Hostname: page-component-5db58dd55d-pjp64 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-06-15T12:18:17.689Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rights to trade for species conservation: exploring the issue of the radiated tortoise in Madagascar

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2014

JÖRG U. GANZHORN ,
THEODORE MANJOAZY ,
OLINGA PÄPLOW ,
ROMA RANDRIANAVELONA ,
JULIE H. RAZAFIMANAHAKA ,
WILLIAM M. RONTO ,
ESTER VOGT ,
FRANK WÄTZOLD  and
RYAN C. J. WALKER
JÖRG U. GANZHORN*
Affiliation:
Animal Ecology and Conservation, Hamburg University, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
THEODORE MANJOAZY
Affiliation:
Départment Biologie Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
OLINGA PÄPLOW
Affiliation:
Animal Ecology and Conservation, Hamburg University, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
ROMA RANDRIANAVELONA
Affiliation:
Faculté des Sciences, Université de Tuléar, Tuléar, Madagascar
JULIE H. RAZAFIMANAHAKA
Affiliation:
Faculté des Sciences, Université de Tuléar, Tuléar, Madagascar
WILLIAM M. RONTO
Affiliation:
Voakayj, Lot II F 14 P Bis A Andraisoro, BP 5181, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar
ESTER VOGT
Affiliation:
Environmental Economics, Brandenburg University of Technology, Erich-Weinert-Strasse 1, 03046 Cottbus, Germany
FRANK WÄTZOLD
Affiliation:
Environmental Economics, Brandenburg University of Technology, Erich-Weinert-Strasse 1, 03046 Cottbus, Germany
RYAN C. J. WALKER
Affiliation:
Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK and Nautilus Ecology, Oak House, Pond Lane, Greetham, Rutland LE15 7NW, UK
*
*Correspondence: Jörg U. Ganzhorn e-mail: ganzhorn@zoologie.uni-hamburg.de
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

In many developing countries, people rely on natural resources for subsistence and cash income. The trade ban on species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List may be counter-productive, as increasing the rarity and thus price of these species acts as a stimulus to illegal markets rather than a deterrent. Since illegal markets cannot have legal property rights, there is no basis for any form of sustainable harvesting based on property rights. The Malagsy radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is an example of a species that is threatened by domestic and international trade; legalizing international trade could, under certain circumstances, provide financial incentives that might effectively reduce the domestic trade and subsistence harvest of this animal. This paper argues this critically-endangered species may be more effectively conserved by assigning trading rights to local communities, rather than demanding a trade ban that cannot be enforced successfully.

Information

Type
Comment
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 42 , Issue 4: Thematic section: Tradable Rights in Conservation , December 2015 , pp. 291 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Abensperg-Traun, M. (2009) CITES, sustainable use of wild species and incentive-driven conservation in developing countries, with an emphasis on southern Africa. Biological Conservation 142: 948–963.Google Scholar
Andriamarohasina, S. (2011) Les gendarmes ont découvert plus de huit tonnes de viande de tortue fumée. L’Express de Madagascar, Antananarivo: 7 October 2011.Google Scholar
Berkes, F. (2007) Community-based conservation in a globalized world. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 104: 15188–15193.Google Scholar
Dickson, B. (2008) CITES and the livelihoods of the poor. Oryx 42: 548–553.Google Scholar
Dressler, W., Buscher, B., Schoon, M., Brockington, D., Hayes, T., Kull, C.A., McCarthy, J. & Shrestha, K. (2010) From hope to crisis and back again? A critical history of the global CBNRM narrative. Environmental Conservation 37: 5–15.Google Scholar
Ganzhorn, J.U. (2011) Conservation through payments for an ecosystem service? Madagascar Conservation and Development 6: 55–56.Google Scholar
Leuteritz, T. & Rioux Paquette, S. (2008) Astrochelys radiata. In: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [www document]. URL http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/9014/0 Google Scholar
Lingard, M., Raharison, N., Rabakonandrianina, E., Rakotoarisoa, J.-A. & Elmqvist, T. (2003) The role of local taboos in conservation and management of species: the radiated tortoise in southern Madagascar. Conservation and Society 1: 223–246.Google Scholar
McGuire, S., Rafeliarisoa, T.H., Randriamanantenasoa, H., Randrianindrina, V.R.A., Shore, G.D. & Louis, E.E. (2013) Community outreach and education promoting the conservation of the radiated tortoise, Astrochelys radiata, in Lavavolo, Madagascar. Chelonian Research Monographs 6: I97–104.Google Scholar
Nussbaum, R.A. & Raxworthy, C.J. (2000) Commentary on conservation of ‘Sokatra’, the radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) of Madagascar. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 2: 6–14.Google Scholar
O’Brien, S., Emahalala, E.R., Beard, V., Rakotondrainy, R.M., Reid, A., Raharisoa, V. & Coulson, T. (2003) Decline of the Madagascar radiated tortoise Geochelone radiata due to overexploitation. Oryx 37: 338–343.Google Scholar
Pollini, J. & Lassoie, J.P. (2011) Trapping farmer communities within global environmental regimes: the case of the GELOSE legislation in Madagascar. Society and Natural Resources 24: 814–830.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rafeliarisoa, T.H., Walker, R.C.J. & Louis, E.E. (2013) Decline in the range and population density of radiated tortoises, Astrochelys radiata, in southern Madagascar. Chelonian Research Monographs 6: 86–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rissman, A.R. (2013) Rethinking property rights: comparative analysis of conservation easements for wildlife conservation. Environmental Conservation 40: 222–230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roe, D. (2008) Trading nature: a report, with case studies, on the contribution of wildlife trade management to sustainable livelihoods and the Millennium Development Goals. Report. TRAFFIC International Cambridge, UK and WWF International, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Smith, M.J., Benitez-Diaz, H., Clemente-Munoz, M.A., Donaldson, J., Hutton, J.M., McGough, H.N., Medellin, R.A., Morgan, D.H.W., O’Criodain, C., Oldfield, T.E.E., Schippmann, U. & Williams, R.J. (2011) Assessing the impacts of international trade on CITES-listed species: current practices and opportunities for scientific research. Biological Conservation 144: 82–91.Google Scholar
Sommerville, M., Milner-Gulland, E.J., Rahajaharison, M. & Jones, J.P.G. (2010) Impact of a community-based payment for environmental services intervention on forest use in Menabe, Madagascar. Conservation Biology 24: 1488–1498.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SuLaMa (2011) Projet SuLaMa: recherche participative pour appuyer la gestion durable des terres du Plateau Mahafaly dans le sud-ouest de Madagascar [www document]. URL http://www.sulama.de/files/rapport_marp_2011_small.pdf Google Scholar
Thorbjarnarson, J. (1999) Crocodile tears and skins: International trade, economic constraints, and limits to the sustainable use of crocodilians. Conservation Biology 13: 465–470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tlusty, M.F., Rhyne, A.L., Kaufman, L., Hutchins, M., Reid, G.M., Andrews, C., Boyle, P., Hemdal, J., McGilvray, F. & Dowd, S. (2013) Opportunities for public aquariums to increase the sustainability of the aquatic animal trade. Zoo Biology 32: 1–12.Google Scholar
Todd, M. (2011) Trade in Malagasy reptiles and amphibians in Thailand. Report. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia [www document]. URL http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_reptiles30.pdf Google Scholar
Walker, R.C.J. & Rafeliarisoa, T.H. (2012) Distribution of radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) bushmeat poaching effort. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 11: 223–226.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Ganzhorn Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material

Download Ganzhorn Supplementary Material(File)
File 12.5 KB