Protecting Biodiversity on National Forests: The Evolution and Implementation of Forest Planning Regulations

In 2012, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) promulgated new forest planning regulations that significantly altered national forest management. One of the most controversial and important advancements was the inclusion of what were meant to be stronger biodiversity protections. An analysis of USFS’s rationale in revising the biodiversity regulations provides insights into how to interpret the substantively and procedurally new ecosystem and species protections. Examining this regulatory history reveals three key changes to the manner in which national forests are required to manage and monitor biodiversity: 1) a greater reliance on science to inform planning, 2) a new emphasis on ecological integrity, and 3) more comprehensive protections for at-risk species. The specific substantive and procedural provisions that establish this revised conservation framework are summarized in Section III, Part G. Overall, the new “ecosystem-species” approach seeks to ensure the persistence of most native species through “coarse-filter” measures that maintain or restore ecological integrity and diversity, accompanied by “fine-filter” measures that provide the additional specific ecological conditions needed by imperiled populations of at-risk species. However, the 2012 rule allows the responsible official to determine whether such species-specific plan components are necessary. This discretion results in a set of protections for at-risk species that are likely to be applied inconsistently across the National Forest System. While the language in the rule itself can be vague, the administrative record contains additional context that provides useful guidance in interpreting these biodiversity provisions. More specifically, evidence from the administrative record suggests that the fine-filter provision should apply to species facing discrete threats or with unique needs. The recently revised Rio Grande National Forest Land Management Plan provides a case study of how one national forest is implementing the new conservation framework poorly. By applying the aforementioned regulatory analysis to a case study, this paper highlights the potential avenues for strengthening or challenging forest plans that fail to adequately protect biodiversity. Ultimately, by exploring the evolution and implementation of the biodiversity provisions in forest planning regulations, this analysis serves to inform efforts to more effectively apply and uphold USFS’s new approach to conserving biodiversity on our national forests

Male genital examination in the medical curricula: an exploration of medical students’ experience

INTRODUCTION: One of the challenges regarding the teaching and learning of the male genital examination as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum relates to the extent of practice opportunities with patients in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVES: To quantify how many male genital examinations have been performed on real patients by medical students at the point of graduation, and to explore the context of performing the examination with patients. METHODS: A self-completed, online, anonymous questionnaire was developed and deployed as part of a two-centre study. Data were collected from final-year medical students in the period just after graduation from the medical programmes at the Universities of Auckland and Flinders in late 2013. RESULTS: The combined response rate was 42.9% (134/312). The median for the number of male genital examinations performed was 2-3. A total of 16% of medical students had never performed a male genital examination. Self-reported opportunities for performing the male genital examination were strongly related to the setting (e.g. urology and paediatrics/neonates). The largest self-reported barrier was related to patients being uncomfortable being examined by female students. CONCLUSIONS: For some students, their only experience of performing male genital examinations is on a model in simulation. Opportunities to perform the male genital examinations that students feel comfortable with are rare. The delivery of medical curricula needs to address this issue

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing the CURE Stop Smoking Project: A Qualitative Study.

Background The Conversation, Understand, Replace, Experts and evidence-based treatment (CURE) project aims to provide a comprehensive offer of both pharmacotherapy and specialist support for tobacco dependence to all smokers admitted to hospital and after discharge. CURE was recently piloted within a single trust in Greater Manchester, with preliminary evidence suggesting this intervention may be successful in improving patient outcomes. Plans are currently underway to pilot a model based upon CURE in other sites across England. To inform implementation, we conducted a qualitative study, which aimed to identify factors influencing healthcare professionals’ implementation behaviour within the pilot site. Methods Individual, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 10 purposively sampled health professionals involved in the delivery and implementation of the CURE project pilot. Topic guides were informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Transcripts were analysed in line with the framework method, with data coded to TDF domains to highlight important areas of influence and then mapped to the COM-B to support future intervention development. Results Eight TDF domains were identified as important areas influencing CURE implementation; ‘environmental context and resources’ (physical opportunity), ‘social influence’ (social opportunity), ‘goals’, ‘professional role and identity’ and ‘beliefs about consequences’ (reflective motivation), ‘reinforcement’ (automatic motivation), ‘skills’ and ‘knowledge’ (psychological capability). Most domains had the potential to both hinder and/or facilitate implementation, with the exception of ‘beliefs about consequences’ and ‘knowledge’, which were highlighted as facilitators of CURE. Participants suggested that ‘environmental context and resources’ was the most important factor influencing implementation; with barriers most often related to challenges integrating into the wider healthcare context. Conclusions This qualitative study identified multi-level barriers and facilitators to CURE implementation. The use of theoretical frameworks allowed for the identification of domains known to influence behaviour change, and thus can be taken forward to develop targeted interventions to support future service implementation. Future work should focus on discussing these findings with a broad range of stakeholders, to ensure resultant intervention strategies are feasible and practicable within a healthcare context. These findings complement wider evaluative work to support nationwide roll out of NHS funded tobacco dependence treatment services in acute care trusts

Species richness and distribution of primates in disturbed and converted forest landscapes in northern Borneo

Knowledge of fundamental aspects of ecology such as species richness and distribution, and the factors affecting them, is increasingly used to identify priority areas for conservation and to effectively manage threatened species. We investigated the species richness and distribution pattern of non-human primate communities inhabiting 10 sampling sites in four different habitat classes corresponding to increasing habitat disturbance level, i.e. old growth forest, twice logged forest, repeatedly logged forest and oil palm plantation, in and around Kalabakan Forest Reserve, in central Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. By using direct and indirect survey methods, we confirmed the existence of nine, out of the total 10 primate species, found in Sabah, within the surveyed areas. Based on the monthly number of primate species detected, our results indicated a general trend of decreasing primate species richness with increasing habitat disturbance level. However, the response within the disturbed forest sites showed some variations with some sites in repeatedly logged forest displaying comparable primate species number to that of the undisturbed forest sites. We also found that within the forest habitats, tree density is a good predictor of the richness of the primate community with a positive effect. Hence, tree density may be a key indicator for evaluating primate communities in forest habitats. Overall, the results of our study suggest that although not equivalent to areas of undisturbed forest, degraded forests – including those that have been repeatedly logged – are still valuable for primate conservation. In contrast, oil palm plantations have mainly negative effects on the primate community

Thresholds for adding degraded tropical forest to the conservation estate

Logged and disturbed forests are often viewed as degraded and depauperate environments compared with primary forest. However, they are dynamic ecosystems1 that provide refugia for large amounts of biodiversity2, 3, so we cannot afford to underestimate their conservation value4. Here we present empirically defined thresholds for categorizing the conservation value of logged forests, using one of the most comprehensive assessments of taxon responses to habitat degradation in any tropical forest environment. We analysed the impact of logging intensity on the individual occurrence patterns of 1,681 taxa belonging to 86 taxonomic orders and 126 functional groups in Sabah, Malaysia. Our results demonstrate the existence of two conservation-relevant thresholds. First, lightly logged forests (68%) of their biomass removed, and these are likely to require more expensive measures to recover their biodiversity value. Overall, our data confirm that primary forests are irreplaceable5, but they also reinforce the message that logged forests retain considerable conservation value that should not be overlooked

Improving uptake of breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women: protocol for a non-randomised feasibility study of a peer-led, faith-based intervention (IMCAN project)

Background: Cancer screening and early detection save lives, but Muslim women are less likely to participate in screening than white-British women. This is concerning as incidence rates of cancer appear to be increasing in ethnic minority groups. Faith-based cancer communications provide a culturally acceptable strategy to addressing barriers to screening. This study investigates the feasibility, effectiveness, and implementation of a co-designed, faith-based, and peer-led intervention to improve breast, bowel, and cervical screening uptake among Muslim women in the UK, which we co-designed in 2021 with ten Muslim women. Intervention: The intervention includes a health education component delivered by a GP explaining what is involved in cancer screening and potential risk factors, such as diabetes; personal testimonials reflecting Muslim women’s experiences with cancer and screening; and an Islamic perspective on cancer screening delivered by an Alimah, a female religious scholar. Methods: Underpinned by the Integrated Screening Action Model, we will conduct a non-randomised, two-arm feasibility trial with 200 Muslim women (aged 25-74 years, living in Glasgow or North-East England, not or partially up-to-date with screening). Participants will be allocated to either face-to-face or online delivery of the intervention. To identify opportunities for modification of the interventions, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (n=6), including Muslim scholars and community liaison, and focus groups with intervention participants (4 groups with n=6-8/group) and peer-educators involved in intervention delivery (n=10). Expected results: An assessment of the suitability of the trial’s parameters will inform the development of a large-scale trial using pre-specified progression criteria and a traffic light system for evaluation of STOP-AMEND-GO criteria. To gain a preliminary indication of intervention effectiveness we will capture knowledge, attitudinal change to screening, and behavioural outcomes, such as intention to screen at baseline, 6, and 12 months follow-up, and NHS screening attendance at 12 months. Conclusion: The development of a co-designed faith-based, peer-led intervention has the potential to improve engagement with cancer screening among Muslim women. Our project represents a rigorous feasibility and process evaluation of a theory-driven and co-designed intervention for Muslim women. The inclusion of religious messages can support cancer screening uptake in this underserved group. We aim to further test intervention effectiveness in a fully powered randomised controlled trial. This would guide the development of cancer control communications for religious minorities in the UK and other countries with existing screening programmes

Using global remote camera data of a solitary species complex to evaluate the drivers of group formation

We would like to thank Megan Whatton, Belden Giman, Hongliang Bu, Dajun Wang, Fang Wang, Roland Kays, Jillian Kilborn, and New Hampshire Fish and Game for their roles in contributing data that was used in this analysis. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.Peer reviewe