What is the value of wild animal welfare for restoration ecology?

Capozzelli, Jane F.; Hecht, Luke; Halsey, Samniqueka J.

doi:10.1111/rec.13114

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…We therefore recommend practicing year-round 'naturalistic grazing' with no specified large-herbivore density, but resource-limited populations with minimum management intervention. Despite a thorough scientific foundation (ICMO2, 2010), this practice is known to stir animal welfare debates, and may over time jog our of wild animal welfare (Capozzelli et al, 2020). A practical solution to this challenge may be that large herbivores are removed or culled in the event that they fall below predefined body condition or animal welfare criteria, notably in small, fenced nature areas.…”

Section: Per S Pec Tive S For Applying a L Arg E-herb Ivore B I Oma Ss Ba S Eline In Re S Tor Ationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring a natural baseline for large‐herbivore biomass in ecological restoration

Fløjgaard

Pedersen

Sandom

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Large herbivores provide key ecosystem processes, but have experienced massive historical losses and are under intense pressure, leaving current ecosystems with dramatically simplified faunas relative to the long-term evolutionary norm.Hampered by a shifting baseline, natural levels of large-herbivore biomass are poorly understood and seldom targeted. This 'Decade of ecosystem restoration' calls for evidence-based targets for restoring the natural diversity and biomass of large herbivores.2. We apply the scaling of the consumer-producer relationship to a global dataset of large-herbivore density in natural areas. The analyses reveal that African ecosystems generally have much higher large-herbivore biomass and also the strongest consumer-producer relationship. For Europe, Asia and South America, there are no significant relationships with primary productivity indicative of impoverished faunas. Compared to expectations from the African scaling relation, large-herbivore biomass in ecosystems outside Africa is considerably lower than expected. Synthesis and applications. Ecological restoration and rewilding entail restorationof a natural grazing process. Our findings indicate that many nature reserves are depleted in large-herbivore biomass, judged from their primary productivity.Meanwhile, overexploitation by seasonal livestock grazing takes place in other areas. It is thus difficult, but urgent, to reach scientific consensus regarding a natural baseline for large-herbivore biomass. Until such agreement has been reached, we recommend to manage, or rewild, large herbivores in year-round near-natural grazing and without predefined density targets, but following natural and fluctuating resource availability with minimal management intervention. The establishment of experimental rewilding sites with reactive herbivore management is needed to further advance our understanding of natural grazing density.

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Section: Per S Pec Tive S For Applying a L Arg E-herb Ivore B I Oma Ss Ba S Eline In Re S Tor Ationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring a natural baseline for large‐herbivore biomass in ecological restoration

Fløjgaard

Pedersen

Sandom

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…However, there appear to be ways for researchers, conservationists, farmers, and policymakers to reduce harms to non-human animals while pursuing their conservation goals. So, a precautionary approach to insect welfare is compatible with their aims (and, in some cases, may even help them achieve their aims: Capozzelli et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informing policy and practice on insect pollinator declines: Tensions between conservation and animal welfare

Barrett

Fischer²,

Buchmann³

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Climate change, agricultural intensification, and other anthropogenic ecosystem challenges have caused declines in the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators. In response to these declines, entomologists have called for greater attention to insect pollinator conservation. Conservation primarily aims to protect groups of non-human animals—populations or species—with only secondary concern for the welfare of individual animals. While conservation and animal welfare goals are sometimes aligned, they often are not. And because animal welfare comes second, it tends to be sacrificed when in tension with conversation priorities. Consider, for example, lethal sampling to monitor many pollinator populations. Growing evidence suggests that the welfare of individual insect pollinators may be morally significant, particularly in the Hymenoptera and Diptera. Considering insect welfare in conservation practices and policies presents many challenges as, in the face of rapid, anthropogenic change, it may be impossible to avoid harming individual animals while promoting diverse populations. We suggest some practical, implementable strategies that can allow for more robust integration of animal welfare goals into insect pollinator conservation. By following these strategies, entomologists may be able to find policies and practices that promote the health of ecosystems and the individual animals within them.

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“…Offtake through regulated hunting can control populations and earn revenue if stakeholders accept the ethical implications. Alternatively, populations can be allowed to self-regulate through density dependence, with die-offs in harsh years (Fløjgaard et al, 2022), requiring full recognition of the implications for animal welfare (Capozzelli et al, 2020).…”

Section: Re-engage Stakeholdersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Steps to operationalize a rewilding decision: Focus on functional types

Toit

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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If transparent and inclusive stakeholder discussion delivers a consensus for active rewilding, then five steps are recommended for operationalizing that decision, focused initially on the large herbivore assemblage. Consideration of large predators could follow, contingent upon the establishment of prey populations. First, determine the potential biomass density (kg/km2) of large mammalian herbivores in the target landscape. Regression models based on rainfall or primary productivity are helpful if applicable, otherwise comparative studies are needed. Second, use empirical data from reference ecosystems to apportion biomass density among functional types, crudely defined by body size and feeding type (grazer, browser, mixed feeder). Third, identify specific functional traits (coarse grazing, endozoochory, etc.) of particular local importance. Fourth, identify species within each functional type that are already present, estimate their potential biomass densities, and thus identify the shortfall within each cell of the body size x feeding type matrix. A candidate set of native and non-native (surrogate) species is then identified to make up the shortfalls. This is followed by an iterative process of estimating equilibrium population sizes, stakeholder acceptance, and viability of each potential population. Fifth, stakeholders must be inclusively re-engaged to visualize the potential assemblage, its expected functional interactions, the ecosystem services to be delivered, and the long-term costs (including opportunity costs) and benefits. When a plan is supported, local stakeholders should be integrated as active participants in the implementation, monitoring, and championing of their rewilding project.

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What is the value of wild animal welfare for restoration ecology?

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Exploring a natural baseline for large‐herbivore biomass in ecological restoration

Exploring a natural baseline for large‐herbivore biomass in ecological restoration

Informing policy and practice on insect pollinator declines: Tensions between conservation and animal welfare

Steps to operationalize a rewilding decision: Focus on functional types

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