Abstract
AbstractThousands of species worldwide are threatened with extinction due to human activities. For some animals, such as elephants, totoaba, and bluefin tuna, population declines are largely driven by hunting. High prices and large profits create a strong incentive for illegal hunting, even in the face of penalties and strict international restrictions against trade. One innovative solution to help reverse the declines of such species is to farm them to increase supply, thereby reducing prices and decreasing hunting incentives. However, this idea has been criticized as impractical, though some examples exist of successful implementation. Here, we evaluate the hurdles facing endangered species farming as a market‐based mechanism to reduce illegal harvest of wild populations and provide guidance on when it is most likely to be effective. Using a simple model, we show how farming costs and enforcement of anti‐poaching measures are key drivers of success for this solution. We also argue that many of the most promising candidates are aquatic species that have been largely overlooked. Thus, while conservation farming may not be a solution for all endangered species, it should be more seriously considered for species that could be produced quickly and cost‐effectively.
Highlights
Rates of extinction are accelerating globally, and one of the major drivers is direct exploitation of our natural systems and species (IPBES 2019)
Much of the scepticism toward endangered species farming comes from studies examining controversial species and those that are challenging to rear, such as tigers and pangolins (Challender et al, 2019; Kirkpatrick & Emerton 2010)
We examine whether hunting and farming costs can be used to predict the potential upside of conservation-motivated farming
Summary
Rates of extinction are accelerating globally, and one of the major drivers is direct exploitation of our natural systems and species (IPBES 2019). The theory is that a legal market (supplied by farming, ranching, or legal stores of a product such as ivory) increases supply and lowers prices, which should decrease poaching incentives. This idea is appealing, conservation farming remains controversial. Much of the scepticism toward endangered species farming comes from studies examining controversial species and those that are challenging to rear, such as tigers and pangolins (Challender et al, 2019; Kirkpatrick & Emerton 2010) In these cases, farming can be expensive—often significantly more expensive than poaching. We examine which biological characteristics of endangered species indicate a high potential for conservation farming and whether there are aquatic species that may be well-suited for conservation farming
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