Volume 4 Issue 1 ( 2025 )
NGOs - Government Cooperation on Project Impact Sustainability: The Cases of Dassenech Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
ABSTRACT
Non-governmental organizations play a significant role in addressing the most marginalized communities
through humanitarian and development intervention programs and projects. Indeed, program and project
execution include a great range of factors affecting the sustainability of the positive outcomes, which are
much more influenced by internal and external forces that should be identified as part of planning,
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes. Addressing these factors is important and supports
that connections between government and non-governmental organizations are essential to achieve the
long-lasting impact of humanitarian and development. This study investigates the impact of NGO
Governance cooperation on project sustainability. To analyze the challenges and effects of GO-NGO
cooperation in sustaining project activities at the community level mixed research approach has been
employed throughout the study. The study finding reveals that there is an urgent need to re-examine the
way NGOs generally work and cooperate with government public sectors in the study area to eliminate or
address all tendencies that stall and affect GO-NGO cooperation throughout the NGO project management
process. Far more important is the increased recognition of the complex web of overbearing environmental
factors that are likely to make NGO-led interventions succeed or fail. NGOs can indeed serve as effective
agents of sustainable development.
Conservation of Snot Apple (Azanza garckeana) under Changing Climatic Conditions in Tula, Kaltungo Local Government Area, Gombe State
Ezekiel B. Bwadi1, Vincent N. Ojeh1, Favour B. Ezekiel3, Queen U. Rimamskep2, Hamza Usman1,
Gaius Angye Fyibu1, Allahnanan Yusuf1, Kwena Albert1, John B. Nicodemus1 and Garba A. Hajara1
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the conservation status of Azanza garckeana (Snot Apple) in Tula, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria, under the combined influence of climate variability and deforestation. It sought to assess the effects of changing climate patterns and vegetation loss on the species’ distribution and sustainability. A geospatial approach was adopted, utilizing multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery and long-term climatic data (1979–2014) to analyze vegetation dynamics, forest cover changes, and climatic trends. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was employed to quantify vegetation health, while rainfall and temperature records were statistically analyzed to determine temporal trends. Field surveys and indigenous local knowledge complemented the remote sensing analysis to evaluate current conservation practices. The findings revealed considerable fluctuations in rainfall and temperature over the study period, with a noticeable impact on vegetation health and forest density. NDVI analysis indicated a progressive decline in vegetative from 2002 and 2022. Field observations confirmed widespread deforestation and the absence of effective conservation measures for A. garckeana, a specie valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and socio-economic significance. The study highlights the urgent need for climate resilient conservation strategies and sustainable forest management practices. Strengthening community based conservation, integrating remote sensing tools, and developing policy responses are critical for protecting Azanza garckeana and preserving its ecological and economic functions.
Dietary Bioactive and Functional Plant-Based Interventions in Central Obesity: A Review of the Therapeutic Roles of Bitter Leaf, Scent Leaf, Moringa, and Bush Mango in Abdominal Fat Reduction
Adelu Akeem Olalekan
ABSTRACT
Central obesity is a significant risk factor for metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is characterized by an excessive buildup of visceral fat and
abdominal distention, which is commonly referred to as a potbelly. As safer and more culturally acceptable
substitutes for pharmaceutical interventions, functional foods and nutraceuticals have gained interest in
recent years. Four popular African botanicals, Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Ocimum gratissimum (scent
leaf), Moringa oleifera (moringa), and Irvingia gabonensis (bush mango), are evaluated for their anti-obesity
qualities in this review, which also highlights the phytochemical profiles, mechanisms of action, and data
from preclinical and clinical research. These plants have a variety of effects, including as reducing hunger,
improving lipid metabolism, preventing adipose tissue growth, and reducing inflammation. These plants
could offer a cost-effective, easily accessible, and culturally appropriate method for the control and
prevention of central obesity when added to the diet or made into standardized supplements. To optimize
dosage, guarantee long-term safety, and confirm their synergistic effects, more clinical trials and formulation
studies are necessary.
Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Tangi Payen Tehsil, Samar Bagh District Dir Lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Imran Ahmad1*, Shah Wali1, Jamshed Khan1, Shabana Bibi1, Saba Gul1, Salman Khan1, Imtiaz Ali2,
Sidra Hassan Saeed2
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in Tangi Payeen Tehsil, Samar
Bagh, Lower Dir District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Several field surveys were conducted to collect
medicinal plant specimens and associated ethnobotanical information. A total of 43 taxa were identified
using standard floras and relevant literature, collected from different localities within the study area. Field
visits were carried out during the flowering season in 2025. The results revealed that 43 medicinal plant
species belonging to 26 families and 41 genera are used by local communities to treat various ailments.
Among these families, 3 were monocotyledons and 23 were dicotyledons. Herbs constituted the dominant
life form (53.48%), followed by trees (34.88%) and shrubs (11.62%). The family Lamiaceae was the most
represented, with five species. The documented plants are traditionally used to treat diarrhea, dysentery,
fever, cough, cold, diabetes, throat infections, skin diseases, and for blood purification, as well as being used
as dietary tonics. The study also highlights the economic importance of these medicinal plants, emphasizing
the need for further research and conservation efforts.
Bird Community Structure and Functional Diversity in a Semi Urban Ecosystem of Uttar Pradesh, India
Anupam Pati Tripathi 1*, Afifa Khan2, Noorehena3, Shalini Chaudhary4, Sanai Fatima5
ABSTRACT
Birds are globally important ecological indicators and providers of ecosystem services, yet their diversity in
the semi-urban habitats of Northern India remains poorly documented. This study assessed avian diversity
in a semi-urban landscape of Uttar Pradesh during 2024–2025, using line transects, point counts, and
opportunistic observations. A total of 1,472 individuals belonging to 12 orders were recorded, representing
resident, migratory and rare species. Diversity indices revealed moderate species diversity (Shannon H′ =
0.959) with high evenness (E = 0.873), indicating a relatively balanced community. Seasonal variation in
abundance was pronounced, with winter (46.2%) and rainy season (43.1%) showing the highest abundance,
while summer (10.7%) recorded the lowest. Raptors, waterfowl, and passerines were prominently
represented, and the presence of threatened species such as the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
and Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone) highlights the conservation significance of the study site. Functional
guild analysis revealed the presence of carnivores, insectivores, granivores, frugivores, and omnivores,
reflecting the multifunctional ecological roles of birds in semi-urban ecosystems. These findings underscore
the importance of small semi-urban green spaces as biodiversity reservoirs and supplementary habitats for
migratory species. Therefore, conservation measures, including protection of vegetation, maintenance of
water bodies and community awareness initiatives are essential to sustain avifaunal diversity in rapidly
urbanizing regions of northern India.