More than just trees – animal species diversity and participatory forest monitoring in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

The gradual disappearance of tropical animal species due to overhunting and habitat loss represents a major risk for biodiversity and tropical rainforest conservation efforts. Uncontrolled hunting and other human-induced declines in diversity and abundance of seed-dispersing animal species might also negatively affect biomass carbon storage, which could undermine climate change mitigation efforts. We study how the Ecuadorian Socio Bosque conservation incentive programme [Programa Socio Bosque -PSB] addresses animal species conservation and engages with local communities. Drawing on official documents, as well as interviews and observations in four indigenous communities that participate in PSB, we discuss the role of local participation in conservation monitoring. The PSB's incentive and control approach has to some extent supported the establishment and financing of forest monitoring systems in indigenous communities. However, we argue that PSB in its current design exerts a conservation gap because it does not include animal species diversity and abundance as important components for successful long-term forest conservation. Supporting a bottom-up participatory monitoring methodology for locally-based conservation action can increase the existing positive conservation attitudes among community members. We provide specific examples of how animal species conservation and participatory monitoring can be combined and carried out.

Patterns and extent of threats to the protected areas of Bangladesh: the need for a relook at conservation strategies

“…Robinson & Bodmer (1999) identified such unsustainable hunting and poaching of wildlife as a major global threat to biodiversity in tropical forests. Uncontrolled hunting may also undermine climate change mitigation efforts, as a reduction in the abundance of seed-dispersing animal species has been shown to, in turn, reduce the density of key carbon-storing tree species (Krause & Zambonino, 2013). Many of the animals of Bangladesh have either become extinct or are at risk of extinction; 40 mammal species, 41 bird species, 58 reptiles and eight amphibians are categorized as vulnerable or above in the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2000).…”

“…Halting biodiversity loss is considered a comprehensive global environmental challenge (Brashares et al, 2004;Cardinale et al, 2012;Craigie et al, 2010;Cuthbert, 2010;Krause & Zambonino, 2013). Habitat loss and over -exploitation of wildlife, and other forest resources, are universally acknowledged as the leading causes of biodiversity loss (Baldus, 2008;Brooks et al, 2002), the situation is most severe in the tropical regions (Leuschner et al, 2013).…”

Ecosystem services assessments to improve management of marine habitats, amphibians and reptiles, forest biodiversity and silviculture, and medicinal plants

“…More 'traditional' topics of the journal are dealt with by Vidyarthi et al (2013) and Lawal and Adekunle (2013), respectively, presenting novel findings from India and Nigeria on the influence of land use and ecosystem management on biodiversity. Papers by Ezebilo (2013) and Krause and Zambonino (2013) follow up on papers that have been recently published in this journal, in which the role of local knowledge and support for biodiversity conservation was highlighted (see Van Oudenhoven & De Groot (2012, 2013 for more information). The papers provide the latest insights from conservation programs in Nigeria and the Ecuadorian Amazon.…”

“…However, an issue that has not often been brought up in literature is that monitoring of conservation programs mainly focuses on vegetation cover, biomass carbon and rarely on animal species diversity or other aspects of biodiversity (Harris et al 2012). In this Issue, Krause and Zambonino (2013) describe how an Ecuadorian conservation incentive program addresses animal species conservation and engages with local communities. The authors argue that this program too does not include animal species diversity and abundance as important components for successful long-term forest conservation.…”

“…The authors argue that this program too does not include animal species diversity and abundance as important components for successful long-term forest conservation. In addition to analysing the conservation program, Krause and Zambonino (2013) also provide several examples of how animal species' conservation and participatory monitoring can be combined. One suggestion would be to let community forest guards not only control for illegal logging or area encroachment but also conduct animal species surveys.…”