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In mining areas, habitat rehabilitation is increasingly being used to minimise biodiversity loss and restore areas of natural habitat. In some mining areas, both exotic and native tree species are used in rehabilitation. For the most part, the effectiveness of using both native and exotic plant species in rehabilitation to attract avifauna is not known. Using a fixed‐radius point‐count method to sample birds, this study assessed the extent to which sites rehabilitated with exotic plant species attracted local avifauna compared to sites rehabilitated with native plant species, as well as to the unaffected surrounding woodlands. Rehabilitation dominated by exotic species had a lower density of bird species and individuals, lower relative abundance and lower species diversity compared with sites rehabilitated by native plant species and the surrounding woodlands. The results suggest that the use of exotic plant species, L. leucocephala, should be avoided in rehabilitation. Therefore, for restoration purposes it is desirable to use native tree species in rehabilitation rather than exotic tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities have transformed the vegetal environment into affected and restricted areas with varied woodland dimensions. The aim of the study is to identify the difference in distributions, heights, girths and bole lengths of native woody plants on continuous cultivation, fallow and reserve lands of Hong Local Government Area in 2018. Data on woody plants distributions, heights, girths and bole lengths were generated from the field using quadrat samples and measuring tape. Stratified sampling technique was adopted to cover the study area while purposively sampling method was adopted to establish the sample quadrats on the three dissimilar land management practices adopted. Variance was used to analyze the data while ‘F’ distribution at 0.05% confidence limit was used to test for the significance. From the result, there are 181 woody plant stands observed on the 12 sample plots (1800m2). The woodland distributions vary from 17, 13 and 1 on fallow, reserve and continuous cultivation lands on 100m2. The tallest (11.37m) woodlands are on continuous cultivation land followed by the reserve (10.20m) while the shortest (2.58m) is on fallow land. The girths vary from 1.89m, 1.03m and 0.23m on continuous cultivation, reserve and fallow lands respectively. The stems are 4.34m, 2.53m and 0.80m for reserve, continuous cultivation and fallow lands. For significant increase in tree distributions farmers should preserve seedlings during annual clearing and clean weeding as well adopt longer fallow period. The result implies with increase in human activities such as arable farming and wood harvesting lead to decrease in plant distribution and vice versa. Keywords: Land management practices, Native woodlands, Savanna region, woodland dimensions

Human activities have transformed the vegetal environment into affected and restricted areas with varied woodland dimensions. The aim of the study is to identify the difference in distributions, heights, girths and bole lengths of native woody plants on continuous cultivation, fallow and reserve lands of Hong Local Government Area in 2018. Data on woody plants distributions, heights, girths and bole lengths were generated from the field using quadrat samples and measuring tape. Stratified sampling technique was adopted to cover the study area while purposively sampling method was adopted to establish the sample quadrats on the three dissimilar land management practices adopted. Variance was used to analyze the data while 'F' distribution at 0.05% confidence limit was used to test for the significance. From the result, there are 181 woody plant stands observed on the 12 sample plots (1800m2). The woodland distributions vary from 17, 13 and 1 on fallow, reserve and continuous cultivation lands on 100m2. The tallest (11.37m) woodlands are on continuous cultivation land followed by the reserve (10.20m) while the shortest (2.58m) is on fallow land. The girths vary from 1.89m, 1.03m and 0.23m on continuous cultivation, reserve and fallow lands respectively. The stems are 4.34m, 2.53m and 0.80m for reserve, continuous cultivation and fallow lands. For significant increase in tree distributions farmers should preserve seedlings during annual clearing and clean weeding as well adopt longer fallow period. The result implies with increase in human activities such as arable farming and wood harvesting lead to decrease in plant distribution and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the bird assemblages of native semi-natural woodlands and non-native Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis) plantations in Ireland to identify what vegetation variables most influenced birds and to identify management targets in plantations to maximise future bird conservation. Point counts were conducted in 10 Oak ( Quercus spp.) and 10 Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) native woodlands and in five Mid-rotation (20–30 years old) and five Mature (30–50 years old) Sitka spruce plantations. Ordination was used to characterise woodland types according to their constituent bird species. Total bird density (calculated using Distance software) and species richness were assessed for the different woodland types. Oak and Ash woodland bird assemblages were separated from Mid-rotation and Mature plantations by the ordination. There was no difference in total bird density between any of the woodland types. Oak woodlands had significantly higher species richness than either Mid-rotation or Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Ash had higher species richness than Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Understorey vegetation was negatively associated with total bird density, which also varied with survey year. Understorey vegetation was positively associated with species richness. Reasons for the relationships between vegetation and bird assemblages are discussed. Management should seek to increase shrub and understorey vegetation in the Mid-rotation phase to improve the contribution of plantations to bird conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 20th century, a sustained afforestation programme was carried out in Scotland, which increased the forest cover from about 4% of the country in 1900 to 17% in 2002. The expansion was achieved primarily through the establishment of even-aged plantations of fast-growing conifer species, most of which were not native to the British Isles. Many of these forests will reach financial maturity in the next two decades, thereby providing a valuable timber resource for the Scottish economy, and giving the opportunity to diversify the forests to meet the multifunctional objectives outlined in the recent Scottish Forestry Strategy. However, diversifying these forests requires the adoption of a range of silvicultural systems and not simply perpetuating the clearfelling and replanting system that has characterized plantation management. These new approaches include greater use of continuous cover forestry and the restoration of native woodlands on sites previously planted with conifers. A sustained period of low timber prices is also influencing this process, as managers are more aware both of the high replanting costs involved in plantation silviculture and of the subsidies given to manage stands for nonmarket benefits. The effect of these changes upon the structure and nature of Scottish forests is unclear, and a sectoral analysis should be undertaken to explore the potential impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]