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Berger, J., Buuveibaatar, B., Mishra, C. (). Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia. Conservation Biology, 27(4), 679–689.
Abstract: As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and
human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has
indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry
creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central
Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which
affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized
that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland
where cashmere-producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass
of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis.
In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3-fold increase in local profits for
herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica). That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries
fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4-fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in trans-Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China’s Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), khulan (Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic-level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere.
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Ale, S. B. (1994). Snow Leopard in Remote Districts of Nepal (Vol. xii). Seattle: Islt.
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Allen, P. (1999). WWF Progress Report: Irbis Enterprises Snow Leopard Conservation Incentive Project.
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Allen, P. (2001). Irbis Enterprises: A Project of the International Snow Leopard Trust (Vol. 6). Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
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Allen, P. (2002). Conservation Increases Crafts Income (Vol. Winter, 2002).
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Anonymous. (1992). International Specialists Discuss China's Threatened Cats.
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Anonymous. (1996). Animal Kingdom in North Gansu.
Abstract: A corner of northwest China's Gansu province has become a haven for hundreds of wild and rare animals. They are being helped by the 10,000 strong population who are doing their best to help preserve their neighbors from the animal kingdom. The natural environment in the northern part of the province is said to be well suited to wild animals. Inside the Mongolia Autonomous County of Northern Gansu has become home to 174 various kinds of wild animals, 32 of them under state protection. The animal inhabitants include white lipped deer, wild yak, snow leopard, lynx, brown bear, argali sheep, snow pheasant and Tibetan Gazelle, and they are often found roaming the county's mountainous pasture areas.
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Anonymous. (1999). Livestock Predation Control Workshop.
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Bhatnagar, Y. V., Stakrey, R. W., & Jackson, R. (2000). A Survey of Depredation and Related Wildlife-Human Conflicts in Hemis National Park, Ladakh (India) (Vol. xvi). Seattle: Islt.
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Blomqvist, L., & Dexel, B. (2006). In Focus: Declining numbers of wild snow leopards.
Abstract: International collaboration to ensure the long-term survival of snow leopards (Uncia uncia) in the wild is today more acutely needed than ever! Trade in live snow leopards, their skins and bones, has during the last decade reached such extensiveness that the species is in danger of being wiped out from many of its former habitats. All recent surveys support declining populations throughout most of their range.
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