Valuing habitat regime models for the red-cockaded woodpecker in Mississippi

Managing Mississippi's forest lands to produce both quality wildlife habitat as well as merchantable timber can be a daunting challenge for forest managers and a source of great concern for the public. In some cases, producing both the quantity and quality of habitat needed and the timber desired is all but impossible. In other cases, a delicate balance that achieves both objectives can be struck. The objective of this study was to quantitatively estimate monetary gains and losses and changes in timber inventories relative to the timber growing stock when producing more or less habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) (Picoides borealis). USDA Forest Service vegetation data, habitat ratings, and economic variables were compiled for those regions of Mississippi best suited for RCWs. Data was then analyzed with Spectrum, the USDA Forest Service-based forest planning software. Models maximizing such objectives as net present value (NPV) alone as well as five different levels of RCW habitat quality over a 50-year rotation were developed. Revenue foregone, acres and volumes harvested, land expectation value (LEV), and equivalent annual income (EAI) were compared for all objectives for the South Central Hills and Pine Belt regions of Mississippi (1,036,208 acres) for three ownership types. As expected, when maximizing for any quality level of RCW habitat, revenue forgone was higher ($0.11–$49/acre/year) than for NPV alone. Volume harvested for high-quality habitat ranged from 152,296 to 10,237,649 cunits, while harvests from low-quality habitat ranged from 637,491 to 116,357,673 cunits. Lower levels of habitat management allowed for an increased emphasis on timber harvesting. In general, we determined that increases in habitat quality resulted in lower timber harvest levels and increased revenue forgone than regimes maximizing NPVs. While this result may be expected, of greater importance are the relative differences between regimes and the ability to use these values for policy decisions.     

The Local Economic Impacts of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in Saskatchewan

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan seeks to improve wildlife habitat and increase waterfowl numbers through voluntary transactions with farmers to modify their land management practices. The impact of modified land use practices on the incomes of participating farmers and the regional economy are estimated. The compensation offered under the Plan for modification of land use is determined to adequately offset any loss in participants' income. Income losses to the community due to reduced farm input sales were more than offset by the increase in NAWMP direct expenditures (excluding compensation payments). Distributional effects and externalities must be recognized and monitored to ensure success of the program     

野生动物及其制品非法贸易治理策略研究

运用滚雪球方法系统地梳理野生动物非法贸易及犯罪研究领域的相关文献资料,全面地分析野生动物的法律概念界定窄且不确定、“保护”与“利用”初衷存在偏离、协同监管体制不完善等治理困境,得到野生动物及其制品非法贸易治理遵循生物多样性规律、完善整体性保护的思路、创新非法贸易的治理举措三大治理需求,提出从重塑立法理念、科学界定野生动物概念、完善野生动物及其制品非法贸易治理体制、优化执法队伍建设体制等治理野生动物及其制品非法贸易的建议。     

公路建设与野生动物保护

公路建设在促进社会、经济发展的同时,也产生了严重的负面作用;就公路建设对野生动物产生的影响及防治措施进行了综述;公路建设对野生动物产生的影响包括干扰、公路致死、阻碍与回避、生境破碎化、生物入侵等;其防治措施包括路径选择、野生动物通道、补偿和营运期管理等。     

Chinese contractor involvement in wildlife protection in Africa: Case study of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway Project,Kenya

As their sales of projects in Africa increase at a high annual growth rate, Chinese contractors are encountering new challenges regarding wildlife protection during project construction. Using the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway project constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) as a case study, we researched how the CRBC involves itself in wildlife protection throughout the project. The results state that, although the CRBC's efforts show its commitment to wildlife protection, its overall involvement in this domain is far from successful. Chinese contractors need to improve their effort regarding wildlife protection for future projects.     

Targeting Incentives to Reduce Habitat Fragmentation

This article develops a theoretical model to analyze the spatial targeting of incentives for the restoration of forested landscapes when wildlife habitat can be enhanced by reducing fragmentation. The key theoretical result is that the marginal net benefits of increasing forest can be convex, in which case corner solutions—converting either none or all of the agricultural land in a section to forest—may be optimal. Corner solutions are directly linked to the spatial process determining habitat benefits and the regulator's incomplete information regarding landowner opportunity costs. We present findings from large-scale empirical landscape simulations that support our key theoretical results.     

Why do we need to integrate farmer decision making and wildlife models for policy evaluation?

Environmental and agricultural policy instruments cause changes in land-use which in turn affect habitat quality and availability for a range of species. These policies often have wildlife or biodiversity goals, but in many cases they are ineffective. The low effectiveness and the emergence of unwanted side effects of environmental and agricultural policies are caused by over-simplistic assumptions in the design of policy instruments as well as difficulties with predicting behaviours of policy subjects. When considering wildlife in agricultural landscapes, policy's performance depends both on human (farmers) actions, which the policies aim to affect, and wildlife responses to land-use and management changes imposed by farmers. Thus, in order to design effective agri-environmental policies, detailed ex-ante assessments of both of these aspects are necessary. Due to the restrictive assumptions and technical limitations, traditional agricultural economic and ecological models fall short in terms of predictions of impacts of agri-environmental measures. The feedback situation between policy, human behaviour and ecological systems behaviour can confound these approaches, which do not take systems complexity into account. Therefore, a solution that integrates both feedback interactions and the differing scales at which these interactions take place is needed. For this, we suggest developing integrated policy assessment tools comprising of simulated farmer decision making, on-farm land-use and wildlife responses in the form of spatially explicit, dynamically connected agent-based models. Although complex and necessitating true inter-disciplinarity, these approaches have matured to the point where this endeavour is now feasible.     

Drifting Rhinos and Fluid Properties: The Turn to Wildlife Production in Western Zimbabwe

This paper presents and analyzes a number of tensions that arose in the shift from extensive livestock production to wildlife ranching and tourism in a dispersed community of white farmers in western Zimbabwe. It sketches the broader context of that shift and considers some of its effects, including those on the small (black)farmers of neighbouring Communal Areas. The tensions highlighted and manifested between the ranchers of Mlilo include the necessary movement from a characteristic view of wildlife as 'vermin', destructive of the conditions for livestock (and crop) production, to an appreciation that they are an exploitable and valuable resource ('ecological capital'); and how inherited views and practices concerning the boundaries of private landed property are subverted by the demands of wildlife ranching.     

Predicting the Effect of Land-Use Policies on Wildlife Habitat Abundance

Land-use change is arguably the most pervasive socioeconomic force driving the change and degradation of ecological systems and wildlife habitat. This paper integrates an econometric model of land use with a species-habitat association matrix to assess the effects of land use policies on land use changes and the resulting impacts on habitat abundance for 763 terrestrial vertebrates in four western states of the United States (California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho). Results suggest that if the goal is to protect biodiversity through habitat conservation, directly acquiring land and setting it aside for habitat preservation (e.g., by purchasing development rights) is more effective than policies that attempt to change the relative returns from different land uses.
On peut dire que le changement d'affectation des terres constitue la force socioéconomique la plus répandue entraînant la modification et la dégradation des écosystèmes et des habitats fauniques. Dans le présent article, nous avons intégré un modèle économétrique d'affectation des terres et une matrice espèces-habitats pour évaluer l'impact des politiques d'affectation des terres sur les changements d'affectation des terres et leurs répercussions sur l'abondance des habitats pour 763 vertébrés terrestres dans quatre États de l'Ouest des États-Unis (Californie, Oregon, Washington et Idaho). Si l'objectif visé est la protection de la biodiversité par la conservation des habitats, les résultats semblent indiquer que l'acquisition directe de terres en vue de les réserver pour la préservation des habitats (en faisant l'acquisition de droits d'aménagement par exemple) est plus efficace que les politiques qui tentent de modifier les rendements relatifs tirés des diverses affectations des terres.     

东北虎豹国家公园建设周边居民参与意愿分析

基于东北虎豹国家公园周边269份居民调查样本数据,采用二元Logistic模型对居民参与公园建设的主观意愿及其影响因素进行实证研究。结果表明:参与意愿方面,88%的居民支持和参与公园建设、野生动物保护管理等工作的主观意愿十分强烈;公园建设的基本认知方面,认为禁止保护区内人畜活动、禁止野生动物狩猎、坚持人与野生动物和谐平等相处的居民分别占到64%、89%和93%,但也有超过52%的居民认为东北虎豹国家公园建立一定程度上会对社区经济发展及自身生产生活状况带来不利影响;参与意愿影响因素方面,单位性质、养老保障、野生动物保护态度、就医条件、文化水平5类因素对居民参与意愿具有显著影响,其中,林业局职工较其他居民的参与意愿更强烈,文化水平越高、具有更完善的养老和就医保障、野生动物保护态度更坚决,则相应地理解、支持和参与东北虎豹国家公园建设的主观意愿也更为强烈。结合东北虎豹国家公园所在地及周边地区的实际情况,提出相关单位应加快实施构建和完善地区社会医疗和养老保障体系、进一步加大国家公园建设的宣传教育工作、提高林业职工参与国家公园建设力度、建立资金、法规和组织保障体系等有益于东北虎豹国家公园建设实践等措施。     

广西野生动植物和自然保护区灾害情况调查报告

广西野生动植物及自然保护区在本次雨雪冰冻灾害中受损面积之大、危害程度之深为历史所罕见。保护区基础硬件设施损毁严重;森林植被遭到严重破坏,生态系统结构和功能受损;野生动植物及栖息地受灾严重、生物多样性下降。当前抗灾救灾面临保护区生产生活困难大,森林防火难度大,区内资源损失情况调查、监测和评估尚未开展等问题。建议:提高认识、开展对保护区森林生态系统和野生动植物资源的调查、监测和评估;加强防火、病虫害防治和防止乱砍滥伐;加强野生动物的救助和疫病防护工作。     

对野生动植物资源经营利用产业化的认识与思考

野生动植物资源的经营利用以野生动植物资源为基础,在社会需求以及整个社会对野生动植物资源的价值和利用的认知和道德准则的推动下,逐渐形成产业。在分析了现行野生动植物保护与管理的法律法规政策对野生动植物经营利用产业化的影响后,提出了构建我国野生动植物经营利用的产业组织体系、建立有效的动力机制和法律法规政策的保障机制以及市场诱导机制来促进我国野生动植物资源的持续利用。     

农田中非耕作生境对耕地多功能影响研究

[目的]从耕地的生产功能、生态服务功能、社会保障功能和景观文化功能角度出发,探讨耕地系统中非耕作生境对这些功能的影响的方向和程度,以期为今后耕地系统中生态网络优化以及绿色土地整治提供参考。[方法]文章运用3S技术法提取非耕作生境数据,按照非耕作生境比例由低到高在辽宁省沈阳市沈北新区水田区选择调查点。运用层次分析法计算调查点耕地多功能值,运用统计分析法研究非耕作生境比例变化对耕地生产、社会保障、生态服务及景观文化功能的影响。[结果](1)当非耕作生境比例低于22.54%和17.16%时,随着非耕作生境比例增加耕地生产、社会保障功能呈增强趋势;当其比例大于22.54%时和17.16%,随着非耕作生境比例增加耕地生产、社会保障功能呈减弱趋势。(2)随着非耕作生境面积比增加,耕地生态服务和景观文化功能均呈增强趋势。(3)当非耕作生境面积比低于22.54%时,随着非耕作生境比例增加耕地多功能呈增强趋势;当其比例大于22.54%时,随着非耕作生境比例增加耕地多功能呈减弱趋势。[结论]非耕作生境比例对耕地生产、社会保障功能影响均呈现先增后减趋势,对耕地生态服务功能、耕地景观文化功能的影响趋势均呈现递增趋势,对耕地多功能综合影响呈先增后减趋势。     

Wilderness Canoeing in Ontario: Using Cumulative Results to Update Dichotomous Choice Contingent Valuation Offer Amounts

This study used cumulative results to update the distributions from which offer amounts were drawn in a dichotomous choice contingent valuation of user benefits from wilderness canoeing in Ontario's wilderness parks. An empirical model demonstrates the efficiency gains from using this procedure. Results allow comparison of variation in average daily willingness to pay (WTP) by trip length, indicating decreasing average benefits per trip-day. Two payment vehicles were used. Canoeists indicated ranges of WTPs which conformed to expected hypotheses when the payment vehicle was an increase in general trip costs. However, the same respondents indicated an upper bound on WTP when the payment vehicle was an increase in the provincial park backcountry permit price.     

Farmland habitat diversity in Ireland

While appreciation of the fundamental role biodiversity plays in underpinning the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems is growing, international commitments to preserve and protect this natural resource have not yet been achieved. Loss and degradation of farmland habitats are an important contributor to the continued decline of biodiversity. Despite this, little information is available regarding the diversity and ecological condition of farmland habitats in Europe. Indeed, where habitat data are available, this is usually at a very broad landscape scale rather than farm scale. Coupled with this, strategies to increase agricultural output in response to growing global population, will likely place increasing pressure on farmland biodiversity. Knowledge and ongoing monitoring of farmland habitat type and extent is a prerequisite for the future protection of much of Europe’s biodiversity. Here we report the findings of a national scale survey of farmland habitat diversity in Ireland.Detailed surveys of farm habitats and management practices (system, stocking rate agri-environment scheme participation status and organic N and P inputs) were undertaken on 118 farms in three regions of the Republic of Ireland (RoI). Recorded farm habitats were subsequently digitised on orthophotography. The resulting ground truthed data from the total surveyed area of 3688 ha, were then used, together with satellite imagery, to classify the habitat composition of a further approximately 87,000 ha of the surrounding landscape.Results revealed that at individual farm scale, an average of 73% of the land surveyed comprised agriculturally productive (mainly improved grassland) habitats. Marginally productive habitats (mainly extensively managed grasslands) accounted for an average of 11% of farm area, while other semi-natural habitats (mainly hedgerows) accounted for an average of 13%, with the remaining ca. 3% under build ground. Results from the classification at the wider landscape scale showed a similarly substantial incidence of non-intensively managed habitats. However, at both farm and landscape scales, habitat diversity was found to vary markedly between different regions and farming systems.This study represents one of a very small number that currently exist, where farm scale habitat and management data have been collected. From the few that are available, semi-natural habitat cover has been found to account for an average farm area of 1–12%. Therefore, our data present a relatively positive picture in terms of the intensity, scale and impact of Irish farming on landscape heterogeneity. However, as in other parts of the world, agricultural expansion and intensification to meet increased global food supply will necessitate careful monitoring of the impact of these changes on the structure of farmed landscapes. This study provides a novel approach for the collection of such monitoring data at farm scale, and illustrates how such data can be reliably up-scaled to landscape level.     

Livelihood roles of cattle and prospects for alternative land uses at the wildlife/livestock interface in South Africa

The emergence of wildlife ranching as an alternative land use option to agriculture, in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), has cast renewed interest on the role of cattle farming in rural livelihoods in areas close to wildlife parks. This study analysed the contribution of cattle to livelihoods and relationships between cattle and potential wildlife land uses in rural areas near Kruger National Park. Data were collected through household surveys, key informant interviews and community workshops. About 11% of households studied owned cattle, and cattle income constituted 29% of total household income. Benefits from cattle were also derived by households without cattle. About 71% of households had at least three sources of income, reflecting diversity of livelihoods. Wildlife related land uses were perceived by some households as threatening cattle production, whilst others viewed them as opportunities for alternative livelihoods. We conclude that cattle production has important livelihood roles, but is not sufficient as a driver of economic development in these areas. Incentives to encourage diversification of livelihoods at the wildlife/livestock interface, with possibilities for rural communities to explore wildlife based land uses should be put in place. In addition, land use policy and planning in such areas should focus on creating institutional mechanisms through which programmes integrating conservation and rural development goals can benefit rural communities.     

Abstracts of Second- and Third-Place Undergraduate Papers

This paper presents an analysis of the demand for hunting licenses in Alberta from 1968 to 2004. Regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of some of the commonly thought reasons for the decline in hunting participation in Alberta; specifically, the effects of changes in wildlife certificate prices, species license prices, income levels, and the proportion of the population living in urban areas. I found that hunting appears to be an inferior good since the income elasticity of demand was elastic—as provincial income levels increase, it is expected that less people will participate in hunting. In addition, the price elasticity of demand was inelastic indicating that raising license prices could theoretically generate increased revenues for wildlife management. I further hypothesize that if hunting participation needs to be increased for wildlife management purposes, it can be accomplished by decreasing the prices of licenses without directly affecting the revenue generated. Ultimately, we must realize that many of the hypothesized reasons for the decline in hunting participation in Alberta are qualitative and non-economic in nature and are thus difficult to include in most analyses. Whereas price and income are important determinants of hunting demand, they are only part of the story.     

居民参与农地保护的认知程度及支付意愿研究——以湖北省为例

作为人类赖以生存和发展的物质基础，农地提供粮食、蔬菜、木材等实物型产品，以及开敞空间、景观、文化服务等非实物型生态服务，为人类带来巨大的社会福利。从社会公众参与农地保护的认知及支付意愿（willingness to pay，WTP）出发，估算农地非市场价值，并将其纳入资源成本核算体系中，不仅能够弥补市场机制作用不足给农地流转决策带来的影响，而且通过提高土地资源农业利用的比较效益，能够缓解我国农地流失形势。文章在调查分析湖北省武汉、宜昌、荆门、仙桃、汉川5市县1255户居民家庭对农地保护认知程度及支付意愿的基础上，运用条件价值评估法对湖北省农地非市场价值进行估算。     

我国重点保护野生动物致害救济的法理辨析——兼论野生动物资源生态补偿法律制度的构建

分析了以往有关重点保护野生动物致害救济的观点及其存在的问题,论述了重点保护野生动物致害救济属于生态补偿救济,并在此基础上提出构建或完善我国野生动物资源生态补偿法律制度的构想。从法学理论的视野中来审视野生动物资源生态补偿的基本问题;包括补偿的主体、补偿客体、补偿范围、补偿的标准和补偿方式等。以期能够使目前正在进行的生态补偿立法对野生动物尤其是划入重点保护的野生动物保护有所关注。     

Wildlife Damage and Agriculture: A Dynamic Analysis of Compensation Schemes

We study the environmental and economic consequences of introducing a program to compensate peasants for damages caused by wildlife. We show that the widely held belief that compensation induces wildlife conservation may be erroneous. In a partially open economy, compensation can lower the wildlife stock and result in a net welfare loss for local people. In an open economy, compensation can trigger wildlife extinction and also reduce welfare. We identify the conditions leading to a reduction of the wildlife stock and discuss the implications for current and planned compensation programs in Africa and Asia.