Naslov
HUNTING FOR BEAR SUSTAINABILITY IN CROATIA. AN OVERVIEW

Autori
Reljić, Slaven ; Kereži, Vesna ; Huber, Đuro

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
International Conference on Hunting for Sustainability: Ecology, Economics and Society

Mjesto i datum
Ciudad Real, Španjolska, 27.03.2012. - 29.03.2012

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Ursus arctos, hunting, sustainability

Sažetak
Sustainable management is often said to be the key toward a successful conservation. What sustainable management actually is and how to reach it, however, is rather challenging to define. While the knowledge on species ecology is important for reaching effective conservation, it is also necessary to take into account economic and social factors of wildlife management. If left aside, these can have a negative effect on the whole management process and undermine its chances of reaching the level of sustainability. Important part of brown bear management in Croatia, since 1960s, is trophy hunting based on the annual quota regulation. It has been carefully regulated and continually monitored since 2005 through the implementation of the Brown Bear Management Plan for the Republic of Croatia. We explored the impact of such management on three interrelated levels: ecological, economic and social one. The goal was to investigate if the current management system is sustainable for a longtime period. Quantitative methods included statistical analysis in Microsoft Excel and R 2.13.1 software. Biological data and data obtained from questionnaires on economics of bear hunting were analyzed. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews and focus groups discussions. Grounded theory approach was used for analysis. Part of that data was also built into bioeconomical model. Analyses of the Croatian bear mortality data from 2005 to 2009 (n=422) showed that the share of animals killed in quota hunting in the total reported mortality was 67%. This was followed by traffic accident deaths of 19%, and management removals of 6%. The proportion of males hunted within the given quota was significantly high 78, 3%. The average age of bears killed in quota was 5, 47+0, 27 (1 s.e., n=167). Survival analysis run in “R” showed that until the end of the 4th year of life survivorship was 0, 52. Data on the economics of bear hunting indicated that between 10% and 25% of annual expenditure in hunting units was for the bear management. In general, hunting units did not make a profit from hunting activities, but they did make a profit from bear hunting. The analysis of qualitative data showed that both hunters and non-hunters have a positive attitude toward brown bears and support current management practice. Economic benefits from bear trophy hunting had an important role in hunters’ support. Participants perceived bear as a symbol of their region and viewed its presence as a result of a good-quality habitat and proper management. Overall, our results from ecological data combined with the positive economic effect of bear hunting and the good social acceptance of local people and stakeholders all support the current bear management system in Croatia.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Veterinarska medicina, Sociologija

POVEZANOST RADA