Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage?
Abstract Understanding human–wildlife interactions within biocultural systems is essential to support evidence‐based conservation and Indigenous cultural integrity, and to identify inclusive “win‐win” options for coexistence with threatened species. Jamaica's Blue and John Crow Mountains contai...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13245 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850060981158281216 |
|---|---|
| author | Samuel T. Turvey Orlando F. Robinson Clare Duncan Rosalind J. Kennerley Susan Otuokon |
| author_facet | Samuel T. Turvey Orlando F. Robinson Clare Duncan Rosalind J. Kennerley Susan Otuokon |
| author_sort | Samuel T. Turvey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Understanding human–wildlife interactions within biocultural systems is essential to support evidence‐based conservation and Indigenous cultural integrity, and to identify inclusive “win‐win” options for coexistence with threatened species. Jamaica's Blue and John Crow Mountains contain a population of the Endangered Jamaican hutia or coney (Geocapromys brownii), one of the last surviving Caribbean mammals, as well as Maroon communities that practice hunting as a traditional cultural activity. An interview survey was conducted in two Maroon communities within this conservation‐priority landscape to understand local knowledge and attitudes toward coneys, and the cultural importance and dynamics of interactions with coneys. Experience of coney consumption is relatively widespread through small‐scale local trade in hunted animals, but few respondents consider hunting to be of cultural or economic importance, very few people specifically hunt coneys, and most respondents support coney conservation. Conversely, crop damage caused by coneys is considered a substantial problem and is associated with decreased conservation support. Although we estimate that almost 530 coneys were killed during the previous year by our respondent sample, local perceptions suggest that hunting may not be having a negative impact on the coney population, and coney conservation can hopefully be integrated equitably with Maroon cultural values and needs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e149b6442f0944d595cf445d80db669e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-e149b6442f0944d595cf445d80db669e2025-08-20T02:50:24ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542024-12-01612n/an/a10.1111/csp2.13245Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage?Samuel T. Turvey0Orlando F. Robinson1Clare Duncan2Rosalind J. Kennerley3Susan Otuokon4Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UKJamaica Conservation and Development Trust Kingston JamaicaInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UKIUCN Species Survival Commission Small Mammal Specialist Group Gland SwitzerlandJamaica Conservation and Development Trust Kingston JamaicaAbstract Understanding human–wildlife interactions within biocultural systems is essential to support evidence‐based conservation and Indigenous cultural integrity, and to identify inclusive “win‐win” options for coexistence with threatened species. Jamaica's Blue and John Crow Mountains contain a population of the Endangered Jamaican hutia or coney (Geocapromys brownii), one of the last surviving Caribbean mammals, as well as Maroon communities that practice hunting as a traditional cultural activity. An interview survey was conducted in two Maroon communities within this conservation‐priority landscape to understand local knowledge and attitudes toward coneys, and the cultural importance and dynamics of interactions with coneys. Experience of coney consumption is relatively widespread through small‐scale local trade in hunted animals, but few respondents consider hunting to be of cultural or economic importance, very few people specifically hunt coneys, and most respondents support coney conservation. Conversely, crop damage caused by coneys is considered a substantial problem and is associated with decreased conservation support. Although we estimate that almost 530 coneys were killed during the previous year by our respondent sample, local perceptions suggest that hunting may not be having a negative impact on the coney population, and coney conservation can hopefully be integrated equitably with Maroon cultural values and needs.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13245evidence‐based conservationGeocapromyshuman–wildlife conflicthutiaIndigenous knowledgetraditional hunting |
| spellingShingle | Samuel T. Turvey Orlando F. Robinson Clare Duncan Rosalind J. Kennerley Susan Otuokon Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage? Conservation Science and Practice evidence‐based conservation Geocapromys human–wildlife conflict hutia Indigenous knowledge traditional hunting |
| title | Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage? |
| title_full | Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage? |
| title_fullStr | Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage? |
| title_short | Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage? |
| title_sort | does endemic mammal conservation in jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage |
| topic | evidence‐based conservation Geocapromys human–wildlife conflict hutia Indigenous knowledge traditional hunting |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13245 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samueltturvey doesendemicmammalconservationinjamaicaconflictwithmaintainingbioculturalheritage AT orlandofrobinson doesendemicmammalconservationinjamaicaconflictwithmaintainingbioculturalheritage AT clareduncan doesendemicmammalconservationinjamaicaconflictwithmaintainingbioculturalheritage AT rosalindjkennerley doesendemicmammalconservationinjamaicaconflictwithmaintainingbioculturalheritage AT susanotuokon doesendemicmammalconservationinjamaicaconflictwithmaintainingbioculturalheritage |