( Saving endangered species like pandas ...)Protecting endangered species helps reduce poverty

Saving endangered species like pandas, gorillas and tigers helps reduce poverty and improve the lives of local communities, according to a new World Wildlife Fund report. Now as the eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity opens today in Curitiba, Brazil, WWF urges the CBD and member governments to integrate species conservation work into efforts to alleviate poverty.

"Now's the time to recognize the strong connections between sustainable economic development, a healthy environment, and successful species conservation," said Ginette Hemley, vice president for species conservation, World Wildlife Fund. "WWF's new report provides clear evidence that when endangered species benefit, people also benefit."

By examining six projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia, the new report shows that WWF's work to save endangered wildlife helps eradicate poverty and hunger, as well as promote sustainable and fair development in rural areas.

"Problems that threaten species like the destruction of habitats and natural resources often contribute to poverty," said Hemley.

Conservation and sustainable management of species and their habitats means better protection of forest, freshwater and marine habitats. As a result, the rural poor who depend on these areas have more access to the goods and services they provide. Incomes increase and access to freshwater, health, education and women's rights often also improve.

According to the report, some ecotourism projects based on the observation of species in the wild--such as marine turtles, pandas and mountain gorillas--generate significant amounts of money for communities. Applying knowledge of species movements in and across habitats can help implement such sustainable land-use planning.

For example, in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, live turtles are worth more to the local economy than turtle meat and eggs ever were. The community strongly supports conservat
'"/>

Source:World Wildlife Fund

Page: 1 2
Related biology news :

1. Protecting virus offers instant flu protection and converts flu infections into their own vaccines
2. Leading scientists rank endangered dolphins, porpoises most in need of immediate action
3. Time and money make a difference in endangered species recovery
4. Costly breeding programs for endangered species pay off
5. Removing egg from nest may help save endangered whooping crane
6. Cattle grazing may help rather than hurt endangered species
7. Envisat radar surveillance protects endangered prehistoric fish
8. Overfishing may drive endangered seabird to rely upon lower quality food
9. Seal rookeries could provide a reliable food source for endangered California condors, study finds
10. Rare Tibetan antelope listed as endangered
11. Scientist warns of threat to last stronghold of endangered turtle