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In this issue: Social science research for natural scientists, the trade in ivory, deforestation in Madagascar and people centred approaches to REDD+. 
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PCLG journal digest

Monthly Journal Digest

September 2014

Social Science for Natural Scientists

 
Moon, K. & Blackman, D. (2014) A guide to understanding social science research for natural scientists. Conservation Biology; Vol. 28 (5): 1167-1177.
 
Natural scientists are increasingly interested in social science research because they realise that conservation problems are often social problems. However, understanding social research requires at least a basic knowledge of the principles and assumptions of the discipline. Engaging in social science research without understanding these principles and assumptions can lead to misinterpretation of the results. In this paper the authors develop a guide to help natural scientists understand the philosophical basis of social science and support the meaningful interpretation of social research results. Many elements of the guide also apply to the natural sciences. Natural scientists can use the guide to assist them in interpreting social science research to determine how the philosophical perspective of the researcher can shape the choice of methods and affect interpretation, communication, and application of learning outcomes. The guide can also support and promote the meaningful integration of the natural and social sciences to generate more effective and relevant conservation research outcomes.

Wiley Online -  DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12326

Wildlife Trade in Ivory


Bennett, E.L. (2014) Legal ivory trade in a corrupt world and its impact on African elephant populations. Conservation Biology. Article first published online 7th August 2014.
 
The illegal ivory trade has more than doubled since 2007 and led to marked population decreases of African elephants (Loxodonta africana). A controlled legal trade in ivory is one solution that has been forwarded to deal with this crisis. A legal ivory trade would require rigorous systems to be in place to ensure that illegal ivory could not enter a legal market. However, widespread corruption among government officials means this system is not currently possible. Poachers and traffickers can easily pay their way out of trouble and large financial incentives make wildlife trade an attractive option. Once illegal ivory has entered the legal trade, it is hard to discern what is legal and illegal. Dealing with these issues of corruption, across all of the countries that trade in ivory, would take decades. At current rates of hunting of African elephants for ivory, this time frame is too long to protect remaining wild populations. As such the author concludes it is necessary to close all ivory markets, because they cannot be regulated in a way that prevents illegal ivory being laundered into legal markets.
 
Wiley Online – DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12377

Deforestation in Madagascar


Brinkmanna, K., Noromiarilantob, F., Ratovonamanab, R.Y. & Buerkerta, A. (2014) Deforestation processes in south-western Madagascar over the past 40 years: what can we learn from settlement characteristics? Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment; Vol. 195: 231-243.
 
South-western Madagascar has undergone extensive forest cover loss over the previous decades. However, there are major unknowns in the total extent of the country’s deforestation and determining the impact on land cover changes (LCC). This study used satellite image classifications, bio-physical data and socio-economic data from interviews, to examine the role of settlement characteristics in LCC and forest fragmentation processes in the Mahafaly region over the past four decades. A time-series of Landsat satellite images from 1973 to 2013 were utilised and deforestation and LCC trends were identified for different time periods. The studied settlements were categorised according to their location, socio-economic activities and economic level. The factors that directly affect deforestation as well as indirect socio-economic and bio-physical factors were investigated using regression analysis. Forest losses amounted to 45% over the last 40 years, which caused increased savannization and forest fragmentation. Deforestation was highest at remote locations, and around small settlements that were badly connected to infrastructure and main markets. A major driver is the ‘clandestine pioneer-agriculture’ often practiced by immigrant farmers.

Science Direct - DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2014.06.008

People Centered REDD+


Holmes, I. & Potvin, C. (2014) Avoiding re-Inventing the wheel in a people-centered approach to REDD+. Conservation Biology; Vol. 28 (5): 1380-1393.

An important debate regarding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in developing countries concerns the way its implementation might affect local and indigenous communities. To inform this debate, the authors carried out a qualitative research synthesis to determine best practices (BPs) from people-centered approaches to conservation and rural development in Latin America. Limitations of some of the projects was linked to decentralised forest governance, relating project objectives with community livelihood needs, and addressing community development priorities. These limitations could be overcome by: integrating conservation outcomes and alternative livelihoods into community development objectives; testing forest governance approaches in which national policies support local institutions for forest management; understanding the factors that will make REDD+ more palatable to local communities; and using adaptive management that enables social learning and capacity building of relevant stakeholders. This study provides a framework of BPs and indicators that could be used by stakeholders to improve REDD+ project design, monitoring, and evaluation, which may contribute to reconciling national initiatives and local interests without reinventing the wheel.

Wiley Online - DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12301
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Our current journal watch list includes: African Journal of Ecology; Agricultural Sciences News; Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment; AMBIO; Animal Conservation; Antipode; Biodiversity; Biodiversity and Conservation; Biological Conservation; Conservation and Society; Conservation Biology; Conservation Evidence; Conservation Letters; Development and Change; Diversity and Distributions; Ecological Economics; Ecology; Ecology and Society; Ecosystem Services; Environment and History; Environmental Conservation; Environmental Ethics; Ethics and the Environment; Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment; Global Environmental Change; Human Dimensions of Wildlife; International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management; International Journal of Environmental Studies; Journal for Nature Conservation; Local Environment; Management of Environmental Quality; Natural Resources Forum; Nature; Oryx; PNAS; Science; Society & Natural Resources; The Journal of Environment & Development; Trends in Ecology and Evolution; Wildlife Research; World Development.
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This newsletter is one of a number of information services published by the Poverty and Conservation Learning Group (PCLG), an IIED led initiative. The activities of the PCLG are currently funded by the Arcus Foundation, and the UK Government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of these organisations.
 
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