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Mazzotti FJ, Dalaba JR, Evans PM, Gati EV, Miller MA. Employing targeted outreach to improve community involvement in detecting invasive Nile monitors (Varanus niloticus) in Florida. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21976. [PMID: 39304783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
We successfully employed targeted outreach to communities in Palm Beach County, Florida, to enhance detection of invasive reptiles. We defined targeted outreach as delivering a specific message to a specific audience, at a specific location, to obtain a specific result. These efforts improved our ability to solicit community involvement focused on target species of interest in locations at risk of potential establishment of incipient populations. From 2018 through 2020, we reached over 112,000 individuals who reported over 50 nonnative lizard sightings to EDDMapS, a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species, and the State-managed IVE-GOT1 reporting hotline. We considered reports to be directly attributed to our outreach efforts when the reporter indicated our outreach method as the source from which they obtained information on reporting large invasive lizards. We found print media elicited the most reports, while social media reached the largest audience both in direct shares and spillover to additional communities outside our target area. We concluded that to help improve invasive species management programs, three tactics could be employed: (1) using multiple forms of media, (2) additional educational support to improve the accuracy of public reports, and (3) rapid, dedicated capability to respond to reported sightings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank J Mazzotti
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA.
| | - Justin R Dalaba
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
| | - Paul M Evans
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
| | - Emily V Gati
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
| | - Melissa A Miller
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
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2
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Kahler JS, Rivera CJ, Gore ML. Introducing IPOACHED: A conservation criminology-based framework to understand wildlife species targeted by poachers in protected areas. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.992621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The criminogenic dimensions of conservation are highly relevant to contemporary protected area management. Research on crime target suitability in the field of criminology has built new understanding regarding how the characteristics of the crime targets affect their suitability for being targeted by offenders. In the last decade, criminologists have sought to apply and adapt target suitability frameworks to explain wildlife related crimes. This study seeks to build upon the extant knowledge base and advance adaptation and application of target suitability research. First, we drew on research, fieldwork, and empirical evidence from conservation science to develop a poaching-stage model with a focus on live specimens or wild animals- rather than a market stage and wildlife product-focused target suitability model. Second, we collected data in the Intensive Protection Zone of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP), Sumatra, Indonesia through surveys with local community members (n=400), and a three-day focus group with conservation practitioners (n= 25). Our target suitability model, IPOACHED, predicts that species that are in-demand, passive, obtainable, all-purpose, conflict-prone, hideable, extractable, and disposable are more suitable species for poaching and therefore more vulnerable. When applying our IPOACHED model, we find that the most common response to species characteristics that drive poaching in BBSNP was that they are in-demand, with support for cultural or symbolic value (n=101 of respondents, 25%), ecological value (n=164, 35%), and economic value (n=234, 59%). There was moderate support for the conflict-prone dimension of the IPOACHED model (n=70, 18%). Other factors, such as a species lack of passiveness, obtainability and extractability, hamper poaching regardless of value. Our model serves as an explanatory or predictive tool for understanding poaching within a conservation-based management unit (e.g., a protected area) rather than for a specific use market (e.g., pets). Conservation researchers and practitioners can use and adapt our model and survey instruments to help explain and predict poaching of species through the integration of knowledge and opinions from local communities and conservation professionals, with the ultimate goal of preventing wildlife poaching.
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3
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Danoff-Burg JA, Ocañas AR. Individual and community-level impacts of the unarmed all-women Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit. Zoo Biol 2022; 41:479-490. [PMID: 35652415 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In a conservation setting where escalating tension has been the norm, the unarmed primarily female-composed Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit (BMAPU) in South Africa are a successful counterpoint in that they have decimated poaching using only diplomacy and patrols. We sought to understand if the BMAPU is achieving its secondary goal of influencing support for conservation and wildlife among the nearby populace via community-based conservation actions including outreach and environmental education. We also determined the impact that the program has on the Mambas themselves. Using a mixed-methods survey we conducted structured in-person interviews with 120 community members from four communities where the women of the BMAPU live, and among all the women that were on active duty in the BMAPU at the time of the surveys. We found that all participants in the BMAPU program reported improved self and community perception of their societal role as financial providers, as well as their sense of agency and self-efficacy, relative to before becoming rangers. We also found that having BMAPU rangers living in the communities by itself did not contribute to community-level support for wildlife conservation or protected areas. However, one community with both a large-scale children's conservation education program and an equitable distribution of financial benefits paid by the nearby conservation concessionaires was significantly more supportive of wildlife conservation and protected areas than the other three. Further research to parse the relative contributions of the two contributing factors of education and financial benefit would help clarify their relative contributions. From this study, we conclude that a combination of child-focused conservation education programs and equitable distribution of financial benefits leads to increased community support for wildlife, conservation, and protected natural areas, and decreases support for poaching.
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4
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Genetic diversity and population structure of the northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) in Indian Himalayan region. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00254-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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5
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Administrative Level May Be the Key Factor to Improve Protection Effectiveness of Nature Reserves in China. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14084853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nature reserves (NRs) have been the backbone of biodiversity conservation and the construction of China’s ‘ecological-civilization’ since the 1950s. With over 11,800 protected areas (PAs) covering 18% of the country’s land area, Chinese NRs have made a great contribution to global biodiversity conservation. At this point, better protection effectiveness can be achieved by optimizing the management organization rather than expanding the area. We analyzed the management structure of Chinese NRs by looking at their ranks, the hierarchy of administrative organs, number of grass-root stations, manpower, and financial resources, among other variables. We found that the average number of staff employed and yearly financial input per km2 of Chinese NRs were both higher than the world and US averages. However, the range was extremely high, revealing great unbalance among different regions and ranks of NRs. In particular, the western part of China, which is less developed and features the least disturbed ecosystems, received less funding and staff resources than the developed east. A further analysis of the highest-ranked nature reserves, i.e., the national nature reserves (NNRs), showed that administrative organs of different hierarchical statuses (the lowest being Deputy family, the highest being Division level) could be in charge of them. Unexpectedly, we found that the amount of human and financial resources injected into NNRs was correlated with the level of their administration but dissociated from other important factors such as the reserve’s size or ecological value. Furthermore, the management organization was inadequate, with many NRs lacking key departments as defined by Chinese nature reserve regulations. We suggest that the administrative levels of management organization in NRs should be unified, and through the existing ecological transfer payments policy, strengthen the financial and staffing input in the western NRs of China. Moreover, the internal structure of NRs management should include all relevant departments with specific tasks and the creation of grass-root stations should be promoted without neglecting the capacity building to improve staff’s knowledge.
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6
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Ladd R, Crouthers R, Brook S, Eames JC. Reviewing the status and demise of the Endangered Eld’s deer and identifying priority sites and conservation actions in Cambodia. MAMMALIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldi) was once widely distributed across Southeast Asia, however the species is now listed as Endangered, having suffered severe population declines and range contractions. Cambodia has been considered a strong hold for the Eld’s deer subspecies R. e. siamensis, however there is limited population data available for this species within Cambodia, making its status unclear. Here, we collated all records of Eld’s deer presence between 2000 and 2020 to provide an insight into the current status of the species in Cambodia. Data was sourced through literature review as well as the internal databases of conservation organisations and biodiversity surveys. Our findings reveal that very small, spatially isolated populations of Eld’s deer are now largely restricted to nine areas in the eastern and northern parts of the country and that urgent conservation action is required to secure the future of this species in Cambodia. Effective law enforcement and anti-hunting strategies, implementation of management plans within protected areas as well as investigation into the potential of captive populations to support the conservation of Eld’s deer in the wild are essential for preserving this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ladd
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland , Gatton , Qld 4343 , Australia
| | - Rachel Crouthers
- World Wide Fund for Nature Cambodia , Street 322, Boeung Keng Kang I , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
| | - Sarah Brook
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Asia Regional Program , P.O. Box 1620, House 21, Street 21 , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
| | - Jonathan C. Eames
- BirdLife International Cambodia Programme , House 32A, Street 494 , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
- Rising Phoenix Co., Ltd. , House 32A, Street 494 , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
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7
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Pin C, Kamler JF, Toem Y, Lay D, Vorn K, Kim N, Macdonald DW. First record of a giant muntjac Muntiacus vuquangensis (Cervidae) from Cambodia. MAMMALIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The giant muntjac Muntiacus vuquangensis is a Critically Endangered ungulate that was first described by science in the early 1990s. The species’ current known distribution extends along the Annamite Mountains in Laos and Vietnam. Here, we report the first confirmed record of the giant muntjac in Cambodia. We recorded a camera-trap photograph of a male giant muntjac in Virachey National Park in northeastern Cambodia. Our record likely represents an isolated population near the western edge of the species’ distribution, about 300 km from the closest confirmed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanratana Pin
- Ministry of Environment , Morodok Techo Building, Lot 503, Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmorn , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit , The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Oxford University , Tubney House, Abingdon Road , Tubney , Abingdon OX13 5QL , UK
| | - Jan F. Kamler
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit , The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Oxford University , Tubney House, Abingdon Road , Tubney , Abingdon OX13 5QL , UK
| | - Yean Toem
- Ministry of Environment , Morodok Techo Building, Lot 503, Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmorn , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
| | - Darith Lay
- Ministry of Environment , Morodok Techo Building, Lot 503, Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmorn , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
| | - Kongkea Vorn
- National Road 78 , Banlung City , Ratanakiri Province , Cambodia
| | - Nong Kim
- Ministry of Environment , Morodok Techo Building, Lot 503, Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmorn , Phnom Penh , Cambodia
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit , The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Oxford University , Tubney House, Abingdon Road , Tubney , Abingdon OX13 5QL , UK
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8
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Yong DL, Jain A, Chowdhury SU, Denstedt E, Khammavong K, Milavong P, Aung TDW, Aung ET, Jearwattanakanok A, Limparungpatthanakij W, Angkaew R, Sinhaseni K, Le TT, Nguyen HB, Tang P, Taing P, Jones VR, Vorsak B. The specter of empty countrysides and wetlands—Impact of hunting take on birds in
Indo‐Burma. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ding Li Yong
- BirdLife International (Asia) Tanglin International Centre Singapore
| | - Anuj Jain
- BirdLife International (Asia) Tanglin International Centre Singapore
| | - Sayam U. Chowdhury
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Ei Thinzar Aung
- Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association Yangon Myanmar
| | | | | | - Rongrong Angkaew
- Conservation Ecology Program King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangkok Thailand
| | | | | | - Hoai Bao Nguyen
- Vietnam National University, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department University of Science Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
| | - Punleu Tang
- BirdLife International Cambodia Programme Phnom Penh Cambodia
| | - Porchhay Taing
- BirdLife International Cambodia Programme Phnom Penh Cambodia
| | - Victoria R. Jones
- BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Bou Vorsak
- BirdLife International Cambodia Programme Phnom Penh Cambodia
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Durant SM, Marino A, Linnell JDC, Oriol-Cotterill A, Dloniak S, Dolrenry S, Funston P, Groom RJ, Hanssen L, Horgan J, Ikanda D, Ipavec A, Kissui B, Lichtenfeld L, McNutt JW, Mitchell N, Naro E, Samna A, Yirga G. Fostering Coexistence Between People and Large Carnivores in Africa: Using a Theory of Change to Identify Pathways to Impact and Their Underlying Assumptions. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.698631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coexistence with large carnivores poses challenges to human well-being, livelihoods, development, resource management, and policy. Even where people and carnivores have historically coexisted, traditional patterns of behavior toward large carnivores may be disrupted by wider processes of economic, social, political, and climate change. Conservation interventions have typically focused on changing behaviors of those living alongside large carnivores to promote sustainable practices. While these interventions remain important, their success is inextricably linked to broader socio-political contexts, including natural resource governance and equitable distribution of conservation-linked costs and benefits. In this context we propose a Theory of Change to identify logical pathways of action through which coexistence with large carnivores can be enhanced. We focus on Africa's dryland landscapes, known for their diverse guild of large carnivores that remain relatively widespread across the continent. We review the literature to understand coexistence and its challenges; explain our Theory of Change, including expected outcomes and pathways to impact; and discuss how our model could be implemented and operationalized. Our analysis draws on the experience of coauthors, who are scientists and practitioners, and on literature from conservation, political ecology, and anthropology to explore the challenges, local realities, and place-based conditions under which expected outcomes succeed or fail. Three pathways to impact were identified: (a) putting in place good governance harmonized across geographic scales; (b) addressing coexistence at the landscape level; and (c) reducing costs and increasing benefits of sharing a landscape with large carnivores. Coordinated conservation across the extensive, and potentially transboundary, landscapes needed by large carnivores requires harmonization of top-down approaches with bottom-up community-based conservation. We propose adaptive co-management approaches combined with processes for active community engagement and informed consent as useful dynamic mechanisms for navigating through this contested space, while enabling adaptation to climate change. Success depends on strengthening underlying enabling conditions, including governance, capacity, local empowerment, effective monitoring, and sustainable financial support. Implementing the Theory of Change requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation to inform adaptation and build confidence in the model. Overall, the model provides a flexible and practical framework that can be adapted to dynamic local socio-ecological contexts.
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10
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Zeng Y, Twang F, Carrasco LR. Threats to land and environmental defenders in nature's last strongholds. AMBIO 2022; 51:269-279. [PMID: 33913113 PMCID: PMC8651817 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01557-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Land and environmental defenders are a major bulwark against environmental destruction and biodiversity loss resulting from unsustainable nature resource extraction. Resultant conflicts can lead to violence against and deaths of these defenders. Along with mounting environmental pressures, homicides of these defenders are increasing globally. Yet, this issue has only recently started to receive scientific attention. While existing studies indicate the importance of socio-economic processes in driving such murders, spatially explicit global analyses considering environmental components are largely missing. Here, we take a broad spatial approach to assess relative contributions of environmental factors to the killing of environmental defenders. We find higher rates of such homicides are typically found in areas where limited or underutilized resources (e.g., freshwater, land and forests) are more available. Our results point towards a prevalent global land scarcity that results in industries targeting the last remaining strongholds for biodiversity and the environmental defenders within.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Zeng
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Republic of Singapore.
| | - Fangqi Twang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Republic of Singapore
| | - L Roman Carrasco
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Republic of Singapore
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11
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Commerçon FA, Zhang M, Solomon JN. Social norms shape wild bird hunting: A case study from southwest China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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12
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Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic. ORYX 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605320000435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Illegal killing of wildlife is a major conservation issue that, to be addressed effectively, requires insight into the drivers of human behaviour. Here we adapt an established socio-psychological model, the theory of planned behaviour, to explore reasons for hunting the Endangered Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii in the European Russian Arctic, using responses from hunters to a questionnaire survey. Wider ecological, legal, recreational and economic motivations were also explored. Of 236 hunters who participated overall, 14% harboured intentions to hunt Bewick's swan. Behavioural intention was predicted by all components of the theory of planned behaviour, specifically: hunters' attitude towards the behaviour, perceived behavioural control (i.e. perceived capability of being able to perform the behaviour) and their subjective norms (perception of social expectations). The inclusion of attitude towards protective laws and descriptive norm (perception of whether other people perform the behaviour) increased the model's predictive power. Understanding attitudes towards protective laws can help guide the design of conservation measures that reduce non-compliance. We conclude that conservation interventions should target the socio-psychological conditions that influence hunters' attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control. These may include activities that build trust, encourage support for conservation, generate social pressure against poaching, use motivations to prompt change and strengthen peoples' confidence to act. This approach could be applied to inform the effective design, prioritization and targeting of interventions that improve compliance and reduce the illegal killing of wildlife.
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13
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Tasirin JS, Iskandar DT, Laya A, Kresno P, Suling N, Oga VT, Djano R, Bawotong A, Nur A, Isfanddri M, Abbas W, Rihu NA, Poli E, Lanusi AA, Summers M. Maleo Macrocephalon maleo population recovery at two Sulawesi nesting grounds after community engagement to prevent egg poaching. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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14
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Ruppert KA, Sponarski CC, Davis EO, Masiaine S, Larpei L, Lekalgitele J, Lekupanai R, Lekushan J, Lemirgishan J, Lenaipa D, Lenyakopiro J, Lerapayo S, Lororua M, Stacy-Dawes J, Glikman JA. Use of specialized questioning techniques to detect decline in giraffe meat consumption. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew A. Bantlin
- Akagera National Park, Kayonza, Eastern Province, Rwanda; e-mail:
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16
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Namkhan M, Gale GA, Savini T, Tantipisanuh N. Loss and vulnerability of lowland forests in mainland Southeast Asia. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:206-215. [PMID: 32410311 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite containing extraordinary levels of biodiversity, lowland (<200 m asl) tropical forests are extremely threatened globally. Southeast Asia is an area of high species richness and endemicity under considerable anthropogenic threat with, unfortunately, scant focus on its lowland forests. We estimated extent of lowland forest loss from 1998 to 2018, including inside protected areas and determined the vulnerability of this remaining forest. Maximum likelihood classification techniques were used to classify Landsat images to estimate lowland forest cover in 1998 and 2018. We used Bayesian belief networks with 20 variables to evaluate vulnerability of the forest that remained in 2018. Analyses were conducted at two spatial scales: landscape patch (analogous to ecoregion) and country level. Over 20 years, >120,000 km2 of forest (50% of forest present in 1998) was lost. Of the 14 lowland forest patches, 6 lost >50% of their area. At the country scale, Cambodia had the greatest deforestation (>47,500 km2 ). In 2018, 18% of the lowlands were forested, and 20% of these forests had some formal protection. Approximately 50% of the lowland forest inside protected areas (c. 11,000 km2 ) was also lost during the study period. Most lowland forest remaining is highly vulnerable; eight landscape patches had >50% categorized as such. Our results add to a growing body of evidence that the presence of protected areas alone will not prevent further deforestation. We suggest that more collaborative conservation strategies with local communities that accommodate conservation concessions specifically for lowland forests are urgently needed to prevent further destruction of these valuable habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliwan Namkhan
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - George A Gale
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - Tommaso Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - Naruemon Tantipisanuh
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
- Conservation Ecology Program, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
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17
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Petersen WJ, Savini T, Ngoprasert D. Strongholds under siege: Range-wide deforestation and poaching threaten mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa). Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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18
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Phumanee W, Steinmetz R, Phoonjampa R, Bejraburnin T, Grainger M, Savini T. Occupancy‐based monitoring of ungulate prey species in Thailand indicates population stability, but limited recovery. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Worrapan Phumanee
- Conservation Ecology Program School of Bioresources and Technology King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangkhuntien Bangkok10150Thailand
- WWF‐Thailand 9 Pisit Building, Pradiphat Road Soi 10 Phayathai Bangkok10400Thailand
| | - Robert Steinmetz
- WWF‐Thailand 9 Pisit Building, Pradiphat Road Soi 10 Phayathai Bangkok10400Thailand
| | - Rungnapa Phoonjampa
- WWF‐Thailand 9 Pisit Building, Pradiphat Road Soi 10 Phayathai Bangkok10400Thailand
| | - Thawatchai Bejraburnin
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation 61 Phaholyothin Road Bangkok10900Thailand
| | | | - Tommaso Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program School of Bioresources and Technology King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangkhuntien Bangkok10150Thailand
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19
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Kragt ME, Hay E, Scheufele G, Bennett J, Renton M. Predicting the effectiveness of community anti‐poaching patrols for conserving threatened wildlife in the Lao PDR. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marit E. Kragt
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment University of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
- Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy University of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
| | - Eric Hay
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment University of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
| | - Gabriela Scheufele
- Crawford School of Public Policy Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Jeff Bennett
- Crawford School of Public Policy Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Michael Renton
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment University of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
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20
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Chen C, Quan RC, Cao G, Yang H, Burton AC, Meitner M, Brodie JF. Effects of law enforcement and community outreach on mammal diversity in a biodiversity hotspot. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:612-622. [PMID: 30306633 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Management activities such as law enforcement and community outreach are thought to affect conservation outcomes in protected areas, but their importance relative to intrinsic environmental characteristics of the parks and extrinsic human pressures surrounding the parks have not been explored. Furthermore, it is not clear which is more related to conservation outcomes-the management itself or local people's perceptions of the management. We measured objective (reports by park staff) and subjective (reports by local people) levels of community outreach and law enforcement based on responses to 374 questionnaires. We estimated mammal abundance and diversity of 6 protected areas based on data from 115 camera traps in Xishuangbanna, southwest China, a biodiversity hotspot with high hunting and land-conversion pressures. We then examined correlations among them and found that local people's perception of law enforcement was positively related to the local abundance of 2 large, hunted species, wild boar (Sus scrofa) (β = 15.22) and muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) (β = 14.82), but not related to the abundance of smaller mammals or to objective levels of enforcement. The subjective frequency of outreach by park staff to local communities (β = 3.42) and park size (β = 3.28) were significantly and positively related to mammal species richness, whereas elevation, human population density, and subjective frequency of law enforcement were not. We could not conclude that community outreach and law enforcement were directly causing increased mammal abundance and diversity. Nevertheless, the patterns we detected are some of the first empirical evidence consistent with the idea that biodiversity in protected areas may be more positively and strongly related to local perceptions of the intensity of park management than to either intrinsic (e.g., elevation, park size) or extrinsic (e.g., human population density) environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Chen
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Rui-Chang Quan
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Guanghong Cao
- Administration of Nabanhe River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Jinghong, Yunnan, China
| | - Hongpei Yang
- The Management Bureau of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, JingHong, Yunnan, China
| | - A Cole Burton
- Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Michael Meitner
- Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Jedediah F Brodie
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, U.S.A
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Dobson ADM, Milner‐Gulland EJ, Beale CM, Ibbett H, Keane A. Detecting deterrence from patrol data. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:665-675. [PMID: 30238502 PMCID: PMC7379181 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The threat posed to protected areas by the illegal killing of wildlife is countered principally by ranger patrols that aim to detect and deter potential offenders. Deterring poaching is a fundamental conservation objective, but its achievement is difficult to identify, especially when the prime source of information comes in the form of the patrols' own records, which inevitably contain biases. The most common metric of deterrence is a plot of illegal activities detected per unit of patrol effort (CPUE) against patrol effort (CPUE-E). We devised a simple, mechanistic model of law breaking and law enforcement in which we simulated deterrence alongside exogenous changes in the frequency of offences under different temporal patterns of enforcement effort. The CPUE-E plots were not reliable indicators of deterrence. However, plots of change in CPUE over change in effort (ΔCPUE-ΔE) reliably identified deterrence, regardless of the temporal distribution of effort or any exogenous change in illegal activity levels as long as the time lag between patrol effort and subsequent behavioral change among offenders was approximately known. The ΔCPUE-ΔE plots offered a robust, simple metric for monitoring patrol effectiveness; were no more conceptually complicated than the basic CPUE-E plots; and required no specialist knowledge or software to produce. Our findings demonstrate the need to account for temporal autocorrelation in patrol data and to consider appropriate (and poaching-activity-specific) intervals for aggregation. They also reveal important gaps in understanding of deterrence in this context, especially the mechanisms by which it occurs. In practical applications, we recommend the use of ΔCPUE-ΔE plots in preference to other basic metrics and advise that deterrence should be suspected only if there is a clear negative slope. Distinct types of illegal activity should not be grouped together for analysis, especially if the signs of their occurrence have different persistence times in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Harriet Ibbett
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX1 3PSU.K.
| | - Aidan Keane
- School of GeosciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghEH9 3FFU.K.
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Trisurat Y, Shirakawa H, Johnston JM. Land-Use/Land-Cover Change from Socio-Economic Drivers and Their Impact on Biodiversity in Nan Province, Thailand. SUSTAINABILITY 2019; 11:649. [PMID: 33354352 PMCID: PMC7751623 DOI: 10.3390/su11030649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The rate of deforestation declined steadily in Thailand since the year 2000 due to economic transformation away from forestry. However, these changes did not occur in Nan Province located in northern Thailand. Deforestation is expected to continue due to high demand for forest products and increased agribusiness. The objectives of this paper are (1) to predict land-use change in the province based on trends, market-based and conservation scenarios, (2) to quantify biodiversity, and (3) to identify biodiversity hotspots at greatest risk for future deforestation. This study used a dynamic land-use change model (Dyna-CLUE) to allocate aggregated land demand for three scenarios and employed FRAGSTATS to determine the spatial pattern of land-use change. In addition, the InVEST Global Biodiversity Assessment Model framework was used to estimate biodiversity expressed as the remaining mean species abundance (MSA) relative to their abundance in the pristine reference condition. Risk of deforestation and the MSA values were combined to determine biodiversity hotspots across the landscape at greatest risk. The results revealed that most of the forest cover in 2030 would remain in the west and east of the province, which are rugged and not easily accessible, as well as in protected areas. MSA values are predicted to decrease from 0.41 in 2009 to 0.29, 0.35, and 0.40, respectively, under the trends, market-based and conservation scenarios in 2030. In addition, the low, medium, and high biodiversity zones cover 46, 49 and 6% of Nan Province. Protected areas substantially contribute to maintaining forest cover and greater biodiversity. Important measures to protect remaining cover and maintain biodiversity include patrolling at-risk deforestation areas, reduction of road expansion in pristine forest areas, and promotion of incentive schemes for farmers to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyut Trisurat
- Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Correspondence ; Tel.: +66-2579-176
| | - Hiroaki Shirakawa
- Department of Urban Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - John M. Johnston
- USEPA/ORD/NERL Computational Exposure Division, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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Xiao W, Hebblewhite M, Robinson H, Feng L, Zhou B, Mou P, Wang T, Ge J. Relationships between humans and ungulate prey shape Amur tiger occurrence in a core protected area along the Sino-Russian border. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11677-11693. [PMID: 30598766 PMCID: PMC6303753 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Large carnivore populations are globally threatened by human impacts. Better protection could benefit carnivores, co-occurring species, and the ecosystems they inhabit. The relationship between carnivores and humans, however, is not always consistent in areas of high human activities and is often mediated through the effects of humans on their ungulate prey. To test assumptions regarding how prey abundance and humans affect carnivore occurrence, density, and daily activity patterns, we assessed tiger-prey-human spatiotemporal patterns based on camera-trapping data in Hunchun Nature Reserve, a promising core area for tiger restoration in China. Our study area contained seasonally varying levels of human disturbance in summer and winter. We used N-mixture models to predict the relative abundance of ungulate prey considering human and environmental covariates. We estimated tiger spatial distribution using occupancy models and models of prey relative abundance from N-mixture models. Finally, we estimated temporal activity patterns of tigers and prey using kernel density estimates to test for temporal avoidance between tigers, prey, and humans. Our results show that human-related activities depressed the relative abundance of prey at different scales and in different ways, but across species, the relative abundance of prey directly increased tiger occupancy. Tiger occupancy was strongly positively associated with the relative abundance of sika deer in summer and winter. The crepuscular and nocturnal tigers also apparently synchronized their activity with that of wild boar and roe deer. However, tigers temporally avoided human activity without direct spatial avoidance. Our study supports the effects of humans on tigers through human impacts on prey populations. Conservation efforts may not only target human disturbance on predators, but also on prey to alleviate human-carnivore conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
- Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
| | - Hugh Robinson
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
- PantheraNew YorkNew York
| | - Limin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Bo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Pu Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tianming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jianping Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
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Krauze K, Włodarczyk-Marciniak R. Defining the risk to water and natural capital in cities with risk component analysis tool (DAPSET): Case study Łódź. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 227:62-72. [PMID: 30172160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Management of water resources poses a particular challenge in cities, due to the extensive degradation of the urban ecosystem and its limited self-regulatory capacity as compared to natural systems. Effective management requires an in-depth understanding of the sources (drivers) giving rise to such risk. This paper reports on a participatory identification of such factors driving the risk to urban water resources in the city of Łódź, Poland, carried out with the aim of testing a simple risk analysis tool (DAPSET - Drivers and Pressures - Strength Evaluation Tool), intended to yield the kind of complex data able to help assist city managers in decision-making processes. In the first part of the study, a number of selected public officials, students, researchers and NGO representatives were asked to rank the key socioeconomic drivers of water resources in the city. The four drivers identified as key (a low degree of environmental awareness among citizens, low law-enforcement efficiency, the city's low economic potential and land use changes) were then scrutinized in the second part of the study, which included a self-administered questionnaire designed to create a risk profile of drivers based on the DAPSET. Each of the four key drivers were analyzed with reference to eleven features. DAPSET revealed that all the key drivers share certain common features: they affect a large spatial scale, the damage they cause is persistent, and they involve either medium-high damage potential or probability of damage. The major differences between them stem from the dynamic features of the risk: societal attraction, invisibility, and availability of information. Analysis of the risk profiles so created against risk types pointed to the desirable directions of management and a need to go beyond standard actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Krauze
- European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tylna 3, 90-364 Lodz, Poland.
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Harihar A, Chanchani P, Borah J, Crouthers RJ, Darman Y, Gray TNE, Mohamad S, Rawson BM, Rayan MD, Roberts JL, Steinmetz R, Sunarto S, Widodo FA, Anwar M, Bhatta SR, Chakravarthi JPP, Chang Y, Congdon G, Dave C, Dey S, Durairaj B, Fomenko P, Guleria H, Gupta M, Gurung G, Ittira B, Jena J, Kostyria A, Kumar K, Kumar V, Lhendup P, Liu P, Malla S, Maurya K, Moktan V, Van NDN, Parakkasi K, Phoonjampa R, Phumanee W, Singh AK, Stengel C, Subba SA, Thapa K, Thomas TC, Wong C, Baltzer M, Ghose D, Worah S, Vattakaven J. Recovery planning towards doubling wild tiger Panthera tigris numbers: Detailing 18 recovery sites from across the range. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207114. [PMID: 30408090 PMCID: PMC6224104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With less than 3200 wild tigers in 2010, the heads of 13 tiger-range countries committed to doubling the global population of wild tigers by 2022. This goal represents the highest level of ambition and commitment required to turn the tide for tigers in the wild. Yet, ensuring efficient and targeted implementation of conservation actions alongside systematic monitoring of progress towards this goal requires that we set site-specific recovery targets and timelines that are ecologically realistic. In this study, we assess the recovery potential of 18 sites identified under WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. We delineated recovery systems comprising a source, recovery site, and support region, which need to be managed synergistically to meet these targets. By using the best available data on tiger and prey numbers, and adapting existing species recovery frameworks, we show that these sites, which currently support 165 (118-277) tigers, have the potential to harbour 585 (454-739) individuals. This would constitute a 15% increase in the global population and represent over a three-fold increase within these specific sites, on an average. However, it may not be realistic to achieve this target by 2022, since tiger recovery in 15 of these 18 sites is contingent on the initial recovery of prey populations, which is a slow process. We conclude that while sustained conservation efforts can yield significant recoveries, it is critical that we commit our resources to achieving the biologically realistic targets for these sites even if the timelines are extended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jimmy Borah
- WWF-India, Assam, India
- WWF-Greater Mekong Program, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Yury Darman
- WWF-Russia, Amur branch, Vladivostok, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Mark Darmaraj Rayan
- WWF-Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Meraj Anwar
- WWF-India, Terai Arc Landscape Office, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | | | - Youde Chang
- WWF-China, Changchun, Jilin Province, P. R. China
| | | | - Chittaranjan Dave
- WWF-India, Satpura Maikal Landscape Office, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Soumen Dey
- WWF-India, Satpura Maikal Landscape Office, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Boominathan Durairaj
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Harish Guleria
- WWF-India, Terai Arc Landscape Office, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mudit Gupta
- WWF-India Terai Arc Landscape Office, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Bopanna Ittira
- WWF-India, Programme Office, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jyotirmay Jena
- WWF-India, Satpura Maikal Landscape Office, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | | | - Krishna Kumar
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Peiqi Liu
- WWF-China, Changchun, Jilin Province, P. R. China
| | | | - Kamlesh Maurya
- WWF-India Terai Arc Landscape Office, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Carrie Stengel
- WWF-Tigers Alive Initiative, Washington-D.C., United States of America
| | | | | | - Tiju C. Thomas
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
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26
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Wallen KE, Daut E. The challenge and opportunity of behaviour change methods and frameworks to reduce demand for illegal wildlife. NATURE CONSERVATION 2018. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.26.22725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity conservation is contingent upon managing human behaviour and, at times, changing behaviour. This is particularly relevant to the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, both flora and fauna. Driven by dynamics of consumer demand and illicit supply, mitigation of illegal trade requires a fuller appreciation of human behaviour and methods to change it. In various sectors, social influence, behavioural insights, social marketing and human-centred approaches trend towards mainstream practice and policy application. However, in the context of conservation and wildlife trafficking, these approaches and their usefulness are not well-articulated nor application widespread. Here, we provide a practical overview of relevant behaviour change methods and frameworks. We discuss their usefulness and potential application to mitigating the illegal wildlife trade, in general and consumer demand, in particular.
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O'Bryan CJ, Braczkowski AR, Beyer HL, Carter NH, Watson JEM, McDonald-Madden E. The contribution of predators and scavengers to human well-being. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:229-236. [PMID: 29348647 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0421-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Predators and scavengers are frequently persecuted for their negative effects on property, livestock and human life. Research has shown that these species play important regulatory roles in intact ecosystems including regulating herbivore and mesopredator populations that in turn affect floral, soil and hydrological systems. Yet predators and scavengers receive surprisingly little recognition for their benefits to humans in the landscapes they share. We review these benefits, highlighting the most recent studies that have documented their positive effects across a range of environments. Indeed, the benefits of predators and scavengers can be far reaching, affecting human health and well-being through disease mitigation, agricultural production and waste-disposal services. As many predators and scavengers are in a state of rapid decline, we argue that researchers must work in concert with the media, managers and policymakers to highlight benefits of these species and the need to ensure their long-term conservation. Furthermore, instead of assessing the costs of predators and scavengers only in economic terms, it is critical to recognize their beneficial contributions to human health and well-being. Given the ever-expanding human footprint, it is essential that we construct conservation solutions that allow a wide variety of species to persist in shared landscapes. Identifying, evaluating and communicating the benefits provided by species that are often considered problem animals is an important step for establishing tolerance in these shared spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J O'Bryan
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
| | - Alexander R Braczkowski
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Hawthorne L Beyer
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Neil H Carter
- Human-Environment Systems Center, College of Innovation and Design, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA
| | - James E M Watson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.,Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10460, USA
| | - Eve McDonald-Madden
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Moore JF, Mulindahabi F, Masozera MK, Nichols JD, Hines JE, Turikunkiko E, Oli MK. Are ranger patrols effective in reducing poaching-related threats within protected areas? J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer F. Moore
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation; University of Florida; Gainesville FL USA
| | | | | | - James D. Nichols
- United States Geological Survey; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; Laurel MD USA
| | - James E. Hines
- United States Geological Survey; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; Laurel MD USA
| | | | - Madan K. Oli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation; University of Florida; Gainesville FL USA
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29
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Reibelt LM, Woolaver L, Moser G, Randriamalala IH, Raveloarimalala LM, Ralainasolo FB, Ratsimbazafy J, Waeber PO. Contact Matters: Local People’s Perceptions of Hapalemur alaotrensis and Implications for Conservation. INT J PRIMATOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-9969-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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30
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The decline of ungulate populations in Iranian protected areas calls for urgent action against poaching. ORYX 2017. [DOI: 10.1017/s003060531600154x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractPoaching is cryptically but rapidly driving many species towards extinction. Knowledge of population trends of exploited species and incentives for poaching is necessary to inform appropriate conservation measures. We estimated the abundance of four ungulate species in Golestan National Park, Iran, the country's oldest protected area, where poaching of ungulates is widespread. We used line transect surveys (186 km), camera trapping (2,777 camera-nights), point counts (64 scans) and dung counts (along 38 km), and compared population estimates with those from earlier records. We also investigated the incentives for poaching, using a semi-structured interview survey. Population estimates for 2011–2014 indicated a 66–89% decline in three ungulate species (bezoar goatCapra aegagrus, red deerCervus elaphusand urialOvis vignei) compared to 1970–1978. Only wild boarSus scrofashowed a population increase (of 58%) during the same period, possibly facilitated by religious restrictions regarding the consumption of this species. The incentives for poaching were categorized (in a non-ordinal manner) as subsistence, pleasure, tradition, trade of wild meat, and conflict with conservation regulations and bodies. The decline in hunted ungulates in this Park appears to be the result of rampant poaching, and a similar trend is evident in other protected areas in the country. We suggest the adoption of participatory conservation strategies, improvement of law enforcement practices and cooperation with international experts to reduce poaching in these protected areas. Taking into account the incentives for poaching, a combination of economic and non-economic strategies should be considered.
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Carter NH, López-Bao JV, Bruskotter JT, Gore M, Chapron G, Johnson A, Epstein Y, Shrestha M, Frank J, Ohrens O, Treves A. A conceptual framework for understanding illegal killing of large carnivores. AMBIO 2017; 46:251-264. [PMID: 27854069 PMCID: PMC5347529 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-016-0852-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The growing complexity and global nature of wildlife poaching threaten the survival of many species worldwide and are outpacing conservation efforts. Here, we reviewed proximal and distal factors, both social and ecological, driving illegal killing or poaching of large carnivores at sites where it can potentially occur. Through this review, we developed a conceptual social-ecological system framework that ties together many of the factors influencing large carnivore poaching. Unlike most conservation action models, an important attribute of our framework is the integration of multiple factors related to both human motivations and animal vulnerability into feedbacks. We apply our framework to two case studies, tigers in Laos and wolverines in northern Sweden, to demonstrate its utility in disentangling some of the complex features of carnivore poaching that may have hindered effective responses to the current poaching crisis. Our framework offers a common platform to help guide future research on wildlife poaching feedbacks, which has hitherto been lacking, in order to effectively inform policy making and enforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil H Carter
- Human-Environment Systems Research Center, Boise State University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
| | - José Vicente López-Bao
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO/CSIC/PA), Oviedo University, Gonzalo Gutiérrez Quirós s/n, 33600, Mieres, Spain
| | - Jeremy T Bruskotter
- School of Environment & Natural Resources, Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Meredith Gore
- Office of the Geographer and Global Issues, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, 20025, USA
| | - Guillaume Chapron
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 730 91, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Arlyne Johnson
- Foundations of Success, 4109 Maryland Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 20816, USA
| | - Yaffa Epstein
- Department of Law, Uppsala University, Box 512, 751 20, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mahendra Shrestha
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, MRC 5503, 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Jens Frank
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 730 91, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Omar Ohrens
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 30A Science, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Adrian Treves
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 30A Science, Madison, WI, USA
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Barnes MD, Craigie ID, Dudley N, Hockings M. Understanding local-scale drivers of biodiversity outcomes in terrestrial protected areas. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2016; 1399:42-60. [DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Megan D. Barnes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Australia
- School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Australia
| | - Ian D. Craigie
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Australia
| | - Nigel Dudley
- School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Australia
- Equilibrium Research; Bristol United Kingdom
| | - Marc Hockings
- School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Australia
- UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge United Kingdom
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A mix of community-based conservation and protected forests is needed for the survival of the Endangered pygmy hippopotamus Choeropsis liberiensis. ORYX 2016. [DOI: 10.1017/s003060531600020x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe contribution of protected areas to biodiversity conservation is well attested but many taxa in many regions remain dependent on the unprotected wider landscape. To develop conservation plans for large mammals such as the Endangered pygmy hippopotamus Choeropsis liberiensis of West Africa's Upper Guinea Forests it is critical to understand the importance of unprotected land. Despite being a conservation priority, little is known about the habitat associations of this species, or its distribution across its range. Through a combination of field surveys, species distribution models and community questionnaires we investigated the use of unprotected areas by the pygmy hippopotamus in the Sierra Leone–Liberia border region. We found signs of the species in 128 of 525 1-km2 cells surveyed. Our analysis suggested that the species is reasonably widespread in this region and is associated with major rivers. It occurred close to, but rarely within, large areas of intact forest, and 80.4% of pygmy hippopotamus signs were recorded outside protected areas. The expansion of the protected area network in this area is unrealistic in Sierra Leone and to some extent in Liberia, mainly because of anthropogenic pressure and the overlap of proposed protected areas with mining and logging concessions. Thus pygmy hippopotamus conservation activities in the region need to include programmes on community lands while maintaining a robust network of protected forests. Community-based conservation of the pygmy hippopotamus may prove valuable for other threatened and endemic species that are not confined to protected areas in this region.
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Dhanjal-Adams KL, Mustin K, Possingham HP, Fuller RA. Optimizing disturbance management for wildlife protection: the enforcement allocation problem. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kiran L. Dhanjal-Adams
- School of Biological Sciences; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
| | - Karen Mustin
- School of Biological Sciences; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
| | - Hugh P. Possingham
- School of Biological Sciences; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
- Division of Ecology and Evolution; Imperial College London; Silwood Park Campus Berkshire UK
| | - Richard A. Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
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Chen G, Luo S, Mei N, Shen D, Sun W. Case study of building of conservation coalitions to conserve ecological interactions. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:1527-1536. [PMID: 26372410 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We engaged experts in various fields of study (pollination ecology, chemical ecology, and ethnobotany), invited community participation, and provided environmental education in an effort to conserve an endangered birthwort (Aristolochia delavayi) and a vulnerable pipevine swallowtail (Byasa daemonius). Scientists studied the uptake and sequestration of the secondary metabolites aristolochic acids from A. delavayi leaves by different stages of pipevine swallowtail as a defense mechanism; low fruit set of the myophilous A. delavayi due to pollinator limitation; and the emission of chemical signals that attract parasitic wasps by the prepupae of B. daemonius. The results of these studies were part of an education program delivered by personnel of non-governmental organizations. The program was devised to deliver information to the public about the health risks of consuming A. delavayi individuals (aristolochic-acid-associated cancers) and to establish a bridge between the public and scientific research. Following delivery of the program, the behavior of residents changed considerably. Community residents were involved in management activities, including participation in a program to promote understanding of ecological interactions between A. delavayi and B. daemonius; designing an in situ conservation site; monitoring A. delavayi and B. daemonius individuals; and promoting the natural fruit set of A. delavayi by scattering animal excrement to attract fly pollinators. The integration of scientific information and community participation appears to have resulted in an increase in abundance of threatened A. delavayi and B. daemonius populations. We believe the involvement of local people in conservation is necessary for successful species conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gao Chen
- Kunming Botanical Garden, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Shihong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China
| | - Nianshu Mei
- Kunming Association of Environmental Protection and Public Education, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Dingfang Shen
- Partnerships for Community Development, Chi Wo Commercial Building, 20 Saigon Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Weibang Sun
- Kunming Botanical Garden, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
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Investigating determinants of compliance with wildlife protection laws: bird persecution in Portugal. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-015-0977-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Velho N, Srinivasan U, Singh P, Laurance WF. Large mammal use of protected and community-managed lands in a biodiversity hotspot. Anim Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Velho
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences; James Cook University; Cairns Qld Australia
| | - U. Srinivasan
- Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs; Princeton University; Princeton NJ USA
- Tata Insitute of Fundamental Research; National Centre for Biological Sciences; Bangalore India
| | - P. Singh
- Researchers for Wildlife Conservation, National Centre for Biological Sciences; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; Bangalore India
| | - W. F. Laurance
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences; James Cook University; Cairns Qld Australia
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