The conservation importance of luxuriant tree plantations for lower storey forest birds in south-west Ghana.

摘要: Summary The exceptionally rapid degradation and fragmentation of the Upper Guinea Forest, caused by slash-and-burn farming selective logging, oblige bird conservationists to examine critically conservation value unprotected areas, which may provide buffer zones or connecting corridors protected forests. This paper assesses utilisation various tree-crop plantations mainly lower storey forest birds in south-west Ghana, through avifaunal comparisons shaded cash crops (rustic cocoa; neglected coconut) exotic tree (Cedrela, Gmelina) with nearby closed forest. Plantations adjacent to, within, large (.200 km 2 ), biodiverse forests are superior habitats compared similar within small (,50 ) species-poor A relatively high density crop (15–20 ha 1 (15–35 plantations, combined a luxuriant woody undergrowth (not slashed for .5–10 years), additionally explain presence many specialists, including regionally ‘Vulnerable’ locally ‘Endangered’ species. Overall, 50% species importance found were represented plantations. These findings highlight long periods between understorey weeding, as appropriate land-use systems that enhance area under effective improve connectivity fragments. Results studies Old New World tropics, implications off-reserve management discussed regional global contexts.