Spatial and temporal patterns of fuel collection in Wolong Nature Reserve: Implications for panda conservation

January 16, 2011 - He, Guangming; Chen, Xiaodong; Bearer, Scott; Colunga, Manuel; Mertig, Angela G.; An, Li; Zhou, Shiqiang; Linderman, Marc; Ouyang, Zhiyun; Gage, Stuart; Li, Shuxin; Liu, Jianguo "Jack"

Journal or Book Title: Landscape and Urban Planning

Keywords: Fuelwood collection; Spatio-temporal distribution; Conservation policy; Panda habitat; Wolong Nature Reserve; China

Volume/Issue: Vol 92 Issue 1

Page Number(s): 1-9

Year Published: 2009

Approximately 3 billion people, half of theWorld’s population, are still using fuelwood in their daily lives. Fuelwood collection has been recognized as an important factor in habitat fragmentation and degradation and biodiversity loss, especially in developing countries. Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of fuelwood collection is fundamental to understanding human–environment interactions and designing effective conservation policies. Using Wolong Nature Reserve for giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China as an example, we surveyed 200 rural households for the locations of their fuelwood collection sites in the past three decades (1970s, 1980s, and 1990s) and other ecological, economic, social, and demographic data. We found that fuelwood collection sites were becoming higher in elevation, more remote, and closer to highly suitable panda habitat from the 1970s to the 1990s. Consequently, fuelwood collectors were traveling longer distances to physically challenging areas, in our case, to areas of highquality panda habitat. These spatial and temporal patterns of fuelwood collection suggest that future conservation policies for giant pandas, and other species worldwide, should also consider the needs of local communities.

URL: Spatial and temporal patterns of fuelwood

DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2009.01.010

Type of Publication: Journal Article

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Tag List
  • china,
  • conservation policy,
  • coupled human and natural systems,
  • fuelwood collection,
  • panda habitat,
  • spatio-temporal distribution,
  • wolong nature reserve
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