conservation management: yellowstone wolf restoration program & chinese analogy
TRANSCRIPT
Conservation Management: Yellowstone Wolf Restoration Program & Chinese Analogy
A Presentation by: Bryan Kuek
Outline• Yellowstone Wolf Restoration Program Overview
• Economic Analysis of Human-Wildlife Conflicts Solutions
• Chinese Analogies
• Conclusions
Gray Wolf in Yellowstone
• Largest member of dog family
• Live, travel and hunt in packs of 4-7 wolves
• Packs consist of alpha male or dominant pair and other subordinate wolves
• Alpha male or female lead packs
History of the Gray Wolf
• Before 1900’s, flourished in western US
• Until early 1900’s, extirpated due to conflicts with humans, and habitat loss
• Migration of the pioneers and development of western US, depleted wolves’ primary prey, causing them to attack livestock
• Wolves were viewed negatively as vicious predators that needed to be eradicated
Historical Range
Current Range
The Debate
Recovery and Reintroduction
• 1966- Wolf reintroduction first proposed to Congress because of increasing elk numbers in Yellowstone. Met opposition by many ranchers.
• Early 1980’s- The Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Team was formed by the USFWS.
• 1987- Defenders of Wildlife offered “Wolf Compensation Fund” to ranchers for lost livestock.
• 1995-1996- 66 Wolves from Canada were introduced into central Idaho and Yellowstone
Reintroduction Outcome
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/delist2007_ppt.pdf
How can we be civically engaged in the conservation and management of gray wolf?
Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)
• Catalysts: loss of human life, livestock and crop
• Results: a negative outcome for humans, wildlife or both
• Solutions: preventative & mitigation measures: such as financial compensation, law enforcement, self-financed insurance schemes
Economic Analysis
Economic Justification for Wolves
1. Overpopulation of elk• Overgrazing by elk was harming other
ecosystems
2. Reintroducing wolves increases biodiversity• Park visitors would increase, thus
increasing revenue
Economic Problems with Wolves
1. Reduced elk and other large ungulate (bison/deer) hunting opportunities
2. Wolves would kill livestock of nearby farmers• Economic loss through
compensation
Methods Used to Make Decisions
1. Hunting elk, animal viewing, existence value for wolves are non-market
2. Hence, surveys were conducted
3. Results of surveys: Wolves are the 2nd most favorite animal to view by visitors. An estimated 105,424 visitors in 2005 would not have visited the park if it had 0 wolves.
Survey Details
1. 2 surveys: One for Yellowstone park visitors, and one for regional and national households
Outcome 1: Increased Spending
Compensation: Verifying Damages
• Sometimes there is lack of evidence that an animal was killed by a wolf: Under-compensation
• Sometimes the farmers make false claims or overstate losses (the value of the lost sheep)
Compensation: Incentives
• Providing full insurance for losses may cause farmers to reduce spending on protection like guard dogs and fences
• Insurance can also encourage more people to become farmers for unprofitable things, because they are compensated well
Outcome 2: Compensation for Livestock
Outcome 3: Loss of Elk
Comparison
• Problem: grassland degradation caused by hunting wolves
• Purpose: grassland restoration• Measures: introduction of eastern wolf• Result: the recovery of cottonwood
and water resources
Yellowstone National Park
Russian Leopard
• Problem: many subspecies of large cats are endangered
• Purpose: facilitate a substantial recovery and increase in the number of individuals in the wild
• Measures: reintroduce program• Result: the number of leopard
steady increases
Asian Elephant• Problem: illegal hunting and the habitat
alteration and reduction, elephants become aggressive toward humans
• Purpose: improve elephant’s habitat• Measures: hunting ban, promote the
use of methane gas for fuel purposes, Compensation
• Result: humans’ attitudes towards elephant become more friendly, forests increase
Economic Loss and Corresponding Compensation Payment in China
Conclusions• Human-wildlife conflict is a complex issue and there is no ‘one
size fits all’ solution
• Compensating farmers for damage caused by wildlife has been tried as one effective solution around the world
• Key determinants of success for compensation method include accurate verification of damage, incentive issues
Thank you for listening!