Daudi Onesphory Damas
Human population growth and agricultural expansion in Pemba Island disturbs habitats that are suitable for many endemic species of birds including Pemba Green-pigeon. The demand for land on the islands is high and likely to decrease habitats of Pemba Green-pigeon (Catry et al.2000 and Nahonyo et al. 2005). The project aims to investigate the ecology of the Pemba Green-pigeon (Treron pembaensis), focusing on habitat requirements and food sources. The study will assess the species' response to varying levels of disturbance by sampling undisturbed, moderately disturbed, and highly disturbed areas. Key aspects of the study include assessing vegetation type, crown cover, and height, both in roosting and feeding habitats, and evaluating the impact of habitat loss and degradation on the species' population, investigating the species' reliance on plantations and rural gardens as alternative food sources.
This project will be useful for providing the current status of the Pemba Green-pigeon and adding information for the IUCN threats category evaluation. The obtained information will help to promote the restoration process for the Pemba Green-pigeon habitat via enrichment planting. Also, the proposed study's findings will help protect additional areas of forest and offshore islands. It is anticipated that the information will encourage the conservation authorities and interesting NGOs to plant Pemba Green-pigeon feed plant species in an area with few or absent plant species. Furthermore, the study will stimulate further studies on the status of the Pemba Green pigeon elsewhere within Pemba Island, and also promote the studies on other Pemba endemic birds.