Veterinary Medicine is a discipline that has been around since the Neolithic Ages. And since then, the field has adapted and evolved to encompass the best techniques and diagnostics in terms of upholding the health of all animals, both domestic and wild. A few years ago, the One Health Initiative first emerged, introducing people to the radical interdisciplinary idea that the health and well-being of society as a whole is dependent on the forging of human health, animal health, and environmental health. However, while the previous statement may seem overly obvious, implementing worldwide measures in accordance with human medicine, veterinary medicine, and environmental science is much easier said than done. And what happens when two or even all three of these disciplines are in conflict with each other? If the health of one is improved but the health of another is compromised, can we really call that progress?
I'm sure by now you've heard me mention the terms conservation medicine and human-wildlife conflict many times and really both ideas encompass exactly what you would think. While conservation medicine was first mentioned in the 1990s, the field itself is still growing and developing in nature. In general, it concerns itself with the broad category of the relationships that species form with their ecosystems. This manifests in the form of interspecies relationships, predator-prey interactions, human-wildlife conflicts, and environmental effects. However, I, personally, am most concerned with human-wildlife conflicts. In a rapidly growing world, with humans being the predominant species, absolutely everything that humans do or take part in has an enormous effect on the world around them. And humans are OBSESSED with progress in all shapes and forms. So unfortunately, when humans make progress even in lieu of environmental or animal-related destruction, often, a blind eye is turned. This is where changes MUST be made.
In order to better get an idea of what I advocate for and seek to promote, I would like to shine a light on the world's leader in global conservation, the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). WWF was created in 1961 to integrate the finances and support already being garnered by several individual conservation-based organizations. The Morges Manifesto was signed into effect by 16 of the world’s leading conservationists including African wildlife enthusiast, Sir Julian Huxley, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s vice president Sir Peter Scott, and director-general of the British Nature Conservancy, E.M. Nicholson. That being said, you can see right off the bat that the WWF was established in regards to the needs for global cooperation and outreach. Today they are the world’s leading conservation organization, working in over 100 different countries and receiving the support of more than one million members in the United States and close to five million globally. Their primary mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth by working in the 6 interrelated areas of food, climate, fresh water, wildlife, forests, and oceans.
One of my favorite quotes from WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts is as follows: "conservation endures as a living discipline because it is inhabited by a magnificent collection of people and only by working together can we create solutions to the most vexing problems we face". Again, ONLY "by working together can we create solutions to the most vexing problems we face" which in my opinion include problems that affect the health of humans, animals, and the environment as a whole. Therefore, issues of global concern rely upon the integration of people and knowledge on the world stage. As a huge advocate for conservation and wildlife health, I firmly believe that we must ensure that the value of nature and conservation is reflected in decisions made by individuals, communities, governments, and businesses. But once again, much easier said than done.
So what is the first step in garnering global cooperation for issues that only a small amount of the total population truly and deeply cares about? In my research I presented at George Mason University's 2018 Public Choice Outreach Conference I discussed that instead of targeting each individual issue in regards to conservation and wildlife health, we must seek to promote change as a whole. For example, instead of just targeting the practice of poaching itself, we must look to transform entire markets and policies to reduce the impact of the production and consumption of commodities. Of course, this adds the extra challenge of fostering cooperation with governments and unions who often dictate referendums regarding the nation-state as a whole. However, in the future I hope to use this precedence to my advantage in order to enact large-scale changes that would normally be contingent on the support of each individual person or country.
A lot of people fail to realize just how much conservation can be in conjunction with major human rights issues, but the two are interconnected more tightly than one would think. Often, neglect of both aspects is what leads to increased human-wildlife conflict which has nothing but negative effects for both situations. However, if we can work towards resolving both issues, a more moral and sustainable world will result. For example, the global refugee crisis is one that has sharpened struggles over identity, belonging, rights, and responsibilities in societies of refugees and immigrant resettlement. While the major focus of this issue has been the humanitarian efforts to aid refugees, what many fail to realize is the responsibility of societies who take in refugees to not neglect resettlement's effects on wildlife as well.
One of the greatest incidental problems relating to refugee resettlement is the fact that the vast land area required to house thousands of refugees, often encroaches on the natural habitat of a myriad of wild animals. In Kenya, conflict between refugees and elephants has resulted in deaths of both species. Additionally, the fencing being used to try and corral refugees has also kept wildlife out of its natural habitats. Many deer have died after getting trapped in the barbed wire barriers and other animals’ migration patterns and food sources have been negatively altered due to these man-made constraints. In Tanzania, animals are even being purposely killed due to an over reliance on illegal bush-meat as a means to feed all of the refugees which in itself calls for concern in regards to zoonotic disease transmission. This clearly calls for an integrated effort to protect all species here on earth. With all this being said, my ultimate goals in life include highlighting the issues that already exist and providing a platform for a new tone of debate. I want to show individuals and organizations why they MUST be concerned about these global issues regardless of direct involvement. And of course, using the skills I've been endowed in vet school in both practice and research to create and enact changes myself. I think a more alert world with more potential to be proactive is what we could have to look forward to in the future. Just by reading this article, you're already helping me bring awareness to the changes our world needs to make to ensure our wildlife is protected which in turn will uphold the dignity of human nature and the world as a whole. Thanks, you all rock!
As always, feel free to comment, share, and keep an eye out for all of my updates and posts!
Be like a lion,
Heidi
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