Faith based conservation in Africa

The Living Planet Index documented a 52% decline in population sizes of vertebrate species over the last 40 years, with Africa experiencing the most dramatic losses due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting and fishing, and climate change. Wildlife trafficking, which threatens the survival of wild populations of species such as elephants and rhinos, is a significant challenge for conservation in Africa. The most significant volumes of illegal international trade of elephant ivory and rhino horn flow from Africa to Asia, driven by demand in Asian markets. Despite interventions by conservation NGOs and government initiatives, solutions to reduce wildlife trafficking in Africa have yet to be found. International community and many African nations have begun to explore possibilities of empowering local community and civil society to reduce illegal activities threatening biodiversity conservation in Africa. Scholars have demonstrated that best conservation and community forest management results are achieved when maximum attention is given to local participation through appropriate communication and education. Religions are believed to play a major role in reminding the public of the importance of protecting and preserving the existence of all living beings on earth in order to create natural balance. Given that over 80% of the world's human population identify themselves as religious, faith-based conservation strategies could be a vital support for biodiversity protection efforts. Religion ecology, which has emerged as a new field in practice and within academia, could be a vital solution to address footprint issues and help halt biodiversity loss and prevent future extinctions. Various groups affiliated with Abrahamic religions have provided moral inspiration for historically notable partnerships focusing on sustainable development and environmental conservation. A research project was conducted at Yale University to assess the effectiveness of faith-based conservation based on activities led by faith organizations, particularly those funded by the Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG). The project team consisted of faculty and students at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, who conducted a literature review, surveys, and phone interviews with stakeholders involved in faith-based projects. The research aimed to identify key findings from scientific studies conducted to assess the effectiveness of faith-based activities in Africa, evaluate on-the-ground programs run by faith organizations, and analyze the effectiveness of interventions by faith leaders and faith-based conservation practitioners. The project focused on western and eastern Africa, where biodiversity loss has been particularly rampant. The research team conducted a systematic literature review of over 35 scientific articles describing faith-based conservation activities in Africa, and held interviews with senior religious leaders who had participated in projects led by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The findings of the research will be presented at the 27th International Congress for Conservation Biology and the 4th European Congress for Conservation Biology in August 2015. The research suggests that faith-based conservation strategies could be a vital support for biodiversity protection efforts in Africa. However, the sample size is too small to make a conclusive argument, and further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of faith-based conservation. The project team recommends that future research include a flexible time period to accommodate the many obstacles that face field research, and allow for research to continue during the summer when students travel to the field.