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Society for Conservation Biology 16th
Annual Meeting July 14-July 19 2002
co-hosted by DICE and the British Ecological Society
Abstracts for Sustainable Resource Use
Session Two
Tuesday 16th July, 15.30 - 17.30, Grimond
Lecture Theatre 1
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timetable
(BLOCK CAPITALS indicate the presenting author)
15.30 - 15.45
Mendelson, Samantha and GUY COWLISHAW. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society
of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK, <guy.cowlishaw@ioz.ac.uk>.
MARKET STRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF A BUSHMEAT COMMODITY CHAIN
This project aims to describe the social and economic patterns that characterise
a bushmeat commodity chain from harvesting to market sales. The study focuses primarily
on market traders, but also encompasses detailed analyses on farmer hunters, commercial
hunters, wholesalers and chopbars, and the different relationships between these
actors. Data describing over 2000 bushmeat transactions are used to explore patterns
of trade for 16 species in the commodity chain that supplies Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana’s
third largest city. Trade volume and sustainability across species, and market access
and profit across actors, are examined along the commodity chain. The results suggest
that the bushmeat trade can be sustainable under certain conditions, and that the
introduction of regulatory measures should be carefully targeted according to the
actors involved.
15.45 - 16.00
ROWCLIFFE, MARCUS, Guy Cowlishaw and Janice Long. Institute of Zoology, Zoological
Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK, <marcus.rowcliffe@ioz.ac.uk>.
A MODEL OF BUSHMEAT HARVESTING IN A MULTISPECIES PREY COMMUNITY
Although an increasing body of knowledge is being amassed on diverse patterns of
bushmeat extraction and sales in markets across the tropics, our understanding of
what underpins the dynamic variability between these markets is still surprisingly
poor. In an effort to address this problem, we have developed a general model of
a bushmeat harvesting system that combines field data with a mathematical model to
simulate bushmeat hunting patterns. The model is built on simple, proven principles
that describe the behaviour of hunters and the population dynamics of their prey
in a multispecies community. This paper will describe the structure of the model,
results of sensitivity analyses, and the successful validation of the model with
two well-described field systems (Semaq Beri blowpipe hunters, Malaysia; and Piro
shotgun hunters, Peru). Since the model accurately predicts how different cost-benefit
conditions for hunters can determine their hunting behaviour, and therefore the dynamics
of prey populations, it can be used to explore the effects of future policy and management
on long-term patterns of hunter profit, species offtake and sustainability.
16.00 - 16.15
DUTT, BAHAR DICE. Department of Anthropology, Eliot College, University of Kent,
Canterbury, Kent, UK.
MAINTAINING BIODIVERSITY AT THE COST OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY: A CASE STUDY OF SNAKE
CHARMERS IN INDIA
The kalbeliyas of India use endangered snakes to entertain street audiences
and earn a living. With increasing enforcement of wildlife legislations by government
agencies in India the occupation of this peripatetic community is under threat. This
paper documents the changes in the way of life of the kalbeliyas in a semi-urban
settlement near the city of Delhi. Methods of data collection were primarily qualitative
and are based on the association of the author with the community for the last two
years. It was observed that the second and third generation in the community no longer
take pride in their profession and are in fact ashamed to admit they are snake charmers.
Consequently knowledge about trapping of snakes, identification of different species
and general handling skills were observed to be less in the younger generation. As
these snake charmers turn to modern means of livelihood the culture associated with
their profession is becoming lost. The author suggests that there is a need to study
whether there is any link between use of snakes by such communities and declining
population of snake species. In the absence of any such research the ban on snake
charming seems unjustified.
16.15 - 16.30
MANEECHOTE CHANYA, Sansanee Jamjod and Benjavan Rerkasem. Botany and Weed Science
Division, Department of Agriculture, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand, <mchanya@asiaaccess.net.th>
(CM), Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang
Mai 50200, Thailand (SJ), Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai
University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand (BR).
WILD RICE IN THAILAND:LIVING WITH GENETIC DIVERSITY
Invasion of wild rice, Oryza rufipogon Griff., which has become a serious
weed in fields of cultivated rice, O. sativa L., is reported. In deep-water
rice fields on an acid sulphate soil in central Thailand, infestation of wild rice
was sometimes so severe that the crop was abandoned. Hybridisation with cultivated
rice was indicated by domesticated traits found in the wild rice. Grain quality in
some wild rice populations was considered acceptable for consumption by farmers,
but panicles still shatter badly and could not be harvested. In western Thailand,
the yield of wet-seeded rice was either depressed or unaffected by wild rice invasion,
depending on the method of weed control. Rice herbicides at recommended rates were
ineffective against the wild rice, and farmers using only chemical weed control suffered
some 50-80% yield losses. Exceptionally high yields were, however, reported by farmers
who control the wild rice by removing panicles before grain set. Interspecific hybridisation
was indicated by many wild traits in the cultivated rice. Wild rice is a major source
of genetic diversity in the Oryza genepool, but biodiversity conservation
has to be considered in the context of agronomic and ecological risks.
16.30 - 16.45
SENANAN, WANSUK and Anne R. Kapuscinski. Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and
Conservation Biology, 200 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA,
<ws@fw.umn.edu>.
CONSERVING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN AGROECOSYSTEMS AND SUSTAINING LIVELIHOODS: HYBRID
CATFISH IN THAILAND
Using the case of hybrid catfish farming in the Central Plain of Thailand, we combined
genetic and sociological studies to explore the connections between native catfish
populations, Clarias macrocephalus, and fish farmers, who raise hybrid catfish
and rely heavily on the genetic quality of native Clarias as female broodstock.
Based on six genetic markers, we detected low levels of introgressive hybridisation
(1-4%) between escaped hybrids and five broodstock and wild Clarias populations.
Wild Clarias had relatively high genetic variation within (H=0.50-0.87) and
amongst populations (exact test, p < 0.001), indicating considerable genetic structure
that could be altered by human influences. We also used observations and interviews
to document farmers' aquaculture practices, their knowledge about characteristics
of Clarias populations and the network of social actors involved in genetic
resource use in the Central Plain. Fish farmers expressed their concerns over the
declining abundance of wild Clarias and eroding genetic quality of Clarias
broodstocks. The farmers were interested in working with researchers to maintaining
high genetic quality for Clarias broodstocks. These results indicate opportunities
to collaborate with fish farmers and other resource users to conserve existing genetic
variation to maintain the integrity of the agroecosystem and long-term existence
of livelihoods.
16.45 - 17.00
CARPENTER, ANGUS I., Marcus Rowcliffe, Rob Tinch and Andrew Watkinson. Centre
for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Environmental Sciences, University
of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK, <a.carpenter@uea.ac.uk> (AIC),
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY,
UK (MR), Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Environmental
Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK (RT, AW).
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT OF CHAMELEONS IN MADAGASCAR: TRADE AND EXPLOITATION
Madagascar is the centre of endemism for chameleons that are exported for the global
pet market, historically to levels that CITES considered unsustainable. In 1994,
CITES imposed an import ban on member states for all true chameleons from Madagascar,
except four species. Focussing on one of these as our model species, we describe
the population dynamics, exploitation, economics and trade structure. Line transects
were employed to gain biological data and social interviews to obtain data on the
price and trade structure within Madagascar. This trade structure was originally
established by the exporters to fulfil CITES requirements before a relaxation of
the ban could be considered. The trade network and price structure shows a predictable
exponential increase in prices within Madagascar, but much less so on the international
markets. The trade currently provides no incentive to local people, due to the scale
of income involved, discounting and property rights of the resource, and therefore
currently lacks any conservation benefits.
17.00 - 17.15
BRADY, LEE D. and Richard A. Griffiths. Durrell Institute of Conservation and
Ecology, University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NS, UK, <L.D.Brady@ukc.ac.uk>.
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE TRADE IN CHAMELEONS FROM MADAGASCAR
The chameleons of Madagascar are of considerable conservation interest as a result
of their high degree of endemism, interest to tourists and the demand by overseas
pet markets. Although habitat disturbance and fragmentation remain a significant
threat to chameleon populations, trade-related issues need to be addressed alongside
habitat-related issues. Analysis of data from the WCMC CITES database showed that
trade escalated in the early 1990s, and after a peak in 1993-4 declined following
a moratorium on the export of certain species in the mid-1990s. Considerable price
differentials exist between collector, intermediaries, exporters and retailers. Post-capture
mortality rates can be as high as 50% and some intermediaries have shipped compensatory
quantities 10-25% above those ordered. As the population ecology and assemblage structure
of chameleons is poorly understood, it is not yet possible to derive quotas based
on sustainable use for the vast majority of species. An Adaptive Management Plan
has therefore been proposed to regulate collection and trade in certain permissible
species. As fieldwork has indicated that chameleon populations display considerable
variation in population densities - even within contiguous blocks of forest - collection
quotas should be site-specific as well as species-specific, to minimize the impact
on local populations.
17.15 - 17.30
ROSSER, ALISON. IUCN/SSC Wildlife Trade Programme, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge,
CB3 0DL, UK, <alison.rosser@ssc-uk.org>.
COMMERCIAL CAPTIVE PRODUCTION OF WILD SPECIES – CONSERVATION PANACEA OR THREAT?
The burgeoning world population is placing increasing demands on wild species to
supply livelihoods, as well as medicinal and food security. Cultivation of wild species
is promoted as one means to ensure that human demands are met whilst ensuring the
conservation of species. Wild medicinal plants, wild fish species and other terrestrial
fauna are increasingly being brought into managed production. The policies of WHO
and FAO support increasing domestication of wild species to meet human needs, but
the conservation implications of such policy strategies are unclear. On the one hand,
the pressure on truly "wild" specimens is thought to be reduced, but is
it? On the other hand, incentives for conserving wild stocks maybe reduced and genetic
diversity lost through the inexorable process of domestication. In addition, considerable
environmental degradation may be caused by "farming" establishments. By
reviewing several cases, this paper aims to raise a number of questions to stimulate
pragmatic research that will deconstruct the rhetoric. Bringing the tools of science
to bear could help to bridge the gap between practising conservationists and conservation
biologists, and so enhance species conservation in face of growing human need for
vital commodities.
The SCB2002 pages are maintained by Christine Eagle
email: C.M.Eagle@ukc.ac.uk
Conference email: scb2002@ukc.ac.uk
Last updated: 30.06.02