Bush tucker, bush pets, and bush threats: cooperative management of feral animals in Australia's Kakadu National Park (original) (raw)
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Boundary Work: Engaging Knowledge Systems in Co-management of Feral Animals on Indigenous Lands
Ecology and Society, 2012
The integration and use of Indigenous knowledge to inform contemporary environmental policy decisions and management solutions is a growing global phenomenon. However, there is little critical inquiry about how the interactions between scientific and Indigenous knowledge (IK) systems can be effectively negotiated for the joint management of socialecological systems. Such issues are urgent on Indigenous lands where co-management efforts respond to pressing conservation agendas and where the contribution of scientific knowledge and IK is required to better understand and manage complex socialecological systems. We draw on the notion of boundary work to examine how interaction at the boundaries of scientific and IK systems can be managed effectively as a contribution to co-management. The case study of feral animal co-management in Australia's Kakadu National Park illuminates the work required for local co-managers to bridge the divide between scientific and IK systems and to ensure the translation of knowledge for management decisions. Attributes of effective boundary work demonstrated in this case include: meaningful participation in agenda setting and joint knowledge production to enable comanagers to translate available knowledge into joint feral animal programs, Indigenous and non-Indigenous ranger efforts to broker interactions between knowledge systems that are supported by co-governance arrangements to ensure that boundary work remains accountable, and the production of collaboratively built boundary objects (e.g., feral animal impact assessment data) that helps to coordinate local action between co-managers. This case study illustrates the contribution of boundary work to local co-manager efforts to translate across knowledge systems and across the knowledge-action divide, even when consensus is difficult to achieve.
In the 107,000-km2 Pitjantjatjara Lands of central Australia, Anangu, the Aboriginal people, are working with scientists and wildlife managers to restore traditional land management practices (such as patch burning and waterhole cleaning), to implement some others (such as controlling feral animals, and identifying refuge-areas) and to exchange information. The program known as "Kuka Kanyini" ("looking after game animals") is increasing native species that are preferred as bushtucker and are critical to rural subsistence livelihoods (such as the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae). It is also engaging Anangu in reintroduction programs for less common and locally extinct native species. It is motivating Anangu, maintaining culture and creating employment. It is a good example of scientists and Aboriginal people working together and highlights a new focus for programs to address community health and the educational challenges facing...
Towards sustainable coexistence: People and wild mammals in Baluran National Park, Indonesia
The paper offers a critical discussion of resource use in a national park, Baluran, in Indonesia. In general, an increasing accept of the need for livelihood security, also for people living in or near natural conservation areas, are challenging traditional systems of national park governance. Finding ways to balance the needs of local populations against the necessity to secure biodiversity and environmental sustainability becomes important, and the main question in our research is how to accommodate an existing society in Baluran without a further negative impact on endangered mammals. Based on common pool resource management and co-management theories and thorough empirical investigations among the population living in Baluran, we conclude that alternative solutions exist for combining the interests of livelihood and conservation, but that resolute restrictions must be set by central government authorities, and that local institutions and livelihood practices must be developed based on experiences gained in the region through the last decades. Our findings may have relevance for solving similar problems of coexistence in other conservation areas.
Support for Indigenous wildlife management in Australia to enable sustainable use
Wildlife Research, 2010
Wildlife managers could play a greater role in ensuring that Indigenous wildlife harvesting is sustainable and helping to address community health and employment challenges facing Indigenous Australians in remote and rural areas. Wildlife managers need to listen more to what Indigenous people say they want from their country and for their people, such as increased game to supplement their diet and security for totemic species, to maintain culture. In pre-colonial Australia, adherence to customary law maintained wildlife species Indigenous Australians wanted. Today the long-term sustainability of Indigenous wildlife harvesting is threatened. Where Indigenous communities lack leadership and other social problems exist, their capacity to apply customary land-and sea-management practices and to operate cultural constraints on wildlife use is reduced. The Indigenous right to hunt should coexist with responsible management.
Different cultures have different relationships with nature, and these relationships have many dimensions which shape people's perceptions towards nature. Therefore, perceptions may vary between different cultures within the same territories. Understanding each culture´s relationship with the surrounding environment is of extreme importance for the correct allocation of conservation resources, and for the development of efficient conservation actions. In this study, we discuss the perceptions of two different cultures regarding large and medium-sized mammal conservation in an endangered region of Argentina, called the Dry Chaco. These two cultures are peasants, or Criollos, and the indigenous Wichís; we assessed and compared their perceptions on local extinctions, conservation problems, conflicts with wildlife and possible solutions for these issues. We found that although both cultures inhabit the same territory and report local extinctions, their perceptions on which species w...
Understanding rancher coexistence with jaguars and pumas: a typology for conservation practice
Ranchers living near large carnivores can adopt diverse practices to prevent livestock damage. Effective management interventions to help reduce damage must address the varied needs of ranchers by segmenting audiences for more targeted programs. We developed a typology that conceptualized six types of ranchers based on the theory of planned behavior. We posited that rancher types were driven by: attitudes; social norms; perceived control; emotional disposition; risk perception; and contextual factors. To test the typology throughout Costa Rica, we conducted a structured survey of a random sample of 93 ranchers affected by jaguar and puma predation and paired them with a sample of 69 unaffected neighbors. Cluster analyses of survey results provided empirical support for a typology of four types of ranchers, two of which were predicted by the theory of planned behavior: preventive ranchers who take control to prevent felid damage; and helpless ranchers who lack control. We also identified a risk-neutral type who takes no action as they do not perceive the cats as a threat; and a cat-troubled type influenced mainly by negative emotions toward big cats. This last type supports the need to include emotional factors in theoretical frameworks when dealing with human-wildlife conflict. The typology is useful for designing improved policy and management interventions to reduce wildlife conflicts.
Participatory development of incentives to coexist with jaguars and pumas
Reducing costs and increasing benefits for rural communities coexisting with large carnivores is necessary for conservation of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor). To design acceptable incentives, stakeholders must be involved in the process. We conducted an innovative, structured, group communication process based on a Delphi technique as a template for identifying potential incentives. Community workshops with 133 members of 7 communities and surveys with 25 multidisciplinary experts from government, nongovernmental organizations, and academia provided iterative data to design a plan of incentives through 4 rounds of discussion. The final product integrated 862 ideas into 6 types of incentives: organization of communities, mechanisms for improved dialogue, citizen technical assistance, green labeling for community products, payment for the ecosystem service of biodiversity, and an assessment of financial alternatives. We used quantitative and qualitative techniques to indicate support for decisions about the design of incentives, which reduced researcher subjectivity. The diverse incentives developed and the cooperation from multiple stakeholders resulted in an incentive plan that integrated issues of governance, equity, and social norms. Resumen: La reducción de los costos y el incremento de los beneficios para las comunidades rurales que coexisten con carnívoros grandes son necesarias para la conservación del jaguar (Panthera onca) y el puma (Puma concolor). Para diseñar incentivos aceptables, Los actores relevantes deben estar involucrados en el proceso. Realizamos un proceso de comunicación grupal estructurado e innovador basado en la técnica Delphi como patrón para identificar incentivos potenciales. Los talleres comunitarios con 133 miembros de siete comunidades y los cuestionarios con 25 expertos multidisciplinarios de organizaciones gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, y académicos proporcionaron datos iterativos para diseñar un plan de incentivos a lo largo de cuatro rondas de discusión. El producto final integró 862 ideas dentro de seis tipos de incentivos: orga-nización de las comunidades, mecanismos para un mejor diálogo, asistencia técnica ciudadana, etiquetado verde para productos comunitarios, pago por los servicios ambientales de la biodiversidad, y una evaluación de alternativas financieras. Utilizamos técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas para indicar el apoyo para las decisiones sobre el diseño de los incentivos, lo que redujo la subjetividad de los investigadores. Los diversos incentivos desarrollados y la cooperación de los múltiples involucrados resultó en un plan de incentivos que integró los temas de gobernanza, equidad y normas sociales. Palabras Clave: conflicto humano – fauna, gobernanza, infraestructura lógica, proceso de múltiples actores, técnica de Delphi, toma de decisiones participativa * email jaguar.rar@gmail.com Article impact statement: A structured communication process involving experts and communities enables development of a conservation-incentive program for big cats.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, PERCEPTIONS OF DIFFERENT CO-EXISTING CULTURES
Different cultures have different relationships with nature, and these relationships have many dimensions which shape people's perceptions towards nature. Therefore, perceptions may vary between different cultures within the same territories. Understanding each culture´s relationship with the surrounding environment is of extreme importance for the correct allocation of conservation resources, and for the development of efficient conservation actions. In this study, we discuss the perceptions of two different cultures regarding large and mediumsized mammal conservation in an endangered region of Argentina, called the Dry Chaco. These two cultures are peasants, or Criollos, and the indigenous Wichís; we assessed and compared their perceptions on local extinctions, conservation problems, conflicts with wildlife and possible solutions for these issues. We found that although both cultures inhabit the same territory and report local extinctions, their perceptions on which species were locally extinct differed. Another difference was the perceived time-period in which disappearances occurred. We also found that most respondents recognize conservation problems and possible solutions, although these differ between both cultures. Management for conservation of these species should be specific to each culture, and understanding local perspectives allows the inclusion of a broader view of human needs, perceptions and knowledge in conservation programs. M. CAMINO et al. INT J CONSERV SCI 7, 1, JAN-MAR 2016: 109-122 110