In the human-dominated epoch of the Anthropocene, nations worldwide are trying to adopt a variety of strategies for biodiversity conservation, including flagship-based approaches. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) plays a pivotal role as a flagship species in India’s biodiversity conservation efforts, particularly within its tropical forest ecosystems. As the country harboring the largest Asian elephant population among the 13 range countries, India’s conservation strategies offer valuable insights for other range countries. This study elucidates India’s elephant conservation paradigm by outlining a historical account of elephant conservation in the country and examining the current administrative and legal frameworks. These are instrumental in implementing strategies aimed at maintaining sustainable elephant populations. Our study also analyzes trends in elephant populations and negative human–elephant interactions, drawing upon data from a centralized government database. Our findings indicate that the elephant population in India is reasonably stable, estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000 individuals. This figure constitutes nearly two-thirds of the global Asian elephant population. India’s elephant population occupies ∼163,000 km2 of diverse habitats, comprising 5% of the country’s land area, with their distribution spread across the northern, northeastern, east-central, and southern regions. This distribution has shown fluxes, particularly in the east-central region, where large-scale elephant dispersals have been observed. Between 2009 and 2020, human–elephant conflicts in India have resulted in an average annual loss of 450 (±63.7) human lives. During the same period, the central and state governments paid an average of US$ 4.79 million (±1.97) annually as ex gratia for property losses. Recognizing the critical nature of these conflicts, India has implemented various measures to manage this pressing conservation challenge. Overall, sustaining the world’s largest extant population of wild elephants in the midst of India’s human-dominated landscapes is enabled by a robust institutional policy and legal framework dedicated to conservation. This commitment is further reinforced by strong political will and a deep-rooted cultural affinity towards elephants and nature, which fosters a higher degree of tolerance and support for conservation efforts.
Human–wildlife conflicts (HWCs) are a worldwide problem, especially around protected areas where human and wildlife needs overlap. This study focused on the Chundu communal area and the Nyamakate resettlement area in Northern Zimbabwe, with three primary objectives: (i) to identify problematic wildlife species frequently involved in HWC in these areas; (ii) to examine the temporal variations of HWC cases; and (iii) to assess the effectiveness of current and suggested mitigation measures for managing these conflicts. Data were collected in November 2019 and February 2020, periods identified as peak times for HWC in these areas. A comprehensive three-stage sampling design was used to collect data for this study. Data were collected through household questionnaires from 16 villages (64 households) in the Nyamakate resettlement area and nine villages (36 households) from the Chundu communal area. The study identified the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) as the most problematic animal in livestock predation, followed by the African lion (Panthera leo) and leopard (Panthera pardus). There were no significant differences in HWC between the dry season (M= 315, SD = 417.79) and the wet season (M= 383, SD = 540.19; t[4] = −0.43, p > 0.05). The study concluded that HWC occurred throughout the year in both communities, unaffected by seasonal variations. It was determined that current mitigation measures are inadequate for managing HWC in both areas. In light of these findings, the study recommends the use of nonlethal methods in HWC management, reserving lethal means as a last resort.
Natural rubber cultivation is one of the main drivers of tropical deforestation and biodiversity loss. This study examines regulatory and socio-economic conditions that increase the susceptibility of rubber plantations to deforestation and degradation, aiming to support zerodeforestation pledges and sustainability commitments made by the natural rubber industry. By combining bottom-up socio-economic survey data from rubber smallholder farmers in Indonesia with top-down spatial datasets on forest loss and degradation, this study identifies factors associated with deforestation, tree cover loss, and degradation of high-risk plantations. In Jambi Province, Indonesia, from 1991 to 2018, the overall tree cover loss in areas adjacent to rubber plantations was positively correlated to plantation size, remoteness (travel time to cities), and distance to the nearest protected areas, indicating that larger, remotely located plantations likely expanded more into forests between 2000 and 2018. Similarly, tropical forest degradation was positively associated with plantation size, travel time to cities, and distance to protected areas. A higher rubber price in the preceding year correlated with increased annual deforestation and forest degradation, whereas lower prices had the opposite effect. These results suggest that monitoring price changes and identifying plantations that are near non-protected forest frontiers could enable early detection and potential mitigation of deforestation threats.
Coastal ecosystems and their endemic taxa are under threat from hurricanes that are increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change–leading to a need to better understand factors associated with species’ resistance (capacity to withstand) and resilience (capacity to rebound) to these storms. The beach mouse species complex (Peromyscus polionotus spp.) is a representative endangered group of rodents tightly associated with such coastal habitats. We examined track-tube monitoring data of beach mice from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, USA, before and after the 2018 strike of Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane, and again before and after the 2020 strike of Hurricane Sally, a Category 2 hurricane. We applied dynamic occupancy models to track-tube survey data to assess environmental factors associated with beach mouse initial occupancy and local extinction following Hurricane Michael. Beach mice exhibited high probabilities of detection and initial occupancy across most sites and all representative habitats before Hurricane Michael. Dynamic models revealed that local extinction probabilities of beach mice decreased with increasing elevation and dune habitat, followed by grassland, and scrub–highlighting high elevation dune as the primary driver of beach mouse resistance to storms. Extinction probability was not related to other factors like plant species percent cover or proximity to storm strike. Beach mice occurred at 100% of track-tubes before and after Hurricane Sally. Beach mice are adapted to persist in dynamic coastal environments with regular hurricane strikes, as evidenced by their resistance and resilience following Hurricane Michael to reach 100% occupancy with high resistance to the weaker Hurricane Sally. However, as hurricanes become stronger and more frequent with global change, isolated populations of beach mice may be more susceptible to local extinction with the corresponding loss of elevation and dunes. High elevation, particularly in dune habitats, is an important mediator of resistance and resilience to hurricane impacts and should be considered in habitat restoration and reintroduction strategies, especially if relative elevation decreases with sea-level rise.
Testudines (turtles and tortoises) rank among the most threatened vertebrates globally, with species in Asia particularly vulnerable due to exploitation, unregulated trade, habitat loss, and degradation. This study aimed to understand the ecology and conservation status of turtles and tortoises in the Indawgyi Lake basin. We conducted surveys along 47 transects, each 1–2 km in length, across four sampling periods (total distance covered = 74.9 km). Additionally, we also deployed four traps at three different locations to capture turtles during two of these sampling periods. In addition, we analyzed 14 soil samples collected from five locations to determine the nesting conditions of soft-shell turtles. Finally, we identified conservation concerns through semi-structured interviews with 146 local households, including fishermen and hunters, to gather local ecological knowledge (LEK) on the abundance, habitats, and breeding ecology of turtles and tortoises, as well as local conservation perspectives. Seven turtle and tortoise species were identified within the Indawgyi Lake basin. To our knowledge, two of these species, the Myanmar brown leaf turtle (Cyclemys fusca) and Oldham’s leaf turtle (Cyclemys oldhamii), have yet to be officially documented in this area. Furthermore, an Amyda sp. (collected on 10 March 2019), known by the vernacular name “Late Par Tate,” is hitherto undescribed and is likely a newly discovered species. Our results showed disturbance (SW = 1.0) and higher organic matter (SW = 0.52) as the main estimators explaining the difference in nest observation frequency. Animal grazing areas had more nests than other sites affected by greater human disturbances. The local community identified hunting (44%), fishing (28%), and deforestation (13%) as the main activities threatening turtle and tortoise populations. The majority of turtles hunted were either consumed (over 43%) or sold to middlemen, who at times sold them on to foreign traders (less than 51%). Alarmingly, 99% of those interviewed expressed a notable deficiency in protection and conservation efforts by the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division and NGOs. We advocate for enhanced conservation efforts, mainly through stronger enforcement, increased awareness, and the establishment of protection zones with restricted human access to facilitate the recovery of these populations, especially at nesting sites.
Understanding local perceptions and the different uses of multipurpose plant species is essential for their sustainable management. Despite this, anthropogenic factors such as deforestation, overexploitation of natural resources, extension of agricultural lands, overgrazing, and bushfires, coupled with the adverse effects of climate change, are contributing to the loss of these species. This study analyses the perceptions of local communities in Burkina Faso regarding the threats to Detarium microcarpum and Detarium senegalense and their implications, aiming to contribute to the effective management and conservation of such species. Through individual semi-structured and focus group interviews with 465 local people, data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, plant parts used, use categories, threats and their effects, proposed solutions, and perceived conservation strategies. Descriptive statistics (consensus for plant part and relative frequency of citation), component analysis, and non-parametric analyses were used for data analysis. Results indicated that ethnicity, age, education level, and occupation were the most influential sociodemographic factors in relation to the use of these species. Six plant parts from both Detarium species are used across seven use categories, with fruits (0.40), trunks (0.16), and bark (0.27) being the most exploited. There was consensus among local populations regarding areas of abundance. Threat factors, their effects, and conservation solutions varied significantly according to site status. This study highlights the multipurpose uses of Detarium species throughout Burkina Faso and reveals that threats to these species are linked to the occupation and the status of each site. Sustainable use, effective conservation, and domestication of Detarium species should be considered to promote and sustain the exploitation of non-timber forest products.
The occurrence of certain rare plant species in specific ecological habitats is intricately linked to a myriad of environmental conditions, encompassing both biotic and abiotic factors. The prioritisation of monitoring efforts becomes more impactful when conservationists possess a comprehensive understanding of the ecology and distribution of rare species within their designated habitats and across the entire range of the species. In September 2023, a study was conducted in Jigme Dorji National Park to assess the ecology, distribution and threats to the critically endangered Bhutan poppy. This survey, employing random sampling, covered approximately 87 ha across Tshophu, Tshophu base and Jichudrakey base in Soe Gewog and analysed 202 2 × 2m plots. The survey revealed 57 plant species from 24 families, with Asteraceae (17.5%) and Papaveraceae (12.3%) dominating. Notably, 46% of families comprised a single species, and significant species richness differences were observed between Tshophu, Tshophu base and Jichudrakey base. Correlations between species richness and environmental variables, including slope, rock cover (%), bare soil cover (%) and herb cover (%), were identified as significant. The Bhutan poppy was positively and significantly associated with the southwest aspect, occupying 59% of surveyed plots. Species distribution modelling predicted a distribution area of approximately 37.29 square kilometres within the national park. However, future climate scenarios indicated a significant shift in the distribution of the Bhutan poppy. By 2041-2060, there is an anticipated decrease of 33% in its distribution area, with a shift towards the northeast. In the period from 2061 to 2080, the distribution is expected to increase by 8% from its current range, maintaining the northeast shift. The study identified three primary threats: grazing, trampling and harvesting, with livestock activities prevalent in 92% of plots and signs of harvesting in 45%. These findings provide crucial insights into the ecological dynamics, distribution patterns and potential conservation challenges facing the Bhutan poppy in Jigme Dorji National Park’s alpine habitats, emphasising the need for informed conservation strategies amidst changing environmental conditions.