Community-based Conservation Programs Research Articles

Individual and community empowerment improve resource users' perceptions of community-based conservation effectiveness in Kenya and Tanzania.

Community-based conservation has been increasingly recognized as critical to achieve both conservation and socio-economic development goals worldwide. However, the long-term sustainability of community-based conservation programs is dependent on a broadly shared perception among community members that management actions are achieving their stated goals. Thus, understanding the underlying factors driving differences in perceptions of management effectiveness can help managers prioritize the processes and outcomes most valued by resource users and thereby promote sustained support for conservation efforts. Here, we utilize large-scale interview survey data and machine learning to identify the factors most strongly associated with differences in perceived management effectiveness between resource users engaged in marine community-based conservation programs in Kenya and Tanzania. Perceptions of management effectiveness were generally favorable in both countries, and the most important predictors of positive perceptions were associated with community and individual empowerment in resource management and use, but within disparate focal domains. Improved perceptions of management effectiveness in Kenya were closely related to increases in women's empowerment in community-based conservation programs, while inclusionary and transparent governance structures were the most important factors driving improved perceptions in Tanzania. Additionally, the strongest predictors of differences between individuals in both countries often interacted synergistically to produce even higher rates of perceived effectiveness. These findings can help future initiatives in the region tailor management to match community-level priorities and emphasize the need for community-based conservation programs to understand local context to ensure that metrics of "success" are aligned with the needs and desires of local resource users.

Production systems and breeding practices of Begaria cattle breed as input for a community-based breeding program

This study aimed to describe the production systems and breeding practices of Begaria cattle breeds as a resource for community-based conservation and breeding program. A semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions were employed to identify and describe the breeding practice of the farmer. Three kebeles: Almahal, Fanguso, and Mankush were considered for the study. The data were analyzed using R software. Cattle were kept for a variety of reasons, including milk, breeding, meat, cash, and saving. It was typical throughout the study area to see herd mixing and keeping together (4.7 ± 0.33 herds on average), herd movement during the dry season, and breeding bull sharing (1.9 ± 1.55 shared bulls). During the summer season, cattle rearing in the areas was hindered by feed and water shortages. The breed's major reproduction constraints were abortion (24 %), repeat breeding (19), and calf mortality (14). The primary reason for keeping Begaria cattle was for milk (29 %), cash (26), meat (22), and breeding (0.22). The average age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and milk yield per day of the breed were 41.5 ± 1.63, 16.0 ± 0.43 months, and 3.2 ± 0.12 L respectively. The average age of breeding bull selection was 3 ± 0.1 years, and it was based on several criteria, including their phenotype, growth, and white coat colour. Based on the current findings, it is recommended that a multi-trait selection program be designed with full stakeholder participation.

Designing of community-based conservation and breeding program for Begaria cattle breed found in Arid and Semi-Arid areas of Benishangul Gumuz region of Ethiopia

Designing of community-based conservation and breeding program for Begaria cattle breed found in Arid and Semi-Arid areas of Benishangul Gumuz region of Ethiopia

The Role of Folklore in Conservation of Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

This study set out to examine the role of folklore in conservation of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Attention was put on exploring the types of folklore that are available for conservation of mountain gorillas among the communities; and the application of folklore in conservation of mountain gorillas in the Southern Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The study involved in seeking an understanding of the people’s interpretations, perceptions, opinions, and ideas concerning the conservation of mountain gorillas. A purely qualitative case study research design was employed to achieve the study objectives. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents for the study. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the respondents were employed to collect the required data. The results confirmed an array of folklores including legends, myths, folkloric names, folk dances and songs, harvesting beliefs, taboos, and totems that were used in the conservation of the mountain gorillas. Folklores also inculcated conservation attitudes and behaviors that concerned some other plants and animals into the members of the local community. The research findings confirmed that folklores can be integrated into community-based conservation programs, conservation policies, resource access programmes, eco-tourism, school curriculum and education and awareness programmes for an effective conservation of important biodiversity including mountain gorillas.
 Hence, documentation of folklore, integration of folklore in the National Education Curriculum, involvement of folklore users in the conservation policy making processes, and development of the Uganda national folklore policy are very essential for the continued conservation of the mountain gorillas.

Managing Human-Elephant Cohabitation: Strategies for Mitigating Conflict and Encouraging Coexistence

Human-elephant cohabitation is becoming increasingly common in many parts of the world, particularly in areas where human populations are expanding into traditional elephant habitats. While this coexistence can have benefits for both humans and elephants, it can also lead to conflict and negative outcomes for both parties. This paper explores strategies for managing human-elephant co-habitation, with a focus on mitigating conflict and encouraging coexistence. The paper first examines the factors that contribute to conflict between humans and elephants, including competition for resources, property damage, and human safety concerns. It then reviews current approaches to mitigating conflicts, such as elephant-proof fencing, crop protection methods, and elephant relocation programs. Next, this work explores strategies for encouraging coexistence between humans and elephants. These include approaches such as ecotourism, community-based conservation programs, and education and outreach initiatives. The paper also discusses the importance of engaging local communities in the development and implementation of coexistence strategies. Finally, the pa-per presents case studies from around the world that highlight successful strategies for managing human-elephant cohabitation. These case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of a variety of approaches and underscore the importance of a holistic, community-based approach to managing human-elephant coexistence. Overall, this paper provides insights and recommendations for policymakers, conservation practitioners, and others seeking to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and elephants in areas of shared habitat.

Measuring Social Equity Outcomes in a Community-Based Conservation Program in Ethiopia: Developing and Applying Local Indicators

Community-based conservation (CBC) is riddled with equity concerns. This study examined how household, institutional, and program design characteristics affect multiple dimensions of equity in a CBC program, Ethiopia. We developed local indicators to measure distributive, procedural, and recognition equity. We conducted 200 household surveys in four kebeles (smallest administrative unit). We found slightly negative perceptions of all three dimensions of equity across all kebeles. Women and poorer households had more negative perceptions of distributive equity. Social capital affected all three dimensions of equity but had the largest impact on procedural and recognition equity. Finally, communities in a CBC model with power-sharing mechanisms had higher perceived equity than communities without this mechanism. These findings highlight the need to strengthen weak ties with external organizations, facilitate intra-community cohesion, and design programs that emphasize power-sharing for more equitable outcomes. Our results suggest that more attention is needed to incorporating marginalized groups into CBC.

Community-Based Conservation of the Ngao River in Thailand: A Networked Story of Success

In the Ngao River basin of Northern Thailand, over 50 ethnic Karen communities practice successful riverine community-based conservation (CBC) programs. While institutional approaches provide insights for conservation successes, critical approaches are needed to understand the context that partially determines communities’ actions. Thus, drawing on political ecology and using a rooted networks framework to investigate the introduction and management of these programs, the first author, a North America-based researcher, remotely collaborated with the second, a local community researcher, to conduct qualitative fieldwork to understand the conditions and connections that shape and constrain communities. We found that networked relations with outsiders threatened food security and self-determination, and enabled opportunities to respond to these threats through river conservation. “Rooted” relations with the environment allowed communities to recognize the positive impacts of conservation. Understanding situated and entangled relationships within complex networks enables opportunities to support CBC programs that meet conservation and development goals.

Dynamics of human take and animal predation on sea turtle nests in Northwest Costa Rica.

Many conservation projects relocate sea turtle eggs to hatcheries to protect the sea turtle nests from the anthropogenic and natural threats they face in the early stages of development. The Rescue Center for Endangered Marine Species (CREMA) manages four sea turtle conservation projects on the nesting beaches of the Southern Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, where the predominant nesting activity is from olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). Two of these nesting projects are based in Costa de Oro and San Miguel, which are adjacent beaches divided by an estuary. In this study, we compared the dynamics and rates of human and animal predation of nests prior to being relocated to the hatchery on both nesting beaches from 2012 to 2018. We hypothesized that human take and animal predation were compensatory threats, meaning that lower human take may result in higher animal predation, and vice versa, resulting in a similar number of nests lost to predation overall. We discuss the community-based conservation programs on both beaches, one of which has been monitored since 1998 (San Miguel) and the other of which has been monitored since 2012 (Costa de Oro). We found that Costa de Oro exhibited high rates of human take with up to 51% of nests being extracted per season, which has decreased since the conservation project was established. Human take was significantly higher than animal predation on both beaches and human take was significantly higher in Costa de Oro. While San Miguel exhibited higher animal predation, the difference was not statistically significant. Higher depredation by animals corresponded to higher overall nest abundance on both beaches. We were unable to find evidence that human take or animal predation increased in the absence of the other threat, suggesting a lack of compensatory effects of predation. Our findings support further analysis of animal predation and a continuation of patrol-based conservation efforts as well as community outreach to attempt to merge cultural values with sea turtle conservation.

Advancing Applied Research in Conservation Criminology Through the Evaluation of Corruption Prevention, Enhancing Compliance, and Reducing Recidivism

Concomitant with an increase in the global illegal wildlife trade has been a substantial increase in research within traditional conservation-based sciences and conservation and green criminology. While the integration of criminological theories and methods into the wildlife conservation context has advanced our understanding of and practical responses to illegal wildlife trade, there remain discrepancies between the number of empirical vs. conceptual studies and a disproportionate focus on a few select theories, geographical contexts, and taxonomic groups. We present three understudied or novel applications of criminology and criminal justice research within the fields of fisheries, forestry, and wildlife conservation. First, we highlight criminological research on the application of corruption prevention in combating the illegal wildlife trade. Corruption has increasingly been getting attention from the non-governmental sector; however, there has been limited research aimed at understanding institutional opportunity structures, local conceptualizations of corruption, and the corresponding prevention strategies within conservation contexts. Second, we discuss the pre-emptive application of compliance theories when designing and monitoring Community-Based Conservation (CBC) programs such as community forestry, non-timber forest products, and community patrol programs. Applying opportunity theory and social development strategies are two suggestions to improve the effectiveness of CBCs in forestry and beyond. Finally, we present a discussion on recidivism (i.e., repeat offending) and non-instrumental or novel responses, utilizing illegal fishing as a case study. We present two alternative methods to traditional forms of punishment: restorative justice and community-based approaches. Lastly, we will present a diversity of priority research agendas within each of these topics.

Maleo Macrocephalon maleo population recovery at two Sulawesi nesting grounds after community engagement to prevent egg poaching

Sulawesi's endemic maleo bird Macrocephalon maleo, a megapode that lays its eggs in communal nesting areas of warm sand or soil, is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with its decline generally attributed to habitat loss and poaching of its large eggs. Despite decades of protection under Indonesian law and numerous field conservation efforts, no conservation projects have yet documented a recovery in local numbers, and the overall maleo population continues to decline. We aimed to test whether the maleo's decline could be reversed in two community-based conservation programs in the Tompotika region of Central Sulawesi, in which maleo eggs were left undisturbed in situ and egg-taking (poaching) by humans ceased by community agreement. Subsequently, maleo numbers have increased four-fold after 14 years and three-fold after 5 years at two different locations. Our results suggest that: a) at these sites, egg poaching by humans is the primary threat to maleos, above habitat loss and natural predation; b) maleo populations can recover if egg poaching is prevented and eggs are left undisturbed; c) interventions such as translocating and/or artificially incubating eggs may be unnecessary if poaching is stopped; d) communities may voluntarily choose to end poaching with appropriate outreach work, which may or may not include economic incentives.

Benefit Sharing in Community Based Conservation Programs: The Case of Makao Wildlife Management Area, Tanzania

Wildlife Management Area establishment around protected areas in Tanzania have been faced with various challenges including failures to adequately involve local populations in planning, governance and management of wildlife related resources. This study examined the benefit sharing mechanisms in Community Based Conservation programs, the case of Makao Wildlife Management Area in Meatu District, Tanzania. The study was conducted in Jinamo, Mwabagimu and Makao Villages. Data were collected from 281 heads of households using a survey design within the mixed approach. The study used simple random sampling based on the names of all heads of the households in each study village who were obtained from the village households as registered by village chairs. The major findings indicate that in the past five years, there is a considerable increase of income generated from wildlife investment in the study area which is used for payment of VGS salaries, food and other expense for VGS, community development and sharing among member villages. The study further shows that, inadequate involvement in the WMA activities results in local people having low perception on the WMA accrued benefits. The study recommends that it is essential to involve the local community in the WMA design and management in order to improve its acceptability and ownership. Benefit sharing in the WMAs should be designed as a strategy to offset conservation costs and build support for biodiversity conservation among conservation actors mainly local communities.

An updated population status of Astor Markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri) in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Pakistan) has a rich diversity of wild caprinae and is one of key area for caprinae community-based conservation programs. In this program, selective hunting of small proportion of adult males with large horns is done on annual basis to generate money for the conservation, habitat improvement and livelihood of local communities. The current study aimed at collecting reliable data about population status of Astor Markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri). For this purpose, fixed-point direct count method was used for estimation of Astor Markhor population in 16 catchments including 15 Community-Controlled Hunting Areas (CCHAs). A total of 1087 animals were counted, comprising of 266 (24%) males (including sixty-two (6%) trophy-sized males), 388 (36%) females, 227 (21%) yearling and 206 (19%) kids. Population density of Astor Markhor was estimated 0.13 individuals/km2, with male to female ratio 0.69:1, yearling to female 0.54:1 and kids to female 0.51:1. CCHA/catchment wise assessments showed that Kargah area has highest population (211 animals). It is suggested that consequences of trophy hunting should be strictly contingent upon population data obtained through robust methods, duly verified by a panel of conservation experts and may be extended to other areas also for fruitful results.

Attitudes towards and Relationships with Cave-Roosting Bats in Northwest Cambodia

Bat populations are declining worldwide because of anthropogenic activities, including habitat destruction and hunting. Cambodia represents an important case study for studying human-bat interactions, as loss of karst caves and the destruction of forests threaten the stability of bat populations and the ecosystem services they provide. Cambodians rely on bats for tourism revenue, fertilizer from guano, and as a source of protein. However, there is a lack of information on people's attitudes towards and relationships with cave-roosting bats. In 2018, we interviewed 60 residents around three karst outcrops (Sampeau Hill, Banan Hill, and Reichiatra Hill) in Battambang Province, northwestern Cambodia, along with agricultural professionals in Battambang Town, the province's capital. The primary objectives of the interviews were to examine people's (1) attitudes towards bats, (2) experiences with bats, and (3) engagement in high-risk behaviors associated with transmission of bat-related diseases (e.g., guano mining, hunting, etc.). Most respondents (70%) held positive attitudes towards bats and listed guano production, pest control, and tourism as benefits bats provide. Additionally, all informants believed bats should be protected and stated that they would feel sad if bats were extirpated. Conversely, respondents noted that many people eat bats. We followed these semi-structured interviews with five key informant interviews involved with the conservation of bats, which provided information on the history of human-bat interactions within these communities. Respondents' positive attitudes towards bats and recognition of ecosystem services bats provide indicate they would support bat conservation policy and may be interested in developing community-based conservation programs around karst outcrops.

PARK-PEOPLE CONFLICT IN BANGLADESH: A CASE STUDY FROM CHUNATI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND DUDHPUKURIA-DHOPACHORI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Conflict between people and wildlife is a foremost issue for conservation which is hard to solve when the wants of people collide in a straight line with the needs of endangered species like wild elephant. This study was carried out in the adjoining villages of two protected areas (PAs) of Chittagong region namely Dudupukuria-Dhopachori Wildlife Sanctuary (DDWS) and Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) to identify the attitude of the villagers to the PAs by measuring different received benefits and faced problems from those reserves, the interaction between human and wild elephants and the opinions of the villagers to the effectiveness of community based wildlife management. The data were collected through a quantitative household survey which includes a series of close ended, fixed response and simple questions. Crop depredation was identified as a major problem to the villagers and they received small amount of benefits for the conservation program through protected area which create negative attitude among them to the PAs. Though most of the people were willing to participate in community based conservation program, they didnot think that such kind of approach is effective to protect biodiversity in the PAs. The present study makes the recommendation to build positive attitude to the PAs, to minimize the conflict, helps in future planning programs and further research of this field.

Assessing Ecological and Social Dimensions of Success in a Community-based Sustainable Harvest Program.

Community-based conservation and resource management (CBCRM) programs often incorporate the dual goals of poverty alleviation and conservation. However, robust assessments of CBCRM program outcomes are relatively scarce. This study uses a multidisciplinary, systems approach to assess the ecological and social dimensions of success of an internationally acclaimed CBCRM program. This program, located in one of the largest protected areas in the Peruvian Amazon (Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve), strives for the sustainable harvest and trade of a turtle species (Podocnemis unifilis). We used mixed methods analysis, including interviews and population viability modeling, to understand three elements: how local perceptions of changes in the managed population compare to changes inferred by ecological analyses, the indicators stakeholders use to measure success, and the barriers to long-term program success and social-ecological system sustainability. We find that stakeholders perceive a growth trend in the managed turtle population, but this perception may diverge from our ecological understanding of the system under current management. Population viability analyses with a 1:1 sex ratio suggested population size will decline under two of three management scenarios (different degrees of harvest). Yet this and similar studies are plagued by a lack of species- and site-specific population parameters that could improve understanding of the system. Significant vulnerabilities exist for system sustainability, notably the recent decrease in foreign demand for the traded resource. Identifying a sustainable species-specific harvest rate, developing locally-grounded ecological and social indicators, and focusing on data-driven adaptive management will facilitate the identification of key leverage points for future management interventions.

Territorialising Conservation: Community-based Approaches in Kenya and Namibia

Community-based Conservation seeks to strike a balance between nature conservation and economic growth by establishing spatial and institutional settings that maintain and even regain biodiversity while simultaneously allowing for sustainable land use. The implementation of community-based conservation blueprints on communal, often agronomically marginal lands, is in many southern and eastern African countries encouraged by the national government. Despite vast academic literature on community-based conservation, it remains unclear how this re-shaping of resource governance has driven territorialisation in rural areas. To address this gap, this article compares the implementation of community-based conservation in Northern Kenya and Northern Namibia. By doing so, we intend to shed light on the question 'why does community-based conservation result in different forms of territorialisation negotiated between state agencies, non-governmental organisations and rural communities? We demonstrate how historical preconditions, contemporary project design, and the commodification of natural resources shape territorialisation in both cases in different ways. In Kenya, concerns for securitisation have been driving community-based conservation, while in Namibia it primarily aimed to benefit the previously disadvantaged rural residents. Furthermore, in both regions community-based conservation programmes serve as vehicles to articulate political claims, either to reify traditional authorities, to create ethnically homogenous territories or to define boundaries of resource use.

Community-based conservation and chimpanzee research in Gishwati forest, Rwanda.

As great ape populations around the world continue to decline, largely due to anthropogenic activities, conservation programs aimed at supporting these efforts have had mixed success. Here, we evaluate our community-based conservation program in Gishwati forest, Rwanda, aimed at helping to restore biodiversity and ecosystem services using chimpanzees as a flagship species. We examine the effectiveness of this program on reducing one of the ongoing threats to Gishwati's population of chimpanzees, illegal cattle grazing as well as the program's influence on the size of the chimpanzee population. We monitored illegal cattle grazing during several study periods between 2009 and 2019 in Gishwati forest following the implementation of our conservation program in 2008 that included law enforcement, community engagement, and research components. We found that when our conservation program was active, illegal cattle grazing was reduced to low levels. We also observed an increase in the chimpanzee population size during the 11 years since we started our conservation program. We examine how this reduction in cattle grazing and increase in chimpanzee population size may have been influenced by our community-centered approach and discuss the future of our conservation work in Gishwati.

Examining social equity in community-based conservation programs: A case study of controlled hunting programs in Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Abstract We examine social equity in a complex community-based controlled hunting program in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. We use a grounded qualitative approach and apply a multi-dimensional equity framework to assess locals’ perceptions of equity in the distribution of benefits and costs, the processes of engagement and participation, and the recognition of traditional land use practices and values, paying attention to the inter- and intra-community power dynamics, institutional characteristics, and broader contextual factors that shape perceptions. We conducted interviews with 15 focus groups across four communities and contrast two community-based management models: one that employs a community power sharing mechanism and one without. In each community, we stratified respondents into groups of young men, elder men, women, and community leaders to respect differences in gender, age, and role in the community. The results demonstrate the interweaving effects that broader contextual factors, individual characteristics, and institutional support have on equity perceptions. Important contextual dimensions included pre-existing and ongoing social, political, and economic processes such as population growth and land scarcity, legacy of land use interactions, lack of community infrastructure, and youth-led political activism and unrest. Individual attributes that influenced perceptions included landlessness and joblessness among the youth, the extreme reliance of women on forest products for subsistence, and the traditional value systems and practices among elders. Access to information, transparency of decision making, and the presence of monitoring and accountability also influenced perceived equity. This study contributes to the literature on community-based conservation by demonstrating how and why local’s concepts of fairness diverge from generic and externally defined notions of equitability. Moving forward, equity assessments need to evaluate local actor’s diverse and contextualized relationships with other actors and the natural world, and give recognition to how perceptions interplay with broader social and environmental processes, prior to designing and implementing conservation programs.

Using local ecological knowledge to improve large terrestrial mammal surveys, build local capacity and increase conservation opportunities

Field information is essential for developing conservation actions, but standard methods for surveying wildlife are often inefficient in large, remote areas. Without efficient methods, surveying is difficult or even impossible. Consequently, some of the most threatened species and regions remain un- or under-surveyed, e.g. South American Chaco. Survey methods based on local ecological knowledge (LEK-methods) could be useful for surveying these areas and species. However, LEK-methods may be inaccurate and are rarely evaluated or compared to standard-methods. This is the first large-scale study evaluating the performance of two LEK-methods, and comparing it with the performance of standard-methods, for detecting three species of large terrestrial mammals. We used a locally-based survey (LBS) and interviews as LEK-methods, and transect and camera trapping as standard survey methods. We estimated the probability of detecting each species with each method, of having false-presences and their cost. We also quantitatively analysed the ability of LBS to build local capacity, focusing on conservation, research and working skills. We found that compared to standard-methods, LEK-methods increase detection probabilities of three species while providing accurate information. LBSs are more expensive than interviews but improve local capacities, raising the chances of successful implementation of community-based conservation programmes. Interviews are optimal for rapid assessments and can be useful for wildlife monitoring. Before using LEK-methods, we recommend pilot studies to determine estimators´ variability. Overall, this study shows that LEK-based methods can be efficient and accurate for detecting large mammals in remote areas. Furthermore, LEK-methods can help develop legitimate conservation initiatives.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dalam Pelestraian Hutan dan Pertanian Berkelanjutan di Sekitar Suaka Margasatwa Karakelang, Sulawesi Utara

The protection of Karakelang wildlife sanctuary has been challenged by forest encroachment, timber harvesting and wildlife poaching - all of which are attributed to social economic condition of the communities living in the vicinity. A community based conservation program was delivered to strengthen communities’ role in maintaining forest integrity while making good income from sustainable agriculture. This action research using mixed methodology evaluates the influence of program delivery in changing the knowledge, attitude and practice of forest protection and sustainable agriculture among beneficiaries in three villages. Data was collected using structured interview, while other supporting information was taken from project reports and field notes. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test reveals that program has influence in changing the knowledge of respondents in both forest protection and sustainable agriculture, as well as in the change of attitude and practice regarding sustainable agriculture. However, it does not have influence in changing their attitude and practice toward forest protection. As shwon by economic indicator, program has contributed in providing new source of income to farmers household. The result of logistic regression shows that age, education, land ownership and income has influence in the change of people’s knowledge about forest biodiversity. Only age has influence in change of attitude towards sustainable agriculture, and only land ownership has influence on support to forest protection.