Animal Conservation in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Biodiversity on Earth is rapidly decreasing and the situation in the Netherlands is in that perspective a textbook example. The main causes for species extinction are habitat loss, landscape degradation and overuse. Conservation efforts should focus more on the level of viable ecosystems. A strategic plan to do so is called Cores, Corridors and Carnivores (rewilding’s three C’s). This requires strong Cores of nature, mutually connected via robust Corridors. Based on island biogeography theory it can be calculated that if we want to conserve roughly 85% of the current biodiversity, 50% of the Earth’s surface needs to be protected, ‘Nature needs half’. For healthy ecosystems we need to get top-down forcing by apex consumers back in ecosystems. These apex consumers are mainly large Carnivores, and bringing them back asks for coexistence. If we want to keep our living conditions on planet Earth healthy we have to change our unsustainable way of living and change our way of thinking with respect to nature, natural processes and our relation with other species. The loss of biodiversity can only be halted or reversed if we save more space for nature and natural processes including top-down forcing and last but not least, find a way of coexistence with our fellow creatures.

De wolf terug in Nederland : Een factfinding study

“…Vanuit dat kader zou het goed zijn meer ruimte voor natuur en natuurlijke processen te realiseren op de Veluwe (Jansman, 2021;Hegener, 2019). Mocht de Veluwe als groot natuurgebied via robuuste natuurcorridors met omliggende natuurgebieden met hoefdierpopulaties verbonden kunnen worden, ontstaat er meer ruimte voor natuurlijk processen in plaats van menselijk bepaald beheer van natuur en hoefdierpopulaties.…”

The return of wolves to the Netherlands : a fact-finding study

“…The authorities formulated 25 research questions. The results were published in Dutch in October 2021 in the report 'De wolf terug in Nederland' (Jansman et al, 2021).…”

“…The Veluwe area is also rather fragmented due to the presence of numerous fences, and the area is under considerable pressure from nitrate pollution, drainage and climate change (Den Ouden et al, 2020). From this perspective, creating more space for wildlife and natural processes would benefit the Veluwe area (Jansman, 2021;Hegener, 2019). If the Veluwe, as a large nature reserve, could be connected to other nearby nature reserves with robust natural corridors for ungulate populations, there would be more space for natural processes rather than human management of nature and ungulate populations.…”

“…On request of policy makers WENR is since 2011 involved in the (budding) return of wolves to the Netherlands. Amongst other things this is done by writing fact finding studies (Groot Bruinderink et al, 2012;Jansman et al, 2021) and a proposition of a plan how to be prepared for the return of wolves (Groot Bruinderink & Lammertsma, 2013). Next to scientific advice regarding wolves, WENR conducts post mortem examinations on dead wolves and the genetical monitoring of wolves in the Netherlands on request of the Dutch authorities.…”