@phdthesis{Abugiche2008, author = {Abugiche, Samuel Ajonina}, title = {Impact of hunting and bushmeat trade on biodiversity loss in Cameroon : a case study of the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus-9550}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2008}, abstract = {The Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary is a multiple-use lowland tropical rainforest in South West of Cameroon. This area was designated by the government of Cameroon with a focus of protecting 11 species including the most endangered primates in Central and West Africa, the Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Local communities maintain user-rights of the forest and its natural resources as long as the conservation goals of the protected areas are not compromised. With many villages in and around the sanctuary and an ever-increasing population, most villagers rely on bushmeat to meet both dietary requirements and as a source of income. The purpose of the six-month study was to assess the current impact of hunting pressure on wildlife biodiversity loss with hope to recommend managed sustainable hunting system to the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. Carcasses of animals brought in daily by the eighty-four hunters who participated in the study were weighed, sexed and aged and socio-economic data collected by recording weapon type, use, price of each animal killed and its destination by 14 research assistants in 14 study villages. Hunters were interviewed in an attempt to understand hunters' perception of hunted game and their capacity to implement a managed hunting system. Study results indicated that 44 animal species were harvested with a total of 3,176 individual animals killed, giving an estimated total biomass of 22,397 kg in both the Banyang and Mbo areas. The Banyang ethnic group registered more harvest in terms of both off-take 1,888 animals and biomass 13,476 kg (13.5 tons) while the Mbo ethnic group extracted 1,288 animals with a biomass of 8,921.02 kg (9.00 tons) over the six-month study period. When placed into taxonomic groups, duikers constituting (34\%), rodents (22\%), other protected species (15\%) and monkeys (11\%) of the total animals extracted were most affected by hunting within the whole of BMWS. Larger-bodied animals like primates and duikers were most vulnerable to gun hunting while smaller carnivores and rodents were more vulnerable to wire snaring and trapping. Poisoned baits were used in some villages to trap Cane rats and Monkeys. Hunting peaks were attained during the raining season especially during the months of July and August. However, some small peaks occurred during the dry season especially in the months of November and January. More males (47\%) were killed than females (43\%) for all species over the six-month study period. Unknown sex constituted (10\%) of the total extracted animals registered. Adults comprised (69\%) of the total catch for all species registered, juveniles and infants constituted (23\%) and (8\%) respectively. Generally the Banyang ethnic group either consumed or sold locally (83\%) of their total harvested bushmeat and sold only (11\%) to outside traders. The Mbo ethnic group consumed or sold locally (47\%) of the total bushmeat killed and sold (39\%) to outside bushmeat dealers. Economic gains in terms of financial income from sale of bushmeat at the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary do not seem to be profitable as one hunter earned on average 22.629F CFA (US \$47) per month over the study period compared to 125.000F CFA (US \$258) earned by an average civil servant in Cameroon. One kilogramme of the most expensive bushmeat such as Pangolin (Manis gigantea) and Brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) was on the average about 4.7 times less expensive than the price of one kg of domesticated animals such as fresh cow beef or goat meat. The Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and the Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) are at high risk of local extinction in this area. Meanwhile species like the Leopard (Panthera pardus), Buffalo (Syncerus nanus), the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Giant pangolin (Manis gigantea) were not recorded killed in any of the 14 study villages and are feared to be locally extinct. There was a steady decline in off-take and biomass of large-bodied species like duikers and primates in the total harvest of both ethnic groups over time during the study period. This suggests that hunting of larger-bodied animals may not be sustainable within the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary. The future of Blue duikers seems bleak if hunting continues unchecked. Poverty, population increase, unemployment and the weak enforcement of existing wildlife laws are the driving forces behind the unsustainable harvest of wildlife resources at the Banyang-Mbo wildlife Sanctuary.}, subject = {Kamerun; Jagd; Fleischhandel; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Einfluß; Jagd; Buschfleischhandel; Biodiversit{\"a}tsr{\"u}ckgang; Banyang-Mbo Wild Schongebiet; Impact; Hunting; Bushmeat trade; Biodiversity loss; Banyang-Mbo wildlife santuary}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fonche2005, author = {Fonche, Florentin Mongeng}, title = {The impact of alien plant invasions on biodiversity in South Africa - the case of alien acacia species in the Gauteng and chromolaena odorata in the KwaZulu Natal provinces}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-000000870}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In this research work, the causes and solutions to the loss of biodiversity in South Africa especially along river-banks is dealt with significantly. Attempts are made to point out issues tied to the prevailing water crisis and ecosystem fragmentation for scientists and policy-makers. Based on the empirical field work done the writer succinctly has come up with some recommendations on the issues per se. In sum, the recommendations suggest the best ways to deal with the alien invasive species which is nothing short of the integrative approach, nonetheless designed to function at its maximum and in conjunction with locally available materials, manpower, will and on the spot expertise. Also, the study depicts the rapid spread of Acacia species and Chromolaena odorata across the African continent could lead to an environmental catastrophy should appropriate measures not be taken henceforth. The findings also bring to light the necessity of co - ordination of all key players in this fight against alien invasive plant species and giving clues (suggestions or hints) on how concrete environmental policies can be designed in order to match with the objectives of ecologists and other concerned experts alike. Taking this route the study unfolds with compounding suggestions on what the African governments and experts (ecologists, conservationists, and hydrologists) on the field should inter alia do to avert this looming disaster.}, subject = {S{\"u}dafrika ; {\"O}kosystem; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Impact; Biodiversity; Alien invation; Acacia species; Chromolaena odorata}, language = {en} }