Title
Indicators of success for smart Law enforcement in protected areas: A case study for Russian Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) reserves
Author(s)
Hotte, M.H.H.;Kolodin, I.A.;Bereznuk, S.L.;Slaght, J.C.;Kerley, L.L.;Soutyrina, S.V.;Salkina, G.P.;Zaumyslova, O.Y.;Stokes, E.J.;Miquelle, D.G.
Published
2016
Publisher
Integrative Zoology
Abstract
Although considerable conservation resources have been committed to develop and use law enforcement monitoring and management tools such as SMART, measures of success are ill-defined and to date few reports detail results post-implementation. Here, we present four case studies from protected areas with Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica, Temminck1884) in Russia, in which indicators of success were defined and evaluated at each. The ultimate goal was an increase in tiger numbers to 1 individual/100 km2 at each site. We predicted that improvements in law enforcement effectiveness would be followed by increases in prey numbers and subsequently tiger numbers. We used short- and long-term indicators of success, including: i) patrol team effort and effectiveness; ii) catch per unit effort indicators (to measure reductions in threats); and iii) changes in target species numbers. In addition to implementing a monitoring system, we focused on improving law enforcement management using an adaptive management process. Over four years, we noted clear increases in patrol effort and a partial reduction in threats. Although we did not detect clear trends in ungulate numbers, tiger populations remained stable or increased; suggesting that poaching of tigers may be more limiting than prey depletion. Increased effectiveness is needed before a clear reduction in threats can be noted, and more time is needed before detecting responses in target populations. Nonetheless, delineation of concrete goals and indicators of success provide a means of evaluating progress and weaknesses. Such monitoring should be a central component of law enforcement strategies for protected areas. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Keywords
SMART;anti-poaching;law enforcement monitoring;adaptive patrol management;Amur tiger

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PUB18939