Monitoring for management of conservation and recreation in Australian protected areas

Protected areas are key to conservation of biodiversity, and Australia is one of the world’s megadiverse regions. Monitoring programs provide the information to assess the state of conservation resources, the severity of threats and the success of management responses. Here we compare the management priorities, monitoring priorities and actual monitoring practices of protected area management agencies in Australia, using four sets of data at continental scale and five at a more restricted regional scale. We track changes over a period of several years and focus at successively finer levels of detail. At both continental and regional scales, most management plans emphasise fire, invasive species and visitor management; and most monitoring programmes refer to visitor numbers and impacts as well as species and ecosystems. There is only a weak match, however, between reported management priorities and actual monitoring programmes; and the effectiveness of management responses is rarely monitored. The level of detail in visitor monitor programmes varies considerably: most parks count visitors, but few know what those visitors do. Threats from fire and invasive species receive more attention that those from recreation. At regional scale, the proportion of parks with defined monitoring programmes and priorities increased significantly from 2003/2004 to 2006/2007. Whilst only a proportion of protected areas monitor endangered species populations, for those that do this is the parameter reported in most detail, with many parks reporting single records of single individuals. Some parks also maintain anecdotal records of rare species outside routine monitoring programs.     

Local livelihoods and institutions in managing wildlife ecosystems: The case of Babile Elephant Sanctuary in Ethiopia

This paper analyzes inherent incentives and institutional challenges in managing elephant sanctuary ecosystems, using the case of the Babile Elephant Sanctuary in Ethiopia. The study was based on the data collected from local communities experiencing different livelihood systems and experts from the local state authorities. A total of 35 interviews were conducted for an in-depth case study. Results show that historical and socio-political factors have undermined the effectiveness of state-based institutions in managing the ecosystem. The welfare loss of local communities relying on the ecosystem has resulted in a dispute between the state managing the ecosystem and those holding customary rights to the delineated land. Absence of adequate compensation for the crop damage by elephants has made the local people to regard the state intervention as unfair action. The study suggests the need to search for institutional frameworks that can transform hostile relationship into a mutually beneficial one. Such condition may ensure humans’ peaceful co-existence with the wildlife without destroying the habitat and constraining sustainable livelihoods.     

Wildlife trade,consumption and conservation awareness in southwest China

Commercial trade in wildlife is the major cause of species endangerment and a main threat to animal welfare in China and its neighboring countries. Driven by consumptive use for food and traditional medicine, the large volume of both legal and illegal trade in wildlife has caused great destruction to ecosystems and pushed many species to the brink of extinction. Data gathered from trading hubs at ports, boundary markets, city markets and stores, indicates the large amount of wildlife traded in the region of Guangxi, Yunnan and Qinghai provinces, a direct result of the numerous wildlife markets available. In a survey distributed in various trading places, while about half of the respondents agreed that wildlife should be protected, 60% of them had consumed wildlife at some point in the last 2 years. The results also indicated that law and regulation on wildlife trade control is insufficient. Wildlife trade controls are very limited because of bias on the utilization of wildlife as a natural resource to be exploited by the government agencies. The survey also shows that the current situation of wildlife consumption in key cities in China is serious, especially the consumption for food. The main consumption groups in China are male and young people with high education levels and good incomes. The key in public awareness publicity and education is to give them more information on the negative impacts of wildlife consumption and knowledge of protection.     

Attitudes to native bandicoots in an urban environment

Urbanization along the eastern seaboard of Australia has increased the potential for conflict between humans and wildlife. The northern suburbs of Sydney are home to the southern brown (Isoodon obesulus) and the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta). Both are known to enter yards of home owners causing a disturbance to yard plantings and an interaction with domestic pets. Understanding the driving factors behind the public’s perception of bandicoots will enable wildlife managers to develop effective and socially acceptable conservation strategies. Six hundred and thirty questionnaires were distributed to the residents bordering Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal National Park in Sydney, Australia, to assess the sources of conflict. Eighty-three percent of respondents had experienced bandicoot interactions and 27% had experienced interactions on a daily basis. This interaction with bandicoots influenced respondents’ perception of a bandicoot as a nuisance or pest. The age of the resident and pet ownership status also influenced respondents’ attitudes. Contrary to anecdotal reports, there was an overall positive response from the community. The information gained from this survey will inform the development community-based management strategies for the bandicoots of northern Sydney. Communicated by W. Lutz     

对青藏高原野生动物保护生物学研究的思考

青藏高原是我国重要的生态屏障区,动物资源丰富,物种独特,是开展野生动物保护生物学研究的天然实验室。尽管青藏高原野生动物保护研究已取得重要成就,但随着科学技术的发展与进步,未来可以在以下3个方面进一步加强。一是坚持高原野生动物种群及栖息地的长期监测;二是利用多学科交叉及宏微观结合的技术与方法开展整合生物学研究;三是进一步加强高原野生动物保护生物学研究青年科技人才的培养。     

基因组文库构建及其在保护遗传学中的应用前景

基因组文库是进行分子克隆和基因组结构与功能研究的基础。完整的基因组文库的构建, 使任何DNA 片段的筛选和获得成为可能。随着不同克隆载体的相继出现, 基因组文库也经历了一系列的发展过程。其中, BAC文库因其转化效率高、嵌合体少、插入片段易回收, 以及容载量较大等优点而被广泛应用。近几十年来, 随着环境的日益恶化、分子遗传学技术的迅速发展, 以及保护生物学和分子遗传学的不断相互渗透, 孕育产生了保护遗传学这一分支学科。作为保护遗传学中物种保护策略的重要部分, 建立濒危野生动植物的基因组文库, 是保存其种质资源的最为有效的实际手段和方法, 并能为进一步开展与生殖、疾病和重要经济性状等方面有关的功能基因的研究, 提供可靠的材料保证。     

Mexico in the International Reptile Skin Trade: a Case Study

This paper examines the role of Mexico as importer, manufacturer, producer and distributor centre of reptile skins from non-native and native species, through a combination of documentary research and survey methods. A number of key findings were derived from this study. Although Mexico has adopted the “System for the Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use of Wildlife” (SUMA), the country still relies on reptile skins from non-native species. In contrast, the smaller numbers of skins used from native species mainly derive from captive breeding schemes that although biologically sustainable, provide no incentive for habitat conservation. Sustainable use of reptile skins from native species could positively encourage conservation in Mexico. However, as a megadiverse country with potential to produce wildlife, Mexico will have to implement an appropriate regulatory framework to support local communities to promote the sustainable use of native species.     

Parasites and Conservation Biology: The ‘Ibex-Ecosystem’

Parasites, as organisms with a particular way of life, form an important part of biodiversity, not only regarding the number of known species, but also because of their relevant role within ecological processes. These two facts should justify conservation of parasites, at least within natural and protected areas. Little is known about such complex communities of parasites but they are often considered as pests, even out of the fields of public (human) health and animal production, that is, just in the natural environment or under natural conditions. It is increasingly assumed that wildlife diseases, including those produced by parasites, are one of the main bases for managing animal populations. Parasitic diseases may also be managed and, at this point, we can find multiple technical problems which, in certain occasions, lead into philosophical questions or true dilemmas. These considerations are illustrated by revising parasites of the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an Iberian mountain ungulate the parasitofauna of which is relatively well known. As a big game species, its trophies become more and more appreciated. Therefore, human dimensions involved in management of its populations are considerably increased. Finally, reasons and opportunities for managing parasitic diseases affecting ibex are revised and discussed, under a global goal or perspective of conserving parasites within natural areas, particularly those that are protected.     

Dynamics of Content and Authorship Patterns in The Wildlife Society Journals (1937–2007)

Abstract: A previous analysis of the content of articles published in The Wildlife Society (TWS) journals from 1937 to 1989 concluded that TWS should strive to publish more articles on nongame and endangered species, ecosystems, habitat fragmentation, and human dimensions. We revisited this analysis and included the years 1990–2007 to determine whether, and how, TWS journals have addressed previous concerns. We also analyzed changes in subject content for TWS journals from 1937 to 2007 using selected terms that we considered indicative of emerging trends within the wildlife profession and society by documenting patterns of use of these terms as key words. Additionally, we evaluated authorship patterns for all TWS journals during 1937–2007 to determine trends in both numbers of authors per article and author affiliations. Our analysis demonstrated that the content of TWS journals has changed over time, and the changes reflected emerging themes in TWS, the wildlife profession, and society. We documented increases in published studies of nongame species and multiple species and articles with multiple authorships representing diverse affiliations. We argue that these patterns reflect a TWS response to shifts in public opinion, policy developments, advances in technology, and changes in university curricula. Although the number of studies published on human dimensions and conservation education has increased over time, these disciplines remained underrepresented.     

Predictive potential of wildlife value orientations for acceptability of management interventions

Wildlife value orientations are patterns of basic beliefs that give direction and meaning to fundamental values in the context of wildlife. Wildlife value orientations can help managers estimate public evaluations to management interventions. Their usefulness, both practically and scientifically, depends on their predictive potential. This article examined the predictive value of wildlife value orientations on the acceptability of wildlife management interventions in different situations. The situations varied in (a) severity of the human wildlife problem and (b) severity of the interventions for wildlife. Two wildlife value orientations were measured: domination (human needs have priority over wildlife well-being, 10 items) and mutualism (rights are assigned to wildlife, 9 items). Acceptability was measured as a dichotomous variable for management interventions across 5 different situations. The predictive value of wildlife value orientations was largest for acceptability of the most severe interventions (hunting, 35–42% of variance explained), followed by the least severe interventions (doing nothing, 5–17%) and the intermediate interventions (shaking eggs or applying contraceptives, 1–9%) in the scenarios that include a problem for humans. Value priorities appear to be an integral feature of value orientations. Intermediate interventions do not harm wildlife, but might solve the problem caused by wildlife. Such interventions also create minimal small internal value conflicts. Orientations that prioritize values and offer a template for conflict resolution are likely to have less predictive potential for these interventions.     

Structural and Narrative Reconstruction of Rural Residents’ Representations of ‘Nature’, ‘Wildlife’, and ‘Landscape’

The objective of this paper is the structural and narrative reconstruction of representations of ‘nature’, ‘wildlife’ and ‘landscape’, held by rural residents of the Dadia Forest Reserve. Data collection involved in-depth interviews. Employing a social representations’ approach, we recovered representational elements that are expected in the case of rural belief systems, such as negative dispositions towards wolves and foxes, as well as elements of an urban adherence, such as nature’s independence. Representational elements refer to visual aspects of the countryside, which seem compatible with the figurative nucleus of the rural idyll. Concerning ‘wildlife’, residents focused on vultures, which comprise the main tourist attraction of the reserve. Scientific knowledge adds to the complexity of the narrative schema, which corresponds to the representation of ‘wildlife’. Interviewees perceived the rural landscape as an interface between the natural and the human-conditioned environment. Our study shows that interviewees make no reference to environmental conservation or quality of life issues, as it could be expected according to relatively wide definitions of the term ‘environmentalism’. Environmental messages reinforced by ecotourism development seem to be recalled primarily in terms of their compatibility with the perceived economic benefit of local people. Despite ecotourism development, representational elements that diverge from a tourist version of ‘nature’, ‘wildlife’ and ‘landscape’ were not pronounced within rural belief-systems. Further interventions within the study area are needed, in order to address a variety of topics under the environmental conservation discourse and raise the environmental awareness of rural residents.