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Alvarez-Solas, S.; Ramis, L.; Zurita-Benavides, M.; Penuela-Mora, M.
Local knowledge and uses of large mammals: A tool to understand threats, behavior and distribution of these species
2018  Revista de Investigacion Talentos (5): 17-25

Multiple factors influence the conditions of a Protected Area (PA), then these must be considered for the conservation of the ecosystem. In addition, to guarantee the flourish of a conservation initiative is important to have a closely collaboration between local people and conservation agents. The management and use of natural resources such as fauna, influence the behavioral patterns and distribution of these species, which play an important role within the ecosystems. Through the analysis of 57 semi-structured interviews and photo-elucidation, the local naturalist knowledge of large mammals was documented in four communities surrounding the Colonso-Chalupas Biological Reserve; data was analyzed by means of the Importance Value Index (IVI) and the Use Value (V.U) and a t-test was used to measure the differences between the knowledge of men and women. The results of the presence of big mammals show concordance between our predictions and the knowledge of people, appreciated as food meat and for some species are also appreciated as pets (n = 5 V.U = 1, n = 8, V.U = 2). However, the results suggest hunting, also evidenced by the differences between men and women (t-test, t =6.265, df =28, p < 0.001), where women did not recognize certain species nor by consumption of meat. Nonetheless, the increase of the agricultural frontier, the loss of habitat, and the remanence of hunting processes, at least of species close to the chagras, continue to be a threat to the large mammals of the reserve, so it is indispensable to elaborate environmental education and conservation plans with the communities.

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