Poaching & its Effect on Natural Ecosystems  

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Indian black turtle, a common victim of poaching on the western coast of India. 

Shot at the Poomaale Collective.

Poaching is the illegal hunting, capturing, or harvesting of wildlife, plants, or their products. It typically involves the unethical exploitation of natural resources and is often driven by financial gain. It can encompass various activities, including:

• Illegal hunting of animals for meat, fur, feathers, skins, horns or other body parts with the intent of selling for profits.
• Illegal fishing: Poaching can also apply to fishing activities carried out in violation of fishing regulations, including overfishing, using prohibited equipment or techniques, and catching protected or endangered species.
• Illegal logging & felling of trees for their valuable timber, leading to excessive deforestation, habitat destruction, and the loss of biodiversity.
• Illegal trade of wildlife and their products by selling protected species, their parts, or products derived from them, such as ivory, rhino horns, or exotic pets.

The act of poaching poses a great threat to the wildlife themselves, but it has far larger direct as well as indirect impacts on the health of the natural ecosystems that we hugely depend on.

Here are some of the key ways in which poaching affects natural ecosystems:

Declining Populations

Here’s a direct one. Poaching can lead to a significant reduction in the population of target species, especially those with slow reproductive rates. When large numbers of animals are killed, it can take many years or even decades for their populations to recover, if they recover at all.

Imbalanced Food Chains

Many species play crucial roles in their ecosystems as predators or prey. When poaching disrupts these populations, it can create imbalances in food chains and ecological relationships. This can result in overpopulation of certain species, leading to habitat degradation or depletion of food resources.

Genetic Diversity Loss

Reduced population sizes due to poaching can lead to a loss of genetic diversity within a species. This can make the population more vulnerable to diseases, environmental changes, and reduced adaptability to new conditions.

Disruption of Ecosystem Services

Many species provide essential ecosystem services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. Poaching can reduce the abundance of these species, which in turn can disrupt the ecosystem services they provide, affecting the health and functioning of the ecosystem.

Habitat Degradation

Poachers often use destructive methods, such as setting traps, using firearms, or employing toxic substances, which can damage habitats. These activities can lead to habitat degradation, making it less suitable for both the target species and other wildlife.

Altered Behavior 

Wildlife may alter their behaviour in response to poaching pressure. For example, they may become more nocturnal or avoid certain areas, which can affect their ability to find food, reproduce, and interact with other species in the ecosystem.

Increased Invasive Species

Poaching can create opportunities for invasive species to thrive. When native species are reduced, invasive species may fill ecological niches, leading to further disruption of the ecosystem.

Economic Impact

The illegal wildlife trade is often associated with organised crime and corruption. The revenue generated from poaching can fund criminal activities that harm local communities and governments, further destabilising regions and impacting conservation efforts.

Ecotourism Decline

Many natural ecosystems rely on ecotourism as a source of income and conservation funding. The decline in wildlife populations due to poaching can reduce the appeal of these areas to tourists, leading to economic losses for local communities and a reduced incentive for conserving the ecosystem.

Ripple Effects

The impacts of poaching extend beyond individual species. They can create a domino effect, affecting other species and ecosystem components. For example, the loss of a top predator can lead to an increase in prey species, which can then have cascading effects on vegetation and other wildlife.

Efforts to combat poaching and protect wildlife are crucial for the health and balance of ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity. At the Beforest Collectives, we believe in nurturing relationships with wildlife and are trying to create channels of coexistence. At each of our collectives, we have dedicated 50% of the landscape as a no-intervention wilderness zone. As the zone lies within the collective and extends into adjoining natural regions, the chances of poaching are reduced significantly as the community undertake strict security measures.

This way, we are not only sharing the landscape with all those who call it home (the wildlife included) but are also closing the means to poaching, a practice we aim to gradually spread across adjoining landscapes.