From the vast plains of the Maasai Mara in Kenya to the delicate corals of the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles, conservation work to protect some of the world’s most important ecosystems is facing crisis following a collapse in ecotourism during the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisations that depend on visitors to fund projects for critically endangered species and rare habitats could be forced to close, according to wildlife NGOs, after border closures and worldwide travel restrictions abruptly halted millions of pounds of income from tourism. Throughout the pandemic, scientists have repeatedly urged humanity to reset its relationship with nature or suffer worse outbreaks. But the economic consequences of the Covid-19 lockdown have raised fears of a surge in poaching, illegal fishing and deforestation in life-sustaining ecosystems, with tens of thousands of jobs in the ecotourism sector at risk around the world.
SOURCE: SKIFT
More Stories
Accelerating and Scaling Priority Infrastructure Development in Africa
Case Studies: Strategising for a New Era of African Trade
Africa’s Largest Lithium Producer is Keen to Take Advantage of a Rapidly Growing Global Demand
The Pro-business Stance of President Hassan is Credited with Regaining Investor Confidence
Five of Africa’s Biggest Economies Poised to Hike Rates
Kinshasa Says Kigali is Plundering its Resources
The Economic Effects of Climate Change on Farmers in Ghana
BP Quits Aviation Services in South Africa
Nigerian Entrepreneur Finds an Alternative for the Country’s Energy Crisis
Top 10 Happiest Countries in Africa
The Latest Sign of Progress in Ethiopia’s Peace Deal
Traditional Gender Norms are the Main Barrier to Ghanaian Women Pursuing Academic Careers