DOCSLIB.ORG

Higher Than Expected Growth Rate of the Endangered West African Giraffe Giraffa Camelopardalis Peralta: a Successful Human–Wildlife Cohabitation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Higher Than Expected Growth Rate of the Endangered West African Giraffe Giraffa Camelopardalis Peralta: a Successful Human–Wildlife Cohabitation Higher than expected growth rate of the Endangered West African giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis peralta: a successful human–wildlife cohabitation J.-P. SURAUD,J.FENNESSY,E.BONNAUD,A.M.ISSA,H.FRITZ and J . - M . G AILLARD Abstract The West African giraffe is a genetically unique Introduction population represented only by the subspecies Giraffa 20 camelopardalis peralta, categorized as Endangered on the ince the beginning of the th century the density ff ff IUCN Red List. These giraffes live outside protected areas, Sand distribution of gira e Gira a camelopardalis 1965 without natural predators and share their habitat with local populations has decreased across Africa (Sidney, )toa 140 000 1990 1999 ff people and their livestock. This study provides demographic total of c. , by the late s (East, ). Gira es , 80 000 data on this poorly studied megaherbivore and documents are now thought to number , (unpubl. data from ff its recovery. We analysed the results of photo-identification the international gira e database). The population of the ff ff censuses from 1996 to 1999 (count data) and from 2005 to West African gira e Gira a camelopardalis peralta,a 2008 (count and demographic data). From 1996 to 1999 genetically unique subspecies represented only by this 2007 the annual growth rate was c. 19% because of an unbalanced population, has also decreased (Brown et al., ; Hassanin 2007 population structure after a period of severe poaching. et al., ). ff From 2005 to 2008 an annual growth rate of c. 12–13% During Palaeolithic times the gira e ranged across West was estimated from both count data and demographic and North Africa, including the Mediterranean coastline 1957 20 parameters. This value fits with the maximum growth rate (Mauny, ). In the early th century the West African ff calculated for a browser species based on the allometric gira e was found across the Sudano-Sahelian zone from relationship linking growth rate and body mass. During the Chad to Senegal. Poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation 1995 period 2005–2008 adult and subadult females had a constant were the main drivers of their decline (Ciofolo, ). survival rate of 0.94 and a constant recapture rate of 0.97. Despite the implementation of an anti-poaching pro- 1980 ff 1981 Annual calf survival rate was 1. Observed sex ratio at birth gramme in the early s (Pfe er, ), the number of ff 1996 was 0.57 and mean reproductive success was 0.257. West African gira es continued to decline. In the last 50 Generation time was estimated to be 9.66 years. This individuals of this population were concentrated close 1998 spectacular population growth was mostly attributed to the to Niamey, the capital of Niger (Ciofolo, ; Le Pendu & 1999 absence of predators and the ongoing monitoring to limit Ciofolo, ). The Government of Niger made concerted ff illegal hunting. e orts to enforce legislation preventing the illegal killing of giraffes, further supported by a community education and Keywords Capture–mark–recapture, demography, giraffe, awareness campaign coordinated by PURNKO (Projet Giraffa camelopardalis peralta, growth rate, population d’Utilisation des Ressources Naturelles de Kouré). Since dynamics, survival 2000, with the additional help of ASGN (Association for Saving the Giraffes of Niger) and AVEN (Association pour la Valorisation de l’Ecotourisme au Niger; the giraffe guide association), poaching has almost ceased. Only three cases of poaching of giraffes were reported between 2005 and 2009.In2008 the West African giraffe was categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (Fennessy & Brown, 2008). 2009 ff 220 J.-P. SURAUD*, H. FRITZ and J.-M. GAILLARD (Corresponding author) Laboratoire In the West African gira e numbered c. de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (UMR 5558), CNRS, Université Lyon 1, 43 bd individuals (Suraud, in press), living outside protected 11 nov, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France. E-mail jean-michel.gaillard@ univ-lyon1.fr areas and without natural predators (i.e. lions Panthera leo), and thus sharing their habitat with local people and their J. FENNESSY Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Purley, UK livestock. This unique case of human–giraffe cohabitation E. BONNAUD Ecology Systematics and Evolution, Paris Sud University, ORSAY ff Cedex, France enables gira es to be individually monitored at close range with minimal flight response, and thus offers ideal A.M. ISSA Direction de la Faune, de la Chasse et des Aires Protégées, Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre la Désertification, Niger conditions to study population dynamics and estimate *Also at: Association pour la Sauvegarde des Girafes du Niger, Niamey, Niger the maximum population growth rate (r-max sensu 1977 Received 23 November 2010. Revision requested 17 February 2011. Caughley, ) of this poorly studied megaherbivore Accepted 9 March 2011. (sensu Owen-Smith, 1988). © 2012 Fauna & Flora International, Oryx, 46(4), 577–583 doi:10.1017/S0030605311000639 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.226, on 30 Sep 2021 at 17:39:51, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605311000639 578 J.-P. Suraud et al. Prior to this research most studies of giraffe population Soudano Sahélienne) project, local foresters, Peace Corps dynamics have focused on decreasing (Leuthold, 1978)or volunteers, and international students (Suraud & Dovi, stable populations (Foster & Dagg, 1972; Ngog Nje, 1983) and 2006, 2007; Suraud, 2008, 2009). These latter censuses were the maximum annual growth rate of a giraffe population improved by photo-identification, which allowed correcting was reported to be 6%, in the Serengeti National Park for repeated observations of the same giraffes. (Pellew, 1983). The aims of our study were to (1) analyse the Censuses based on photo-identification were quasi- results of the various West African giraffe censuses from exhaustive for this small population. We attempted to 1996 to 1999 (count data from photo-identification) and count every individual, developing an individual identity from 2005 to 2008 (both count and demographic data), card, and determined the distribution of the population (2) assess the structure of this population, and (3) estimate by sex and age classes. Photo-identification facilitated the demographic parameters of this recovering population. the building of individual capture–recapture histories, and thereby reliable estimates of age-specific survival rates. Then, using field-based estimates of reproductive Study area parameters we used demographic models to estimate population growth independently from annual counts The study area lies in the Sahel, with a mean total annual (Caswell, 2001). rainfall of 400–500 mm. The Fakara Plateau (Kouré, Each census was conducted annually, during the rainy Fandou), the North Dallol Bosso, and the Intermediate season, because the giraffes aggregated during this period in Zone are the three major areas of the West African giraffe’s the Kouré and Fandou plateaus, 60 km east of Niamey. The core range. Giraffes move across all three of these areas, and plateaus were surveyed using a systematic sampling design: their presence appears to be predominantly associated with annually from 2005 to 2008 up to three teams in 4-wheel seasonal rainfall and availability of forage (Ciofolo, 1998; drive vehicles identified every giraffe present until no new Le Pendu & Ciofolo, 1999). The giraffes roam during the giraffes were detected. The teams involved up to 22 people rainy season (June–October) onto the Fakara Plateau, and for c. 45 cumulative days every year from July to September. during the dry season (November–May) they return to the The photo-identification album was regularly updated and North Dallol Bosso where the vegetation is sparser but used to assess whether a given giraffe had been previously where species such as Faidherbia albida provide essential recorded or was a new individual. seasonal forage in the form of new leaves and pods. The From three to six age classes have been used to determine Intermediate Zone, the area used between the rainy and dry a giraffe’s age (Foster & Dagg, 1972; Leuthold, 1978; seasons, is an important corridor for the seasonal migration Pellew, 1983; Fennessy, 2003). We used four age classes to of these giraffes (Le Pendu & Ciofolo, 1999). standardize data. Long-term survey data allowed us to have The plateau vegetation is composed of tiger bush and information about most of the calves born between and cultivated crops (e.g. millet, sorghum and beans). Tiger within the two census periods (1996–1999 and 2005–2008). bush is a patterned vegetation community consisting The first age-class included juveniles , 6 months of age of alternating bands of trees or shrubs separated by characterized by a height of c. 2 m. The second included bare ground. Because of its organization and structure, young from 6 (. 2 m tall) to 18 months (up to 3 m tall) of tiger bush uses surface run-off optimally and is age; by the age of 12–18 months young may be separated largely dominated by Combretaceae (Guiera senegalensis, from their mothers. Although it included the second half of Combretum micranthum, Combretum nigricans) mixed the juvenile period and the first half of the yearling period with Mimosaceae and Capparidaceae (Acacia ataxacantha, (sensu Gaillard et al., 2000), we called this class yearling. Acacia macrostachya, Dichrostachys cinerea, Boscia angusti- The third corresponded to subadults from 18 months to folia, Boscia senegalensis; Saadou, 1996). 4 years of age; secondary sexual traits such as the small central ossicone are characteristic features of subadult . 4 Methods males. The fourth included adults m tall; the central ossicone of the adult males is well developed. ff Data collection As the pelage pattern of a gira e does not change during its life the form of the spots along the neck has been used to We analysed the results of two series of censuses.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Plot-Scale Agroforestry Modeling Explores Tree Pruning and Fertilizer Interactions for Maize Production in a Faidherbia Parkland
    Article Plot-Scale Agroforestry Modeling Explores Tree Pruning and Fertilizer Interactions for Maize Production in a Faidherbia Parkland Aynalem M. Dilla 1,2, Philip J. Smethurst 3,*, Neil I. Huth 4 and Karen M. Barry 2 1 Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia; [email protected] 2 Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 98, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; [email protected] 3 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Private Bag 12, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia 4 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 203 Tor St, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 16 September 2020; Accepted: 3 November 2020; Published: 4 November 2020 Abstract: Poor agricultural productivity has led to food shortages for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Agroforestry may improve food security by increasing soil fertility, crop production, and livelihoods. Agroforestry simulation models can be useful for predicting the effects of tree management on crop growth when designing modifications to these systems. The Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) agroforestry tree-proxy model was used to simulate the response of maize yield to N fertilizer applications and tree pruning practices in the parkland agroforestry system in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The model was parameterized and tested using data collected from an experiment conducted under trees and in crop-only plots during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The treatments contained three levels of tree pruning (100% pruned, 50% pruned, and unpruned) as 1 the main plots, and N fertilizers were applied to maize at two rates (9 or 78 kg N ha− ) as sub-plots.
    [Show full text]
  • CBSG Europe 2008 Giraffe PHVA Niger from 29 September Till 3Rd
    CBSG Europe 2008 Giraffe PHVA Niger From 29 September till 3rd October 2008 a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) was conducted for the last population of West‐African giraffes in Niger in the Sahel region of Africa. Kristin Leus from CBSG Europe and Arnaud Desbiez from CBSG Brazil were invited by the “Programme Régional Parc W” of ECOPAS (Ecosystèmes Protégés en Afrique Soudano‐Sahélienne) and the Government of Niger to facilitate the PHVA and build a Vortex computer simulation model. Although in the 19th century the distribution area of the West‐African giraffe subspecies (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) still covered a large part of the Sahel region from Senegal to Lake Chad, currently the last surviving representatives live in the “zone of the giraffes”, an area of about 84.000 ha in the Kouré region of Niger (about 60 km to the east of the capital Niamey) which is not classified as a protected area and contains roughly 30 villages with a population of more than 45.000 inhabitats. Threats include among others degradation and destruction of their habitat for firewood collection and agricultural activities, poaching, giraffe‐human conflicts due to damages to crops and disease risk through close contact with domestic livestock. Various governmental and non‐governmental organisations have already succeeded to bring back the subspecies from an all time low of less than 50 individuals in 1996, to currently about 200 individuals, through actions such as human development programmes, generation of funds and employment for local communities through ecotourism, education and awareness projects and yearly monitoring of the giraffe population with the aid of photo identification.
    [Show full text]
  • A Giant's Comeback
    W INT E R 2 0 1 0 n o s d o D y l l i B Home to elephants, rhinos and more, African Heartlands are conservation landscapes large enough to sustain a diversity of species for centuries to come. In these landscapes— places like Kilimanjaro and Samburu—AWF and its partners are pioneering lasting conservation strate- gies that benefit wildlife and people alike. Inside TH I S ISSUE n e s r u a L a n a h S page 4 These giraffes are members of the only viable population of West African giraffe remaining in the wild. A few herds live in a small AWF Goes to West Africa area in Niger outside Regional Parc W. AWF launches the Regional Parc W Heartland. A Giant’s Comeback t looks like a giraffe, walks like a giraffe, eats totaling a scant 190-200 individuals. All live in like a giraffe and is indeed a giraffe. But a small area—dubbed “the Giraffe Zone”— IGiraffa camelopardalis peralta (the scientific outside the W National Parc in Niger, one of name for the West African giraffe) is a distinct the three national parks that lie in AWF’s new page 6 subspecies of mother nature’s tallest mammal, transboundary Heartland in West Africa (see A Quality Brew having split from a common ancestral popula- pp. 4-5). Conserving the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro tion some 35,000 years ago. This genetic Entering the Zone with good coffee. distinction is apparent in its large orange- Located southeast of Niamey, Niger’s brown skin pattern, which is more lightly- capital, the Giraffe Zone spans just a few hun- colored than that of other giraffes.
    [Show full text]
  • Interesting Giraffe Behaviour in Etosha National Park Kerryn Carter, University of Queensland
    Giraffa Newsletter Volume 5(1), December 2011 Note from the Editor Inside this issue: Another year has passed and the festive season is upon us – for some Giraffe Indaba 2 more than others, as I write this at 35°C! Whilst we look forward to a A picture is worth a thousand words 4 solid rest, sadly the same cannot be said for all giraffe across Africa. The Giraffe return to their old stomping numbers of giraffe in Botswana are reported to have dropped in some ground 6 populations by more than 65% while those in the Central African Republic Knowsley Safari Park 40th Birthday continue to dwindle, and the sad song goes on. And again reality hits: we Lecture 8 still know so little about so many things! Gentle giraffes in Garissa 11 To be proactive we held the first-ever ‘wild’ Giraffe Indaba in Namibia in Vale Professor Skinner 12 early July this year and this was an extremely productive and positive Interesting behaviour in Etosha National Park 14 meeting of like minded people. The Indaba enabled us to discuss research, conservation and management of giraffe, as well as to chart a ‘road map’ Kenya’s reticulated giraffe 16 for the species’ future conservation – watch this space! Necks for sex? 17 Giraffe Indaba Presentation This issue brings you the best of the Giraffe Indaba (most conference Abstracts 22 posters and full presentations can also be found on the GCF website Giraffe Indaba Poster Abstracts 28 www.giraffeconservation.org) as well as some other interesting stories Recently published research 32 and updates.
    [Show full text]
  • Carbon Dynamics in Maize - Faidherbia Albida Agroforestry Systems in Zambia
    I C E INTERUNIVERSITY PROGRAMME IN PHYSICAL LAND RESOURCES Ghent University Vrije Universiteit Brussel Belgium Carbon dynamics in maize - Faidherbia albida agroforestry systems in Zambia Promoter(s) : Master dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Prof. Dr. Ir. De Neve Stefaan Master of Science in Physical Land Resources Tutor: by : Chipatela Muyembe Floyd Yengwe Jones (MSc) Academic Year : 2015-2016 Tutor(s) : «Promotor_1» «Promotor_2» This is an unpublished M.Sc dissertation and is not prepared for further distribution. The author and the promoter give the permission to use this Master dissertation for consultation and to copy parts of it for personal use. Every other use is subject to the copyright laws, more specifically the source must be extensively specified when using results from this Master dissertation. Gent, August 2016 The Promoter(s), The Author, Prof. Dr. Ir. De Neve Stefaan Chipatela Muyembe Floyd i Acknowledgement The success of this dissertation is a result of the support and encouragements from the various people and organizations to whom I shall forever remain indebted. Many thanks for their contributions! My promoter and tutor have been a great source of mentorship, through their helpful criticism and advice, encouragement and support throughout my research. I would like to sincerely thank my promoter Professor Stefaan De Neve for giving me an opportunity to do the research under his supervision. I appreciate that amidst his busy schedules, he still made time to ensure that I was progressing in the right direction and at the right pace. I would also like to acknowledge the great support, valuable comments and guidance from my tutor, Jones Yengwe (MSc).
    [Show full text]
  • Acacia Albida 10 Cm Long, Very Fragrant
    Acacia albida 10 cm long, very fragrant. (Faidherbia albida) FRUIT: Pods conspicuous bright orange to Fabaceae red‑brown, twisted and curled, thick, hard and shiny, to 25 cm long by 3.5 cm wide, Indigenous containing 10–20 seeds which ripen at the end of the dry season. Pods do not split Am: Grar Eng: Apple-ring acacia, winter thorn open but rot on the ground to release seed. Ga: Kertor Seedlings have leaves like those of mature Or: Gerbi, Derot trees—an aid to identification. Sh: Momona Tg: Aqba, Garsha, Momona Propagation Ecology Seedlings, direct sowing at site. Widespread in semi‑arid Africa in a wide Seed range of soil types and in different climates. 7,500–10,000 seed per kg. Germination In Ethiopia it occurs in Dry, Moist and Wet 60—90% within 5—20 days. Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones. It does well on occasionally waterlogged land in Treatment: Pour boiling water over seed, Tigray, Gonder, Welo, Shoa, Arsi, Harerge, allow to cool and soak for 24 hours. Sidamo, and Gamo Gofa regions, up to Alternatively, nick the seed at the distal 2,600 m. (cotyledon) end. Storage: Can be stored indefinitely if Uses kept cool, dry, and insect free. The seed Firewood, charcoal, timber (construction), are, however, very susceptible to insect posts, utensils, food (pods for flavouring, attack, so in practice avoid storage. boiled seeds), medicine (bark), fodder (pods, leaves), shade, mulch, nitrogen Management fixation, soil conservation, soil Slow initial growth, later fairly fast growing improvement, windbreak, tannin, dye, on good sites; lopping, pollarding. soap, fence (cut branches).
    [Show full text]
  • Faidherbia Albida (Syn
    Faidherbia albida (Syn. Acacia albida, Family: Fabaceae – Mimosoideae) Introduction to planting trees in dry regions In very dry regions, planting trees has not only been shown to increase soil fertility and therefore crop yields, but also to increase the level of the underground water table, sometimes by several metres. Trees also act as a wind break, which in dry regions is very important because they prevent crop seeds being blown away. The most effective way to reforest is to erect a fence and do nothing! Then a variety of indigenous trees simply sprout and grow of their own accord. Botanical information for Faidherbia Faidherbia albida is one of the largest thorn trees, reaching up to 30 m in height, with spreading branches and a wide, rounded crown. The roots can grow up to 40 m deep. The fruits are bright orange to red-brown. It is leguminous. Ecology and distribution F. albida grows in semi-arid zones, on the banks of seasonal and perennial rivers and streams, on sandy alluvial soils and on flat land. It thrives in climates characterized by long summers, or a dry season with long days. It tolerates seasonal waterlogging and salinity but cannot withstand heavy clayey soils. It is native to many African countries from Sudan to South Africa. Altitude: -270-2700 m, mean annual temp.: 18-30 deg. This photo was taken in a dry year with C, mean annual rainfall: 250-1000 mm Soil type: Coarse- erratic rainfall in Gwembe Valley South, textured well-drained alluvial soils. Zambia. It shows maize thriving under a Benefits of Faidherbia Faidherbia albida tree, whereas it had failed in the open spaces beyond the spread of the 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Faidherbia Albida in the West African Semi-Arid Tropics
    ICRAF Faidherbia albida in the West African Semi-Arid Tropics InternationalCropsResearch Institutefor the Semi-Arid Tropics InternationalCentrefor Research in Agroforestrj Abstract Citation: Vandenbeldt, R.J. (ed.) 1992. Faidhierbia albida in the West African semi-arid tropics: proceedings of a workshop, 22-26 Apr 1991, Niamey, Niger. (In En. Summaries in En, Fr, Es.) Patancheru, A.P. 502 324, India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics; and Nairobi, Kenya: International Centre for Research in Agroforestry. 212 pp. ISBN 92-9066-220-4. Order Code: CPE 076. This workshop brought together scientists and development workers, primarily those working in the West Africa region, to: review past and present research findings on Faidherbiaalbida; discuss development issues and "lessons learned" from past and present; list research priorities for the future; and promote collaboration between research and development programs. These proceedings summarize the state of knowledge on the species and provide a comprehensive list of ongoing research. Papers are divided into sessions on: botany and distribution: uses; genetics, provenance trials, and vegetative proplgation; site eff'ects, silvi.ulture, and rhizosphere; and development issues. Recommenda­ tions from Working Grcups for future research and multidisciplinary linkages are included. Rsum Faidherb'a albida dans les :ones tropicales semi-arides de I'Afrique occidentalt--comptes rendits d'un welier, 22-20 avril 1991, Niam "v,Niger. Cet atelier a regroup6 des chercheurs et des coopdrants, essentiellement ceux qui travaillent en Afrique de l'Ouest. I1a 6t destind : faire lepoint sur les rdsultats des recherches faites sur Faidherbia alhida dans lepas,:6 et ' pr6sent; dfbattre des sujets concernant ledtveloppement et des 'Ieqos tires' du passd et du pr6sent; dresser laliste des priorit6s pour l'avenir: et promouvoir lacollaboration entre les programmes de recherche et de dfveloppement.
    [Show full text]
  • Threat Analysis
    Threat analysis: West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) in Republic of Niger April 2020 Kateřina Gašparová1, Julian Fennessy2, Thomas Rabeil3 & Karolína Brandlová1 1Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha Suchdol, Czech Republic 2Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia 3Wild Africa Conservation, Niamey, Niger Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Nigerien Wildlife Authorities for their valuable support and for the permission to undertake the work. Particularly, we would like to thank the wildlife authorities’ members and rangers. Importantly, we would like to thank IUCN-SOS and European Commission, Born Free Foundation, Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance, Sahara Conservation Fund, Rufford Small Grant, Czech University of Life Sciences and GCF for their valuable financial support to the programme. Overview The Sudanian savannah currently suffers increasing pressure connected with growing human population in sub-Saharan Africa. Human settlements and agricultural lands have negatively influenced the availability of resources for wild ungulates, especially with increased competition from growing numbers of livestock and local human exploitation. Subsequently, and in context of giraffe (Giraffa spp.), this has led to a significant decrease in population numbers and range across the region. Remaining giraffe populations are predominantly conserved in formal protected areas, many of which are still in the process of being restored and conservation management improving. The last population of West African giraffe (G. camelopardalis peralta), a subspecies of the Northern giraffe (G. camelopardalis) is only found in the Republic of Niger, predominantly in the central region of plateaus and Kouré and North Dallol Bosso, about 60 km south east of the capital – Niamey, extending into Doutchi, Loga, Gaya, Fandou and Ouallam areas (see Figure 1).
    [Show full text]
  • The Potential of Acacia Albida for Desertification Control and Increased Productivity in Chad
    Biological Conservation 29 (1984) 121-141 The Potential of Acacia albida for Desertification Control and Increased Productivity in Chad Robert D. Kirmse & Brien E. Norton Department of Range Science, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, USA ABSTRACT ReforestationusingAcacia albida hasbeenproposedas amechanismfor combating desertificationtrends in the Sahel. This tree is characterised by a deciduous habit in the wet season; it is valuableforfodder, as a hardwood in woodwork industries,andfor enhancing soilfertility of cropland. In a three-year project described in this paper, the establishmentof Acacia albida plantationsin cultivatedfields in central Chadisconceiredasafocalpointtocoordinateresourreconse'vationand land development programmes.Several hundred thousand young trees were establishedand about 2500farmersand theirfamiliesparticipated in the revegetation programme. The success of the project must be evaluated,however, in terms of the prospectsfor long-term benefit and recognisingthe sociologicalproblems of assistanceprogrammes. INTRODUCTION Desertification is a deteriorating transition from semi-arid to desert ecosystems with a concomitant reduction in biological productivity. (The degradation process has been variously referred to as desertification, desertisation, desert encroachment, and desert creep.) Le Hourou (1977a) considers the problem to be an encroachment of desert landscapes into areas that climatica:ly do not classify as deserts. The Sahelian droughts of 1968-1973 brought world attention to the critical nature of this problem when an estimated 250 000 people may have died and 50 %of the livestock perished as a result of the decrease in crop and 121 Biol.Conserv. 0006-3207/841S03"00 t Elsevcr Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1984. Printed in Great Britain 122 Robert D. Kirmse, Brien E. Norton forage production associated with the accentuated degradation process (United Nations, 1977).
    [Show full text]
  • Trees of Somalia
    Trees of Somalia A Field Guide for Development Workers Desmond Mahony Oxfam Research Paper 3 Oxfam (UK and Ireland) © Oxfam (UK and Ireland) 1990 First published 1990 Revised 1991 Reprinted 1994 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library ISBN 0 85598 109 1 Published by Oxfam (UK and Ireland), 274 Banbury Road, Oxford 0X2 7DZ, UK, in conjunction with the Henry Doubleday Research Association, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3LG, UK Typeset by DTP Solutions, Bullingdon Road, Oxford Printed on environment-friendly paper by Oxfam Print Unit This book converted to digital file in 2010 Contents Acknowledgements IV Introduction Chapter 1. Names, Climatic zones and uses 3 Chapter 2. Tree descriptions 11 Chapter 3. References 189 Chapter 4. Appendix 191 Tables Table 1. Botanical tree names 3 Table 2. Somali tree names 4 Table 3. Somali tree names with regional v< 5 Table 4. Climatic zones 7 Table 5. Trees in order of drought tolerance 8 Table 6. Tree uses 9 Figures Figure 1. Climatic zones (based on altitude a Figure 2. Somali road and settlement map Vll IV Acknowledgements The author would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the following organisations and individuals: Oxfam UK for funding me to compile these notes; the Henry Doubleday Research Association (UK) for funding the publication costs; the UK ODA forestry personnel for their encouragement and advice; Peter Kuchar and Richard Holt of NRA CRDP of Somalia for encouragement and essential information; Dr Wickens and staff of SEPESAL at Kew Gardens for information, advice and assistance; staff at Kew Herbarium, especially Gwilym Lewis, for practical advice on drawing, and Jan Gillet for his knowledge of Kew*s Botanical Collections and Somalian flora.
    [Show full text]
  • Dryland Restoration Successes in the Sahel and Greater Horn of Africa
    Dryland restoration successes in the Sahel and Greater Horn of Africa show how to increase scale and impact Chris Reij, Nick Pasiecznik, Salima Mahamoudou, Habtemariam Kassa, Robert Winterbottom & John Livingstone Farmer managed natural regeneration around Rissiam village, Burkina Faso. Photo: Gray Tappan Introduction Drylands occupy more than 40% of the world’s land area and are home to some two billion people. This includes a disproportionate number of the world’s poorest people, who live in degraded and severely degraded landscapes. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification states on its website that 12 million hectares are lost annually to desertification and drought, and that more than 1.5 billion people are directly dependent on land that is being degraded, leading to US$42 billion in lost earnings each year. In Africa, three million hectares of forest are lost annually, along with an estimated 3% of GDP, through depleted soils. The result is that two-thirds of Africa’s forests, farmlands and pastures are now degraded. This means that millions of Africans have to live with malnutrition and poverty, and in the absence of options this further forces the poor to overexploit their natural resources to survive. This in turn intensifies the effects of climate change and hinders economic devel- opment, threatening ecological functions that are vital to national economies. Chris Reij, Senior fellow, World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington DC, USA; Nick Pasiecznik, Dryland restoration coordi- nator, Tropenbos International (TBI), Wageningen, the Netherlands; Salima Mahamoudou, Research associate, World Re- sources Institute (WRI), Washington DC, USA, Habtemariam Kassa, Senior scientist, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Robert Winterbottom, Fellow, Global EverGreening Alliance (GEA), Stoddard, USA; and John Livingstone, Regional policy and research officer, Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA), Hargeisa, Somaliland.
    [Show full text]