Botanical Report 2012
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Azafady Conservation Programme (ACP) Botanical Report 2012 Beccariophoenix madagascariensis ‘‘The figures on Madagascar's palms are truly terrifying, IUCN Vulnerable by F. Hogg especially as the loss of palms impacts both the unique biodiversity of the island and its people’’ Jane Smart, IUCN's Global Director for Biodiversity Conservation, BBC News Africa, 2012 Palm usage surveys Ste Luce is home to one of the three remaining stands of littoral forest within the Tolagnaro region. These fragments of forest are of huge botanical importance, with more than 25% of plant species endemic to the littoral forest habitat. The palm family is well represented here, however 6 of the 10 native palm species found in Ste Luce are threatened with extinction (IUCN 2012). In addition to their high biodiversity value the palms are also crucial for sustaining the livelihoods of the local people; the community rely heavily on the palm populations for a wide range of everyday uses. During 2012, ACP volunteers conducted a research project that sought to better understand the utilisation of these palms, in order to best prioritise the future management of these threatened species. As part of this pioneering research ACP volunteers conducted 54 semi-structured household interviews with local people between April and May 2012. The survey aimed to document the current and historical uses, the harvesting practises, the local names for the species and any perceived changes in abundances over the last 20 years. Between February 2011 and July 2012, observations of palm harvest and household usage were also recorded to gauge the frequency of use. The results of these surveys highlight which palm species are most vulnerable, due to local use, and therefore which Lobster trap materials made from species should be prioritised in future ACP projects. Dypsis scottiana. By F. Hogg What did the survey results show? The results highlighted particular concerns for palm usage in lobster traps. Lobster is the top commercial export of the Anosy region and this, along with the growing human population, places a large amount of pressure on the availability of good quality lobster trap materials. After the near extirpation (localised extinction) of liana (Flagellaria indica), the palm (Dypsis scottiana) has now become the first choice material but its population is declining as noted by all interviewees. ACP volunteers will work with Azafady’s environmental department on future projects to establish how they can best support local fishermen to find sustainable alternative lobster trap materials to ensure the survival of the palm. Continued annual household usage surveys to monitor palm usage and investigations into Dypsis scottiana being used to construct the cultivation and rotational usage of palm species for the walls of local housing. By F. Hogg lobster pots is the next step in research that ACP volunteers will be conducting in 2013. Another potential threat highlighted by the household surveys is a method of palm harvesting known as juvenilisation - intensive pruning of leaf stems (or rachises), which are often used for lobster traps. Harvesting stunts the growth and development of juvenile trees, reducing the rate of maturation and, therefore, skewing natural demographic balance. Under particular strain from this, is the population of endangered and endemic palm (Dypsis saintelucei). This has prompted ACP to take immediate action in mapping and monitoring particularly threatened palm species and subsequently the reinforcement and translocation of Dypsis saintelucei (see below for further details). Sustainable management plans for the remaining forest fragments are crucial to insure native palm species are not driven to extirpation. ACP’s future projects for 2013 plan to reinforce palm populations by translocating seedling, investigating alternative materials for lobster traps, as well as continuing to monitor palm populations and assist in managing them by working with local forest management groups to address natural resource depletion and foster pride, and ownership through meaningful participation. Information collected from these surveys has contributed to the completion of 2 scientific papers, currently in the review stage. The first highlights the results from the household surveys and discusses the future implications for the industry. The second summarises palm usage in Sainte Luce and implications for local resource availability and future conservation of species. SHRUM, M., ELLIS. E. R., FUNNELL, S., HOGG, F AND RANDRIANANTENAINA M.S. The usage of natural resources in the lobster fishing community of Sainte Luce and implications for the future of the industry. Madagascar Conservation and Development. HOGG, F., SHRUM. M., ELLIS. E. R AND H. T. LONGOSOA. In review. The useful palms of Sainte Luce: implications for local resource availability and conservation. Palms Journal. Reinforcement and translocation of Dypsis saintelucei Dypsis saintelucei is an endangered palm that is endemic to the south east of the island. It was first discovered in Sainte Luce and although it has been since found in other localities along the southeastern coastal plain, it remains an iconic ecologically and culturally important species for the Sainte Luce forest and the community. It is only known to occur in 4 of the forest fragments. Mapping of the population carried out in 2011 by ACP established that there were only 137 mature individuals in total. The palm is very slow growing and seeds appear to be gravity dispersed (barochory) and so is prone to overcrowding and intraspecific competition. Right: Mature Dypsis saintelucei in S8. Below: Dypsis saintelucei seedling. By A. Blandon and F.Hogg ACP’s household surveys highlighted D. saintelucei as a source of construction material, food and lobster traps in the local community. Previous research has found that populations declined by 32% between 2003 and 2008 in forest fragment S8, with 12 individuals per year dying of both natural and anthropogenic causes. It is therefore critical that work is completed to protect and reinforce the population. Since 2008 ACP has continued to map and monitor this species to establish more information about its distribution, habitat preferences and ecology. In 2012, ACP expanded its research with D. saintelucei into S7 fragment and found the largest population of adult trees. This population is of great importance and has been used in project Telopoloambilany as a source of seed collection. ACP will continue their research with the populations in S6, S7, S8 and S9 to monitor how the adults and sub adults progress and manage the on going threats. Read more about project Telopoloambilany below… Project Telopoloambilany From left to right: Local guide Babaly with D.saintelucei seedlings ready to be planted; ACP volunteers on the way to forest fragment S8; Emily, one of our international volunteers, planting a Dypsis seedling; Lucy, another ACP volunteer, digging holes ready for Dypsis seedlings. By L. Carrier & A. Blandon. Project Telopoloambilany has been focussing on replanting Dypsis saintelucei seedlings and 2012 was a culmination of 2 years work on the project. The ACP team have been working closely with the COBA (the local forest management committee) and the Miaro committee (a working group set up with Azafady’s support to ensure the sustainable use of local natural resources) in order to build their capacity and skills for forest management. Both groups have played a central role in project Telopoloambilany. Since January 2012, 5000 D. saintelucei seeds/seedlings were cultivated by ACP volunteers and COBA members who, together with the previous year’s collection, made it the largest nursery stock of D. saintelucei in the region. The seed and seedling collection over the last 2 years focussed on collection from populations in forest fragment S7, a genetically fitter population. During Nov and Dec 2012, 880 seedlings were planted out into the northern section of forest fragment S8 by ACP volunteers. This fragment has been designated as a NAP (Newly Protected Area) as well as a QMM/ Rio Tinto Biodiversity Offset Zone and is therefore the target site for D. saintelucei replantation. To date, 1480 seedlings have been introduced into S8. Also, the first annual monitoring of the existing D. saintelucei was completed in June 2012 which found usage was still continuing, but the percentage of adults felled in 2011 (7%) was less than previous years. Looking to the future, throughout 2013 ACP volunteers and members of the Miaro committee and COBA will undertake joint monitoring of translocated Dypsis seedlings in S8 and continue monitoring the health of the adult populations in all of the fragments. ACP are also investigating the possibility of reintroducing some Dypsis seedlings into the forest fragment S9, which has been designated as a Conservation Zone by QMM/Rio Tinto mining company. Ongoing community sensitisation to the plight of the species will remain a focus at events and during education programmes. Habitat sampling During 2012, the ACP shifted its research priorities and began focusing more of its efforts on the forest fragment of S7. This change in focus has been fuelled by the imminent threat from the mining company ‘Rio Tinto/QMM’, who have future plans to excavate S6 and S7 fragments to mine the much sought after mineral, Ilminite. After establishing a new ACP satellite camp on the edge of the forest fragment of S7, ACP volunteers were able to set up 4 new transects through the forest. From Oct-Dec 2012, the ACP started to make regular 5-day expeditions to the satellite camp to gain baseline data of the flora and fauna here. This research is all the more important in the light of planned mining activities, which makes it crucial that we find out what we can about the forest fragment in a limited time frame. This was an exciting new venture for the ACP; a traditional dug out canoe (pirogue) was needed to access the isolated fragment. The intricate river and swamp network also means that some areas of S7 have been protected from intensive human use and remain relatively intact, providing high quality habitat for faunal species that live there.