PhD in conservation and livelihood impacts of wildlife captive breeding for trade / wildlife farming at Lancaster University

[Meredith Gore]

Illegal wildlife trade remains a leading threat to global biodiversity.
The contemporary "poaching crisis" that faces species such as elephants,
tigers and rhinos has spurred renewed debate over the most effective and
appropriate policy responses. Wildlife farming (also known as captive
breeding, ranching, cultivation, aquaculture) is one proposed strategy
through which to reduce pressures on wild populations, while continuing
to satisfy consumer demand with legal, sustainably farmed alternatives.
However, wildlife farming has been subject to little scrutiny, and
experiences to date seem to have
yielded mixed conservation and livelihood outcomes. Related debates are
increasingly contentious, and are at the forefront of global fora,
including the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
(CITES) that governs international wildlife trade.
To enable more evidence-based decision-making, this research will
explore the impacts of wildlife farming on (a) biodiversity
conservation, particularly harvesting of targeted wild populations, (b)
other species (e.g., feedstock), (c) broader habitats (e.g., rangelands
for farmed taxa), and (d) local community livelihoods and rights.
Research will involve meta-analysis of diverse taxa subject to wildlife
farming, including flora and fauna, different types of wildlife use
(e.g., luxury, medicinal) and scales of trade (e.g., domestic,
international). Because detailed data on many important parameters do
not exist, research will draw on expert knowledge - notably IUCN taxa
specialist groups - to evaluate many of these impacts. This will involve
interviews/questionnaires and quantitative social science methods such
as Delphi iterative process and Qualitative Comparative Analysis. The
project will also include field-based research on a target species to
ground observations (e.g., with local expert knowledge, socio-economic,
attitudinal, and possibly ecological data). The case study taxa and
types of data will be selected based on access/data availability, the
student's prior travel, research and language skills, and might include
Panthera tigris, Andrias davidianus, Orchidaceae, Ursus thibetanus,
Salmo salar, Pecari tajacu.
What’s in it for you
Inform global policy. The policy community remains deeply divided on
wildlife farming, and this study has a clear opportunity to inform
policy debates via NGOs, IUCN and CITES.
Network with leading conservation agencies. This project involves
collaboration with the University of Queensland, International Union for
Conservation of Nature's (IUCN), and TRAFFIC the wildlife monitoring
network, and will engage a wide range of taxa experts. As a result, it
presents ample opportunities to establish professional ties with leading
practitioners globally.
Field and desk-based experience. The project involves both desk and
field-based work, and different types of data, allowing for a range of
experiences and skill development.
Both hands-on supervision and independence. This project will involve
close collaboration with the supervisors and partner organisations,
while also allowing ample scope to shape the project direction/methods,
develop additional lines of enquiry, and contribute/develop individual
skills.

Who should apply
We are seeking applications from graduates, or those who expect to
graduate in 2015, with a good Masters degree in a relevant field.
Candidates should have a demonstrated interested in conservation,
experience with quantitative methods, and an interest in expanding their
quantitative social science skills and engaging in policy dialogues.
Candidates should ideally have experience writing scientific
publications and with field research in the tropics.
The small print
Studentship funding: Full studentships (UK/EU tuition fees and stipend
(£14,057 2015/16 [tax free])) for
UK/EU students for 3.5 years or full studentships (International tuition
fees and stipend (£14,057 2015/16 [tax free])) for International
students for 3 years.
Academic Requirements: First-class or 2.1 (Hons) degree, or Masters
degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject.
Deadline for applications: 14 February 2016
Provisional Interview Date: [tbc] Week Beginning 29 February 2016
Start Date: October 2016
For further information or informal discussion about the position,
please contact Dr Jacob Phelps (j.ph...@lancaster.ac.uk).
Application process: Please upload a completed application form
(download from
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-
assets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Application_Form.docx) and a
covering letter outlining your background and suitability for this
project at LEC Postgraduate Research Applications,
http://www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgresearch/apply-online.
You also require two references, please send the reference form
(download from
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-
assets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_PG_Reference_Form.docx) to your two referees
and ask them to email it to Andy Harrod (lec...@lancaster.ac.uk),
Postgraduate Research (PGR) Co-ordinator, Lancaster Environment Centre
by the deadline.
Due to the limited time between the closing date and the interview date,
it is essential that you ensure references are submitted by the closing
date or as soon as possible.
Further reading
1. Biggs, D., Courchamp, F., Martin, R., Possingham, H.P. 2013. Legal
trade in Africa's rhino horns. Science 339:1038-1039.
2. Challender, D.W.S, McMillan, D.C. 2014. Poaching is more than an
enforcement problem. Conservation Letters 7:484-494.
3. Conrad, K. 2012. Trade bans: a perfect storm for poaching? Tropical
Conservation Science 5:245-254.
4. Laurance, W.F. et al. 2012. Averting biodiversity collapse in
tropical forest protected areas. Nature
489:290-294.
5. Lyons, J.A., Natusch, D.J.D. 2011. Wildlife laundering through
breeding farms: Illegal harvest, population
declines and a means of regulating the trade of green pythons (Morelia
viridis) from Indonesia.
Biological Conservation 144:3073-3081.
6. Phelps et al. 2013. A Framework for Assessing Supply-Side Wildlife
Conservation. Conservation Biology
28:244-257.

7. Secco, L.D., Pirard, R. 2015. Do tree plantations support forest
conservation? CIFOR InfoBrief No. 110. Center for International Forestry
Research, Bogor, Indonesia. URL:
http://www.cifor.org/publications/pdf_files/infobrief/5485-infobrief.pdf.

--
Meredith L. Gore, PhD
Associate Professor
Academy for Global Engagement Fellow
President, Social Science Working Group, Society for Conservation Biology
Michigan State University
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
School of Criminal Justice
AgBioResearch
Natural Resources Building
480 Wilson Road, Room 13
East Lansing, MI 48824
p: 517.432.8203
f: 517.432.1699
www.conservationcriminology.com