Armed conflicts and wildlife decline: Challenges and recommendations for effective conservation policy in the Sahara-Sahel
| Autor: | Thomas Rabeil, Sílvia B. Carvalho, Teresa Luísa Silva, Pierre Comizzoli, Hamissou Halilou Malam Garba, Koen De Smet, Abdoulaye Harouna, Mahamat Hassan Hatcha, Pierre-André Crochet, Amina Fellous, Teresa Abáigar, Dieng Hamidou, Susan M. Canney, Tim Wacher, Abdullah Nagy, Fernando Martínez-Freiría, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, José Carlos Brito, Nathalie Pettorelli, Sarah M. Durant, Cândida Gomes Vale, João Carlos Campos, Hugo Rebelo, John Newby, Andack Saad Sow, Walid Algadafi, Zbyszek Boratyński, Soumia Fahd, Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva, Duarte V. Gonçalves |
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| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
education.field_of_study Ecology Natural resource economics 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology Population Social change Wildlife Biodiversity 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Human development (humanity) Population decline Megafauna Political science Threatened species education Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Nature and Landscape Conservation |
| Zdroj: | Conservation Letters. 11:e12446 |
| ISSN: | 1755-263X |
| DOI: | 10.1111/conl.12446 |
| Popis: | Increasing conflicts and social insecurity are expected to accelerate biodiversity decline and escalate illegal wildlife killing. Sahara‐Sahel megafauna has experienced recent continuous decline due to unsustainable hunting pressure. Here, we provide the best available data on distribution and population trends of threatened, large vertebrates, to illustrate how escalating regional conflict (565% growth since 2011) is hastening population decline in areas that were formerly refugia for megafauna. Without conservation action, the unique and iconic biodiversity of Earth's largest desert will be forever lost. We recommend: (1) establishing strong commitments for change in global attitude toward nature; (2) engraining a culture of environmental responsibility among all stakeholders; (3) fostering environmental awareness to drive societal change; (4) reinforcing regional security and firearms control; and (5) implementing local research and wildlife monitoring schemes. We identify relevant international partners needed to tackle these challenges and to make strong policy change for biodiversity conservation and regional stability. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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