Biology subjects

Verissimo, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Verissimo, D..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Synthetic Substitutes as a Conservation Tool: Evaluating Synthetic Leopard Fur for Demand Reduction and Species Recovery

Providing synthetic substitutes is a widely promoted strategy to shift consumer demand away from wildlife products derived from threatened species. Yet, there is little evidence on whether such product substitution interventions effectively prevent illegal or unsustainable harvesting and contribute to the recovery of threatened populations. Drawing on the Furs For Life (FFL) Zambia initiative, which supplied synthetic furs known as "Heritage Furs" to replace leopard skins traditionally worn during Lozi royal ceremonies in Western Zambia, we present an evaluation designed to test both the effects and causal mechanisms of substitution. Guided by the EMMIE framework, commonly used in crime prevention evaluation, we triangulated data from semi-structured questionnaires, law enforcement patrols, court records, camera trap monitoring, and stakeholder interviews conducted between 2018 and 2024. Qualitative analysis using the General Elimination Method was employed to assess plausible alternative explanations for leopard recovery. By 2024, adoption of synthetic furs among leopard fur users exceeded 80 percent, while self-reported ownership of authentic leopard furs declined by 70 percent. At the same time, patrol detections of leopard poaching incidents decreased, and camera trap density estimates increased from an average of 2.7 to 3.8 leopards per 100 square kilometers across the focal landscape. An integrated mechanism of change, derived from stakeholder perspectives, indicates that while substitution reduced demand, concurrent and reinforcing effects of counter-poaching and counter-trafficking operations were critical to leopard recovery. This study provides the first empirical link between a demand reduction initiative based on synthetic substitutes and measurable species population recovery.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

How do conservationists choose where to publish?

Conservation literature addresses a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary questions and benefits most by representing a diverse range of authors, particularly those from countries where much conservation work is focused. In other disciplines, it is well known that barriers and biases exist in the academic publishing sphere, which can impact research dissemination and an authors career development. Here, we used a Discrete Choice Experiment to determine how different journal attributes impact authors choices of where to publish in conservation. We identified three demographic groups across 1038 respondents who have previously published in conservation journals, each exhibiting different publishing preferences. Only two attributes showed a consistent response across groups: cost to publish negatively impacted journal choice, including for those in high-income countries, and authors had a consistent preference for double-blind review. Authors from middle-income countries were willing to pay more for society-owned journals, unlike authors from higher-income countries. Journals with a broad geographical scope, which were Open Access, and which had higher impact factors were preferable to two of the three demographic groups. However, we found journal scope and Open Access were more important in dictating journal choice than impact factor. Overall, our findings demonstrate that different demographics experience different preferences or limitations depending on attributes such as a journals Open Access policy. However, the scarcity of published authors from low-income countries highlights further, pervasive barriers to representation in conservation research. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations to conservation-related journals to reduce barriers to publishing and ultimately benefit conservation science.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2023

Understanding consumers to inform market interventions for Singapore's shark fin trade

O_LISharks, rays and their cartilaginous relatives (Class Chondricthyes, herein sharks) are amongst the worlds most threatened species groups, primarily due to overfishing, which in turn is driven by complex market forces including demand for fins. Understanding the high-value shark fin market is a global priority for conserving shark and rays, yet the preferences of shark fin consumers are not well understood. This gap hinders the design of evidence-based consumer-focused conservation interventions. C_LIO_LIUsing an online discrete choice experiment, we explored preferences for price, quality, size, menu types (as a proxy for exclusivity) and source of fins (with varying degrees of sustainability) among 300 shark fin consumers in Singapore: a global entrepot for shark fin trade. C_LIO_LIOverall, consumers preferred lower-priced fins sourced from responsible fisheries or produced using novel lab-cultured techniques. We also identified four consumer segments, each with distinct psychographic characteristics and consumption behaviors. C_LIO_LIThese preferences and profiles could be leveraged to inform new regulatory and market-based interventions regarding the sale and consumption of shark fins, and incentivize responsible fisheries and lab-cultured innovation for delivering conservation and sustainability goals. C_LIO_LIIn addition, message framing around health benefits, shark endangerment and counterfeiting could reinforce existing beliefs amongst consumers in Singapore and drive behavioral shifts to ensure that market demand remains within the limits of sustainable supply. C_LI

ecology↗