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Woodroffe, R.; Hedges, S.; Durant, S.M.
To fence or not to fence
2014 Science (344): 46-48
Habitat fragmentation undermines the functioning of ecosystems, and so biodiversity conservation often entails maintaining or restoring landscape connections. However, conservationists also destroy connectivity by constructing wildlife fences. A recent debate about the use of fences to protect African lions ( 1- 3) highlights a more general need to evaluate the role of fencing in conservation. People and wildlife can be uneasy neighbors. Many wild species damage valuable livestock, crops, or infrastructure; some carry livestock diseases; and a few threaten human lives. At the same time, people kill wild animals for food, trade, or to defend lives or property, and human activities degrade wildlife habitat. Separating people and wildlife by fencing can appear a mutually beneficial way to avoid such detrimental effects.
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