Land-use change pushes biodiversity into human-modified landscapes, where native ecosystems are surrounded by anthropic land covers (ALCs). Yet, the ability of species to use these emerging covers remains poorly understood. We quantified the use of ALCs by primates worldwide, and analyzed species' attributes that predict such use. Most species use secondary forests and tree plantations, while only few use human settlements. ALCs are used for foraging by at least 86 species with an important conservation outcome: those that tolerate heavily modified ALCs are 26% more likely to have stable or increasing populations than the global average for all primates. There is no phylogenetic signal in ALCs use. Compared to all primates on Earth, species using ALCs are less often threatened with extinction, but more often diurnal, medium or large-bodied, not strictly arboreal, and habitat generalists. These findings provide valuable quantitative information for improving management practices for primate conservation worldwide.

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The conservation value of human-modified landscapes for the world’s primates

Economic, Socio-Political and Environmental Risks of Road Development in the Tropics.

The gender perspective of climate information use is not well studied although necessary for developing gender-responsive climate information services (CIS) This study determined how CIS use by men and women farmers may be influenced by their perceptions about climate change (CC), farm activities, and demography The study was carried out at the Lawra-Jirapa Districts of the Upper West Region of Ghana where downscaled seasonal forecast information through mobile phone technologies (Esoko platform) had been disseminated to farmers since 2011 Data was collected from semi-structured questionnaire interviews involving 900 farmers (502% women and 498% men) and four 20-member focus group discussions The study confirmed 852% (representing 767) farmers were aware of climate change and its implications for their agriculture and other livelihood activities Men and women had similar perceptions about climate change, perceived by the majority as increased strong winds, higher temperatures, increased frequency of drought, increased rainfall variability and increased flooding Among other factors, it was evident that use of CIS may be influenced by gender Men were found to be particularly responsive in adopting CIS use for climate risk mitigation This was attributed to their ability to easily access and use telephone devices compared with women The study revealed that unlike women, men were able to access more financial resources and had control of household income which allowed them to purchase mobile phones Women generally accessed their husbands’ mobile phones Despite differences in access to CIS, the study showed both men and women found it beneficial for strategic farm decision-making such as when to begin land preparation, when to plant, and which crop to select In addition, both men and women were found to face similar constrains (such as poor network connectivity and limited of training), to accessing and using CIS through the Esoko platform The study recommends the need to explore different CIS dissemination channels and design CIS that meet gender-specific needs

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Gender and climate risk management: evidence of climate information use in Ghana

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abaad7/pdf

Remote sensing of forest degradation: a review

Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long-running civil war. With these transitions in mind, we used a horizon-scanning approach to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmar's forests, including internal conflict, land-tenure insecurity, large-scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams. Averting these threats will require, for example, overhauling governance models, building capacity, improving infrastructure- and energy-project planning, and reforming land-tenure and environmental-protection laws. Although challenges to conservation in Myanmar are daunting, the political transition offers an opportunity for conservationists and researchers to help shape a future that enhances Myanmar's social, economic, and environmental potential while learning and applying lessons from other countries. Our approach and results are relevant to other countries undergoing similar transitions.

Political transition and emergent forest-conservation issues in Myanmar.

Crop raiding by Bornean elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis) is increasing rapidly in North Kalimantan, mainly due to a rapid conversion of swiddens and secondary forest into oil palm plantations...

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Yee Wah Lau

Papers

Rapid Expansion of Oil Palm Is Leading to Human–Elephant Conflicts in North Kalimantan Province of Indonesia: