Mammal and bird species ranges overlap with armed conflicts and associated conservation threats

Abstract

Armed conflicts are a pervasive global threat, but their implications for wildlife conservation remain unclear. Using a 30-year spatial dataset of armed conflicts in conjunction with species range maps, we found that conflicts during 1989-2018 occurred within at least 4291 (78%) and 9056 (85%) terrestrial mammal and bird species ranges, respectively. For 4% overall and 5-7% of threatened species, conflicts within ranges have been both widespread (≥50% of range) and frequent (≥15 years). Further, an examination of International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessments revealed that ranges overlap with armed conflicts is associated with declining population trends of threatened species and distinct species threat portfolios in which hunting and habitat loss and degradation are more prominent. Our findings call for greater recognition and understanding of direct and indirect threats from armed conflicts in species conservation assessments and underscore the importance of addressing conflict resiliency in conservation plans for a wide suite of species.

The 10th anniversary of the scientific description of the black snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri): It is time to initiate a set of new management strategies to save this critically endangered primate from extinction

“…However, in 2021, the Myanmar military seized control of the government. Increased conflict between the Myanmar army and armed ethnic groups is likely to increase the threats of hunting, habitat loss, and forest fragmentation leading to R. strykeri population decline (see Gaynor et al, 2016; Mendiratta et al, 2021).…”

Reconstructing Historical Distribution of Large Mammals and their Habitat to Inform Rewilding and Restoration in Central Tanzania

“…Ecosystems across the globe have been altered by faunal declines and extirpations, mainly due to anthropogenic activities and these have accelerated sharply over the past century (Mendiratta et al, 2021; Stalmans et al, 2019). While changes in response to novel ecological interactions may be unpredictable, catastrophic decline of large mammal populations has significant impacts to the landscape; including for example, invasion of grasslands by woodlands in savanna ecosystems (O'Connor et al, 2014).…”

Reconstructing historical distribution of large mammals and their habitat to inform rewilding and restoration in central Tanzania

“…Figure 4: Some of the most common wild animal species that inhabited savanna woodland in central Tanzania in the past (East, 1981;Lamprey, 1963) Ecosystems across the globe have been altered resulting into decline and extirpations of both fauna and flora, mainly due to anthropogenic activities which have increased over the past century (Mendiratta et al, 2021;Stalmans et al, 2019). While changes in response to novel ecological interactions may be unpredictable, catastrophic decline of large mammal populations has significant impacts to the landscape; including for example, conversion of grasslands to woodlands in savanna ecosystems.…”