Conservation science and policy should care about violent extremism

Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Global and Planetary Change; Protected area; Terrorism; Armed conflict; W-arly-pendjari; West Africa; Elephant

Abstract :

[en] Protected areas are increasingly prone to violent extremism spillover, with dramatic consequences for both local people and wildlife populations. Due to the influence of violent extremist groups, science and policy generally fade away. We outline the case of the W-Arly-Pendjari complex of protected areas in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Benin, and Niger), 62% of which is currently under the control of violent extremist groups. The last large population of West African elephants may soon disappear if no action is taken. We discuss the roles of conservation science and policy in protected areas under violent extremism spillover, namely (i) maintaining and reinforcing international support, (ii) authentically engaging local communities in conservation and management strategies, and (iii) planning long-term conservation and security strategies.

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology
Law, criminology & political science: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Lhoest, Simon ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Linchant, Julie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Gore, Meredith L.

Vermeulen, Cédric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Language :

English

Title :

Conservation science and policy should care about violent extremism

Publication date :

September 2022

Journal title :

Global Environmental Change: Human and Policy Dimensions

ISSN :

0959-3780

eISSN :

1872-9495

Publisher :

Elsevier BV

Volume :

Pages :

102590

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Additional URL :

https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0959378022001285?httpAccept=text/xml

Available on ORBi :

since 03 October 2022

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