There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
10-02-2014, 09:58 AM( This post was last modified: 10-02-2014, 10:03 AM by peter )
Very interesting points neglected by most debating, so it seems. You're definitely right about the developments in the reserves you mentioned. I agree Panna has shown research only has an effect when government is interested. The Aldrich-snare article seems to have had an effect as well in that the method now seems to have been abandoned. The Russian research-project also gets more attention than the Siberian Tiger Project of the WCS. The question is how interest is triggered on the level of politics and we might need to explore purpose in order to find answers.
In the last decade, things have changed to an extent in some countries. There are many photographs with Putin and Amur tigers featuring. Russia also hosted the meeting in St. Peterburg some years ago. It is a fact it got a lot of attention and it also had some results.
Based on what I see, and in that (descending) order, India (cultural pride and tourism too), Russia (a combination of cultural and political pride, so it seems), China (the need to quickly clean the reputation regarding wildlife in general and tigers in particular), Thailand (tigers as unknown national treasures) and Malaysia (same reason) seem to be interested in some way, with Kazachstan not that far away (tourism).
There's zero activity in Vietnam (no more tigers), Laos (not many tigers left), Cambodja (same) and Indonesia (tigers and conservation oppose economic development), although it has to be admitted that Indonesia now has a number of individuals with some influence interested in the tiger. They are able to get to private initiatives, but seem unable to change policies in general.
I was most interested in your remarks on the motives of governments, the connection with research and the 'self-motivation' based on cultural and/or political identity. I also noticed the relation between these motives and the way conservation is conducted. I propose to explore this new dimension.
Eyes on or hands on? A discussion of human interference
