Breeding_Swiflets_Indonesia

Affiliation
IIED
Type of wild species covered by the record
Wild species used in significantly modified habitat (e.g., oil palm plantations, rice paddies)
Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site (e.g., cultivated wild specimens, eggs/juveniles from the wild)
Stage of the value chain covered by the record
Unknown/not recorded
Record Source
Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)

Swiftlet farming in Indonesia: opportunity, challenge, and sustainability;

Decreasing
Is the species endemic HIDE
No
Population Status
Common and wildly distributed
No formal international protection in place
National Level
Unknown/not recorded
Threats/Pressures impacting the conservation of the species
Population Trend
Unknown/not recorded
Sub-national Level
Unknown/not recorded
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Aerodramus fuciphagus
Common Name(s)
Edible Nest Swiftlet
white-nest swiftlet
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Non-Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken

nests

Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Income generation from trade at individual or household or community
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?
Geographic Location
Country
Indonesia
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
No
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is negatively affecting the status (e.g., population is declining; extraction effort is increasing)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out

The production of white nests from natural caves has been greatly decreased and many caves have not produced nest anymore due to overharvesting. Thus - in general - the harvest management of cave swiftlets is considered unsustainable. Globally, there is a trend of the increase production of the swiftlet nests, following the booming of swiftlet houses in several other countries in Southeast Asia. There has been some concern that the price of the swiftlet nests could be decreasing in the international market.

Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
No
Contribution to GDP
Unknown/not recorded
Medicine/healthcare
Training/Skills
Land/Resource Rights
Decision Making
Social Cohesion
Conflict- people
Conflict- wildlife
Climate Change
Details of assessment

Indonesia has been known to be the biggest producer of the swiftlet nests (50-60% of the world’s market share); As the price of the swiftlet nests in the international market remains high, the business of swiftlet nests in houses is still promising. However, the expenditure of having business in swiftlet houses is high due to the cost of building, security system, and periodic maintenance. There is no guarantee that the high-cost swiftlet house will produce nests, and thus the business in swiftlet houses is considered risky.

Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Medium risk: closely related to a species known to harbour/transmit zoonotic pathogens
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded

one concern is related to the possibility of emerging zoonotic disease, although so far there has been no proof on the incidence of such disease.

Unknown/not recorded
Biological characteristics of target species
Absent
Source Reference(s)

Mardiastuti, A. (2011) Swiftlet farming in Indonesia: opportunity, challenge, and sustainability

The production of white nests from natural caves has been greatly decreased and many caves have not produced nest anymore due to overharvesting.

Who is involved in the use?
Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles
Unknown/not recorded
How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?
How many people outside the local area are employed
Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs
Unknown/Not recorded
Scale of Assessment
IUCN National Red List Category
IUCN Global Red List Category
Green Status Global Category
Yearly Financial Flows
Sustainability not determined
Yes, considered unsustainable
Country reference