Effects of Ethnic Settlements and Land Management Status on Species Distribution Patterns: A Case Study of Endangered Musk Deer (Moschus spp.) in Northwest Yunnan, China

Abstract

Understanding the status and spatial distribution of endangered species in biologically and ethnologically diverse areas is important to address correlates of cultural and biological diversity. We developed models for endangered musk deer (Moschus spp.) abundance indices in and around protected areas inhabited by different ethnic groups in northwest Yunnan China to address different anthropogenic and management-related questions. We found that prediction of relative abundance of musk deer was best accomplished using ethnicity of settlements, conservation status and poaching pressure in an area. Musk deer were around 5 times more abundant in Tibetan regions relative to Lisu regions. We found no significant negative correlates of gathering and transhumance activities on musk deer abundance. Hunting pressure showed no significant differences between protected and non-protected areas, but showed significant differences among ethnic groups. Hunting pressures in areas adjacent to Lisu settlements was 7.1 times more than in areas adjacent to Tibetan settlements. Our findings indicate protected areas in southwest China are not fully effective in deterring human disturbance caused by traditional practices. We suggest that conservation and management strategies should engage traditional culture and practices with a positive conservation impact. Better understanding of indigenous culture may open up new opportunities for species conservation in much wider tracts of unprotected and human-dominated lands. Traditional practices that are not destructive to biodiversity should be allowed as a way of providing a link between the local communities and protected areas thereby creating incentives for conservation.

Galliform diversity in south-west Yunnan, China, with notes on Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus and White Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon biology

“…2019 139(3) The robust population of Near Threatened species such as C. crossoptilon, coupled with the fact that Langdu harboured much higher abundance, as well as three times as many species, of Galliformes, is surprising given that conservation management is weak at Langdu compared to Gehuaqing, with no formal forest guard patrol in place. One possible explanation is the majority of Langdu occupants are Tibetans more focused on herding, whereas Gehuaqing inhabitants include the Lisu Minority who are traditionally hunters (Li et al 2016). Supporting this, all but one of the photos at Gehuaqing were taken during crepuscular periods (n = 3) or at night (n = 5).…”

“…One must also consider the cultural differences between Langdu and Gehuaqing (Li et al 2016). Tibetans in Langdu are traditionally transhumance herders and Buddhists, and hunting is considered morally questionable.…”

“…In north-west Yunnan, such cultural differences had a significant influence on Musk Deer Moschus spp. distribution, for example, more than the protected status of an area (Li et al 2016).…”

Full Issue

“…ISSN-2513-9894 (Online) The robust population of Near Threatened species such as C. crossoptilon, coupled with the fact that Langdu harboured much higher abundance, as well as three times as many species, of Galliformes, is surprising given that conservation management is weak at Langdu compared to Gehuaqing, with no formal forest guard patrol in place. One possible explanation is the majority of Langdu occupants are Tibetans more focused on herding, whereas Gehuaqing inhabitants include the Lisu Minority who are traditionally hunters (Li et al 2016). Supporting this, all but one of the photos at Gehuaqing were taken during crepuscular periods (n = 3) or at night (n = 5).…”

Drought vulnerability among China's ungulates and mitigation offered by protected areas

“…For the “nonthreatened” taxa that are vulnerable to drought, further investigation would be needed when drought increases, as these taxa might deserve uplisting in threat status due to climatic impacts. In the hotspots of drought‐vulnerable taxa, priority actions should focus on mitigating prevailing threats upon persistence of both populations and habitats of vulnerable taxa, such as hunting and expansion of plantations (Li, Bleisch, & Jiang, ; Liu et al, ; Yang, Meng, Xia, & Feng, ). For the taxa with higher exposure and lower intrinsic vulnerability, they are more likely to cope with drought impacts and hence have a lower priority in risk mitigation.…”