Assessing natural regeneration of Pterocarpus erinaceus in Kiang West National Park, The Gambia

45 páginas.Trabajo Fin de Máster Propio. Tutor: Dr. Alagie Bah. Forests are a vital component of the earth’s ecosystem, providing wide range of essential ecosystem goods and services that contribute to livelihoods, climate protection and biodiversity conservation. Over the past couple of decades, The Gambia has experienced drastic degradation of its forest cover, mainly due to illegal logging, wildfires, drought, overgrazing, and the spread of competitive species. Pterocarpus erinaceus is under severe threat due to illegal and unsustainable logging, leading to current suspension of its trade from The Gambia by CITES. In 2019, the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project implemented Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) in a 900-ha area in Kiang West National Park (KWNP) as a low-cost alternative to natural forest regeneration. This study aims to determine the impact of ANR on stands of Pterocarpus erinaceus in KWNP. Vegetation data measurements showing growth of mother tree and wildlings were conducted in four subplots at the EbA project ANR implementation areas. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted with staff of KWNP and the management committees of communities adjacent to the park. The findings of the study revealed that on average Pterocarpus erinaceus tree density in the ANR plots increased by 100% from 36 trees/ha in 2019 to 72/ha in 2023. In contrast, wildlings density in ANR plots decreased by 44% from 64 trees/ha to 36 tree/ha. The findings also identified fire, overgrazing, illegal logging, termite infestation and drought as the main drivers of degradation in the park. The noticeable increment in the population of Pterocarpus erinaceus trees in the study plots implies the effectiveness of ANR as a low-cost landscape restoration strategy being implemented by the EbA project

Rice growers, hunters and fishermen perception of hippopotamus activities across Central River Region (CRR) of the Gambia: implication for their conservation

The aim of the study is to investigate the types of damages caused by hippopotamus and control methods adapted by farmers in order to facilitate co-existence between hippopotamus and humans. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2021 to assess the activities of Hippopotami across CRR of The Gambia using 252 standardized questionnaire and two Focal Group Discussions (FGDs). About 96% of respondents reported that they have seen hippos before in their communities and 98% of them also said that hippos have been raiding their communities for food for the past 10 years. Majority of the respondents reported that hippos have affected them before and 93% of them said that there was no help from the government when these animals attacked or destroyed their crops/fishing nets. However, 11% of the respondents reported that, hippos are not important to be conserved. The multinomial logistic regression result shows that, the young active, adult active and respondents from Janjanbureh had a positive belief about the importance of conserving hippos

O impacto da pandemia de Covid-19 no setor da pesca artesanal e nas comunidades pesqueiras costeiras da Gâmbia

The Objective of the article is to comprehend the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the artisanal fishery sector, and Coastal fishing communities in The Gambia. We carry out qualitative research with a structural questionnaire in which we interviewed selected fish men in the coastal area in the Gambia. The study used a simple random sampling technique, in which from the target population of 6000 people, we selected 384 people randomly as our sample size using the “Yaro Yamane Statistical Formula". The statistical methods used in this study are descriptive statistics, correlation, and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Method for the analysis. There is a weak negative correlation between the revenue generated from fishing and the management level (correlation coefficient of -0.3561). Despite the covid-19 pandemic, there exists a strong positive correlation between demand for the fish product in the domestic market and revenue generated from fishing (correlation coefficient of 0.7843). Therefore, policymakers should look at the management of fishing to improve it and try to establish a good local market for fishermen to sell their fish products.El objetivo del artículo es comprender el impacto de la pandemia de Covid-19 en el sector de la pesca artesanal y las comunidades pesqueras costeras de Gambia. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa con un cuestionario estructural en el que se entrevistó a hombres de la pesca seleccionados en la zona costera de Gambia. El estudio utilizó una técnica de muestreo aleatorio simple, en la que, de la población objetivo de 6000 personas, seleccionamos 384 personas al azar como tamaño de nuestra muestra utilizando la "Fórmula estadística de Yaro Yamane". Los métodos estadísticos utilizados en este estudio son la estadística descriptiva, la correlación y el método de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios (MCO) para el análisis. Existe una débil correlación negativa entre los ingresos generados por la pesca y el nivel de gestión (coeficiente de correlación de -0,3561). A pesar de la pandemia de covid-19, existe una fuerte correlación positiva entre la demanda del producto pesquero en el mercado nacional y los ingresos generados por la pesca (coeficiente de correlación de 0,7843). Por lo tanto, los responsables políticos deberían estudiar la gestión de la pesca para mejorarla e intentar establecer un buen mercado local para que los pescadores vendan sus productos pesqueros.  O objetivo do artigo é compreender o impacto da pandemia de Covid-19 no setor da pesca artesanal e nas comunidades de pesca costeira na Gâmbia. Realizamos pesquisas qualitativas com um questionário estrutural no qual entrevistamos alguns pescadores selecionados na região costeira da Gâmbia. O estudo utilizou uma técnica simples de amostragem aleatória, na qual, da população alvo de 6000 pessoas, selecionamos aleatoriamente 384 pessoas como nosso tamanho de amostra utilizando a "Fórmula Estatística Yaro Yamane". Os métodos estatísticos utilizados neste estudo são estatística descritiva, correlação e Método do Mínimo Quadrado Ordinário (OLS) para a análise. Existe uma fraca correlação negativa entre a receita gerada pela pesca e o nível de gestão (coeficiente de correlação de -0,3561). Apesar da pandemia de covid-19, existe uma forte correlação positiva entre a demanda do produto da pesca no mercado doméstico e a receita gerada pela pesca (coeficiente de correlação de 0,7843). Portanto, os formuladores de políticas devem analisar a gestão da pesca para melhorá-la e tentar estabelecer um bom mercado local para que os pescadores vendam seus produtos pesqueiros

Clinical manifestation, staging and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Gambian patients

Abstract Background As a result of the lack of screening programs and the difficulty in making a proper diagnosis, the majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HHC) patients present late in low-resource countries. The study therefore assesses the clinical features, stage and prognostic variables of patients with HCC in The Gambia. Methods From December 2015 to January 2019, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HCC were enrolled. All patients’ medical history, ultrasound scan, FibroScan and laboratory details were collected. Results Two hundred and sixty (260) patients were enrolled. The mean age of HCC patients was 40 years, and 210 (80.7%) of them were male. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms were early satiety 229 (88.1%) and abdominal pain 288 (87.7%), while the most common constitutional symptoms were weight loss 237 (91.2%) and easy fatiguability 237 (91.2%). Hepatomegaly 205 (78.8%) was the most common sign. On ultrasound scan, lesions were mostly multifocal 175 (67.3%), and the median FibroScan score was 75 kPa. The median fibrosis 4 and aspartate transferase platelet ratio index were 4.6 and 2.2, respectively. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in 170 (65.4%) patients, and the median AFP level was 3263 ng/ml. HCC patients with positive HBsAg were more likely to be male 145 (85.3%) vs 62 (72.1%) (p = 0.011), much younger 39.9 vs 51.4 yrs (p =  < 0.0001), more likely to have abdominal pain 156 (91.8%) vs 68 (79.1%) (p = 0.002), jaundice 78 (45.9%) vs 29 (33.7%) (p = 0.042), dark urine 117 (68.8%) vs 46 (53.5%) (p = 0.018), raised transaminases (Aspartate transaminases 224.5 (32–7886) vs 153 (18–610), p =  < 0.01, Alanine transferases 71 (5–937) vs 47 (8–271), p =  < 0.001) and decreased platelet count 207 (33–941) vs 252 (52- 641) (p = 0.021) compared to patients with HCC who were HBsAg-negative. Conclusions The prognosis of patients with HCC is poor in developing countries such as The Gambia, where screening programs and treatment modalities are scarce. Young males are disproportionately affected, and HBV is a major cause of HCC in The Gambia

Seagrasses of West Africa: New Discoveries, Distribution Limits and Prospects for Management

The onset of a major seagrass initiative in West Africa enabled important seagrass discoveries in several countries, in one of the least documented seagrass regions in the world. Four seagrass species occur in western Africa, Cymodocea nodosa, Halodule wrightii, Ruppia maritima and Zostera noltei. An area of about 62,108 ha of seagrasses was documented in the studied region comprising seven countries: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cabo Verde. Extensive meadows of Zostera noltei were recorded for the first time at Saloum Delta, Senegal, which represents the new southernmost distribution limit of this species. This paper also describes the seagrass morphology for some study areas and explores the main stressors to seagrasses as well as conservation initiatives to protect these newly documented meadows in West Africa. The produced information and maps serve as a starting point for researchers and managers to monitor temporal and spatial changes in the meadows’ extent, health and condition as an efficient management tool