14 OCTOBER 2005 POLYTECHNIC OF NAMIBIA GIS CONFERENCE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) USAGE Matti T. Nghikembua CCF Non profit organisation co- founded during 1990 by Dr. Laurie Marker. The CCF main center is located on farm Elandsvreugde (number 367, Otjiwarongo district) Approximately 44 kilometer east of Otjiwarongo on the road D2440. CCF Biology Ecology Universities & institutions Farmers Schools and teachers International media Conservancies Livestock guarding dogs Land rehabilitation Capacity building Conservation Research Education CCFs aim is to ensure the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystem through education, conservation and research. Figure 1: CCF Namibia model Predators are in conflict Do predators have value in todays world? Yes, Predators are an integral part of a healthy ecosystem They exert top-down regulatory role in ecosystems; They maintain a natural balance in the ecosystem by e.g. act as a buffer against overgrazing; weeding out the sick and old, weak and slow; They are a part of our natural heritage. Human populations have expanded into all habitats and ecosystems Predators are forced out, suppressed or eradicated. Humans vs. Predators Predator Species Population Human Population Predator conservation remains a challenge for their present and future existence Cheetah Distribution in Namibia Major Threats to Cheetah Survival Habitat loss Conflict with larger predators in reserves Conflict with livestock and game farmers Reduced prey Genetic limitations Disease risks Extinction Population Decline Investigating the rates and causes of removals and understanding cheetah home range and habitat use are important aspects of the future management of cheetah populations outside protected areas Methods Cheetahs that were reported live-trapped or killed on Namibian farmlands between 1991 and A perceived threat to livestock or game led to the vast majority of live captures and to almost half of the cheetah deaths investigated. Methods Radio-tracking (Ground tracking and Cessna plane) to investigate the home range size of cheetahs on Namibian farmlands The influence of sex, social grouping, season, rainfall, prey density and habitat structure were examined. In addition, the degree of home range overlap was used to investigate territoriality and estimate the genetic relatedness of cheetahs in the core study area. We used ARCHview GIS 3.2 ESRI Redlands, California to conduct spatial analysis for these studies. Animal movement extension Spatial analyst Home range & habitat use Cheetahs showed some habitat selection - females in particular selected for sparse bush, probably due to higher prey density Cheetahs showed intense use of core areas, which averaged 14% of overall home range size We found that cheetahs have very large home ranges, that often encompass over 1000 square kilometers in area. Cheetah Genetics 313 animals 89 unrelated (248 alleles observed in 38 microsatellites) Regionally related Genetically healthy population Continued gene flow is necessary Heterozygosity (H e ) ranged from to (Serengeti 0.599) Alleles ranged from 3 to 10 (Serengeti mean 4.08) Cheetah population census Challenges to implement GIS Use Remoteness of our field station. We can only get a slow internet connection and this severely limits access to web-based resources. We have not successfully addressed this problem. In order to include additional conservation organizations that are located in developing countries in the use of GIS, consideration of this factor is important. In addition, we are examining the application of grid-based models implemented in Arc/Info, to better understand cheetah habitat use and bush encroachment.