Zeitschrift für Biodiversität und gefährdete Arten

Leadbeater’s Possum is an iconic but globally endangered species largely confined to the wet ash forests of Victoria, south-eastern Australia. The species is at risk of extinction as a result of widespread logging, recurrent wildfire, and the rapid decline of populations of large old hollow-bearing trees ’ the single most critical habitat element for Leadbeater’s Possum. We outline why recent strategies aimed at conserving Leadbeater’s Possum appear unlikely to be effective in preventing the species’ extinction. We outline what we believe to now be the only current viable approach to conserve this species. This is the rapid transition to a large protected forest reserve system where the primary process threatening the species ’ widespread industrial clear-felling ’ is removed.

12 of the 23 species of Vulture, sole scavenger amongst vertebrate birds, are classified as “near threatened” or “endangered”. Across the Indian subcontinent and South Asia there is particular concern with an observed 92 percent reduction of Gyps vultures. The vulture species found in South Asian region has a scientific name given as Gyps bengalensis , common name is Asian Whitebacked vulture and the local name in the subcontinent region is Gidh .

Wetlands all over the world are continuously faced with enormous environmental threats. The Okavango, a Kalahari hotspot, is not an exception. This research article provides a description of the environmental threats facing the Okavango Delta, a major wetland in northern Botswana. The article is based on field evidence and synthesis of available information on the past and current state of the environment in the Delta. It is argued that the Okavango Delta has during the last few decades attracted many stakeholders with divergent interests and land use activities which together with the added impact of natural factors such as climate variability, climate change and tectonic activities in the area have slowly been transforming and causing damage to the ecosystem and its sustainability. It is emphasised that there is an urgent need to expedite the implementation of the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP), if the Okavango Delta is not to end up becoming a salt pan.

Parasitological studies of marine fish inhabiting the Sultanate of Oman began in the late sixties of the twentieth century and continued through ‘82. These studies revealed a total of 154 marine parasite species belonging to ten taxonomic groups.These included myxosporeans, microsporidia, helminths, parasitic crustaceans and leeches. New species were described, some of which were categorized as harmful to public health and some were found to have an impact on the quality and marketability of their hosts. The geographical distribution of the recorded parasites will be pointed out in the current paper. In addittion, the distribution patterns of the reported parasites will be analyzed and discussed according to the ecology of the perspective hosts of each parasite. Six groups of parasites can be suggested; Pelagic (3,1%), Demersal (58,4%), Benthic (23%), Pelagic-Demersal (7,5%, Demersal-Benthic (5,6%) and Pelagic- Demersal-Benthic (2,5%). Demersal parasites were the most abundant and least abundant were Pelagic-Demersal- Benthic and Pelagic ecological groups of parasites. In addition, some parasites were categorized as potential threats to future development of aquaculture industry in the country.

Indigenous multipurpose fodder trees have important social, economic and ecological functions such as controlling erosion, contribute to human quality of life, provide sinks for carbon dioxide and methane at the interface between the decaying fallen leaves and the soil and are a source of biodiversity. In this study, we assess ecological and socio-economic importance of the indigenous multi-purpose fodder tree (MPFT) species in three districts of Wolayta Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State. Structured questionnaires’ were distributed to 270 respondents. The results indicated that indigenous MPFTs have important social, economic and ecological functions, such as food supply, shade, traditional medicines, and the preservation of milk, animal nutrition, social values and household income. For animal feeding, vegetation was cut, especially leaves, young tips, twigs and fruits. About 70% of the respondents were unaware of the benefits of the MPFTs. It is concluded that the indigenous MPFT have a strong social and ecological value, and a source of income supplementation.

Mountains are among the most fragile environments on this planet. They are rich source of biodiversity, water, providers of ecosystem services on which downstream communities (both regional and global) rely. They are home to some of the world’s most threatened and endemic species (including medicinal plants), as well as to some of the poorest people, who are dependent on the biological resources. The worth of medicinal plants in regular healthcare practices provides clues to latest areas of research and in biodiversity conservation is now glowing. However, information on the uses of plants for medicine is deficient from interior areas of Himalaya. Keeping this in view, the present study has been conducted to study the diversity, indigenous uses, threat categorization and conservation prioritization of medicinal plants in Banjar Valley of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya. A total of 357 species of medicinal plants belonging to 98 families and 237 genera were recorded and used by the inhabitants of the area. These medicinal plants comprise of 27 trees, 269 herbs, 54 shrubs, 02 climber and 05 ferns. From the total, 193 medicinal plants were native, 03 endemic and 43 were near endemic. Highest medicinal plants were reported in the altitudinal zone, 2801- 3600 and decreased with increasing or decreasing altitude in the study area. These species have been also analyze for their nativity, endemism, rarity and are prioritized for cultivation. An area-specific threat categorization of species is very essential for squat or long term management planning. In present study such an effort in the study area, using information on different attributes was initiated. The presence of critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable medicinal plants indicates high anthropogenic stress on these species. The over-exploitation, habitat degradation and changing environmental conditions may lead to the extinction within a few years. Therefore, regular monitoring of population and habitats, development of conventional protocol, establishment of species in-situ conditions and associated habitats and replication of this approach in other parts of Indian Himalayan Region have been recommended.

Traditional Medicinal plants are remarkable for their significant potential to treat a specific disorder. Over the world around 80% populations dependent on traditional medicines according to WHO. Plant diversity depends on local climatic condition and also on their adaptation capacity in changeable environmental condition. Plants are great source of primary health care due to presence of certain chemical compounds. Cut, Boil, Burn, Wounds are mainly affecting skin. Prevention of pathogenic attack in body plants can perform certain role known as herbal medicine. A total of 55 species of the plants of 35 different families were recorded for above purpose and the findings are listed and discussed.