Comparative Analysis Of Wildlife Management Strategies
Abstract
Worldwide, huge numbers of species are in decline because of habitat loss and overexploitation, among other threats. To protect large wildlife, we must identify which management strategies best conserve their populations. Management strategies differ in their regulation of hunting, ownership of wildlife, funding mechanisms, and the biological and socio-‐political contexts in which they
operate. These cross-‐country differences are so vast that few have undertaken the task of comparing wildlife management strategies on a global scale. This broad comparison speaks to the question of, “What works where, and why?” for wildlife conservation.
To answer this question for policymakers and wildlife managers, we conduct a comparative analysis of three distinct “models” of wildlife management found worldwide: the North American Model, the Southern African Model, and the No-‐Hunting Model. This report conceptualizes compares and ranks these models based upon their performance, using measurable indicators and highlighting differences in context. We considered a model successful if it sustains and/or increases wildlife populations, generates high revenues compared to costs, and provides benefits to local people living near conservation areas.
