Primate diversity differs between contiguous protected and indigenous-owned lands

PhD candidate Ciara Stafford has published new primate research from the Ecuadorian Amazon in the IUCN's journal of Neotropical Primates. The authors conclude: "Although our census effort is limited, we found differences in species composition and abundance between a protected area and land contiguous to it that is owned by an indigenous community. These differences appear to be primarily a result of hunting targeting large species with the exception of Alouatta seniculus, which was encountered more frequently in the buffer zone than the protected area. Improving our understanding of the additional factors that may be at play, as well as assessing other buffer zones and associated national parks, is important to gain a better understanding of whether buffer zones are an effective tool to help conserve primate diversity."

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Reference:

Stafford, C.A., Sidhu, C., Barker, W., Lacey, K., Patiño, J., Preziosi, R.F., Sellers, W. (2017). A comparison of primate species abundance and diversity between a protected and an indigenous-owned site in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador. Neotropical Primates, 23(1): 29-33