Can a tourist levy protect national park resources and compensate for wildlife crop damage? An empirical investigation

2022 ◽  
pp. 100697
Author(s):  
Kanesh Suresh ◽  
Clevo Wilson ◽  
Annette Quayle ◽  
Shunsuke Managi ◽  
Uttam Khanal
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudip Pandey ◽  
Siddhartha Bajra Bajracharya

A complex relationship between the residents and protected areas continue to be an obstacle to successful conservation of protected areas. Conflicts between park authority and people living around the park pose a threat to conservation. Moreover, crop depredation due to wildlife incurs a severe economic loss to communities living in the close vicinity of the park, affecting the livelihood and well-being of locals. Many studies have been carried out emphasizing the identification and quantification of crop damage, but studies highlighting the means used for the crop protection and their effectiveness are limited. This paper examines frequency of the crop damage by wildlife and efficacy of utilized management practices in Shivapuri National Park (SNP). Altogether 132 households were visited in two buffer zone villages namely, Sikre and Jhor Mahankhal of Shivapuri National Park, Nepal. The study suggested that crop depredation by wildlife was a function of several factors, namely, distance of the farmland from the park, size of the crop raiding animals, frequency of their attacks on the farmland, and the type of crops. Five different measures were identified by the communities which they regularly used to prevent crop damage. Both traditional as well as modern means were used by households to guard crops from invading wild animals. The means of crop protection from wildlife differed according to the type of animal and crop being protected. Biofencing and trenches were effective for the small animals. Watch tower “Machans” and throwing flaming sticks and making noises were the most effective and safest means of crop guarding from all kind of animals. Though crop guarding was intensive, no means were found to be able to prevent crop damage completely. Thus, site specific management strategies as well as technical and financial support from donor organizations would be most useful to minimize crop loss.Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 16, No.1 (2015) pp. 1-10


Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley J. Hockings ◽  
Claudia Sousa

AbstractModification of natural areas by human activities mostly has a negative impact on wildlife by increasing the geographical and ecological overlap between people and animals. This can result in escalating levels of competition and conflict between humans and wildlife, for example over crops. However, data on specific crops and crop parts that are unattractive to wildlife yet important for human livelihoods are surprisingly scarce, especially considering their potential application to reducing crop damage by wildlife. Here we examine the co-utilization of a nationally important and spatially abundant cash crop, cashew Anacardium occidentalis, by people and chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus inhabiting a forested–agricultural matrix in Cantanhez National Park in Guinea-Bissau. In this Park people predominantly harvest the marketable cashew nut and discard the unprofitable fruit whereas chimpanzees only consume the fruit. Local farmers generally perceive a benefit of raiding by chimpanzees as they reportedly pile the nuts, making harvesting easier. By ensuring that conflict levels over crops, especially those with high economic importance, remain low, the costs of living in proximity to wildlife can potentially be reduced. Despite high levels of deforestation associated with cashew farming, these findings point to the importance of cashew as a low-conflict crop in this area.


2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
SONAM WANGYEL WANG ◽  
JAMES P. LASSOIE ◽  
PAUL D. CURTIS

The attitudes and feelings of people concerning conservation policies and wildlife conflicts affect their behaviour, and understanding this is important in involving local people in conservation planning and decision-making processes. This paper examines these important issues in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, located in central Bhutan. A survey of 274 house-holds was carried out to assess farmers' perceptions of the influence of Park management policies and protection regimes on traditional resource uses, and their attitudes towards the Park and conservation policies set forth in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of 1995, integrated conservation development programmes (ICDPs) and wildlife conservation, and determine how demographic and socioeconomic variables influence these attitudes. Among local farmers, 52.2% disliked the Park and the Conservation Act, and 67.5% supported exterminating problem wildlife. Negative attitudes were linked to loss of resource use rights, livestock depredation and crop damage, lack of compensation strategies and exclusion of farmers from the Park's planning processes. However, 76.3% of the respondents appreciated the Park's development programmes, the positive attitudes associated with an expectation that significant economic benefits would be available from ICDPs sponsored by the Park. Empowerment of local communities associated with monetary benefits from non-timber forest products and compensation for loss of crops and livestock were emphasized by more than 70% of the respondents. These attitudes were related to age and literacy of the respondents, number of livestock owned and size of land holdings. Though important to the future of Bhutan's parks, study results also have wider applicability to conservation professionals throughout the developing world for resolving human-land use conflicts and involving local farmers in the protection of nature.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106
Author(s):  
Tatwa P Timsina

Background: Chitwan National Park which covers 932 km2 lies in the lowlands or inner terai of southern central Nepal. It has 503 rhinoceros, 120 tigers and 40-50 elephants. Wildlife such as leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, wild pig etc. are also found in this park. The park is facing enormous enroachment from the local people.Objective: The objective of this study is to study the causes of conflicts and find out the ways for park-people management. This study has been designed to reveal the intricate relationship among the large mammals and local people and the resultant conflict.Methodology: The study has applied cross-sectional design and included 100 people. Both the quantitative and qualitative approaches have been used to collect data. Research instruments namely interview, questionnaire and observation were applied for this study.Results: Larger mammals and local people have both positive and negative interactions. Negative interaction or conflict takes place due to the competition between the park and people that are concerned at crop damage, livestock loss and injury to rhino, deer, boar, tiger etc. Regarding the types of crops damaged by the wildlife, mustard, potato, maize, paddy and wheat top the list.Conclusion: In Chitwan National Park, the relation between larger mammals and local people is positive such as promoting tourism and maintaining greenery and negative in some cases such as injury and damage by larger mammals, restrictions on the use of park resources for local people etc. The park-people relationship can be managed by introducing a number of measures which respect the lives of both the local people and wildlife in the park. Both the park authorities and local people should work in coordination so that the benefit from the immeasurable gift of nature could be exploited.Journal of Advanced Academic Research Vol.1(1) 2014: 99-106


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
Nabeel Awan ◽  
Atif Yaqub ◽  
Muhammad Kamran

Wildlife populations are at a risk of extinction mainly because of human-wildlife conflict (HWC). The present study was designed to evaluate the ongoing HWC with special reference to Common Leopard (Panthera pardus) in Ayubia National park through field study as well as a literature-based approach. Questionnaire interview surveys were designed for wildlife officials working in the park and the locals who bear the cost for leopard conflict through livestock depredation and crop damage. The study showed that human-leopard conflict in the study area has been increasing. More than 60% of people considered livestock depredation as the major reason for their negative perception towards the common leopard. Among livestock, goats were more vulnerable which showed that leopards mostly preferred smaller prey. A number of reported human injuries and deaths on account of Human-Leopard conflict in the study area helped conclude that human-wildlife conflict is a significant issue. Mitigation measures may hence be recommended, such as livestock compensation schemes and community-based conservation approaches, etc. It is critical to avoid human-Leopard conflict not only to keep the public and their property safe but also to help conserve this important species of common leopard (Panthera pardus).


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