Primate conservation: A public issue?

Area of Science:

• Conservation Biology
• Primatology
• Public Health
• Anthropology

Background:

• Nonhuman primates are critically endangered, yet their conservation crisis is often overlooked in the Global North.
• Human-primate interactions are diverse, ranging from cultural significance to resource competition, highlighting shared environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for a holistic, public-centered approach to primate conservation.
• To integrate One Health and public anthropology frameworks for effective conservation strategies.
• To address the intersectional challenges in primate conservation and global inequities.

Main Methods:

• Applying a public anthropology lens to understand human-primate interconnections.
• Utilizing One Health principles to link primate, human, and environmental health.
• Promoting interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research methodologies.

Main Results:

• Framing primate conservation as a public issue is crucial, given that over half the global population lives near primate habitats.
• An intersectional approach can identify conservation strategies that benefit both primates and human populations in range countries.
• Reflexive research practices, including public dissemination and capacity-building, enhance conservation impact.

Conclusions:

• Effective primate conservation necessitates acknowledging the interconnectedness of primates, humans, and their shared ecosystems.
• Integrating public health and anthropological perspectives is vital for addressing the complex challenges of primate conservation.
• Sustainable conservation requires equitable capacity-building and social activism in primate range countries.