Title
Monitoring Within an Adaptive Management Framework for Informing Conservation Actions in Colombia.
Author(s)
Valenzuela, Leonor; Forero-Medina, German; Caro, Lina; Goldstein, Isaac; Infante, Jhon; Martinez, Sindy; Saavedra, Carlos
Published
2017
Abstract
Following an adaptive resource management (ARM) framework, WCS designed and implemented monitoring programs for five projects that seek the conservation of landscape species in the Orinoquia, Colombia. The objective of these programs is to gain information about the system, inform management actions and assess the effectiveness of the strategies implemented. The monitoring approach to evaluate changes in the state variable as a response to changes in the threats can be divided in two groups: those that evaluate changes in population structure (or a particular life stage), and those that evaluate occupancy as a state variable. For the Moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa) fire management was confirmed as a useful conservation strategy, because the average number of seedlings was significantly higher in areas without fire than in areas subject to such pressure (without fire =19.4, with fire = 3.7; F1,36=5 y P0.05,2=0.03); additionally, the proportion of reproductive adult tends to be higher in areas without fire (without fire = 0.8, with fire = 0.6, F1,36=0.4 y P0.05,2=0.1). Monitoring has also allowed the assessment of the effectiveness of surveillance activities for protection of nests and adults of the Giant South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa). During the first year, the proportion of harvested nests was significantly higher in unprotected beaches than in protected ones (Chi2 267.2, P<0.001) and in the second year, the proportion of harvested nests in protected beaches did not increase compared to the first year (Chi2 1.8, P=0.17). Finally, monitoring allowed a baseline knowledge of the populations of Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), which had an occupancy of 0.87 (CI95% 0.85- 1). Occupancy of this species was related to area of forest, validating the conservation strategy of setting agreements with landowners for the conservation of the forest and establishing Private Reserves, which favor the presence of other species like Tayassu pecari and Mitu tomentosum.

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PUB26934