1. Harvesting Wildlife Greg Baxter School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Management The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus Presentation at Geography Day July 25 th 2014

2. Wildlife includes living, wild harvested resources Includes; animals and their products (e.g. skins, ivory) plants and their products (e.g. seeds, wax, natural pigments)

3. Each type of harvesting has different driver different aerial extent different mode of operation Therefore different modes of control/enforcement are applicable

4. Types of harvesting Commercial Subsistence Bush Meat Cultural Collector

5. Areal Extent Internation al Trade DriversEconomic Momentum Endangered CommercialLargeYesEcon. Imperative HugeTaken, maybe not targeted SubsistenceLocal but widespread NoSubsist- ence NilTaken Bush MeatV. widespread Yes & Increasing Tradition, taste & econom. Large & growing Taken CulturalLocal but widespread YesTradition & econ. Small, except medicine Often targeted CollectorGlobalYesDesire/ fashion HugeOften targeted Different harvests require different controls

6. Mode of harvest varies Mode CommercialFirearms, live & lethal traps, mustering, lassoing SubsistenceFirearms, lethal traps, snares Bush MeatFirearms, lethal traps, snares CulturalFirearms, lethal traps, snares CollectorLive traps (transport), hand

10. Photo: Ruben De Koch

16. Different harvesting requires different controls Must be international

17. Different harvesting requires different controls Must be international Policing and enforcement insufficient

18. Different harvesting requires different controls Must be international Policing and enforcement insufficient Must address poverty

19. Different harvesting requires different controls Must be international Policing and enforcement insufficient Must address poverty Must address cultural issues

20. Different harvesting requires different controls Must be international Policing and enforcement insufficient Must address poverty Must address cultural issues Understand there powerful vested interests

21. Different harvesting requires different controls Must be international Policing and enforcement insufficient Must address poverty Must address cultural issues Understand there powerful vested interests Recognise economic and conservation outcomes can be achieved

22. Controlling Harvest Quotas Regulating effort Spatial control

23. Quotas Preselected proportion of population(s) taken Requires; Accurate & precise population estimate EACH harvest Regular population monitoring (absolute abundance) Good control over non-quota (illegal) take

24. Obtaining an estimate of absolute abundance Time consuming Costly Complex

25. Regulating Effort Limit how and/or when harvest can occur e.g. nest mesh size, rifle calibre, closed season(s) Requires; Compliance with regulations Appropriate effort is specified Monitoring of population trend Does Not Require; Estimate of absolute abundance Control is self-tracking with changes in population size

26. Spatial Control Limit WHERE animals can be taken, not how many, or how = places where animals can be harvested

27. Spatial Control Harvest between 0 – 100% in black squares Animals disperse into hunting areas Then, monitor trend in non-hunted areas

28. Monitoring in Spatial Control If population in non- hunted areas is about constant, maintain situation

29. Monitoring in Spatial Control If population in non- hunted areas is decreasing, restrict hunting areas

30. Monitoring in Spatial Control If population in non- hunted areas is increasing, increase hunting areas

31. Spatial Control Requires; Estimate of relative abundance – easy, cheap, repeatable Used; Fisheries, marine parks e.g. GBRMPA

32. How is harvest set for quotas? Must understand the link between harvest size and population size and know what population size is Assumes sustainable harvest Harvest Population Size

33. How is harvest set Population Size Sustained Yield (SY) There are two population sizes (A & B) that will deliver any given SY Harvest at the higher one AB

34. How is harvest set Population Size Sustained Yield (SY) MSY There is only one populations size (A) that will produce the maximum sustained yield (MSY). A

35. Harvesting at MSY is dangerous Population Size Sustained Yield (SY) MSY Even a small error in population size estimate will lead to over-harvest Population usually discounted by 15% and population harvested there AA – 15%

36. Can harvest have a conservation benefit? If the following conditions are met: Benefit accrues to the land owner/occupier Exploitation does not endanger the species (or look alikes) Populations are monitored and managed Exploitation enhances habitat

37. Questions ?