European Scientific Journal, ESJ

Structure and Diversity of Threatened Timber Species in Managed Forests of Cameroon: The Case of FMUs 10 038/10 054

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Unsustainable logging constitutes major threats to numerous timber species, several of which are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Certified production forests under sustainable management provide valuable sites for assessing the impact of logging on these threatened species. The objective of this study was to analyse the structure and diversity of timber species listed on the IUCN Red List in logged and unlogged stands of Forest Management Units (FMUs) 10 038/10 054 in Cameroon. Six plots of 4 ha each (three in logged and three in unlogged stands) were established. Within each plot, all timber species with a diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm were inventoried. Results showed that FMUs 10 038/10 054 harbour 34 timber species listed on the IUCN Red List, belonging to 30 genera and 13 families. ANOVA showed that species richness of IUCN Red List timber species was not significantly different between logged and unlogged stands. Species classified as Least Concern and Vulnerable were the most represented in both stands, whereas Endangered and Near Threatened species were the least represented. The low Shannon diversity index values recorded in logged and unlogged stands indicate that both stands have relatively low diversity of threatened timber species. Selective logging under certification did not significantly affect the diversity of threatened timber species, but it modified the distribution of abundances. These findings highlight the value of reduced-impact logging practices and forest certification for the conservation of IUCN Red List timber species in Cameroon’s production forests.

One Function, Two Regimes: Trusted Flaggers and Regulatory Fragmentation under the Digital Services Act

Mindia Davitadze, Irakli Shamatava — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Article 22 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) gives trusted flaggers a statutory role. It did not, however, put an end to the voluntary programs that platforms ran before the Regulation, and these continue to operate in parallel. This article looks at what that parallel existence means for accountability in content moderation. Using doctrinal legal analysis, the article traces Article 22 from the Commission's proposal through the Council's general approach and the European Parliament's amendments to the adopted text and examines eligibility, expertise, independence, transparency and safeguards against misuse. Designation by a Digital Services Coordinator brings a clear advantage, since qualifying notices must be prioritized on every covered platform and the flagger no longer has to bargain for that priority platform by platform. Voluntary programs, by contrast, sit outside the designation, reporting and revocation rules. Platform-level transparency, systemic-risk and audit obligations reach them only indirectly, as they do not require disclosure of which organizations receive priority, on what criteria or with what results. The article identifies this difference in accountability as a limitation of the statutory framework. It proposes separate reporting of notices from voluntary priority programs, published eligibility criteria for such programs and their inclusion in systemic-risk assessments, largely achievable within the existing Regulation. Priority requires prompt assessment of qualifying notices; it does not establish illegality or require automatic removal.

Évaluation des stratégies de communication sur le vaccin contre le paludisme RTS,S dix mois après son introduction au Bénin: étude transversale à deux bras en Allada-Toffo-Zè, février-mars 2025

Raïssatou Ami-Touré, Georgia Damien, Vikkey Antoine Hinson, Badirou Aguemon — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Contexte: Le Bénin a introduit le RTS,S/AS01 le 25 avril 2024 à Allada-Toffo-Zè (428 000 habitants, 80% rural), zone pilote parmi trois. Paludisme première cause morbidité: 2 069 294 cas déclarés, 5,1 millions estimés en 2023 (World Malaria Report 2024). La communication est essentielle mais non évaluée à 10 mois en milieu rural. Objectif: évaluer les stratégies de communication du 23 février au 03 mars 2025 (dix mois post-introduction) en distinguant initiation et rétention. Méthodes: étude transversale à deux volets STROBE, 30 grappes. Population 1: 255 ménages avec enfant 6-24 mois (LQAS, 14 lots de 19, PPS, itinéraire aléatoire, réponse 95,8%, carnet vu 90,6%). Population 2: 198 acteurs (choix raisonné). Questionnaires structurés pré-testés, traduits Fon/Aizo avec rétro-traduction, KoboCollect. Analyses: proportions IC95% Wilson, chi2/Fisher, régression logistique multivariée. Résultats: exposition 84,7% (216/255; IC95% 80,3-89,1): agents santé 85,6%, relais/ASCQ 83,3%, radio 46,8%; Fon 84,7%, Aizo 40,3%, Mina/Dindi/Sahouè 7,4%. Couverture OMS: réception 65,1%, VAP1 55,7%, VAP2 37,9%, VAP3 21,3%; abandon VAP1→VAP3 62,4%. Exposition associée à réception (17,9% vs 73,6%, p<0,0001) et VAP1 (10,3% vs 63,9%, p<0,0001); ORa=9,60 [3,59-25,69]. Rumeurs 72,2%, craintes effets 65,0%, manque informations 68,8%; contrat signé 13,3%, rémunérés 10,6%. Conclusion: stratégies de proximité efficaces pour initiation mais insuffisantes pour rétention; renforcer rappel rendez-vous, contractualisation/rémunération, canaux innovants et briefing systématique.

Background: Benin introduced RTS,S/AS01 on 25 April 2024 in Allada-Toffo-Zè (428,000 inhabitants, 80% rural), one of three pilot zones. Malaria remains leading cause of morbidity: 2,069,294 reported cases, 5.1 million estimated in 2023 (World Malaria Report 2024). Communication is critical but unevaluated at 10 months in rural settings. Objective: Evaluate communication strategies from 23 February to 03 March 2025 (ten months post-introduction) distinguishing initiation and retention. Methods: Two-arm cross-sectional study per STROBE, 30 clusters. Population 1: 255 households with child 6-24 months (LQAS, 14 lots of 19, PPS, random route, response 95.8%, card seen 90.6%). Population 2: 198 stakeholders (purposive). Structured pre-tested questionnaires translated Fon/Aizo with back-translation, KoboCollect. Analyses: Proportions with Wilson 95%CI, chi-square/Fisher, multivariable logistic regression. Results: Exposure 84.7% (216/255; 95%CI 80.3-89.1): health workers 85.6%, community relays/ASCQ 83.3%, radio 46.8%; Fon 84.7%, Aizo 40.3%, Mina/Dindi/Sahouè 7.4%. WHO coverage: receipt 65.1%, VAP1 55.7%, VAP2 37.9%, VAP3 21.3%; dropout VAP1→VAP3 62.4%. Exposure associated with receipt (17.9% vs 73.6%, p<0.0001) and VAP1 (10.3% vs 63.9%, p<0.0001); aOR=9.60 [3.59-25.69]. Rumors 72.2%, fear of adverse effects 65.0%, lack of information 68.8%; signed contract 13.3%, paid 10.6%. Conclusion: Proximity strategies effective for initiation but insufficient for retention; strengthening appointment reminders, formalizing/paying community actors, innovative channels and systematic briefing needed.