Conservation value of tropical forests: Distance to human settlements matters more than management in Central Africa

Biodiversity; Conservation value; Dung beetle; Forest allocation; Mammal; Tropical forest; Cameroon; Central Africa; Coleoptera; Mammalia; Biodiversité; Conservation; Bousier; Affectation des terres; Mammifère; Forêt tropicale; Cameroun; Afrique centrale; Coléoptère

Abstract :

[en] Tropical forests in Central Africa host unique biodiversity threatened by human degradation of habitats and defaunation. Forests allocated to conservation, production and community management are expected to have different conservation values. Here, we aimed to identify the determinants of the conservation value of tropical forests in southeastern Cameroon, by disentangling the effects of forest allocations, proximity to human settlements, and local habitat. We inventoried two taxonomical groups: mammal species with camera traps (3464 independent detection events) and dung beetle species with pitfall traps (4475 individuals). We used an integrated analytical approach, examining both species richness and composition. For both mammals and dung beetles, species richness decreased from the protected area to the community forests, and the logging concession showed intermediate richness. Species richness of both groups was negatively correlated to the proximity to human settlements and disturbance, with a decreasing gradient of body mass and the loss of the most threatened species. The replacement (i.e., spatial turnover) of both mammal and dung beetle species among forest allocations suggest an integration of conservation initiatives to a large number of different sites, with a priority on protected and remote areas of high biodiversity. These results confirm the high conservation value of protected areas and their essential role in conservation strategies, ecologically connected with well-managed production forests with variable conservation value mainly depending on accessibility. Community forests located close to villages are much more degraded but not totally defaunated and still provide bushmeat to local populations. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Disciplines :

Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Environmental sciences & ecology
Zoology
Entomology & pest control

Author, co-author :

Lhoest, Simon ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Terra

Fonteyn, Davy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Daïnou, Kasso ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales

Delbeke, Laetitia ; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, Gembloux, 5030, Belgium

Doucet, Jean-Louis ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales

Dufrêne, Marc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Biodiversité et Paysage

Josso, Jean-François; Association Catharsius, Rue Baudoin 10, Paris, 75013, France

Ligot, Gauthier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales

Oszwald, Johan; Department of Geography/Planning, UFR Social Sciences, University of Rennes, Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal CS 24307, Rennes cedex, 35043, France

Rivault, Erwan; Department of Geography/Planning, UFR Social Sciences, University of Rennes, Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal CS 24307, Rennes cedex, 35043, France

More authors (4 more)

Language :

English

Title :

Conservation value of tropical forests: Distance to human settlements matters more than management in Central Africa

Alternative titles :

[fr] Valeur de conservation des forêts tropicales : La distance aux routes et villages importe plus que la gestion en Afrique centrale

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Biological Conservation

ISSN :

0006-3207

Publisher :

Elsevier Ltd

Volume :

241

Issue :

108351

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719312571

Name of the research project :

F.R.S.-FNRS. Grant numbers 5125916F and 5110318F; AFRITIMB project; P3FAC project

Funders :

FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture
FRFS - Fonds pour la Recherche Fondamentale Stratégique
FWB - Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
ARES - Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur
Nature+
Fonds Léopold III pour l'Exploration et la Conservation de la Nature
FFEM - Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial

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since 26 February 2020

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