Vasil Kolev

Wildlife Management Department, Faculty of Forestry, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria.
E-mail: vassilkolev@ltu.bg

The populations of Maritsa barbel fish (Barbus cyclolepis Heckel, 1848) are under increasing
anthropogenic pressure, necessitating constant monitoring and assessment of the demographic
indicators of this endemic and protected species. The study empirically proves the utility of a hitherto
theoretically-defined method of Marinov (1964) for determining the population sex structure.
It uses the difference in the height of the anal fin between male and female the Maritsa barbels in
order to determine the sex of a fish specimen. The empirical investigation, undertaken in order to
test the method, utilized a large sample of 518 fish specimens, caught in the Chepinska River, outside
of the spawning seasons, during the time period 2006–2010. The results are then compared
with those, obtained from a smaller sample, caught in the same river in the years 2010–2011,
during a period in which all mature individuals will have formed gonads. The comparative analysis
of the results from the two samples proves the accuracy of the method for determining juvenile
fish sex and thus provides a comprehensive representation of the sex structure of Maritsa barbel
populations. Empirically proving the utility of the theoretical model entails two important conclusions
for assessing the reproductive potential and estimating the stock size of the fish. First, this
morphological peculiarity of the Maritsa barbel permits the accurate determination of its population
sex structure throughout the year, not only during the spawning season. Consequently, no
killing of fish from this endemic species would be necessary in order to monitor the populations.

Indra Gumay Febryano (1)*, Rusita (1), Irwan Sukri Banuwa (1), Agus Setiawan (1),
Slamet Budi Yuwono (1), Shinta Dewi Marcelina (1), Subakir (2),
and Elisabeth Devi Krismurniati

1. Forestry Department, Agriculture Faculty, Lampung University, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia.
*E-mails: indra.gumay@fp.unila.ac.id, indragumay@yahoo.com
2. Way Kambas National Park Agency, Labuhan Ratu, East Lampung Regency, Indonesia.

Sumatran elephants are one of the endangered species that are protected, and some of them
have been tamed (and trained) to support tourism activities. The purpose of this study was to determine
the carrying capacity of elephants in supporting tourism activities at the Elephant Training
Centre, Way Kambas National Park. Data obtained through interviews and observations, followed
with analysis on the carrying capacity of elephants for various tourist activities, including Elephant
Riding, Tracking, Safari, Night Safari, and Full Day. The results showed that the elephant carrying
capacity was still maintained, with up to 390 people per day that could be entertained by 23
elephants. The balance between the purpose of protection and elephant tourism can be achieved
if the elephant carrying capacity is not exceeded. Intensive promotion and provision of adequate
tourism facilities and infrastructure need to be carried out by managers of Elephant Training Centre
to increase the number of tourists, moreover on special interest tours; where this will have a
significant impact on increasing non-tax state revenues following the elephant carrying capacity.

Nikita Debkov

Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of the Siberian Branch
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 634055 Tomsk, 10/3 Academichesky av., Russia.
E-mail: nikitadebkov@yandex.ru

Some global markets’ demand towards sustainable forest management is contributing to the
displacement of national governments as the central source of environmental rule-making authority.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a particularly innovative example of a voluntary nonstate
market-driven governance mechanism. Hosting the largest proportion of the global forest
resources the Russian Federation is particularly important arena for forest certification. A new
Russian forest management FSC standard based on International Generic Indicators is planned
for approval at the beginning of 2019. It is thus crucial to understand what this voluntary mechanism
identifies as barriers to different aspects of sustainable forest management. We assessed
the overall state of FSC forest management certification in Russia by analysing quantitative and
qualitative variables of non-conformities exhibited regarding (1) regional specifics, (2) size of forest
management units of certificate holders, (3) certification bodies and (4) type of evaluation. The
current state of FSC forest management certification in Russia is characterized by the dominance
of the certified area in the European part of the country, where its density is 3–4 times higher. The
geographic location of various certification bodies has been established; in particular, LLC ‘Forest
certification’ dominate in Siberia, ‘SGS Qualifor’ in Far East, and the rest are operating mainly
in the European part. As a result of the analysis, no differences were revealed in the number of
non-conformities exposed due to the size of forest management units and their geographical location.
In most cases, there is no significant difference between the certification bodies. However,
we reliably found a greater number of non-conformities exhibited by LLC ‘Forest certification’ in
comparison with ‘NEPCon’. In addition, a significant difference is found between the number of
non-conformities and the type of evaluation. Principles 6, 8, and 9 are more problematic, with a
higher frequency of non-conformities.

Javed Iqbal

Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University
of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, Suchdol 16500 Czech Republic.
E-mails: javed.iqbal.silviculturist@gmail.com, iqbal@fld.czu.cz

Himalayan moist temperate forests have the highest contributing values in the forest resources
of Pakistan. These forests provide timber for commercial and domestic use, non-wood forest
products that are abundantly available for local farmers and the international market. These forests
are also source of fresh water to the lowlands. Locals and nomads are highly dependent
on these forests for their livestock production. Silvicultural systems and tending operations are
important management tools for the optimization and utilization of forest resources. Edaphic and
biotic factors are also influenced by these systems for biomass production. There are two different
silvicultural systems applied in the management: protection and conservation, i.e. selection system
(also including group selection) and clear felling system. The group selection and clear felling
system were applied for experimental purpose in the 1980s. At present, only selection system
with 3D’s (dead, dying and diseased), and damaged trees logging is accepted in different parts of
the Himalayan moist temperate forest. Before 1992, 1.9 % and 88.6 % of activities were found for
clear felling and selection system, respectively. Tending operations are also inactive in different
parts of the forests. Tending activities i.e. weeding 21.1 %, cleaning 88.6 %, thinning 16.1 % and
improvement felling 1.43 % average, were recorded to examine the active status in the study
area. Studies must be conducted for the protection, conservation and management optimisation
of these valuable forest resources.

Chrysto Myhailov, Gradimir Gruychev*, and Nikolay Nenchev

Wildlife Management Department, University of Forestry, Sofia 1797, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., Bulgaria. *E-mail: gradi.val@gmail.com

The aim of the study is to establish the breeding success of Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca
graeca Meisner, 1804), rearing in semi natural conditions. In 2014, in the western part of Stara
Planina Mountain, we built light demountable aviary for raising Rock partridge. The location of the
cage falls within the natural range of the Rock partridge. They were placed in typical of the species
habitats. In each aviary with an area as about 300 square meters 4 males and 4–5 females
were settled. Of a total of 73 nests surveyed for the entire study period in 22 (30.1 %) of cases
nesting was unsuccessful. In 54 cases, the bird chose artificial nests or built nests around the
facilities of the aviary. In 19 cases they chose natural places to build nests. The average clutch
size during the experimental period 2014–2017 was 8.4±2.9 (2–13) (mean ± sd. min–max). The
hatchability was 74.3 % ± 10.3 % (60–88.9 %) (n=11). The survival rate of fledglings to 90 days
was 64.4 %. The breeding success was similar for wild Rock partridges. The average hatchability
was higher than that recorded in captivity, but lower than in the wild.