Abundance and Structure of African Baobab (Adansonia digitata) across Different Soil Types in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe

This study investigated the abundance and structure of African baobab (Adansonia digitata) across soil group strata in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. The study was based on a stratified random sampling design composed of the following soil group substrates: (i) granophyres, (ii) malvernia, and (iii) rhyolite. Belt transects of 0.3 × 0.1 km were randomly laid across soil group. Baobab abundance and population structure were determined fromthe density and size class distribution, respectively. There were significant differences in plant height and plant density acrossGonarezhou soil groups. Study sites on granophyres derived soil group indicated viable abundance and recruitment of baobab population.Whereas the study highlighted a concern over the unbalanced size structure distribution of baobab population on malvernia derived soil group, our results indicated that baobabs are in danger of extirpation on malvernia derived soil group. Baobab community in Gonarezhou tends to occur more densely along environmental gradient of soil group type as influenced by the underlying geological soil substrate of granophyres. Malvernia derived soil group is likely less ideal for baobab recruitment

Local knowledge and perceptions of vulture conservation in communities living adjacent to the northern Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe.

Vulture populations are declining globally largely due to deliberate and unintentional persecution and poisoning of animal carcasses which the birds consume. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess local people’s knowledge and perceptions of vultures and their ecological importance and (ii) determine the socio-cultural uses of vulture body parts in communities adjacent to the northern Gonarezhou National Park, south-eastern Zimbabwe. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered through interviews with randomly selected household representatives (n = 81) in August 2016. Our results showed that the majority of study respondents, 72.9% (n = 59) reported the need to conserve vultures for their socio-ecological importance to the local communities. Respondents acknowledged the importance of vultures as agents of cleaning the environment, hence maintaining ecosystem health. However, a concern for vulture population decline due to poisoning was reported by most respondents of 71.6 % (n = 58). Vulture’s organs were reported to be used mostly to enhance dreaming or having visions about the future followed by healing and lastly magic use. We recommend enhanced conservation awareness and education on vultures’ conservation and restrictions on access to and use of hazardous chemicals which may likely be used in poisoning wildlife

Wildlife-vehicle collisions in hurungwe safari area, northern zimbabwe

This study is the first to assess wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) in Zimbabwe. The study analysed the impact and factors that influence vehicle collisions with large wild mammals along the Harare-Chirundu road section in the protected Hurungwe Safari Area, northern Zimbabwe. Data were retrieved from the Hurungwe Safari Area records and covered the period between 2006 and 2013. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the recorded variables across the sampled area and to show trends of the prevalence of large wild mammals roadkill over time. Using STATISTICA version 10 for Windows, a two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences between the number of wild mammal animal roadkills and seasons. A total of 47 large wild mammal animals were killed between 2006 and 2013. The large wild mammal animals that died as a result of vehicle collisions constituted a total of 11 species, with the African buffalo and spotted hyena being the most hit and killed animal species. Most WVC involved heavy haulage trucks and passenger buses. There was no significance difference (P = 0.936) between number of large wild mammal animals killed from WVC between dry and wet seasons. The large wild mammal animals were mostly killed in areas near water sources. We recommend for the inclusion of wildlife protection safeguards in road infrastructure network design and development, particularly on roads that traverse across protected areas in Zimbabwe and beyond. © 2020 The Author(s

Woody vegetation structure and composition in Mapembe Nature Reserve, eastern Zimbabwe

We assessed woody vegetation composition and structure in Mapembe Nature Reserve, eastern Zimbabwe. Woody vegetation was sampled during the period May-June in 2012. Using a stratified random sampling design, we delineated the study area into three strata; plains, mountain and wetland areas. We recorded a total of 1 443 woody plants representing 17 woody species assessed from 30 sample plots. Our results from Kruskal Wallis-H test showed significance differences in plant height, canopy volume, and tree density across the study strata (P < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in basal area, shrub canopy volume, shrub density and woody species diversity. Our study results highlighted woody vegetation degradation on wetlands and mountains of Mapembe Nature Reserve, which was attributed to anthropogenic factors. The study recommends in-depth woodland inventory, collaborative arrangements with the local surrounding human communities and improved law enforcement strategies

Adansonia digitata distribution, structure, abundance and elephant damage across Gonarezhou National Park, southeast Zimbabwe.

An assessment was made to determine density, structure and distribution of baobabs across Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) management strata, southeast Zimbabwe. The three GNP management strata coincide with a soil group type gradient derived from (i) rhyolite, (ii) malvernia and (iii) granophyre substrates/bedrocks. A total of 225 baobabs were sampled on 15 belt transects of constant width of 0.3km and cumulative total length of 17.2km. The fifteenth baobab point in each belt transect determined the length of a particular belt transect. Abundance was determined from baobab density and frequency. The present study observed that baobab density in GNP ranged from 34.3/km2 in the Central GNP stratum to 69.8/km2 in the Northern GNP stratum. Analysis of variance (P>0.05) showed overall insignificant differences in baobab distribution of basal area, number of stems per plant, plant height and stem density across GNP management strata. The hypothesis that baobabs do not significantly differ in density, structure and distribution across three management strata of GNP was, therefore, accepted. Elephant dung counts and elephant damage levels on baobabs showed no significant differences across study sites (ANOVA: P>0.05), highlighting uniform elephant damage on baobabs across the entire GNP as elephants roam across the park. Some 84.4% baobabs were damaged and some 15.6 % were undamaged, of which 2% were dead. In contrast, the results suggested that baobab density, structure and distribution were significantly different across the GNP soil substrate gradient. Analysis of variance (P>0.05) showed overall significant differences in baobab distribution of plant height and number of stems per plant across the soil substrate gradient. The results highlighted a concern over the unbalanced size class structure distribution of baobabs on malvernia beds plains in GNP, which suggested a recruitment bottleneck. Study sites on granophyre and rhyolite soil substrates/bedrocks were predicted by redundancy analysis (RDA), to be positively correlated and they were of a similar grouping with inversely J-shape size class distribution of baobabs, which indicated viable recruitment and regeneration of baobab population. Overall, GNP did not seem to indicate that baobabs are in danger of extirpation. Baobab extirpation might be the case only on malvernia bed plains in future. The hypothesis that baobabs do not significantly differ in density, structure and distribution across soil substrates in GNP was, therefore, rejected. The present study recommended that protected area management in arid and semi-arid areas should consider (i) formulating clear thresholds of potential concern to allow for the conservation of sensitive woodlands such as Adansonia digitata woodlands and (ii) establishing long-term baobab monitoring programmes for conservation and (iii) management of elephant to attain GNP carrying capacity levels

ADOPTION OF AGRO-ECOLOGY PRACTICES IN SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT OF CHIMANIMANI DISTRICT, EASTERN ZIMBABWE

We assessed the adoption of agro-ecology practices under smallholder farming in semi-arid environment of Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe. Adoption of agro-ecology practices was examined in the context of factors that are argued as indicators of adoption and/or rejection of agro-ecology technologies and practices. Data were collected from farmers in Chikwakwa, Mhakwe and Shinja wards of Chimanimani District to examine adoption trends of agro-ecology production systems. Participatory action research was conducted from August 2011 to April 2013, where 200 smallholder farmers, inhabitants of the study area were interviewed. Our study revealed that local adoption of sustainable agro-ecology practices of direct seeding and mulch based cropping system was taking place within the study area. However, the adoption of crop residue management, crop rotation and agro-silviculture production technologies of agro-ecology, were relatively less adopted. What remains unclear is why adoption of certain agro-ecology practices assessed in the study has occurred. Keywords: Semi-arid, agro-ecology, direct seeding, mulching, agro-silviculture, adoption

Woody vegetation structure and composition in Mapembe Nature Reserve, eastern Zimbabwe

We assessed woody vegetation composition and structure in Mapembe Nature Reserve, eastern Zimbabwe. Woody vegetation was sampled during the period May- June in 2012. Using a stratified random sampling design, we delineated the study area into three strata; plains, mountain and wetland areas. We recorded a total of 1 443 woody plants representing 17 woody species assessed from 30 sample plots. Our results from Kruskal Wallis-H test showed significance differences in plant height, canopy volume, and tree density across the study strata (P < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in basal area, shrub canopy volume, shrub density and woody species diversity. Our study results highlighted woody vegetation degradation on wetlands and mountains of Mapembe Nature Reserve, which was attributed to anthropogenic factors. The study recommends in-depth woodland inventory, collaborative arrangements with the local surrounding human communities and improved law enforcement strategie

Status of African baobab (Adansonia digitata) across Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe

An assessment was done to determine the abundance and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitata) across Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. Baobabs were sampled on fifteen belt transects of constant width of 300 m with fifteen baobabs in each belt transect determined the length of a particular belt transect between May and June 2012. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in basal area, height and density of baobabs across Gonarezhou. Moreover, elephant (Loxodonta africana) dung counts and damaged baobabs were similar across Gonarezhou. Our findings suggest a relatively similar spatial effect of elephant herbivory and other disturbance regimes on baobabs in Gonarezhou. We recommend the continuous monitoring of baobab woodland stands across Gonarezhou. KEY WORDS: Elephants, herbivory, precipitation, savanna, water sources, woodlan

An assessment of local people’s participation in natural resources conservation in southern Zimbabwe

We assessed the participation of local people in community-based natural resources management under the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) in southern Zimbabwe. We focused on four randomly selected CAMPFIRE communities surrounding Gonarezhou National Park. Data were collected in October 2013 through semi-structured questionnaires administered through interviews. Our results showed that there were significantly more men than women in the CAMPFIRE committees. Surprisingly, we recorded that no youths, those below the age of 25 years, were part of the CAMPFIRE committees. CAMPFIRE committee members across the study area were within the age range of 25–60 years. We therefore recommend that: (i) youths should be deliberately included in management committees focussing on natural resources conservation, and (ii) conservation awareness and education needs to be streamlined and enhanced to improve attitudes of both the elderly and youths toward community-based natural resources management initiatives. Key words: CAMPFIRE, community-based natural resource management, Gonarezhou National Park, local people, sustainable utilizatio

Impacts of Wood Poaching on Vegetation Structure and Composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe

Our study focused on the effects of wood poaching on the vegetation structure and composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe. Mukuvisi Woodland, located within the precincts of Harare urban area, Zimbabwe, suf-fers from high illegal wood utilization pressure stemming from the need to fulfill alternative energy demands created by persistent electricity shortages and an unstable economic environment, particularly between 2000 and 2008. This results in a continuous flux of vegetation and a disturbed animal habitat driven mainly by anthropo-genic activities. Due to the heterogeneity in vegetation utilisation trends, we used the stratified systematic ran-dom sampling technique, where the site was divided into two strata, central and boundary. Twelve 30 × 20 m permanent plots were established in which species name, species diversity, height, basal area, plant status, fire evidence, number of stems and saplings were recorded and assessed in April and May 2012. A total of 968 woody plants were assessed representing 47 woody plant species. All woody vegetation variables recorded and assessed showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two strata, i.e., central and boundary, in Mukuvisi Woodland, except sapling density (P = 0.022). Principal Component Analysis indicated evidence of fire impacts on vegetation structure. The study concludes that illegal wood harvesting in Mukuvisi Woodland has not yet reached alarming proportions and can be contained. The study recommends collaborative arrangements with key stakeholders, promotion of the use of alternative energy sources and increased environmental education and awareness campaigns. KEYWORDS Alternative Energy; Composition; Miombo Woodlands; Mukuvisi Woodland; Structure; Wood Poachin