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Evaluation of land use change is important for understanding the relationship between nature and the future policy design in sustainable natural resources management. In this study the dam-triggered land use cover changes since the time of its commencement of construction was evaluated by using satellite remote sensing and GIS techniques. To detect changes between 2011 and 2021, the post-processing technique was applied using QGIS’s SCP tool and two raster images of 2011 and 2021 as inputs for change simulation and the output classes were edited using reference classes. The study results revealed that the overall accuracy for the 2011 classification and 2021 classification was 0.89 (89%) and 0.94 (94%) respectively. The highest conversion was recorded between agricultural land to the mixed forest (14.61%) and mixed forest to shrub land (13.40%), while the lowest conversion was observed between the built-up area to a water body (0.02%) and to agricultural land (0.1%). It was recommended to consider the correlation between forest biodiversity conservation and the sustainability of hydroelectric dam by increasing restoration of degraded forests in the GERD catchment and growing forest cover should be viewed as an issue of national energy security as early as possible.

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the satisfaction of farmers with the compensation policy for wildlife-caused damages and its influencing factors, analyze the current situation of satisfaction with the compensation policy among farmers, identify factors significantly affecting satisfaction, and explore ways to optimize the compensation policy and improve the satisfaction of farmers based on the effects of various influencing factors. Design/methodology/approach – The Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province, China, is selected as the research area for the study. Through field interviews, 370 valid questionnaires were collected to obtain relevant data on farmers' satisfaction with the compensation policy for wildlife-caused damages. The Oprobit model is utilized to explore the factors influencing farmer satisfaction and to analyze their underlying reasons. Findings – The study reveals that farmers in the communities surrounding the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve generally experience low satisfaction with the compensation policy, particularly concerning satisfaction with compensation amounts, which tends to be dissatisfied on average. Satisfaction with the compensation policy is significantly influenced by individual characteristics and household labor structure, while the degree of human-wildlife conflict, wildlife conservation attitudes and household income structure have insignificant impact. Among individual characteristics, gender, education level, health status, and ethnicity are highly significant. In household labor structure, the number of agricultural laborers, non-agricultural laborers, and household agricultural labor time are highly significant. Originality/value – Building on the overall satisfaction of farmers with the compensation policy, this study further decomposes policy satisfaction into satisfaction with compensation amounts, coverage, and procedures. It provides more targeted recommendations for enhancing satisfaction with the compensation policy, which can help effectively mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Livestock production, as one of the oldest and most significant human activities, plays a vital role in fulfilling the global demand for human nutrition and other animal-related products while contributing to poverty reduction. However, it is also important to address the environmental impact of livestock animals. Over 60% of the global biomass harvested annually to support human activity is directed towards this sector, raising concerns about its sustainability. In addition to substantial water and fertilizer usage reported in recent years, it is estimated that 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the livestock sector. Furthermore, the increasing amount of manure resulting from intensive animal farming raises concerns about its disposal and potential water pollution. The degradation of pasture and rangeland is another significant contributor to soil erosion. Multiple approaches are being studied to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, but a sustainable alternative may be through forestry. Forests play a vital role in countering livestock emissions by absorbing billions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, and they act as a crucial carbon sink. Furthermore, the diversity and age of forests impact the carbon sequestration process. Forests also help to combat climate change by reducing soil erosion and regulating the water cycle. As such, sustainable forest management is essential as forests provide multiple benefits, including economic, environmental, and social benefits, while also sequestering carbon. In this review, the current impact of modern livestock production is described, along with the potential for mitigating it through forestry-based solutions.

Native trees in agroforestry systems sustain soil properties by building up and recycling nutrients in a sustainable manner. This manuscript aimed to assess the impact of different agroforestry species on soil chemical properties. Soil samples were collected from within and outside the canopy zones of native tree species (Cordia africana, Ficus sur) and a perennial tuber crop (Manihot esculenta) in agroforestry systems at three different elevations. The results showed that, the soil chemical properties were significantly better within the canopy zones of all agroforestry species compared to outside. However, there was insignificant difference in pH between the soil inside and outside the canopy of Manihot esculenta. With a few exceptions, the evaluated soil chemical parameters exhibited minimal variations between Cordia africana and Ficus sur. Interestingly, Manihot esculenta had the least positive impact on soil chemical properties in the agroforestry system, indicating that native tree species enhance soil chemical properties more effectively than the tuber crop. The influence of agroforestry species on soil chemical properties remained consistent across all elevation ranges, suggesting that elevation does not alter the effects of agroforestry species on soil properties. In general, native trees, Cordia africana, and Ficus sur, positively contribute to soil chemical properties, while Manihot esculenta has a negative impact, particularly on cation exchange capacity, soil pH, and available potassium in comparison to the native tree species. These findings highlight the importance of using native tree species in agroforestry systems to promote healthy soil chemical properties and enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems.

Restoring the degraded lands through the area exclosure has been practiced and promoted widely in different parts of Ethiopia for the past three to four decades. However, the effectiveness of the approach both in terms of supporting woody species regeneration and the socio-economic conditions around the Wolaita area has not been well studied. We assessed the regeneration status of woody species in seven years old exclosure area and the perception of the local community towards the area exclosure on Damota Mountain in Southern Ethiopia. Vegetation inventory was made in 15 (20 × 20 m) quadrats laid following two transect lines running parallel. Systematically selected 71 households from the surrounding villages were interviewed and group discussions were also made. A total of 26 species from 19 families, with a total density of 2864 individuals (DBH ≥ 2 cm) per hectare were recorded. The basal area, Shannon diversity index, and evenness in the area exclosure were 15.84 m2/ha, 2.54, and 0.39, respectively. The importance value index (IVI) revealed that Maesa lanceolata, Ozoroa insignis, Maytenus arbutifolia, Nuxia congesta, Rhamnus prinoides, and Rapanea simensis were the most dominant species. About 87.3% of the respondents support further expansion and management of the area exclosure whereas the remaining 12.7% were against the intervention. All interviewed agree on the improvement of the vegetation cover since the establishment of the exclosure. However, all wanted improved access to the grass in the exclosure area so as to use it in a cut-and-carry system. We conclude that exclosure-biological-social issues need to be handled carefully to make the effort of using area exclosure for degraded land management effective and sustainable.

The goal of this study was to elucidate the research gap on woody species diversity and regeneration in Ethiopian natural and managed forests. Ethiopia is a biodiversity hotspot in the Horn of Africa, having a large variety of indigenous woody species. Ecological variability, population increase, and climate change-related disturbances have all had an impact on the variety and regeneration of woody species across various gradients in the country. Nonetheless, extant evidence for woody species in natural and managed forests suggests that Ethiopia's Shannon diversity index (H') and evenness index (E) are equivalent to those seen in several tropical countries. There is a big knowledge vacuum when it comes to explaining the relationship between regeneration issues and the recruitment of woody species. Different studies have found contradictory results, implying that more research is needed before using the information for better woody species diversity and regeneration enhancement projects. To minimize inconsistencies in management suggestions, it's necessary to fill this knowledge gap by considering ecological diversity, land use history, forest types and species composition, as well as evolutionary processes.