Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/51858
Title: Envisioning the future with 'compassionate conservation': An ominous projection for native wildlife and biodiversity
Contributor(s): Callen, Alex (author); Hayward, Matt W (author); Klop-Toker, Kaya (author); Allen, Benjamin L (author); Ballard, Guy  (author)orcid ; Beranek, Chad T (author); Broekhuis, Femke (author); Bugir, Cassandra K (author); Clarke, Rohan H (author); Clulow, John (author); Clulow, Simon (author); Daltry, Jennifer C (author); Davies-Mostert, Harriet T (author); Di Blanco, Yamil E (author); Dixon, Victoria (author); Fleming, Peter J S  (author); Howell, Lachlan G (author); Kerley, Graham I H (author); Legge, Sarah M (author); Lenga, Dean J (author); Major, Tom (author); Montgomery, Robert A (author); Moseby, Katherine (author); Meyer, Ninon (author); Parker, Dan M (author); Periquet, Stephanie (author); Read, John (author); Scanlon, Robert J (author); Shuttleworth, Craig (author); Tamessar, Cottrell T (author); Taylor, William Andrew (author); Tuft, Katherine (author); Upton, Rose M O (author); Valenzuela, Marcia (author); Witt, Ryan R (author); Wuster, Wolfgang (author)
Publication Date: 2020-01
Early Online Version: 2019-11-27
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108365
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/51858
Abstract: 

The 'Compassionate Conservation' movement is gaining momentum through its promotion of 'ethical' conservation practices based on self-proclaimed principles of 'first-do-no-harm' and 'individuals matter'. We argue that the tenets of 'Compassionate Conservation' are ideological - that is, they are not scientifically proven to improve conservation outcomes, yet are critical of the current methods that do. In this paper we envision a future with 'Compassionate Conservation' and predict how this might affect global biodiversity conservation. Taken literally, 'Compassionate Conservation' will deny current conservation practices such as captive breeding, introduced species control, biocontrol, conservation fencing, translocation, contraception, disease control and genetic introgression. Five mainstream conservation practices are used to illustrate the far-reaching and dire consequences for global biodiversity if governed by 'Compassionate Conservation'. We acknowledge the important role of animal welfare science in conservation practices but argue that 'Compassionate Conservation' aligns more closely with animal liberation principles protecting individuals over populations. Ultimately we fear that a world of 'Compassionate Conservation' could stymie the global conservation efforts required to meet international biodiversity targets derived from evidenced based practice, such as the Aichi targets developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity and adopted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the United Nations.

Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Biological Conservation, v.241, p. 1-12
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Place of Publication: Netherlands
ISSN: 1873-2917
0006-3207
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 410401 Conservation and biodiversity
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

Files in This Item:
1 files
File SizeFormat 
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

36
checked on Mar 23, 2024

Page view(s)

1,154
checked on Mar 17, 2024

Download(s)

2
checked on Mar 17, 2024
Google Media

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.