Avitourism and Australian Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (original) (raw)
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JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Avitourism contributes to environmental conservation, developing education and awareness towards the environment, and promoting the involvement of local people in the ecotourism industry. However, avitourism study in Malaysia is still scarce, especially on the island. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the potential of avitourism in Pulau Tinggi, Mersing, Johor. We conducted a census on avian species using mist-netting and direct observation in Pulau Tinggi from March until August 2019. Birding hotspots and important bird species were determined according to the criteria of a good nature tourism product. Questionnaires were distributed to the resort staff, local people and tourists to see the potential of avitourism in Pulau Tinggi. A total of 39 bird species and six birding hotspots were identified. Besides that, bird species that complied with the criteria of good nature tourism products such as endemism, rarity, reliability of sighting, morphological attractiveness, linkag...
Iconic, flagship and rare threatened bird taxa attract disproportionate amounts of public attention, and are often used to enable broader conservation strategies. Yet, little is known about why certain taxa achieve iconic or flagship status. Also unclear is whether the perception of rarity among those acting to conserve threatened birds is sufficient to influence attitudes and behaviour that lead to effective conservation action and, if so, which characteristics of rare birds are important to their conservation. We interviewed 74 threatened bird conservation stakeholders to explore perceptions about iconic, flagship and rare threatened birds and classified their attitudes using a new typology of avifaunal attitudes. There was a relationship between societal interest and conservation effort for threatened species characterised as iconic, flagship and rare. Iconic species tended to arouse interest or emotion in people due to being appealing and readily encountered, thereby attracting conservation interest that can benefit other biodiversity. Flagships tended Communicated by Danna J Leaman. This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Biodiversity appreciation and engagement.
Jonathan Eveso MSc Dissertation, 2016
Tourism is described as the largest and fastest-growing economic sector in the world. However, as tourism continues to grow, the pressures on the environment and birdlife simultaneously increase. When tourism is developed, and stakeholder participation, as well as subsequent impacts on them, is not taken into consideration, such tourism venture becomes unsustainable. The study examined the avitourism development sustainability indices in Dagona Waterfowl Sanctuary (DWS), a sector of Chad Basin National Park that overlaps with the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands, viz-a-viz resources, and infrastructure status, stakeholder’s awareness and involvement as well as the impacts on birdlife and on stakeholders. Primary data was sourced from respondents through the aid of structured questionnaires (open and close-ended questions) while secondary data was sourced from DWS administrative records. Three (3) communities each were purposively sampled from Bade Local Government Area (LGA) (Dagona, Tagali, and Sugum) and Jakusko L.G.A. (Amshi, Dumbari and Gwayo) based on their proximity to DWS. The questionnaires were administered to three (3) categories of respondents; host communities residents (100), avitourists (30), and DWS staff (20) using Bowley’s formula of sample size determination. A total of 150 questionnaires were administered. Data collected was edited, coded, and analyzed using descriptive (frequency and percentage tables; bar charts and pie-charts) and inferential (Chi-Square analysis) statistics. Results showed that the majority of avitourist respondents reported availability of accessible roads (53.3%); accommodation (100%); free provision of birding equipment (60%). Majority of host community respondents (65%) reported that they were not involved in management and decision-making in DWS. Inadequate funding (90%), insecurity and poaching (85%) were the biggest challenges faced. Chi-Square (χ2) analysis at (P<0.005) showed that there was a significant association between the villages sampled and the following parameters: avitourists respect for local culture and tradition (χ 2 =46.160, P=0.000); avitourist demand for special skill and product (χ 2 =56.225, P=0.000). In measuring impacts, results showed a significant association between the villages sampled and their perception that the presence of DWS improved their community image (χ2=56.871, P=0.000) as well as between the villages and employed indigenes (χ2=77.909, P=0.000). This means a fair amount of indigenes were presently employed by the sanctuary which gives them a reason to protect the resources in the sanctuary. Furthermore, community development projects benefitted by communities (χ2 =46.261, P=0.000) positively showed that all the villages sampled believed they have benefitted in one way or the other from avitourism activities in the sanctuary. Basic birding products (birds), resources and infrastructure were fairly adequate in DWS. DWS staff and locals were knowledgeable about the birding product but the latter were not trained. Host communities’ were highly aware of avitourism and conservation of birds in DWS but their level of involvement was low. Birding hides, towers, and well-defined Birding routes should be developed to complement the present infrastructure. To make avitourism sustainable in DWS, park management should involve host communities in decision making and they should benefit from more developmental projects. This will give them a sense of ownership.
BIRDS IN AN AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST: THEIR ATTRACTION FOR VISITORS AND VISITORS’ ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
Lamington National Park in Queensland, Australia is noted for its rainforest and is part of the World Heritage listed property but prior to this work, no systematic study has been done of the importance of birds to its visitors. This study is based on data from survey forms handed to visitors at an important site in the park and completed by visitors following their visit. It yielded 622 useable responses. These enabled us to establish the comparative importance of birds as an attraction to this site for this sample of visitors. Furthermore, logit regression is used to target analysis and to identify factors that increase the likelihood of a visitor saying that birds are an important attraction. In addition, the relative importance to visitors of various attributes of birds at this site is established. These attributes include hearing birds, diversity of birds, seeing lots of birds, presence of rare birds, presence of brightly coloured birds and physical contact with birds. Logit regression analysis is used to isolate independent variables that increase or decrease the likelihood that visitors find diversity of birds, brightly coloured birds or physical contact with birds at this site to be important. For example, factors such as the level of education of visitors, their gender, knowledge of birds and conservation attitudes and statistically significant influences. As a result of the analysis potential conflicts between different types of park visitors in relation to human interaction with birds are identified. Some potential ecological implications of human interactions with birds are modelled and discussed, and their economic conservation and biodiversity consequences are considered.
Do conservation designations provide positive benefits for bird species and communities?
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There have been recent renewed commitments to increase the extent of protected areas to combat the growing biodiversity crisis, but yet the underpinning evidence for their effectiveness is mixed with causal connections rarely evaluated. We use data gathered by four large-scale citizen science programmes in the UK to provide the most comprehensive assessment to date of whether national (SSSI) and European (SPA/SAC) designated areas are associated with improved state (occurrence, abundance), change (rates of colonisation, persistence, and trend in abundance), community structure and, uniquely, demography (productivity) on a national avifauna, while controlling for differences in landcover, elevation and climate. Positive associations of with state suggest these areas are well-targeted, while positive associations with change tended to be restricted to rare and declining species and habitat specialists suggesting their benefit is greatest for the most conservation-dependent species. As...