Latest Articles from Nature Conservation Latest 5 Articles from Nature Conservation https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:55:12 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Nature Conservation https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/ The unregulated nature of the commercial captive predator industry in South Africa: Insights gained using the PAIA process https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/85108/ Nature Conservation 50: 227-264

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.50.85108

Authors: Louise de Waal, Catherine Jakins, Stephanie E. Klarmann, Jennah Green, Neil D’Cruze

Abstract: South Africa has allowed the commercial captive breeding and trade of African lions (Panthera leo) and other large felids since the 1990s. However, publicly available information to quantify the extent and nature of this industry, as well as insight into the diversity of relevant provincial nature conservation statutes, are lacking. Our study reviewed the provincial regulations that govern the captive predator industry in South Africa and used the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to obtain records held by the nine provincial departments regulating the captive breeding, keeping, and trade of large felids. The information obtained through the PAIA process was highly inconsistent across provincial borders, demonstrated the absence of standard operating procedures, and highlighted the convoluted and decentralised permitting systems. The research postulates that varying and sometimes conflicting provincial regulations can lead to further exploitation of legal loopholes and unregulated growth of the industry. In addition, provincial resources are inadequate for authorities to carry out their fundamental mandates of nature conservation. Although the PAIA process was challenging, the information received provided valuable insight into the unregulated nature of this industry and demonstrated major concerns in addressing the necessary challenges associated with animal welfare. Furthermore, with more than half of the PAIA requests either refused, rejected or ignored, the true magnitude and nature of South Africa’s commercial captive predator industry cannot be accurately quantified. The evidence from this study supports the notion of transitioning away from the commercial captive predator breeding industry, as intended by the South African government.

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Research Article Mon, 5 Dec 2022 15:54:07 +0200
The extent and nature of the commercial captive lion industry in the Free State province, South Africa https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/85292/ Nature Conservation 50: 203-225

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.50.85292

Authors: Sarah Heinrich, Lalita Gomez, Jennah Green, Louise de Waal, Catherine Jakins, Neil D'Cruze

Abstract: The captive breeding of wildlife for commercial purposes is a controversial issue. In South Africa, the farming of African lions (Panthera leo) for commercial trade emerged in the early 1990s, partly as a conservation measure to reduce the decline in wild lion numbers while meeting increasing wildlife trade demands. In May 2021, the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) announced plans to end the captive breeding of lions, keeping of lions in captivity, and the use of captive lions, their parts and derivatives for commercial trade. Here, we examined the commercial captive lion industry from 2017 to 2020 in the Free State province, the heart of the lion breeding industry. We document the extent of the industry and highlight a number of key management issues. Of particular concern were issues with microchip numbers, which are used to follow each registered lion from birth to death through the system and to avoid laundering of wild caught and/or non-registered lions. Of the 4,823 unique microchips that were identified, at least 11% could not be followed through the system. Additionally, a minimum of 199 microchip numbers may have been reused by permit holders, either on captivity, euthanasia, or transport permits, indicating potential non-compliance with the Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) Regulations. We highlight further areas of concern that warrant additional attention for these types of activities that may cause management issues during the transition period and which may also be relevant for the keeping, breeding, and trading of other TOPS regulated species in South Africa, particularly big cat species.

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Research Article Tue, 22 Nov 2022 18:22:27 +0200
Recreation effects on wildlife: a review of potential quantitative thresholds https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/63270/ Nature Conservation 44: 51-68

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.44.63270

Authors: Jeremy S. Dertien, Courtney L. Larson, Sarah E. Reed

Abstract: Outdoor recreation is increasingly recognised for its deleterious effects on wildlife individuals and populations. However, planners and natural resource managers lack robust scientific recommendations for the design of recreation infrastructure and management of recreation activities. We reviewed 38 years of research on the effect of non-consumptive recreation on wildlife to attempt to identify effect thresholds or the point at which recreation begins to exhibit behavioural or physiological change to wildlife. We found that 53 of 330 articles identified a quantitative threshold. The majority of threshold articles focused on bird or mammal species and measured the distance to people or to a trail. Threshold distances varied substantially within and amongst taxonomic groups. Threshold distances for wading and passerine birds were generally less than 100 m, whereas they were greater than 400 m for hawks and eagles. Mammal threshold distances varied widely from 50 m for small rodents to 1,000 m for large ungulates. We did not find a significant difference between threshold distances of different recreation activity groups, likely based in part on low sample size. There were large gaps in scientific literature regarding several recreation variables and taxonomic groups including amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles. Our findings exhibit the need for studies to measure continuous variables of recreation extent and magnitude, not only to detect effects of recreation on wildlife, but also to identify effect thresholds when and where recreation begins or ceases to affect wildlife. Such considerations in studies of recreation ecology could provide robust scientific recommendations for planners and natural resource managers for the design of recreation infrastructure and management of recreation activities.

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Review Article Fri, 28 May 2021 10:19:18 +0300
Community perceptions towards nature conservation in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/57935/ Nature Conservation 43: 41-53

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.43.57935

Authors: Daniel Angwenyi, Martin Potgieter, James Gambiza

Abstract: Relationships between protected area managers and adjacent communities, as well as communities’ attitudes, views and perceptions of these areas, are critical for the success of conservation efforts. It is important for protected area managers and administrators to understand how local communities view these areas and their management, so that they can build sustainable working rel ationships. This paper is based on a survey of 375 semi-structured questionnaires administered to household heads, living at distances ranging from the edge of the reserves to 50 km away from the reserve boundary across the Great Fish River, Mkambati, Hluleka, and Tsolwana nature reserves in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The paper provides a longitudinal assessment of households’ knowledge about the role of reserves and the reserves’ impacts on livelihood assets. In addition to households’ knowledge about the role of reserves, the paper also provides an assessment of people’s attitudes towards their location and management, as well as views on the best way to manage the reserves. For 79% of community members, reserves were important as they were seen to conserve biodiversity and valuable ecological systems necessary for sustaining life. Most (75%) respondents indicated that closely located reserves gave them opportunities to learn about nature conservation and to subsidize their incomes through tourism ventures. However, 58% had a problem with reserves’ staff, due to restrictions on resource use, which negatively impacted their livelihoods. Over half (51%) of the households argued that sustainable conservation can only be achieved through an integrated approach where conservation and local communities’ needs are given equal weight. We concluded that reserve managers should look at communities as active partners in the management of protected areas if sustainable conservation objectives are to be realised.

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Research Article Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:07:36 +0200
The utility of Sentinel-2 Vegetation Indices (VIs) and Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for invasive alien species detection and mapping https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/29588/ Nature Conservation 35: 41-61

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.35.29588

Authors: Perushan Rajah, John Odindi, Onisimo Mutanga, Zolo Kiala

Abstract: The threat of invasive alien plant species is progressively becoming a serious global concern. Alien plant invasions adversely affect both ecological services and socio-economic systems. Hence, accurate detection and mapping of invasive alien species is valuable in mitigating adverse ecological and socio-economic effects. Recent advances in active and passive remote sensing technology have created new and cost-effective opportunities for the application of remote sensing to invasive species mapping. In this study, new generation Sentinel-2 (S2) optical imagery was compared to S2 derived Vegetation Indices (VIs) and S2 VIs fused with Sentinel-1 (S1) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for detecting and mapping the American Bramble (Rubus cuneifolius). Fusion of S2 VIs and S1 SAR imagery was conducted at pixel level and multi-class Support Vector Machine (SVM) image classification was used to determine the dominant land use land cover classes. Results indicated that S2 derived VIs were the most accurate (80%) in detecting and mapping Bramble, while fused S2 VIs and S1 SAR were the least accurate (54%). Findings from this study suggest that the application of S2 VIs is more suitable for Bramble detection and mapping than the fused S2 VIs and S1 SAR. The superior performance of S2 VIs highlights the value of the new generation S2 VIs for invasive alien species detection and mapping. Furthermore, this study recommends the use of freely available new generation satellite imagery for cost effective and timeous mapping of Bramble from surrounding native vegetation and other land use land cover types.

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Research Article Fri, 14 Jun 2019 10:00:34 +0300