Mammals, ecology and the economy

This presentation will address the inherent complexities of humans and wildlife coexisting in the same environment. A fundamental tenet of conservation is understanding, responding to, and managing change. It will be argued that only once the human use of the landscape and the way this has influenced wildlife over time is understood that the risk to specific species and biotic communities be assessed and an appropriate conservation strategy be developed. The currently topical debate regarding ‘land sparing’ as opposed to ‘land sharing’ will be presented with the implications for livelihoods, food security and wildlife. Changes in land use in the UK and Europe have affected wildlife and it will be shown how these two approaches are being applied as tools, at both policy and practical level, to maximise environmental and economic benefits. It will be suggested that research is required to establish the connections between rural livelihoods and wildlife. Change is inevitable and landscapes have developed over time as humans have interacted with the physical and biotic components of the environment. The underlying driver of change is almost always economic. If a particular practice, for example, livestock husbandry or the production of a particular crop, either increases or decreases as a result of changes in market demand there will be consequences. As ecologists we need to understand and model impacts, raise awareness of these, and encourage intervention if necessary to ensure that wildlife does not become a victim of unintended consequences