A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution calls for a framework to better manage risks posed by hazardous species while protecting ecosystems. The international research team, led by Dr. Matthew Faith at the Foundation for Biodiversity Research in France, proposes treating human harms from nature as avoidable risks that arise from the intersection of ecosystem hazards with human exposure and vulnerability.
The study notes that over 700,000 people die annually from animal-transmitted diseases, snakebites kill up to 500,000 people yearly, and pests cost an estimated $220 billion in crop losses. Current management approaches like wildlife culls and heavy pesticide use can undermine conservation goals.
The framework draws from methods used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in climate risk management. Dr. Briana Abrahms, a professor at the University of Washington and study co-author, said, "By distinguishing between hazards, exposure and vulnerability, our framework proposes a much broader range of interventions that can reduce harm from wildlife while avoiding approaches that undermine the ecosystems we're trying to conserve."
The researchers identify a link between global inequality and vulnerability to hazardous species. Mosquito-borne diseases, crocodile attacks, and snakebite deaths correlate with poor health care access and socioeconomic inequalities.
Dr. Faith stated that the study "provides a much-needed structure for risk assessment and deliberation to support evidence-based policy decisions" rather than opinions on specific management approaches. The team emphasizes that risks should be managed collaboratively between policymakers and local communities.