Impact case study database

The integrated techniques developed by WildCRU for modelling ecological processes and assessing their impacts on wild felids have had widespread impact on decisions and implementation by policy-makers, conservation practitioners, and planners worldwide.

Ulu Muda, Malaysia

In Malaysia, WildCRU research had a crucial role in delivering protection of Ulu Muda Forest, which is one of the most critical pristine forests remaining in the region, rich in biodiversity and providing essential habitat for vulnerable clouded leopards and many other species. Ulu Muda covers approximately 160,000ha and is also the source of water for 4,200,000 people and at least 40% of the country’s rice production. WildCRU studies of rare leopards in Ulu Muda in 2015 and integration of data into Malaysian national planning for clouded leopards in 2017 (using tools exemplified in [2, 4, 5]) attracted significant interest from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) [A]. Their camera-traps documented illegal logging and poaching at Ulu Muda, which WildCRU and a local conservation group communicated in 2017 in a video “Saving Ulu Muda” [Bi] that was broadcast on national television as well as online [A], and WildCRU work was extensively highlighted in press coverage [Bii]. These videos were coupled with a petition that gained over 102,000 signatures [A, Biii]; one month after the petition was sent the government, all logging permits at Ulu Muda were revoked in September 2018 [A, Biv].

Myanmar

In 2018 in Myanmar, the results of WildCRU analyses (including [6]) of the impact of many major past, ongoing and potential future developments on clouded leopard populations were presented to senior government officials including the Director General of the Myanmar Forest Department, and international non-governmental organisations [C]. After meeting D. Macdonald, Aung San Suu Kyi (State Counsellor of Myanmar and Minister of Foreign Affairs) assigned people from her personal charity to facilitate application of the WildCRU methods in Myanmar [C]. Based on this research and using the WildCRU ‘toolkit’, the Forest Department modelled important wildlife corridors for felids at the country-scale and applied this information to assess the environmental feasibility for all development projects in the country [C]. These development assessments included proposed mining exploration in northern Myanmar and proposed highway development project in central Myanmar.

Wider South-East Asia

Similarly, in Borneo from 2017, WildCRU used their multispecies modelling tools (e.g. [5, 6]) to assess the likely impact of 59 components of the infrastructure and land-use plans in Sabah state (the Sabah Structure Plan 2033) on the vulnerable Sunda clouded leopard; notably, Sabah has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. This analysis influenced senior government officials, exemplified by a meeting with the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister in 2018 [A, Di]. WildCRU multi-species and multi-scale analyses (exemplified by [5, 6]) have also helped several other governments in South-East Asia to identify important areas for conservation, such as core habitats and corridors. For example, in Thailand, a key breeding area for tigers was identified as threatened by a proposed major roadway and dam project, contributing to UNESCO strongly advising against the development in 2017 [Dii]. In Bhutan, WildCRU has worked closely with the government to develop a toolkit identifying key areas for conservation [Diii]. In Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2020 the government planned designation of high conservation value areas based on WildCRU methods, and adopted the framework for identifying core areas and corridor networks between protected areas [Div].

KAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area

The WildCRU landscape conservation planning toolkits and analyses (based on research including [1, 3]), including approximately 6,000,000 camera-trap images, have directly guided development and conservation decisions in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA, spanning Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Angola), an area of approximately 520,000km² with exceptionally high global biodiversity value. WildCRU has worked closely with KAZA officials [E] and led workshops in Botswana and Zimbabwe in October 2018, attended by senior government and conservation officials [E, F]. Through these close interactions, WildCRU research has directly influenced incorporation of wildlife corridors and landscape connectivity into large-scale development and conservation strategies including: Master Integrated Development Plan for KAZA TFCA (2015-2020); Wildlife Dispersal Areas for KAZA TFCA (2013-2015); and KAZA Carnivore Conservation Coalition Strategy (2018-2022) [E, F]. The Executive Director of the KAZA Secretariat stated that the impact of the WildCRU research has been “ hugely significant and at a landscape-level scale” [E]. Within KAZA, the research has also shaped national policies, including in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority National Coordinator for Transfrontier Conservation Areas stated that WildCRU research was important for landscape-level scale integrated land-use planning that evaluated the compatibility of activities such as mining, tourism, conservation around Hwange National Park, directly influencing the Authority’s thinking on lion conservation, and providing “ pivotal” information for policies including the Hwange National Park General Management Plan (2016-2026) and Lion Conservation Strategy for Zimbabwe (2020-2025) [F].

Kenya

Similarly, in Kenya, WildCRU modelling (based on research including [1, 3]) supported the government and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to develop the national Recovery and Action Plan for Lion and Spotted Hyena 2020-2030 [G, Hi], for these two species with important ecological roles in savannah ecosystems and major population declines. Launched in August 2020, the action plan takes landscape-level approaches towards conservation and includes utilisation of the WildCRU decision support toolkit methods [Hi]. The Minister for Tourism and Wildlife acknowledged the key role of WildCRU in the action plan [G, Hi]. The Chief Executive of a landowner membership organisation (The Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association), also representing Maasai communities, commented that “ the National Strategy, and the consultations and research that underpinned it…have already changed things here, both on the ground and at a policy level” and that the work is “ a beacon of how conservation should interact with local people and with local decision makers to deliver impact on the ground” [Hii].

International species status

WildCRU research has informed international decision-making on the status of several felid species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is used globally as a basis for conservation and policy changes, and WildCRU data has been essential for assessments that have determined the status of felids in South-East Asia (confirmed by [A]): Sunda clouded leopard (vulnerable, 2015) [Ii]; Borneo bay cat (endangered, 2016) [Iii]; marbled cat (near threatened, 2015) [Iiii]; leopard cat (least concern, 2015) [Iiv]; and, crucially, the up-listing of the Indochinese leopard to critically endangered in 2019 [Iv], based almost entirely on WildCRU work [J]. In 2017, lions were added to the UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the Head of the Terrestrial Species Team for CMS confirmed that evidence from WildCRU research on lions ([1, 3], as examples of a large body of work) was pivotal in this decision [Ki]. Furthermore, the Chief of the UN CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Science Unit stated that WildCRU work on lions has been “extremely influential” on decision making, including on measures for conserving lions and other big cats that the 183 Parties to CITES agreed to in 2016 and 2019 [Kii].

National action to protect rare leopards

The work by WildCRU and their collaborators on Sunda clouded leopards in Sabah, Borneo (Malaysia) (e.g. [4, 5]), underpinned an international workshop on conservation of this species in June 2017 and the drafting of the first state-level action plan for the species [A]. This ‘Sunda Clouded Leopard Action Plan for Sabah’ was endorsed by the state government in June 2019 [A], and was instrumental in securing a donation of approximately GBP700,000 (MYR4,000,000, 06-2019) from the Sime Darby Foundation to support anti-poaching work, in June 2019 [A].

In Cambodia, camera-trap work by WildCRU (exemplified by [2]) since 2012 showed an alarming population decline in one of last remaining populations of Indochinese leopards. From 2014, this resulted in WWF-Cambodia and local authorities changing their patrolling regime to focus on hotspots of remaining leopards and hiring 6 new WWF staff in 2016 to improve efficacy of patrols [J]. The WildCRU data also led to implementation of snare-removal teams (which have removed 5,000 snares between 2016 and 2020), and identification of poacher movements, leading to arrests [J]. As an emergency measure to protect the last leopards, WWF implemented fencing of areas where the leopards occur, identified from the camera-trap data. WWF-Cambodia stated that the WildCRU research “ has led to vast improvements and increased efficiency of our law enforcement activities, approved by the Cambodian government” [J].

In Iran, WildCRU used species distribution models (e.g. based on [2, 4]) to map potentially suitable habitats for the Persian leopard and Asiatic cheetah. In 2019, these data influenced the inclusion of the Persian leopard in the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI) and the Iranian Department of Environment’s submission for future inclusion in the UN CMS [Li]. The WildCRU work directly resulted in the development of a tool kit for managing conflict between human and large carnivores, including Persian leopards, which was distributed to more than 3,000 Iranian rangers, and formally adopted and published in 2019 by the Iranian Department of Environment [Lii].

Shaping conservation actions for the Scottish wildcat

WildCRU applied their camera-trap and GPS collar approaches (exemplified by [1, 2]) to survey wildcats in Scotland from 2010 and 2015, respectively [M]. The camera-trap data and WildCRU researchers made important contributions to the 2015 Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Plan, including identifying 6 priority areas for conservation efforts [M]. These data, and WildCRU work on wildcat genetics, led to the IUCN concluding in 2018 that the wildcat was at risk of immediate extinction in Scotland without population reinforcement [M]. In response, the European Union funded the Saving Wildcats project (2019-2015) to re-introduce and reinforce wildcat populations, with WildCRU GPS data contributing to choices of re-introduction sites [M].