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As the most important component of new energy electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries may suffer irreversible damage to the battery due to an abnormal state of charge. Nevertheless, the extant research on charge prediction predominantly employs a single model or an enhanced single model. However, these approaches do not fully account for the intricacies and variability of the actual driving road conditions of the vehicle. Furthermore, the prediction accuracy of the charge state in the latter phase of discharge remains suboptimal. To further improve the accuracy of predicting the state of charge, the study utilizes actual operating data of new energy vehicles and combines two proposed algorithms to build a first layer learner of a fusion prediction model. The second layer learner integrates various prediction results. The fusion model can enhance its adaptability to complex data structures by combining the gradient boosting ability of XGBoost algorithm and the diversity of Random Forest when dealing with nonlinear problems. This fusion method modifies the input features of the second layer of the fusion model, enhances the complexity of the second layer learner, effectively circumvents overfitting, and exhibits reduced error rates relative to traditional single-chip prediction models. As a result, the performance of the prediction model is significantly enhanced. The tests showed that when using the fusion model for state of charge prediction, the prediction accuracy could reach 97.6%, and the prediction accuracy was higher than the other four comparison models. When the car was driving in a 25 ℃ highway environment, the root mean square error of the fusion model was 1.3%, and the average absolute error was 1.5%. In urban road environments, the root mean square error of the fusion model was 1.5%, and the average absolute error was 1%. The experiment demonstrates that the proposed fusion prediction model can accurately predict the charging status, thereby enabling the battery to be fully utilized while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. In comparison to the traditional single model or enhanced single model, the proposed fusion model has demonstrated a notable enhancement in both prediction accuracy and computational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aligned with the imperatives of national ecological civilization construction, the systematic investigation into the intricate interplay between shifts in land utilization and the assessment of ecosystem services plays a pivotal and indispensable role in advancing ecological civilization. This endeavor holds significant implications. It aids in optimizing the ecological landscape at the regional level and fosters harmonious coexistence between humanity and the natural world. The study utilizes land-use remote sensing interpretation data from three time periods (2000, 2010, and 2020) and employs various methodologies, including equivalent factor coefficient correction, sensitivity analysis, and spatial autocorrelation. The objective is to uncover the spatiotemporal dynamics of land-use changes and Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) in Lanzhou City. Furthermore, geographic detectors are applied to explore the driving factors influencing ESV spatial heterogeneity and their interactions. The research findings indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, grassland and cropland were the predominant land-use types in Lanzhou City, with cropland and urban land experiencing the most active changes. (2) ESV in Lanzhou City increased from 179.37 billion RMB in 2000 to 193.86 billion RMB in 2020, reflecting an ESV total growth rate of 8.07% and a gradual improvement in the ecological environment. Spatially, ESV exhibits a "west high, east low" distribution pattern, with the center shifting towards the northwest and southeast, gradually reducing spatial imbalance. (3) Analysis of ESV spatial autocorrelation reveals that high-high clusters are predominantly found within the Tulu Gou National Forest Park and the Xinglong Mountain National Natural Reserve, while low-low clusters are primarily concentrated in the central urban area of Lanzhou City. Over the period from 2000 to 2020, the spatial clustering effect of ESV within the study area has progressively intensified. 4)NDVI, precipitation, and GDP emerge as pivotal factors influencing spatial differentiation within Lanzhou City, with natural and societal elements exerting interactive effects on ESV spatial disparities. The research results integrate environmental considerations into the decision-making process, offering valuable insights for formulating targeted ecological protection policies in Lanzhou City. This study embodies concrete measures taken by Lanzhou City in practicing China's concept of "green water and green mountains are golden silver mountains," providing a theoretical basis for the harmonious and sustainable development of the ecological economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overabundance of certain deer species is emerging as a critical issue in many forested regions across the Northern Hemisphere, including those in Japan. In the field of deer impact studies, the prevailing notion has been that overabundant deer populations could cause drastic changes of ecosystem states. This study comprises a review of the historical discussion surrounding ecosystem changes caused by deer overabundance, from theoretical frameworks to in situ observations and experiments. The synthesis highlights the potential for state transitions, shifting ecosystems from forest to nonforest states, and in some scenarios to a so‐called alternative stable states. However, detecting these transitions poses challenges due to the enduring impacts of past deer activity and the nonequilibrium nature of forest dynamics. Furthermore, this study reveals additional multifield complexities arising from the interactive effects of deer overabundance and global changes on future forest dynamics. To address these challenges, new avenues for research are proposed, emphasizing the importance of sustained efforts in conducting valuable long‐term studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas and biological corridors play a crucial role in conserving biodiversity and promoting connectivity between habitat patches. Bhutan, known as a stronghold for tigers (Panthera tigris), has dedicated a significant portion of its land to a network of protected areas and biological corridors. However, these areas face risks from illegal activities, posing challenges for their management. To address this, the Department of Forests & Park Services in Bhutan deployed an adaptive management framework, informed by the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool in 2016 in the Divisional Forest Office, Sarpang, an important corridor area outside of official protected area boundaries. This study analyses 5 years of data (2017–2021) recorded through a monitoring tool to assess changes in ranger activities and on‐ground observations. The results show improved data availability, increased patrol effort, enhanced monitoring of wildlife, and a reduction in threat detection over time. Furthermore, camera trap surveys targeting tigers reveal a potential increase in the number of individual tigers utilizing the corridor since the adoption of the tool and other management actions. These findings highlight the effectiveness of these efforts in a critical wildlife corridor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruziman HH, Mohti A, Yo NESC, Pardi F. 2024. Comparative assessment of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption capacities in Koompassia malaccensis and Hopea nervosa in Tekam Forest Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia. Nusantara Bioscience 16: 185-191. Trees, the dominant life form in forests, are essential in the functioning of the terrestrial biosphere, especially for the carbon cycle of the ecosystem. This study aims to assess CO2 absorption by two forest production species: Koompassia malaccensis Maingay and Hopea nervosa King. The experiment was carried out in an acrylic box, and the variation of carbon dioxide concentration, humidity, light, and temperature was measured using a Carbon Dioxide, Light, Temperature, and Humidity (CLTM) sensor. The experiment was conducted in an open area from 7:30 am to 6:30 am the next day (23 hours). The results showed that H. nervosa absorbed more CO2 (71.13 ppm/hour) than K. malaccensis (51.54 ppm/hour), thus promoting its ability to address climate change in the microenvironment. As for the relationship between carbon dioxide absorption and photosynthesis variables, both species show a positive correlation between CO2 absorption and humidity. In contrast, light and temperature were very weakly correlated to CO2. Therefore, it was identified that H. nervosa (Dipterocarpaceae) and K. malaccensis (Fabaceae) are tree species with high CO2 absorption capacity and thus can be considered suitable trees for replanting, especially in light of carbon mitigation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious concerns exist that the increasing frequency of fires may delay the recovery of ozone given increasing temperatures due to climate change. Australian bushfires from September 2019 to February 2020 were catastrophic. A random forest spatial-temporal (RF sp) analysis using satellite data to detect an association between Australian bushfires and stratosphere ozone on the local depletion of ozone in the vicinity of fires in three regions of Australia (Pacific Ocean, Victoria, NSW) has shown a significant reduction in ozone attributable to aerosols from fires. By intervention analysis, increases in aerosols in all three regions were shown to have a significant and ongoing impact 1–5 days later on reducing ozone (p < 0.0001). Intervention analysis also gave similar periods of aerosol exceedance to those found by Hidden Markov models (HMMs). HMMs established a significant and quantifiable decline in ozone due to bushfire-induced aerosols, with significant lags of 10–25 days between times of aerosol exceedance and subsequent ozone level decline in all three regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental education research methods often focus on measuring changes in people’s attitudes toward conservation. While attitudes are an important indicator of change, it is critical to target incentivised behaviour because conservation efforts often involve behavioural changes that are costly to one’s self (e.g., reducing water use, purchasing pricier alternatives). In the present study, we measured both attitudes and behaviours in a short-term conservation education program near the primate-rich Kibale National Forest in Western Uganda. Adolescents ( N = 59) participated in a three-hour curriculum over three weeks integrated into an after-school wildlife club. After almost 30 years of successful primate conservation education in this region, we chose a novel taxonomic group (bats) for this study. Our pre-registered study had two conditions: an experimental condition, in which students learned about bats as an important local pollinator species, and a control condition, in which students learned about the moon. Only the experimental condition emphasised conservation’s delayed benefits. We compared attitudes, knowledge, and behaviours pre- and post- curriculum. To capture behaviour, we employed an investment task in which participants could invest their own resources in a ‘fund’ to support work relating to bats or the moon, depending on condition. Across both conditions, participants showed positive shifts in attitudes and knowledge from pre- to post-measures and showed increased investments in bat- and moon-related funds. These findings reveal that short-term conservation education influences adolescents’ investment decisions as well as their attitudes and knowledge. Our method can easily be edited for conservation education of any species including endangered primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the resilience of disaster-affected communities is always a prime concern for policymakers. Empirical evidence reveals that many socio-economic indicators determine the resilience capacity of an entity. Although several studies in India have investigated the role of socio-economic and generic adaptation measures in reducing impact, there is a lack of studies concerning human development, inequality, and forest cover in reducing vulnerability to extreme events like floods. By considering data related to state-wise losses and damages from floods between 1980 and 2011, we study them in enhancing the resilience capacity of Indian states. Employing Poisson fixed effects with a clustered standard error model, we find: First, human development matters for reducing mortality, but it enhances people affected and houses damaged, and the relationship is expected to have an inverted-U shape for later outcomes. Second, in contrast to the anticipation, variables like inequality are negatively associated with houses damaged and human fatalities, i.e. the latter declines with increasing former. Third, the confounder, like forest cover, is found to be negative for all loss and damage indicators. Fourth, most of these variables are found to be statistically insignificant. Given that developing resilient infrastructure is the need of the hour, this study suggests the inclusion of climate risks in development planning to address the adaptation deficit and avoid possible maladaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first avian checklist from the Suang Reserve Forest of Nagaon, Assam, India. The study conducted between 2018 and 2023 documented 228 bird species belonging to 18 orders and 64 families of which four are globally threatened according to the IUCN Red List. Passeriformes was the most dominant order, with 128 species. Among non-passerines, Piciformes exhibited the highest richness (15 species), followed by Cuculiformes and Accipitriformes (13 species each). The family Muscicapidae had the greatest species diversity (21 species), followed by Accipitridae (13 species), Phylloscopidae (11 species), and Picidae (11 species). We also documented 38 winter visitors and seven summer migrants in the reserve forest. Noteworthy findings included rare sightings of the White-cheeked Partridge and Grey Peacock-Pheasant, and unusual sightings of Wreathed Hornbill and Pacific Golden Plover. The results showed the healthy condition of the forest and its high biodiversity value, despite the study limitations due to inaccessible terrain. We recommend extensive documentation of avifauna and other biodiversity for this region for future conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory infections are a leading cause of death in developing countries. Infants and young children are especially susceptible to disease because they lack immunity, whereas adults who have acquired immunity can be infected asymptomatically. Great ape species, all of which are endangered, are similarly susceptible to respiratory illnesses caused by human respiratory pathogens. We obtained 432 nasopharyngeal swab samples (127 from adults and 305 from children) in a cross‐sectional study that took place between February and October 2022 at four sites in Western Uganda (Budongo Central Forest Reserve, Bulindi Town Council, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Kibale National Park) where the participants live in communities where interaction with apes is frequent. Prior research at Kibale has shown that locally circulating human respiratory pathogens have led to multiple lethal outbreaks in wild eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). We used a multiplex PCR panel to characterize respiratory pathogens, with the goal of assessing whether respiratory illnesses in the chimpanzees of Budongo and Bulindi and the mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) of Bwindi might have originated in local children and been introduced to the apes via asymptomatic adult carriers. The prevalence of respiratory pathogens was twice as high in Bwindi (44.0%) as it was in Budongo (24.0%) and Bulindi (20.8%), while the prevalence was intermediate at Kibale (34.4%). Rates of respiratory pathogen detection were higher but statistically indistinguishable in children compared to adults at Budongo and Bulindi, and children were 15.0 times more likely than adults to have positive detections at Kibale. At Bwindi, however, the pattern was reversed, with adults 2.6 times more likely than children to have positive detections. Rhinovirus, metapneumovirus, human parainfluenza virus 3, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronavirus OC43, all of which have been identified as causative agents of respiratory disease outbreaks in great ape populations across sub‐Saharan Africa, accounted for three quarters (73.6%) of detected pathogens. Our data support the idea that human respiratory pathogens that can infect great apes occur at high frequencies in human populations in Western Uganda that live close to and interact with wild apes that have suffered from lethal outbreaks caused by these same pathogens. Reducing respiratory infections in local children, thereby reducing both carriage of those infections into the forest by people and ape exposure to these pathogens when they enter human spaces, should decrease the risk of respiratory disease outbreaks in apes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diversity of Conservation Units in Brazil, ranging from Strict Protection areas like National Parks to Sustainable Use areas such as National Forests, supports the coexistence of human populations with extensive traditional knowledge of local natural resources. This traditional and local knowledge plays a crucial role in their subsistence and has significant potential to contribute to bioprospecting initiatives, as well as to enhance research and strategies for biological conservation. The São Sebastião de Marinaú community, situated within the Caxiuanã National Forest, offers valuable opportunities for ethnobiological studies. Methods: The field study was carried out with 48 informants from the São Sebastião de Marinaú Community, Caxiuanã National Forest (CNF), Brazil, a Sustainable Use Conservation Unit. It involved participant observation, semistructured interviews, and guided tours. Indices of Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Consensus Factor (ICF) indicated plant species with therapeutic potential. Results: A total of 944 uses associated with 154 plants and 21 animals were reported. Statistical tests pointed out that factors such as gender and age are not determinants in the richness of known plants among the residents. The plants are distributed among 59 botanical families and 126 genera. They predominantly use species native to Brazil (69%), among which 47 are endemic to the Amazon. The medicines are prepared mainly by decoction of leaves and bark. According to UV, veronica (Dalbergia monetaria L.f.) was the most important. The animals used are all vertebrates, and paca (Cuniculus paca Linnaeus, 1766,) was the most cited. Bile and lard are the parts most used in the recipes. They mentioned 116 diseases, especially those of the digestive system. The ceruzeiro (Allantoma lineata (Mart. ex O.Berg) Miers) had a high consensus of local use, and no additional studies on this species exist. Conclusion: This study underscores the vital role of traditional communities in sustainable conservation units, as their involvement is crucial for preserving plant and animal species essential to local traditional medicine. Such research also promotes the recognition of non-timber products as valuable raw materials with potential applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, mapping the occurrence and use of species in vulnerable conditions aids in developing effective conservation strategies for these resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Jhalana Reserve Forest (JRF) is located in the heart of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan in India. The JRF was declared a reserve forest in 2017 by the Rajasthan Forest Department. However, the authorities needed baseline data to identify and understand the biodiversity in the JRF. It is paramount to have this data collated to understand the ecosystem and changes that occur in subsequent years. The human population from the fringe villages was observed to intrude into the reserve. The authorities constructed a wall of 3 m height to curtail this intrusion. We studied and recorded the mammal and bird species in the JRF over 2 years, 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. In the first of its studies in the JRF, camera traps were placed at 17 artificial waterholes. We recorded 39 species (bird species—18, mammal species—14, domestic species—6, and human activity). The Indian Leopard is the apex predator in the JRF, and we identified 25 individuals during our study period. The human and domestic animal activity was reduced considerably after the wall was built. Studies involving the documentation of species are critical for the authorities to implement conservation strategies. We utilized camera traps to evaluate animal diversity, relative abundance, and the extent of anthropogenic activities in the Jhalana Reserve Forest (JRF), located in Jaipur, with a population of 3.9 million people. Between November 2017 and November 2019, camera traps were strategically deployed in the tourist zone and peripheral areas, capturing 16,328 photos. This study represents the first comprehensive baseline assessment of animal diversity in the JRF, documenting 39 species, including 18 bird species, 14 mammals, and 6 domestic species, alongside human activity. Among the 14 mammal species, 7 were carnivores. Notably, we identified 25 individual Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) during 2017–2018, comprising 8 males and 17 females, highlighting the leopard as the apex predator in the JRF. Concurrently, domestic animals accompanied by humans were observed within the JRF. However, rigorous conservation efforts and patrols by the Rajasthan Forest Department resulted in a notable decline in human activity, from 28.04% in 2017–2018 to 3.92% in 2018–2019, with domestic animal activity reaching zero in the latter period. Consequently, the relative abundance of wildlife species increased during the study period of 2018–2019, underscoring the positive impact of conservation strategies implemented by authorities. Our findings establish that camera-trapping methodology collates definitive baseline data, assesses mammal diversity, and evaluates relative abundance in reserve forests within human-dominated landscapes. We strongly recommend a further study to assess the avifauna diversity. This study provides critical insights to inform the development and implementation of conservation strategies in similar protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of urbanization has led to a decline in the ecological function and environmental quality of cities, seriously reducing the services and sustainable development capacity of urban ecosystems. The construction of the National Forest Urban Agglomeration of China is conducive to alleviating the ecological and environmental problems brought about by rapid urbanization and promoting sustainable urban development. A time series analysis of ecological network changes can quickly and effectively explore the development and changes of ecological spatial patterns over time. Identifying ecological protection and restoration areas in urban agglomerations is an important way to promote ecosystem restoration and optimize ecological networks. This paper takes the Pearl River Delta forest urban agglomeration as the research area, uses multi-source remote sensing data from 2000 to 2020 (every 5 years), identifies ecological sources based on the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) method, generates ecological corridors based on the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, constructs a time series ecological network pattern in the Pearl River Delta region, and analyzes the evolution process of the ecological network pattern over time. The results indicate that over time, the core green area in the ecological network pattern of the Pearl River Delta first decreased and then increased, and the complexity of ecological corridors first decreased and then increased. The main reason is that the urbanization process in the early 21st century led to severe ecological fragmentation. Under the promotion of the national forest urban agglomeration construction, the ecological network pattern of the Pearl River Delta was restored in 2015 and 2020. The time series analysis of the ecological network pattern in the Pearl River Delta region of this research confirms the effectiveness of the construction of forest urban agglomerations, providing a scientific reference for the identification of ecological networks and optimization of spatial patterns in forest urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social, economic, and ecological aspects must be considered for ecological restoration projects to be successful. Multifunctionality, achieved when restored ecosystems have multiple uses, is the desired goal for these projects. Understanding people's perceptions of forest restoration is essential to advance the debate on stakeholder acceptance and engagement. Based on a 30‐year case study of forest restoration on a university campus in Brazil, we assessed (1) how project objectives relate to contemporary multifunctionality and social attributes; (2) how the current state of the forest meets social goals; and (3) how stakeholders perceive the importance of the forest and the project itself. We used documents, interviews, and questionnaires, applying content analysis and narrative interpretation with the “social benefits wheel” and the “five‐star social system” to assess how the initial project objectives corresponded to contemporary social development goals and its progress toward social goals. The results revealed that socioecological goals were incorporated from the beginning of the project, ensuring a multifunctional approach. Respondents highlighted ecological, social, and cultural functions, with 84% expressing positive feelings toward the forest. Ecosystem services, especially regulatory and cultural benefits, were recognized as the most valuable. Although academic use was significant, nonmaterial values, such as cultural and emotional connections, were more prominent. The study concludes that a well‐planned restoration project involving the local community generates lasting support for ecological restoration. This information strongly supports Brazil's voluntary reforestation targets proposed in the Paris Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate prediction of the state of health (SOH) for lithium-ion batteries is a key factor for improving the performance of battery management systems (BMS). However, traditional point prediction methods are difficult to effectively eliminate errors due to the uncertainty of variables and application environments. This paper presents a model for predicting the interval of lithium-ion batteries based on health indicators (HIs) during charging, which addresses the limitations of current point prediction in practical applications. First, twelve HIs are extracted from the current and voltage variables of the charging process. Secondly, feature selection is performed by random forest (RF) training, and the selected HIs are dimensioned using partial least squares (PLS). Finally, a long short-term memory network (LSTM) combined with quantile regression (QR) is used to derive the quantile values of the prediction points and each quantile is employed as input information for Gaussian kernel density estimation (KDE) to obtain the SOH probability density distribution. The experimental results based on the NASA PCOE Li-ion battery dataset and CALCE Li-ion battery dataset show that the SOH interval coverage is more than 90% and the average width of the interval is less than 0.294. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past years, forests have been crucial in shaping economic development patterns by sustaining livelihoods, assisting in economic restructuring, and encouraging sustainable growth. This study assesses the impact of forestry management practices on regional economic benefits and the livelihoods of rural communities in Ghana, focusing on three forest reserves in the Ashanti Region. A mixed-method research design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, was employed. A total of 234 respondents were purposively selected based on their availability and willingness to respond to questions, with data collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings indicate a notable improvement in the standard of living, measured by four indicators: household finances, food security, physical health, and social indicators. Despite these improvements, a significant decrease in forest cover was observed in recent years. The decline in forest cover around the three forest reserves in the Ashanti Region of Ghana was attributed to poor management. Communities reported inadequate management and enforcement of forest policies, with forest managers not adhering to regulations, showing high levels of corruption, a trend consistent in 2017 (58.9%) and 2023 (60%). In summary, there has been a significant improvement in the livelihoods of rural communities around the Tano Offin, Nkrabia, and Afram Headwaters forest reserves in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. However, the management of forest resources remains poor and inefficient, leading to a substantial loss of forest cover. This loss threatens biodiversity and ecosystem services. The government should implement proactive forestry management strategies and promote communitybased approaches to enhance community involvement in managing their forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism development can stimulate regional economic growth and improve living standards in economically underdeveloped regions. However, rapid tourism expansion may also negatively affect regional sustainability, particularly in eco‐fragile areas. As a representative arid and semiarid region, Northwestern China provides a valuable case for analyzing the coupling coordination relationship within the tourism–economy–ecology (TEE) system. This analysis is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism development in eco‐fragile areas. This paper utilizes the entropy weight method, coupling coordination degree (CCD), and obstacle degree models to assess the development level, coupling status, and related obstacles within the TEE system across the five northwestern provinces from 2011 to 2022. The results show the following. (1) While the northwest region has made significant strides in environmental management, most provinces have low comprehensive development status in tourism and economic subsystems, which lag behind the ecological system's development. (2) The CCD level in each province improved continuously from 2011 to 2022. Provinces with lower coupling coordination in 2011 had higher improvement rates in the later period. (3) The obstacles to coordinated development shifted over time, ranging from low foreign exchange earnings from tourism and low international tourist arrivals in 2011 to low forest management areas in 2019 and a significant decline in foreign exchange earnings from tourism in 2022. (4) The impact of COVID‐19 on the coordinated development of the TEE system has been relatively manageable. While most provinces in the northwest continue to see steady ecological improvement, the challenges of lagging tourism development and insufficient economic growth momentum remain significant. Based on this analysis, this paper offers four policy recommendations to support the sustainable development of arid and semiarid regions in Northwestern China. These recommendations provide valuable insights for achieving high‐quality economic development in other eco‐fragile areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) and Coastal forests of Tanzania are renowned for harboring large number of threatened and endemic vertebrate species, yet most of these areas have been partially studied. The Kimboza Nature Forest Reserve (KNFR) is a small forest which is in transition between the EAM and Coastal forests, and among the poorly surveyed areas for amphibians and reptiles. We conducted systematic surveys across the KNFR in 2012 and between 2020 and 2023 using a range of approaches with the aim of establishing a comprehensive and updated list of reptile and amphibian species and assess the contribution of EAM and Coastal forests to the KNFR's herpetofauna. We identified 77 species, 29 amphibians and 48 reptiles, substantially updating previous species lists. Three of these species (Kinyongia magomberae, Trachylepis boulengeri and Philothamnus macrops) represent range extensions from previously known ranges. Fourteen species are endemic to East Africa, 11 of them being restricted to Tanzania. These results make the KNFR the richest forest reserve for herpetofauna per square km in Tanzania, and most similar in its composition to the Coastal, rather than Eastern Arc forests. With the caveats concerning taxonomic uncertainties and the inequalities of sampling intensity across the region, this study shows that the KNFR is an important area that deserves conservation attention. The KNFR, like other Coastal forests, is under significant pressure from anthropogenic activities which call for an urgent action to protect this small but rich forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: How far in space and time should conservation burns be conducted to provide most benefit to beetles favoured by forest fires? We systematically sampled forest reserves with different fire history and found that most pyrophilic beetles were found when fires in the vicinity of the reserves were close and quite recent. The number and area of forest fires in northern Europe have been dramatically reduced during the past century, and several fire-favoured species are now threatened. To promote the recovery of these species, prescribed burning is often used as a conservation measure, and to optimise the use of these conservation burns, knowledge is needed on suitable fire frequency, size and placement in the landscape. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of recent fire history (12 yrs) on beetles sampled using smoke attraction traps at 21 forest sites in a 10,000 km2 region. We analysed the odds of finding a fire-favoured beetle species or individual among the beetles in each trap using a new spatiotemporal connectivity measure and compared the results to non-fire-favoured and saproxylic species. For fire-favoured beetles, both the number of species and individuals significantly increased with connectivity to previous fires, while the other two groups did not. The spatiotemporal connectivity that best explained the patterns suggests that fire-favoured beetles mainly respond to fires within a 2 km range up to 2–3 years after the fire. Hence, to preserve fire-favoured insects, prescribed fires must be close in space and time to other fires—whether prescribed or natural. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, research natural areas (RNAs) are permanently established to maintain areas of natural ecosystem significance. The Upper Sand Creek Research Natural Area (USCRNA) in the Escalante River watershed in southern Utah was established nearly a quarter century ago. However, the botanical diversity has remained largely unknown. To provide data to aid in preserving and maintaining biological and genetic diversity in USCRNA, we surveyed vascular plant, bryophyte, and lichen diversity within the RNA in 2021. We document high vascular plant (187 species) and lichen (152 species / candidate species) diversity, in addition to 15 bryophyte species. These preliminary inventories will be critical for investigating ecosystem function and integrity, providing a baseline for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impacts of habitat conversion on species assemblages across multiple biodiversity dimensions (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) and spatial scales is pivotal for implementing effective conservation strategies. Here, we surveyed phyllostomid bats using mist nets in riparian and unflooded forests, flooded savannahs, and conventional rice fields to investigate how changes in habitat quality affect multifaceted diversity from two Colombian farming systems in the Orinoco Llanos: traditional farmlands with high‐intensity agriculture (mainly rice production) and Civil Society Nature Reserves with greater ecosystem protection. We used a unified framework based on Hill numbers for quantifying bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and modeled the relationship of these diversity facets with landscape variables (habitat cover and patch density) across three spatial scales (0.5, 1.5, 3 km) using Bayesian generalized linear mixed‐effect models. Our results indicate that increasing human activity toward rice monocultures representative of traditional farmlands negatively affected all diversity facets. In contrast, forested habitats associated mainly with riparian forests within private reserves contained higher taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity than savannahs and rice fields. However, the differences between riparian forests and rice crops were significant only for phylogenetic diversity, indicating loss of evolutionary history after habitat conversion. At the landscape scale, forest cover was a significant predictor for functional (0.5‐ and 3‐km scale) and phylogenetic diversity (0.5 km), and bats responded negatively at the 3‐km scale to rice patch density from a functional diversity perspective. Increasing habitat quality through preserving forest cover and patches should minimize the harmful effects of habitat conversion on multidimensional bat biodiversity. Furthermore, the conservation of riparian forests and the creation of more wildlife‐friendly farming, as practiced in the reserves, should be prioritized to ensure high levels of bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across Orinoco countryside landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource availability and habitat heterogeneity are essential drivers of biodiversity, but their individual roles often remain unclear since both factors are often correlated. Here, we tested the more-individuals hypothesis (MIH) and the habitat-heterogeneity hypothesis (HHH) for bacteria, fungi, dipterans, coleopterans, birds, and mammals on 100 experimentally exposed carcasses ranging by three orders of magnitude in body mass. At the level of each carcass we found marginal or significant support for the MIH for bacteria, fungi, and beetles in spring and significant support for fungi, dipterans, and mammals in summer. The HHH was supported only for bacteria in spring, while it was supported for all groups except mammals in summer. Overall multidiversity always increased with body mass, with a steeper increase in summer. Abundance based rarefaction-extrapolation curves for three classes of body mass showed the highest species richness for medium-sized carcasses, particular for dipterans and microbes, supporting the HHH also among carcasses. These findings complement existing necromass studies of deadwood, showing there are more niches associated with larger resource amounts and an increasing habitat heterogeneity between carcasses most pronounced for medium-sized species. Higher resource amount led to increased diversity of carrion-consuming organisms in summer, particularly due to the increasing number of niches with increasing size. Our findings underline the importance of distributed large carrion as well as medium-sized carrion in ecosystems supporting overall biodiversity of carrion-consumers. Furthermore, the different responses in spring and summer may inform strategies of carrion enrichment management schemes throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographical research is increasingly focused on how digital technology shapes human-nature relations. This article explores how internet search engines and their associated algorithms and indexing technologies order and produce homogenising accounts of forest places. We put forward 'un-indexing' as a critical and inventive method for un-ordering and re-ordering search engine results to complicate digital perspectives on forest-society relations. We present Everything at the Forest Park, a series of four speculative catalogues we created to invite collective inquiries into the digital mediation of a forested area in Scotland – Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Fostering a slower form of engagement with web material, the catalogues suggest how geographers and other scholars might critically repurpose, reappropriate and interrogate the algorithmically curated and advertising-oriented orderings of search engines to foster more careful and convivial forest-society relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We documented alloparenting and social group behavior within a leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) population in the Jhalana Reserve Forest (JRF), northwest India. Our observations revealed subadult offspring assisting their mothers in raising their newborn litters, exhibiting previously undocumented alloparenting behaviors. We propose that the familial intra-specific interactions and inter-specific competition collectively influence the social structure of the leopard population. Specifically we suggest that the inter-specific competition and predation, particularly with striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena), may encourage alloparenting in leopards. Aditionally, we hypothesize that alloparenting, combined with natal philopatry, serves as an alternative strategy for leopards to enhance the survival chances of their progeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer in low‐ and middle‐income countries, despite being preventable. Uganda, which lacks an effective screening program, has one of the highest global cervical cancer incidence rates. Mobile health (mHealth) technology has the potential to improve healthcare‐seeking behaviors and access. The present study describes the connection between mobile phone access and healthcare‐seeking behaviors in rural Uganda. Methods: Women were eligible for this cross‐sectional study if they had no prior screening or treatment for cervical cancer in the past 5 years, were aged 30 to 49 years old, and were residents of the South Busoga Forest reserve. Survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi‐square tests. Results: Of the 1434 participants included in the analysis, 91.4% reported having access to a mobile phone. Most respondents were aged 30–40 years, had a partner, had ≤primary education, and were farmers. Participants with mobile phone access were significantly more likely to report attending a healthcare outreach visit (access = 87.3%, no access = 72.6%, P < 0.001) or visiting a health center (access = 96.9%, no access = 93.5%, P < 0.001). Participants in both groups had largely positive attitudes around and good knowledge of cervical cancer screening. Conclusion: While attendance to healthcare services was high amongst participants, those with mobile phone access were more likely to seek healthcare services. Further inquiry into this association between mobile phone access and healthcare‐seeking behavior is needed to optimize the improvements to cervical cancer screening when implementing interventions such as mHealth technology. Synopsis: The majority of women in Malongo had engaged with health services; however, women with mobile phone access were more likely to utilize health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The persistence of colonial controls in present-day forest management has long been recognized as a potential threat to the resilience of social-ecological systems. These controls have created barriers that disconnect individuals from their land and diminish the forest diversity. In Mount Merapi, this maladaptation is manifested through the long-tailed macaque's invasion of farmlands, triggered by the state's failure to reforest the targeted 480 ha of damaged land after the 2010 eruption. This study aims to qualitatively interrogate factors that are hindering the swift restoration of Mount Merapi's social-ecological systems. This will be achieved by investigating the intricate dynamics of the area over various time frames, utilizing the panarchy framework developed by Holling and Gunderson. The framework is well-known for its capacity to facilitate a holistic understanding of social-ecological systems but is also intrinsically ambiguous to capture the complexity. The study's novelty lies in its adoption of Boyer's refined panarchy models and Boonstra and De Boer's systematic analysis to address the methodological concern toward a better understanding of social-ecological systems. METHODS: This study utilizes various techniques for data collection, including semi-structured interviews, literature reviews, and field observations. The interviews involved informants who were selected through purposive sampling and focused on exploring Boyer's panarchy characteristics. In order to ensure the reliability of the data, triangulation was conducted prior to the development of panarchy models. FINDINGS: The findings indicate that the strict forest controls embedded in the state's forest management since the colonial periods had created rigidity and poverty traps. The concept of the rigidity trap pertains to a reforestation strategy that utilized laborers and territories for ecological conservation, restricted local communities from utilizing forests, and diminished biodiversity by favoring the introduction of non-native Acacia decurrens. CONCLUSION: To address traps, this study recommends the need to use a panarchy approach that facilitates a comprehensive understanding of social-ecological systems and to transfer governance to local people which must be based on an in-depth understanding of the local history, knowledge, and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cerrado has high plant and vertebrate diversity and is an important biome for conserving species and provisioning ecosystem services. Volume equations in this biome are scarce because of their size and physiognomic diversity. This study was conducted to develop specific volumetric models for the phytophysiognomies Gallery Forest, Dry Forest, Forest Savannah, and Savannah Woodland, a generic model and a model for Cerrado forest formation. Twelve 10 m × 10 m (100 m²) (National Forest Inventory) plots were used for each phytophysiognomy at different sites (regions) of the Federal District (FD) where trees had a diameter at breast height (DBH; 1.30 m) ≥5 cm in forest formations and a diameter at base height (Db; 0.30 m) ≥5 cm in savanna formations. Their diameters and heights were measured, they were cut and cubed, and the volume of each tree was obtained according to the Smalian methodology. Linear and nonlinear models were adjusted. Criteria for the selection of models were determined using correlation coefficients, the standard error of the estimates, and a graphical analysis of the residues. They were later validated by the chi-square test. The resultant models indicated that fit by specific phytophysiognomy was ideal; however, the generic and forest formation models exhibited similar performance to specific models and could be used in extensive areas of the Cerrado, where they represent a high potential for generalization. To further increase our understanding, similar research is recommended for the development of specific and generic models of the total volume in Cerrado areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-management is a promising forest governance strategy that integrates local communities' traditional rights and forest dependencies while aiming to improve forest cover and ecosystem health. Bangladesh, facing high deforestation rates and limited per capita forest area, has implemented co-management initiatives since 2003 to restore forest cover and support the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. While the socio-economic impacts of co-management are well studied, its effects on forest cover remain underexplored. This study addresses that gap by using three common spectral vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, and MSAVI), calculated from Landsat 7 data, to analyze forest cover changes in five major protected areas under co-management. The results indicated that dense forest cover (41–71%) was initially prevalent in these areas, but a significant decline occurred between 2004 and 2015, with slope values ranging from −3.7 to −0.96. In contrast, the non-co-managed control site exhibited a much smaller decline (slope: −0.48 to −0.62) across all indices. Notable increases in agricultural land and forest–agriculture mosaics were also observed in the protected areas under co-management. Global Forest Watch data further confirmed substantial forest cover loss, particularly in CWS (158.77 ha) and SNP (0.49 ha). These findings highlight the need to reassess co-management strategies to address ongoing forest degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest and landscape restoration are increasingly popular nature‐based solutions to mitigate climate change and safeguard biodiversity. Restoration planning and monitoring implies that a reference ecosystem has been defined to which the restored site can be compared, but how to best select such reference? We tested three different potential natural vegetation (PNV) maps of the same areas in Kenya and Uganda for their utility as ecological references with independent data that were not used when those maps were made. These independent datasets included presence observations of woody species from 76 sites in forest reserves in Kenya and Uganda, and classification of surveyed species into a system that included "forest‐only" and "nonforest‐only" ecological types. Our tests show that (1) the three vegetation maps largely agree on the environmental envelopes/ranges within which forests occur. (2) There are large differences in how well the maps predict the presence of forest‐only species. (3) Two maps, based on empirical observations (V4A and White), predict forest types well, whereas the third, based on climate envelopes only (NS), performs poorly. (4) A large area in Uganda is potentially in one of two alternative stable states. We conclude that it is possible to evaluate the utility of PNV maps at a more detailed scale than the level of biome and ecoregion. This indicates that it is possible to map PNV at scales required for reference for restoration and management of forest vegetation. We recommend that empirically based maps of potential natural vegetation are used in restoration planning (biome and PNV maps based on climate envelopes alone may be unreliable tools) as a baseline model for predicting the distribution of reference ecosystems under current and future conditions. It could conveniently be done by deconstructing the existing biome maps, supported by rapid botanical surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bolstering the supply of animal‐mediated ecosystem services is an emerging priority in human‐altered landscapes. Such services are driven not only by environmental factors that shape communities of species that provide the service but also by the ecological context that affects the behavior of these species. In this study, we used a field experiment to investigate an ecosystem service that depends on resource use behavior—the removal of littered food waste by birds and squirrels in urban green spaces. We first explore how landscape‐scale urbanization affects the composition of the litter‐removing species community. We then examine two facets of waste removal provisioning—the amount of food removed and the speed of removal—and how they vary across ecological contexts represented by green space type (picnic areas, urban parks, and forest preserves), bird and squirrel abundance, number of people, amount of existing litter, and weather conditions. We found that although landscape‐scale urbanization affected the composition of species within green spaces, service provisioning was context‐dependent. Littered food removal services were provided at higher rates in park and picnic sites than in forest preserves and the abundance of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) was a main driver of littered food removal services. Where squirrels were abundant, more food was removed, and food removal began and was completed more quickly. When squirrel abundance is accounted for, removal from picnic areas is higher than park sites, indicating context dependence in this service is likely driven by squirrel behavioral responses to ambient food waste levels in these habitats. This study highlights the role of common urban species in providing a valuable ecosystem service and the importance of ecological context in its supply. Efforts to account for animal‐mediated ecosystem services in human‐altered landscapes should address the potential for services to be driven by a single species and context‐dependent factors that influence behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shangqiu Yellow River Ancient Course National Forest Park, the only national forest park in China created entirely from man-made forests, plays a critical role in ecological conservation. Our research employed plot surveys and quantitative ecological methods, including a diversity index analysis and importance value analysis, to investigate the diversity of arboreal, shrub, and herbaceous plants. This study revealed the composition and distribution of plant communities and analyzed invasive species. It identified dominant plant families, genera, and species and evaluated the types, distribution, and characteristics of invasive plants. We documented 70 families, 177 genera, and 254 species, highlighting that local environmental factors and human activities significantly affect the composition and distribution of plant communities. The presence of 29 invasive plant species poses a risk to the ecosystem. We constructed a phylogenetic tree of the plant community based on rbcL (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit) gene sequences, revealing the evolutionary relationships among species, and evaluated the community's stability using the NTI (nearest taxon index) and NRI (net relatedness index). This research aims to provide a scientific foundation for conserving plant diversity and promoting sustainable development, and it can inform ecological protection and biodiversity studies in similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forest parks serve as significant venues for tourists' leisure and recreation. The experiences and perceptions of tourists in these parks considerably influence their attitudes and behaviors. While numerous studies have investigated the functions and values of urban forest parks at a macro level, the mechanisms influencing tourists' perceived values and their environmentally responsible behavior at a micro level remain under explored. This research used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the association between tourists' perceived values and their environmentally responsible behavior, including the mediating functions of tourists' satisfaction and their subjective well-being. 502 valid questionnaires in total were obtained from Changpoling National Forest Park in Guiyang City, Guizhou, China, for this case study. The results show that there are some variances in the impact of the dimensions of tourists' perceived value on environmentally responsible behavior, in which service quality, resource quality, and emotional value impose a pronounced positive effect on environmentally responsible behavior, tourism costs impose a pronounced negative effect on environmentally responsible behavior, and the activity experience does not exert a pronounced effect on environmentally responsible behavior. Satisfaction and subjective well-being have a mediating function during the process of positive influence of tourists' perceived value on their environmentally responsible behavior and serve as partial mediators, and the significant positive influence of satisfaction on subjective well-being as well as subjective well-being on environmentally responsible behavior are verified. This research can help better explain the mechanism of the effect of tourists' perceived value exerted on environmental responsibility behavior in nature-based tourism destinations, and also has a guiding and reference significance for the sustainable development of urban forest parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forest parks have emerged as significant tourist destinations thanks to economic expansion and the rise in free time. These parks offer tourists the opportunity to connect with nature. Existing studies have examined the value and importance of urban forest parks for tourists. However, there is a lack of research on the interaction between tourists and the natural environment and its influence on environmental responsibility. This study used structural equation modeling to explore the impact of tourist–environment fit on environmentally responsible behavior and the mediating role of natural empathy and awe in the impact of the above-mentioned relationship. In addition, the moderating role of tourists' different cultural backgrounds (nationalities) was also analyzed. In this study, 509 valid questionnaires were collected from field surveys in April and May 2024 at the forest park of Lim City, Seoul, Republic of Korea. The data analysis indicates a notable and favorable impact of tourist–environment fit on visitors' natural empathy, awe, and environmentally responsible behavior. Natural empathy and awe play a mediating role in the influence of tourist–environment fit on environmentally responsible behavior. It suggests that the fit between tourists and the recreational environment of urban forest parks promotes the emergence of empathy and awe and, thus, stimulates tourists' environmentally responsible behavior. In addition, tourists' cultural backgrounds play a moderating role in the influence of natural empathy and awe on environmentally responsible behavior. Compared to Korean tourists, Chinese tourists' natural empathy and awe strongly influence environmentally responsible behavior compared to Korean tourists. This paper also explores the theoretical progress and practical observations that provide guidance and serve as references for the management and sustainable development of urban forest parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree productivity is not only determined by stand structure, but also influenced by soil chemical properties, climate and topography. However, the relative importance of each indicator on larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii) productivity were uncertain. In this study, 76 pure larch forest plots were selected based on national forest inventory (NFI) data in Hebei Province, China. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyze the direct and indirect effects of stand structure, soil chemical properties, climate and topography on larch productivity, and to quantify the relative importance of each indicator in determining productivity. The results showed that stem volume growth (SVG) of larch was influenced by a combination of stand density, diameter at breast height (DBH), mean winter snow (PAS), annual temperature range (TD), slope, and alkali-hydrolysis nitrogen (AN). SVG tended to increase with decreasing stand density and AN content and increasing DBH. Stand density, DBH and AN were more important than PAS, TD, and slope in explaining SVG variation. The results can provide a scientific basis for adaptive management of larch forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest productivity is a crucial integrator of ecosystem functions and services. Although the effects of landscape structure on species richness and stand structure have been extensively studied, how landscape structures affect forest productivity and their interactions with stand‐level attributes, especially in the context of considerable land use change, remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of landscape structures (fragmentation, complexity, and heterogeneity) and their interactions with stand‐level attributes on forest productivity in the conterminous United States across three spatial scales (1–3 km), using an extensive forest inventory dataset from the national forest inventories (NFI) plots. Our results revealed that all landscape indices around selected forest plots significantly increased from 2006 to 2016. Across three scales, forest productivity and stand‐level attributes (number of trees, tree species richness, and structural diversity) exhibited unimodal relationships with landscape fragmentation and complexity, while generally showed positive correlations with landscape heterogeneity. The interactions between landscape structures and stand attributes enhanced the explanatory power of forest productivity. Landscape complexity directly or indirectly reduced forest productivity by decreasing the number of trees and tree species richness, whereas landscape fragmentation and heterogeneity had the opposite effects. Furthermore, landscape heterogeneity and stand age had relatively stronger total effects (the sum of direct and indirect effects) on forest productivity, and their strength increased modestly with spatial scales. However, tree species richness consistently had the lowest total effects. Our study elucidates the complex driving mechanisms of landscape patterns on forest productivity across spatial scales, providing a deeper understanding of ecosystem complexity and responses to accelerating land use changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We studied the survival of young Indian leopard cubs in the Jhalana Reserve Forest, India, during their first two years of life. Using data from trail cameras collected over four years (2018–2021), we calculated survival rates with a statistical method to identify when cubs are most at risk. All adults and cubs included in this study were identified at the individual level based on the rosette patterns on their flanks and their facial markings. We found that during the first year, the survival rate of the cubs was about 74%, indicating that this period is particularly challenging for their survival. In the second year, the survival rate improved to around 83%, showing that the cubs are more likely to survive as they grow older. Overall, 61% of the cubs survived in our population to become independent after two years of parental care. These findings are important for creating effective conservation strategies to protect leopard cubs in fragmented habitats. We investigated the survival of cubs in a wild Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) population in the Jhalana Reserve Forest (JRF), India. The research focuses on analyzing the survival of leopard cubs during their first two years of life. Survival functions were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method based on data collected with trail cameras over four years from 2018 to 2021. We found that the mean survival probability of cubs during the first year of life was 0.739, indicating that this period is particularly challenging for their survival. In the second year, the survival probability increased to 0.831, reflecting an improvement in survival as the cubs grew older. The combined survival rate over the two-year period, calculated as the product of the first- and second-year survival rates, was 0.618. These findings highlight the critical periods in the early life stages of leopard cubs, which are essential for developing effective conservation strategies in fragmented habitats to enhance their survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human-snake conflicts are common worldwide, often resulting in snakebites. Snakebite envenoming causes over 125,000 deaths and 400,000 permanent disabilities worldwide every year. India alone accounts for an average of ~58,000 annual snakebite-induced deaths. As human developments rapidly expand into suburban and rural areas, snakes are being displaced and incidences of residents finding snakes within their dwellings are increasing. Most people have an innate fear of snakes, compounded by centuries of negative influence from culture and mythology manifesting in people often attempting to kill snakes. Snake rescuers are volunteers who remove and relocate snakes to safe areas. This is a risky job that poses potentially fatal implications if bitten. These volunteers mostly receive no financial compensation for their time or transportation costs, but they choose to do it for their love of snakes, conservation, and for the altruistic nature of helping others. Snake rescuers often receive no formal training and are unfunded resulting in removing snakes improperly without adequate safety equipment or the required skill set to safely complete the task. Therefore, it is critical to determine their challenges and requirements to promote the safe rescue of snakes while protecting human lives. Methodology/Principal findings: In this study, we developed an online questionnaire and interviewed 152 snake rescuers in Tamil Nadu, India following written informed consent to determine their challenges and needs for rescuing snakes safely. The results demonstrate that most rescuers are males, and they conduct snake rescues for varying lengths of time. They mostly receive no formal training and are bitten by snakes. They spend their own money on the purchase of snake-handling equipment and on treatments if bitten or injured during a rescue. Conclusions/Significance: The rescuers highlighted the urgent need for formal training, safety equipment and standard protocols for rescuing snakes in Tamil Nadu. Overall, this study demonstrates that snake rescuing should be appropriately regulated by the authorities, in particular the Wildlife Division of State Forest Departments in India, and formal training along with necessary equipment, medical insurance and appropriate recognition should be provided to them to safely remove snakes from human dwellings and manage the safety of both snakes and humans. They can also act as educators to disseminate information about the preventive and first aid measures for snakebites as well as the ecological importance of snakes. Author summary: Snakebite envenoming is a high-priority neglected tropical disease that largely affects poor, rural communities living in developing countries. Human-snake conflicts are a key trigger for snakebites, and they occur mainly due to urbanisation and the rise in pest populations leads to the migration of snakes into human-dominated environments. The removal of snakes and release of them into safe habitats is critical in mitigating the snakebite crisis and saving snakes. Snake rescuers play important roles in saving snakes and humans by safely removing snakes and often educating communities about the dangers of snakes and appropriate dos and don'ts for snakebites. However, they face numerous challenges in rescuing snakes and most of their issues have not been brought to the attention of relevant authorities. In this study, we interviewed 152 snake rescuers in Tamil Nadu and highlighted their experiences, challenges and requirements in performing this task. The data demonstrate that most rescuers need certified training, recognition and identity cards from the government authorities, financial support for purchasing snake handling equipment and medical insurance for treatments if bitten by snakes and encouragement for them to be educators for snake conservation and snakebite mitigation. This study highlights the key challenges in rescuing snakes and appropriate recommendations to promote the safe rescue of snakes and the peaceful coexistence of snakes and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although previously close to extirpation in the southeastern United States, American black bear (Ursus americanus) abundance and distribution have increased with habitat management and harvest regulation. The north Georgia black bear population, the most abundant and widely distributed in the state, is currently being exposed to pressures from increasing anthropogenic disturbances, such as recreation and vehicle traffic. We evaluated the effects of environmental factors and anthropogenic activity on habitat use of black bears within a wildlife management area open to public recreation. We used detection/non‐detection data from camera surveys conducted at 448 locations from April to December 2023 to fit hierarchical single‐species occupancy models. Black bear detection was best explained by Julian date, its quadratic effect, and weekly human activity index. Detection increased through the spring, peaked in June, and declined throughout late summer and fall. In contrast to detection, occupancy was not affected by seasonal differences in black bear activity. Occupancy increased with increasing elevation, distance to water, and distance to high‐use recreation areas. The spatial distribution of food resources likely contributed to the observed black bear occupancy pattern related to elevation and distance to water, while human disturbance in the study area also influenced black bear occupancy. Thus, our results suggest that in a landscape open to public recreation, black bear occupancy was driven by a combination of environmental and anthropogenic factors. Identifying patterns of occupancy at a scale typical of management provides important information for managing black bear populations throughout the large, connected network of national forests in the Appalachian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, urban sprawl and developed land expansion challenge the country's "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" goals. Counties as the basic governance units are crucial for effective carbon reduction policies. This study examines land use carbon emissions (LUCE) in Shaanxi Province at the county level, essential for China's low-carbon strategy. Analyzing data from 107 counties between 2000 and 2020, we found that developed land, though increasing, is the primary carbon source with a slowing growth rate. The Conversion of Cropland to Forests and Grasslands national policy mitigated the impact on carbon absorption. Carbon emissions displayed positive autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity, varying across the region. Using the Spatial Durbin Error Model, we linked county-level emissions to GDP per capita, population, urbanization rate, and research and development expenditure for direct and indirect influence. These factors correlate with fossil fuel use and high-quality industrial development. Promoting public transits and reducing private car use are vital for achieving local and regional low-carbon goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meghalaya, 'the abode of clouds' is one of the states of North East India. The state witnesses several forest fire incidents every year. In this study, MODIS-based forest fire counts from 2003 to 2023 have been used for the generation of forest fire-prone and vulnerability maps. The forest fire vulnerability map has been generated at 1: 10 k for the entire state and at 1: 5 k for Reserve Forests, Community Reserve Forests and other Protected Areas. Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts witness high forest fire incidents compared to all the other districts. Maximum number of forest fire occurs in moderately dense and very dense forests. The eForest Fire Information System, viz. 'Meghalaya Forest Fire Information System' has a dashboard with geospatial forest fire information and a forest fire incident reporting android based app developed for fire managers both at Government and community level. Shifting cultivation (jhum) is a predominant land-use pattern; therefore the framework has embedded jhum area information for improving forest fire management strategies to match the local scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The knowledge about forest growth, influenced by factors such as tree species, tree age, and environmental conditions, is a key for future forest preservation. Height and age data can be combined to describe forest growth and used to infer known environmental effects. Methods: In this study, we built 14 height growth curves for stands composed of monospecific or mixed species using ground measurements and satellite data. We built a random forest height model from tree species, age, area of disturbance, and 125 environmental parameters (climate, altitude, soil composition, geology, stand ownership, and proximity to road and urban areas). Using feature elimination and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis, we identified six key features explaining the forest growth and investigated how they affect the height. Results: The agreement between satellite and ground data justifies their simultaneous exploitation. Age and tree species are the main predictors of tree height (49% and 10%, respectively). The disturbed patch area, revealing the regeneration method, impacts post-disturbance growth at 19%. The soil pH, altitude, and climatic water budget in summer impact tree height differently depending on the age and tree species. Discussion: Methods integrating satellite and field data show promise for analyzing future forest evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity of macrofungi in remaining lowland dipterocarp forest in highly urbanization pressures is infrequently studied, even though their significant impact on the ecosystem of forested and non-forested habitats. Therefore, this research endeavours to unravel the diversity of macrofungi from different substrates in the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve located in Selangor, Malaysia. Through a combination of field surveys, the study seeks to contribute valuable insights into the complex relationships between macrofungi and the surrounding habitats where macrofungal community structure was mainly influenced by substrate richness and microclimates. Sporocarps of macrofungi were collected from selected sites using opportunistic sampling methods. A total of 333 sporocarps were obtained and identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. Basidiomycota prevailed in the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve where 27 species belonging to 14 families were successfully identified. Saprophytic fungi (22 species, 81.5%) dominated the areas, and a small number of mycorrhizal (1 species, 3.7%) and parasitic (4 species, 14.8%) fungi were found. Based on species diversity, order Polyporales is the highest occurrence species in the sampling areas with a Shannon-Weiner Index value of 2.103 and Simpson Index value of 0.954, Evenness Index value of 0.601, making it the most abundant order containing Microporus species, The findings are expected to enhance our knowledge of the biodiversity of macrofungi from different substrates in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, which can lead to conservation efforts and promote the ecological significance of macrofungi in tropical forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted at the Tranum Forest Reserve, Raub, Pahang to determine the community structure, species diversity and biomass of trees in the area. Four study plots, each measuring 25 m x 20 m, were established at the study site, which covered a total area of 0.2 ha. All trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 5 cm and above were measured and recorded. A total of 175 trees was enumerated in the study plots, comprising 106 species and 79 genera from 40 families. The largest family was Lauraceae, represented by 11 species from six genera, followed by Myrtaceae with eight species from one genus. Tree species diversity of the study area was high, as reflected by a Shannon Diversity Index (H') value of 4.49 (Hmax = 4.66). Margalef Richness Index (R') and Shannon Evenness Index (E) showed values of 20.33 and 0.84, respectively. The most important family, based on the highest Family Important Value Index (FIVi), was Dipterocarpaceae, with a value 17.31%. Shorea platyclados was the most important species with Important Value Index (IVi) of 17.04%. The tree density of the study area was 875 indidivuals per hectare (ind/ha), with Lauraceae being the densest family at 85 ind/ha. Vitex gamosepala was the densest species at 40 ind/ha. The total basal area of trees was 66.23 m²/ha, with Dipterocarpaceae showed the highest basal area of 31.69 m²/ha and Shorea platyclados had the highest basal area of 31.69 m²/ha at species level. The total biomass of trees was estimated at 1,307.56 t/ha, of which the above ground biomass and the below ground biomass were 1,091.33 t/ha and 216.23 t/ha, respectively. Dipterocarpaceae contributed the highest biomass with an estimate of 743.83 t/ha and Shorea platyclados showed the highest biomass at species level with 743.83 t/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of Archidendron pahangense (Kosterm.) I.C. Nielsen (Fabaceae) is an endemic species in Peninsular Malaysia known only from Pahang and Selangor state. This species was also recorded in Gunung Rabong, Kelantan. This species was reported in Fraser Hill, Pahang, whereby common in the Pine Tree Hill. This species was also observed in Semangko Tambahan Forest Reserve, Selangor. Fertile specimens were collected in 1923, 1938, 1954, 1966 and 1967. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new natural hybrid of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) Nepenthes x sultan-ibrahimii from Ayer Hitam Utara Forest Reserve, Johor, Malaysia is described and illustrated. Comprehensive morphological description, illustrations and geographical distribution are given. The hybrid and its putative parents, namely Nepenthes rafflesiana and Nepenthes mirabilis are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework lays out an ambitious set of goals and targets aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss. The extent of natural ecosystems has been selected as one of a small set of headline indicators against which countries will report progress under this framework. We evaluate the effectiveness with which this indicator is expected to capture the overall scope of the ecosystem‐focused component of Goal A, and interlinkages with the species‐focused component of this same goal, using extensive global data on the integrity, connectivity, and plant species composition of forests. Results generated for all forest‐supporting countries demonstrate that consideration of these additional factors can profoundly alter understanding of the state of forest biodiversity relative to that based on extent alone. Employment of ecosystem extent as a headline indicator must therefore be augmented by appropriate use of component and complementary indicators addressing other key dimensions of ecosystem change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janusia is a South American genus of flowering plants. Most of its 15 described species are centered in Brazil, where they are found in diverse habitats across the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes, and a few other species can be found in the Atlantic Forest region. This paper describes Janusia longibracteolata, a new species endemic to semideciduous forests in the state of Bahia, Brazil, at elevations of 900 to 1000 m. This study was based on fieldwork and a study of herbarium collections, which resulted in photos, dried preserved material, and information about the new species and its environment. The most notable morphological characters that distinguish the new species are its subulate floral bracts and bracteoles, which are the largest known in the genus. This new species is described, illustrated, and compared with the other species in Janusia. This novelty underscores the need to preserve Bahia's remaining semideciduous forests and to increase botanical exploration in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vandalism and environmental degradation pose challenges in natural recreation areas, prompting the need for interventions to promote environmental consciousness and nature appreciation. This study investigates the role of knowledge and perceived value in enhancing ecological experiences. A five-point Likert scale survey was distributed to 235 visitors at Djuanda Forest Park in Bandung, Indonesia. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) was employed to analyze direct and indirect influences. The results demonstrate that enhancing ecological perceived value positively impacts visitors' interactions with nature. Moreover, increased actual knowledge regarding environmental degradation enhances the perceived value of outdoor recreation in natural settings. These findings highlight the importance of developing educational programs in natural recreation areas to support sustainable environmental practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state-threatened Neogale vison evergladensis (Everglades Mink) is a small, semi-aquatic mustelid endemic to extreme south Florida. To monitor the Everglades Mink, we used a scat-detection dog to survey 24 transects in Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve and Picayune Strand State Forest. When the detection dog alerted on a hollowed-out cypress root structure and no scat was located, we placed a game camera at the location. Eight days after camera placement, we observed an increase in mink detections and the appearance of multiple scats on a log, indicating a latrine. Our study documents the initiation and the termination of an Everglades Mink latrine site on a camera trap for what we believe is the first time. Following the initiation of the latrine, we also detected Procyon lotor (Raccoon; n = 22), Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum; n = 4), Lynx rufus (Bobcat; n = 2), and Corvus ossifragus (Fish Crow; n = 4). Detections of other species ceased almost entirely after the latrine was no longer active. The increase in visitation of nontarget species indicates that latrines may serve as an attractant to other animals. Observations of latrine use and cross-species visitation and marking should be investigated further to better understand the potential for indirect disease transmission and the possible impacts to the threatened Everglades Mink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]