Evolving Wildlife Conservation

1. Evolving Wildlife Conservation Two Non-Governmental Organizations at Work in a Changing Field

2. Introduction In recent years wildlife conservation practices have transformed in part due to the changing philosophies of conservation itself. Human dimensions have consideration in planning and practice as never before. Concern for human communities is more balanced with the economic and ecological aspects of protecting the earth’s resources.

3. Focus on Human Dimensions • Cronan (1995) tells us that environmental problems are the problems of people, most often those that feel the immediate effects are the poor and the disenfranchised; when humans are not considered part of nature we allow ourselves to care less about those suffering from environmental injustices like toxic exposures, famine, and occupational hazards.

4. Cronon (1995) explains that because “we produce the dualism that sets humanity and nature at opposite poles. We thereby leave ourselves little hope of discovering what an ethical, sustainable, and honorable human place in nature might actually look like”

5. Change in Practices Knight (2009) observes that contemporary conservation has taken a turn away from previous methods, and consideration for human dimensions and a spirit of cooperation will help shape the future. “Bottom up” approaches offer more diverse participation and representation to those directly effected by conservation practices.

6. TOP-DOWN Land Use Litigation Federal Monies and Unfunded Mandates Public Land Wilderness Working within Administrative Boundaries Command and Control Single Species Disciplinary Focus Technical Expertise BOTTOM-UP Land Health Cooperation Economic Incentives and Private Support Private-Public Land Working Wildlands and Landscape Linkages Working Across Administrative Boundaries Adaptive Management Ecological Processes and Keystone Species Metadisciplinary Approach Social Capital Knight 2009 Contrasting Approaches

7. Partnerships Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) often work closely with endangered species and human communities, forming new alliances and partnerships for reaching their goals. It is through these new kinds of coalitions that the evolution of conservation can be observed, incorporating what were once distinct movements into the synthesis of wildlife conservation work that is practiced today.

8. Both Proyecto Titi and The Northern Jaguar Project facilitate direct connections to local communities impacting keystone species, meaning species that play a critical role in ecosystem health for a particular region. These two entities practice conservation from the ground up.

9. PROYECTO TITI www.proyectotiti.com Based in the U.S. and working in Columbia for the preservation of cotton top tamarins. Works to instill pride in the local communities for this primate found only in Columbia.

10. Proyecto Titi Disciplinary focus vs. Metadisciplinary focus Stresses the importance of conservation being made economically practical for communities that impact wild populations of cotton top tamarins in Colombia. “A multidisciplinary approach that combines field research and effective scientific assessments of habitats as well as community programs that involve local people in culturally relevant, action based programs” – Dr. Savage, Program Director. This collaboration or coalition is not waiting for top down approaches to make a difference in the number of cotton tops remaining in the wild.

11. Proyecto Titi Single species vs. Ecological processes and keystone species The Flagship species is the cotton top tamarins, small primates that live in the forest and can only be found in the northwest region of Columbia. Threatened due to flooding as a result from hydroelectric projects, large scale clearing for agriculture, and unsustainable use by local communities. Science programs support the need to preserve ecological processes within which tamarins live, including habitat analysis, reproductive behavior and hormone determination, parental care studies, and demography/group composition. If you save a habitat then you save the focus species and others as well. Many partners are necessary including local communities, experts in wildlife biology, and organizations with access to wider audiences.

13. Proyecto Titi Working within administrative boundaries vs. working across those boundaries Proyecto Titi lists several different entities as allies. Each one of the allies can be seen as instrumental to that goal. Zoological Barranquila, a local Columbian zoo, provides a larger audience and opportunities to pass on multiple messages and education about conservation of forests, the uniqueness of the cotton tops, illegal pet trades and other factors that help their cause. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, financial support. Cardique, a corporate source of financial support that is committed to protecting wildlife habitat in Columbia, The Hacienda El Ceibal, is a private hacienda that houses the scientists that work in the field. The surrounding communities which participate in education programs and awareness.

14. Proyecto Titi Technical expertise vs. social capital The eco-mochila creators are local women that weave purses and other accessories completely out of discarded plastic shopping bags, that at one timed littered the roads and forests. These entrepreneurs, not only create beautiful hand crafted items to sell, but have even begun to create jobs for others by contracting out the collection and cutting of the discarded bags. Clay ovens, or bindes, are used for daily cooking instead of wood from the forests. Families receive training on how to make the ovens and the results is less lung problems due to burning wood, and decreasing use of wood in general which takes pressure off the forest. The work and practices of the local people, fostered by Proyecto Titi, help protect the environment for the benefit humans and cotton top tamarins.

16. Northern Jaguar Project (NJP) Based in the U.S. and Mexico. Works for the protection of Jaguars in their historic home range at the US-Mexico border. Essential to their mission is the message that jaguars hold a special place in Latin American history and culture and therefore deserve help in their endangered status.

17. NJP Wilderness vs. working wildlands and landscape linkages NJP purchased land for a reserve that was once a cattle ranch and surrounding areas remain ranches, for this reason, NJP particularly supports the need for “working wildlands” and community education as opposed to an ultra pristine preserve where animals would be in danger as soon as they cross into unprotected surrounding areas. NJP includes outlying communities in saving the jaguar by incorporating rancher support into the camera trap photo program. Also key to their program are the “jaguar guardians” that work to forge relationships with ranchers to prevent the killing of jaguars that cross private property or the illegal killing of jaguars in the preserve. Ultimately NJP hopes to reach the goal of identifying and promoting safe passage corridors that large predators need for access to food, water and mates

18. Camera Trap Photo and Meeting with Ranchers

19. NJP Federal monies and unfunded mandates vs. economic incentives and private support NJP is seeking financial support from a broad range of international sources to fund local efforts. The list of donors includes 22 entities comprised of foundations, other environmental organizations, corporations, and charitable trusts. New approaches indicate that wildlife species cannot wait for slow moving government funding to come to fruition. All this lends to the trend in smaller local groups taking initiative and action to save ecosystems and the flora and fauna found there. Part of the long term plan for the preserve includes an ecotourism component, which could greatly benefit local communities in the future. NJP also partners with other non-profit entities to solicit funds from the private individuals.

20. NJP Land use vs. land health Because NJP, like Proyecto Titi seeks to maintain biodiversity in their preserve, it is important that they revitalize the land in the preserve. The health of the land, in the entire region not just the reserve, is of the greatest concern here, as well as potential corridors that may cut across ranches. Unless the sustainability of the land is considered than the future economic benefit to local communities is uncertain. As mentioned previously, the reserve had once been a ranch and NJP has found the land to be in need of replenishing on many levels. Their management strategies include surveying water resources, promoting prey species, repair to ranch houses as project field posts, and work to repair and prevent land erosion

22. NJP Litigation vs. cooperation While there are laws in place to protect the jaguars, instead of only seeking enforcement through local authorities, the project feels that cooperation from local communities is the key to preventing jaguar killings and preserving the land. The best way to garner support is through education programs. The NJP reaches out to local populations, elementary schools and universities, by conducting meetings, workshops, and creating field work opportunities for students.

23. Conclusion Whether or not these new approaches will have long term significant effects on the preservation of threatened and endangered wildlife species will remain to be seen. But what is evident is the unwillingness to rely on traditional practices, instead, groups of like minded people which have worked along the same lines for years, now form alliances working outside of the typical government and administrative laden framework of the past. This seems to lend itself to openness and a prospective broader involvement that was not present before; in other words, conservation is the responsibility of everyone and diverse coalitions make the possibility of wide-ranging participation a reality.

24. Readings • Cronan, W. (1995). The trouble with wilderness, or getting back to the wrong nature. In W. Cronon (Ed.), Uncommon ground: Rethinking the human place (pp. 69-90). New York: W.W. Norton & Company • Knight, R. (2009) Introduction to Conservation for a new generation. In R. Knight, & C. White (Eds.), Conservation for a new generation: redefining natural resources management (pp. 1-10). Washington: Island Press.