Asian water monitors (Varanus salvator) remain common in Peninsular Malaysia, despite intense harvesting

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syarifah Khadiejah ◽  
Norazlinda Razak ◽  
Georgia Ward-Fear ◽  
Richard Shine ◽  
Daniel J. D. Natusch
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
Varanus Salvator ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Asian Water

Context Each year, between 50000 and 120000 Asian water monitors (Varanus salvator, to >2 m total length) are harvested from the wild in Peninsular Malaysia for their skins. Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), international trade is allowable only if it is sustainable. Aims To assess the sustainability of Malaysia’s harvest of water monitors by quantifying the abundance and demography of V. salvator in the wild, and to develop cost-effective methods for estimating the parameters needed to evaluate sustainability. Methods We conducted trapping surveys to determine the abundance, population demography and density of V. salvator in four habitat types in five states in Peninsular Malaysia in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018. Key results Of 1025 lizards captured, only 63% (mostly females) were within the preferred body-size range exploited for commercial trade. Densities were high (37–372 lizards km–2 based on estimated population sizes; 1–35 lizards km–2 based on number of animals captured). Anthropogenic habitats (e.g. oil palm plantations) contained denser populations of monitors than did natural habitats where no hunting occurs, but mean body sizes were smaller. Conclusions Despite intensive harvesting for many decades, V. salvator remains abundant and widespread. Harvesting alters the demographic structure of lizard populations, but harvests of V. salvator in Malaysia are likely to be sustainable because a significant proportion of the population is not exploited. Implications Ongoing monitoring is required to continually reassess harvest sustainability. For this purpose, relatively simple population approaches, such as line-trapping transects to elucidate relative abundances, can provide important data on the makeup of hunted populations of water monitors more cost-effectively than can mark–recapture studies for assessments of sustainable use of these economically important lizards.

scholarly journals The bulb trade—a threat to wild plant populations

Oryx ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Read
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Garden Plants

Every year millions of bulbs, corms and tubers are being dug up in the wild to supply the market for garden plants. In many cases the level of exploitation is so high that it threatens some species with extinction in their natural habitats. Some have already been lost. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which has been so successful in controlling damaging trade in certain species of animals, has yet to address the bulb trade effectively. One of the difficulties to be overcome is assessing its true extent and its effect on wild populations. In 1987 the FFPS contracted its staff botanist, Mike Read, to investigate the trade in wild-collected plants in Turkey. The findings reported here point clearly to the need for further research, more legislation and the promotion of sustainable methods of propagation in the countries of origin.

scholarly journals Management options for addressing the persistent and unresolved CITES issue of Madagascar’s rosewood stocks and stockpile

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucienne Wilmé ◽  
John L. Innes ◽  
Derek Schuurman ◽  
Bruno Ramamonjisoa ◽  
Marion Langrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Unresolved Issue ◽  
Illegal Logging ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
National Trade

Stocks and stockpiles of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora) listed wildlife, including animal and plant-derived products, remain a complex, unresolved issue. The biggest challenges lie in the prevention of further illegal sourcing of—and trade in—products originating from wild populations of threatened species. Stocks can function as a buffer during lean periods or as a mechanism used for speculation. As we outline in this paper, the current situation in Madagascar precludes non-detriment findings intended to enable sustainable use of standing rosewood populations. Backed by the World Bank, the previous Malagasy government was in the process of promoting the sale of massive stocks and stockpiles of confiscated precious woods in order to reach a zero stocks goal, this being ostensibly to halt the illegal sourcing and trafficking of rosewood. We propose and analyse four potential options for stocks management by presenting a framework linking forest management with socio-economic objectives and comparative risks. Destruction (burning) of the known stocks would send out a strong conservation message and has the strongest chance of halting further sourcing, which happens mostly in protected areas and is therefore illegal. National trade is the option in which a precious timber sector would process the woods in stocks. This option is the most beneficial for development. Opening the stocks for exportation through international trade achieves the smallest number of objectives in relation to both forests and socio-economic indicators, but comes with the highest risks in terms of curbing further illegal logging. Banking represents a fourth option, which essentially postpones any decision related to stocks management by storing the stocks for extended periods. None of the four management options is able to ensure a sustainable solution that can resolve the issues surrounding the precious timber stocks. The approaches put forward are either just ‘more good’, or ‘less good’. If a country is seriously interested in conserving its biodiversity, any government has to ensure that no other sectorial changes will counteract, or potentially undermine, the efforts to protect the environment. Stocks management will be on agenda at the upcoming COP18 in Geneva, 17–28 August 2019.

scholarly journals Management options for addressing the persistent and unresolved CITES issue of Madagascar’s rosewood stocks and stockpile

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucienne Wilmé ◽  
John L. Innes ◽  
Derek Schuurman ◽  
Bruno Ramamonjisoa ◽  
Marion Langrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Unresolved Issue ◽  
Illegal Logging ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
National Trade

Stocks and stockpiles of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora) listed wildlife, including animal and plant-derived products, remain a complex, unresolved issue. The biggest challenges lie in the prevention of further illegal sourcing of—and trade in—products originating from wild populations of threatened species. Stocks can function as a buffer during lean periods or as a mechanism used for speculation. As we outline in this paper, the current situation in Madagascar precludes non-detriment findings intended to enable sustainable use of standing rosewood populations. Backed by the World Bank, the previous Malagasy government was in the process of promoting the sale of massive stocks and stockpiles of confiscated precious woods in order to reach a zero stocks goal, this being ostensibly to halt the illegal sourcing and trafficking of rosewood. We propose and analyse four potential options for stocks management by presenting a framework linking forest management with socio-economic objectives and comparative risks. Destruction (burning) of the known stocks would send out a strong conservation message and has the strongest chance of halting further sourcing, which happens mostly in protected areas and is therefore illegal. National trade is the option in which a precious timber sector would process the woods in stocks. This option is the most beneficial for development. Opening the stocks for exportation through international trade achieves the smallest number of objectives in relation to both forests and socio-economic indicators, but comes with the highest risks in terms of curbing further illegal logging. Banking represents a fourth option, which essentially postpones any decision related to stocks management by storing the stocks for extended periods. None of the four management options is able to ensure a sustainable solution that can resolve the issues surrounding the precious timber stocks. The approaches put forward are either just ‘more good’, or ‘less good’. If a country is seriously interested in conserving its biodiversity, any government has to ensure that no other sectorial changes will counteract, or potentially undermine, the efforts to protect the environment. Stocks management will be on agenda at the upcoming COP18 in Geneva, 17–28 August 2019.

scholarly journals Diversity of Seahorse Species (Hippocampus spp.) in the International Aquarium Trade

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 187
Author(s):  
Sasha Koning ◽  
Bert W. Hoeksema
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
New Species ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Aquarium Trade ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
History Of

Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are threatened as a result of habitat degradation and overfishing. They have commercial value as traditional medicine, curio objects, and pets in the aquarium industry. There are 48 valid species, 27 of which are represented in the international aquarium trade. Most species in the aquarium industry are relatively large and were described early in the history of seahorse taxonomy. In 2002, seahorses became the first marine fishes for which the international trade became regulated by CITES (Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), with implementation in 2004. Since then, aquaculture has been developed to improve the sustainability of the seahorse trade. This review provides analyses of the roles of wild-caught and cultured individuals in the international aquarium trade of various Hippocampus species for the period 1997–2018. For all species, trade numbers declined after 2011. The proportion of cultured seahorses in the aquarium trade increased rapidly after their listing in CITES, although the industry is still struggling to produce large numbers of young in a cost-effective way, and its economic viability is technically challenging in terms of diet and disease. Whether seahorse aquaculture can benefit wild populations will largely depend on its capacity to provide an alternative livelihood for subsistence fishers in the source countries. For most species, CITES trade records of live animals in the aquarium industry started a few years earlier than those of dead bodies in the traditional medicine trade, despite the latter being 15 times higher in number. The use of DNA analysis in the species identification of seahorses has predominantly been applied to animals in the traditional medicine market, but not to the aquarium trade. Genetic tools have already been used in the description of new species and will also help to discover new species and in various other kinds of applications.

scholarly journals The final straw? An overview of Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus trade in Indonesia

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL BERGIN ◽  
SERENE C. L. CHNG ◽  
JAMES A. EATON ◽  
CHRIS R. SHEPHERD
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Protected Species ◽  
West Kalimantan ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
In The Wild

SummaryCurrently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus is being driven towards extinction throughout most of its range by unregulated illegal trade supplying the demand for songbirds. We conducted surveys of bird markets in North and West Kalimantan, and Central, West and East Java between July 2014 and June 2015, and observed a total of 71 Straw-headed Bulbuls in 11 markets in eight cities. Comparing our data with the literature, we found that as numbers in markets are decreasing, prices are increasing to over 20 times the prices recorded in 1987, indicating that numbers in the wild are diminishing. This is corroborated by widespread extirpations throughout their range and reports from traders that Straw-headed Bulbuls are increasingly difficult to locate, while demand from consumers remains high. Concerted efforts from a variety of stakeholders are urgently needed to prevent the extinction of this species in the wild. We recommend that the Straw-headed Bulbul be included in Indonesia’s list of protected species, considered for uplisting to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We also urge the Indonesian Government to effectively enforce existing laws, targeting the open bird markets to shut down the trade in this and other threatened species.

Anticancer Properties of Asian Water Monitor Lizard (Varanus salvator), Python (Malayopython reticulatus) and Tortoise (Cuora kamaroma amboinensis)

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 1558-1570
Author(s):  
Shareni Jeyamogan ◽  
Naveed A. Khan ◽  
Kuppusamy Sagathevan ◽  
Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Adenocarcinoma Cells ◽  
Monitor Lizard ◽  
Varanus Salvator ◽  
Asian Water

Background: Cancer contributes to significant morbidity and mortality despite advances in treatment and supportive care. There is a need for the identification of effective anticancer agents. Reptiles such as tortoise, python, and water monitor lizards are exposed to heavy metals, tolerate high levels of radiation, feed on rotten/germ-infested feed, thrive in unsanitary habitat and yet have prolonged lifespans. Such species are rarely reported to develop cancer, suggesting the presence of anticancer molecules/mechanisms. Methods: Here, we tested effects from sera of Asian water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator), python (Malayopython reticulatus) and tortoise (Cuora kamaroma amboinensis) against cancer cells. Sera were collected and cytotoxicity assays were performed using prostate cancer cells (PC3), Henrietta Lacks cervical adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa) and human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7), as well as human keratinized skin cells (Hacat), by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release as an indicator for cell death. Growth inhibition assays were performed to determine the effects on cancer cell proliferation. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry was performed for molecular identification. Results: The findings revealed that reptilian sera, but not bovine serum, abolished viability of Hela, PC3 and MCF7 cells. Samples were subjected to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, which detected 57 molecules from V. salvator, 81 molecules from Malayopython reticulatus and 33 molecules from C. kamaroma amboinensis and putatively identified 9 molecules from V. salvator, 20 molecules from Malayopython reticulatus and 9 molecules from C. kamaroma amboinensis when matched against METLIN database. Based on peptide amino acid composition, binary profile, dipeptide composition and pseudo-amino acid composition, 123 potential Anticancer Peptides (ACPs) were identified from 883 peptides from V. salvator, 306 potential ACPs from 1074 peptides from Malayopython reticulatus and 235 potential ACPs from 885 peptides from C. kamaroma amboinensis. Conclusion: To our knowledge, for the first time, we reported comprehensive analyses of selected reptiles’ sera using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, leading to the identification of potentially novel anticancer agents. We hope that the discovery of molecules from these animals will pave the way for the rational development of new anticancer agents.

scholarly journals Multi-Country Scale Assessment of Available Energy Recovery Potential Using Micro-Hydropower in Drinking, Pressurised Irrigation and Wastewater Networks, Covering Part of the EU

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 899
Author(s):  
Djordje Mitrovic ◽  
Miguel Crespo Chacón ◽  
Aida Mérida García ◽  
Jorge García Morillo ◽  
Juan Antonio Rodríguez Diaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Water Networks ◽  
Scale Assessment

Studies have shown micro-hydropower (MHP) opportunities for energy recovery and CO2 reductions in the water sector. This paper conducts a large-scale assessment of this potential using a dataset amassed across six EU countries (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain, and Portugal) for the drinking water, irrigation, and wastewater sectors. Extrapolating the collected data, the total annual MHP potential was estimated between 482.3 and 821.6 GWh, depending on the assumptions, divided among Ireland (15.5–32.2 GWh), Scotland (17.8–139.7 GWh), Northern Ireland (5.9–8.2 GWh), Wales (10.2–8.1 GWh), Spain (375.3–539.9 GWh), and Portugal (57.6–93.5 GWh) and distributed across the drinking water (43–67%), irrigation (51–30%), and wastewater (6–3%) sectors. The findings demonstrated reductions in energy consumption in water networks between 1.7 and 13.0%. Forty-five percent of the energy estimated from the analysed sites was associated with just 3% of their number, having a power output capacity >15 kW. This demonstrated that a significant proportion of energy could be exploited at a small number of sites, with a valuable contribution to net energy efficiency gains and CO2 emission reductions. This also demonstrates cost-effective, value-added, multi-country benefits to policy makers, establishing the case to incentivise MHP in water networks to help achieve the desired CO2 emissions reductions targets.

scholarly journals Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Based on Habitat Quality Monitoring: A Case Study on Jeju Island, South Korea (1989–2019)

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 774
Author(s):  
Hyun-Jung Hong ◽  
Choong-Ki Kim ◽  
Hyun-Woo Lee ◽  
Woo-Kyun Lee
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Jeju Island ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Invest Model ◽  
Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Biodiversity loss is progressing despite biodiversity being essential for human survival, prosperity, and well-being. Conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of the habitat, given that its change is the most prominent factor causing the deterioration of biodiversity, represents a highly effective way of securing biodiversity. Therefore, we assessed and monitored habitat quality as a proxy for biodiversity with habitat quantity in Jeju Island, South Korea. We used an InVEST model with data on the habitat type, suitability, sensitivity, accessibility, and threat factors. Natural habitats throughout Jeju had rapidly decreased in area by 24.9% from 1989 to 2019, and this change contributed to the degradation of habitat quality by 15.8%. We provided significant evidence on the critical degradation of habitat for a long period of over 30 years and highlighted the urgent need for policies and behaviors that enhance biodiversity. We proposed appropriate strategies to prompt people to conserve better, restore effectively, and use biodiversity sustainably. We expect that our findings will provide scientific and evidence-based guidance for policy-making on biodiversity enhancement and will further support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in addition to compliance with the New Deal for Nature and People.

scholarly journals Challenges for Evaluation of the Safety of Engineered Nanomaterials

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-7
Author(s):  
Linda J. Johnston ◽  
Norma Gonzalez-Rojano ◽  
Kevin J. Wilkinson ◽  
Baoshan Xing
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Development ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Engineered Nanomaterials ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Regulatory Guidelines ◽  
Significant Effort ◽  
Safe By Design

Abstract Nanotechnology has developed rapidly in the last two decades with significant effort focused on the development of nano-enabled materials with new or improved properties that offer solutions for current world challenges. The commercialization of products containing engineered nanomaterials (ENM) has progressed much more rapidly than the development of practical approaches to ensure their safe and sustainable use. The lack of adequate detection and characterization techniques and reproducible and validated methods for toxicological studies have been identified as major limitations. The rapid development of ENM of increasing complexity and diversity and concerns over the adequacy of existing regulations also contribute to safety concerns with these materials. The full potential of nanotechnology can only be realized when feasible, cost-effective strategies to ensure a safe-by-design approach, effective risk assessment approaches and appropriate regulatory guidelines are in place.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document