Global large herbivore conservation and international law

Abstract

Large wild herbivore species are important to ecosystems and human societies, but many of them are threatened and in decline. International wildlife treaties have a role to play in arresting and reversing these declines. This paper provides a global overview and analysis of relevant legal instruments and their roles regarding the conservation of the 73 largest terrestrial herbivores, i.e., those with a body mass of ≥ 100 kg. Outcomes reveal both significant positive contributions and shortcomings of the Ramsar Wetlands Convention, the World Heritage Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the Convention on Migratory Species and its subsidiary instruments, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and a range of regional and bilateral treaties. Maximizing the potential of these treaties, and attaining their objectives regarding the conservation and restoration of large herbivores, requires substantial increases in funding and political will. Even before such game-changing increases occur, however, it remains worthwhile to seek and use the many opportunities that exist within the current international legal framework for enhancing the conservation of the world's largest herbivores.

Reconciling livestock production and wild herbivore conservation: challenges and opportunities

“…This is particularly important in the case of conflicts involving herbivores that migrate across multiple administrative boundaries [49]. Here, the difficulty lies in coordinating management efforts across socio-political realities that may differ in their legal obligations towards conservation and agriculture [50].…”

Predicting suitable habitat of swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) across the Western Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal

“…Large herbivores exhibit a significant role in molding the ecosystem through ecological function that benefits other species [ 1 , 2 ]. Despite their critical role in the ecosystem, various anthropogenic pressures such as habitat degradation, resource exhaustion, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] ] have posed a threat of extinction to 60% of the world's large herbivores [ 8 , 9 ]. Although the South Asia holds preeminent varieties of terrestrial mega herbivores [ 10 , 11 ], 12 out of 15 terrestrial large herbivores are confronting critical conservation hurdles, as they are delegated “threatened” by the IUCN [ 2 , 8 ], owing to severe loss of their habitat and significant population decline.…”

Harvest and density‐dependent predation drive long‐term population decline in a northern ungulate

“…Globally, large herbivores are important cultural and economic resources that shape the function and structure of landscapes (Trouwborst, 2019). Thus, these species are among the most intensively managed (Ripple et al, 2015).…”