Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications

The urgency of the tropical biodiversity crisis continues to be a major justification for wildlife research and its funding. To examine the benefits of this research for on-the-ground conservation, we focused on Borneo, where conservation has a long history and we have direct experience. We compiled...

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Main Authors: Meijaard, E., Sheil, Douglas
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19704
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author Meijaard, E.
Sheil, Douglas
author_browse Meijaard, E.
Sheil, Douglas
author_facet Meijaard, E.
Sheil, Douglas
author_sort Meijaard, E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The urgency of the tropical biodiversity crisis continues to be a major justification for wildlife research and its funding. To examine the benefits of this research for on-the-ground conservation, we focused on Borneo, where conservation has a long history and we have direct experience. We compiled, categorized and evaluated 284 publications from a broad variety of sources, 153 from peer-reviewed journals. We found that few studies address threats to species and fewer still provide input for or guidance to effective management. We consider various reasons for these shortcomings. Research is seldom judged on its relevance to pragmatic problem solving. Furthermore, many research programs lack the necessary long-term vision and organizational structure for useful applied research. We consulted conservation leaders about our conclusions and all responses suggest that our concerns are not unique to Borneo but reflect wider problems. We conclude that conservation research across most of the tropics is failing to address conservation needs. We make a number of recommendations based on our findings. Conservation biologists should place a higher priority on addressing practical conservation needs and goals.
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spelling CGSpace197042025-01-24T14:20:05Z Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications Meijaard, E. Sheil, Douglas nature conservation biodiversity wildlife applied research research support guidelines The urgency of the tropical biodiversity crisis continues to be a major justification for wildlife research and its funding. To examine the benefits of this research for on-the-ground conservation, we focused on Borneo, where conservation has a long history and we have direct experience. We compiled, categorized and evaluated 284 publications from a broad variety of sources, 153 from peer-reviewed journals. We found that few studies address threats to species and fewer still provide input for or guidance to effective management. We consider various reasons for these shortcomings. Research is seldom judged on its relevance to pragmatic problem solving. Furthermore, many research programs lack the necessary long-term vision and organizational structure for useful applied research. We consulted conservation leaders about our conclusions and all responses suggest that our concerns are not unique to Borneo but reflect wider problems. We conclude that conservation research across most of the tropics is failing to address conservation needs. We make a number of recommendations based on our findings. Conservation biologists should place a higher priority on addressing practical conservation needs and goals. 2007 2012-06-04T09:12:39Z 2012-06-04T09:12:39Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19704 en Meijaard, E., Sheil, D. 2007. Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications . Biodiversity and Conservation 16 (11) :3053û3065. ISSN: 0960-3115.
spellingShingle nature conservation
biodiversity
wildlife
applied research
research support
guidelines
Meijaard, E.
Sheil, Douglas
Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications
title Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications
title_full Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications
title_fullStr Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications
title_full_unstemmed Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications
title_short Is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics?: A review for Borneo with global implications
title_sort is wildlife research useful for wildlife conservation in the tropics a review for borneo with global implications
topic nature conservation
biodiversity
wildlife
applied research
research support
guidelines
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19704
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