Pheasants: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan ... - IUCN

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Project 23. Crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata) Aims: to conduct further surveys of this species in Laos and Vietnam; to monitor known populations in Malaysia; to investigate the taxonomic relationship between the two subspecies. Justification: this species occurs in two disjunct populations (one in Vietnam and Laos, and the other in Taman Negara National Park in Peninsular Malaysia) and the taxonomic relationship between the two populations has not yet been established. There has been a severe decline in this species, and its populations have become fragmented as a result of long-term loss of habitat from deforestation inside and outside protected areas, as well as hunting and trapping in Indochina. Monitoring programmes are urgently required to detect future population trends and the reasons for any further declines. Project description: further surveys are required in the range of the nominate subspecies in Vietnam and Laos to clarify the extent of its distribution. In Malaysia, all subpopulations of subspecies nigrescens should be monitored at regular intervals, as should habitat loss from areas surrounding the national park. Proposals should be developed to enforce bans on hunting in protected areas containing this species in Indochina. These should form part of a wide-ranging conservation awareness programme to highlight the plight of this species and ways in which its future can be safeguarded. Taxonomic research should be conducted to assess the distinctiveness of the two subspecies. The crested argus is found in two widely separated populations, which are becoming fragmented. Timescale: surveys of any duration will provide useful information, but a long-term approach should be developed for the monitoring and conservation awareness work. Resources: needs will vary depending on the length and scope of the component projects, with the molecular taxonomy requiring an experienced researcher and access to a well-equipped laboratory. Individual surveys, however, could be conducted relatively easily. Project 24. Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) Aims: to survey lesser-known parts of this species’ range; to monitor populations within three protected areas. Justification: Congo peafowl is the only pheasant species native to Africa and, as such, is extremely important from a conservation point of view. Survey work has shown that its populations are highly fragmented, and ever more threatened by the presence of large numbers of mining and refugee settlements. The western parts of its range still remain unexplored in recent times. There is an urgent need to ensure that some viable populations are safeguarded within protected areas. Project description: survey work should now concentrate on the lesser-known southern and western parts of this species’ range. Known populations within protected areas (Maiko National Park, Okapi Wildlife Reserve, and Kahuzi-Biega National Park) should be monitored at regular intervals. In addition, Salonga National Park should be explored for its potential role in the conservation of this species. Timescale: surveys of any duration will provide useful additional information, but a long-term approach should be developed for the monitoring work. Resources: needs will vary depending on the length and scope of individual projects, but individual surveys could be conducted relatively cheaply. Project 25. Green peafowl (Pavo muticus) Aims: to conduct surveys in Myanmar and Cambodia; to advocate the establishment of additional protected areas in Yunnan and Vietnam; to conduct wide-ranging public awareness programmes to highlight the vulnerability of this species to hunting pressure and trade in its train feathers. M. Khan Justification: although formerly very widespread and common, the green peafowl has undergone a massive 52
Once a widespread and common species, the green peafowl has undergone a dramatic decline, and is now considered Vulnerable to extinction. © Lynx Edicions reduction in range and is now found only in scattered populations. There is every reason to believe that the decline has not yet been halted, and the global population is now believed to be between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals. Hunting and, perhaps, poisoning as a crop pest in China, are thought to be the main reasons for its decline, but its riverine habitats are also especially prone to degradation and encroachment. Project description: the size of this species’ geographical range makes prescribing a single approach difficult, and work will have to be modified to suit the circumstances in each range state. Further studies on habitat requirements are important, as much remains to be discovered about this species’ tolerance of habitat change. Extensive conservation awareness projects should be initiated across its range, but particularly in Cambodia. Such projects should focus on how the green peafowl’s relationship with humans can be harnessed to further the conservation of this species. Efforts should be made to link work to ongoing conservation initiatives such as the Phou Khao Khouay National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos. Further surveys should be carried out in Myanmar and Cambodia to assess the distribution of remaining populations, and surveys in India should ascertain whether any birds remain (e.g. in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal). There should be advocacy for further protected areas in Yunnan and southeast Gia Lai Province (Vietnam), where important populations are in need of protection. In addition, populations within Indochinese protected areas that are subject to high levels of hunting need to be safeguarded through the development of effective reserve management and law enforcement policies. Timescale: some of this work takes the form of short-term surveys, whilst other aspects such as conservation awareness projects, research into census methods and habitat use, and lobbying for protected areas must be longer term or continuous. Resources: a wide range of options for funding exist to help in the overall conservation effort for this ideal flagship species. 53
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Status Survey and Conservation Acti
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The designation of geographical ent
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Project 12. Deriving and implementi
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Acknowledgements This Action Plan i
Page 9 and 10: Chapter 1 The Conservation of Pheas
Page 11 and 12: The threatened brown earedpheasant
Page 13 and 14: During 2004, the contents of this A
Page 15 and 16: known range in the east of the Demo
Page 17 and 18: within these areas. A detailed stud
Page 19 and 20: high input in terms of the recruitm
Page 21 and 22: Vietnamese pheasant is of recent or
Page 23 and 24: were done, and observer bias produc
Page 25 and 26: Box 2.2 Criteria for Critically End
Page 27 and 28: 2.3 Vulnerable species The followin
Page 29 and 30: Priority conservation actions: surv
Page 31 and 32: Box 2.5 Criteria for Lower Risk (LR
Page 33 and 34: Ecology: It was said to inhabit exc
Page 35 and 36: gulleys with less snow cover, betwe
Page 37 and 38: make ornaments and fans) is a local
Page 39 and 40: • Review the effectiveness of the
Page 41 and 42: • Promote better protection and m
Page 43 and 44: Range and population: Reeves’s ph
Page 45 and 46: Threats: Lowland forest clearance a
Page 47 and 48: Threats: Habitat is being lost to m
Page 49 and 50: Chapter 4 Five-year Plan of Action
Page 51 and 52: and people involved in management.
Page 53 and 54: Resources: needs will vary dependin
Page 55 and 56: Project 11. Developing methods for
Page 57 and 58: use in broadleaf woodland habitats;
Page 59: populations, which have increased t
Page 63 and 64: Davison, G.W.H. 1978a. Further note
Page 65 and 66: IUCN. 1998. IUCN guidelines for re-
Page 67 and 68: Potts, G.R. 1987. Conservation of p
Page 69 and 70: Appendix 1 List of Pheasant Names T
Page 71 and 72: Genus Species Subspecies English na
Page 73 and 74: Appendix 2 List of Key Contacts Ple
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