Perceived Effects of Elephants (Loxodonta africana Cuvier) Presence and Impacts on Ecosystem Services Supply in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, West Africa

Information on how biotic factors influence delivery of ecosystem services (ES) in natural systems is important for holistic landscape management. In this study, we assessed the perceived effects of elephants’ presence on ES supply in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in West Africa. A total of 112 res...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical conservation science 2019-08, Vol.12 (1)
Main Authors: Gnonlonfoun, Isidore, Kassa, Barthélémy, Azihou, Fortuné, Mensah, Sylvanus, Glèlè Kakaï, Romain Lucas, Assogbadjo, Achille Ephrem
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biosphere
biotic disturbances
Biotic factors
Coexistence
Economic impact
Economic importance
economic valuation
Economics
Ecosystem services
Elephants
Environmental impact
Households
Local population
perceptions
protected areas
Provisioning
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Summary:Information on how biotic factors influence delivery of ecosystem services (ES) in natural systems is important for holistic landscape management. In this study, we assessed the perceived effects of elephants’ presence on ES supply in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in West Africa. A total of 112 respondents, including riparian communities and reserve officials, were interviewed. First, we used ranking techniques based on stakeholders’ perceptions to evaluate differences in perceived importance of ES. Second, we assessed the perceived impact of elephants on ES supply from both direction and intensity perspective. Third, we assessed the economic importance of threatened ESs and elephants’ damages related economic losses incurred by households. Twenty-seven ES were enumerated, 13 provisioning ES, 12 cultural ES, and two from the regulating and maintenance ES category. Provisioning ES were perceived as the most important although not significantly different from other categories. PES were also found to be most affected negatively by elephants’ impacts. However, elephants’ presence increased supply of cultural ES. The average cost of the losses due to elephants’ negative impacts ranged from $174.80 to $586.05 per year and per victim household. These results were discussed in relation to management actions necessary to facilitate coexistence between elephant and local populations.
ISSN:1940-0829
1940-0829
DOI:10.1177/1940082919865979