Is There a Role for Human-Dominated Landscapes in the Long-Term Conservation Management of the Critically Endangered Kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji)?

As forest loss and degradation continues, the human-dominated landscape outside protected areas should become increasingly relevant to primate conservation. Here we consider the Tanzanian endemic kipunji, Rungwecebus kipunji , whose small extent of occurrence (42 km 2 ) and population (1117 individu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	International journal of primatology Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 1122 - 1136
Main Authors:	Bracebridge, Claire E., Davenport, Tim R. B., Mbofu, Vicky F., Marsden, Stuart J.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Boston Springer US 01-12-2013 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Agricultural land Animal Ecology Animal Genetics and Genomics Anthropology Biomedical and Life Sciences Cereal crops Deforestation Emissions control Endangered & extinct species Environmental protection Evolutionary Biology Ficus Forest degradation Forest protection Forests Habitats Human ecology Human Genetics Land degradation Land use Landscape Life Sciences Monkeys & apes Primate behaviour Primatology Protected areas Reforestation Subpopulations Subsistence agriculture Wildlife conservation Zea mays Zoology Forest loss Human–monkey conflict Reforestation Land use Livelihoods
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Summary:	As forest loss and degradation continues, the human-dominated landscape outside protected areas should become increasingly relevant to primate conservation. Here we consider the Tanzanian endemic kipunji, Rungwecebus kipunji , whose small extent of occurrence (42 km 2 ) and population (1117 individuals) qualify it for Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List. Habitat models suggest there is limited potential for expansion within the kipunji’s current protected forest habitat. In 2010, we examined the potential conservation role of land surrounding the forests using ecological surveys and structured interviews. Land outside protected forest is dominated by subsistence agriculture interspersed with tiny forest patches (almost all <0.4 km 2 ) that cover only 2.4 % of the surveyed area located within 10 km of the forest boundary. Habitat bordering the forest forms a “hard edge” for kipunji, although some sites with single kipunji food trees, e.g., Ficus , offer some potential for use. However, tolerance of kipunji in the agricultural landscape may be limited in areas where kipunji was recorded crop raiding maize along the forest edge, and protection/retaliatory measures are employed. The Bujingijila corridor (2.1 km 2 ) is a priority site for reforestation, particularly in the context of ongoing “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)” activities. We recorded the presence of kipunji food trees and little agriculture. Bujingijila could provide habitat for an additional 88 kipunji (8 % population increase), using density estimates from a 2006 census. Bujingijila has the additional benefit of reconnecting the Mt. Rungwe and Livingstone kipunji subpopulations.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	0164-0291 1573-8604
DOI:	10.1007/s10764-013-9719-3