What is the value of wild animal welfare for restoration ecology?

Steps to operationalize a rewilding decision: Focus on functional types

If transparent and inclusive stakeholder discussion delivers a consensus for active rewilding, then five steps are recommended for operationalizing that decision, focused initially on the large herbivore assemblage. Consideration of large predators could follow, contingent upon the establishment of prey populations. First, determine the potential biomass density (kg/km2) of large mammalian herbivores in the target landscape. Regression models based on rainfall or primary productivity are helpful if applicable, otherwise comparative studies are needed. Second, use empirical data from reference ecosystems to apportion biomass density among functional types, crudely defined by body size and feeding type (grazer, browser, mixed feeder). Third, identify specific functional traits (coarse grazing, endozoochory, etc.) of particular local importance. Fourth, identify species within each functional type that are already present, estimate their potential biomass densities, and thus identify the shortfall within each cell of the body size x feeding type matrix. A candidate set of native and non-native (surrogate) species is then identified to make up the shortfalls. This is followed by an iterative process of estimating equilibrium population sizes, stakeholder acceptance, and viability of each potential population. Fifth, stakeholders must be inclusively re-engaged to visualize the potential assemblage, its expected functional interactions, the ecosystem services to be delivered, and the long-term costs (including opportunity costs) and benefits. When a plan is supported, local stakeholders should be integrated as active participants in the implementation, monitoring, and championing of their rewilding project.

Informing policy and practice on insect pollinator declines: Tensions between conservation and animal welfare

Climate change, agricultural intensification, and other anthropogenic ecosystem challenges have caused declines in the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators. In response to these declines, entomologists have called for greater attention to insect pollinator conservation. Conservation primarily aims to protect groups of non-human animals—populations or species—with only secondary concern for the welfare of individual animals. While conservation and animal welfare goals are sometimes aligned, they often are not. And because animal welfare comes second, it tends to be sacrificed when in tension with conversation priorities. Consider, for example, lethal sampling to monitor many pollinator populations. Growing evidence suggests that the welfare of individual insect pollinators may be morally significant, particularly in the Hymenoptera and Diptera. Considering insect welfare in conservation practices and policies presents many challenges as, in the face of rapid, anthropogenic change, it may be impossible to avoid harming individual animals while promoting diverse populations. We suggest some practical, implementable strategies that can allow for more robust integration of animal welfare goals into insect pollinator conservation. By following these strategies, entomologists may be able to find policies and practices that promote the health of ecosystems and the individual animals within them.

The importance of considering age when quantifying wild animals' welfare

Wild animals experience different challenges and opportunities as they mature, and this variety of experiences can lead to different levels of welfare characterizing the day-to-day lives of individuals of different ages. At the same time, most wild animals who are born do not survive to adulthood. Individuals who die as juveniles do not simply experience a homogeneous fraction of the lifetimes of older members of their species; rather, their truncated lives may be characterized by very different levels of welfare. Here, I propose the concept of welfare expectancy as a framework for quantifying wild animal welfare at a population level, given individual-level data on average welfare with respect to age. This concept fits conveniently alongside methods of analysis already used in population ecology, such as demographic sensitivity analysis, and is applicable to evaluating the welfare consequences of human interventions and natural pressures that disproportionately affect individuals of different ages. In order to understand better and improve the state of wild animal welfare, more attention should be directed towards young animals and the particular challenges they face.