Article
Forestry
Vasco Chiteculo, Azadeh Abdollahnejad, Dimitrios Panagiotidis, Peter Surovy
Summary: This study focuses on the optimization of the existing road network in Huambo province, Angola, using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information systems (GIS). The road suitability maps were developed based on various factors, such as flow accumulation, soil type, and geology. The findings suggest that these factors significantly impact road construction. The study provides important insights for planning road networks in Angola and lays the foundation for further research in developing a spatial decision support system (SDSS).
Article
Forestry
M. F. K. Gondwe, P. W. C. Chirwa, M. A. Cho, C. J. Geldenhuys, R. P. Tshidzumba
Summary: Interventions through co-management and government-management can mitigate degradation and deforestation in forest reserves. This study investigated the driving forces of Land Use/Cover Change using remote sensing and socioeconomic data in Malawi, and found that population increases and poverty exacerbated agriculture and wood energy use.
INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Monica Fides Kalagho Gondwe, Coert Johannes Geldenhuys, Paxie Wanangwa Chikusie Chirwa, Emeline Sessi Pelagie Assede, Stephen Syampungani, Moses Azong Cho
Summary: The study investigated tree species associations in Miombo woodland in Malawi under co-management and government management, revealing different community compositions and the importance of certain species. Site factors, historical/current resource use, and disturbances were found to impact species diversity. Recommendations were made to review policies to stimulate regeneration and maintain species diversity in the face of resource use and disturbances.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Dieu-donne N'tambwe Nghonda, Heritier Khoji Muteya, Bill Kasongo Wa Ngoy Kashiki, Kouagou Raoul Sambieni, Francois Malaisse, Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Wilfried Masengo Kalenga, Jan Bogaert
Summary: The misappropriation of sustainable forest programs and under-utilization of local communities' knowledge hinder efforts to mitigate deforestation. Therefore, evaluating practices in this area is crucial to enhance community involvement. A survey examined the perception and participation of local communities in managing miombo woodlands, showing that soil fertility loss and deforestation are seen as significant environmental challenges. Provincial public services and non-governmental organizations focus on sustainable exploitation through limited actions, which are not inclusive of scientific findings or community priorities. To promote sustainable forest management and strengthen miombo woodlands' resilience, a concerted and inclusive approach to forest planning is recommended based on these findings.
Article
Forestry
David L. Skole, Jay H. Samek, Cheikh Mbow, Michael Chirwa, Dan Ndalowa, Tangu Tumeo, Daud Kachamba, Judith Kamoto, Alfred Chioza, Francis Kamangadazi
Summary: Spatial time-series measurements of forest degradation rates are crucial for estimating national greenhouse gas emissions, but have been difficult to obtain for open forests and woodlands. This study in Malawi has produced a new forest map, as well as measurements of forest degradation and deforestation, contributing to the development of tools for calculating carbon emissions and increasing readiness for REDD+ in semi-arid Africa.
Article
Forestry
L. Lulandala, A. Bargues-Tobella, C. A. Masao, G. Nyberg, U. Ilstedt
Summary: Charcoal production in miombo woodlands is a major cause of forest degradation and has a significant impact on water resources. It has been found that small clearings have less effect on soil hydrological functioning and organic carbon content compared to large clearings in miombo woodlands. Controlling livestock grazing can further minimize soil degradation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Lucrencio Silvestre Macarringue, Edson Luis Bolfe, Soltan Galano Duverger, Edson Eyji Sano, Marcellus Marques Caldas, Marcos Cesar Ferreira, Jurandir Zullo Junior, Lindon Fonseca Matias
Summary: The objective of this paper was to map the land use and land cover (LULC) classes in the northern region of Mozambique between 2011 and 2020 using Landsat time series and the Random Forest classifier. The feature selection method was used to reduce redundant data. The final maps consisted of five LULC classes with an overall accuracy ranging from 80.5% to 88.7%. The study revealed changes in LULC between 2011 and 2020, including an increase in non-vegetated and built-up areas, and a decrease in open evergreen and deciduous forests and croplands. This approach improves the current systematic mapping approach in Mozambique and supports regional territorial development policies.
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leah M. Mungai, Joseph P. Messina, Leo C. Zulu, Jiaguo Qi, Sieglinde Snapp
Summary: This study examines Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) in the Dedza and Ntcheu districts of Central Malawi and models the anthropogenic and environmental drivers. The findings suggest that agriculture will dominate the landscape in the future and future land management should focus on spatiotemporal patterns in land cover and develop multidimensional policies that promote land conservation in the local context.
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Sataporn Roengtam, Agustiyara Agustiyara, Achmad Nurmandi
Summary: This study focuses on the complexities of managing forest governance networks in Indonesia's Riau Province and explores how local governments should implement policies in network settings with multi-stakeholder participation. The findings highlight the importance of enforcing network governance through the network's political structure, involving multiple local actors, and promoting coordination and communication for mutual benefit.
Article
Plant Sciences
John L. Godlee, Casey M. Ryan, David Bauman, Samuel J. Bowers, Joao M. B. Carreiras, Antonio Valter Chisingui, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Dave J. Druce, Manfred Finckh, Francisco Maiato Goncalves, Ricardo M. Holdo, Steve Makungwa, Iain M. McNicol, Edward T. A. Mitchard, Anderson Muchawona, Rasmus Revermann, Natasha Sofia Ribeiro, Abel Siampale, Stephen Syampungani, Jose Joao Tchamba, Hemant G. Tripathi, Johannes Wallenfang, Mariska te Beest, Mathew Williams, Kyle G. Dexter
Summary: The study in southern African woodlands and savannas shows a positive relationship between tree species diversity and above-ground woody biomass, operating via increased structural diversity. The observed biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship is highly dependent on organismal density.
Article
Forestry
Hastings Shamaoma, Paxie W. Chirwa, Abel Ramoelo, Andrew T. Hudak, Stephen Syampungani
Summary: This article introduces the characteristics of the Miombo woodland and the potential of using unmanned aerial systems for remote sensing. Due to logistical challenges, remote sensing has become an important means to supplement field data. The emergence of unmanned aerial systems provides new possibilities for forest data acquisition.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bhagawat Rimal, Hamidreza Keshtkar, Nigel Stork, Sushila Rijal
Summary: The study highlights the increasing trend of forest area, both in the Lumbini Province of Nepal and globally. Scientific models predict a continued increase in forest cover in 2026 and 2036, with the support of policy, planning, and management factors.
Article
Forestry
Andres Velastegui-Montoya, Nestor Montalvan-Burbano, Gina Pena-Villacreses, Aline de Lima, Gricelda Herrera-Franco
Summary: Tropical ecosystems are important for the environment, providing various ecosystem services. Understanding land use and land cover change in tropical forests helps to address deforestation, degradation, erosion, desertification, and biodiversity loss. The study found a significant increase in research on land use and land cover, involving 74 countries, and identified 14 themes and seven research areas. Future research should consider the relationship between sustainable development goals and land use and cover in tropical forests, as well as the environmental impacts of economic activities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xuan Hao, Yubao Qiu, Guoqiang Jia, Massimo Menenti, Jiangming Ma, Zhengxin Jiang
Summary: This study evaluated and compared the applicability of six emerging LULC data products in Guangxi, China, and found that ESAGC, CLCD, and GLC30 best represented the LULC in Guangxi. Moreover, the results also suggested that majority voting could be applied to global LULC products to provide fused products with better performances on a regional or local scale, avoiding errors caused by a single data product.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bikesh Shrestha, Thomas A. Cochrane, Brian S. Caruso, Mauricio E. Arias, Thomas B. Wild
Summary: The study indicates that uncertainty in land use/land cover change results in high variability in loss of reservoir capacity and sediment management costs. Terracing is the best catchment-level management option for reducing both the magnitude and variability in reservoir storage loss, although it is the most expensive option. Flushing is effective in reducing sedimentation, but less economically beneficial compared to catchment-level options. Combinations of catchment-level and reservoir-level management strategies can effectively reduce the loss of reservoir storage and costs associated with land use/land cover change uncertainty.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Monica Fides Kalagho Gondwe, Coert Johannes Geldenhuys, Paxie Wanangwa Chikusie Chirwa, Emeline Sessi Pelagie Assede, Stephen Syampungani, Moses Azong Cho
Summary: The study investigated tree species associations in Miombo woodland in Malawi under co-management and government management, revealing different community compositions and the importance of certain species. Site factors, historical/current resource use, and disturbances were found to impact species diversity. Recommendations were made to review policies to stimulate regeneration and maintain species diversity in the face of resource use and disturbances.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
