Alfan Rija

Sokoine University of Agriculture Tanzania

Dr Alfan A. Rija was born in Kigoma Region of western Tanzania. He is a Lecturer in conservation and ecology at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania. He has a PhD degree in Biology specializing in spatial patterns of illegal activities in protected areas from the University of York in UK (2017), MSc Conservation Biology from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (2009) and BSc Wildlife Management from SUA(2003). Dr Rija’s research interests span a wide range of themes focusing on understanding the intricate interactions between humans and the wildlife and biodiversity to designing appropriate strategies for sustainability. He has over 15 years of experiences working at the forefront of conservation challenges in protected areas in Tanzania and has researched and published widely on related fields.

1chapters authored

Chapters authored

Biodiversity Studies in Key Species from the African Mopane and Miombo Woodlands

By Isabel Moura, Ivete Maquia, Alfan A. Rija, Natasha Ribeiro and Ana Isabel Ribeiro-Barros

The Southern African Miombo-Mopane woodlands are globally considered as ecosystems with irreplaceable species endemism, being the most important type of vegetation in the region. Among the approximately 8500 plant species, legume trees play a crucial role in biodiversity dynamics, being also key socioeconomic and environmental players. From the ecological point of view, they contribute significantly to ecosystem’s stability as well as to water, carbon, and energy balance. Additionally, legume species represent an immensurable source of timber and nontimber products. Research in Miombo-Mopane biodiversity has been mainly focused on the analysis of ecosystem drivers by means of ecological parameters and models, lacking interdisciplinary with relevant cross-cutting tools, such as the application of molecular markers to assess genetic diversity within the region. In this chapter, the applications and biodiversity dynamics of typical legume species from Miombo (Brachystegia spp., Julbernardia globiflora, and Pterocarpus angolensis) and Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) are reviewed. Gaps and challenges are also brought forward in the context of the lack of genetic diversity assessments and the need of an effective and coordinated network of interdisciplinary research.

Part of the book: Genetic Diversity

Alfan Rija

Chapters authored

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Isabel Moura

Ivete Maquia