational management of natural resources. This study used a mixed methodological approach, integrating semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and statistical analyses including chi-square testing and multiple correspondence factorial analysis (MCAFA) to obtain and analyze the data comprehensively. The results indicate that historical rubber plantations in Sankuru provide 21 ESs, which are grouped into four categories: eleven provisioning services, four regulating services, four cultural services, and two supporting services. It has been observed that local communities attach significant importance to the provision of services including the provision of firewood (96.67%) and the utilization of forest resources for traditional pharmacopoeia (91.33%). These plantations have come to be regarded as valuable cultural heritage by local communities over time. The younger generation evinces a greater interest in utility services than the older generation, which displays a preference for cultural services. However, older people demonstrate a more profound understanding of cultural and regulatory services. By emphasizing the species that contribute to ESs and recognizing plantations as cultural heritage, the study enhances the comprehension of the significance of local ecosystems. These findings provide a crucial foundation for directing local policy toward integrated management of historic rubber plantations in Sankuru. By considering the perceptions of local people, the study contributes to the sustainable conservation of these plantations for the present and future generations. Full article

Rio Grande Cooters (Pseudemys gorzugi) occupy the Rio Grande watershed and have among the smallest ranges of all North American freshwater turtles. Anthropogenic dewatering is considered to have caused range contractions and population declines. We sought to facilitate management recommendations by determining the extent of movement and potential associations with extrinsic cues. We conducted a GPS-enabled telemetry study from August 2015 to May 2017 on the Devils River in Texas, USA. We included Capture–Mark–Recapture data from 2011, 2014, and 2015–2018 to determine population status in conjunction with movement ecology. Turtles showed increased movement as streamflow and water depth increased. Larger movements were also made mid-year, coincident with the peak nesting season. We speculate that seasonality and increases in streamflow facilitate switches from slower, localized movement to transiting modes. We observed individual heterogeneity in transitory movements. Such movements led us to maintain our population estimate of 726 to 1219 individuals is representative of the entire Devils River. The extent of movement in P. gorzugi has been previously underestimated and long-range movements could explain observed genetic structure. Future efforts to re-establish natural flow regimes in the Rio Grande basin could potentially be the most effective management approach for this range-restricted chelonian. Full article

Despite its global importance for the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and its contribution in providing economic benefits to human society, the clade Anthophila is in severe decline worldwide. In this context, counteracting the decline in Apoidea is of fundamental importance. Honey bee density and beekeeping are believed to negatively impact wild bee populations, mostly through competition for food sources. In this study, interspecific trophic competition was investigated using the still seldom exploited approach of a palynological analysis combined with a metabarcoding analysis of the pollen gathered by both managed honey bees and wild bees in three Italian national parks. The entire trophic network was identified as highly specialized (H2′ = 0.933). The results obtained suggest that, overall, wild bee species are sustained by different pollen sources than honey bees. This low sharing of resources could be due to the natural trend occurring in natural populations, where species tend to minimize the competitive overlap through niche differentiation or niche complementarity as a result of coevolution. National parks play a fundamental role in animal and plant species protection and conservation. Therefore, plans should focus on evaluating honey bee densities in the interests of achieving less intensive, more traditional, and sustainable beekeeping, as well as habitat restoration, to promote the survival and reproduction of wild bee populations. Full article

Given the threat of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, climate-safe alternatives are receiving more attention. One of the most widespread solutions is the implementation of solar-powered technologies. These technologies, once implemented, do not increase emissions and provide safe, clean energy sources. However, large-scale solar farms require large amounts of land space in areas that receive increased sunlight to operate successfully. As such, there have been proposals to establish solar farms adjacent to or encroaching on wetland habitats. Currently, little is known about the interactions between wildlife, specifically waterbirds, and solar installations in wild areas, specifically wetland environments. In this article, we examine the current knowledge base of wildlife interactions with solar infrastructure in natural environments. We highlight a significant need for more information on wetland ecosystems and the responses of migratory waterfowl that are dependent on these ecosystems. Finally, we present methods of mitigation to reduce the occurrence of these interactions and future considerations for research. While solar facilities represent an opportunity to decrease the reliance on fossil fuels, care must be taken so that their installation does not harm local ecosystems. Full article

Biodiversity is incredibly important for the myriad ecosystem services it provides, especially for coastal nations such as The Bahamas. However, the newly implemented access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime is undermining scientific research, which is essential to effectively manage and conserve the country’s biodiversity. Key challenges include a poorly drafted legislation with punitive damages (financial and criminal), an overly bureaucratic and dysfunctional permitting process, and cost-prohibitive registration fees that are unsustainable for most researchers and organizations. As a result, the newly implemented ABS regime is driving the demise of academic and conservation research needed to protect the country’s biodiversity, diverting funding away from The Bahamas, jeopardizing relationships with the international scientific community, reducing its capacity to advance science innovation, and impeding much needed experiential learning opportunities for Bahamian students and professionals. A critical solution under the current permitting regime is the need to distinguish between commercial and non-commercial research in the regulatory framework and provide separate accommodations for the same. Furthermore, countries that consider establishing national ABS frameworks are advised to thoroughly engage with all relevant stakeholders through a transparent and consultative process during ABS design and implementation. This will help to ensure that the resulting legislation and policies do not unnecessarily obstruct the research needed for biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. Full article

Justicia adhatoda, also known as Adulsa or Vasaka, is a notable member of the family Acanthaceae, with a broad geographic distribution across varied climatic conditions, and is known for its extensive medicinal properties for treating respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, malaria, and dysentery. It possesses several pharmacological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancerous ones. In addition to discussing its morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects, the present review also focuses on its several unexplored facets, such as pollination mechanism, cytology, molecular and genetic aspects, conservation, and ecological attributes. The literature survey indicates that, despite its medicinal value, J. adhatoda is also a strong invader in various ecosystems, suppressing associated species and cause vegetation homogenization. It also provides several ecosystem services, including soil stabilization, ecological restoration, and phytoremediation by removing contaminants such as chromium and mercury from wastewater. Additionally, its leaves increase the nitrogen content in compost, promote the proliferation of earthworms, and help suppress plant diseases. This highlights its potential for sustainable land management and integrated disease control. The urgency of this research is underscored by the significant gap in the literature regarding the ecological interactions of J. adhatoda, particularly its allelopathic effects on other plant species. The findings underscore the need for sustainable utilization and conservation strategies, emphasizing the dual importance of J. adhatoda as a medicinal resource and an ecological disruptor. Full article

In arid Turkana County, over 90% of the population is food insecure, and wild edible plants (WEPs) provide 12–30% of dietary intake. However, climate change and overexploitation threaten these crucial resources. This study employed sequential qualitative methods to investigate community perceptions, conservation priorities for WEPs, barriers, and necessary actions in Turkana. It combined participatory community workshops and expert validation interviews. The research revealed critical threats to WEP availability, including climate change, shifting cultural practices, and a lack of natural regeneration. Key conservation barriers included intergenerational knowledge gaps, inadequate policy implementation, and conflicts between immediate needs and long-term conservation goals. In developing conservation plans, the stakeholders identified and prioritized WEP species based on food value, medicinal properties, cultural significance, utility, and drought resistance. The co-developed conservation strategy emphasized both in situ protection measures, such as community awareness programs and local policy enforcement mechanisms, and restoration actions that include planting prioritized WEPs in home gardens and community spaces. Collaborative roles for communities, non-governmental organizations, researchers, and government actors were identified to provide training, resources, and technical support. This strategy also emphasizes the need for incentivization through food/cash-for-work programs and small business grants to promote alternative livelihoods. The strategies align with some of the most-utilized conservation frameworks and principles, and present new ideas such as integrating indigenous knowledge. Expert validation confirmed the feasibility of proposed actions, highlighting the importance of multi-stakeholder approaches. This study contributes to expanding our knowledge base on community-based conservation and provides insights for policymakers, emphasizing WEPs’ critical role in food security, cultural preservation, and ecological resilience. The findings could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other arid regions facing comparable challenges. Full article