Why now it’s the time to rethink conservation.
First, let's start with some facts about climate change:
99% of the scientific community agrees that climate change is real, and it is human-driven.
Alterations in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are affecting global temperatures.
The first symptoms of rising temperatures are already visible, in some places more than in others.
Photo by Serge Taeymans on Unsplash
How will wildlife conservation be affected by climate change?
Some of the effects of a warming planet on living beings are not difficult to imagine. Longer drought periods, stronger floods, more extreme weather events, and changes in seasonality are only some of the direct effects of climate change. Every species will be affected by climate change in one way or another.
Scientists have divided the effects of climate change into 3 categories:
The ones that affect non-living things are called abiotic pressures.
The ones that affect species populations are called biotic pressures.
The ones generated by us, and affecting other species, are called human response pressures.
Abiotic pressures on wildlife
"Bios" comes from the greek and means "Life". Put a privative alpha (a) in front of bio and the word refers to non-living objects. Examples of abiotic pressure are changing temperatures, changing gas compositions in the atmosphere, and changing sea levels. Or again changes in fires or storms’ frequency, which are some of the effects we are already witnessing. Where once was land, there will be water. What once was a semi-arid landscape will more likely burn in hotter summers. Species that were already vulnerable to extreme climate conditions may not survive a changing climate. Increased wildfires and longer droughts are altering terrestrial species’ habitats. Aquatic species face threats of warming water temperatures. But also drying freshwater lakes and water streams. Species that thrive in a cold climate may not be able to survive due to the disappearance of their habitat. And the list goes on and on.
Biotic pressures on wildlife
Biotic pressures, on the other hand, vary and may take the form of changes in population size, in species’ characteristics, and behavior. Some species might develop into smaller versions to resist shrinking food resources, such as vegetation, others might migrate to higher zones to find solace and similar habitats they were previously used to. For example, some species of plants that are vital to other species may disappear or migrate to more favorable microclimate zones. This is already happening in the Alps, where some plant species are migrating at higher heights at faster rates.
Human pressure on wildlife
The third category of pressures is caused by our expansion into other species' habitats. This happens through agriculture and the building of infrastructures, such as dams or roadways, which are altering species’ environment. I know, this all sounds pretty dire. But there is hope. Although wild species are facing changes in their environment, ecosystems do show regenerative and adaptive capacity to some extent.
So what can we do to support endangered, vulnerable species surviving a warming planet?
Uncertainty is a predominant ingredient in the adaptation’s recipe. We all will have to deal with uncertainty and unpredictability a lot more than we wish to. And Resilience will be the keyword for the next century. Resilience means being able to withstand difficulties and to win against the odds. For a community to be resilient, it needs to incorporate the pillars for its survival into its development strategy, and it needs to be adaptable. We already know that biodiversity helps us stay resilient. Therefore, protecting biodiversity and fostering species’ adaptation to new challenges has become imperative, to save them but also to save ourselves.
Conservation practices have stressed the ability of species to thrive within secluded special areas, to which humans have limited access. These areas, such as national parks, sanctuaries, and reserves, are of great importance as buffer zones for wildlife. These are the places where wildlife is granted security and space to recover, and we desperately need more of that. However, due to habitat changes, some species will be forced to roam outside national parks. Wildlife doesn’t recognize our invisible borders. More and more species are increasingly looking for resources wherever they can find them. That’s why accepting a more inclusive approach to conservation could be a successful strategy to support wildlife. Working with local communities to create safe shared spaces through human-wildlife conflict avoidance practices is of vital importance, if we want endangered species to survive.
We need a conceptual shift towards co-existence and tolerance.
It’s not them invading our space and threatening us, but it’s us expanding and colonizing their space. Whenever we decide to expand a city, build new infrastructure, or convert common land into private selling units, we rarely take into account the costs that these initiatives have for the ecosystem in place. Coexistence and tolerance, respect, and care are solutions for both local populations and the wild animals living close to them.
Setting up new protected areas, enlarging national parks, and promoting rewilding projects are all important initiatives to safeguard biodiversity and improve resilience. However, in specific situations, these projects may collide with local populations' interests and create a deeper divide between us and the wild. Taking part in rewilding or reforestation projects is not always profitable for farmers or landowners. Furthermore, farmers owning cattle in areas where predators are being re-introduced may suffer considerable economic damage. To promote cultures of care in conservation, rural communities need to be empowered to peaceful coexistence.
Convivial conservation: what is it?
Although parks and reserves are important, they cannot be the only means for conservation. Two political ecologists, Bram Büscher and Robert Fletcher, are offering complementary visions for parks and reserves for wildlife conservation. They call it convivial conservation, and it’s an approach inspired by several projects around the world, where conviviality is already happening. This approach imagines a world where human spaces become a little wilder, and where wild places can be inhabited by humans in harmonious cohabitation. Coexistence and cohabitation are already a reality. We need more projects around the world to deal with issues around wildlife-human conflicts and stewardship, to restore a more balanced relationship with nature.
Even more interesting is the economic opportunity that care practices for wildlife offer to local populations. Ecotourism is already showing economic potential. A way forward to enhancing the bond between us and them is helping people expand their means of subsistence to services connected to the protection of Nature. Communication, care, and love for our land are the keys to new means of economic gains. As we grow into a species that shares the responsibility for the survival of other species. Now, more than ever, we need to rethink conservation as a more inclusive practice.
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Bibliography
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LeDee et al. (2020), ‘Preparing Wildlife for Climate Change’ The Journal of Wildlife Management 85(1):7–16; 2021; DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21969