http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/115 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:12:06 GMT 2026-04-12T14:12:06Z http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/197 Title: Effects of biodiversity loss and restoration scenarios on tree-related ecosystem services Authors: Tekalign, Meron; Van Meerbeek, Koenraad; Aerts, Raf; Norgrove, Lindsey; Poesen, Jean; Nyssen, Jan; Muys, Bart Abstract: In landscapes worldwide, trees in forests and agricultural lands have important ecological functions. Their loss may have important consequences for the delivery of ecosystem services (ES) to local communities, even if individual trees have low conservation values. This study explores the effect of land use and land use change on the provisioning of tree-related ES in a mixed Afromontane landscape in Ethiopia. First, we mapped the current distribution of tree- related ES using indicator ES, which represent the most characteristic ES for different land use types. More ES were characteristic for indigenous forest and agroforest, compared to exotic forest, cropland, and rangeland. A scenario analysis was conducted on the effect of tree species loss and restoration (RES) on ES. Two ES indices, ES diversity and ES multifunctionality, were used to evaluate the ES supply. The different behavior of the two ES indices in the species loss scenarios suggests that rare species have distinct traits that provide specific ES, which could not be compensated by the remaining common species. In tree species-poor landscapes, local communities prefer multifunctional tree species and these keep the diver- sity of ES supply high. Overall, our findings demonstrate that future conservation and restoration programs in mixed landscapes should both protect a large diversity of tree species, including rare tree species, and promote multifunctional keyston species to ensure a long-term and diverse ES supply. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/197 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/196 Title: Do Tourists’ Preferences Match the Host Community’s Initiatives? A Study of Sustainable Tourism in One of Africa’s Oldest Conservation Areas Authors: Tekalign, Meron; Groot Zevert, Nicole; Weldegebriel, Amanuel; Poesen, Jean; Nyssen, Jan; Van Rompaey, Anton; Norgrove, Lindsey; Muys, Bart; Vranken, Liesbet Abstract: Involvement of stakeholders in sustainable tourism, particularly in developing countries, is crucial for the success of tourism development. However, its implementation is often criticized for not considering stakeholders’ needs. This study explores tourists’ preferences for tourism activities, designed by local stakeholders, in one of the oldest conserved parks in East Africa—the Menagesha Suba Forest, in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. The study area is endowed with natural, cultural and historical, yet undeveloped, tourist attractions. The host community benefits little from tourism and is in continual conflict with the park administration. This study aims to provide new insights on potential engagement of stakeholders in sustainable tourism planning. In particular, we explored tourists’ preferences for activities designed by local stakeholders, as well as their preferences concerning the improvement of the park infrastructure. The local community has been engaged in group discussions to design community involvement activities in tourism, while park guest books have been consulted to identify infrastructure improvements suggested by tourists. A survey that embedded a discrete choice experiment was conducted among tourists that visited the Menagesha Suba Forest. Data were analyzed with mixed logit and latent class models. We identified preferences for infrastructure improvement in the park. Tourists’ preferences are heterogeneous and vary with their profile as foreigners, foreign residents, and locals. Furthermore, the study indicates that there is a mismatch between tourists’ preferences and activities designed by the host community for their engagement in tourism. Tourists might be unaware of the importance of such activities for local communities. On the other hand, the findings also imply that increasing host residents’ awareness of tourism and tourists’ preferences is required, prior to tourism activities planning. Hence, sustainable tourism planning and development needs to understand perception gaps between host residents and tourists for its smooth implementation. Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/196 2018-11-12T00:00:00Z http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/195 Title: Forest cover loss and recovery in an East African remnant forest area: Understanding its context and drivers for conservation and sustainable ecosystem service provision Authors: Tekalign, Meron; Flasseb, Charlotte; Franklc, Amaury; Van Rompaey, Anton; Poesenb, Jean; Nyssend, Jan; Muysb, Bart Abstract: Understanding of the often complex forest cover change drivers, and the perceived and observed forest cover changes substantially contributes to the sustainable management of tropical forests. This paper aims at devel- oping an integrated view on tropical forest cover change and its drivers by combining the perception of the stakeholders (farmers, forest guards, and forest managers) and five decades forest cover mapping, based on interview and remote sensing respectively, through a case study in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Afforestation and deforestation occurred when law enforcement was stronger and weaker respectively, de- pending on political regimes. Since 1937 i.e., the early Imperial period, the position of the forest edge has not changed much over time, it rather became sharper. In the late Imperial era (1972–1975), the forest cover de- clined only by 1.6%. In the subsequent two governments, the socialist and the current federal rule (1975–2014), the forest cover increased by 17%. There was a 3.9% forest cover decline during the transition between the two governments. This pattern of overall net forest cover increase observed by remote sensing data has been cor- rectly perceived by stakeholders. Stakeholders acknowledged the observed forest cover increase, however, they argued that the forest is declining in terms of its quality for several ecosystem services (ES). The ES decline is believed to have resulted from the gradual shift of pure dense indigenous forest to an increasing share of exotic plantations. In the three political regimes, land policy, illegal encroachments, population pressure and social unrest have been the leading drivers of forest cover change. Communities' involvement in forest management activities and sharing benefits were regarded as positive perception of forest management strategies during the federal administration (1993–2007) of the current government by farmers. Among the factors that determine forest management strategies proposed by stakeholders are gender, landholding size, education level and age. Future conservation and development interventions need to consider stakeholders' concerns. Their involvement in forest management is also necessary for improved biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service provision, and social wellbeing. Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/195 2018-07-07T00:00:00Z http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/158 Title: Health Effects of Environmental Exposures, Occupational Hazards and Climate Change in Ethiopia: Synthesis of Situational Analysis, Needs Assessment and the Way Forward Authors: Kiros Berhane, Abera Kumie, & Jonathan Samet Abstract: Background—The burden of diseases caused by environmental and occupational health hazards and the effects of global climate change are of growing concerns in Ethiopia. However, no adequate information seems to be available on the current situation. This means there is a critical gap in research, policy framework and implementation in the country. Objective—The purpose of this paper was to synthesize evidence from a systematic situational analysis and needs assessment to help establish a hub for research and training on three major themes and their related policy frameworks: air pollution and health, occupational health and safety and climate change and health. Methods—The methods used in this work include a systematic review of secondary data from peer-reviewed literature, thesis reports from academia, government and national statistical reports. Limited primary data based on key informant interviews held with major stakeholders were also used as sources of data. Findings—Exposures to high levels of indoor and outdoor air pollutants were found to be major sources of public health challenges. Lack of occupational safety and health due to agricultural activities and exposure to industries was found to be substantial. Worse is the growing fear that climate change will pose increasingly significant multidimensional challenges to the environment and public health. Across all three areas of focus, there was a paucity of information on local scientific evidence. There is also very limited trained skilled manpower and physical infrastructure to monitor the environment and enforce regulatory guidelines. Research, policy frameworks and regulatory mechanisms were among the cross-cutting issues that needed urgent attention. Conclusions—Critical gaps were observed in research and training across the three themes. Also, there is a limitation in implementing the link between policy and related regulations in the environment and health. Wed, 01 Aug 0031 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.hoarec.org:80/home/handle/123456789/158 0031-08-01T00:00:00Z