Article
Environmental Sciences
Johannes Reiche, Adugna Mullissa, Bart Slagter, Yaqing Gou, Nandin-Erdene Tsendbazar, Christelle Odongo-Braun, Andreas Vollrath, Mikaela J. Weisse, Fred Stolle, Amy Pickens, Gennadii Donchyts, Nicholas Clinton, Noel Gorelick, Martin Herold
Summary: The study presents a disturbance alert for humid tropical forests in the Congo Basin using Sentinel-1 radar data, which offers advantages for rapid detection of small-scale forest disturbances. Results suggest that disturbance rates in the Congo Basin may be higher than previously presented in the study.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aurelie C. Shapiro, Hedley S. Grantham, Naikoa Aguilar-Amuchastegui, Nicholas J. Murray, Valery Gond, Djoan Bonfils, Olivia Rickenbach
Summary: Quantifying forest degradation is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service enhancement, yet often overlooked in decision-making. Researchers have developed a continuous metric, Forest Condition (FC), to accurately measure the degree of forest degradation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah Worden, Rong Fu, Sudip Chakraborty, Junjie Liu, John Worden
Summary: The study found that in the Congo Basin, evapotranspiration (especially transpiration) plays an important role in atmospheric moisture throughout the year. The relative contribution of ET to atmospheric moisture is higher in spring compared to fall, as the transport of moisture from the oceans increases before the fall rainy season.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Chadrack Kafuti, Jan Van den Bulcke, Hans Beeckman, Joris Van Acker, Wannes Hubau, Tom De Mil, Hulda Hatakiwe, Brice Djiofack, Adeline Fayolle, Grace Jopaul Loubota Panzou, Nils Bourland
Summary: The study revealed that H-D allometric equations at pantropical, regional, and local scales significantly underestimated the total height of Pericopsis elata. Species-level H-D allometric equations showed significant underestimations for trees from disturbed and undisturbed forests in DRC, while overestimations were observed for similar sites in Cameroon. Within a single species, a substantial variation was found between sites, driven by differences in maximum asymptotic height (Hmax).
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Minette Nago, Symphorien Ongolo
Summary: The paper examines the reasons behind the recurrent failures of Congo Basin countries (CBc) within forest diplomacy, finding that lack of strategic and bureaucratic autonomy and dependence on resources from Western cooperation agencies are major contributing factors. Furthermore, it highlights how key actor groups exploit these failures for their private interests while avoiding responsibility in reducing deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Congo Basin.
Article
Environmental Studies
Aurelie Shapire, Remi d'Annunzio, Baudouin Descl, Quentin Jungers, Heritier Koy Kondjo, Josefina Mbulito Iyanga, Francis Inicko Gangyo, Tatiana Nana, Conan Vassily Obame, Carine Milandou, Pierrick Rambaud, Denis Jean Sonwa, Benoit Mertens, Elisee Tehana, Damase Khasa, Clement Bourgoin, Cherubins Brice Ouissika, Daddy D. Kipute
Summary: The Central African region is home to the largest continuous tract of forest in Africa, which plays a crucial role in regulating global climate and harboring extensive biodiversity. However, extractive industries, infrastructure development, and industrial agriculture pose significant threats to these forests. A recent study provides a comprehensive remote sensing assessment of deforestation and degradation drivers in the region, highlighting the importance of addressing multiple direct drivers for effective climate change mitigation and land use planning.
Article
Forestry
Henry B. Glick, Peter M. Umunay, Jean-Remy Makana, Sean C. Thomas, Jonathan D. Reuning-Scherer, Timothy G. Gregoire
Summary: The study on forest dynamics in central Africa reveals a significant pattern of developmental aggradation and net expansion of monodominant forest, driven by the slow spread of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei into adjacent mixed species forest, as well as landscape-scale recovery or response to widespread disturbance and exceptional stress tolerance traits of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matti Barthel, Marijn Bauters, Simon Baumgartner, Travis W. Drake, Nivens Mokwele Bey, Glenn Bush, Pascal Boeckx, Clement Ikene Botefa, Nathanael Deriaz, Gode Lompoko Ekamba, Nora Gallarotti, Faustin M. Mbayu, John Kalume Mugula, Isaac Ahanamungu Makelele, Christian Ekamba Mbongo, Joachim Mohn, Joseph Zambo Mandea, Davin Mata Mpambi, Landry Cizungu Ntaboba, Montfort Bagalwa Rukeza, Robert G. M. Spencer, Laura Summerauer, Bernard Vanlauwe, Kristof Van Oost, Benjamin Wolf, Johan Six
Summary: The Congo Basin, the second largest tropical forest region, is not a hotspot of N2O emissions, and different forest types in the region vary in their uptake and release of CH4 and N2O.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Yitagesu Tekle Tegegne, Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen, Juha Kotilainen, Georg Winkel, Andrew Haywood, Addisu Almaw
Summary: Compliance with forest laws plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable development and natural resource governance. This study analyzes the factors influencing forest law compliance behavior among local communities in Cameroon, and finds that instrumental, normative, legitimacy, and contextual factors significantly influence the compliance behavior. These findings have implications for the design and implementation of forest policies and interventions worldwide.
Article
Ecology
Nora Gallarotti, Matti Barthel, Elizabeth Verhoeven, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira, Marijn Bauters, Simon Baumgartner, Travis W. Drake, Pascal Boeckx, Joachim Mohn, Manon Longepierre, John Kalume Mugula, Isaac Ahanamungu Makelele, Landry Cizungu Ntaboba, Johan Six
Summary: Primary tropical forests have significant gaseous nitrogen losses, with N2O release being a major concern due to its global warming potential. Studies in the Congo Basin found lower N2O fluxes compared to other tropical regions, and microbial reduction of N2O to N-2 within the soil may explain the observed low surface N2O fluxes.
Review
Biology
Adam H. Boyette, Sheina Lew-Levy, Haneul Jang, Vidrige Kandza
Summary: Investigating the human adaptation to the Congo Basin tropical forest can provide insights into human evolution influenced by climate and ecosystem variability. The study synthesizes genetic, palaeoclimatological, linguistic, and historical data to understand the peopling of the region. Forest fragmentation increased genetic and geographical divergence among forest foragers, but long-distance connectivity was maintained. The expansion of Bantu speakers facilitated inter-group links, supported by linguistic shifts and historical evidence. Ethnographic work in the northern Republic of the Congo highlights the role of inter-group links and trade relationships in adaptation to different ecoregions. The cultivation of relational wealth among various groups played a significant role in the initial occupation of the Congo Basin and cultural evolution among contemporary populations.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oleg Antropov, Yrjo Rauste, Jaan Praks, Frank Martin Seifert, Tuomas Hame
Summary: This study used dense time series of RADARSAT-2 data to detect and map selective logging operations in the tropical forest area of northern Republic of the Congo. By combining multitemporal change detection with spatial texture analysis, the research successfully differentiated disturbed forests from intact ones.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sharon E. Nicholson, Douglas A. Klotter, Liming Zhou, Wenjian Hua
Summary: This article examines the rainfall conditions in the Congo Basin between 1979 and 2014, and compares it with the subsequent years of 2016-2020. It is shown that while there was a drying trend in the earlier period, the later years experienced a wetter period. The meteorological factors responsible for the wetter conditions in the later years were different from those in the earlier wet period, with an increase in convective available potential energy and total column water vapor being the major factors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Donna Hawthorne, Ian T. Lawson, Greta C. Dargie, Yannick E. Bocko, Suspense A. Ifo, Yannick Garcin, Enno Schefuss, William Hiles, Antonio Jonay Jovani-Sancho, Genevieve Tyrell, George E. Biddulph, Arnoud Boom, Brian M. Chase, Pauline Gulliver, Susan E. Page, Katherine H. Roucoux, Sofie Sjogersten, Dylan M. Young, Simon L. Lewis
Summary: The accumulation of peat began in the central Congo Basin 19,600 years ago, and the vegetation in the region has undergone continuous changes over time, with a strong response to changes in precipitation.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Marijn Bauters, Pieter Moonen, Laura Summerauer, Sebastian Doetterl, Daniel Wasner, Marco Griepentrog, Francis M. Mumbanza, Elizabeth Kearsley, Corneille Ewango, Faustin Boyemba, Johan Six, Bart Muys, Bruno Verbist, Pascal Boeckx, Kris Verheyen
Summary: The study reveals that in the Congo Basin, land-use intensity significantly affects soil ion stocks and the functional composition of young regrowth forest, with repeated clearing leading to a substantial reduction in potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the soil. Plant-available nitrogen and phosphorus in the topsoil decrease with increasing land-use intensity.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
H. Carolyn Peach Brown, Barry Smit, Olufunso A. Somorin, Denis J. Sonwa, Johnson Ndi Nkem
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mekou Y. Bele, Anne M. Tiani, Olufunso A. Somorin, Denis J. Sonwa
Article
Environmental Sciences
Olufunso A. Somorin, Ingrid J. Visseren-Hamakers, Bas Arts, Denis J. Sonwa, Anne-Marie Tiani
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2014)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abdon Awono, Olufunso A. Somorin, Richard Eba'a Atyi, Patrice Levang
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2014)
Review
Economics
Denis J. Sonwa, Olufunso A. Somorin, Cyprian Jum, Mekou Y. Bele, Johnson N. Nkem
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2012)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Olufunso A. Somorin, H. Carolyn Peach Brown, Ingrid J. Visseren-Hamakers, Denis J. Sonwa, Bas Arts, Johnson Nkem
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS
(2012)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Justin Mog, Wouter Kersten, Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman, Marko Keskinen, Timothy J. Downs, S. M. Wahid, Rafael D'Almeida Martins, Helene Connor, Laura E. Williamson, Mithra Moezzi, Ahmad Houri, Bimlesh Kumar, Rahul B. Hiremath, Bert Scholtens, O. C. Ajayi, F. K. Akinnifesi, G. Sileshi, Olufunso A. Somorin
NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM
(2009)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mekou Youssoufa Bele, Olufunso Somorin, Denis Jean Sonwa, Johnson Ndi Nkem, Bruno Locatelli
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR GLOBAL CHANGE
(2011)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Johnson N. Nkem, Olufunso A. Somorin, Cyprian Jum, Monica E. Idinoba, Youssoufa M. Bele, Denis J. Sonwa
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR GLOBAL CHANGE
(2013)
Review
Environmental Studies
Emilia Pramova, Bruno Locatelli, Houria Djoudi, Olufunso A. Somorin
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-CLIMATE CHANGE
(2012)
Article
Environmental Studies
Olufunso A. Somorin, Ingrid J. Visseren-Hamakers, Bas Arts, Anne-Marie Tiani, Denis J. Sonwa
ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING C-GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
(2016)
Article
Development Studies
Eugene Loh Chia, Olufunso A. Somorin, Denis J. Sonwa, Youssoufa M. Bele, M. A. Tiani
CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT
(2015)
Article
Development Studies
H. Carolyn Peach Brown, Barry Smit, Olufunso A. Somorin, Denis J. Sonwa, Felix Ngana
CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT
(2013)
Article
Development Studies
H. Carolyn Peach Brown, Barry Smit, Denis J. Sonwa, Olufunso A. Somorin, Johnson Nkem
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT
(2011)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eva Boon, Jurian Vincent Meijering, Robbert Biesbroek, Fulco Ludwig
Summary: This article introduces a global Delphi study, which presents a widely supported definition for successful climate services. The definition emphasizes the importance of user satisfaction and highlights the need for climate service developers to consider climate change uncertainties, build trust and capacity with users, and tailor interactions based on user needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhiqi Zhang, Xiangyu Jia, Zeren Gongbu, Dingling He, Wenjun Li
Summary: This study conducted research in two villages on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China and found that the village with interactive and supportive government involvement achieved better outcomes compared to the village with forceful government intervention. This highlights the importance of congruence between government actions and community demands in developing self-governance institutions for natural resource management.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yolanda L. Waters, Kerrie A. Wilson, Angela J. Dean
Summary: This study found that climate messages centered around the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are more effective in strengthening intentions to adopt energy reduction behaviors. However, they are limited in motivating more impactful civic and social behaviors, including those seeking to influence climate policy support. Messages emphasizing collective efficacy can enhance message effect and influence the uptake of a broader range of behaviors. Emotions related to distress played a significant role in this effect. This research offers an alternative for expanding beyond traditional climate communication strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel A. Potts, Emma J. S. Ferranti, Joshua D. Vande Hey
Summary: This study investigates the barriers to integrating satellite data into air quality management and proposes the creation of a network of experts to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange between scientific research and air quality management.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amber W. Datta, Carina Wyborn, Brian C. Chaffin, Michele L. Barnes
Summary: Extreme climate events are changing social-ecological systems and challenging environmental governance paradigms. This study explores governance actors' perspectives on the future of reef management after a crisis and finds that multiple and conflicting visions are shaping the trajectory of coral reef governance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ranjan Datta, Prarthona Datta
Summary: This paper discusses the importance of learning climate change solutions from the activities of cross-cultural children, and introduces reflective learning, Indigenous Elders land-based teaching, music and arts learning, and positive interactions with cross-cultural children in a cross-cultural community garden.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julie Lydia Stounberg, Karen Timmerman, Karsten Dahl, Maurizio Pinna, Jon C. Svendsen
Summary: To combat biodiversity loss, the European Union established the Natura 2000 network. However, some sites are still not mapped, and habitats remain undefined. This study compared the definitions of blue mussel reefs in different EU member states and identified significant variations in parameters and limits used for reef identification. The study also highlighted the need for compatible and justified habitat definitions to ensure a consistent level of protection.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shilpi Kundu, Edward A. Morgan, James C. R. Smart
Summary: Climate change impacts in low lying coastal areas, like Bangladesh, are negatively affecting food and livelihood security, necessitating adaptation measures to build resilience. However, the effective implementation of these measures is hindered by a lack of local-level knowledge.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Theodore Tallent, Aiora Zabala
Summary: This study explores how pluralism and social equity are incorporated into the governance of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the field of conservation. Using a conceptual framework of social equity, the researchers analyze five exemplary cases to understand how practitioners assimilate these principles into their practices and governance processes. The findings highlight a strong commitment to participation and involvement of local communities, along with practices that aim to foster actor participation, build local capacity, and strengthen ownership. The study emphasizes the importance of considering diverse voices, perspectives, and forms of knowledge in conservation governance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie Sampson, Carmel Price, Melanie Sampson, Mary Bradshaw, Bianca Freeman
Summary: The Title V program of the Clean Air Act provides opportunities for public participation in permit-related decisionmaking, but there is a lack of substantive changes prioritizing environmental justice in overburdened communities. Increasing the use of plain language can improve public participation by enhancing access, transparency, and accountability. Analysis of public notices revealed poor writing quality and a lack of attention to writing strategies for improved understanding and addressing environmental health and justice. Suggestions for improving public notices are provided, emphasizing the need for plain language and environmental health literacy.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karabi Bezboruah, Amruta Sakalker, Michelle Hummel, Oswald Jenewein, Kathryn Masten, Yonghe Liu
Summary: This study examines the role of a rural, community-based nonprofit organization in addressing coastal flooding. Through an analysis of the Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association (IOBCWA) in Texas, the study finds that the organization has improved the community's adaptive capacity through activities such as community organizing, advocacy, data collection, resident capacity building, and regional communication networks. However, more policies, partnerships, and inclusion of socially vulnerable groups are needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Heli Saarikoski, Suvi Vikstrom, Lasse Peltonen
Summary: This paper examines the cormorant conflict in Finland, highlighting the frame conflict resulting from different scales of analysis. The study finds that knowledge co-production processes have the potential to address environmental conflicts and generate practical and contextually appropriate knowledge. Key factors include participants' control over information and third-party facilitation of dialogue.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Naomi Terry, Azucena Castro, Bwalya Chibwe, Geci Karuri-Sebina, Codruta Savu, Laura Pereira
Summary: The practice of envisioning the future has deep roots in African traditions, but is not widely used in conventional futuring methodologies. To achieve a decolonial approach to futuring, it is important to consider diverse pasts and storytelling forms. Stories can serve as mechanisms of power, healing, and diversification, leading to more just and ecologically sustainable futures.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Priya Chetri, Upasna Sharma, P. Vigneswara Ilavarasan
Summary: Previous studies have overlooked the role of information in farmers' capacity to adapt to weather and climate variability. This paper examines the relationship between farmers' access to weather information and the uptake of farm-level adaptation strategies, and highlights the potential of information in improving farmers' adaptive capacity. The paper also emphasizes the moderating effect of farmers' social ecosystem on this relationship.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baker Matovu, Floor Brouwer, Raimund Bleischwitz, Firas Aljanabi, Meltem Alkoyak-Yildiz
Summary: This paper proposes a novel framework for sustainable sand mining based on Ecosystem Service Assessment. It analyzes the case of Kerala, India to demonstrate the impacts of sand mining on local ecosystems and livelihoods. The article also highlights seven key steps that can guide sustainable sand mining and promote integrated governance systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2024)