Nature Conservation Research

1–20

Authors: Gebremedihin K.M., Birhane E., Tadesse T., Gbrewahid H.

Exclusion of grazing animals and tree plantations were among the methods used for the rehabilitation of degraded lands in tropical semiarid areas. Exclosures can foster secondary forest succession by improving soil conditions, attracting seed-dispersal agents and modifying microclimate for understory growth. This paper compares the woody species diversity and soil chemical properties under exclosure with increasing age and grazing land at different slope positions. The study has been conducted in northern Ethiopia from 12 exclosure sites paired each with adjacent grazing land with four treatments replicated three times. In the entire study 216 plots were examined of which 108 were in exclosures and 108 in communal grazing lands.There were four age classes and three slope positions in each of the landuses. Vegetation data were collected using plots measuring 100 m2. Soils for physicochemical properties were collected from the four corners and center of 5 × 5m plots which was inside the 10 × 10m plot. A total of 61 woody plant species belonging to 41 families were recorded. Diversity and species richness were higher in the exclosures than in grazing lands. Among exclosures these parameters were higher in exclosures older than 30 years and at the foot of the slope. Grazing lands, the youngest exclosures and upper elevation gradient recorded lower values. Chemical soil properties were significantly higher in the exclosures, among them in the oldest exclosures and at foot elevation (except for P) than these were in the grazing land, the youngest exclosures and upper parts of slopes respectively. Exclosures are instrumental to improve the woody species diversity and soil chemical properties in the drylands.

35–57

Authors: Adom D.

Cosmological belief systems play significant roles in the conservation of the biodiversity of the residents in the Kumawu Traditional Area of Ghana. It is regrettable to realise that they have been unjustly labeled as an obstacle to scientific progression, resulting in their low voice in the nature conservation initiatives in the area. Thus, the research was aimed at unearthing the conservation ethos of the cosmological belief systems, while justifying with substantial facts, why they must be utilised in modern conservation initiatives. A phenomenological study using Focus Group Discussions, personal interviews and direct observations assisted in the gathering of qualitative data which was rigorously analysed via data analysis spiral approach. The findings revealed that cosmological belief systems greatly influence the attitudes of the residents in the Kumawu Traditional Area toward the natural resource conservation in the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary. The study contends that nature conservation planners in Ghana must look in-depth into the cosmological belief systems in the area and tag them as a potential traditional biodiversity strategy and as a complement to the conventional scientific models to halt the menace of biodiversity depletion in the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary.

65–79

Authors: Galkina M.А., Zueva M.А.

The exposition «Flora of Siberia» exists since the creation of the Main Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences and covers an area of 0.045 km². More than 100 species from 42 families and 84 genera of plants are cultivated on this territory. 65% species are successfully renewed, 80% species have been cultivated for more than 35 years. Meadow-forest plant species and species from lower mountain belt are most widely represented (31% and 23% respectively). The specifity of introduction in the climatic conditions of the centre of European Russia for many years were studied for some rare species – Melica altissima, Dasiphora fruticosa, Sibiraea laevigata etc. For a number of species from introduction populations characterised by an increase in the size of vegetative organs and an increase in the number of flowers in comparison with individuals of the same species from the natural phytocenoses of Siberia. The cultivation of new species is closely related to the problem of biological invasions. At the time of the foundation of the collection, in 1950s, the invasive species Sorbaria sorbifolia had not yet begun its expansion into natural phytocenoses of European Russia, and represented introductory value as a decorative species with an Asian area, but now there is strict monitoring of the number and area of the introduction population of Sorbaria sorbifolia at the exposition «Flora of Siberia». Currently, the collection is actively enriched, to include in its composition plant species from the botanical garden of the M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, seeds of several rare and protected species in many regions of Siberia were obtained: Alfredia cernua, Allium ramosum, Artemisia dracunculus, Filifolium sibiricum, Oxytropis pilosa, Draba sibirica, Silene amoena. Seeds of these species were germinated in three variants of conditions - with preliminary moist or dry cold stratification and without stratification. Our research has shown that Allium ramosum, Artemisia dracunculus and Silene amoena are most promising for seed introduction with a preliminary cold stratification.

88–91

Authors: Ruchin A.B., Egorov L.V.

The paper presents data on a new record of a very rare insect, Leptura aurulenta (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia). This is a third reliable registration of this species within Russia. It expands the range of this beetle to 600 km to the east. We have presented an original biotope description, data on distribution and biology of L. aurulenta.

97–99

Authors: Kabir M.T., Ahsan M.F., Khatoon A., Rahman M.M.

This report confirms the presence of the red giant flying squirrel Petaurista petaurista from the Idgarh Reserve Forest in Cox's Bazar (North) Forest Division in the southern part of Bangladesh. The chestnut-red dorsal body colour, white ventral surface, large and flesh-coloured nostrils, and gray long tail with blackish tip confirm the observed species as a red giant flying squirrel. Long-term monitoring, habitat protection and its ecology need to be studied for initiating further steps to conserve it in Bangladesh.

103–110

Authors: Shuyskaya E.A., Zavadskaya A.V., Sharaponova A.Yu., Belyaev D.A., Barsukova A.D., Strokan A.V., Vlasov E.A., Unkovskaya M.A., Nosov M.S.

Russia was represented by 9 participants from Biosphere Reserves at the MAB Youth Forum in Italy. The main question of the Forum was «How to involve the young in the work of biosphere reserves?» The debate resulted in a Declaration, elaborated by participants from around the world (282 delegates from 85 countries). Measures to improve scientific cooperation, data exchange in the sphere of educational tourism and administrative management, development of joint projects in environmental education were formulated. The article contains a number of recommendations for the network of biosphere reserves in Russia, based on Seville strategy and Lima Action Plan.