Abstracts of Oral and Poster Presentations
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Abstracts of Oral and Poster Presentations Arranged in Alphabetical Order of First Author’s Family Name 1 2 SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCE OF CAMEROON, STRONG STRATEGIC APPROACHES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Walters Achu Awa1 Human actions on forests, such as uncontrollable harvesting of medicinal plants, felling of trees, farming, bush fires and local bee farming practices like generating smoke to drive away bees from a hive by burning fresh leaves of plants, provide negative effects on climate. This paper presents an analysis of the scientific evidence, indicating that negative influence on forests is affecting the climate in Cameroon. Sea levels are rising; rainfall has decreased by 11%, early rains, increased temperatures and flooding. The paper identifies strategic approaches that are practised in tackling forest management and climate change in Cameroon. Examples are: tree planting, renewable energy, solar powers, water powers, etc. It describes also, generated land use systems, forests conservation methods and farming techniques, which influence climate change and the health of the forest positively. The concept of indigenous ecosystem and forest management systems used in this paper refers to the series of practices based on agreed rules, carried out by the local people, aiming at the sustained availability of products and services from trees, crops and forests through sustainable development for climate change. Local populations surrounding these forests understand the education of community forestry, taking an active leading role in preserving and protecting the forests, in order to ensure long- term benefits and stop the ill effects of climate change in the society. The paper concludes that this project is building these capacities in collaboration with various stakeholders in the localities for the healthy conservation of forests and monitoring of changes in the climatic conditions of the areas. Forests management and monitoring plans are carried out using participatory methods and are designed to meet the needs of the communities and their families, while at the same time maintaining sustainable biodiversity and climate change functions. Key words: biodiversity, climate, management and sustainability. 1 Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance Cameroon, P.O. Box 953, Bamenda, Cameroon, West Africa. E-mail: [email protected] ID-011 3 EFFECTS OF LAND-USE AND CLIMATE CHANGES ON THE MOUNT MARSABIT’S FOREST ECOSYSTEM, KENYA Wario R. Adano1 Indigenous forests in Kenya have faced a serious threat of destruction in recent years. Policies to conserve critical forest ecosystems exist, and ecosystems’ support of local livelihoods is well understood. Yet evidence linking forest ecosystem functions and their vital hydrological services are lacking. This paper assesses the impacts of rainfall trends and agriculture on the watershed protection function of a sub-humid montane forest on Mount Marsabit in Northern Kenya. Household surveys and historical data are used to assess functions of the forest ecosystem. Analysis of rainfall data reveals reduced precipitation and increased drought years since the 1970s. Farmers’ recent growing of horticultural crops using a drip irrigation system harnessed from within the forest area is an innovative adaptive response. The removal of vegetation-cover on the mountain causes modification and fragmentation of the forest habitat, simultaneously endangering ecosystem health and dependent livelihoods. A model relating farmland expansion and climate change to the forest-based urban water production predicts a decreased hydrological service and constrained water-yields for urban uses. The diminishing forest services harm the pastoralists living in the surrounding arid rangeland who fall back on the mountain resources during dry seasons. The model captures jointly delivered public benefits of conservation efforts. Any alterations in the forest composition as land-use changes may signal a warning for conservation agencies and policy-makers alike. Contrary to the current policies and practices, the conservation of montane forests in ecologically sensitive areas requires priority within conservation efforts. The paper provides empirical evidence of ecosystem functions that challenges the ongoing forests destruction in favour of an integrated conservation and management of wider-ecosystems in the future. There are potential gains in reconciling conservation efforts and local community needs to achieve an equitable and wise use of forest resources. Key words: climate, land-use, montane forest, water-yields model, Kenya. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya. E-mail: [email protected] ID-142 4 CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST IN MOROCCO: CASE OF THE DECAY OF THE CEDAR IN THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS Said Adil1 Morocco has a significant forest extending more than 9 million hectares. Meteorological observations during the last three decades have shown irregular and weak precipitation patterns and high temperatures. Violent thunderstorms are concentrated in time, leading to a pattern of droughts and floods (Ourika valley, 1995, Tetouna, 2000, Mohamedia, 2002), accompanied by the degradation and desertification of lands. An increase of the temperature and a decrease of the precipitation can cause forest dieback. Dieback, although caused by drought, is accompanied by parasitic epidemics, an increase of the risk of forest fire, a decrease in the success of natural regeneration and low rate of success of plantations. Dieback results in an erosion of plant and animal biodiversity and an increase of the risk of water and wind erosion. The stands of the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) are multifunctional and multi-use resources for the local populations. However, observations over the past few years have shown a strong incidence of cedar dieback across its range in Morocco. In response to this situation, a multidisciplinary project was launched to understand the causes of the dieback and the dynamic relationship among factors (permanent, accelerators and aggravating factors) that contribute to this phenomenon. The project involved a diversity of disciplines, including dendrochronology, ecophysiology, soil science, entomology, phytopathology, forest inventory and management, biometry and mapping through Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Results of this study will be presented, as well as elements of a national strategy that will consider potential actions to be carried out in the short, medium- and long-terms within a perspective of adaptation to climate change. Key words: Atlas Mountains, Cedrus atlantica, climate change, decay, Morocco. 1 Chief of Unit CDM-Climate Change, Water, Forestry and Desertification Department DLCDPN, Haroune Errachid Street, N° 3, Rabat – Agdal, Morocco. E-mail: [email protected]; or [email protected]. ID-116 5 THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL PLANTATION PROGRAMMES ON RURAL LIVELIHOOD: A CASE STUDY OF COMMUNITIES IN FOREST RESERVES IN NIGERIA O.R. Afolabi1 and J.C.Onyekwelu2 The dominant mechanism through which climate changes had been attributed over the years to human activities. Evidence has shown that human activity such as deforestation contributes significantly to global warming among others. Policy on plantation establishment and enforcement of bye-law on indiscriminate cutting of forest products are seen by many experts as a panacea via which global warming could be effectively curtail in tropical region of the world. Hence, it is often hypothesized that afforestation will improve the livelihood of the inhabitants. This study was carried out to assess the socio-economic impact of industrial plantation programme on livelihood of inhabitants in forest reserves in Nigeria. A total of 100 inhabitants from forest reserves in two states (Ondo and Ogun) were used for the analysis. The result of the analysis shows that afforestation program contributes immensely to the socio-economic well being of the inhabitants in term of provision of good roads with about 22km and 53km in Ondo and Ogun States forest reserves respectively. Employment generation for the inhabitants shows that over 27% and 70% of respondents were employed in Ondo and Ogun states. Also about 69% and 89% were permitted to practice taungya farming in the plantation site of both plantation programmes respectively. Hence, it is evident that the afforestation program in both forest reserves improved the socio-economic growth of the inhabitants. While it is expected that afforestation will contribute to increased food supply through taungya farming in the long run, it is also expected that such program will play a significant impact in minimizing Carbon dioxide emission in Nigeria. Key words: Forest Reserves, socio-economic, afforestation programs, climate, Nigeria. 1 Centre for Tropical and Sub-tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Georg-August University Goettingen, Germany. 2 Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected] ID-121 6 FOREST TREE COMPOSITION, FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE STATUS OF OMO BIOSPHERE FOREST RESERVE, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA Y. Akegbejo-Samsons1, W.O. Alegbeleye 1 and L.O. Ojo2 The vulnerability of most Commonwealth countries to climate change was identified almost 20 years ago. Large areas of the world’s forests have been lost or degraded and landscapes everywhere are being simplified by current