Wildlife and Interest Groups - Conflicts and Chances -

Wildlife and Interest GroupsWildlife and Interest Groups- Conflicts and Chances -- Conflicts and Chances -

23.02.2005

by Christoph Promberger

Wildlife and HumansWildlife and Humans

Wildlife and humans have a long-lasting relationship.

Most important for humans were utilitarian aspects of wildlife (food, competitors) and mystic aspects (sacred animals/evil animals).

In our modern, Central European life, wildlife has decreased in importance and has changed towards a less utilitarian way to look at it.


In rural areas, wildlife has a higher importance in comparison to urban areas, but the utilitarian aspect is much stronger.

In other countries, wildlife is still an important issue: In North America or Scandinavia, wildlife is an important issue for the broader public and a number of specific wildlife agencies exist with numerous staff and excellent budgets.

Who Am I?Who Am I?

- I grew up in rural Bavaria, next to the Czech border- Forestry degree (Univ. Munich), M.Sc.

study about wolves in the Canadian North

A few words about myself:

- 1993-2003 Carpathian Large Carnivore Project (Romania)

- 2004 own horse riding centre- 2005 new conservation project “Sinca Noua”

The Carpathian Large Carnivore The Carpathian Large Carnivore ProjectProject

A conservation and research project in the east-central Romanian Carpathians with the overall goal to

enhance the relations between large carnivores and humans by solving conflicts, creating

economic advantages through the existence of l.c.s and creating understanding.


We divided the project in four general fields of activities:

Research about direct interactions between

l.c.s and people


We divided the project in four general fields of activities:

Research about direct interactions between

l.c.s and people

Direct conservation activities to resolve

conflicts (e.g. electric fences for livestock)

Rural development/development

of eco-tourism

Environmental education and school programmes


Some results of the project

- Basic understanding of how l.c.s and people can cope – not a problem for l.c.s, people are the crucial factor


Some results of the project

- Basic understanding of how l.c.s and people can cope – not a problem for l.c.s, people are the crucial factor

- Electric fences are a good tool to decrease conflicts between wolves/bears and livestock

- Wolves and bears are very valuable to promote an area for tourism, 150 jobs created

The Sinca Noua ProjectThe Sinca Noua Project

Sinca Noua is a small village (1,800 inhabitants, 9,000 ha surface, altitude 600-1,600 m) at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. The village wants to develop itself into an eco-village in order to conserve the area for the next generations and to enhance the economic situation for its inhabitants without compromising the quality of life.


The project is in its very early stage, but intends to

create a model area, where conservation of nature and sustainable economic development

for the people go hand in hand and support each other.


Planned activities:- create a large protected area (wilderness reserve)- certification of the local agriculture as “organic agriculture” and of Sinca Noua as an eco-tourism destination- creation of a small-scale industry in food processing (milk, meat, fruits, forest fruits)-development of Sinca Noua as an eco-tourism destination, services provided by local people


Where are conflicts and chances?

Hunting Livestock and Agriculture

Tourism


Where are conflicts and chances?

Most important reason for conflicts is a lack of communication and a lack of understanding of each others interests.

Where local people are expected to accept conservation measures, conservation managers have to understand the needs of local people and provide solutions.


Conservation can hardly ever be achieved by fighting against local people but by creating partnerships.

Conservation reaches acceptance, where local people have a personal advantage of a protected area.

HuntingHuntingPositive sides of hunting:

- control against poaching

- control of nuisance animals

- use of a renewable resource

- leisure activity

- economic input for a region

HuntingHuntingPositive sides of hunting:

- control against poaching

- use of a renewable resource

- leisure activity

- economic input for a region

Negative sides of hunting:

- killing of otherwise reproducing animals

- possible shift in species occurrence

- disturbance and interruption of social structure

HuntingHuntingRestrictions upon hunting for conservation issues always causes conflicts with hunters

Effects:

- less acceptance for protected areas

- increase of poaching

Poaching has always a social component and is a way to articulate protest.

Since poaching can be done with gun, trap or poison, it is very hard to control.

HuntingHunting

Possible solutions to decrease conflicts with hunters:

- accept hunting in parts of the protected area

- include hunters in wildlife monitoring

- accept hunting for various species (e.g. allow a wild boar hunt/year as a big event)

Livestock and AgricultureLivestock and Agriculture

Especially large carnivores and wild boar can create substantial damage to livestock and crops

But there are good protection methods against wildlife damage


In Romania, where over 5,000,000 sheep graze the alpine pastures during the summer, there is at the same time the highest concentration of large carnivores in Europe:

5,000 bears



5,000 bears

3,000 wolves



5,000 bears

3,000 wolves

2,000 lynx


Still, damage is acceptable, only 1-2% of the sheep are killed by carnivores each year.

This is due to the traditional livestock protection methods, still executed in Romania

There is no flock of sheep in the mountains without several guarding dogs


Damage occurs mainly, if

- the shepherds are inattentive

- the camps are too close to the forest

- the dogs are bad quality


In many countries, damage compensation is being paid. Unless this is linked to protection methods, it is not a useful tool to mitigate conflicts between large carnivores and the local people

More successful is, if money is paid when carnivores successfully breed in an area or when protection methods are being co-funded by the state


Electric fences are the easiest and most successful tool to protect herds or crops.

Some data:

- costs ca. 500 Euro/ha (~ 7 sheep)

- powered with 12 V car batteries

- battery lasts ca. 3-4 weeks before it has to be recharged

Eco-tourismEco-tourismEco-tourism has two components:

- no negative environmental impact

- local people benefit from the tourism

Chance:

- local acceptance for protected areas

- sustainable development

Danger:

- non-local investors take over

- might get out of hand

Eco-tourismEco-tourismIn developing eco-tourism the following ingredients are necessary:

A good story – Why should a visitor come to this specific area?

Tools to develop a proper infrastructure

Tools to prevent unwanted developments

A good marketing strategy – Get the word out!

Eco-tourismEco-tourism

There are three levels to work on:

1. The local level

Build/enhance the infrastructure

Train people

Create awareness of what eco-tourism means

Organise the people (e.g. Tourism Association)



2. The national level

Get national gov’t support

Get national media coverage (create pride on the local level)

Attract national visitors



3. The international level

Get international support (NGO’s)

Get international media coverage (attract foreign visitors)

Attract international funding

Thank you very much for your attention!

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Wildlife and Interest Groups - Conflicts and Chances -