Title: Public attitudes to the use of wildlife by Aboriginal Australians: marketing of wildlife and its conservation

Authors: Clem Tisdell, Hemanath Swarna Nantha

Addresses: School of Economics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. ' School of Economics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia

Abstract: Indigenous Australians have socioeconomic attributes similar to those of residents in some developing countries. Their utilisation of wildlife could add to their economic opportunities. Attitudes of a sample of the Australian public towards the subsistence use of wildlife by Indigenous Australians and whether or not they should be allowed to sell wildlife and wildlife products are examined. Allowing such possibilities could provide economic incentives for nature conservation among local people. We explore whether those sampled believe that Indigenous Australians should do more than other groups and institutions to conserve Australia|s tropical species, and whether or not they should be allowed to take common as well as endangered wildlife species for food. Attitudes of the sampled public towards Indigenous Australians earning income from trophy hunting and from the harvesting of northern long-necked turtles for the pet trade are canvassed. The possible conservation consequences of sale of wildlife by Indigenous Australians are discussed.

Keywords: Australia; Australian aborigines; indigenous rights; public attitudes; conservation; subsistence rights; sustainable use; resource management; wildlife conservation; sustainability; marketing; trophy hunting; pet trade; wildlife sales.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2008.017156

International Journal of Green Economics, 2008 Vol.2 No.1, pp.108 - 122

Published online: 16 Feb 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article