Tweet
Published: Sunday | November 27, 20110 Comments
Christopher Serju, Sunday Gleaner Writer
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is moving to improve the methodology it uses to determine the local bird population in order to better inform its management strategy.
Fresh from a recent workshop in the Dominican Republic, Ricardo Miller, acting coordinator for the Ecosystems Management Branch, told The Sunday Gleaner he has been mandated to redesign the survey technique to provide more "robust analytical methods" of getting a more accurate count. He explained that as it relates to conservation of species, a properly managed hunting season does not adversely affect long-term survival of the hunted populations. This, however, is complicated when other factors such as habit loss and illegal hunting become major factors. Effective management, therefore, has to consider these issues. While there is no immediate cause for alarm, indications are that this could change.
"The rate of habitat loss in Jamaica may be considered alarming at the moment, when we consider how much is being lost for development and agriculture," Miller warned. "Many persons believe the birds and animals that utilise the area will simply go somewhere else, but this is not the case. Each habitat can be considered to be operating at its carrying capacity so any influx of birds from another area will be temporary as the system goes back to its natural carrying capacity."
Coupled with the strong anecdotal evidence of indiscriminate overshooting and other bad hunting ethics, this has prompted the agency to go for a more detailed count of the bird population. The current system of relative abundance looks at the density of birds sighted within a certain acreage over a specific time frame and, while it helps in arriving at an overall population size, it does not give a good grasp or accurate count. A similar exercise done at that place a year later can provide data for comparison.
"We always have concerns about the level of illegal hunting and have very little reason to doubt the reports of indiscriminate shooting. However, they are never timely, and by the time we are able to mobilise a team, the evidence is usually absent by the time we get there," Miller shared.
Most times, these reports are from disgruntled hunters who visit the office to hand in their reports at the end of the season and complain about or question how others have been allowed to breach the rules without sanctions.
Reports of crocus or livestock feed bags filled with birds numbering as much as 200 per bag have been recorded. This is well above the 20-bird limit for each hunter in three shooting periods over each weekend, over a period of about six weekends. At no time should there be more than 15 white-crowned pigeons (bald pate) in any 20-bird count. The other birds legally hunted during the annual bird-shooting season are white-winged dove, the zenaida dove and the mourning dove.
detailed report
This year, the season ran from August 20 to September 25 and the deadline for submitting reports, as usual, is December 31. The fee for the hunting licence is now $15,000 and late return attracts a penalty of $5,000.
The report, which is filled out on the back of the licence, is designed to provide detailed, accurate information including geographical location and dates on which the hunters shoot, as well as the number of each type of bird. In addition to the weather condition, information about the type and amount of vegetation is also critical information.
Admitting that it does not have enough personnel to effectively monitor hunters during the hunting season, NEPA has long had concerns about the veracity of a lot of the reports.
Miller explained: "There tends to be a bias towards complaints, and so hunters who did not have a good hunting season are often the loudest and most often heard while others may remain quiet. There is also the tendency for some hunters to not accurately communicate their hunting harvest, often to conceal their good hunting areas and also to make it difficult for the agency to find them during routine monitoring."
In addition, with the number of hunters granted licences remaining fairly constant over the years, evidence is emerging that there is a higher concentration of shooters operating in a declining bird habitat. The implication of this for hunters, their prey and the environment, may call for drastic remedial measures.
"Times are changing and with the growing level of development, more forest is being lost and with habitats declining, we will see less birds. Now, if the hunting proves to be unsustainable at the current levels, then the managerial framework will dictate that the amount of birds allowed to be harvested be decreased. On the extreme end, a cap on the number of hunting licences issued each year may also be considered," Miller warned.
In 2010, NEPA issued 1,295 hunting licences compared to 1,218 the year before, when an average of 157 birds per hunter was recorded, as against 127 last year. Data provided by the agency show that with the exception of 2007, when the number dipped to 900, from 2001 to 2010 the lowest number of licences (1,222) was issued in 2008, with 1,444 hunters legally authorised to hunt in 2004. The estimated total harvest for that year was 76,490 birds, the lowest for the 10-year period which also saw an average of 76 birds per hunter, the only time it dipped below 100 for the period under review.
The turrnout for 2007 was due to NEPA's decision to cut the season by half to about three weekends. Many shooters opted not to participate on the grounds that having to pay the same licence fee as they did for the previous six-week period, they would not be getting value for money.
christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com
Christopher Serju, Sunday Gleaner Writer
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is moving to improve the methodology it uses to determine the local bird population in order to better inform its management strategy.
Fresh from a recent workshop in the Dominican Republic, Ricardo Miller, acting coordinator for the Ecosystems Management Branch, told The Sunday Gleaner he has been mandated to redesign the survey technique to provide more "robust analytical methods" of getting a more accurate count. He explained that as it relates to conservation of species, a properly managed hunting season does not adversely affect long-term survival of the hunted populations. This, however, is complicated when other factors such as habit loss and illegal hunting become major factors. Effective management, therefore, has to consider these issues. While there is no immediate cause for alarm, indications are that this could change.
"The rate of habitat loss in Jamaica may be considered alarming at the moment, when we consider how much is being lost for development and agriculture," Miller warned. "Many persons believe the birds and animals that utilise the area will simply go somewhere else, but this is not the case. Each habitat can be considered to be operating at its carrying capacity so any influx of birds from another area will be temporary as the system goes back to its natural carrying capacity."
Coupled with the strong anecdotal evidence of indiscriminate overshooting and other bad hunting ethics, this has prompted the agency to go for a more detailed count of the bird population. The current system of relative abundance looks at the density of birds sighted within a certain acreage over a specific time frame and, while it helps in arriving at an overall population size, it does not give a good grasp or accurate count. A similar exercise done at that place a year later can provide data for comparison.
"We always have concerns about the level of illegal hunting and have very little reason to doubt the reports of indiscriminate shooting. However, they are never timely, and by the time we are able to mobilise a team, the evidence is usually absent by the time we get there," Miller shared.
Most times, these reports are from disgruntled hunters who visit the office to hand in their reports at the end of the season and complain about or question how others have been allowed to breach the rules without sanctions.
Reports of crocus or livestock feed bags filled with birds numbering as much as 200 per bag have been recorded. This is well above the 20-bird limit for each hunter in three shooting periods over each weekend, over a period of about six weekends. At no time should there be more than 15 white-crowned pigeons (bald pate) in any 20-bird count. The other birds legally hunted during the annual bird-shooting season are white-winged dove, the zenaida dove and the mourning dove.
detailed report
This year, the season ran from August 20 to September 25 and the deadline for submitting reports, as usual, is December 31. The fee for the hunting licence is now $15,000 and late return attracts a penalty of $5,000.
The report, which is filled out on the back of the licence, is designed to provide detailed, accurate information including geographical location and dates on which the hunters shoot, as well as the number of each type of bird. In addition to the weather condition, information about the type and amount of vegetation is also critical information.
Admitting that it does not have enough personnel to effectively monitor hunters during the hunting season, NEPA has long had concerns about the veracity of a lot of the reports.
Miller explained: "There tends to be a bias towards complaints, and so hunters who did not have a good hunting season are often the loudest and most often heard while others may remain quiet. There is also the tendency for some hunters to not accurately communicate their hunting harvest, often to conceal their good hunting areas and also to make it difficult for the agency to find them during routine monitoring."
In addition, with the number of hunters granted licences remaining fairly constant over the years, evidence is emerging that there is a higher concentration of shooters operating in a declining bird habitat. The implication of this for hunters, their prey and the environment, may call for drastic remedial measures.
"Times are changing and with the growing level of development, more forest is being lost and with habitats declining, we will see less birds. Now, if the hunting proves to be unsustainable at the current levels, then the managerial framework will dictate that the amount of birds allowed to be harvested be decreased. On the extreme end, a cap on the number of hunting licences issued each year may also be considered," Miller warned.
In 2010, NEPA issued 1,295 hunting licences compared to 1,218 the year before, when an average of 157 birds per hunter was recorded, as against 127 last year. Data provided by the agency show that with the exception of 2007, when the number dipped to 900, from 2001 to 2010 the lowest number of licences (1,222) was issued in 2008, with 1,444 hunters legally authorised to hunt in 2004. The estimated total harvest for that year was 76,490 birds, the lowest for the 10-year period which also saw an average of 76 birds per hunter, the only time it dipped below 100 for the period under review.
The turrnout for 2007 was due to NEPA's decision to cut the season by half to about three weekends. Many shooters opted not to participate on the grounds that having to pay the same licence fee as they did for the previous six-week period, they would not be getting value for money.
christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com