Impact and Lessons Learned from A Half-Century of Primate Conservation Action Planning

Abstract

Over the last half-century, the world’s human population has doubled, impacting almost all ocean and land areas. The threats facing primates in the wild have never been greater or more complex. Primatologists have long been aware of these threats and, since the 1970s, have coordinated efforts to safeguard these threatened species, through the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Primate Specialist Group (PSG). In an effort to stem the threat of extinction to primates, this group of now 700 experts+ has published 17 conservation action plans since 1977. As we look toward the next half-century, we take stock of the history of primate action planning to better understand the costs and benefits of these plans as a conservation tool. Here, we reviewed all plans published by the IUCN SSC PSG. In total, they described USD 246 million in planned primate conservation programming and were cited 1,657 times by others. We found that half of the plans had been assessed in regard to their implementation, although these assessments were not standardized. Those that had been assessed, showed evidence of positive impacts on awareness raising, collaboration, fundraising, project implementation and policy, although the impact varied by plan. For example, three of the plans directly resulted in USD 15.92 million in funds raised; four plans quantified implementation rates, which ranged from 38% to 74% of actions partially or completely achieved 5 years after plan publication; and four plans attributed the gazettement of 19 protected areas across 11 countries as indirect successes following the publication of plans. Considered together, we reflect on the ‘return-on-investment’ for developing these plans and consider a range of ‘lessons learned’ for future primate action planning efforts.

Anthropogenic Pressures on Gorillas: A Case of Grauer’s Gorillas in Maiko National Park, the Democratic Republic of Congo

“…A role for community engagement personnel should be made available to act as a contact for outside inquiries and to facilitate educational and awareness programs on behalf of the MNP. Over time, improved communication may lead to greater community involvement, decrease conflicts, and facilitate effective conservation management for Grauer's gorillas and their habitats, as reported by previous studies [2,143]. Therefore, sustaining the MNP forest, Grauer's gorillas, and the overall ecosystem while addressing local people's concerns is paramount.…”

“…Attaining the Green Anthropocene will require extraordinary efforts to raise agricultural productivity and yields in the DRC and reduce forest encroachment and bush clearing. Such achievements may require great strides by the Congolese and the United Nations institutions, international cooperations, and targeted financial support for ecology and conservation projects, as reviewed by Reuter [143]. Thus, policy decisions undertaken now and in the next 20-50 years will determine what will be left in terms of Grauer's gorillas and the DRC forests for future generations.…”

Restoration of Alouatta guariba populations: building a binational management strategy for the conservation of the endangered brown howler monkey of the Atlantic Forest

“…Developing and implementing science-based, participatory and integrated strategiessharing information, work and responsibilities among all those involved (researchers, government agencies, NGOs, zoos and wildlife rescue centers, protected areas and concerned citizens)can be a decisive factor for the conservation of species (Lees et al, 2021). Several efforts have been made in this sense to develop conservation action plans for primates in the last five decades, including national initiatives (Reuter et al, 2022). A good example on the positive impacts for primate conservation of such approach comes from another Atlantic Forest atelid, the muriquis, which benefited from progressive efforts in science, public policies and population management (Strier et al, 2021).…”