Caught in the crossfire: biodiversity conservation paradox of sociopolitical conflict

Abstract

The current state of global biodiversity is confronted with escalating threats arising from human-induced environmental changes and a growing array of unpredictable challenges. However, effective conservation efforts are often hindered by limited knowledge, especially in developing economies such as the Philippines. The limitations imposed by these shortfalls in biodiversity knowledge hamper the capacity to protect biodiversity in light of the continuing extinction crisis. Our study revealed that areas with higher conflict levels exhibited lower species richness, fewer occurrence records, and reduced forest cover. This finding provides initial evidence for the relationship between sociopolitical conflict and biodiversity in the Philippines. We posit that the security risks caused by sociopolitical conflicts could have a negative impact on conservation efforts, particularly in terms of monitoring and implementing measures to protect natural resources. The links that bind armed conflict and biodiversity conservation are multifaceted and complex issues that warrant greater scientific and political attention. Finally, we identified 10 meaningful approaches to address shortfalls in biodiversity knowledge in conflicted areas, particularly incorporating conflict-sensitive approaches, considering the geopolitical context and conflict dynamics to adapt and align their strategies with local realities for more effective conservation efforts.

Fig. 1. Distribution of war and conflict in the Philippines.

a Density occurrence, b temporal patterns, and c average number of conflict events in the Philippines from 1989 to 2021 based on the UN OCHA database.

Fig. 2. Distribution of war and conflict in Mindanao relative to its provinces.

a Spatial distribution of species occurrence records (dots) and density of sociopolitical conflict events in Mindanao from 2000 to 2021 and b comparison of conflict events and recorded species richness at the provincial level.

Fig. 3. Differences in species richness between low- and high-conflict areas.

a Comparison of normalised species richness among taxonomic groups and b overall group comparison between low- and high-conflict areas. Note: ** indicates significance at p < 0.001; whiskers represent 95% CI intervals.

Fig. 4. Relationship between conflict and distance from species occurrence.

Visualised results of the generalised linear model (Poisson GLM) showing the association between species richness, a frequency of events, and b average distance at the provincial level. Note: Shading represents the 95% CI. Graphics were from Microsoft Office.

Figure Box. Recommended strategies to address biodiversity shortfalls within conflicted areas. Note: the image used from https://www.vecteezy.com/ under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (BY-NC) License.