Conservation Through Wise-Use Hunting

Wise-use hunting is defined and its potential for conservation is assessed with special reference to the 134 species of partridges, quail, and francolin. For threatened, endangered, or extremely local species, a little more than one fifth of the total, wise-use hunting is deemed inappropriate. For many widespread species, however, such hunting would be appropriate if correctly implemented. However, many of the species for which wise-use hunting is appropriate are declining owing to intensive methods of crop production. For example, a serious problem exists with the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) threatened by the reduced bio-diversity of modern cereal crops. Reversing the process will take time and money but it could be afforded in developed countries if some production-coupled support for cereals was re-orientated specifically into retaining bio-diversity in cereal ecosystems. The solution is therefore similar to many recipes available for maintaining wildlife in developing countries, except that in developing countries the money has to derive from developed countries.