Conservation of the largest cervid of South America: interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus

PEREIRA, JAVIER A.; FRACASSI, NATALIA G.; IEZZI, M. EUGENIA

ORYX

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2017 p. 1 - 7

0030-6053

Wild ungulates, and particularly deer, can causesevere damage to commercial plantations, resulting in reduced tolerance of their presence by forestry producers.The marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus, categorized asVulnerable on the IUCN Red List, is declining throughoutSouth America. A population of c.  individuals survivewithin a matrix of commercial plantations in the lowerdelta of the Paraná River, the southernmost stronghold forthe species. Local forestry producers usually report thatdamage to plantations is attributable to marsh deer, thusjustifying persecution of the species. Seventy-six forestryproducers (representing c. % of the total plantation areaof the lower delta) were interviewed using a semi-structuredquestionnaire to assess perceived levels of tree damage, associated economic losses, and attitudes towards the deer.Simultaneously, plantation stands were surveyed to quantifythe actual tree damage caused by this ungulate. Seventy-sixpercent of producers reported damage to trees by deer (i.e.browsing, fraying caused by antler rubbing) but most ofthem perceived low levels of damage per property (median, .%), with negligible economic effects. However, % ofproducers (all of them with #  km in production, usuallyfamily enterprises) perceived high levels of damage and economic losses, and supported deer hunting as a managementoption. Field surveys indicated that damage caused by deercould be more severe than perceived by producers, althoughspatially confined within the landscape. Monitoring of damage perception by forestry producers, and compensationschemes to assist small producers are necessary for adequatemanagement of this threatened marsh deer population.