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The New Lion Economy - Unlocking the value of lions and their landscapes

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The lion has become symbolic of the rapid economic growth experienced by some African countries. Labelled the ‘lion economies’ by policy makers and the press, commentators have had fun with wordplay related to ‘lions’, ‘prides’ and ‘roars’. But despite the iconic place that the lion holds in African society, and the conscious linking of economic development with the power of lions, there has been little notice taken of the risks that this development agenda brings for the lion itself. As conservationists we need to plan, govern and incentivise our actions effectively.

 

The focus of this report is on the last of these actions, providing effective incentives for lion conservation and an overview of the cumulative, often overlooked, benefits associated with the landscapes that lions inhabit across Africa. Relentless pressure for land use change is challenging traditional models of protection and conservation. But the more we remove or degrade natural ecosystems, the more we are likely to lose in terms of both ecosystem services and the associated economic and social benefits that they bring. 

 

This report provides evidence that lions are a perfect flagship or umbrella species on which to focus policy and development decisions. Investing in lion conservation confers a range of benefits which are outlined in the following pages.