Benefits
Habitats need their full range of animals participating in ecological functioning to work properly as a habitat and bring the services they provide. Wildlife protection is not only crucial for biodiversity but also vital for mitigating climate change through the carbon cycle. Protecting wildlife helps maintain balanced ecosystems where animals play key roles in carbon sequestration. For instance, whales enhance the ocean’s carbon sequestration through the “whale pump.” They consume from ocean depths, then release nutrients near the surface in their waste, stimulating phytoplankton growth and its carbon capture. On land, large herbivores like forest elephants can facilitate the growth of carbon-absorbing plants by grazing and spreading seeds of long-lived tree species that store more carbon. In the Congo Basin, elephants’ activities have been shown to increase carbon sequestration by 7% to 14%. Similarly, predators like wolves and sea otters regulate herbivore populations, preventing overgrazing and ensuring vegetation can thrive and absorb carbon. By safeguarding wildlife, we support these natural processes that are indispensable in capturing and storing carbon, thus reducing atmospheric CO2 levels and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Measures
Develop, implement, and enforce stronger anti-poaching and anti-trafficking laws and patrols to protect endangered species from illegal hunting and trade. Strengthen legal frameworks and improve international cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade, which threatens species, undermines conservation efforts, and poses a risk of infectious disease emergence and transmission to humans. Preventing illicit activities such as illegal fishing and wildlife trafficking is essential to reduce ecosystem disruption, protect biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts on natural habitats.
Ensure any legal trade (including fisheries) is based on up-to-date, sound, scientific evidence and is ecologically sustainable and humane. Reducing hunting pressure can also support healthier wildlife populations. Establish safeguards to prevent negative impacts on wildlife populations or ecosystems, and apply the precautionary principle at all times. This measure aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 5, which aims to ensure that wild species of fauna and flora are harvested, traded, and used sustainably, legally, and safely.
Integrate a One Health approach into wildlife management and public health programs to prevent and reduce pathogen spillover from wildlife to humans. This includes eliminating or restricting high-risk activities such as commercial live animal trade and markets and reducing unsafe interactions between humans, livestock, and wildlife. These actions can help prevent the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, protect public health, and improve wild animal welfare.
Examples
In 2022, the Government of Albania extended a five-year hunting moratorium following their positive assessment of previous bans implemented from 2014-2016 and 2016-2021. According to government evaluations, these measures significantly benefited wildlife, particularly wild birds. Annual censuses between 2016 and 2021 revealed that the wild bird population in Albanian habitats doubled from 60,000 to 140,000. This extension aims to continue reducing hunting pressure and supporting wildlife conservation efforts. Violations of the hunting ban that do not constitute a criminal offence will be treated as administrative misdemeanours. Organised hunting tour operators, hunters’ associations, or hunters’ federations found in violation can be fined between 6,500 euros and around 8,200 euros, with repeated offences resulting in the removal of hunting permits and confiscation of hunting weapons. Read more.
Albania’s diverse habitats and position along a major migratory flyway have made it a prime target for hunting. Before the moratorium in 2014, the country was a popular destination for foreign hunters targeting not only game species but also endangered birds such as eagles and cranes. The government’s suspension of hunting licenses and hunting area use aimed to address these issues and reform conservation regulations.
Despite the positive trends, organisations like FOUR PAWS, Birdlife, and PPNEA have reported ongoing challenges in enforcing legislation on hunting, fauna, biodiversity and protected areas, highlighting the need to invest in the implementation of stringent wildlife protection laws and public education on animal protection to ensure the continued recovery of wildlife populations.
Project Tiger, launched by the Government of India in 1973, is an example of a successful approach to protecting endangered species while eliminating wildlife crime. Through the establishment of dedicated tiger reserves, the project has implemented robust anti-poaching laws and enforcement mechanisms, including specialised anti-poaching squads and continuous monitoring of tiger populations. India’s tiger population has almost doubled since the launch of Project from a population of approximately 1,827 tigers in 1973 to about 3,167 tigers in 2022. The initiative has also significantly increased the number of protected ecosystems, from nine protected areas designated as tiger reserves in 1973 to 53 across more than 75,000 square kilometres as of 2023. Read more.
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) Commercial Whaling Moratorium is another example of how scientifically driven, coordinated international wildlife protection measures can lead to the recovery of wildlife populations. In 1982, the IWC instituted a moratorium on commercial whaling, which came into force in 1986. This decision was driven by advice from its Scientific Committee, which highlighted dramatic declines in whale populations. Although there are some loopholes, such as scientific whaling and allowances for aboriginal subsistence whaling, the moratorium has largely been successful, allowing whale populations to stabilise and increase in certain regions. For instance, the humpback whale population in the Western South Atlantic has shown a significant recovery, nearing its pre-whaling numbers. This success highlights the effectiveness of strict protection measures and the potential for wildlife populations to rebound when given adequate protection and management.
An agreement between the IWC and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which bans the trade of great whale species, has largely restricted market access for whale products.
