Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
basins, since pollution and contaminates travel well-beyond their sources. It is a priority to
not only stop habitat degradation but to also remediate those habitat areas already negatively
impacted.
Increased educational awareness of the importance of the Bufeo is critical to a successful
long-term conservation plan. Bufeos are clean-water species and consequently their presence
and health indicate the general health of the river ecosystem. Therefore the conservation of
the bufeo is correlated to the conservation of all aquatic species which in turn is related to
water quality. Human pressures on this resource are increasing, therefore activities such as
environmental education campaigns can be started, to teach people and make them aware of
the importance of conserving and protecting biological diversity and natural resources, as
well as recovering local traditions.
It would be important to monitor bufeo populations, to detect natural fluctuations, which
could be a basis to understand genetic exchanges.
An environmental education campaign should be started that highlights the indiscriminate
use of mercury and its effects on water quality. Mercury regulated levels need to be created
and enforced.
Its recommended to stipulate clear regulatory guidelines regarding the use of nylon
fishing nets (monofilaments) and to reduce the use of nets that do not discriminate fish size.
The Mamore River should be a priority area to implement the proposed environmental
education plans because it is heavily used by boats and fishermen, and the high biodiversity
along this river.
There is also a need to regulate tourism activities and tour guides. The activity of
swimming with dolphins should be discouraged because this activity causes stress in the
animals and changes their behaviors, as has also been determined for other aquatic mammals
(Constantine et al. 2004; King & Heinen 2004). As indicated by Wilson et al. (1999) in a
species like the dolphin, that is long-lived and slow-breeding, the long-term effects of reduced
rest on fitness, individual reproductive success and population size could take decades to
detect, which reinforces the need for long term studies.
It is essential to increase public awareness of the River Dolphin across Bolivia. The
charismatic or emblematic species can stimulate people to be engaged in conservation issues
and to understand conservation problems. In this way, by using this species, it will be
possible to start long term educational campaigns similar to the Omacha Foundation's in
Colombia or in Brazil. An efficient conservation plan that incorporates a strong educational
component can even transform factors that negatively affect river dolphins into positive ones.
For example, a well-organized and regulated tourism based on cetacean observation can be a
good incentive for protection of these areas, as occurs in Brazil. This activity can contribute
to sustainable use and provide another employment option that helps the economies of the
communities along these rivers.
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to my boat drivers Ramiro and Leonardo Cuellar and their families; and to
Tamara McGuire for suggestions to the manuscript; to Moses Montgomery for his review of
Search WWH ::
Custom Search