Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Contribution of illegal hunting, culling of pest species, road accidents and feral dogs to biodiversity loss in established oil-palm landscapes

Badrul Azhar A B D , David Lindenmayer A , Jeff Wood A , Joern Fischer C , Adrian Manning A , Chris McElhinny A and Mohamed Zakaria B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A The Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

B Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

C Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lueneburg, 21335 Lueneburg, Germany.

D Corresponding author. Email: badrul.sharif@anu.edu.au

Wildlife Research 40(1) 1-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR12036
Submitted: 17 February 2012  Accepted: 20 November 2012   Published: 12 December 2012

Abstract

Context: Understanding the ecological impacts of the palm-oil industry on native fauna requires information on anthropogenic threats that may cause species decline or local extinction.

Aim: The main aim of the study was to assess wildlife deaths caused by illegal hunting, road accidents and introduced predators in established oil-palm landscapes in Peninsular Malaysia.

Methods: Between April and October 2009, we interviewed 362 oil-palm workers at 36 sites, including large industrial estates and semi-traditional smallholdings.

Key results: Our results showed that (1) illegal hunting by oil-palm workers in different oil-palm management systems was not statistically significant (P = 0.097), (2) native fauna were more often destroyed as pests in smallholdings than in conventional and eco-friendly plantation estates (P = 0.005), (3) non-local poachers conducted illegal activity more often in smallholdings than in conventional and eco-friendly plantation estates (P = 0.011), (4) road accidents were reported to kill more native fauna in conventional plantation estates than in smallholdings and eco-friendly plantation estates (P < 0.001) and (5) feral dogs were reported as killing more native fauna in eco-friendly plantation estates than in conventional plantation estates and smallholdings (P = 0.034).

Conclusion: In addition to the conversion of native forest to oil-palm monocultures, various other anthropogenic threats can have a substantial effect on wildlife in oil-palm landscapes.

Implications: To improve the conservation value of oil-palm landscapes, we recommend that palm-oil stakeholders should implement anti-poaching patrols, organise conservation programs to educate workers, reduce vehicle speeds on roads within oil-palm landscapes, and control local populations of feral dogs.

Additional keywords: anthropogenic threats, conventional plantation estates, eco-friendly plantation estates, semi-traditional smallholdings.


References

Altrichter, M., and Boaglio, G. I. (2004). Distribution and relative abundance of peccaries in the Argentine Chaco: associations with human factors. Biological Conservation 116, 217–225.

Anadón, J. D., Gimenez, A., Ballestar, R., and Perez, I. (2009). Evaluation of local ecological knowledge as a method for collecting extensive data on animal abundance. Conservation Biology 23, 617–625.
Evaluation of local ecological knowledge as a method for collecting extensive data on animal abundance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Anadón, J. D., Gimenez, A., and Ballestar, R. (2010). Linking local ecological knowledge and habitat modelling to predict absolute species abundance on large scales. Biodiversity and Conservation 19, 1443–1454.
Linking local ecological knowledge and habitat modelling to predict absolute species abundance on large scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Anderson, J., Rowcliffe, J. M., and Cowlishaw, G. (2007). Does the matrix matter? A forest primate in a complex agricultural landscape. Biological Conservation 135, 212–222.
Does the matrix matter? A forest primate in a complex agricultural landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Aratrakorn, S., Thunhikorn, S., and Donald, P. F. (2006). Changes in bird communities following conversion of lowland forest to oil palm and rubber plantations in southern Thailand. Bird Conservation International 16, 71–82.
Changes in bird communities following conversion of lowland forest to oil palm and rubber plantations in southern Thailand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Azhar, B., Lindenmayer, D. B., Wood, J., Fischer, J., Manning, A., McElhinny, C., and Zakaria, M. (2011). The conservation value of oil palm plantation estates, smallholdings and logged peat swamp forest for birds. Forest Ecology and Management 262, 2306–2315.
The conservation value of oil palm plantation estates, smallholdings and logged peat swamp forest for birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Basiron, Y. (2007). Palm oil production through sustainable plantations. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology 109, 289–295.
Palm oil production through sustainable plantations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXltVartLY%3D&md5=c4fdc2d30cda9e4ca3a7c693f80a6834CAS |

Bernard, H., Fjeldsa, J., and Mohamed, M. (2009). A case study on the effects of disturbance and conversion of tropical lowland rain forest on the non-volant small mammals in north Borneo: management implications. Mammal Study 34, 85–96.
A case study on the effects of disturbance and conversion of tropical lowland rain forest on the non-volant small mammals in north Borneo: management implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bolker, B. M., Brooks, M. E., Clark, C. J., Geange, S. W., Poulsen, J. R., Stevens, M. H. H., and White, J. S. S. (2009). Generalized linear mixed models: a practical guide for ecology and evolution. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24, 127–135.
Generalized linear mixed models: a practical guide for ecology and evolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brooks, T. M., Pimm, S. L., and Collar, N. J. (1997). Deforestation predicts the number of threatened birds in insular southeast Asia. Conservation Biology 11, 382–394.

Brooks, T. M., Pimm, S. L., Kapos, V., and Ravilious, C. (1999). Threat from deforestation to montane and lowland birds and mammals in insular South-east Asia. Journal of Animal Ecology 68, 1061–1078.
Threat from deforestation to montane and lowland birds and mammals in insular South-east Asia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brooks, S. E., Allison, E. H., and Reynolds, J. D. (2007). Vulnerability of Cambodian water snakes: Initial assessment of the impact of hunting at Tonle Sap Lake. Biological Conservation 139, 401–414.
Vulnerability of Cambodian water snakes: Initial assessment of the impact of hunting at Tonle Sap Lake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Clements, R., Rayan, D. M., Zafir, A. W. A., Venkataraman, A., Alfred, R., Payne, J., Ambu, L., and Sharma, D. S. K. (2010). Trio under threat: can we secure the future of rhinos, elephants and tigers in Malaysia? Biodiversity and Conservation 19, 1115–1136.
Trio under threat: can we secure the future of rhinos, elephants and tigers in Malaysia?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Corlett, R. T. (2007). The impact of hunting on the mammalian fauna of tropical Asian forests. Biotropica 39, 292–303.
The impact of hunting on the mammalian fauna of tropical Asian forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Corley, R. H. V., and Tinker, P. B. H. (2003). ‘The Oil Palm.’ 4th edn. (Wiley-Blackwell: Oxford, UK.)

Donald, P. F. (2004). Biodiversity impacts of some agricultural commodity production systems. Conservation Biology 18, 17–37.
Biodiversity impacts of some agricultural commodity production systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Edwards, D. P., Hodgson, J. A., Hamer, K. C., Mitchell, S. L., Ahmad, A. H., Cornell, S. J., and Wilcove, D. S. (2010). Wildlife-friendly oil palm plantations fail to protect biodiversity effectively. Conservation Letters 3, 236–242.
Wildlife-friendly oil palm plantations fail to protect biodiversity effectively.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (2010). ‘FAOSTAT.’ Available at http://faostat.fao.org [verified June 2010].

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (2011). ‘FAOSTAT.’ Available at http://faostat.fao.org [verified September 2011].

Fitzherbert, E. B., Struebig, M. J., Morel, A., Danielsen, F., Brulh, C. A., Donald, P. F., and Phalan, B. (2008). How will oil palm expansion affect biodiversity? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 23, 538–545.
How will oil palm expansion affect biodiversity?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Foster, W. A., Snaddon, J. L., Turner, E. C., Fayle, T. M., Cockerill, T. D., Ellwood, M. D. F., Broad, G. R., Chung, A. Y. C., Eggleton, P., Khen, C. V., and Yusah, K. M. (2011). Establishing the evidence base for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the oil palm landscapes of South East Asia. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 366, 3277–3291.
Establishing the evidence base for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the oil palm landscapes of South East Asia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Francis, C. M. (2008). ‘A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia.’ (New Holland: London, UK.)

Gibson, L., Lee, T. M., Koh, L. P., Brook, B. W., Gardner, T. A., Barlow, J., Peres, C. A., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Laurance, W. F., Lovejoy, T. E., and Sodhi, N. S. (2011). Primary forests are irreplaceable for sustaining tropical biodiversity. Nature 478, 378–381.
Primary forests are irreplaceable for sustaining tropical biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtFKqsb%2FE&md5=8db0c1e53acbf33d2349ac75116e52a7CAS |

Groom, M. J., Gray, E. M., and Townsend, P. A. (2008). Biofuels and biodiversity: principles for creating better policies for biofuel production. Conservation Biology 22, 602–609.
Biofuels and biodiversity: principles for creating better policies for biofuel production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jones, J. P. G., Andriamarovololona, M. M., Hockley, N., Gibbons, J. M., and Milner-Gulland, E. J. (2008). Testing the use of interviews as a tool for monitoring trends in the harvesting of wild species. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1205–1212.
Testing the use of interviews as a tool for monitoring trends in the harvesting of wild species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koh, L. P. (2008). Can oil palm plantations be made more hospitable for forest butterflies and birds? Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1002–1009.
Can oil palm plantations be made more hospitable for forest butterflies and birds?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koh, L. P., and Wilcove, D. S. (2009). Oil palm: disinformation enables deforestation. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24, 67–68.
Oil palm: disinformation enables deforestation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Laurance, W. F., Croes, B. M., Guissouegou, N., Buij, R., Dethier, M., and Alonso, A. (2008). Impacts of roads, hunting, and habitat alteration on nocturnal mammals in African rainforests. Conservation Biology 22, 721–732.
Impacts of roads, hunting, and habitat alteration on nocturnal mammals in African rainforests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Laurance, W. F., Koh, L. P., Butler, R., Sodhi, N. S., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Neidel, J. D., Consunji, H., and Vega, J. M. (2010). Improving the performance of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil for nature conservation. Conservation Biology 24, 377–381.
Improving the performance of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil for nature conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lopez, A., Pierce, G. J., Santos, M. B., Gracia, J., and Guerra, A. (2003). Fishery by-catches of marine mammals in Galician waters: results from on-board observations and an interview survey of fishermen. Biological Conservation 111, 25–40.

Maddox, T., Priatna, D., Gemita, E., and Salampessy, A. (2007). The conservation of tigers and other wildlife in oil palm plantations, Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. ZSL conservation report no. 7. The Zoological Society of London, UK.

Maroney, R. L. (2005). Conservation of argali Ovis ammon in western Mongolia and the Altai-Sayan. Biological Conservation 121, 231–241.
Conservation of argali Ovis ammon in western Mongolia and the Altai-Sayan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Medway, L., Mazli, M., and Hamidah, S. (1978). ‘The Wild Mammals of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) and Singapore.’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.)

MPOB (Malaysia Palm Oil Board) (2011). Oil palm planted area by category as at June 2011. Available at http:// econ.mpob.gov.my/economy/area/Category_June [verified September 2011].

Nájera, A., and Simonetti, J. A. (2010). Enhancing avifauna in commercial plantations. Conservation Biology 24, 319–324.
Enhancing avifauna in commercial plantations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Paterson, S., and Lello, J. (2003). Mixed models: getting the best use of parasitological data. Trends in Parasitology 19, 370–375.
Mixed models: getting the best use of parasitological data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Peh, K. S. H., Sodhi, N. S., de Jong, J., Sekercioglu, C. H., Yap, C. A. M., and Lim, S. L. H. (2006). Conservation value of degraded habitats for forest birds in southern Peninsular Malaysia. Diversity & Distributions 12, 572–581.
Conservation value of degraded habitats for forest birds in southern Peninsular Malaysia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Piggott, C. J. (1990). ‘Growing Oil Palms: An Illustrated Guide.’ (The Incorporated Society of Planters: Kuala Lumpur.)

Pimentel, D., Stachow, U., Takacs, D. A., Brubaker, H. W., Dumas, A. R., Meaney, J. J., Oneil, J. A. S., Onsi, D. E., and Corzilius, D. B. (1992). Conserving biological diversity in agricultural forestry systems – most biological diversity exists in human-managed ecosystems. Bioscience 42, 354–362.
Conserving biological diversity in agricultural forestry systems – most biological diversity exists in human-managed ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (2010). ‘FAQs and Factsheets.’ Available at http://www.rspo.org [verified May 2010].

Schall, R. (1991). Estimation in generalized linear-models with random effects. Biometrika 78, 719–727.
Estimation in generalized linear-models with random effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Smart, R., Whiting, M. J., and Twine, W. (2005). Lizards and landscapes: integrating field surveys and interviews to assess the impact of human disturbance on lizard assemblages and selected reptiles in a savanna in South Africa. Biological Conservation 122, 23–31.
Lizards and landscapes: integrating field surveys and interviews to assess the impact of human disturbance on lizard assemblages and selected reptiles in a savanna in South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sodhi, N. S., Koh, L. P., Brook, B. W., and Ng, P. K. L. (2004). Southeast Asian biodiversity: an impending disaster. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 19, 654–660.
Southeast Asian biodiversity: an impending disaster.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sodhi, N. S., Lee, T. M., Koh, L. P., and Brook, B. W. (2009). A Meta-analysis of the impact of anthropogenic forest sisturbance on Southeast Asia’s biotas. Biotropica 41, 103–109.
A Meta-analysis of the impact of anthropogenic forest sisturbance on Southeast Asia’s biotas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Turner, P. D., and Gillbanks, R. A. (1974). ‘Oil Palm Cultivation and Management.’ (The Incorporated Society of Planters: Kuala Lumpur.)

Wilcove, D. S., and Koh, L. P. (2010). Addressing the threats to biodiversity from oil-palm agriculture. Biodiversity and Conservation 19, 999–1007.
Addressing the threats to biodiversity from oil-palm agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams, C. N., and Hsu, Y. C. (1970). ‘Oil Palm Cultivation in Malaya.’ (University of Malaya Press: Kuala Lumpur.)