7 research outputs found
Divergent views on trophy hunting in Africa, and what this may mean for research and policy
Over the past decade, trophy hunting in Africa has seen increased public and scientific interest. Much of that attention has come from outside of Africa, with little emphasis on local views. We circulated an online survey through international networks to explore demographic and regional differences in opinion regards support for African trophy hunting, trophy import bans, and outside funding of conservation estates supported by hunting. We received ∼5700 responses and found that location, demography, and conservation background influenced opinion. African and North American respondents showed (significantly) more support for trophy hunting than respondents from Europe or other areas, as did respondents with conservation backgrounds. Unlike North Americans, Africans supported external subsidies of wildlife areas presently funded by hunting. Many factors affected opinions on African hunting, but respondent location played a major role. Realistic policy on African trophy hunting should thus integrate African perspectives, in particular those of rural communities
Divergent views on trophy hunting in Africa, and what this may mean for research and policy
Over the past decade, trophy hunting in Africa has seen increased public and scientific interest. Much of that attention has come from outside of Africa, with little emphasis on local views. We circulated an online survey through international networks to explore demographic and regional differences in opinion regards support for African trophy hunting, trophy import bans, and outside funding of conservation estates supported by hunting. We received ∼5700 responses and found that location, demography, and conservation background influenced opinion. African and North American respondents showed (significantly) more support for trophy hunting than respondents from Europe or other areas, as did respondents with conservation backgrounds. Unlike North Americans, Africans supported external subsidies of wildlife areas presently funded by hunting. Many factors affected opinions on African hunting, but respondent location played a major role. Realistic policy on African trophy hunting should thus integrate African perspectives, in particular those of rural communities
Conservation of fragmented grasslands as part of the urban green infrastructure: how important are species diversity, functional diversity and landscape functionality?
Natural remnants, such as fragmented grasslands form an integral part of the urban
green infrastructure in the Grassland biome of South Africa. Nearly 30 % of natural grasslands
are transformed with only 1 % formally conserved. Since grassland habitats are globally
regarded as a biodiversity conservation priority, protection should be accorded outside formal
conservation areas as well. However, urban grassland fragments are often regarded as highly
transformed, and are therefore targeted for development rather than conservation. The aim of
this study was to compare plant species composition, −diversity and -functional diversity, as
well as the fine-scale biophysical landscape functionality of grassland fragments in urban and
exurban areas in the vulnerable Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation type in the Tlokwe
Municipal area of South Africa. Thirty selected grassland fragments were investigated along
an urbanisation (urban-exurban) gradient that was quantified using several demographic- and
physical variables as well as landscape metrics, each reflecting a pattern or process associated
with urbanisation. Plant species composition, −diversity, and -life history traits were determined
in randomly selected sample plots. Functional diversity indices were also calculated to
describe the composition and distribution of plant functional traits in the selected grassland
fragments. Additionally, landscape functionality, in terms of how effectively the landscape is
functioning as a biophysical system, was determined using the Landscape Function Analysis
(LFA) method. LFA provides information such as fine-scale resource conserving patchiness,
soil surface stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling. The fine-scale biophysical landscape
function of urban and exurban landscapes are comparable, indicating that urban grassland
fragments are worthy of conservation on a biophysical landscape function scale. However,
differences in plant species diversity, functional trait composition, and plant functional diversity
were evident