Africa's biodiversity in-between ecology and economy

Although numerous definitions have been proposed in recent decades for the term ‘Biodiversity’ (Deans et al., 2012; Redford & Richter, 1999), there is consensus that it can be defined as the assortment, multiplicity, or variety of life. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms within a particular ecosystem and the interactions between them (e.g. communities, guilds). It encompasses all levels of biological organisation, from individual species to entire communities. This concept is essential for understanding the complex relationships and dynamics of life on Earth (Contoli & Luiselli, 2016). It includes genetic diversity within animal and plant populations, the diverse species composition that characterises communities, as well as entire ecosystems. Biodiversity conservation seeks to protect the natural diversity of living organisms, maintaining, as far as possible, the original composition and functioning of ecosystems. This effort is vital for sustaining ecosystem balance and providing essential services that support human well-being (Wilson, 1988). According to this perspective, biodiversity is considered a fundamental component of natural capital, attracting attention not only from scientists but also from economic and socio-political sectors.

The study of biodiversity is a multidisciplinary endeavour that integrates insights from various scientific fields, such as ecology, genetics, taxonomy, and conservation biology. Its objective is to investigate patterns, processes, and interactions among diverse life forms and the myriad factors that influence their existence. This interdisciplinary approach employs a range of methodologies that include field surveys, molecular techniques, remote sensing, statistical modelling, and other innovative methods (e.g. Pimm et al., 2015; Tingley et al., 2017; Yang et al., 2021). These advancements are highly esteemed in international biodiversity journals, exemplified by the African Journal of Ecology (AJE), which specifically focuses on the ecological dynamics and conservation of Africa's species and ecosystems.

International biodiversity journals, such as the AJE, highly prioritise the integration of multidisciplinary methodological advancements. The AJE specifically emphasises research pertaining to the ecology and conservation of Africa's diverse species and ecosystems in a comprehensive manner. This dedication to multidisciplinary approaches underscores the journal's commitment to fostering a holistic understanding of ecological dynamics and conservation strategies in an African context. This focus is evident in scholarly contributions such as Luiselli (2023a, 2023b, 2024), which clearly exemplifies the journal's mission to explore and promote interdisciplinary perspectives in biodiversity science.

The convergence of taxonomy, ecology, biogeography, remote sensing, ethnobiology, and conservation biology often catalyses collaboration among researchers from diverse fields. Ecological journals actively solicit papers that embrace interdisciplinary approaches, recognising their significant potential to enhance conservation strategies and the sustainable management of biological resources (e.g. Chiuffo & Hierro, 2023; Huang et al., 2023). Recent issues of the AJE exemplify this interdisciplinary focus, featuring a variety of articles that span multiple fields (Luiselli, 2023c). For instance, Houehanou et al. (2024) investigated the interplay between social and cultural practices and ecosystem services threatened by uncontrolled fires. Fa and Luiselli (2024) delved into the development of standardised biodiversity surveys, leveraging diverse field observation methods, and engaging local communities in data collection and analysis. Aglissi et al. (2024) explored public perceptions of the extinction trajectory of the lion (Panthera leo) and its implications for understanding extinction dynamics. Furthermore, Luiselli (2024) underscored the importance of employing social investigation techniques, such as interviews, to glean essential insights for effective conservation management strategies. These interdisciplinary studies underscore the growing recognition of the interconnectedness between human societies and natural ecosystems, highlighting the importance of collaborative research efforts in addressing contemporary conservation challenges. Other interdisciplinary research published in AJE includes articles by Carvalho and Campbell (2023), Cozzi et al. (2024), Graham et al. (2023), and Meliho et al. (2023), to name a few.

In addition to its profound scientific significance, biodiversity plays a pivotal role in supporting various natural resource-based economic activities, such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and eco-tourism. This contribution to economic prosperity, competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability is widely recognised (Czech, 2008; Moran et al., 2001; Otero et al., 2020). Despite the typical detrimental impact of human activities on biodiversity, even at local scale (Figure 1), some communities actively integrate biodiversity protection into their daily practices (Houdet, 2008; Smith et al., 2020). Biodiversity is acknowledged as a cornerstone of welfare and development, supporting both poor and developing nations and vulnerable communities worldwide by creating jobs and stimulating economic growth (Marques et al., 2019; Mills & Waite, 2009).

Many African countries, particularly those abundant in biodiversity like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique, derive a substantial portion of their GDP from natural ecosystems, with various sectors of their economies directly linked to these ecosystems (Kuusela et al., 2020; Ntuli et al., 2022). Numerous studies have demonstrated a linear correlation between biodiversity loss, measured in terms of species richness, and GDP loss (Dietz & Adger, 2003; Habibullah et al., 2022).

To further illustrate this relationship, I examined the correlation between GDP and habitat loss, using tree cover as a proxy, across 37 randomly selected African nations (see Table 1 for the description of the methodology applied). According to data from the Global Forest Watch database (available at www.globalforestwatch.org, last accessed on 24 February 2024), these countries experienced an average annual tree cover loss of 0.61% (SD ± 0.22%) between 2001 and 2022, resulting in an average loss of 13% of their forests during this period (Table S1). My analysis revealed a significantly negative correlation between GDP and tree cover loss (R_S = −0.509, n = 37, p = 0.0093) (Figure 2), underscoring the substantial impact of economic growth on the ecology and conservation of Africa's ecosystems and natural resources.

With Africa's human population projected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050 (McKinsey Global Institute, 2023), pressure on environmental resources is expected to escalate in the coming decades.

Natural resource diversity has historically influenced the development of African human communities, but it is now facing significant challenges due to the rapid expansion of industrial development. In light of this context, the AJE should actively welcome research that addresses topics in ecological economics (see Baumgärtner et al., 2006; Costanza et al., 1997). We encourage authors to carefully consider the connections between biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and the services they provide to benefit local communities. It is crucial to emphasise that while the AJE is open to publishing research that bridges biodiversity assessment and economics through innovative approaches, purely economic studies, even those related to biodiversity, will not be considered for publication in our journal. Our focus remains on promoting scientific studies that investigate biodiversity patterns, the ecology of organisms and ecosystems, and their implications for conservation and management, rather than solely economic analyses.

The AJE's mandate is to promote studies focused on African animals, plants, and ecosystems, as well as those that bridge biodiversity assessment and economics through innovative methodologies. Our journal will continue to emphasise scientific investigations into biodiversity patterns and the ecology of organisms and ecosystems, with the aim of generalising research findings from local to global scales to enhance our understanding of ecosystem functioning at regional and continental levels.

While AJE remains the primary platform for disseminating research on the ecology and conservation of African animals, plants, and natural ecosystems, we are increasingly open to publishing economic research that is directly relevant to ecologists and conservationists. It is worth noting that last year, several submissions in ecological economics were rejected without external review. This editorial serves as a guideline for potential contributing authors interested in these themes.

In general, our potential contributors should consider the concepts of ‘Homo Biologicus’ and ‘Homo Economicus’. The term ‘Homo Biologicus’ refers to Homo sapiens as a biological species and emphasises the influence of biological factors on human behaviour. This includes economic activities affecting the environment, interpreted through the lens of evolutionary biology, ecology, and genetics (Ghislelin, 1996). Instead, the term ‘Homo Economicus’ analyses models of human behaviour where individuals act rationally to maximise their own self-interest, particularly in economic contexts (Becker, 2006). These two terms are not mutually exclusive and can be complementary because some biological factors may influence the decision-making processes of ‘Homo Economicus’ (Baumgärtner & Quaas, 2010). In AJE, we are certainly not interested in publishing papers on matters pertaining exclusively to the concept of ‘Homo Economicus’, whereas economic aspects on matters pertaining to ‘Homo Biologicus’ can be of potential interest for our journal if the ecological theory is challenged by the case studies that are presented.

Conversely, topics such as sustainable development, agriculture and farming, pastoralism, forestry practices, fisheries, carbon credit trade and accounting, as well as purely theoretical aspects of ecological economics (e.g. Costanza et al., 1997; Gómez-Baggethun et al., 2010), policy discussions (Costanza et al., 1991), or case studies where biodiversity loss threatens human well-being (Alemu, 2016) will not be considered suitable for publication in our journal. In other words, while we acknowledge the breadth of ecological economics as outlined by Costanza et al. (1997), we will only consider submissions that either directly impact ecological equilibrium and species conservation, or challenge ecological theory and are of general interest to our diverse readership of African ecologists.

The author declares no competing interests.