BIOTA East Africa - Workpackage(s)

Subproject E11: Human impact on avian diversity, seed dispersal and regeneration processes of East African rainforests: management tools and recommendations

This subproject studies the consequences of human impact on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in forest ecosystems with particular emphasis on seed dispersal and regeneration. We study the relationship between human disturbance, bird diversity, seed dispersal and regeneration processes to develop management tools and recommendations. The emphasis lies on developing tools that are indicators not only for biodiversity but also for functional relationships in ecosystems, for example high levels of forest regeneration or high genetic diversity. Some of these tools are evaluated at different spatial scales, from the local to the regional and continental scale. In a multi-disciplinary analysis, we compare different indicator groups and processes to inform monitoring programmes of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Tools and recommendations are developed for forests as well as for surrounding farmland. Tools and recommendations will be made available to the public by outreach activities and capacity building at different levels, from local communities to the international scientific community.