Relationship between carbon stocks and tree species diversity in a humid Guinean savanna landscape in northern Sierra Leone

Global sustainable development goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from land-use change and maintaining biodiversity. Many studies have examined carbon stocks and tree species diversity, but few have studied the humid Guinean savanna ecosystem. This study focuses on a humid savanna landscape in northern Sierra Leone, aiming to assess carbon stocks and tree species diversity and compare their relationships in different vegetation types. We surveyed 160 sample plots (0.1 ha) in the field for tree species, aboveground carbon (AGC) and soil organic carbon (SOC). In total, 90 tree species were identified in the field. Gmelina arborea, an exotic tree species common in the foothills of the Kuru Hills Forest Reserve, and Combretum glutinosum, Pterocarpus erinaceous and Terminaria glaucescens, which are typical savanna trees, were the most common species. At landscape level, the mean AGC stock was 29.4 Mg C ha^?1 (SD 21.3) and mean topsoil (0–20 cm depth) SOC stock was 42.2 Mg C ha^?1 (SD 20.6). Mean tree species richness and Shannon index per plot were 7 (SD 4) and 1.6 (SD 0.6), respectively. Forests and woodlands had significantly higher mean AGC and tree species richness than bushland, wooded grassland or cropland (p < 0.05). In the forest and bushland, a small number of large diameter trees covered a large portion of the total AGC stocks. Furthermore, a moderate linear correlation was observed between AGC and tree species richness (r = 0.475, p < 0.001) and AGC and Shannon index (r = 0.375, p < 0.05). The correlation between AGC and SOC was weak (r = 0.17, p < 0.05). The results emphasise the role of forests and woodlands and large diameter trees in retaining AGC stocks and tree species diversity in the savanna ecosystem.     

Conservation of forest biodiversity and ecosystem properties in a pastoral landscape of the Ecuadorian Andes

High Andean cloud forests are home to a diversity of unique wildlife and are important providers of ecosystem services to people in the Andean regions. The extent of these cloud forests has been widely reduced through conversion to pasture for livestock, which threatens the forests’ ability to support biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. This paper explores whether impacts on woody plant biodiversity and four ecosystem properties (woody plant species richness, juvenile timber tree abundance, soil organic matter content and soil moisture) from converting forest to pasture can be mitigated if some woody forest vegetation is maintained within pastures. Woody vegetation in pastures was found to conserve those woody plant species that are more tolerant to exposure and grazing, but conservation of the high montane cloud forest community required areas of forest from which livestock were restricted. The sampled sites clustered according to woody plant species cover; these clusters represented a gradient from pasture with patches of shrubs to mature forest. Clusters differed in both woody plant species richness and number of juvenile timber trees whereas soil organic matter and soil moisture were observed to be similar among all clusters. This suggests that the different habitats may have some equivalent ecosystem properties. We conclude that the presence of woody vegetation in pastures may reduce some of the impacts of converting forest to pasture, but should not be considered a substitute for protecting large areas of forest, which are essential for maintaining woody plant species diversity in high Andean cloud forest.     

Plant-soil biodiversity relationships and nutrient retention in agricultural riparian zones of the Sacramento Valley,California

Forested riparian buffers in California historically supported high levels of biodiversity, but human activities have degraded these ecosystems over much of their former range. This study examined plant communities, belowground biodiversity and indicators of multiple ecosystem functions of riparian areas across an agricultural landscape in the Sacramento Valley of California, USA. Plant, nematode and soil microbial communities and soil physical and chemical properties were studied along 50-m transects at 20 sites that represented the different land use, soil and vegetation types in the landscape. Riparian zones supported greater plant diversity and nearly twice as much total carbon (C) per hectare compared to adjacent land managed for agricultural uses, but had generally lower soil microbial and nematode diversity and abundance. When woody plant communities were present in the riparian zone, plant diversity and species richness were higher, and soil nitrate and plant-available phosphorus levels were lower. Belowground diversity and community structure, however, appeared to depend more on plant productivity (as inferred by vegetation cover) than plant diversity or species richness. Greater plant species richness, nematode food web structure, total microbial biomass, woody C storage and lower soil nitrate and phosphorus loading were correlated with higher visual riparian health assessment scores, offering the possibility of managing these riparian habitats to provide multiple ecosystem functions.     

How do trees affect spatio-temporal heterogeneity of nutrient cycling in mediterranean annual grasslands?

? In this study we analyzed heterogeneity in nutrient cycling induced by trees in Mediterranean annual grasslands, comparing years of higher and lower than average precipitation and analyzing the effects of two different solar radiation scenarios.

? Organic matter and consequently upper soil N, K, Ca and Mg were significantly greater in those locations receiving the highest levels of solar radiation, and as expected from many other studies in the literature, there was an increase in all macronutrients (except P) as well as pH below the canopy.

? Contrary to what was expected, plant nutrient concentrations did not directly reflect those found in the soil, with the exception of K. The studied grassland responded to increased nutrient availability by enhancing growth and changing botanical composition rather than by increasing plant nutrient concentrations. Hence, the total amount of accumulated nutrients in the ecosystem was larger below the tree than outside it, although this is mainly a consequence of plant growth enhancement. The levels of Ca, Mg, and Na in plants decreased during the driest year, and the N content was mostly determined by the composition of the grass.

? Temporal nutrient variability, particularly within-years, explained most of the variability in plant nutrient concentration, while spatial variability induced by trees was determined to be of secondary importance. These results are significant for ecosystem nutrient modelling.

     

Seasonal change and distribution of grass nutritive values and minerals in an open pasture surrounded by forest

The forage quality of pasture species is spatially heterogeneous. In this study, we evaluated the dynamics and spatial structure of forage quality and attempted to relate the observed variation to differences in light availability and soil properties. We compared grass forage quality in open grasslands with forest edge environments and established plots in open Japanese grasslands surrounded by secondary forests. We sampled Anthoxanthum odoratum L. and soil from each plot in May and September. These samples were analyzed to determine the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber, and mineral concentrations. We calculated Moran’s I coefficients across discrete lag distance classes to construct autocorrelograms. The CP model showed a non-random pattern in May at a lag distance of 40 m, but a clustered pattern in September at a small scale. The mineral models produced similar clustered spatial patterns. We found no strong correlation between aboveground (plant) and belowground (soil) mineral contents. CP and some mineral element concentrations in the plants collected in September were significantly greater at the forest edge than in open grasslands. The forest edge therefore appears to be a valuable place to provide grazing animals with adequate protein and mineral intake during the later part of the growing season.     

Changes in carbon stocks and tree diversity in agro-ecosystems in south western Uganda: what role for carbon sequestration payments?

Direct payments offered as compensation for adopting practices which increase carbon sequestration have implications for biodiversity conservation. This study analyzed changes in carbon stocks and tree diversity on carbon and non-carbon farmers’ plots in a pilot carbon offset project implemented by smallholder farmers in south western Uganda. On carbon farms, results indicate a respective decline and an increase in carbon density on farmlands and grasslands. On non-carbon farmers’ plots, there was an increase in both farmland and grassland carbon density. Carbon densities in farmland were significantly (t = −2.38; P = 0.023) higher than those in grasslands. There were no significant differences in tree diversity on farmlands but significant differences (species richness t = 2.18; P = 0.04; Shannon Index t = 2.92; P value = 0.0077) in grasslands. Tree diversity on carbon farmers’ plots decreased in farmlands, but increased in grasslands, while for non-carbon farmers there was a decline in tree diversity in both grasslands and farmlands. There were strong positive correlations between carbon density and tree diversity.     

Components of the water balance for tree species under evaluation for agroforestry to control salinity in the wheatbelt of Western Australia

The soil water balance technique was used to study evaporation from two fodder tree species, tenEucalyptus species and annual pasture over a three year period after planting in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Evaporation is the total water loss by the processes of transpiration, evaporation from the soil surface and evaporation of water intercepted by plant canopies.Evaporation from both fodder trees and from seven of theEucalyptus species was greater than from pasture for one or more of the study years. The maximum difference in evaporation between trees and pasture was 82, 84 and 70 mm in the first, second and third study years, respectively. Higher evaporation from trees was associated with greater depletions in soil water than occurred beneath pasture. Upward movement of water from wet soil beneath the root zone was found under trees, with a maximum flux of 30 mm observed over a one year period beneathE. camaldulensis.The water use efficiency of fodder trees was significantly higher than for mostEucalyptus species, due to greater yields from fodder trees. Biomass production was found to be a good indicator of the water use of eucalypts over the first two years of growth, but the relationship between productivity and water use was found to differ for species with tree and mallee forms. In the third year of study, obvious differences in the relation between water use and yield were observed for some species of eucalypts with high evaporation.     

Plant-community characteristics of bahiagrass pasture during conversion to longleaf-pine silvopasture

Silvopasture is considered a sustainable agroforestry practice as a result of benefits the system offers for biodiversity, economic returns, and environmental quality. However, little is known about temporal and spatial dynamics of forage species composition of pastures being converted to silvopasture. Research objectives were to determine (1) the response of forage species composition to a young longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.)-bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) silvopasture versus open bahiagrass pasture, and (2) the impact that alley position relative to trees has on forage species composition in a young longleaf pine-bahiagrass silvopasture. The research was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications from 2003 to 2007 at Americus, Georgia, USA in a longleaf-pine silvopasture established in 2000 in an existing bahiagrass pasture and an adjoining bahiagrass open-pasture. Silvopasture forage-species composition was measured within alleys. Plant community diversity was greater in the silvopasture versus open-pasture early in the growing season, but open-pasture had greater diversity during the later growing season. Alley position in silvopasture also had a significant effect on understory forage species composition. This study indicated that conversion of bahiagrass pasture to longleaf-pine silvopasture in the Southern Coastal Plain can influence plant-community characteristics by the time trees are six to seven years old.     

Tree-grass relationships in open eucalypt woodlands of northeastern Australia: influence of trees on pasture productivity, forage quality and species distribution

Pasture yield, quality and species distributions were compared between zones around live and killed eucalypt trees at two woodland sites in northeast Queensland which differed markedly in soil fertility. Trees affected pasture quality and yield on an individual tree basis: N concentration and dry matter digestibility tended to be higher under trees than in inter-tree areas at both sites and pasture yields declined with distance from killed trees at the lower fertility site. However, the distribution of individual species did not vary markedly with distance from trees. Trees also affected pasture yield on a woodland basis: yields were greater where the trees were killed than under intact woodland. Soil under trees had higher levels of organic carbon and greater litter cover than soil in inter-tree areas. However, pasture yields did not generally reflect this fertility gradient since growth was limited by moisture availability due to drought conditions during the study period. Pasture N concentration was higher under trees that in inter-tree areas since plants under trees produced a similar amount of biomass as plants in inter-tree areas, but had access to higher nutrient levels. Trees appeared to have a greater effect on soil nutrient availability at the low fertility site. Live trees depressed pasture yields to a lesser degree at the low fertility site, demonstrating that the effects of trees on soil water availability (on a woodland scale) are less important when soil nutrients are more limiting to growth. These results indicate that, while removing trees may enhance pasture productivity, this benefit may be offset by a reduction in pasture quality. Given the beneficial effect of trees on soil nutrients, tree removal may also have longer term implications for soil nutrient dynamics. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Trees enhance soil carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling in a silvopastoral system in south-western Nicaragua

Tree occurrence in silvopastoral systems of Central America has been under pressure for various reasons including attempts to improve grassland productivity and the need for wood. However, scattered isolated trees are also recognized to provide ecosystem services like shade, fodder and fruits that are important to cattle in the dry season. In addition, trees may enhance the climate change mitigation potential of silvopastoral systems through increased carbon (C) uptake and subsequent soil carbon sequestration. Through differences in plant traits like nutrient uptake, canopy structure and litter quality, tree species may have an effect on C and nutrient cycling. Due to a prevailing north-easterly wind in the study area, three distinct areas associated with the impact of tree litter deposition were identified: (1) open pasture—no tree litter deposition; (2) tree canopy—above and belowground tree litter; and (3) leaf litter cone—aboveground tree litter deposition. Furthermore, the effect of tree species, Guazuma ulmifolia and Crescentia alata, were considered. The presence of trees, as compared to pasture, caused larger topsoil C, N and P contents. In the subsoil, C content was also larger due to tree presence. Soil fractionation showed that tree-induced larger litter input subsequently increased free and occluded OM fractions and ultimately increased stabilized SOM fractions. Therefore, trees were found to enhance soil C sequestration in these silvopastoral systems. This is also supported by the soil respiration data. Although the respiration rates in the pasture subplots were lower than in the leaf litter subplots, the difference was not significant, which suggests that part of the extra C input to the leaf litter subplots stayed in the soil. Nutrient cycling was also enhanced by tree presence, but with a clear differentiation between species. C. alata (Jícaro) enhanced available and stabilized forms of organic N, while G. ulmifolia (Guácimo) enhanced available soil P and stabilized organic P.     

Diversity of secondary woody species in relation to species richness and cover of dominant trees in thermophilous deciduous forests

One of the prominent compositional features of thermophilous deciduous forests of southern Europe is their richness in secondary woody species (AWS). To date, no studies have focused on the diversity and contribution to the ecosystem functions and socio-economic benefits provided by these species. Here, we first characterized species richness and diversity for three main functional groups of AWS, sporadic trees, shrubs and vines, in 53 representative stands of central Italy. Secondly, we explored variations in AWS diversity and composition along a four-level gradient of species richness of dominant trees under comparable site conditions. The 40 AWS taxa recorded showed a remarkable taxonomic singularity at both the genus and the family rank. Dominant tree species richness had no significant effect on AWS species richness and composition, while Shannon diversity of AWS, especially shrubs, was associated with cover of the dominant trees. Each AWS possessed, on average, ca. five ability traits over a total of 13 considered that contributed to important ecosystem functions or expected socio-economic benefits such as wood and food production, conservation of genetic resources (wild crop relatives) and ornamentals. This highlights the key role of AWS, and in particular of sporadic trees, for enhancing multifunctionality of thermophilous deciduous forests.     

Tree effects on forage growth and soil water in an Appalachian silvopasture

Silvopastures may have the potential to increase forage yields beneath trees compared to open pasture at some sites. This has been attributed to a combination of factors including improved water use efficiency by shaded grass and increased water availability through hydraulic lift by trees. The objectives of this research were to determine if silvopastures changed forage mass production and available soil water, and to determine how these two factors were related. Forage mass and soil water were sampled at 1.0, 2.0, and 3.6 m from the tree stem, or plot center under honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) and shade cloth in 2006 and 2007. Soil water was measured in the top 10 cm of soil using a capacitance probe, and at 30-cm intervals, from 45 to 105 cm, using a neutron probe. Forage was collected to determine dry mass and annual yield. In 2006, forage mass was greater under black walnuts and honey locusts than under 70% shade cloth. In 2007, with a 50% shade cloth, forage growth was similar in all treatments. In both 2006 and 2007, soil moisture in the top 10 cm was higher under shade cloth compared to honey locust or black walnut trees. Similarities in forage mass between treatments in 2007 indicate that the differences in soil water were not biologically significant for forage growth. Lower forage mass under the 70% shade cloth in 2006 was due to suppressed growth from intense shading. The major implication for pasture managers is that trees in these pastures had no negative effect on soil water availability and forage growth.     

黄河源区玛曲县草原退化研究初报

以高寒草甸生态系统植物群落样地调查资料为基础,对不同退化程度植物群落结构及物种多样性特征进行研究分析。结果表明：随着草地退化程度的加剧,草地植物群落结构、物种组成及覆盖度均发生了很大变化,主要表现在物种数急剧减少、植被覆盖度下降、优良牧草比例大幅度减少,物种多样性明显低于自然生态系统。     

Implications of Mayan agroforestry for biodiversity conservation in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve,Mexico

Agroforestry for production and ecosystem health is a centuries-old form of ecosystem management used in many cultures indigenous to Mesoamerica, yet implications of such practices for biodiversity conservation are not well understood. Agroforestry systems were studied using interviews of farmers and field surveys of tree and bird diversity in three communities surrounding the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Campeche, Mexico to examine how differences in forest management practices affect forest biodiversity. Tree diversity and bird species richness were higher in areas surrounding communities that generated a greater variety of forest products and that cultivated “restoration trees,” species planted to aid in regeneration of mature forest. We conclude that traditional ecosystem management methods in areas surrounding natural reserves as practiced by inhabitants who depend on resources in the reserve for survival are compatible with maintaining and perhaps enhancing diversity of bird and tree communities at the site level.     

Productivity of two Douglas fir/subclover/sheep agroforests compared to pasture and forest monocultures

Resource sharing between tree and forage plant components in silvopastoral systems includes a complex set of facilitative and competitive interactions. To the extent that facilitation exceeds competition, agroforests are expected to outyield monocultures of their components. Pasture and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) tree production of young agroforests was compared to pasture and forest monocultures under both grid and cluster patterns of tree planting near Corvallis, Oregon, USA, during 1983–1987. The height and diameter growth of forest and agroforest trees was similar, regardless of tree planting pattern. Five-year average annual forage production was 6500, 5800, and 2800 kg ha^–1 on pasture, agroforest, and forest plots, respectively. The total cumulative 1982–1987 above-ground phytomass yield of forage plus trees was similar for pasture and conventional grid forest monocultures. The total productivity of agroforests, however, was over 30% greater than either pasture or forest components grown in monoculture. Approximately 1.6 ha (0.96 ha forest + 0.64 ha pasture) of monocultures would be needed to equal the productivity of 1 ha of agroforest.Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 10, 825.     

Effects of grazing exclusion and environmental conditions on the soil seed bank of a Mediterranean grazed oak wood pasture

Large seed banks in the soils of Mediterranean wood pastures can allow the composition of the understorey vegetation to adapt to changing conditions such as under-grazing, grazing exclusion and climate change. This three year study investigated the effect of grazing exclusion on the transient and persistent seed banks of 23 areas of a Mediterranean wood pasture of Quercus suber L., Q. ilex L. and Q. pubescens Willd. A canonical correspondence analysis was used to determine the effect of topo-climatic (elevation, aspect, slope, rainfall, temperature, tree coverage), soil (pH, soil texture, and soil nitrogen, phosphorus, lime and organic carbon content) and biodiversity (Shannon index, species richness index, and Pastoral Value) variables on the soil seed bank under grazed and ungrazed conditions. The size of the persistent seed bank increased with rainfall, grazing, and the available phosphorus content of the soil. Specific site by site grazing regimes could increase the abundance of legumes in the soil seed bank and the species richness and diversity of the understorey vegetation. These results can help guide the conservation management of this silvopastoral area.     

Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey,Niger

Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) significantly contributes to food and nutritional security of urban dwellers in many African countries. Economic and demographic pressures often lead to transformation of subsistence-oriented traditional homegardens into commercial production units. Such transformation is claimed to result in decreasing plant diversity, particularly of local species. A study was therefore undertaken in 51 gardens of Niamey, Niger, to assess the factors determining plant diversity and the suitability of UPA for in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. In each garden, the number and abundance of all human-used plant species were determined, and species density, Shannon index and Shannon evenness were calculated. In the 51 surveyed gardens, a total of 116 plant species were cultivated, most of them for the production of fruits or vegetables. Annual vegetables dominated, particularly exotic species grown for sale. In the cold season, an average of 14 species were cultivated per garden, the Shannon index was 0.96 and evenness was 0.39. Commercial gardens had a species richness similar to that of subsistence gardens, but a lower evenness (P < 0.005), caused by the dominance of a few vegetable species. Gardens of immigrants had a lower Shannon index than those of members of the local Djerma ethnic group. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed significant influence of various variables on plant species richness and diversity parameters: garden size (richness and Shannon index), ethnicity of the gardener (richness and evenness), gender of the gardener and cash-oriented production (evenness), household size (richness) and garden possession status (Shannon index). Cluster analysis revealed the existence of five garden types. The highest species richness and diversity, particularly of perennial and local species, was found in large, peri-urban, commercial gardens managed by relatively wealthy, elderly gardeners with large families and a regular non-agricultural income.     

Spatial variation and understorey competition effect of Pinus radiata fine roots in a silvopastoral system in New Zealand

In designing agroforestry systems, the combination of tree genotype (orspecies) and pasture species and the spatial arrangement of trees are importantconsiderations. The spatial variation of fine root length density (FRLD) ofthree radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) genotypes,referred to here as clone 3, clone 4 and seedlings, was studied in athree-year-old temperate silvopastoral experiment. The genotypes were plantedwith three understorey types: ryegrass (Lolium perenne)mixed with clovers (Trifolium spp), lucerne(Medicago sativa), and control (bare ground). Also fineroot distribution of both tree and pasture species with soil depth and inrelation to tree row (0.9 m north or south of and within the rippedtree row) was studied. Greater FRLD was found in clonal than in seedling treesin the bare ground treatment but not in the two pasture treatments, and in the0–0.1 m but not in the 0.1–0.2 or 0.2–0.3m soil layers. Clonal trees had a greater ability to develop a moreextensive root system, especially in the 0–0.1 m soil layer,but that advantage disappeared when they were planted with pasture species sincecompetition from the pasture species was most severe in the 0–10cm layer. The FRLD of lucerne was greater than that ofryegrass/clovers, consistent with the greater aboveground biomass production oflucerne. Pasture species FRLD was greater on the south (wetter) than on thenorth side of the ripline or in the ripline. The interception of prevailingsoutherly rain-bearing wind by tree crowns resulted in the south side beingwetter than the north side. Results indicated that production and distributionof fine roots of both tree and pasture species responded to changes in themicroclimate. We suggest that to optimize pasture/tree biomass productionplanting trees in the north-south direction is better than in the east-westdirection at the studied site. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Forage production in natural and afforested grasslands of the Pampas: ecological complementarity and management opportunities

In managed rangelands periods of low primary productivity determine troughs of forage availability, constraining animal production year-round. Although alternative tools to increase forage availability during critical seasons exists, most of them are unaffordable and short-lived in marginal areas. We explore the potential benefits of deciduous tree plantations favoring winter forage productivity by comparing aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) patterns in herbaceous understory to tree plantations and natural grasslands in the Pampas (Argentina). These temperate subhumid grasslands are characterized by the coexistence of winter species, mainly C3 grasses of the native genera Stipa, Piptochaetium, and Bromus and the exotic genera Lolium and Festuca) and summer species (mainly C4 grasses of the native genera Paspalum, Bothriochloa, and Stenotaphrum) that replace each other throughout the seasons, with domination of the latter. We hypothesize that the natural decoupling of growing seasons between winter deciduous trees and winter grasses could provide the basis for the sustainable promotion of winter forage. We measured ANPP on two 23-year-old Populus deltoides plantations and their understory and compared them with adjacent open grasslands. Afforested stands had 55–75% higher annual ANPP than their non-afforested neighbors, with trees contributing ~70% to total ANPP. Herbaceous canopies beneath plantations achieved about half of the ANPP observed in non-afforested situations with a contrasting seasonal distribution associated with shifts from C4 to C3 grass dominance. Winter ANPP, the most critical source of forage in these grazing systems, was similar or higher in the herbaceous understory of tree plantations to that on their non-afforested counterparts, suggesting that mixed systems involving deciduous trees and understory pastures are a valid and viable option in the region.     

Bird and Plant Diversity in Tropical Landscape Mosaics in East Usambaras, Tanzania

The role of land uses outside protected areas in conserving tropical biodiversity remains poorly understood and contested. This paper summarizes the results of plant and bird surveys conducted in three rural landscapes in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, covering a gradient from Village forest reserves to tree-based and other agricultural land uses. The species richness and occurrence of conservationally important species across the land uses were analyzed. Twelve plots of 0.2 ha, stratified among land use types, were established to survey the large trees, with sub-plots of 1 × 40 m for tree saplings, shrubs and non-woody plants, and 5 × 40 m plots for small trees. Avian richness was measured in the same sites as the plants through mist netting and timed species counts. The village forests had higher plant species richness and more conservationally important plant species compared to other land uses. Agroforest and fallows supported a relatively high number of plant species, but the species composition was largely different to the adjacent village forests. Bird species of conservation importance were recorded across all land uses. Village forest reserves and some of the tree-based agricultural land uses were found to contribute to biodiversity conservation goals in tropical landscape mosaics. There is a need to better integrate them, and address their multiple functions, in village land-use planning and conservation efforts at the landscape level.