The Mighty Jungle

Wildlife conservation has both monetary and non-monetary benefits, and the success of conservation projects depends on a mix of economic and biological factors.  In Tanzania, the economic benefits of conservation projects have positively impacted the conservation attitudes of local people around the Selous Game Reserve. Option value is a useful tool to measure the potential benefits of wildlife conservation, and expressed preference or contingent valuation surveys can be used to estimate its value and consumer surplus.

Wildlife festivals can be used as part of ecotourism activities to promote conservation goals, and such festivals can also be used to achieve a variety of social, educational, economic, recreational and community development goals.  In addition, the opportunity costs of conservation planning, such as the case of European wetland species, should be taken into consideration. In general, wildlife conservation has been shown to lead to economic benefits for local communities. For instance, in the case of the Selous Game Reserve, community wildlife management projects since 1989 have generated economic benefits for rural communities along its northern boundary. Despite the positive economic effects, many respondents were unaware of or held negative views of the activities of the wildlife management institutions. However, it is clear that wildlife conservation enhances local communities' quality of life, and importantly, it improves their economic well-being.

Wildlife conservation offers many indirect benefits to people, and is an important part of keeping ecosystems healthy. For instance, the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina provides flood control, carbon sequestration, and wildfire mitigation. The fire mitigation benefit alone is estimated to be $3.69 million (2015 USD), or $306 per hectare of burn. Furthermore, reducing the frequency or severity of extensive, deep burning peatland wildfire events has additional benefits, such as avoided costs related to fire suppression during a burn, carbon dioxide emissions, impacts to wildlife, and negative outcomes associated with recreation and regional tourism. This demonstrates how wildlife conservation can translate into tangible economic and environmental benefits for local communities. On the other hand, biodiversity and habitat loss contribute to increases in ecosystem degradation, which can lead to zoonotic diseases (EIDs), human health threats and medical bills. This can lead to decreased public acceptance of wildlife, and consequently less social support for conservation. Negative human-wildlife interactions, such as disease outbreaks, can further amplify the public's risk perception and media attention. It is therefore important to consider and address the lack of context or knowledge that the general public may have regarding zoonotic diseases. By taking into account the value of wildlife, One Health is a movement capable of mobilizing multiple sectors and combining resources to most efficiently tackle issues that affect the health of multiple species or resources. One Health links animal, environmental, and human health outcomes, both conceptually and in practice, and can help bring various disciplines together to more efficiently and effectively improve the health of multiple species. Furthermore, One Health brings the natural world and wildlife into the spotlight, potentially leading to positive attention for wildlife's well-being and biodiversity preservation.