Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Cetaceans in Asia


Book Description

This compilation brings together current information on the status of Asian freshwater cetacean populations, the factors that have caused their recent declines, and what can be done to improve their chances for survival. Includes papers on water development issues, the Yangtze River Dolphin (Baiji), the Ganges River Dolphin (Susu), and porpoises. In the final section, five papers address methods of studying freshwater cetaceans.




Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management


Book Description

The Darwin Elasmobranch Biodiversity Conservation and Management project in Sabah held a three-day international seminar that included a one-day workshop in order to highlight freshwater and coastal elasmobranch conservation issues in the region and worldwide, to disseminate the result of the project to other Malaysian states and countries, and to raise awareness of the importance of considering aspects of elasmobranch biodiversity in the context of nature conservation, commercial fisheries management, and for subsistence fishing communities. These proceedings contain numerous peer-reviewed papers originally presented at the seminar, which cover a wide range of topics, with particular reference to species from freshwater and estuarine habitats. The workshop served to develop recommendations concerning the future prospects of elasmobranch fisheries, biodiversity, conservation and management. This paper records those conclusions, which highlight the importance of elasmobranchs as top marine predators and keystone species, noting that permanent damage to shark and ray populations are likely to have serious and unexpected negative consequences for commercial and subsistence yields of other important fish stocks.




Guidance for CITES Scientific Authorities


Book Description

Use of and trade in wildlife is a fact of life for human society around the globe. Article IV of the CITES Convention requires that exporting countries restrict trade in Appendix II species to levels that are not detrimental either to species? survival, or to their role within the ecosystems in which they occur (known as the ?non-detriment finding?). Based on two workshops convened by IUCN to develop some pragmatic assistance for Scientific Authorities, this publication presents the background to the development of the non-detriment finding checklist and explains how the checklist itself is designed to work, in the hope that Scientific Authority staff will take and develop the parts of the approach that they find useful.







Best Practice Guidelines for the Re-Introduction of Great Apes


Book Description

From the website: Although the IUCN has previously established working protocols for plant and animal re-introduction, the great apes present unique challenges and concerns owing to their singular cognitive development. This prompted the Primate Specialist Group to reconsider the existing guidelines in terms of the specific needs of great apes. The resulting synthesis, representing the expert opinion of primatologists and re-introduction practitioners, is presented here as part of the series of best-practices documents. Specifically designed for rehabilitators and specialists in re-introduction, these guidelines start from the fundamental assumption that re-introductions should not endanger wild populations of great apes or the ecosystems they inhabit. Equally important is the health and welfare of the individual great apes being re-introduced, as well as the caretaker staff and the residents of the surrounding areas. The re-introduction guidelines also require that the factors which first threatened great apes in the proposed site of release have been addressed and resolved.




Polar Bears


Book Description

In addition to agenda and minutes of meeting, this contains: summary of Ursus maritimus population status; evaluation of polar bear in relation to 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals; resolutions; press release; national reports on research in Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and Alaska.




African Antelope Database 1998


Book Description

Although most antelope species still exist in large numbers in sub-Saharan Africa (some in hundreds of thousands), up to three-quarters of the species are in decline. Threats to their survival arise from the rapid growth of human and livestock populations, with consequent degradation and destruction of natural habitats, and excessive offtake by meat hunters. In addition, some parts of Africa are mow almost completely devoid of large wild animals because of uncontrolled slaughter during recent civil wars. This report presents the information currently held by the IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group on the conservation status of each antelope species (and selected subspecies) in sub-Saharan Africa. Key areas have been identified for the conservation of representative antelope communities. While external donors make the greatest contributions to the conservation of antelopes, greater recognition of wildlife conservation in national and regional development plans is often a critically important requirement.




Sharks and Their Relatives


Book Description

Sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras, are the diverse group of cartilaginous fishes that have evolved over 400 million years. Historically considered of low economic value to large-scale fisheries, today many of these fishes have become the target of directed commercial and recreational fisheries around the world, and they are increasingly taken in the by-catch of fisheries targeting other species. This report emphasizes the widely-acknowledged need to improve shark fishery monitoring, expand biological research and take management action. It serves as an introduction to the ecology, status and conservation of the sharks and their relatives for a general audience. Shark fisheries can only be managed sustainably, and shark populations remain viable, with the introduction of new conservation and management initiatives.




Inter-African Development and Development Fund (Iadf)


Book Description

SYNOPSIS FOR INTER-AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT VOL 1Inter-African development is possible through an array of alternative strategies.CHAPTER 1 Addresses land use and management in AfricaIn Africa, land use has become one of the most seriously contested problems ever to bereckoned in the history of Africa. Land is both security and economic confidence for themany landless or marginalized persons in the world. African governments' concernsshould be obligatory in finding lasting solutions to resolve issues of land degradationresulting from human activities and land management. How then do we frame landissues? The issues that can be addressed are such as ecological foot prints and tragedy ofthe commons. Therefore, African countries need to harness reforestation programs inorder to subdue the ever-increasing risks posed by global warming and desertencroachment.CHAPTER 2 addresses the history of grabbing fertile lands. The history of land extortiondates back to Europe and continued in Africa through colonial era. Land grabbing has itseconomic implications: Access to land and violent conflicts in Africa have economic aswell as political implications. Thus, because of the economic and political implications,Land represents security and economic confidence. Therefore, reforms in land ownershipmust be implemented so that the landless may also have a share in land tenureship.CHAPTER 3 addresses democracy and economic development issues towardssustainability as well as identifying culprits of development retardation.CHAPTER 4 addresses IADF strategies for regional economic developmentCHAPTER 5 addresses development modalities. Modalities that need to be adopted byAfrican governments are such as: import substitution model strategies, export leadgrowth industrialization, emulation of Chile's example, Mexico's example, the adoptionof India's software industry style, Japan's Export Growth Model, importance of anIndustry's location, and other infrastructural development modalities.CHAPTER 6 addresses issues arising from economies that are driven without democracyand security.CHAPTER 7 addresses the importance of approaching sustainable development withsingle currencyCHAPTER 8 addresses the benefits of single currencyCHAPTER 9 addresses the importance of printing single currency within Africa.CHAPTER 10 lays emphasis upon how assets for banking system through IADF shouldbe implemented.CHAPTER 11 addresses how establishing free trade can impact economic growth inneighbouring countries. One of the modalities of approaching such trading policies is theHarmonization of consumer price indices.CHAPTER 12 addresses harmonization of continental trade indices with emphasis onTerms of trade, which is an index of the price of a country's exports in terms of itsimports. "The terms of trade are said to improve if that index rises"CHAPTER 13 addresses modalities for harmonizing trade indices. Trade harmonizationis an equal treatment among trading partners.CHAPTER 14 addresses how world trade affects poor nations' economy and how toavert from goods dumping.CHAPTER 15 addresses how trade imbalances defined by unfair trade.CHAPTER 16 addresses issues pertaining to trade-related intellectual property rights(TRIPS)CHAPTER 17 addresses Political issues with emphasis on Governance issues andGuidance.CHAPTER 18 addresses theories behind the Inter-African development fund (IADF)CHAPTER 19 addresses issues as to whether an all-African senate political system willhelp solve Africa's political instabilities?CHAPTER 20 lays emphasis on infrastructure development and how this will impacteconomic development.CHAPTER 21 addresses as to whether governments are part of the problems andsolutions?CHAPTER 22 addresses how disparate and desperate are African nations? How disparitycan be narrowed between the rich and the poor or whether other alternatives can beapplied?CHAPTER 23 makes analysis on how adopting Ricardo's comparative advantage mayimpact manufacturing and then how it may lead to sustainable economic development ofthe regions.CHAPTER 24 addresses post colonial issues and Africa in post - colonial eraCHAPTER 25 addresses natural resources, as conflicting resourcesCHAPTER 26 addresses what are the factors and ambivalence to African problems?CHAPTER 27 lays emphasis on health crisis in Africa with the advent of HIV/AIDSCHAPTER 28 encourages new ideas and discoveries in health sciences in which claimsfor cure of HIV/AIDS have been pronounced, which is something Africa could take pridein.The major challenges are the issues of globalization and the internal self-inflictedoppressive forces of bad politics. Also, whether or not blocs of nations can envisionsolidarity economics; implement political union and economic independence througheconomic democratization, as there are some economic blocs that already exist.




Mammals of Africa


Book Description

Mammals of Africa (MoA) is a series of six volumes which describes, in detail, every currently recognized species of African land mammal. This is the first time that such extensive coverage has ever been attempted, and the volumes incorporate the very latest information and detailed discussion of the morphology, distribution, biology and evolution (including reference to fossil and molecular data) of Africa's mammals. With 1,160 species and 16 orders, Africa has the greatest diversity and abundance of mammals in the world. The reasons for this and the mechanisms behind their evolution are given special attention in the series. Each volume follows the same format, with detailed profiles of every species and higher taxa. The series includes some 660 colour illustrations by Jonathan Kingdon and his many drawings highlight details of morphology and behaviour of the species concerned. Diagrams, schematic details and line drawings of skulls and jaws are by Jonathan Kingdon and Meredith Happold. Every species also includes a detailed distribution map. Extensive references alert readers to more detailed information. Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria (352 pages) Volume II: Primates (560 pages) Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits (784 pages) Volume IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats (800 pages) Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses (560 pages) Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids (704 pages)