Cultural influences on attitudes about the causes and consequences of wildlife poaching

Rizzolo, Jessica Bell; Gore, Meredith L.; Ratsimbazafy, Jonah; Rajaonson, Andry

doi:10.1007/s10611-016-9665-z

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The conservation community is increasingly recognising that issues such as poaching and wildlife trade are multifaceted [ 29 ] and driven by complex social, cultural and economic factors [ 39 , 41 , 42 ]. Overreliance on enforcement measures not only fails to address these complexities, but also can prove counterproductive by, for example, driving trade further ‘underground’ [ 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring differences in stakeholders’ perceptions of illegal bird trapping in Cyprus

Jenkins

Mammides

Keane

2017

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundCyprus is recognised as a hotspot for illegal bird trapping in the Mediterranean basin. A consumer demand for the Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is driving the use of non-selective trapping methods, resulting in the indiscriminate killing of millions of migratory birds. Efforts to tackle the issue have so far been characterised mostly by a top-down approach, focusing on legislation and enforcement. However, trapping levels are not decreasing and conflict between stakeholder groups is intensifying.MethodsTo understand why efforts to stop illegal bird trapping have not been effective, we used semi-structured interviews to interview 18 local bird trappers and nine representatives from the pertinent environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the governmental agencies responsible for enforcing the legislation.ResultsWe found distinct differences between the views of the local trapping community and the environmental NGOs, particularly on why trapping is occurring and its impact on the avifauna. This disparity has contributed to misrepresentations of both sides and a high degree of conflict, which is potentially proving counterproductive to conservation interventions. In addition, it appears that trappers are a heterogeneous group, likely driven by various motivations besides profit.ConclusionWe argue that stakeholders interested in reducing illegal bird trapping need to develop anti-poaching strategies that aim at minimising the disparity in the views, and subsequently the conflict, acknowledging also that trappers are not a homogenous group, as often treated.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring differences in stakeholders’ perceptions of illegal bird trapping in Cyprus

Jenkins

Mammides

Keane

2017

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In our study, perceived fear of community-level regulations, improved economic status, small family sizes and behavioural changes within friend and family circles were more likely to improve compliance behaviours than perceived fear of arrest; these could play valuable roles in improving natural resource conservation. Indeed, there are indications that traditional institutions are effective at ensuring law and order in rural communities (Onyeozili 2005, Oraegbunam 2010, Ayuk & Owan 2013, Rizzolo et al 2017, such as those in south-east Nigeria. In many rural communities, the prevention and control of criminal behaviour is rooted in kinship and in the extended family system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ensuring that rural communities living in proximity to protected areas (PAs) comply with conservation laws is a major challenge; increasing spikes in illegal activities within PAs are often attributed to non-compliance behaviours by rural people resulting from ineffective enforcement of wildlife laws (Jachmann 2008, Keane et al 2008, Arias 2015, Bergseth et al 2018. There is ample evidence that conservation law enforcement is essential to curbing the growing threats of human-related activities on protected species and landscapes (Hilborn et al 2006, Jachmann 2008, Rizzolo et al 2017). Yet, exactly how social behaviour could mediate compliance with wildlife regulations has received little attention (Arias 2015, Shirley 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach could be strengthened if rangers work in collaboration with local communities to implement enforcement. Indeed, an integrated approach to enforcement that incorporates local knowledge and culture (via village chiefs or local community leaders) with relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies could be valuable in forming biodiversity conservation values, as well as empowering local people to protect these values (Milner-Gulland et al 2016, Gore 2017, Moreto & Gau 2017, Rizzolo et al 2017. Such collaborations could be imperative in cultivating a sense of ownership and responsibility for natural resources among local communities and in creating avenues for easy conflict resolution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Coupling law enforcement and community-based regulations in support of compliance with biodiversity conservation regulations

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryThe scope and scale of wildlife crimes around the world have risen in intensity and complexity, yet current enforcement strategies have often not delivered desired effects on illegal activities, even within protected areas. Tackling the array of illegal activities by emphasizing law enforcement above other options is challenging and potentially unsustainable. We explored the potential for social norms, community regulations and socioeconomic factors to promote compliance with wildlife laws by interviewing 334 respondents in 28 villages that share boundaries with protected areas in Nigeria. Using an anonymous direct questioning approach, we recorded a high prevalence of non-compliance behaviours in all studied communities. Injunctive norms (i.e., perceptions of acceptable behaviour within a social group) significantly predicted compliance, as respondents with no complicit friends or family members were more likely to comply with wildlife regulations. Perceived likelihood of community-level sanctions played a more salient role than the fear of arrest by rangers in influencing compliance. In addition, non-compliance increased with number of dependents, but reduced with average monthly household income. Our study demonstrates that clear knowledge of the social norms that drive local behaviour as well as the authorities that enforce them is integral to understanding the forces that drive community involvement and participation in conservation. Incorporating local communities in planning enforcement interventions may help protect threatened species and landscapes.

show abstract

“…The application of well established criminological concepts to the area of conservation criminology marks a promising shift towards more effective prevention and management of complex conservation problems (seeLemieux and Clarke, 2009;Lemieux, 2014;Petrossian and Clarke, 2014;Pires, 2015b;2018;Rizzolo, Gore, Ratsimbazafy & Rajaonson, 2017;Moreto and Pires, 2018;Petrossian, 2018;. For example, examining redwood burl poaching in the United States,Kurland et al (2018) showed that the availability and proximity to roads of suitable target trees were key risk factors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Conservation’ criminology: understanding and preventing illegal fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Weekers¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wildlife crime is a significant global problem that undermines efforts to protect the environment, applies immense pressure to often fragile social and cultural structures and deprives economies of wealth and the capacity of countries to achieve sustainable development goals. Wildlife poaching, referring to the illegal removal of flora or fauna, is the most common form of wildlife crime and often occurs from within the spatial boundaries of protected areas (PAs). People poach for a variety of reasons such as, traditional use, subsistence, recreational and commercial gain. The wide-ranging motivations held by individual poachers makes it a particularly complex problem for PA managers. The rise of poaching in I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

show abstract

Cultural influences on attitudes about the causes and consequences of wildlife poaching

Cited by 34 publications

References 66 publications

Exploring differences in stakeholders’ perceptions of illegal bird trapping in Cyprus

Exploring differences in stakeholders’ perceptions of illegal bird trapping in Cyprus

Coupling law enforcement and community-based regulations in support of compliance with biodiversity conservation regulations

‘Conservation’ criminology: understanding and preventing illegal fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About