Chapter 32 - Evaluating the impact of pangolin farming on conservation

Abstract

Pangolins are subject to an international commercial trade ban but demand for pangolin derivatives persists and may be growing in parts of Africa and Asia. Some actors are attempting to breed pangolins in captivity for commercial purposes, raising concerns about potential adverse impacts upon wild populations. This chapter introduces key variable factors and theoretical insights, economic and otherwise, that warrant consideration when evaluating the potential impact of wildlife farming, and elucidates their relevance to pangolin conservation. The immediate conservation impact of pangolin farming is unclear due to a number of uncertainties. Research priorities to understand potential future impacts are identified and discussed. These include economic incentives for wild harvesting, the nature of consumer demand and substitutability of pangolin products, how legal and illegal markets for pangolin products may interact, and stockpile policies. Further research is needed in order to improve understanding of the potential impacts of pangolin farming.