Assessing the Impacts of Large-Scale Agro-Industrial Sugarcane Production on Biodiversity: A Case Study of Wonji Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia

Degefa, Sileshi and Saito, Osamu, (2017). Assessing the Impacts of Large-Scale Agro-Industrial Sugarcane Production on Biodiversity: A Case Study of Wonji Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia. Agriculture, 7(99), 1-15

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Degefa, Sileshi
    Saito, Osamu
    Title Assessing the Impacts of Large-Scale Agro-Industrial Sugarcane Production on Biodiversity: A Case Study of Wonji Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia
    Appearing in Agriculture
    Volume 7
    Issue No. 99
    Publication Date 2017-12-04
    Place of Publication Online
    Publisher Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
    Start page 1
    End page 15
    Language eng
    Abstract Despite the intense debates on the land acquisition effects of large-scale Ethiopian sugarcane plantations and the consequences for food security, the impact on biodiversity has received less attention. We compared remnant patches in the sugarcane zone to the adjacent woodlands to determine the impacts of sugarcane on the diversity, composition, and structure of woody species. We recorded individual woody specimens with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5 cm from 56 quadrants of 200 m2 at each site in a systematic, random, and gradient-oriented transect design. In addition, we employed a trait-based risk assessment framework to examine the threat posed by agro-industrial sugarcane production on mammals, birds, and rodents. A total of 56 woody species, 38 in the woodlands and 30 in the sugarcane zone, were identified. The proportion of non-native woody species was higher (63%) in the sugarcane zone than in the adjacent woodlands (1%). The rodents and mammals were more abundant in the woodlands than in the sugarcane zone. Although we did not investigate all of the bird and mammal species, our results identified six rodent species, five mammal species, and one bird species as susceptible to sugarcane agriculture activities. The results suggest that large-scale agro-industrial sugarcane production impacts species diversity, composition and abundance of species, and species’ resource requirements.
    UNBIS Thesaurus SUGAR CANE
    Biodiversity
    Keyword Woody species
    Industrial crop
    Trait-based
    Risk score
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2017
    Copyright type Creative commons
    DOI 10.3390/agriculture7120099
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    Created: Wed, 06 Dec 2017, 12:22:37 JST by PEGUES, Susan Scott on behalf of UNU IAS