HUMAN-CONSERVATION | Human dimensions of biodiversity conservation: Wildlife trade, COVID-19 and geopolitics

Summary
The catastrophic global decline of biodiversity is one of the most pressing problems facing humanity. Effective conservation solutions must be informed by evidence. Conservation policy and practice historically relied solely on the natural sciences for guidance, but there is increasing recognition that considering the human dimensions of conservation is vital. These are complex and span diverse fields of classic and applied social sciences, and are particularly pertinent for problems which are inherently the result of human decisions and actions, such as wildlife trade.

Wildlife trade is a major driver of biodiversity loss and a pathway for zoonotic disease transmission. Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is a significant threat, placing ~12,000 terrestrial vertebrate species (ca. one quarter of the total) at risk of extinction. Furthermore, the rising frequency of zoonotic epidemics and pandemics, including COVID-19, has highlighted the devastating human health consequences of wildlife consumption. Shifting global power structures and geopolitics add to the complexity of the challenges faced. Improved wildlife trade governance and environmental governance in biodiversity-rich areas is needed to manage zoonotic disease risks and implement integrated preventative approaches like One Health. How can wildlife trade governance address the challenges of our geopolitically polarized, post-pandemic world?

In the HUMAN-CONSERVATION project, I will pursue three Research Objectives on the human dimensions of wildlife trade. Building on my expertise on the human dimensions of wildlife trade, my ability to lead interdisciplinary collaborations, and Prof. Di Marco’s strengths in comparative species modelling and in using integrated approaches to connect conservation solutions to broader societal goals like human health, the HUMAN-CONSERVATION project will inform wildlife trade policy, help combat wildlife trafficking, and define frontiers in conservation geopolitics.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101107066
Start date: 01-12-2023
End date: 30-11-2025
Total budget - Public funding: - 172 750,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The catastrophic global decline of biodiversity is one of the most pressing problems facing humanity. Effective conservation solutions must be informed by evidence. Conservation policy and practice historically relied solely on the natural sciences for guidance, but there is increasing recognition that considering the human dimensions of conservation is vital. These are complex and span diverse fields of classic and applied social sciences, and are particularly pertinent for problems which are inherently the result of human decisions and actions, such as wildlife trade.

Wildlife trade is a major driver of biodiversity loss and a pathway for zoonotic disease transmission. Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is a significant threat, placing ~12,000 terrestrial vertebrate species (ca. one quarter of the total) at risk of extinction. Furthermore, the rising frequency of zoonotic epidemics and pandemics, including COVID-19, has highlighted the devastating human health consequences of wildlife consumption. Shifting global power structures and geopolitics add to the complexity of the challenges faced. Improved wildlife trade governance and environmental governance in biodiversity-rich areas is needed to manage zoonotic disease risks and implement integrated preventative approaches like One Health. How can wildlife trade governance address the challenges of our geopolitically polarized, post-pandemic world?

In the HUMAN-CONSERVATION project, I will pursue three Research Objectives on the human dimensions of wildlife trade. Building on my expertise on the human dimensions of wildlife trade, my ability to lead interdisciplinary collaborations, and Prof. Di Marco’s strengths in comparative species modelling and in using integrated approaches to connect conservation solutions to broader societal goals like human health, the HUMAN-CONSERVATION project will inform wildlife trade policy, help combat wildlife trafficking, and define frontiers in conservation geopolitics.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01-01

Update Date

31-07-2023
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Horizon Europe
HORIZON.1 Excellent Science
HORIZON.1.2 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
HORIZON.1.2.0 Cross-cutting call topics
HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01-01 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022