Status of Lion (Panthera leo) and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia

Globally large carnivores are in decline due to a combination of habitat degradation and direct human persecution. A survey was conducted in Nechisar national park, Southern Ethiopia to investigate the population status of lion (Panthera leo) and hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Eleven callups were performed; a total of two adult male lions and six spotted hyenas responded. Estimates give a lion density of between 2 and 5 per 100 km2 or a total population estimate of 7 to 23 lions and a hyena density of between 4 to 8 hyenas per 100 km2 or a total population estimate of 17 to 34 hyenas. These estimates include extrapolation to a heavily encroached area where large carnivores are unlikely to occur. The lion population is probably limited to the visually confirmed four individuals. The carrying capacity of Nechisar national park, excluding livestock, is 21 lions and 48 hyenas. The resident agro-pastoral communities who are living with their livestock inside and adjacent to the national park are in conflict with carnivores. This might account for the low density of lion and hyena in the park, and perhaps might result in local extinction within a few years.Keywords: Callups, Hyena, Lion, Nechisar, Density, Ethiopia

Design and testing of an agricultural implement for underground application of rodenticide bait

An agricultural implement for underground application of rodenticide bait to control the Mediterranean pocket gopher (Microtus Duodecimcostatus) in fruit orchards has been designed and tested. The main objective of this research was to design and test the implement by using the finite element method (FEM) and considering a range of loads generated on most commonly used furrow openers in agricultural implements. As a second step, the prototype was tested in the field by analysing the effects of forward speed and application depth on the mechanical behaviour of the implement structure. The FEM was used in the design phase and a prototype was manufactured. The structural strains on the prototype chassis under working conditions were tested by using strain gauges to validate the design phase. Three forward speeds (4.5, 5.5, and 7.0 km/h), three application depths (0.12, 0.15, and 0.17 m), and two types of soil (clayey-silty-loam and clayey-silty-sandy) were considered. The prototype was validated successfully by analysing the information obtained from the strain gauges. The Von Mises stresses indicated a safety coefficient of 1.9 for the most critical load case. Although both forward speed and application depth had a significant effect on the stresses generated on the chassis, the latter parameter critically affected the structural behaviour of the implement. The effects of the application depth on the strains were linear such that strains increased with depth. In contrast, strains remained roughly constant regardless of variation in the forward speed

Managing Irregular Migration in Ethiopia: A Case for Policies Centering the Right to Development

Recent years witnessed concerted bilateral and multilateral efforts to reduce irregular migration. Based on fieldwork conducted in Atsbi Wenberta, Tigray and Wereda 7 Addis Ketema Sub-City, Addis Ababa, we argue that the existing policy measures are based on a deficient understanding of the migration process. Firstly, migrants from Ethiopia are considered as mechanically responding to ‘greener pastures’ elsewhere. This focus on structural explanations of migration ignores agency of individual migrants and the impact of established norms on decision making in some localities. Secondly and more importantly, we argue that extant policies are geared towards ensuring basic socio-economic needs- negative freedoms. Based on this framework, we argue towards a comprehensive understanding of determinants of migration and policy making, which puts the migrant and her/his agency at the center of the analysis. Accordingly, we propose the advancement of migration policies and interventions which are centered on the right to development. Key words: Migration, Ethiopia, right to developmen

Beyond the numbers: human attitudes and conflict with lions (Panthera leo) in and around Gambella National Park, Ethiopia

Human-lion conflict is one of the leading threats to lion populations and while livestock loss is a source of conflict, the degree to which livestock depredation is tolerated by people varies between regions and across cultures. Knowledge of local attitudes towards lions and identification of drivers of human-lion conflict can help formulate mitigation measures aimed at promoting coexistence of humans with lions. We assessed locals’ attitudes towards lions in and around Gambella National Park and compared the findings with published data from Kafa Biosphere Reserve, both in western Ethiopia. We used household interviews to quantify livestock loss. We found that depredation was relatively low and that disease and theft were the top factors of livestock loss. Remarkably, however, tolerance of lions was lower around Gambella National Park than in Kafa Biosphere Reserve. Multivariate analysis revealed that education level, number of livestock per household, livestock loss due to depredation, and livestock loss due to theft were strong predictors of locals’ attitude towards lion population growth and conservation. We show that the amount of livestock depredation alone is not sufficient to understand human-lion conflicts and we highlight the importance of accounting for cultural differences in lion conservation. The low cultural value of lions in the Gambella region corroborate the findings of our study. In combination with growing human population and land-use change pressures, low cultural value poses serious challenges to long-term lion conservation in the Gambella region. We recommend using Arnstein’s ladder of participation in conservation education programs to move towards proactive involvement of locals in conservation.</p

Profile of Charles Niles, 47, of Bowdoin, who owns American Honeycomb Radiator M

Profile of Charles Niles, 47, of Bowdoin, who owns American Honeycomb Radiator Manufacturing and who restores vintage radiators in automobiles. He says 90 percent of his work comes from outside Maine and by word of mouth. He has spent as many as 360 hours on one radiator

First record of white-eared kob (kobus kob leucotis) in Omo National Park, Ethiopia (artiodactyla, bovidae)

White-eared Kob, Kobus kob leucotis, Lichtenstein & Peters, 1853, is known to occur in the Gambela-Boma landscape in western Ethiopia and South Sudan. They live in herds and are generally found near water, in such places as plains, woodlands, swamps, and flood plains. We deployed 36 camera traps in Omo National Park and one of them took two images of a White-eared Kob. This is the first documentation from Omo National Park and showing that its range extends further to Omo than previously known and, therefore, the entire area (Gambella to Omo) can be considered as a range extension.</p

Gałęzie z sadów na cele energetyczne - wyniki oceny oddziaływania na środowisko nowego łańcucha logistycznego opracowanego w ramach projektu EuroPruning - Cz. 2

To determine the environmental impact, the assessment of the EuroPruning project strategy has been carried out in accordance with the checking and scooping list related to Directive 97/11/EC. Additionally, some suggestions and recommendations to prevent/minimize the hazard of accidents or negative interaction on surrounding have been elaborated (according to the suggested procedure in ISO 14001 methodology: risk definition and prevention action proposal). As a consequence, the results of the inspection during the demo tests taking place in different orchards/plantations regarding the performance of the machineries operation, farmers’ habits and pruning residues harvesting procedures have been presented, in order to diagnose and determine possible risks that may occur and influence negatively the local environment. Similar activities have been carried out during the storage tests and transportation processes.W celu określenia stopnia oddziaływania na środowisko strategii przyjętej w projekcie EuroPruning, polegającej na wykorzystaniu ściętych gałęzi z sadów i plantacji w celach energetycznych, przeprowadzono analizę w oparciu o zasady postępowania zawarte w dyrektywie 97/11/EC. Dodatkowo, w odniesieniu do procedury zawartej w metodologii ISO 14001: definicja ryzyka i proponowane działania prewencyjne, opracowano wskazówki i rekomendacje mające na celu eliminację lub ograniczenie ryzyka wypadku czy negatywnego oddziaływania na otoczenie zewnętrzne. W konsekwencji, przedstawiono wyniki inspekcji dokonanych podczas badań testowych przeprowadzanych w różnych sadach i plantacjach drzew owocowych (obejmujących działanie pracujących maszyn, nawyki sadownika oraz proces zbierania ściętych gałęzi) pod kątem identyfikacji oraz określenia zakresu zagrożeń, które mogą wystąpić i wpływać negatywnie na środowisko. Podobne działania przeprowadzono dla procesu magazynowania i transportu biomasy sadowniczej

Persistence and stability of Eastern Afromontane forests::Evidence from brevicipitid frogs

Aim: The persistence and stability of habitats through time are considered predictors of high levels of biodiversity in some environments. Long-term habitat persistence and stability may explain the species-rich, endemic forest fauna and flora of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Region (EABR). Using comple- mentary phylogenetic and biogeographical approaches, we examine evolution- ary patterns in EAR brevicipitid frogs. Using these data, we test whether brevicipitid history reflects patterns of long-term forest persistence and/or sta bility across the EABR. Location: East Africa. Methods: A dated phylogeny for brevicipitids was constructed using two nuclear and three mitochondrial markers. Alternative diversification modes were used to determine signal for constant or varying net diversification rates. Using our dated tree, we identified areas of high phylogenetic diversity (PD), and inferred ancestral areas using likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Results: Brevicipitids have a long history, with generic diversification among extant lineages pre-dating the Oligocene (\u3e 33 Ma). Ancestral-area reconstruc- tions indicate the presence of brevicipitids in the EAR since the Oligocene, and support a scenario of palacoendemics surviving in EABR refugia. Ancestral-area reconstructions indicate that the central Eastern Arc Mountains (FAM) formed the initial centre of diversification of forest brevicipitids. Measures of PD show that diversity varies across the EABR but is highest in the AM. Constant net diversification rate in brevicipitids is a significantly better fit than alternative, rate-variable models. Main conclusions: The degree of persistence of forest habitats appears to be a contributing factor to the varying levels of diversity across the EAR in brevicipitids (and other organisms). In contrast to the Southern Highlands and Ethio pian Bale Mountains, the EAM stands out as an area that enabled the constant accumulation of brevicipitid species over a long period of time