IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Anonymous, | |
| Leopard and cheetah baseline inventory in the Okavango Delta particularly in relation to areas of human wildlife conflict | |
| Full Book | |
The Okavango Delta represents an area of exceptional biodiversity and identifies the largest Ramsar site in the world. In order to secure the long-term viability of this system, the Government of Botswana with partners has initiated the development of a long-term conservation-planning program, the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP). The purpose of this study, a part of the ODMP program, was to undertake a baseline inventory of leopard and cheetah distribution, human wildlife conflicts and evaluate costs and benefits to communities and other stakeholders. In Botswana as in many African countries, little is known about the dynamics of human wildlife conflict or the population status of the more secretive problem animals such as leopard and cheetah. In order for effective management approaches to be formulated, it is essential that information on the basic ecological parameters of the species and dynamics of conflict with rural communities be identified. However, time and finance often limit the acquisition of such information and management plans are developed in the absence or with little specific data, this is particularly so in regards to species such as leopard and cheetah. Traditional knowledge, however, is identified as an important information resource for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem management. Integration of this information into management processes is identified as a key principle of the ecosystem approach. Despite this however, traditional knowledge is infrequently used in management planning activities and is primarily directed at identifying stakeholder views on resource utilization strategies and assessment of valuation. In assessing aspects of ecological processes and species dynamics, it is recognized that a primary barrier to the effective use of traditional knowledge is the reluctance of scientists to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific data (Smith and Maltby 2003). This may be related to the difficulty in effectively acquiring and integrating these often, disparate data types to address common scientific questions. In addition to adding a different perception and enhancing the understanding of ecological processes, traditional knowledge offers the opportunity for a cost effective means of testing results derived from indirect data capture techniques and enhanced interpretation of results obtained from standard scientific approaches. This may be particularly valuable when finance and time limits the scope of a scientific study and traditional knowledge can be acquired in the study area. Due to the program structure for the management planning exercise, project duration was limited to 120 days. In order to address these limitations and enhance consultancy output, an integrated study design was developed which included both traditional knowledge and indirect and direct scientific study approaches. This study therefore also provides insight into the ability of traditional knowledge to fill gaps, expand data interpretation and test the validity of scientific outputs. Further, traditional knowledge substantively informed recommendations for the management planning approach in regards to human conflict resolution and identification of the conservation needs of these species. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |