Transcript Evolving to Wildlife Conservation

Evolving Wildlife
Conservation
Two Non-Governmental
Organizations at Work in a Changing
Field
Introduction
In recent years wildlife conservation practices
have transformed in part due to the changing
philosophies of conservation itself. Human
dimensions have consideration in planning and
practice as never before. Concern for human
communities is more balanced with the
economic and ecological aspects of protecting
the earth’s resources.
Focus on Human Dimensions
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Cronan (1995) tells us that environmental
problems are the problems of people, most
often those that feel the immediate effects are
the poor and the disenfranchised; when humans
are not considered part of nature we allow
ourselves to care less about those suffering
from environmental injustices like toxic
exposures, famine, and occupational hazards.
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Cronon (1995) explains that because “we
produce the dualism that sets humanity and
nature at opposite poles. We thereby leave
ourselves little hope of discovering what an
ethical, sustainable, and honorable human
place in nature might actually look like”
Change in Practices
Knight (2009) observes that contemporary
conservation has taken a turn away from
previous methods, and consideration for
human dimensions and a spirit of
cooperation will help shape the future.
“Bottom up” approaches offer more diverse
participation and representation to those
directly effected by conservation practices.
Contrasting Approaches
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TOP-DOWN
Land Use
Litigation
Federal Monies and Unfunded
Mandates
Public Land
Wilderness
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Working within Administrative
Boundaries
Command and Control
Single Species
Disciplinary Focus
Technical Expertise
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BOTTOM-UP
Land Health
Cooperation
Economic Incentives and Private
Support
Private-Public Land
Working Wildlands and
Landscape Linkages
Working Across Administrative
Boundaries
Adaptive Management
Ecological Processes and
Keystone Species
Metadisciplinary Approach
Social Capital
Knight 2009
Partnerships
Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) often
work closely with endangered species and
human communities, forming new alliances and
partnerships for reaching their goals. It is
through these new kinds of coalitions that the
evolution of conservation can be observed,
incorporating what were once distinct
movements into the synthesis of wildlife
conservation work that is practiced today.
Both Proyecto Titi and The Northern
Jaguar Project facilitate direct connections
to local communities impacting keystone
species, meaning species that play a critical
role in ecosystem health for a particular
region. These two entities practice
conservation from the ground up.
PROYECTO TITI
www.proyectotiti.com
Based in the U.S. and
working in Columbia
for the preservation of
cotton top tamarins.
Works to instill pride in
the local communities
for this primate found
only in Columbia.
Proyecto Titi
Disciplinary focus vs. Metadisciplinary focus
Stresses the importance of conservation being made economically
practical for communities that impact wild populations of cotton top
tamarins in Colombia.
“A multidisciplinary approach that combines field research and
effective scientific assessments of habitats as well as community
programs that involve local people in culturally relevant, action
based programs” – Dr. Savage, Program Director.
This collaboration or coalition is not waiting for top down
approaches to make a difference in the number of cotton tops
remaining in the wild.
Proyecto Titi
Single species vs. Ecological processes and keystone species
The Flagship species is the cotton top tamarins, small primates that
live in the forest and can only be found in the northwest region of
Columbia. Threatened due to flooding as a result from hydroelectric
projects, large scale clearing for agriculture, and unsustainable use
by local communities.
Science programs support the need to preserve ecological
processes within which tamarins live, including habitat analysis,
reproductive behavior and hormone determination, parental care
studies, and demography/group composition. If you save a habitat
then you save the focus species and others as well. Many partners
are necessary including local communities, experts in wildlife
biology, and organizations with access to wider audiences.
Proyecto Titi
Working within administrative boundaries vs. working across those boundaries
Proyecto Titi lists several different entities as allies. Each one of the allies can be
seen as instrumental to that goal.
Zoological Barranquila, a local Columbian zoo, provides a larger audience and
opportunities to pass on multiple messages and education about conservation of
forests, the uniqueness of the cotton tops, illegal pet trades and other factors that
help their cause.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, financial support.
Cardique, a corporate source of financial support that is committed to protecting
wildlife habitat in Columbia,
The Hacienda El Ceibal, is a private hacienda that houses the scientists that work in
the field.
The surrounding communities which participate in education programs and
awareness.
Proyecto Titi
Technical expertise vs. social capital
The eco-mochila creators are local women that weave purses and other accessories
completely out of discarded plastic shopping bags, that at one timed littered the
roads and forests. These entrepreneurs, not only create beautiful hand crafted items
to sell, but have even begun to create jobs for others by contracting out the
collection and cutting of the discarded bags.
Clay ovens, or bindes, are used for daily cooking instead of wood from the forests.
Families receive training on how to make the ovens and the results is less lung
problems due to burning wood, and decreasing use of wood in general which takes
pressure off the forest.
The work and practices of the local people, fostered by Proyecto Titi, help protect the
environment for the benefit humans and cotton top tamarins.
Northern Jaguar Project (NJP)
Based in the U.S. and Mexico. Works for the protection of
Jaguars in their historic home range at the US-Mexico
border. Essential to their mission is the message that
jaguars hold a special place in Latin American history and
culture and therefore deserve help in their endangered
status.
NJP
Wilderness vs. working wildlands and landscape linkages
NJP purchased land for a reserve that was once a cattle ranch and
surrounding areas remain ranches, for this reason, NJP particularly
supports the need for “working wildlands” and community education as
opposed to an ultra pristine preserve where animals would be in danger as
soon as they cross into unprotected surrounding areas.
NJP includes outlying communities in saving the jaguar by incorporating
rancher support into the camera trap photo program. Also key to their
program are the “jaguar guardians” that work to forge relationships with
ranchers to prevent the killing of jaguars that cross private property or the
illegal killing of jaguars in the preserve. Ultimately NJP hopes to reach the
goal of identifying and promoting safe passage corridors that large
predators need for access to food, water and mates
Camera Trap Photo and Meeting with Ranchers
NJP
Federal monies and unfunded mandates vs. economic incentives and private
support
NJP is seeking financial support from a broad range of international
sources to fund local efforts. The list of donors includes 22 entities
comprised of foundations, other environmental organizations, corporations,
and charitable trusts. New approaches indicate that wildlife species cannot
wait for slow moving government funding to come to fruition. All this lends
to the trend in smaller local groups taking initiative and action to save
ecosystems and the flora and fauna found there.
Part of the long term plan for the preserve includes an ecotourism
component, which could greatly benefit local communities in the future.
NJP also partners with other non-profit entities to solicit funds from the
private individuals.
NJP
Land use vs. land health
Because NJP, like Proyecto Titi seeks to maintain biodiversity in
their preserve, it is important that they revitalize the land in the
preserve. The health of the land, in the entire region not just the
reserve, is of the greatest concern here, as well as potential
corridors that may cut across ranches. Unless the sustainability of
the land is considered than the future economic benefit to local
communities is uncertain. As mentioned previously, the reserve had
once been a ranch and NJP has found the land to be in need of
replenishing on many levels. Their management strategies include
surveying water resources, promoting prey species, repair to ranch
houses as project field posts, and work to repair and prevent land
erosion
NJP
Litigation vs. cooperation
While there are laws in place to protect the
jaguars, instead of only seeking enforcement
through local authorities, the project feels that
cooperation from local communities is the key to
preventing jaguar killings and preserving the land.
The best way to garner support is through
education programs. The NJP reaches out to local
populations, elementary schools and universities,
by conducting meetings, workshops, and creating
field work opportunities for students.
Conclusion
Whether or not these new approaches will have long term
significant effects on the preservation of threatened and
endangered wildlife species will remain to be seen. But what
is evident is the unwillingness to rely on traditional practices,
instead, groups of like minded people which have worked
along the same lines for years, now form alliances working
outside of the typical government and administrative laden
framework of the past.
This seems to lend itself to openness and a prospective
broader involvement that was not present before; in other
words, conservation is the responsibility of everyone and
diverse coalitions make the possibility of wide-ranging
participation a reality.
Readings
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Cronan, W. (1995). The trouble with wilderness,
or getting back to the wrong nature.
In W. Cronon (Ed.), Uncommon ground:
Rethinking the human place (pp. 69-90).
New York: W.W. Norton & Company
Knight, R. (2009) Introduction to Conservation for
a new generation.
In R. Knight, & C. White (Eds.), Conservation for a
new generation: redefining natural resources
management (pp. 1-10). Washington: Island
Press.