review of trade in ranched birdwing butterflies - UNEP World ...

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3. BUTTERFLY RANCHING IN THE MAIN COUNTRIES OF EXPORT Trade and ranching in the five countries exporting the majority of ranched birdwing butterflies –Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands- are considered in detail in the following sections. 3.1. AUSTRALIA Birdwing trade from Australia Relatively low-level trade has been reported from Australia to the EU (see Annex). The majority of trade, as reported by both exporter and importer, has involved captive-bred specimens of Ornithoptera priamus. Singapore and the United States, together with Germany, were the main importers of birdwings from Australia globally as reported by the importers. According to importer‟s reported quantities, within the EU, the main importers were Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium. Legislation There are no EU import restrictions on birdwings exported from Australia. Currently Australian regulations allow the export of captive-bred insects only; it is illegal to export native, wild-caught or ranched insect material (PoA, 2003). This is reflected in the almost complete absence of exports of ranched or wild-sourced birdwing specimens from Australia (see trade tables in Annex). Birdwing ranching in Australia No information was obtained on birdwing ranching activities in Australia. Information on captive breeding operations in Australia was available through the websites of some farms. 3.2. INDONESIA Birdwing trade from Indonesia Indonesia is the main exporter of birdwing butterflies (as reported by exporter and importer), both by volume and by number of species reported in trade (see Annex). Six Ornithoptera species, together with Troides oblongomaculatus, have been regularly exported from Indonesia to the EU in significant numbers since 1994. Other Troides species were also reported in trade from Indonesia to the EU since 1998. In 1994 and 1995, almost all birdwings exported from Indonesia to the EU were reported by the importer as captive-bred specimens. In 1996, exports of ranched specimens were also reported by the exporter and importers, and for two years (1996-1997), both sources were commonly reported in the trade. After 1997, however, most exports of birdwings were reported as ranched by both exporter and importers. Germany accounted for half of EU-reported direct imports of birdwings from Indonesia from 2000-2005, while France accounted for almost one-quarter of EU trade. The other main EU importers were the United Kingdom, Austria, and Belgium. Japan and the United States were the main global importers of birdwings from Indonesia between 2000 and 2005, followed by Canada, Germany and Singapore. 16
Legislation On 11/02/1998, the SRG formed negative opinions for wild specimens of Ornithoptera croesus, Ornithoptera meridionalis, Ornithoptera tithonus, and wild and ranched specimens of Ornithoptera andromache from Indonesia. These negative opinions resulted in import suspensions on 19/09/1999. On 15/05/02 the SRG reverted the negative opinion for O. meridionalis to no opinion, and the import suspension was lifted. For the other three species, however, the import suspensions are still valid. Collection of wild birdwing specimens is subject to quotas set by Indonesia. Wild-taken specimens are only allowed to be collected for ranching/breeding and/or for research by the Indonesian Science Institute (Regulation SK.33/IV-KKH/2007, Mandate of the Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation). Birdwing ranching in Indonesia In 1988, WWF set up a community-managed butterfly ranching programme in the buffer zone of the Arfak Mountains Nature Conservation Area (Irian Jaya, Indonesia), through the Area‟s Management Plan 1988-1992. Specifically, the local Hatam people were building butterfly gardens, which involved enriching areas of jungle (generally secondary growth in old gardens) with Aristolochia vines and flowering shrubs (New, 1990; New & Collins, 1991; Parsons, 1995). Catching of specimens by netting was discouraged, and the relatively high value of ranched specimens was stressed (New, 1990). By 1992, about 1,000 families had been involved in the use of Arfak Mountain birdwing butterflies in this way, and around 1500 gardens in 47 mountain villages had been planted, many of which were then in production (Neville, 1992, in Parsons, 1995). Species ranched were mostly Ornithoptera tithonus, and to a lesser extent O. rothschildi, O. paradisea arfakensis and O. goliath samson (Parsons, 1995). A butterfly cooperative, Yayasan Bina Lstari Bumi Cendrawasih (YBLBC), was established in 1993 by WWF. By then, ranching was fully operational, as reflected in the number of ranched specimens reported in the trade from Indonesia after that year (Rosser & Haywood, 2002). YBLBC buys and sells the butterflies, arranges for CITES permits, markets and ships the butterflies and pays the farmers (BCN, 1997). By 1997, six species of birdwing were being ranched in Indonesia, and of the 2,848 households in districts participating in the project, YBLBC estimated that 50% were involved in butterfly ranching and thus receiving direct benefits from the enterprise; the butterflies‟ contribution to household income represented on average over 50% of total cash income for the majority of participating households (BCN, 1997). Ranching birdwings in the Arfak Mountains Nature Reserve continued as a sustainable activity in the following years (MacKinnon & Wardojo, 2001; Rosser & Haywood, 2002; CITES, 2006). The Indonesian Scientific Authority reported that, in relation to Ornithoptera priamus, they carried out surveys of butterfly ranches, monitored the way in which the species was obtained and traded, and offered advice if necessary (CITES, 2006). They noted that butterflies were not taken directly from the wild, and that butterfly ranching or farming operations were encouraged instead. Ranching is done within the species‟ distributional ranges and farming is done outside them (CITES, 2006). 3.3. PAPUA NEW GUINEA Birdwing trade from Papua New Guinea The majority of trade between 1988 and 1997 comprised captive-bred, and to a lesser extent wild-sourced, O. priamus and T. oblongomaculaus. Around 1997, there was a shift in the trade towards ranched specimens, and a higher number of species were reported in trade, mostly as ranched specimens (e.g. O. chimaera, O. goliath, O. meridionalis, O. paradisea, O. urvillianus, 17
Page 1 and 2: REVIEW OF TRADE IN RANCHED BIRDWING
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .
Page 5 and 6: 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 2.1. CONC
Page 7 and 8: It must be noted, however, that in
Page 9 and 10: Exporter Species Distribution Trade
Page 11 and 12: ecommendations of the Animals Commi
Page 13 and 14: Species Country Source SRG opinion
Page 15: Species Country Source SRG opinion
Page 19 and 20: Parsons (1995) noted that the suppl
Page 21 and 22: 4. ANNEX: TRADE TABLES Note: 2006 t
Page 23 and 24: Taxon Term Source Reported by 2000
Page 39 and 40: ii) Direct exports of birdwing butt
Page 41: Rosser, A.R. & Haywood, M.J. 2002.

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