Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes
Overexploitation is a key driver of biodiversity loss but the relationship between the use and trade of species and conservation outcomes is not always straightforward. Accurately characterizing wildlife trade and understanding the impact it has on wildlife populations are therefore critical to eval...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley Open Access
2021
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| _version_ | 1797106566790381568 |
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| author | Challender, DWS Brockington, D Hinsley, A Hoffmann, M Kolby, J Masse, F Natsuch, D Oldfield, T Outhwaite, W 't Sas-Rolfes, M Milner-Gulland, EJ |
| author_facet | Challender, DWS Brockington, D Hinsley, A Hoffmann, M Kolby, J Masse, F Natsuch, D Oldfield, T Outhwaite, W 't Sas-Rolfes, M Milner-Gulland, EJ |
| author_sort | Challender, DWS |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Overexploitation is a key driver of biodiversity loss but the relationship between the use and trade of species and conservation outcomes is not always straightforward. Accurately characterizing wildlife trade and understanding the impact it has on wildlife populations are therefore critical to evaluating the potential threat trade poses to species and informing local to international policy responses. However, a review of recent research that uses wildlife and trade-related databases to investigate these topics highlights three relatively widespread issues: (1) mischaracterization of the threat that trade poses to certain species or groups, (2) misinterpretation of wildlife trade data (and illegal trade data in particular), resulting in the mischaracterization of trade, and (3) misrepresentation of international policy processes and instruments. This is concerning because these studies may unwittingly misinform policymaking to the detriment of conservation, for example by undermining positive outcomes for species and people along wildlife supply chains. Moreover, these issues demonstrate flaws in the peer-review process. As wildlife trade articles published in peer-reviewed journals can be highly influential, we propose ways for authors, journal editors, database managers, and policymakers to identify, understand, and avoid these issues as we all work towards more sustainable futures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:04:20Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:2609a2c5-59e1-4f02-a8e1-4b8682864317 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:04:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Wiley Open Access |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:2609a2c5-59e1-4f02-a8e1-4b86828643172022-04-25T10:36:11ZMischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:2609a2c5-59e1-4f02-a8e1-4b8682864317EnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley Open Access2021Challender, DWSBrockington, DHinsley, AHoffmann, MKolby, JMasse, FNatsuch, DOldfield, TOuthwaite, W't Sas-Rolfes, MMilner-Gulland, EJOverexploitation is a key driver of biodiversity loss but the relationship between the use and trade of species and conservation outcomes is not always straightforward. Accurately characterizing wildlife trade and understanding the impact it has on wildlife populations are therefore critical to evaluating the potential threat trade poses to species and informing local to international policy responses. However, a review of recent research that uses wildlife and trade-related databases to investigate these topics highlights three relatively widespread issues: (1) mischaracterization of the threat that trade poses to certain species or groups, (2) misinterpretation of wildlife trade data (and illegal trade data in particular), resulting in the mischaracterization of trade, and (3) misrepresentation of international policy processes and instruments. This is concerning because these studies may unwittingly misinform policymaking to the detriment of conservation, for example by undermining positive outcomes for species and people along wildlife supply chains. Moreover, these issues demonstrate flaws in the peer-review process. As wildlife trade articles published in peer-reviewed journals can be highly influential, we propose ways for authors, journal editors, database managers, and policymakers to identify, understand, and avoid these issues as we all work towards more sustainable futures. |
| spellingShingle | Challender, DWS Brockington, D Hinsley, A Hoffmann, M Kolby, J Masse, F Natsuch, D Oldfield, T Outhwaite, W 't Sas-Rolfes, M Milner-Gulland, EJ Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
| title | Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
| title_full | Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
| title_fullStr | Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
| title_short | Mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
| title_sort | mischaracterising wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes |
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