Participation and knowledge of the locals for wildlife management

We investigated the novel insights that can be provided by local ecological knowledge (LEK) about the population status and threats to wildlife and how data on local awareness and attitudes can guide conservation planning for this species by conducting an interview survey in rural communities. LEK is a useful tool for assessing the status of grouse populations: ۴۱.۱% of respondents recognized grouse, and ۳۰.۵% had seen the species. Respondents in villages close to surviving grouse populations had greater awareness of a higher likelihood of sightings and more recent ones. More respondents considered that grouse and other galliforms had declined compared to other wildlife. The decline and disappearance of grouse populations are associated with alteration and disturbance of grouse habitat, with potential drivers including increased cattle grazing and local bans on harvesting fodder. These findings provide a new baseline to guide the development of suitable grassland management strategies (e.g., grazing regimes) for this species and highlight the importance of further assessment of the effects of habitat disturbance on grouse survival, including understanding local histories of human-environmental interaction. Current landscape management methods are not supported by local people within the ABR, with most respondents disagreeing with the strict conservation measures currently in place, and we recommend that a new management system should be developed for Caucasian grouse conservation, including targeted conservation education and involving local community participation and co-management.

کلیدواژه ها:

Local ecological knowledge ، Population decline ، Threats ، Wildlife