8 INTERVIEW
whether it can weather environmental externalities . In addition to improving agricultural practices , it is worthwhile exploring demand-side interventions as well e . g . lowering waste and lowering consumption of animal protein .
Another strategy is to engage businesses in the management of biodiversity : all businesses , regardless of size , location or sector , depend upon and have a direct or indirect impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services ( BES ) through their operations , supply chains or investment choices . It is thus important for businesses to integrate BES considerations into their practices and to participate in the sustainable and equitable use and conservation of BES .
FM : Environmental challenges are context specific and there is no generally accepted model for solving them . Effective management of environmental challenges requires assessing the context and developing solutions in relation to the available expertise , cultural settings and institutional settings of the locality in question . In addition , it is challenging to completely isolate economic pressure from protected areas including national parks and reserves . This explains why the term sustainable management of natural resources is increasingly used in development interventions . Sustainable natural resources management emphasizes participatory management and the use of resources in a way that can still sustain the needs of the future generation .
E2C : Susan , you have worked for the African Wildlife Foundation . What are the most important challenges the organization is confronted with ?
SS : I personally think funding is the most important challenge for the organization , as well as for many other conservation organizations . Conservation costs money , and as we already know , and as has already been acknowledged by the Convention on Biological Diversity , at least 40 per cent of the world ’ s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources , in addition to medical discoveries , and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change . Yet when compared to traditional humanitarian work such as education , health and livelihood improvement , conservation receives the least attention when it comes to funding allocation . Many governments have mainstreamed biodiversity into policy and national strategies for development , and many donors equally acknowledge the important role that biodiversity plays in the larger efforts for economic development . This , however , is yet to be translated into adequate financial backing .
E2C : How do you think wildlife protection will evolve in the future ?
SS : We are living in a time of great innovations in all sectors including industry , information technology and infrastructure , yet the recognition that the success of these human development agendas are underpinned by functional ecosystems , and by biodiversity , remains limited . I therefore see wildlife protection converging with economics in the future , particularly since wildlife is already recognized as an essential natural capital asset for sustainable development ( UN Agenda 2030 , CBD ) and since natural capital accounting has been identified as a means of mainstreaming biodiversity into decision-making and development policies for better management of this resource ( SDG Target 15.9 ; Aichi Targets 2 ). This will ensure that the value of biodiversity and the ecosystem services it supports are reflected in market prices , and therefore reflected in traditional assessments of economic progress and development planning .
With the current developments , I also see protected areas remaining a core element of wildlife protection , although deliberate efforts to ensure and maintain connectivity will be key , particularly considering scientific research that highlights the importance of maintaining suitably managed habitats , which should be large and
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One of the main challenges between livelihood and wildlife conservation is conflict of interest between actors in terms of power and access
Exchange to change June 2018