Developing the Cost of Large Carnivore Conflict Rapid Response Units - A Namibian Case Study

Namibia is home to half the world’s remaining wild cheetahs and - provides critical habitat for lions, leopards, spotted and brown hyena and African Wild Dogs. Despite such ecological importance, only 5% of cheetah's, <1% of African Wild Dogs', and similar percentages of remaining habitat for other large carnivores exists on officially protected lands. As a result, human/carnivore conflict is a large problem on private lands, where 60% of surveyed farmers will shoot any large carnivore on sight. This project explores building a carnivore rapid response team equipped to mitigate human/carnivore conflict through researching the financial costs of such an endeavor, with an eye on capitalizing potential benefits to all 6 Namibian large carnivore species.

Integrating field sports, hare population management and conservation

Conflicts between field sports, animal welfare and species conservation are frequently contentious. In Ireland, the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) competitively tests the speed and agility of two greyhounds by using a live hare as a lure. Each coursing club is associated with a number of discrete localities, known as preserves, which are managed favourably for hares including predator control, prohibition of other forms of hunting such as shooting and poaching and the maintenance and enhancement of suitable hare habitat. We indirectly tested the efficacy of such management by comparing hare abundance within preserves to that in the wider countryside. In real terms, mean hare density was 18 times higher, and after controlling for variance in habitat remained 3 times higher, within ICC preserves than the wider countryside. Whilst we cannot rule out the role of habitat, our results suggest that hare numbers are maintained at high levels in ICC preserves either because clubs select areas of high hare density and subsequently have a negligible effect on numbers or that active population management positively increases hare abundance. The Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus Bell, 1837 is one of the highest priority species for conservation action in Ireland and without concessions for its role in conservation, any change in the legal status Of hare coursing under animal welfare grounds, may necessitate an increase in Government subsidies for conservation on private land together with a strengthened capacity for legislation enforcement.

Measuring the effects of price movements on private consumption

This paper studies how shocks in the prices of Food, Energy and Financial Assets affect private consumption using a VAR Model. Then, the total effects are broken into direct and indirect effects, using the coefficients taken from the previous model. We use quarterly data for the Portuguese economy from the last 20 years. We found that energy prices and financial assets have a strong connection with consumption, suggesting that the economy may be too exposed to shocks in these markets.

Estimate of work done on marsh lands drainage by Alexander Cook, signed by S.D. Woodruff

Estimate of work done on marsh lands drainage by Alexander Cook, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Nov. 10, 1855.

Estimate of work done on marsh lands drainage by A. Cook and A. Mains and an estimate of time on the marsh lands survey from September to November

Estimate of work done on marsh lands drainage by A. Cook and A. Mains and an estimate of time on the marsh lands survey from September to November by Fred Holmes, Thomas Baird and Joseph Simpson. This is signed by S.D. Woodruff, Nov. 29, 1855.

Estimate of work done on marsh lands drainage by Alexander Cook and Andrew Mains

Estimate of work done on marsh lands drainage by Alexander Cook and Andrew Mains. This is signed by S.D. Woodruff. Also on this sheet is pay roll for engineer services for the months of September, October and November, 1855. This was paid to Frederick Holmes, Thomas Baird, Joseph Simpson and Len [illegible name], Nov.30, 1855.

Estimate for A. Mains and Co. for work on marsh lands main drain sent to S.D. Woodruff by Fred Holmes

Estimate for A. Mains and Co. for work on marsh lands main drain sent to S.D. Woodruff by Fred Holmes. This item is slightly burned. This does not affect the text, Nov. 29, 1856.

Estimate for A. Cook of work done on marsh lands main drain including work done by Mr. Clancy and Rose Osborne

Estimate for A. Cook of work done on marsh lands main drain including work done by Mr. Clancy and Rose Osborne. This is signed by Fred Holmes, March 1857.

Time on marsh lands for the months of January, February, March and April for Fred Holmes, Joseph Simpson, Duncan Davidson, Rose Osborne, Henry Wilson and William Baird

Time on marsh lands for the months of January, February, March and April for Fred Holmes, Joseph Simpson, Duncan Davidson, Rose Osborne, Henry Wilson and William Baird. This is signed by Fred Holmes, April 28, 1857.

Estimate for A. Cook of work done on marsh lands main drain

Estimate for A. Cook of work done on marsh lands main drain. This is signed by Fred Holmes, April 28, 1857.

Estimate for A. Cook for excavation on marsh lands main drain

Estimate for A. Cook for excavation on marsh lands main drain. This is signed by Fred Holmes, Aug. 28, 1857.

Crocodile crimes: people versus wildlife and the politics of postcolonial conservation on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

This article is about the politics of conservation in postcolonial Southern Africa. It focuses on the process and consequences of redefining the Nile crocodile as an endangered species and explores the linked local and international, commercial and conservationist interests that allowed the animal to re-establish itself in state-protected waterways in colonial and postcolonial contexts. It investigates the effects of the animal's successful re-accommodation by examining conflicts between crocodiles and the fishing communities sharing space on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Fishermen's hostile representations of the animal emphasize competition for fish, harassment, fear, loss of assets and loss of life. Their fear of crocodiles is heightened by the animal's entanglement in local social life, through its association with witchcraft. The article emphasizes the importance of considering both hegemonic and marginalized ideas about animals in the light of the material interactions, relations of power and historical contexts that shape them. Understanding the attitudes and circumstances of the local communities who bear the physical and economic costs of living with dangerous animals is important-it threatens the future of conservation programmes and reveals the potential for significant abuses to accompany the conservation of wildlife in postcolonial contexts. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.