11 research outputs found
Wildlife hunting in complex human-environmental systems: How understanding natural resource use and human welfare can improve conservation in the Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar
Conservation officials work to manage complex and interacting human-environmental systems, where balancing needs between the two systems can become a source of tension. This study presents information on the use of natural resources by, and the health and welfare of, rural communities within and near Ankarafantsika National Park (ANP) in northwestern Madagascar. We focus on behaviors that are difficult for natural resource managers to measure themselves, including the hunting of threatened and protected wildlife and on sensitive information about humanwealth, health, and food security. We surveyed 41 9 households and measured the health of 1 860 individuals in 1 8 communities adjacent to or within the boundaries of ANP. We found a very high prevalence of child malnutrition, illness, and food insecurity and a heavy reliance on natural products to meet subsistence needs. More than 90% of the population reported that they hunted wildlife and harvested wild vegetables at least one day during the prior week as a direct means to cope with their food insecurity. Further, we found a high reliance on the forest for both healthcare and the building of adequate shelter. Efforts to improve overall food security would likely improve both human welfare and the long-term conservation of the threatened wildlife and habitat of Ankarafantsika. These data can help both conservation and community livelihood programs to find integrated solutions to the shared challenges of improving the well-being of human populations and the protection of Madagascarâs unique, endemic, and highly threatened biodiversity.
Les gestionnaires oeuvrant pour la protection de la nature sont gĂ©nĂ©ralement confrontĂ©s Ă des systĂšmes socio-Ă©cologiques complexes et interactifs dans lesquels la recherche de lâĂ©quilibre entre les besoins de ces deux systĂšmes peut sâavĂ©rer ĂȘtre une source de tension. Cette Ă©tude prĂ©sente des informations sur l'utilisation des ressources naturelles par les communautĂ©s rurales riveraines du parc national d'Ankarafantsika (PNA) dans le nord-ouest de Madagascar, ainsi que sur la santĂ© et le bien-ĂȘtre de ces communautĂ©s. LâĂ©tude sâest en particulier orientĂ©e sur les comportementsdifficiles Ă mesurer pour les gestionnaires de ressources naturelles, Ă savoir la chasse d'animaux sauvages menacĂ©s et protĂ©gĂ©s et les informations portant sur lâopulence, la santĂ© et la sĂ©curitĂ© alimentaire des gens. Une enquĂȘte a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e auprĂšs de 41 9 mĂ©nages et lâĂ©tat de santĂ© de 1 860 personnes a Ă©tĂ© mesurĂ© dans 1 8 communautĂ©s vivant Ă la pĂ©riphĂ©rie ou Ă lâintĂ©rieur des limites du PNA. Une trĂšs forte prĂ©valence de la malnutrition infantile a Ă©tĂ© observĂ©e ainsi que diverses pathologies, une insĂ©curitĂ© alimentaire et une dĂ©pendance importante Ă l'Ă©gard des produits naturels pour rĂ©pondre aux besoins de subsistance. Plus de 90% de la population a dĂ©clarĂ© qu'elle avait chassĂ© des animaux et rĂ©coltĂ© des plantes sauvages au moins un jour au cours de la semaine prĂ©cĂ©dente, Ă titre de moyen direct pour faire face Ă l' insĂ©curitĂ© alimentaire. Une forte dĂ©pendance Ă l'Ă©gard des forĂȘts a Ă©galement Ă©tĂ© notĂ©e pour les produits destinĂ©s Ă la santĂ© et la construction de maisons. Les efforts visant Ă amĂ©liorer la sĂ©curitĂ© alimentaire dans son ensemble pourraient vraisemblablement amĂ©liorer le bien-ĂȘtre humain aussi bien que la conservationĂ long terme de la faune et des habitats menacĂ©s de l'Ankarafantsika. Ces donnĂ©es peuvent aider les programmes de conservation et de subsistance de la communautĂ© Ă trouver des solutions intĂ©grĂ©es aux problĂšmes communs de lâamĂ©lioration du bien-ĂȘtre des populations humaines et de la protection de la biodiversitĂ© unique, endĂ©mique et hautement menacĂ©e de Madagascar
Retaliatory killing and human perceptions of Madagascar's largest carnivore and livestock predator, the fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox).
Fosas (Cryptoprocta ferox) are Madagascar's largest carnivores, occupying much of the island's forested landscape. This study provides the first evaluation of fosas' conflict with humans, a problem for many small and medium sized carnivores worldwide. We examined fosas' predation of poultry, and the subsequent retaliatory killing. Over 1750 households were interviewed across four regions, encompassing Madagascar's major forest types (deciduous/rainforest) and protected area classifications (national park, reserve and unprotected forest). Predation by fosa was the third highest reported cause (15%) of poultry mortality, with little evidence that coops were effective in reducing predation. Predation of poultry was more prevalent in deciduous forests, and most common during the evenings of the dry season. Over half of all interviewees said they disliked fosas, with loss of poultry the most commonly stated reason. Respondents' that had suffered poultry depredation and those with lower educational attainment were more likely to dislike fosas. Interviewees that disliked fosas and those that were wealthier were most likely to report having killed a fosa. A minimum of thirty fosas was killed in retaliation by our respondents during the year before the interviews. Given that the fosa population is in decline, and most of Madagascar's forests are likely to be too small to support sustainable populations, these killings may be detrimental to vulnerable sub-populations. These results shed insight into the cultural perceptions and predation patterns of a medium sized carnivore, with relevance to worldwide human-wildlife conflict of often overlooked smaller carnivores. We suggest that educational programs, guard dogs, poultry disease vaccinations and robust coop construction may be effective for improving attitudes and reducing retaliatory killing
Spatial Dynamics and Activity Patterns of the Fosa Cryptoprocta Ferox in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar: Carnivores Navigating a Human-Influenced Landscape
© 2020 Fauna & Flora International. The Vulnerable fosa Cryptoprocta ferox is the largest native carnivore in Madagascar, fulfilling a unique ecological niche in the island\u27s remaining forests. Negative interactions with humans threaten the long-term viability of most remaining fosa populations across Madagascar. Threats to the fosa include habitat loss and persecution by humans resulting from perceived predation on domestic animals. We used GPS collars to record space use and activity patterns of five fosas in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar, during the dry seasons of 2016 and 2017. The results, with up to 2,110 recorded locations per individual, indicated fosas\u27 home ranges and movements were not limited to the forest, and all collared individuals used networks of habitat patches and corridors to navigate deforested areas. The fosas studied in Ankarafantsika National Park had significantly larger home ranges than those reported in previous studies in other protected areas. They were rarely found within village boundaries and appeared to avoid areas of human habitation, suggesting that during the study period livestock was not a significant component of the fosas\u27 diet in this Park. Our results suggest that fosas have some flexibility that enables them to adapt to living near deforested and human-dominated areas by altering their space-use patterns, but they are compensating by increasing their home range size
Leopard (Panthera pardus) status, distribution, and the research efforts across its range
The leopardâs (Panthera pardus) broad geographic range, remarkable adaptability, and secretive nature have contributed to a misconception that this species might not be severely threatened across its range. We find that not only are several subspecies and regional populations critically endangered but also the overall range loss is greater than the average for terrestrial large carnivores. To assess the leopardâs status, we compile 6,000 records at 2,500 locations from over 1,300 sources on its historic (post 1750) and current distribution. We map the species across Africa and Asia, delineating areas where the species is confirmed present, is possibly present, is possibly extinct or is almost certainly extinct. The leopard now occupies 25â37% of its historic range, but this obscures important differences between subspecies. Of the nine recognized subspecies, three (P. p. pardus, fusca, and saxicolor) account for 97% of the leopardâs extant range while another three (P. p. orientalis, nimr, and japonensis) have each lost as much as 98% of their historic range. Isolation, small patch sizes, and few remaining patches further threaten the six subspecies that each have less than 100,000 km2 of extant range. Approximately 17% of extant leopard range is protected, although some endangered subspecies have far less. We found that while leopard research was increasing, research effort was primarily on the subspecies with the most remaining range whereas subspecies that are most in need of urgent attention were neglected
Pathbreakers? Women's Electoral Success and Future Political Participation
We investigate whether the event of women being competitively elected as state legislators encourages subsequent political participation among women. Using a regression discontinuity design on Indian constituency level data, we find that female incumbents are more likely than male incumbents to re-contest and that there is a decline in the entry of new women candidates. This decline is most pronounced in states with entrenched gender bias and in male-headed parties, suggesting an intensification of barriers against women in these areas. Similar results for (mostly male) Muslim candidates indicate the presence of institutionalised demand-side barriers rather than gender-specific preferences and constraints
Theoretische und experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Herstellung von stabfoermigen offenen und geschlossenenen Profilen aus Bandstahl durch partielle Warm -und Kaltumformung Abschlussbericht
With 79 figs. 7 tabs.SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: FR 4622+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman