Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China
Abstract Background The Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) is a widely distributed species and has long been kept as a pet, especially by the ethnic communities in Southwest China. According to conservation experts’ suggestions, it has been designated as a second-level national key pro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00559-z |
| _version_ | 1811238831843704832 |
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| author | Chuanyin Dai |
| author_facet | Chuanyin Dai |
| author_sort | Chuanyin Dai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) is a widely distributed species and has long been kept as a pet, especially by the ethnic communities in Southwest China. According to conservation experts’ suggestions, it has been designated as a second-level national key protected species in February, 2021 to protect this bird, indicating that keeping it at home is no longer permitted in China. However, a key factor to ensure effectiveness and success of conservation initiatives is local stakeholders’ acceptance and support. Methods Interviews and focus group discussions were used to document the policy outcomes and the views of 108 local bird-keepers in a county in Guizhou province. Results Despite awareness about the illegality of the practice, the bird was still commonly caged both in rural and urban regions. To justify their unwillingness to stop keeping these birds, the interviewees presented many arguments, such as benefits for the community members’ health, cultural heritage and contributions to local livelihoods. Fewer than 30% of the bird-keepers believed that the practice of self-keeping has reduced the wild population. Most argued the decline was mainly generated by the harvesting and keepers with monetary interests. They suggested enforcement should target those people and bird markets, as well as the harvesting methods. They also recommended restricting the number of birds allowed to be kept by one keeper, establishing protected areas and a harvesting ban period. The study participants demonstrated considerable local ecological knowledge about approaches for managing the species’ use. Conclusions Due to the benefits for the people and the bird’s large distribution, I argued that a conservation goal to lower the harvesting and keeping rates would be more appropriate than a strict ban on keeping them. Such a policy would be more feasible and culturally acceptable because it is built on keepers’ support and suggestions. It is necessary to monitor the effects of bird keeping on the wild population. Overall, this qualitative study demonstrated the advantage of factoring in local voices in conservation decisions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:49:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35a0bb217d944157ace126a63cfed9ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:49:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-35a0bb217d944157ace126a63cfed9ee2022-12-22T03:32:32ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692022-10-0118111210.1186/s13002-022-00559-zIncorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, ChinaChuanyin Dai0Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of EducationAbstract Background The Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) is a widely distributed species and has long been kept as a pet, especially by the ethnic communities in Southwest China. According to conservation experts’ suggestions, it has been designated as a second-level national key protected species in February, 2021 to protect this bird, indicating that keeping it at home is no longer permitted in China. However, a key factor to ensure effectiveness and success of conservation initiatives is local stakeholders’ acceptance and support. Methods Interviews and focus group discussions were used to document the policy outcomes and the views of 108 local bird-keepers in a county in Guizhou province. Results Despite awareness about the illegality of the practice, the bird was still commonly caged both in rural and urban regions. To justify their unwillingness to stop keeping these birds, the interviewees presented many arguments, such as benefits for the community members’ health, cultural heritage and contributions to local livelihoods. Fewer than 30% of the bird-keepers believed that the practice of self-keeping has reduced the wild population. Most argued the decline was mainly generated by the harvesting and keepers with monetary interests. They suggested enforcement should target those people and bird markets, as well as the harvesting methods. They also recommended restricting the number of birds allowed to be kept by one keeper, establishing protected areas and a harvesting ban period. The study participants demonstrated considerable local ecological knowledge about approaches for managing the species’ use. Conclusions Due to the benefits for the people and the bird’s large distribution, I argued that a conservation goal to lower the harvesting and keeping rates would be more appropriate than a strict ban on keeping them. Such a policy would be more feasible and culturally acceptable because it is built on keepers’ support and suggestions. It is necessary to monitor the effects of bird keeping on the wild population. Overall, this qualitative study demonstrated the advantage of factoring in local voices in conservation decisions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00559-zBird keepingCommunity-based approachConservation policyCultural practiceEthnoornithologyLocal ecological knowledge |
| spellingShingle | Chuanyin Dai Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Bird keeping Community-based approach Conservation policy Cultural practice Ethnoornithology Local ecological knowledge |
| title | Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China |
| title_full | Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China |
| title_fullStr | Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China |
| title_short | Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China |
| title_sort | incorporating local stakeholders voices and knowledge into conservation decisions a case study on the chinese hwamei garrulax canorus linnaeus 1758 in taijiang guizhou china |
| topic | Bird keeping Community-based approach Conservation policy Cultural practice Ethnoornithology Local ecological knowledge |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00559-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chuanyindai incorporatinglocalstakeholdersvoicesandknowledgeintoconservationdecisionsacasestudyonthechinesehwameigarrulaxcanoruslinnaeus1758intaijiangguizhouchina |