The global loss of biodiversity paired with the shortcomings of protected areas highlights the need to improve the conservation potential of human-modified lands. Although often referred to as "ecological deserts", large spatial scales and long rotation periods make tree plantations a relatively stable and permeable environment that could provide an important link between fragmented natural habitats. Different intensities of afforestation within the same geographic grassland region provide an opportunity to test how transformation by commercial plantations affects local biodiversity. We conducted camera trap surveys at two sites characterised by different degrees of afforestation. We demonstrate a higher mammalian diversity and a higher probability of habitat use in less transformed areas, suggesting that preserving large tracts of native vegetation is vital when offsetting biodiversity loss from timber plantations, especially regarding grassland-specialist species. Community-level habitat use increased in more rugged areas, while in the highly transformed site, habitat use increased closer to indigenous patches and roads. Our research highlights the importance of maintaining comprehensive networks of protected units as part of a broader landscape management approach and identifies a major challenge for the forestry industry moving forward, with plantation stands being dominated by species that threaten the long-term sustainability of the crop itself.

Land-sharing/sparing management approaches differ in attempts to balance production and biodiversity conservation. In South Africa, timber producers employ both techniques to varying degrees, sparing large tracts of native grasslands and sharing smaller patches of indigenous riverine vegetation within plantations. The application of these different management approaches within the same geographic region, provides an opportunity to test how land use by commercial plantations affect local biodiversity. We conducted camera trap surveys at two sites characterised by a land-sharing and land-sparing management approach. We demonstrate a higher mammalian diversity and a higher probability of habitat use under a land-sparing approach, suggesting it is more beneficial from an ecological point of view, especially for grassland species. For chacma baboons (Papio ursinus), although sparing was preferred, habitat utilization in land-sharing areas was still high, relative to other mammalian species, with increased habitat usage in more rugged and productive areas. Our research highlights the importance of maintaining comprehensive networks of protected units as part of a broader landscape management strategy, and identifies a major challenge for the forestry industry moving forward, with plantation stands being dominated by species that threaten the long-term sustainability of the crop itself.

Dramatic population declines of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) led to a managed metapopulation approach for wild dog conservation in South Africa. Monitoring the survival and habitat use of packs reintroduced into protected areas (PAs) is an essential part of adaptive management and improving the health and, ultimately, the survival of the metapopulation. Our study describes the territoriality and habitat selection of a pack of wild dogs reintroduced into Manyoni Private Game Reserve (219 km(2)) in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Despite being introduced into a small PA, the pack only utilized half their available space (121 km(2)) and avoided the central areas of the reserve. Post hoc analysis of African lion (Panthera leo) localities suggested competitive avoidance was a strong factor in shaping the habitat usage of the pack; however, further research is required. Habitat selection also varied seasonally and with denning. Ultimately, we showed that spatio-temporal analyses can help identify high-risk areas within wild dog territories, such as hotspots of activity along fencelines. These analyses can then be used to increase targeted management of these areas, such as improving the maintenance of well-used fencelines, which is an important consideration for the sustained success of the metapopulation across small PAs.