Engaging stakeholders in monitoring of large carnivores...
Transcript of Engaging stakeholders in monitoring of large carnivores...
Engaging stakeholders in monitoring of large carnivores:
Nordic lessons for central Europe?
John Linnell
Berlin
19:04:2016
www.nina.no
Who am I?
Scientist at Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).
Have studied lynx & other large carnivores in Norway and beyond.
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Who am I?
Member of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE).
IUCN Specialist Group
Contracts to support EC with policy development.
Stakeholder status – representing conservation interests
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Objectives for presentation
Introduction to monitoring large carnivores
Focus on Nordic experiences – with a view to transfer to central Europe
Why monitor?
How to monitor?
Who should monitor?
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Why monitor?
Conflict over numbers is widespread
For science
For Article 17 reporting (if EU)
For adaptive management
Different purposes require different designs
Methods
Areas of coverage
Frequency
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How to monitor?
Robust
Practical Credible
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How to monitor?
Different aspects need monitoring
Distribution
Trend (with or without numbers)
Numbers
Habitat
Health (diseases / genetics)
Different species need different approaches
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How to monitor?
Estimates
Statistical measurement of uncertainity
Counts
Hopefully minimum numbers – no estimate of uncertainity
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How to monitor? – All species
Dead carnivores should be collected and examined
Hunters
Vehicle collisions
Other causes
Livestock depredation cases
Examined in most countries
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How to monitor? - Bears
DNA based estimates from faeces / hairs
Estimate of all individuals
Observations of females with cubs-of-the-year
Count of reproductive events
Hunter observations
Sweden = bears seen per hunting day = index
Eastern Europe = feeding site counts
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How to monitor? - Bears
X
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How to monitor? - Bears
E.g. Jämtland county in 2006. 50.000 km2. 5287 scats collected, 3000 analysed.
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How to monitor? – Eurasian lynx
Camera trapping
Estimate of total population
Observations of family groups
Count of reproductive individuals
Observations of tracks from multiple lynx in snow
Follow for >2 km – state wardens
Increasingly using camera traps in areas with poor snow
Use distance rules to separate
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How to monitor? – Wolves
Pack mapping
Multiple data sources – observations, tracks in sand or snow, DNA, telemetry, camera traps, howling
Count based, number of reproductive units (plus some idea of pack size)
DNA analysis
Scats
Estimate of total population size
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How to monitor? – Wolverine
Counts of natal dens
Revisit all known den locations each winter, plus actively search for new dens in areas with other indications
Count of annual reproductive attempts
DNA analysis
Scats and urine
Estimate of total population size
Norway = 120.000 km of search effort annually
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How to monitor? – Questions
Whole area vs reference areas
Statistically robust
Cautionary tale of Norwegian bears
Total population vs reproductive units
Effort and practicality
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Who should monitor?
Very challenging – counting phantoms
Needs broad engagement
Public
Key stakeholders – hunters / environmentalists
Networks of trained observers
State game wardens / foresters
Researchers
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Who should monitor? – Data quality
Observations must be categorized
Species identity must be confirmed by trained staff
Preferably some form of record that can be re-analysed or verified (photograph, DNA)
Nobody is beyond being questioned!
Transparency is essential
Curse of secret observations
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Who should monitor? – Data flow
Validation Data storage
Interpretation and analysis
Observation
Observation Validation
Observation Validation
Communication
Action
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Who should monitor? – Data flow
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Who should monitor? – Data flow
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Who should monitor? – Data flow
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Who should monitor? – Data interpretation
Essential elements
Data interpretation must be at a centralized level
Avoid double counts in different units
Standard methods
Transparency
Efficiency of resource use (statistics / labs / IT)
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Who should monitor? – Data interpretation
Norway – Sweden
Shared database
Standardised protocols in field and lab
Joint reports
Identify shared individuals / packs
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How to monitor?
Robust
Practical Credible
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How to monitor?
Robust
Practical Credible
Design,
observation
validation, and
interpretation
- scientists
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How to monitor?
Robust
Practical Credible
Broad
participation by
many
stakeholders
Broad
participation by
many
stakeholders
Transparency
Communication
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Workshop
Method standardization (regional / population level)
Outstanding issues around methods?
Stakeholder engagement
Barriers to multiple stakeholder engagement?
How to overcome these barriers?