Vultures constitute an important functional group in many ecosystems, providing crucial ecosystem services both in natural and humanized environments. These scavengers are facing massive declines worldwide, but in several African countries virtually nothing is known on populations’ status and threats, hampering the development of adequate conservation strategies. In Guinea-Bissau, globally important populations of Hooded Necrosyrtes monachus and African white-backed vultures Gyps africanus were recently reported. Using the country as a study area, we aim to characterize human-vulture interactions in West Africa applying a multidisciplinary approach. We assessed the status and distribution of vulture populations using data from 1711 km of roadside transects, examined predictors of their distribution, and produced a nationwide population estimate for the Hooded Vulture, using an innovative method based on the relationship between the size of human population in settlements and vulture numbers. We conducted 47 stakeholder interviews to assess perceived roles played by vultures, and to investigate potential anthropogenic threats. Hooded vultures were strongly associated with high human population densities, whereas no relation was found between African white-backed and Rüppell’s vultures and any of the tested predictors, which included cattle density, precipitation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, among others. We estimate a national population of 43347 Hooded vultures, the largest population reported in the species range. Respondents were generally aware of the services provided by vultures, especially waste and carcass removal, including in urban areas. Hunting for witchcraft and traditional medicine was the most frequently recognised threat, while poisoning was ranked as having the highest impact. We hypothesise that poisoning-related mortality may be affecting African white-backed and Rüppell’s vultures’ distribution and explain their scarcity in apparently highly suitable habitats. Our results suggest a mutualistic rather than a commensalistic relationship between vultures and humans, with important implications for designing and implementing conservation strategies.

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The impact of NaCl reduction and replacement by CaCl2 : CaCO3 (50:50) on dough and bread characteristics is addressed in this study. Three recipes of white bread were formulated with different percentage of NaCl substitution; all doughs had 1.8 g of total salts added per 100 g flour weight basis. Comparison was performed against control bread containing 1.8 g of NaCl per 100 g flour weight basis. Alveograph and farinograph results indicated that addition of calcium decreased dough extensibility, stretchability and stability time, keeping strong flour characteristics. Calcium salts increased hardness of upper crust and decreased hardness of lower crust. An increase of calcium salts promoted lighter crumb and crust color. Descriptive sensory analysis indicated that 16 out of 25 traits showed significant differences between control and recipes. Principal component analysis using variables such as texture, color and sensory traits indicated that breads produced with 50% NaCl substitution were comparable with the control. Practical Applications The current interest in promoting a healthy diet encourages the design of foods that prevent diseases and cover specific nutritional requirements. Thus, reduction of salt intake and the fortification with beneficial minerals such as calcium is pertinent, as bread constitutes an important source of salt intake and its calcium contribution is low. The results show that it is possible to maintain the organoleptic characteristics and acceptability of the bread with reduced sodium content and 50% replacement by calcium salts. Estimating bread serving of 50 g, the calcium‐fortified bread with 50% sodium reduction could cover 13.5 and 17.6% of the calcium recommended daily intake for schoolchildren and adults with added beneficial effect on health, due to salt reduction. The purposed change in the sodium–calcium content has a dual beneficial effect on the health of the population, prevents problems related to high salt intake and helps to resolve calcium deficiency.

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Kumbira Forest is the best representative area of Angola's Central Escarpment and the only site known to hold significant populations of four of the five threatened endemic bird species of this habitat. However, the forest is disappearing as a result of human activities. Remote-sensing techniques were used to assess changes in forest cover, and bird and habitat surveys were performed to assess the effect of land-use changes on endemic species and the bird community. No relationships could be established between the presence of endemics and habitat and landscape variables. This lack of effect may be attributable to the low number of records and compounded by the mosaic structure of the landscape. Although forest cover has been maintained in Kumbira, old-growth forest has been replaced by secondary growth in many areas. Nevertheless these secondary-growth forest patches can maintain a bird community similar to that found in old-growth forest.