All life forms on the Earth's surface trace their origins back to the wild. Wildlife and wildlands have, over centuries, unequivocally played a vital role, not only through the provision of necessary and associated ecosystem services, but also by contributing towards the sustainable development of local communities, nations, regions and our global economy. Among many other roles, healthy wildlife and wildland resources are the cornerstone of maintaining the ecological equilibrium of nature. Presence of wildlife shapes the character of its habitat, continually supporting the evolutionary adaptations of all complex ecological interactions in its environment, and on Earth. The presence of wildlife is an effective way to assess the quality of the environment and health of an ecosystem.
By definition, wildlife refers to species of flora and fauna thriving in their natural habitat with little or no human management. The unique diversity associated with wildlife ranges from the smallest living organisms - think algae or even microbacteria - straying to the bigger beasts of the wilderness like polar bears or pandas, elephants or blue whales. Each plant and animal, no matter its size, plays and occupies relevant and key niches in the ecosystem and habitats for which they are adapted.
Wildlife conservation youth story #1: Growing Coral to Restore Dying Reefs. More about Coral Vita here.
Wildlife are known to naturally thrive in habitats for which they may either be ecologically or physiologically modified to occupy. These habitats may be aquatic or terrestrial in nature. Adaptation or modification of species of flora and fauna to thrive or survive in their predicted habitats and home ranges is highly dependent on a number of factors; which either may be natural or human induced. Quite often, speciation results in natural environments or habitats to which species of wildlife have been faced with serial environmental influences, impacting their behavioral or physiological mechanisms of survival.
Since ancient times, wildlife has existed in abundance, thriving on a free range system across the various landscapes of the globe to which they were adapted, both in aquatic and on terrestrial habitats. Abundance and diversity of breeding grounds was a driving force towards the high multiplication rates of various species of the flora and fauna; coupled with far much less human intervention and interference. In recent centuries, increases in intense human use of nature and its resources has been identified as the greatest magnitude of threat to the survival of plants and animal species around the globe. Quite evident to these are the ever increasing rates of habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction and also the indiscriminate overconsumption, unlawful extraction and illegal trade in non-subsistence wild species of flora and fauna of high critical importance or conservation status, and evidently creators of wildlife corridors through community lands adjacent to protected areas.
Wildlife conservation youth story #2: The Road of Ukrainian Elephants. More about this story here.
The IPBES media release as of 2020, approximates about one million species globally at the verge of imminent extinction. If habitat loss and climate change partly explain the alarming extinction rate, disturbance, illegal taking and illegal killing now represent a significant and growing pressure on wild species of fauna and flora as well. Environmental crime has notably become the fourth largest category of crime at the global level.
Wildlife conservation efforts seemingly gained focus following the periods of industrial revolution, which saw an exponential increase in the demand for natural raw material from wild lands, also coupled with over consumption by the majority of the local communities adjacent to these wild lands and wildlife resources. The rapid drift in resource access and use gave rise to preservation which saw a total ban on the use of wildland resources. Early wildlife conservation, based on preservation, gave priority attention to eliminating all human influence. This method of conservation, which we still see practiced today in many parts of the world, often results in forceful displacement of local communities - who are knowledge holders and experts of these wildlands and wildlife - losses of livelihoods, culture, language, food security, and more. The transitional shift was oriented from preservation to the current conservation of nature; encompassing a whole of society approach.
Wildlife conservation efforts today are a matter of global concern, drawing attention through national governments, civil society, private sector, academia, and local communities; all aimed at attaining a more sustainable approach to wildlife conservation efforts in an all-round and inclusive manner. Contrary to the era of "pristine landscape" preservation, the transition in the conservation phases now pays a great deal of attention to sustainable utilisation of wildlife and wildland resources for livelihoods, as well as community participation and leadership. According to National Geographic, sustainable conservation should pay keen attention to and take into account the livelihood activities of the people in a way that does not compromise the natural potential of the environment to persist over generations. Wildlife conservation today is a key focus and priority for protection of wildlife and associated wild lands for forthcoming generations.
Wildlife conservation youth story #3: A Sunrise or a Sunset at the Maasailand. More on this story here.
Today, various mechanisms have been devised to enhance the success of wildlife conservation interventions around the globe. The IUCN provides a criterion for classification of the conservation status of species; so as to define and guide species specific conservation action points and plans for effective conservation efforts. National governments are working towards conservation targets, set by the Convention on biological diversity (CBD). Civil society is pressuring private sector stakeholders to divest from and take accountability for practices negatively impacting biodiversity. Indigenous and local communities are continuing to exemplify extraordinary ecosystem health and protection on their lands. Youth are both demanding intersectional, system-thinking approaches to multi-faceted wildlife and human rights issues as well as leading on-the-ground solutions that push for a future where humans and nature can thrive together.
For a more in-depth look at wildlife conservation, check out:
Conservation and sustainable use of wildlife, an evolving concept
This blog was written and submitted by Y4N Global Ambassador, Aiita Joshua Apamaku.