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The impact of timber harvesting on nest site availability for the Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus in native Southern Mistbelt forests of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2022

Jessica Leaver Open the ORCID record for Jessica Leaver [Opens in a new window] ,
Johann C. Carstens ,
Kirsten Wimberger ,
Kate F. Carstens  and
Michael I. Cherry Open the ORCID record for Michael I. Cherry [Opens in a new window]
Jessica Leaver*
Affiliation:
Wild Bird Trust, Cape Parrot Project, 9th Floor, Atrium Building on 5th, 5th Avenue, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Johann C. Carstens
Affiliation:
Wild Bird Trust, Cape Parrot Project, 9th Floor, Atrium Building on 5th, 5th Avenue, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Kirsten Wimberger
Affiliation:
Wild Bird Trust, Cape Parrot Project, 9th Floor, Atrium Building on 5th, 5th Avenue, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Kate F. Carstens
Affiliation:
Wild Bird Trust, Cape Parrot Project, 9th Floor, Atrium Building on 5th, 5th Avenue, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Michael I. Cherry
Affiliation:
Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
*
* Author for correspondence: Jessica Leaver, Email: jess@wildbirdtrust.com
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Summary

The Amathole mistbelt forests in the Eastern Cape, South Africa harbour the largest remnant population of the nationally endangered endemic Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus, a secondary-cavity nester whose persistence is limited by suitable nest sites. These are also the only forests within Cape Parrot range in which selective timber harvesting remains permitted, but the impact of harvesting on the availability of parrot nest sites has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the degree to which current harvest selection criteria stand to impact nest site availability. Results showed that Cape Parrots have specific nest tree requirements; and that there is overlap in the species and condition of trees selected for nesting, and harvesting. The two yellowwood species found in the region, Afrocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius, represented the majority of both harvested trees (78%), and Cape Parrot nest trees (79%). Moreover, both Cape Parrot and harvest selection criteria require large (≥50 cm diameter at breast height; ≥12 m high), old, dead, dying, or crown-damaged yellowwoods, such that 32% of trees considered potential nest trees were also candidates for harvesting. Current selection criteria need to be revised to ensure that timber use is compatible with biodiversity conservation in the Amathole forests. We suggest that all harvesting of dead standing yellowwoods be discontinued; and that the harvesting of live trees with crown damage, which are frequently used by parrots for nesting, be limited by a species-specific maximum harvestable diameter.

Keywords

cavity-nesting birdselective harvestingsustainable forest managementmorality pre-emption selection criteriaAfrotemperate forests
Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 33 , 2023 , e21
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International

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