Browsing by Author "Schinzel, Britta"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    A Knowledge-based approach to wildlife management
    (Southern African Wildlife Management Association, 2008) Paterson, Barbara; Brown, Chris J; Stuart-Hill, Greg; Winschiers, Heike; Underhill, Les G; Dunne, Tim T; Schinzel, Britta; Beytell, Ben; Demas, Fanuel; Lindeque, Pauline; Weaver, Chris
    We present a method for developing a knowledge base to give wildlife managers timely access to pertinent information. This knowledge-based approach to species management in Namibia focuses on anthologies and management strategies for high-value mammal species.To manage wildlife resources sustainably access to an appropriate knowledge base is essential. The strategic species management approach promotes planning on local, national, and international levels. A hypermedia Information System for Rare Species Management (IRAS) and a decision support system (Wildlife Introduction Advisor) are described. Unlike print media, which become dated, hypermedia is easily updated. The non-sequential nature of hypermedia allows information extraction according to the readers needs. Due to this flexibility hypermedia supports adaptive management and information sharing. Usability evaluation of the IRAS system disproved our assumption that established wildlife conservation categories such as habitat, distribution, and numbers are appropriate and sufficient to structure species information. This result led to a restructuring of the information according to management objectives. Evaluation of the Wildlife Introduction Advisor indicates that the model performs reliably and is robust towards input error. Human experts seem to be susceptible to bias. The economic benefits associated with wildlife translocations demand accountability through a well-defined, transparent distribution process. In Namibia this demand is achieved through the use of a knowledge-based decision support tool.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    A transdisciplinary study on developing knowledge based software tools for wildlife management in Namibia
    (2005) Paterson, Barbara; Underhill, Les; Dunn, Tim; Schinzel, Britta
    Two software tools decision making in wildlife management were developed as part of the Transboundary Mammal Project, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia (MET) and the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). This project aimed to improve the management of selected rare and high value species in Namibia by building a knowledge base for better informed decision making. The knowledge base was required to encapsulate current knowledge and experience of conservation experts and specialists. To provide an electronic representation of this knowledge base a hypermedia Information System for Rare Species Management (known as IRAS) was designed and implemented. The research therefore explores the disciplinary interstices of information technology, conservation and ethics, against the cultural background of a post-colonial society in which the deficits of the past constrain the impact and the efficacy of technological interventions.