Lindsey P.A.,Lion Program |
Lindsey P.A.,University of Pretoria |
Barnes J.,Design and Development Services |
Nyirenda V.,Zambia Wildlife Authority |
And 4 more authors.
PLoS ONE | Year: 2013
The number and area of wildlife ranches in Zambia increased from 30 and 1,420 km2 in 1997 to 177 and ∼6,000 km2 by 2012. Wild ungulate populations on wildlife ranches increased from 21,000 individuals in 1997 to ∼91,000 in 2012, while those in state protected areas declined steeply. Wildlife ranching and crocodile farming have a turnover of ∼USD15.7 million per annum, compared to USD16 million from the public game management areas which encompass an area 29 times larger. The wildlife ranching industry employs 1,200 people (excluding jobs created in support industries), with a further ∼1,000 individuals employed through crocodile farming. Wildlife ranches generate significant quantities of meat (295,000 kg/annum), of which 30,000 kg of meat accrues to local communities and 36,000 kg to staff. Projected economic returns from wildlife ranching ventures are high, with an estimated 20-year economic rate of return of 28%, indicating a strong case for government support for the sector. There is enormous scope for wildlife ranching in Zambia due to the availability of land, high diversity of wildlife and low potential for commercial livestock production. However, the Zambian wildlife ranching industry is small and following completion of field work for this study, there was evidence of a significant proportion of ranchers dropping out. The industry is performing poorly, due to inter alia: rampant commercial bushmeat poaching; failure of government to allocate outright ownership of wildlife to landowners; bureaucratic hurdles; perceived historical lack of support from the Zambia Wildlife Authority and government; a lack of a clear policy on wildlife ranching; and a ban on hunting on unfenced lands including game ranches. For the wildlife ranching industry to develop, these limitations need to be addressed decisively. These findings are likely to apply to other savanna countries with large areas of marginal land potentially suited to wildlife ranching. Source
Hayward M.W.,Bangor University |
Hayward M.W.,University of Pretoria |
Hayward M.W.,Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
Boitani L.,University of Rome La Sapienza |
And 6 more authors.
Journal of Applied Ecology | Year: 2015
Research that yields conflicting results rightly causes controversy. Where methodological weaknesses are apparent, there is ready opportunity for discord within the scientific community, which may undermine the entire study. We use the debate about the role of dingoes Canis dingo in conservation in Australia as a case study for a phenomenon that is relevant to all applied ecologists, where conflicting results have been published in high-quality journals and yet the problems with the methods used in these studies have led to significant controversy. To alleviate such controversies, scientists need to use robust methods to ensure that their results are repeatable and defendable. To date, this has not occurred in Australia's dingo debate due to the use of unvalidated indices that rely on unsupported assumptions. We highlight the problems that poor methods have caused in this debate. We also reiterate our recommendations for practitioners, statisticians and researchers to work together to develop long-term, multi-site experimental research programmes using robust methods to understand the impacts of dingoes on mesopredators. Synthesis and applications. Incorporating robust methods and appropriate experimental designs is needed to ensure that conservation actions are appropriately focused and are supported with robust results. Such actions will go a long way towards resolving the debate about the role of dingoes in conservation in Australia, and other, ecological debates. © 2015 The Authors. Source
News Article | July 13, 2015
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avnet Electronics Marketing (EM), an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that it has named Kevin Yapp as senior vice president of digital transformation, effective immediately. In this newly created role, Yapp will be responsible for advancing Avnet EM’s digital strategy, including the evaluation of all new resources and investments. He will chair an EM-wide global digital project management organization (PMO) and will report directly to Avnet EM Global President Gerry Fay. Click to Tweet: @avnetdesignwire bolsters digital strategy with new Vice President of Digital Transformation Kevin Yapp http://bit.ly/1ll33LR “Kevin’s years of experience working in complex multi-channel environments globally will be a tremendous asset to Avnet as we continue to adapt our business model in order to augment our world-class design and supply chain solutions offerings with a differentiated online experience – providing the speed, flexibility and convenience our customers need to stay competitive,” said Gerry Fay, global president, Avnet Electronics Marketing. “With his successful e-commerce track record and creative approach, I am confident Kevin will further strengthen Avnet’s ability to deliver a consistent and meaningful digital user-experience around the world.” From 2003 to 2015, Yapp served in a series of leadership roles at the UK-based Premier Farnell, including chief innovation officer, marketing director Europe and Asia Pacific, chief marketing officer and, most recently, chief strategy and marketing officer. Yapp graduated from Imperial College in London with a bachelor’s degree in Physics in 1987. Connect with Avnet: Connect with us on social media Contribute to our technical forums View product and company videos Buy our components Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 80 countries, distributing electronic components and embedded systems from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain, supply-chain and value-added integration services. The group's website is located at www.em.avnet.com. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers globally. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2014, Avnet generated revenue of $27.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
Lindsey P.A.,Lion Program |
Lindsey P.A.,University of Pretoria |
Balme G.,Lion Program |
Balme G.,University of Cape Town |
And 28 more authors.
Biological Conservation | Year: 2013
The bushmeat trade, or the illegal acquisition and exchange of wild meat, has long been recognised as a severe problem in forest biomes, but receives little attention in savannas, perhaps due to a misconception that bushmeat hunting is a low-impact subsistence activity. Though data on impacts are scarce, indications are that bushmeat hunting is a widespread problem in savannas, with severe impacts on wildlife populations and wildlife-based land uses. The impacts of the bushmeat trade in savannas vary from edge-effects around protected areas, to disproportionate declines of some species, to severe wildlife declines in areas with inadequate anti-poaching. In some areas, bushmeat contributes significantly to food security, but these benefits are unsustainable, and hunting is wasteful, utilising a fraction of the wildlife killed or of its financial value obtainable through tourism, trophy hunting and/or legal game meat production. The bushmeat trade appears to be becoming increasingly commercialised due to elevated demand in rural areas, urban centres and even overseas cities. Other drivers for the trade include human encroachment of wildlife areas; poverty and food insecurity; and inadequate legal frameworks to enable communities to benefit legally from wildlife, and to create incentives for people to desist from illegal bushmeat hunting. These drivers are exacerbated by inadequate wildlife laws and enforcement and in some areas, political instability. Urgent efforts are needed to address these drivers and raise awareness among local and international governments of the seriousness of the threat. Failure to address this will result in severe wildlife declines widely in African savannas, with significant ecological, economic and social impacts. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. Source