Avitourism opportunities as a contribution to conservation and rural livelihoods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya - a field perspective

The Hindu Kush Himalaya is a biodiversity hotspot subject to multiple anthropogenic stressors, including hydropower plants, pollution, deforestation and wildlife poaching, in addition to changing climate. Bird photography tourism, as a locally important element of avitourism, has the potential to integrate sustainable development and wildlife conservation. We conducted field surveys around the reaches of four Indian Himalayan rivers—the Kosi, western Ramganga, Khoh, and Song—outside of protected national parks (the Corbett and Rajaji tiger reserves) to ascertain the distribution of bird species along river corridors that could be sites of avitourism. Species richness along the surveyed reaches were: Kosi (79), western Ramganga (91), Khoh (52), and Song (79). This study contributes critical data to the existing baseline information on the avifaunal species of Uttarakhand. It further discusses the possibility of developing avitourism for knowledge generation on species distribution and innovative livelihood options for local communities in Uttarakhand, reinforcing local vested interest in bird conservation. The findings have generic applicability worldwide.

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Avitourism opportunities as a contribution to conservation and rural livelihoods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya - a field perspective

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.4911.11.10.14328-14333 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 14328-14333

Author(s):

Nishikant Gupta ◽

Mark Everard ◽

Ishaan Kochhar ◽

Vinod K Belwal

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Bird Species ◽

Rural Livelihoods ◽

Knowledge Generation ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Critical Data ◽

Hydropower Plants ◽

Hindu Kush ◽

Baseline Information

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The consequences of selective logging for Bornean lowland forest birds

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.1992.0036 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 335 (1275) ◽

pp. 443-457 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Bird Species ◽

Selective Logging ◽

Forest Birds ◽

Primary Forest ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Dipterocarp Forest ◽

Logged Forest ◽

Lowland Dipterocarp Forest

In lowland dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia, most primary forest bird species were present in areas selectively logged eight years previously. However, certain taxa, notably flycatchers, woodpeckers, trogons and wren-babblers, became comparatively rare. In contrast, nectarivorous and opportunistic frugivorous species were significantly more abundant. Few species appeared to change foraging height, but netting rates suggest that the activity of some species had increased, or that some birds ranged over larger areas after logging. Although there is still much to be learned about the survival of birds in logged forest, large areas of this habitat are important for bird conservation. However, the susceptibility of logged forest to fire, and our present incomplete understanding of bird behaviour and population dynamics in logged forests mean that they should not be considered by conservationists as alternatives to reserves of primary forest.

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The barasingha, or swamp deer, in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605300028568 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 199-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Henshaw

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Field Study ◽

National Parks ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Irrigation Canal ◽

Protective Measures ◽

Deer Species ◽

The World ◽

Wildlife Reserve ◽

Swamp Deer

Between 1988 and 1993 six periods of field study were undertaken to investigate the environmental impact of the construction of a main irrigation canal and other works in the proposed extension of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and to recommend protective measures. Suklaphanta is administered by His Majesty's Government of Nepal through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Special emphasis was placed upon the barasingha Cervus duvauceli population because it is the largest remaining group of this endangered deer species in the world. This paper presents recommendations for the management of the barasingha and its habitat.

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Ecotourism in Russian Karelia: Emergence, development, opportunities

Matkailututkimus ◽

10.33351/mt.79700 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 53-66

Author(s):

Alexander Osipov

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Slow Growth ◽

Primary Sources ◽

The European Union ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

The Republic ◽

Triangular Relationship ◽

Regional Authorities ◽

Poor Infrastructure

This review article examines the development of ecotourism in national parks in the Republic of Karelia over the last 30 years. In Russia, the term “ecotourism” has appeared in newspapers and scholarly articles since the 1990s and its popularity is still increasing. The authorities in the Republic of Karelia have argued that tourism and especially ecotourism have the potential to become a major sector of the Republic’s economy. This article focuses on the meaning of this term internationally, and especially in the context of Russia and Karelia, and considers this definition through the lens of conventional historiography. The key issue of this research is the triangular relationship between ecotourists, local communities and wildlife conservation areas or national parks, where ecotourism functions as a major tool, connecting all these points. This paper applies comparative historical research methods as part of a qualitative approach, analysing a variety of primary sources including archive materials, interviews and forum discussions. The article concludes that the slow growth of ecotourism, despite the attempts of regional authorities and the assistance of the European Union, is due to several reasons including remote locations, poor infrastructure and the lack of symbolic meaning for national parks.

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Language barriers in global bird conservation

10.1101/2021.05.24.445290 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pablo Jose Negret ◽

Scott Consaul Atkinson ◽

Bradley Woodworth ◽

Marina Corella Tor ◽

James Allan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scientific Information ◽

Bird Species ◽

Language Barriers ◽

Language Diversity ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Western Asia ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Official Languages ◽

Multiple Languages ◽

Effective Conservation

Multiple languages being spoken within a species distribution can impede communication among conservation stakeholders, the compilation of scientific information, and the development of effective conservation actions. Here, we investigate the number of official languages spoken within the distributions of 10,863 bird species to identify which ones might be particularly affected by consequences of language barriers. We show that 1587 species have 10 languages or more spoken within their distributions. Threatened, migratory and wide-ranging species have especially many languages spoken within their distribution. Particularly high numbers of species with many languages within their distribution are found in Eastern Europe, Russia and central and western Asia. Global conservation efforts would benefit from implementing guidelines to overcome language barriers, especially in regions with high species and language diversity.

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The local knowledge of the rural people on species, role and hunting of birds: Case study in Karangwangi Village, West Java, Indonesia

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d170206 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

Author(s):

JOHAN ISKANDAR ◽

BUDIAWATI SUPANGKAT ISKANDAR ◽

RUHYAT PARTASASMITA

Keyword(s):

Local Knowledge ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

West Java ◽

Cultural Changes ◽

Rural People ◽

Time Activity ◽

Folk Classification

Iskandar J, Iskandar BS, Partasasmita R. 2016.The Local knowledge of the rural people on species, role, and hunting of birds: case study in Karangwangi village, Cidaun, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 17: 435-446. Based on the ecological history, in the past many villages of in Indonesia including in West Java had a high diversity of birds. Nowadays, however, the diversity of birds in some villages of West Java has tended to decrease due to many factors, namely habitat loss, the use of pesticides, and intensive illegal bird hunting. The objective of this paper is to elucidate the local knowledge of Karangwangi village, West Java on species, role, and hunting of birds. Method used in this study is the qualitative and ethnoornithological approach with descriptive analysis. Results of study show that the Karangwangi people have a very good knowledge on bird species, particularly on level species/specific. Various bird species are traditionally classified into nine local categories (folk classification), namely based on distinctive voice/vocalization, morphological characteristic, special color, distinctive behavior, time activity, special common habitat, migrant, nest characteristics, and role in the ecosystem. Based on the rural people perception, the role of birds can be divided into two categories, namely notorious and beneficial birds. The diversity of rural birds has tended decrease over time due to various factors, including illegal bird hunting for various purposes of the village people, such as keep a bird in cages and bird trading. The study suggests the perception of rural people on birds have changed caused of socio-economic and cultural changes. Nowadays the bird hunting in the rural area has tended to shift from a purely subsistence form towards a more commercial form and, thus, to conserve bird species the study on ethnoornithology considered as a very important, and socio-economic and cultural rural people aspects might be integrated to national as well as international bird conservation programs.

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Seed dispersal effectiveness by frugivorous birds: Identifying functional equivalent species in bird assemblages

Avian Biology Research ◽

10.1177/1758155919832189 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 103-108

Author(s):

Facundo Xavier Palacio

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Bird Species ◽

Kernel Functions ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Frugivorous Birds ◽

Seed Dispersal Effectiveness ◽

Bird Assemblages ◽

Functional Equivalent ◽

Dispersal Effectiveness

Seed dispersal by birds is a pivotal ecosystem function worldwide; yet, the rapid and ongoing global biodiversity loss poses a major threat to this essential ecosystem service. Seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) is a key outcome of the interaction, represented by the product of seed dispersal quantity (number of seed dispersed) and quality (probability of recruitment of dispersed seeds). Therefore, identifying functional equivalent species in terms of SDE should become a key issue for bird conservation, since the effects of local extinctions on seed dispersal services may be weakened by remaining equivalent species. However, a method to quantitatively identify functional equivalent species in frugivorous bird assemblages is still lacking. To estimate SDE overlap between seed dispersers and assess whether two species may be functionally equivalent, I apply a novel nonparametric niche overlap index based on kernel functions and null models to test its statistical significance. For each bird species, I account for intraspecific variation in seed dispersal effectiveness to obtain a distribution of seed dispersal effectiveness values, an often neglected source of variation in seed dispersal assemblages. Non-significant differences in seed dispersal effectiveness overlap support the hypothesis that two species are functional equivalent, thus playing similar functional roles. The model proposed is applicable to any other quantity or quality component and is independent from the method or sampling design used to quantify SDE. The identification of functional equivalent species in seed dispersal assemblages adds to the theoretical framework of seed dispersal effectiveness and offers new insights into the ecology of the seed dispersal service provided by birds.

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Marginalisation of the Waata Oromo Hunter–Gatherers of Kenya: Insider and Outsider Perspectives

Africa ◽

10.3366/afr.2004.74.2.194 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 194-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Aneesa Kassam ◽

Ali Balla Bashuna

Keyword(s):

Cultural Identity ◽

National Parks ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Political Representation ◽

Point Of View ◽

Way Of Life ◽

Social Activist ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Northern Kenya ◽

British Colonial

AbstractThis paper examines how the way of life of a little known group of hunter–gatherers, the Waata Oromo, was brought to an end through British colonial wildlife conservation laws and the creation of national parks in Kenya. Through this policy and that of the containment of ethnic groups to ‘tribal reserves’, the Waata lost their place in the regional economic system and suffered loss of cultural identity. It also meant that when Kenya gained independence, the Waata were not recognised as a distinct entity with rights to their own political representation. Instead, they became appendages of the dominant pastoral groups with which they had been associated. They were thus doubly marginalised, in both economic and political terms. The paper describes how this situation has led some Waata in northern Kenya to claim separate ethnic status. It discusses the problem from the point of view of a Waata social activist and of an anthropologist. These two perspectives raise further issues for the etic/emic debate in anthropology.

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Large ranches as conservation tools in the Venezuelan llanos

Oryx ◽

10.1046/j.1365-3008.1997.d01-16.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 274-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rafael Hoogesteijn ◽

Colin A. Chapman

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Wildlife Habitat ◽

Private Land ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Personal Involvement ◽

Venezuelan Llanos ◽

Seasonally Flooded

Traditionally, wildlife conservation efforts have concentrated on the establishment of national parks and reserves. Additional strategies are needed if we are to conserve more than a small proportion of the world's natural habitats and their wildlife. One such strategy is the application of wildlife conservation regulations by private land owners on their properties. This paper uses examples of ranches in the seasonally flooded llanos of Venezuela to evaluate if effective wildlife conservation can coexist with sustainable wildlife use and cattle production. Income estimates derived from cattle production data varied among ranches from $US7.1 to $US26.4 per ha, while estimates of potential additional income through regulated capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris and caiman Caiman crocodilus exploitation ranged up to $US7.7 per ha. The economic benefits of capybara and caiman harvests can be realized only by protecting wildlife habitat. Thus, it is suggested that large ranches in the llanos can play a major role in wildlife conservation as well as provide economic gains for those involved. Common denominators for success are: personal involvement of owners, effective patrolling systems, co-operation of neighbouring ranchers in patrolling activities, and ranches being located far from densely populated areas. For the programmes to succeed in the long term, government and conservation agencies will need to give more support to landowners.

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Musings on Biodiversity by a Retired Park Manager

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc040005 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 5

Author(s):

Robert e. Fox

Keyword(s):

Natural Resource Management ◽

National Parks ◽

Natural Resource ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Local Level ◽

Landscape Management ◽

Scientific Advice ◽

Relative Lack ◽

Park Manager ◽

Significant Effort

Biodiversity continues to decline in Australia despite significant effort by government, industry and concerned citizens. In this essay the author draws upon his >30 years of experience at the sharp end of natural resource management to consider some factors that may be contributing to the relative lack of progress. While national parks and reserves form a small part of the overall Australian landscape their importance in the battle to retain biodiversity is undeniable. However, rigidity of thinking on the part of park managers has limited the support base for parks and thus their potential in leading integrated landscape management at the all-important local level. The rise of animal libertarianism is further impacting on the ability of parks and wildlife managers to make rational decisions based on the best scientific advice. Animal libertarianism, influential in our western, primarily urban-based society, causes significant problems in wildlife conservation. Anthropomorphic concepts of rights have little application in the animal world and contribute even less to the conservation of species.

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