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Understanding spatial patterns of poaching pressure using ranger logbook data to optimize future patrolling
Arash Ghoddousi1, Corinna Van Cayzeele2, Pegah Negahdar3
1Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Poachers target areas with abundant prey, and current ranger patrols have a low detection rate. Digitizing ranger logs can improve conservation strategies and poaching pressure management in protected areas.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Science
- Wildlife Management
- Environmental Criminology
Background:
- Poaching drives species toward extinction, necessitating effective conservation strategies.
- Understanding spatial patterns of poaching pressure is crucial but challenging due to its illegal nature.
- Ranger patrol data in logbooks are underutilized for adaptive management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and showcase a novel approach for mapping poaching pressure using analog ranger logbook data.
- To test hypotheses related to environmental criminology and predator-prey dynamics influencing poaching patterns.
- To inform adaptive management strategies for protected areas by optimizing patrol allocation.
Main Methods:
- Digitized >4800 analog ranger patrol records from Golestan National Park (2014-2016).
- Employed an occupancy modeling framework to analyze poaching patterns.
- Related poaching occurrence to accessibility, law enforcement, and prey availability.
Main Results:
- Low poacher detection probability (12%) during patrols.
- Prey availability was the strongest predictor of poaching distribution.
- High poaching pressure (>0.49) detected in 39% of the study area.
Conclusions:
- Analog ranger logbooks are a valuable, untapped resource for evidence-based conservation planning.
- Optimizing patrol intensity and quality is essential for increasing poaching detection and reducing pressure.
- Strategic reallocation of patrols can enhance conservation effectiveness in protected areas.
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