Trees, Forests and People最新文献

{"title":"Understanding the influence of environmental factors on forest composition along the vertical gradient of Northwestern Himalaya","authors":"Simran Tomar ,&nbsp;Shinny Thakur ,&nbsp;Neha Thapliyal ,&nbsp;K.S. Kanwal ,&nbsp;I.D. Bhatt ,&nbsp;Sunil Nautiyal ,&nbsp;Sunil Puri","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Temperate and alpine ecosystems are considered the most sensitive and vulnerable region towards climate change in the Indian Himalayan region. The current study investigates forest composition in relation to environmental and edaphic factors, which is critical for determining plant community patterns. The impact of climatic and soil properties was studied to better understand species diversity and composition over an elevational gradient (2500–4800 m) in Beas Valley, Northwestern Himalaya. A total of 181 species from 15 community types, representing 122 genera and 53 families (9 Trees, 13 shrubs, and 142 herbs) were recorded from the valley. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis revealed significant compositional dissimilarity (PseudoF = 10.16, R² = 0.48, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) among vegetation types. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that tree species diversity was significantly influenced by solar radiation (β=0.17, <em>p</em> = 0.001) and winter temperature (β=41.95, <em>p</em> = 0.017). It was observed that solar radiation and winter temperature shape the community types in high elevation temperate regions. In contrast, precipitation, solar radiation along with summer temperature determine the composition of sub-alpine communities, whereas solar radiation, winter temperature and soil pH determine the composition of alpine communities. This indicated that multiple environmental factors are responsible for this diversity. The research findings shed light on crucial factors influencing high elevation plant diversity, emphasizing the significance of understanding environmental correlations for effective conservation. This is pioneer study, which will act as a reference for future studies in Beas valley. This scientific foundation allows for prioritized conservation efforts, focusing on areas with specific environmental conditions influencing forest composition and plant diversity, ultimately contributing to better management and preservation of high elevation plant communities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001389/pdfft?md5=325a8269662b267f22d64651f0a17746&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001389-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141950831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of the decision to convert croplands into E. Camaldulensis woodlot and its impact on income diversification in Mecha district, Northwest Ethiopia","authors":"Ermias Debie","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Financial benefits from Eucalyptus woodlot growing can surpass staple crop production; nevertheless, the reasons for this shift and its potential impacts on income diversification remain largely unknown in the highlands of Ethiopia. Using a binary logistic regression model, the study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the conversion of cropland to Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodlots. The independent <em>t</em>-test and the Simpson Diversity Index were used to evaluate the impact of transition on income diversification. Quantitative data gathered from 337 randomly chosen household heads were used in the analysis. Results revealed that market demand for E. camaldulensis woodlot, plot accessibility to a transportation route, declining cropland productivity, more saving potential, and total land holding size significantly influenced the decisions of farmers to convert their croplands into E. camaldulensis woodlot. Woodlot adopters diversified their source of income by 49.4 % compared to non-adopters, implying that eucalyptus woodlot plantings can be more preferred to income improvement than crop production. Policy makers must pay attention to important factors that significantly influence the decisions that farmers make about the conversion of croplands into E. camaldulensis woodlots. Increased growth in woodlots with balanced cropland output through a sustainable land management approach is required to increase the diversification of income among farmers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001432/pdfft?md5=8d3df02a8636d62e68e3c5c73efd3413&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001432-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141853934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-fire Effects on Soil Properties in High altitude Mixed-conifer Forest of Nepal","authors":"Badri Prasad Dhungana ,&nbsp;Vivek Thapa Chhetri ,&nbsp;Chitra Bahadur Baniya ,&nbsp;Sundar Prasad Sharma ,&nbsp;Pramod Ghimire ,&nbsp;Shree Prasad Vista","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Studies on the effects of wildfires on soil are common in mixed-conifer forests worldwide; however, such studies are less frequent in the context of high-altitude mixed-conifer forests. In this research, we analyzed the soil physicochemical properties 14 years after a high-intensity wildfire. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–10 cm across 100 composite samples, representing both control and burnt areas. Our findings revealed significant changes in soil characteristics in the burnt area compared to the control area. Specifically, the average soil pH, electrical conductivity, and available potassium increased by 3 %, 81 %, and 53 %, respectively, in the burnt area, while available phosphorus decreased by 6 %. Conversely, the average total nitrogen and organic matter showed non-significant decreases of 20 % and 12 % in the burnt area compared to the control area. No significant differences were found in slope aspects. Electrical conductivity and available potassium varied significantly among upper (3300–3500 m), middle (3100–3300 m), and lower (2900–3100 m) altitude ranges. Principal component analysis explained a total of 50.1 % of the variance, with approximately 27.4 % explained by the first axis and 22.7 % by the second axis. The control and burnt areas were closely clustered, indicating similar soil properties. Electrical conductivity, available potassium, and pH were more linked to the burnt forests, while nitrogen and organic matter were more associated with the control forests. Consequently, post-fire restoration efforts should consider potential changes in soil nutrient availability to facilitate successful vegetation recovery. This study enhances the formulation of more precise post-fire land management strategies, improves forest restoration initiatives, and promotes sustainable land-use practices by comparing unburnt natural forests.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001407/pdfft?md5=c5eae6de127d961082c3ce37360702f9&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001407-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141849855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oilseed viability: A crucial factor for the success of the biodiesel industry","authors":"Eevera Tamilmani ,&nbsp;Venkatesan Subramanian ,&nbsp;Prabu Chidambaram ,&nbsp;Nelson Navamaniraj Koilpitchai ,&nbsp;Vinoth Kumar Muniyappan","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The oil derived from the seeds of the pongamia plant (<em>Pongamia pinnata</em>) has the potential to produce biodiesel. However, pongamia oil's high viscosity and conradson carbon residue make it unsuitable to use directly as a fuel in the already existing diesel engines. As a result, the experiments were carried out to determine the effectiveness of employing pongamia seeds with varying levels of seed viability for biodiesel production through transesterification process. The study looked at the relationship between seed physiological characteristics and extracted oil qualities in view of production of biodiesel through single step trasesterification process. The decreased seed viability was reflected in feedstock qualities such as free fatty acids (FFAs), saponification value (SV), iodine value (IV), cetane number (CN), and antioxidant enzyme activity. The pongamia seed lot exhibited &gt;60 % germination rates contained oil with low FFAs, low SV and high IV. The oil's low free fatty acid content (1.8 %) aids biodiesel production via a single-step alkali-based trans-esterification method. Thus, seed lots with higher viability enhance fuel properties, but decreasing FFAs in pongamia oil increases fuel production capabilities of seeds. Seeds with good viability exhibited lower oil oxidation potential due to higher antioxidant enzyme activity. The rapid viability evaluation test kit can be used at any stage of seed storage to determine whether oilseeds are suitable for biodiesel production. These findings will enable energy plantation growers to increase their profits by providing the biodiesel sector with high-quality feedstock.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001420/pdfft?md5=e4e277dcf22698dda7d7b4afda76c3d0&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001420-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141852796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endemic plant species and threats to their sustainability in Ethiopia: A systematic review","authors":"Tesfaye Wasihun Abro ,&nbsp;Anteneh Belayneh Desta ,&nbsp;Ermias Debie ,&nbsp;Dagnachew Melese Alemu","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ethiopia is located in the center of the biodiversity hotspots for the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Afro-montane regions, home to numerous endemic plant species. However, due to numerous habitat disturbances, many species are severely threatened by conservation problems, resulting in biodiversity loss. This review aimed to describe the IUCN Red List of vulnerable (VU), near threatened (NT), endangered (EN), and critically endangered (CR) endemic plant species, as well as the threats that they confront in protected areas of Ethiopia. The study identified that 88 of the 158 endemic plant species were classified as VU, NT, EN, or CR on the IUCN red list. Out of all the reviewed articles, twelve (36.4 %) reported on the threats to floral diversity. The main threats to endemic plant species in the Afromontane forests of southwest Ethiopia are livestock grazing (64.2 %), fuelwood and timber production (50.0 %), and cropland expansion (35.7 %). Conversely, the main threat to endemic plants is climate change-induced land conversion in the Afro-alpine ecosystems of the southern (Bale Mountain National Park) and northern (Semien Mountain National Park and Abune Yosef Mountain Range) regions. In the Afro-alpine belt of Ethiopia, there is a substantial threat to endemic plant species such as Lobelia rhynchopetalum due to land degradation coupled with climate change. In this respect, conservation planning for narrow-range endemic plant species in hotspot areas like, Bale Mountain National Park, Semien Mountain National Park, and Abune Yosef Mountain Range should be started promptly. Future research is necessary to fully understand the condition of 51.4 % of the endemic plant species because they were not evaluated using the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Moreover, those evaluated under IUCN Red List were not reported for their regeneration status, which limits our comprehension of their sustainability prospects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001419/pdfft?md5=98c1c3ca7a0f2ba848747665136adc46&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001419-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141846869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing forest villagers’ livelihood vulnerability to the environmental changes in Buxa Tiger Reserve of sub-Himalayan India","authors":"Pritha Datta ,&nbsp;Dil Bahadur Rahut ,&nbsp;Bhagirath Behera ,&nbsp;Tetsushi Sonobe ,&nbsp;Naveen","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Himalayan forest communities historically lived in harmony with their environment; however, anthropogenic activities have disrupted this balance. Deforestation, climate change, and habitat degradation have heightened vulnerability, compounded by human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs) and limited access to crucial livelihood capitals. Addressing these challenges requires a deeper understanding of factors associated with household-level vulnerability, prompting this study in the Buxa Tiger Reserve of sub-Himalayan India. Data from 345 households across ten villages reveal significant exposure to HWCs, particularly elephant crop raiding and leopard-induced livestock losses. Sensitivity arises from water scarcity, health issues, food shortages, and inadequate housing conditions, while limited adaptive capacity stems from infrastructural and financial constraints, among others. Spatial disparities emerge, with tribal households exhibiting lower exposure but lesser adaptive capacity compared to non-tribal communities. Proximity to different facilities (e.g., markets, financial institutions, primary healthcare centers) and government schemes significantly influence vulnerability, revealing unexpected associations. Besides, villagers’ willingness to relocate demonstrates higher adaptive capacity and perceived benefits outside the reserve. By unraveling the layers of vulnerability at the household level, this study provides valuable guidance for policymakers, forest managers, and other stakeholders. It offers insights into sustainable development strategies, resonating globally to harmonize human actions with environmental conservation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001390/pdfft?md5=f763ee480367c3d210f1e88520912bc2&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001390-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141845085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Various presowing treatments for enhancing Melia dubia (Cav.) seed germination, seedling development, and vigor index","authors":"Alok Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;J.K. Singh ,&nbsp;Rikesh Kumar ,&nbsp;Prashant Sharma ,&nbsp;Nasam Midhun Kumar ,&nbsp;Bipin Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Shruthi Srinivasan","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Melia dubia</em> (Cav.) is one of the most promising agroforestry multipurpose tree species. However, there is a shortage of this quality planting material due to its low germination ability. Our study assessed six different presowing treatments, namely, soaking in tap water for 24 h, soaking in a cow dung slurry for 7 days (CDS), scarification with 50 % H₂SO₄ for 5 min, soaking in 200 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) for 24 h, and soaking in CDS + H₂SO₄, GA3 + H₂SO₄ or the control (no application), for enhancing seed germination and growth in <em>Melia dubia</em> during 2019–20 in the Indo-Gangetic Plains region. STAR version 2.0.1 was used to analyze the observed data using one-way ANOVA. The results of this study showed that different treatments substantially impacted the germination and growth of <em>Melia dubia</em>. Compared with those of untreated seeds (control), the germination percentage of seeds treated with cow dung slurry significantly increased by 49 %, the biomass percentage significantly increased by 25 %, and the vigor index significantly increased by 79 %. In conclusion, our study revealed that treating <em>Melia dubia</em> seeds with cow dung slurry for a period of 7 days enhances germination and seedling growth and is also cost-effective for nursery managers and farmers due to the absence of associated costs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001365/pdfft?md5=8f79129fa1871fa36e3a01d6fd8c7e3d&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001365-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141846017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The unidirectional relationship between forest disturbance and armed conflict in the Andean Paramo","authors":"Fernando A. Méndez-Garzón ,&nbsp;Paulo J. Murillo-Sandoval ,&nbsp;István Valánszki","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The armed conflict in Colombia has profoundly transformed rural landscapes, significantly impacting local communities. Sumapaz, the world's largest paramo, is a crucial water source for over 15 million people in the central Andean region of Colombia. Historically, the paramo functioned as a strategic corridor for the leftist guerrilla <em>Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia</em> (FARC) to gain access to Bogotá for a potential armed takeover of political power. The specific impact of the conflict between the FARC and the Colombian army in the paramo, as well as the effects of conflict de-escalation, remain understudied. By analyzing forest disturbances and records on victims and conflict events, we identified a unidirectional relationship between the intensity of armed conflict and landscape transformation. Forest disturbances were significantly higher during the armed conflict (2001-2012). In contrast, forest disturbances have markedly decreased since the beginning of peace negotiations in 2012 and the subsequent peace agreement period 2016-2020. These findings contrast with documented trends in other regions of the country, such as the Andean and Amazonian areas. Our results demonstrate that the legacy of armed confrontation between the Colombian army and FARC in the paramo negatively impacted the landscape. Importantly, these findings provide valuable insights into conservation policies and environmental management during the post-peace agreement era, offering an opportunity to develop future preservation actions and shape the future of the Andean Paramo.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001353/pdfft?md5=fbaeca385ecc6d6ba578d1df0be792df&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001353-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141843887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reviewing changes in mangrove land use over the decades in Thailand: Current responses and challenges","authors":"Preeyaphat Chaiklang ,&nbsp;Daniel Karthe ,&nbsp;Mukand Babel ,&nbsp;Lukas Giessen ,&nbsp;Carsten Schusser","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100630","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100630","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>After a decline from 367,900 ha to 160,000 ha between 1961 and 1996, there has been a notable recovery of mangroves in Thailand, with an expansion to 277,923 ha by 2020. This review aims to comprehensively analyze not only the historical changes but also the future outlook based on the land use changes within the mangrove ecosystem and the drivers of changes. Combining a systematic literature review with the Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response (DPSIR) framework, we identified key factors that impact mangrove ecosystems in Thailand. Results indicate that previous research mostly focused on ecological outcomes of land use change in mangrove regions while limited attention has been paid to socioeconomic aspects. During 1988–2014, the creation of aquaculture ponds was the dominant threat to mangroves, but this was at least partly mitigated by capacity development for ameliorating the impacts of aquaculture. More recently, from 2015 to 2023, there has been a decline in the number and spatial extent of aquaculture ponds, which other land uses have replaced. This specifically includes mangrove restoration and monitoring, which were motivated not only by efforts for environmental conservation but also incentivized by enhanced biodiversity and carbon neutrality goals. Nevertheless, there are still knowledge gaps concerning the interplay between socioeconomic factors and the intricacies of carbon management. These challenges necessitate a more thorough examination of actors' interests and influences, and considering mangrove ecosystems within a Sustainability Nexus perspective highlights the interconnections among environmental resources (e.g., biodiversity, water security, climate system) and society. The approach emphasizes integrated planning and takes synergies and tradeoffs between different management objectives into consideration, thus allowing for an approach to sustainable development that equally considers human needs and complex environmental systems. Ultimately, addressing the above-mentioned gaps is crucial not only for preserving mangroves but also for advancing Thailand's climate-related objectives and ensuring overall sustainability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001377/pdfft?md5=64af21c3db63a65702d87f8cf7f9ab3b&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001377-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141854009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resilience, remoteness and war shape the land cover dynamics in one of the world's largest miombo woodlands","authors":"Christopher A. Andrews ,&nbsp;Samuel Bowers ,&nbsp;Luisa F. Escobar-Alvarado ,&nbsp;Kai Collins ,&nbsp;Kyle G. Dexter ,&nbsp;Casey M. Ryan","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The highlands of southeast Angola are one of the world's largest intact formations of miombo woodland. Recent interest from conservation groups is increasing the possibility of a new protected area in this conflict-afflicted, remote region, contributing to the “30 × 30” target of the Global Biodiversity Framework. With the potential for a new protected area, it is important to quantify the extent and change of natural and anthropogenic land covers in the region, not least because of the close dependence of livelihoods on natural resources in the miombo. We developed a 1990–2020 land cover time series, analysing deforestation, canopy opening, canopy closure, and vegetation regrowth after disturbance. Regional woodland extent has remained roughly constant despite frequent transitions between dense and open woodlands. Canopy opening peaked post-civil war, potentially related to the resettlement of displaced people. Over 30 years, 61 % ± 2 % of canopy opening was offset by subsequent canopy closure, which peaked a decade after the war ended, indicating the resilience of miombo systems. A woodland resource-use frontier, consisting of deforestation and canopy opening, is evident in the north-west of the area, likely driven by urban demand for agricultural products, charcoal, timber and other wood-derived goods. A distinct “core” of dynamic woodland occupies 52 % of the study region, where there is no evidence that shifting cultivation and local livelihoods are a net cause of land cover change. We do not find evidence for extensive net woody encroachment, only 2 % of the study region is being encroached by woody vegetation. This canopy closure is associated with remoteness from anthropogenic pressures and biophysical drivers that facilitate woody vegetation growth. Policymakers and conservation managers can use these data to aid in locating and prioritising interventions to sustainably produce agricultural and wood fuel products to meet increasing urban demand. Additionally, supporting conditions for maintaining both biophysical processes and livelihoods in remote areas is crucial to achieving 30 × 30 equitably.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324001304/pdfft?md5=78ecf417a62d9341ae97173eff378d6e&pid=1-s2.0-S2666719324001304-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141839530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}