Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) has escalated into one of India's most serious conservation and socio-economic challenges, with high costs for both people and elephants. We examined national-level trends in HEC from 2009 to 2024 and evaluated the effectiveness of current policies in mitigating it. Over the past 16 years, a total of 7,868 human fatalities were recorded from elephant encounters, averaging nearly 500 deaths annually. Notably, four states, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam, accounted for almost 70% of these incidents, underscoring their status as critical conflict hotspots. During the same period, 1,653 elephants died from anthropogenic causes, with electrocution, train collisions, poaching, and poisoning emerging as the most persistent threats. Together, these figures highlight the scale and urgency of addressing HEC in India, which supports over 60% of the global wild Asian elephant population. Our study also evaluated the effectiveness of India’s current mitigation measures by combining mortality data analysis with perception surveys of 428 stakeholders, including Forest Department managers, researchers, and NGOs across 33 Elephant Reserves and elephant range states. Findings revealed that solar-powered fences and mobile-based early warning systems were widely regarded as effective, particularly in fragmented landscapes. In contrast, structural barriers such as trenches and concrete walls were perceived as costly, difficult to maintain, and less effective in the long term. Compensation schemes, although critical, were undermined by delays, inadequate rates, and procedural hurdles that erode community trust. Rapid Response Teams were valued for their role in conflict management but remain constrained by insufficient training, workforce, and resources. Overall, India's HEC policy framework remains fragmented, with generalized strategies unable to capture the ecological heterogeneity and socio-political diversity of elephant landscapes. Addressing these challenges requires decentralization, regionally tailored interventions, streamlined compensation systems, and stronger community participation. Embedding mitigation into broader land-use planning, ecological restoration, and corridor connectivity is equally critical. Implementing adaptive, participatory, and technology-driven strategies can help India minimize human and elephant mortality while enabling long-term coexistence.

Introduction Giraffe populations across Africa face increasing pressures from habitat loss, poaching, and climate-driven resource scarcity, often intensifying interactions with nearby communities. In eastern Kenya, these pressures have contributed to emerging human–giraffe conflict (HGC), including crop losses, competition for water, and occasional livestock injuries. Although this reticulated giraffes play an important ecosystem role in the African savanna and the socio-economic well-being of African communities, their interactions with people, and how communities perceive and navigate HGC especially in non-tourism regions remains understudied. Methods To address this gap, we conducted 400 structured interviews with households around Bour-Algy Giraffe Sanctuary to assess local interactions with giraffes, attitudes, perceived risks, conflict drivers and preferred strategies for coexistence. Results On average, respondents generally possessed positive attitudes towards giraffes and, on average, respondents did not see giraffes as a risk: to personal or children’s safety, of disease transfer, to cattle productivity, or the integrity of the land. Risk perception even decreased if a respondent had encountered a giraffe. Interestingly, giraffes were perceived not to cause damage to land or other property by 59% of participants thus highlighting that it may be possible to promote co-existence in the region for a majority of people. Competition for water, lack of awareness on giraffe ecology, giraffe habitat encroachment, and poverty were raised as the four main cause of conflict. Respondents supported the use of fire, torches, and dogs as way to deter giraffes from farms. Discussion Our findings reveal a landscape where conflict exists but remains manageable, and where strong community support for giraffe presence provides a foundation for conflict transformation. Because of the proximity of giraffes to farms and homesteads, economic activities such as agriculture and cultural tourism, women-led acacia tree nurseries, invasive prosopis control and utilization along with opening up water corridors may motivate communities and minimize HGC. Our work provides a basis for action by the community and policy makers to promote giraffe-farmer co-existence in eastern Kenya.

The wildlife fashion industry involves diverse products that include animal skin, feathers, fur, and curios as part of various apparel, footwear, and many other accessories. Positive messaging by advocates of the wildlife fashion industry frequently promotes products as sustainably sourced and beneficial for species conservation. To assess potential veracity of conservation claims by the wildlife fashion industry we conducted a rapid evidence assessment, brief survey, and novelty stress-test regarding data used by key regulatory sectors concerning four example species within the sector (Australian saltwater crocodiles ( Crocodylus porosus ), reticulated pythons ( Malayopython reticulatus ), Burmese pythons ( Python bivittatus ), and South African ostriches ( Struthio camelus australis )). We collated information via online literature searches, requests to government agencies, and the CITES Secretariat. No relevant data were provided by any government agency nor by CITES to support claims that the wildlife fashion industry benefits conservation of the four target species. We conclude that reliance on the commercial sector for objective and impartial data or other input appears imprudent, and that both the nature and source of information used for policy-making requires transparency and reform. We recommend wider use of the precautionary principle, which should be supported with high-level monitoring and enforcement, as well as improved information and education.

Invasive alien species represent an increasing threat to biodiversity conservation at both the species and ecosystem levels. Damages caused by invasive alien plants are more impactful when acting in areas of particular concentration of endemic species, such as biodiversity hotspots. In the Mediterranean Basin, one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the effects of alien plant invasions are well studied, especially in coastal environments. However, a lack of investigation on the effect of the coastal salt gradient on the interactions between native and alien plants seems to exist. Here, we explored the impact of the eradication of the invasive clonal plants referred to as Carpobrotus sp. pl. on vascular plant richness and diversity along a salinity coastal gradient in a dune system located in northern Sardinia (Italy). In the study area, we established three belts from the sea, each 50 m deep: at each belt, we eradicated Carpobrotus sp. pl. in 10 1 × 1 m plots; another 10 plots were controls with high coverage of Carpobrotus sp. pl., and another 10 plots were controls without Carpobrotus sp. pl. Since it was already demonstrated that soil salinity in dunes is negligible, we also measured sea aerosol salinity at each belt. We found that aerosol salinity was 0.0322 mg/cm 2 /day, corresponding to 1,174 kg/ha/year. In this paper, we show that belt was always a highly significant factor in all analyses we carried out, meaning that there were significant differences among the three belts for all the response variables investigated (bare soil and vegetation cover, number of species m −2 , and Shannon index). This was especially true in those plots where Carpobrotus sp. pl. were eradicated. Our results show that the distance from the sea should always be considered when planning eradication actions, because the salinity gradient strongly influences the vegetation’s initial successional dynamics after the elimination of the alien plants.

Human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs) are becoming increasingly common in landscapes altered by human activity, often threatening both livelihoods and wildlife conservation. We investigated HWCs in two communities: Bbaale village near Nabugabo Research Site in Uganda (73 households surveyed in 2019) and Manyangalo village near the Lewa-Borana Conservancy in Kenya (50 households surveyed in 2022) using descriptive statistics. We assessed how socioeconomic factors influenced household responses to HWCs using ordinal logistic regression models and explored community perceptions of living near a research site or conservancy. Our results showed that HWCs at Bbaale were reported as more severe (62%), often involving crop damage and livestock losses, while encounters near Manyangalo occurred more frequently (86%) but caused less damage. Households in Bbaale used a range of management strategies, including banging tins (86%), using dogs (60%) and scarecrows (59%), whereas Manyangalo residents primarily relied on noisemaking (100%). Larger cultivable areas were associated with more reported conflicts, and individuals with secondary education reported less severe impacts. Despite differences in HWC experiences, most respondents (Bbaale: 88%, Manyangalo: 86%) in both villages expressed positive views of the research site or conservancy, suggesting local support for conservation initiatives. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring HWC management strategies to local conditions and community needs.

Introduction Rapid urbanization and land use changes have resulted in extensive road coverage, making roadsides increasingly important as critical landscapes that can support biodiversity. Pollinator-friendly roadsides offer ecological benefits, but public support is essential for their successful implementation. Despite this, adequate audience analyses to inform impactful public initiatives benefiting pollinators have not been conducted. This research study aimed to document public knowledge, perceptions, concerns, and information-seeking preferences regarding pollinator-friendly roadsides to guide future communication campaigns. Methods We conducted an initial, descriptive audience analysis using quota sampling to survey 1,011 Floridians. The survey measured four key areas: (1) knowledge, (2) perceptions, (3) concerns, and (4) preferred communication channels related to pollinator-friendly roadsides. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the findings. Results Respondents demonstrated relatively high perceived and actual knowledge of pollinator-friendly roadsides. Perceptions varied, with both positive and negative views of pollinator-friendly roadsides expressed. Ecological and environmental benefits were ranked as the most important characteristics, while safety concerns and increased expenses emerged as the most significant barriers. Preferred communication strategies included immersive experiences such as demonstration gardens at rest stops and road signage. Social media, particularly YouTube, was identified as the favored digital platform for learning about pollinator-friendly roadsides. Discussion Findings suggest that educational communications should emphasize ecological benefits while addressing safety and cost concerns and correcting misperceptions. Immersive roadside experiences combined with digital content can enhance public engagement. Future research should include message testing and apply behavioral theory to identify strategies for increasing public support for pollinator-friendly roadsides. Significant opportunities remain to conduct message testing and behavioral theory-based research to uncover ways to increase public support for pollinator-friendly roadsides.

There has been growing awareness and interest in the potential impacts of vessel anchoring and mooring on benthic environments and the biota they support. This special issue in Frontiers in Conservation Science sought to bring the issues associated with anchoring and mooring to a wider audience, increase awareness and encourage further research. We hoped to fill some important knowledge gaps in this field and ultimately move to real world solutions.Almost a decade ago, Davis and co-workers (Davis et al., 2016) lamented the lack of shipping industry recognition of the environmental impacts of commonplace anchoring practices. The environmental code of practice developed by the International Chamber of Shipping, failed to mention anchoring and it potential impacts (ICS, 2008). It is now pleasing to see that the latest 'Biodiversity' report from Loyd's Register (LR, 2025), an independent training and advisory body for the maritime industry, includes a section on anchoring impacts, making reference to the scientific literature and briefly lists a number of potential solutions. Importantly, the LR report was launched at the UN's 2025 Oceans Conference in Nice, France and was subsequently publicised on several Maritime Industry websites. Curbing ship anchoring for environmental reasons still remains focussed on reduction in fossil fuels (e.g., Andersson and Ivehammar, 2017;Poulsen et al., 2019) possibly related to global carbon-reduction incentive schemes and future net-zero goals adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/hottopics/pages/faqs-the-imo-net-zeroframework.aspx). So, although awareness of anchoring and its impacts has increased, unfortunately some recent scientific contributions have failed to recognise the threat posed to benthic environments from anchoring activities (e.g., Jägerbrand et al. 2019;Agarwala and Saengsupavanich, 2023).This special topic contains a series of firsts. These include assessments of anchoring by large vessels in regions or habitats that have not yet received attention. The article examining the impacts of anchoring cruise vessels on Antarctic and subantarctic benthic environments highlighted disturbing levels of damage in these sensitive high latitude environments (Mulrennan et al., 2025). It proved particularly topical with subsequent coverage in the mainstream media and prompted a response form the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO -https://iaato.org/safeguarding-antarctica-iaato-responds-research-anchoring-impacts-southern-ocean). Other articles in this special issue reveal wholesale changes in assemblages as a result of anchor scour. These include within unvegetated deep (30-60 m) sediment environments (Davis et al., 2025) and among reef-associated temperate zone fishes (Broad et al., 2025). These studies confirm that outcomes of anchoring can be complex and difficult to predict.It is worth emphasising that some important work on anchoring impacts by large vessels in other geographic regions (including the Adriatic, Baltic, Mediterranean and Canadian waters) has appeared recently outside of this special issue (Pitacco et al., 2023;Hannah et al., 2024;Diaz-Mendoza et al., 2025;Jimenez et al., 2025). We anticipate that the article on determining an accessible and remote sensing method of obtaining the anchoring impacts in this issue will encourage further research in other regions (Small and Oxenford, 2025). These authors provide a cost-effective means of applying AIS (ship positional) data to better interpret the spatial patterns of anchoring and the movements of vessels. This spatial information on anchorages can be critical to the effective management of anchoring (Davis et al., 2022).Important knowledge gaps remain. Chief among these is refining the spatial scale of anchoring globally (Watson et al., 2022) and better understanding the evolution and persistence of anchor tracks on the benthos (Schulze et al. 2025). There is a need to better integrate the biological impacts with the geomorphological changes wrought by anchors and chains on the benthos. The impact of ship anchoring on sediment resuspension and resettling along with shorter-term water column changes (e.g., elevated turbidity) also warrants further investigation and is largely undocumented in the scientific literature. These secondary disturbances, as they have been called, are given consideration in this special issue (Griffin et al., 2025). Currently, rates of recovery from anchoring in any habitat remains largely unknown. In addition, light and noise pollution while vessels are at anchor or steaming at slow speed remains virtually unexplored, even though preliminary research suggests correlations between changes in megafauna behaviour and the presence of anchored vessels (Carome et al., 2022;2023;2024).It is our hope that this special issue has moved the field forward. In this issue, Broad et al (hyperlink) conclude with a series of recommendations to reduce or even eliminate anchoring footprints. Currently local regulations determine the anchoring practices at any given location, but to be effective international regulations need to be developed. These are important considerations given the predicted fourfold increase in maritime trade and associated port congestion by 2050 (Hanson and Nicholls, 2020), increasing anthropogenic stress on the ocean and the response of biota to multiple stressors. If the promise of the Blue Economy is to be realised, it is critical that scientists, the shipping Industry and natural resource managers engage for better outcomes.

Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is China’s only endemic gibbon species and among the world’s rarest primate species. Documenting infant mortality and investigating their underlying causes are essential for informing evidence-based conservation strategies to support population recovery. From 2010 to 2024, we conducted demographic monitoring and behavioral observations of extant gibbon groups in Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China, recording four infant mortality cases through ad libitum sampling. Among these, three infants (75%) were born to primiparous females, while one (25%) was born to a multiparous female. Notably, we documented for the first time that 4-month-old infants began to move away from their mothers, and infant mortality events coincided temporally with their initial attempts at independent activities. These findings suggest that inadequate parenting experience (primiparity) in females and premature infant independence would be critical determinants of neonatal survival in Hainan gibbons. Specifically, infants born to primiparous mothers, particularly those aged 4-6 months, face elevated risks of accidental mortality. We propose that conservation efforts prioritize enhanced patrols and rescue protocols during this high-vulnerability stage. Long-term monitoring of infant birth-death dynamics, coupled with rigorous investigation of causative factors, is imperative for the conservation and population recovery of this Critically Endangered species.

IntroductionProtected areas (PAs) are central to global biodiversity conservation as they preserve nature, ecosystems, and cultural values. In South Africa, PAs were historically governed through top-down, exclusionary models rooted in colonial legacies that prioritized ecological protection over community rights and knowledge. This approach limited local access, fostered resentment, and increased management challenges such as poaching. Subsequently, conservation discourse has shifted toward participatory governance, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), and co-management to promote more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This study explores the extent and nature of local community participation in environmental conservation at Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, using the lens of Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). MethodThis was a qualitative case study research, which used purposive and convenient sampling techniques to recruit a sample of 34 participants. Interviews, focus groups and field observations were used to collect data from the participants, which was then thematically analysed.ResultsFindings reveal a tripartite model of community engagement: structured involvement through local NGOs, government-led initiatives such as the Extended Public Works Programme, and isolated voluntary actions driven by cultural values. DiscussionWhile formal participation programmes provide economic incentives that mobilize participation, individual efforts, particularly among women, reflect a deep-rooted, intrinsic commitment to environmental stewardship. The study concludes that sustainable conservation requires an integrated approach that combines institutional support with recognition of informal, culturally embedded practices.

IntroductionThe study examines the ecological and ethnobotanical significance of significance of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart) Griseb, commonly known as Alligator weed in Panikhaiti Gaon, a diverse locality in Kamrup Metropolitan district, Assam. The plant often plays a dual role as an ecological invader and a culturally significant species. This study aimed to assess the ecological impact and traditional knowledge associated with A. philoxeroides in the region.MethodsEcological data were collected using the quadrat method (1.5m x 1.5m) with 45 quadrats sampled across three sites. In addition to this, ethnobotanical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 45 local informants and supplemented via an online questionnaire. The ecological parameters, Relative Density (RD), Relative Frequency (RF), Relative Dominance (R dom), and Importance Value Index (IVI)—were assessed across these sites.ResultsIn site 1, the RD, RF, R dom, and IVI values were 24.2, 56.1, 45.2, and 125, respectively, while in site 2, they were 45.6, 33.4, 12.8, and 91.8. Site 3 recorded values of 19.3, 33.9, 54.5, and 107.7. Biodiversity indices, including Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H) and Pielou’s evenness index (I), ranged from 0.21 to 0.75 across the sites, indicating variations in species distribution. Beyond its ecological role, A. philoxeroides holds cultural and traditional significance among the local communities. Ethnobotanical findings revealed a range of medicinal and culinary uses for the plant, highlighting its cultural relevance despite its invasive status.DiscussionThe study underscores the value of integrating traditional knowledge with scientific data to inform locally grounded conservation and resource management strategies.