Adansonia-Consulting

Applied Research

The applied research programme in East Africa includes the following main topics:
  • Floristic survey of semi-deciduous forests within a savanna landscape
  • Vegetation dynamics of savannas and Miombo woodlands
  • Vegetation dynamics of coastal forests in Tanzania
  • Impact of fire on savanna landscapes
  • Age and growth determination of dominant savanna and Miombo trees and shrubs (cambium marking)
  • Ecological and ethno-botanical studies of woody plants

Patterns of land-use and vegetation changes in Tanzania

The Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research in Birmensdorf (WSL) are assessing vegetation shifts since the Mid-Holocene in savanna landscapes and Miombo woodlands using stable carbon isotope (d13C) values and associated radiocarbon ages from soil organic matter (including charcoal fragments). More recent vegetation changes will be further assessed using population characteristics of present plant communities, sequential aerial photographs and satellite images, old photographs, records from the colonial time and oral transmission from the local
population. The impact of climate, fire history, herbivory, termitaria and land-use which may have generated the observed patterns of vegetation change will be analysed. If we can identify and understand causes of past vegetation changes, we will be better able to anticipate rate, magnitude, and direction of future vegetation shifts. This will help in designing management strategies to ensure sustained productivity and minimise the likelihood of undesirable, human-induced shifts in vegetation structure of these tropical dry ecosystems.

Preliminary studies, kindly supported by KFPE (Swiss Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries) and ESAPP (Eastern and Southern Africa Partnership Programme pdf), showed that soils under forest exhibit a very strong increase in 13C with soil depth (up to 6‰), which is two to three times higher than the natural 13C enrichment in typical forest soils. We have interpreted this as a clear indication that these sites which are currently under forest had a much higher abundance of C4-grasses in the past. On the other hand, soil organic matter at savanna sites has a remarkably stable isotopic signatures, which indicates the persistence of savannas over several centuries (millennia). The Miombo woodland boundary is currently expanding at the expense of the savanna at several locations in northwestern and eastern-central Tanzania according to the former C4 (savanna) signature of the subsoil. None of the samples has been dated by radio carbon so far.

In a new Project phase, land-use changes and vegetation shifts at different geomorphic locations along transects through Miombo woodlands and savanna landscapes in Kagera, Shinyanga, Morogoro and Tanga Region will be assessed in more detail. Large scale vegetation changes in the Miombo woodlands (including the adjacent savannas) will be studied along decreasing rainfall gradients considering the geomorphic location. On a smaller scale, vegetation sites of the savanna landscape will be analysed along transects through small dry evergreen forest formations (including coastal forests) extending into open savanna on either side. The research partnership should contribute to strengthen the research capacity of both parties. The complementary knowledge of both partners should create synergistic effects thereby enhancing the quality of the Project. For more information please contact Dr. P.K.T. Munishi from SUA (pmunishi2001@yahoo.com) or Dr. U. Bloesch, consultant from WSL (bloesch@swissonline.ch).


Threatened plant species of not yet surveyed coastal forest patches in Handeni District, Tanzania

The expected outputs of the Project are:
  • Assessment of area of occupancy and size of population of the threatened species in Kwedijela Forest and in the adjacent forest patches.
  • Increased knowledge about biologically important habitat patches in Handeni District and their connectivity.
  • Improvement of the IUCN Red List.
  • Assessment of the socio-economic values of these forest patches for the local communities and identification of current threats for the threatened species.
  • Increased awareness of the local communities of the biodiversity values of these forest patches.
  • Publication of the results in a scientific journal as well as in a national newspaper for the general public.
An effective community participation will be searched for from the very beginning of the Project and we shall closely collaborate with the Village Environmental Committees. The botanical survey will be realised by Adansonia-Consulting in collaboration with the staff of the herbarium of the Botany Department of the University of Dar es Salaam. The Project will run for two years (1/5/06 - 31/12/07) and it kindly supported by CEPF (Critical Ecosytem Partnership Fund) and Syngenta Fondation for Sustainable Agriculture.


Ethno-ecological study on the woody plants of Rwanda

Long-term studies about the botany, ecology and usages of all woody plants of Rwanda, including trees, shrubs and lianas, resulted in the publication, entitled Les plantes ligneuses du Rwanda. Flore, écologie et usages (Bloesch et al. 2009). In total, 888 species, including subspecies and varieties, belonging to 98 families and 377 genera are described. Over 540 woody plants are illustrated what significantly increases the practical use of the book. The identification of each species is facilitated by botanical identification keys. A coloured vegetation map of the country shows the distribution range of all species. All technical terms are defined in exhaustive glossaries. This book primarily addresses actors involved in the rural development looking for various information about the botany, ecology and usages of woody plants but also all people having an interest in the woody flora of Rwanda. The authors hope that this detailed and practical book on woody plants will further an integrated and participatory management of the rich forest resources of Rwanda and contribute to maintain its
immense biodiversity. A forum was created to sollicite both interested institutions and indiviuals to submit corrections of as well as additions to the informations given in the book. The publication was kindly supported by Intercooperation, SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), Mr. Jean-Marie Samyn, Mrs. Daniela Renner and Mr. Christoph Oertle.


Lecturer

Urs Bloesch is giving lectures in: Course documents for SHL-students:
Glossary. pdf


Publication:
Klötzli, F. & Bloesch, U. et al. (1999) Manifest: Welche Forschung braucht der Naturschutz heute? Vierteljahrsschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zürich, 144(3): 89-100.

Bloesch, U., Bosshard, A., Schachenmann, P., Rabetaliana Schachenmann, H. & Klötzli, F. (2002) Biodiversity of the subalpine forest/grassland ecotone of the Andringitra Massif, Madagascar. In: Körner, Ch. & Spehn, E. M. (eds.) Mountain biodiversity: a global assessment, pp. 165-175. Parthenon Publishing, London. link

Bloesch, U. (2002) The dynamics of thicket clumps in the Kagera savanna landscape, East Africa. PhD thesis N° 14386, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH). Shaker, Aachen.

Bloesch, U.& Klötzli, F. (2005) Zur Waldfähigkeit der Saadani - Küstensavannen in Tansania. Berichte der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft, 17: 55-69.

Bloesch, U. (2008) Thicket clumps: A characteristic feature of the Kagera savanna landscape, East Africa. Journal of Vegetation Science, 19: 31-24. pdf

Bloesch, U., Troupin, G. & Derungs, N. (2009) Les plantes ligneuses du Rwanda. Flore, écologie et usages. Shaker, Aachen. link

Nduwamungu, J., Munishi, P.K.T., Bloesch, U., Hagedorn, F. & Lulu, K. (2009) Recent land cover and use changes in miombo woodlands of eastern Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 78: 50-59. pdf



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