Using Peoples’ Perceptions to Improve Conservation Programs: The Yellow-Shouldered Amazon in Venezuela

Ada Sánchez-Mercado,Oriana Blanco,José Manuel Briceño-Linares,Bibiana Sucre-Smith,Jon Paul Rodríguez,Carlos Peláez

doi:10.3390/d12090342

Abstract

The perceptions and attitudes of local communities help understand the social drivers of unsustainable wildlife use and the social acceptability of conservation programs. We evaluated the social context influencing illegal harvesting of the threatened yellow-shouldered Amazon (Amazona barbadensis) and the effectiveness of a longstanding conservation program in the Macanao Peninsula, Margarita Island, Venezuela. We interviewed 496 people from three communities and documented their perceptions about (1) status and the impact of threats to parrot populations, (2) acceptability of the conservation program, and (3) social processes influencing unsustainable parrot use. Approval of the program was high, but it failed to engage communities despite their high conservation awareness and positive attitudes towards the species. People identified unsustainable use as the main threat to parrots, but negative perceptions were limited to selling, not harvesting or keeping. Harvesters with different motivations (keepers, sellers) may occur in Macanao, and social acceptability of both actors may differ. Future efforts will require a stakeholder engagement strategy to manage conflicts and incentives to participation. A better understanding of different categories of harvesters, as well as their motives and role in the illegal trade network would provide insights to the design of a behavior change campaign.

Highlights

Conservation programs often focus on reducing the unsustainable use of wildlife in highly complex social–ecological environments, where local communities are key actors in both the trade chain and the conservation actions implemented [1,2,3,4]
The yellow-shouldered Amazon Conservation Program in Macanao participate in spite of their high conservation awareness and positive attitudes toward the species
By improving our understanding of key systemic drivers, we are able to design demand-focused interventions to better tackle the illegal trade of the yellow-shouldered Amazon in Macanao

Summary

Introduction

Conservation programs often focus on reducing the unsustainable use of wildlife in highly complex social–ecological environments, where local communities are key actors in both the trade chain and the conservation actions implemented [1,2,3,4]. Unsustainable use, including harvest, trade, and keeping, is highly influenced by the species’ attractiveness to humans [13,14], and by cultural and social factors: parrots owners often regard their animals as “family members”, perceived and treated as children [15]. This social role may influence understanding of psittacid conservation challenges and attitudes towards conservation actions

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion