Insights on the role of forest cover and on the changes in forest cover on thirty-five endangered mammal species distributions

The changes in forest cover can determine the survival of terrestrial endangered mammal species in the wild. This study assessed the impacts of forest cover changes on endangered mammal species distribution at global scale aiming to understand how the changes in forest cover may have impacted the distributions of 35 endangered small and large-body terrestrial mammals. There were used forest data obtained from time-series analyses of Landsat images between 2000 and 2014, species occurrence records collected by observations between 2000 and 2015 of Global Biodiversity Information Facility and species range data of International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) of the year 2015, to test the ‘natural and resource conditions’ hypothesis. Hypothesis on ‘natural and resource conditions’ produced models with high prediction accuracy of above 70 percent for 88 percent of 35 species models. The changes in forest cover explained species occurrences in 10 percent of all species models. In average, 59 percent of species occurrence records overlapped with species range data. The 51 percent of all species had no occurrence records between 2000 and 2015. Species and forest data collection as well as transnational cooperation for conservation of species roaming in the wild in upland forested areas and in cross-border areas may be critical for endangered mammal species conservation

Identifying habitat use of Ursus arctos, Lynx lynx martinoi and Canis lupus lupus in Albanian forests using occupancy modelling

Forests are the principal terrestrial ecosystem for protected and endangered large carnivores, providing the main habitat for species maintenance and survival. Changes in forest cover influence species distribution. The aim was (1) to test hypotheses on the natural environmental (abiotic) and biological (biotic) factors and human disturbances that determine the colonization and local extinction of three large carnivore species in relation to forest cover, (2) to infer the biotic interactions between these three large carnivore species occupying the same forested areas in Albania. Colonization is estimated to be positively affected by forest cover for brown bear, Balkan lynx and grey wolf. Brown bear and grey wolf tend to compete for the same forested areas. Local extinction increased with decreasing forest cover for brown bear and increased with decreasing mixed broadleaved forests for Balkan lynx. Anthropological variables (proximity to villages and to neighbourhood roads) increased local extinction for brown bear, grey wolf and Balkan lynx. Further studies are recommended for better understanding biotic interactions of large carnivore species in forest habitats in Albania and its neighbouring countries, which could contribute to conservation of large carnivore species on a large scale

INSIGHTS ON FORESTS USE IN COMMUNES AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF SOCIALISM IN ALBANIA

This study examines forest use in post-socialist Albania. The aim was to investigate the use of high-stem forests, coppice forests, broadleaved forests and coniferous forests for resource and biodiversity in commune forests. Data of presences and absences of high-stem forests, coppice forests, broadleaved forests and coniferous forests were measured from forest surveys of management plans. These data were integrated with environmental, socioeconomic and policy data using generalized linear models and spatial scale. Policy models had ten neighborhood variables of the density of roads and the density of human settlements from one km to five km with a priory assumption that the extent of these variables influenced the use of forests in post-socialist Albania. The final policy model of commune forests included accessibility variables and had a prediction accuracy of 99 percent at radii of 2 km for high-stem forests and 1 km for coppice forests and broadleaved forests. It is recommended the implementation of a policy to use sustainably all forests in Albania

Findings from measurements of noise levels in indoor and outdoor environments in an expanding urban area: a case of Tirana

The increasing human population and the increasing number of vehicles in Tirana, Albania, emerges the need for extensive measurements of noise levels. The 831 measurements of noise levels were taken in Tirana in November 2015 for education purposes. Measurements were collected in eight locations in indoor like a classroom in a school building environment, a library and a healthcare facility and in outdoor environments like five crossroads. Noise levels were then compared with domestic and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The logarithmic average of noise levels and the maximum value of noise level measured for the period of measurement (LAFmax) were interpolated using Interpolated Noise Levels for Observer Points in ArcGIS producing noise level maps for crossroads. The logarithmic average of noise levels and LAFmax measurements were respectively above domestic and WHO standards in 96% and 100% of outdoor environment and indoor environment locations. Interpolated values of logarithmic average of noise levels and LAFmax for five crossroads were above domestic and WHO standards indicating noise levels in road traffic could remain high. A yearly acoustic measurement for vehicles should be implemented. Participatory measurements of noise levels in quite indoor environments can be used to increase the awareness of inhabitants in Tirana