Flagship individuals in biodiversity conservation

Ivan Jarić (1, 2, 3) , Iran C Normande (4, 5) , Ugo Arbieu (3, 6, 7) , Franck Courchamp (3) , Sarah L Crowley (8) , Jonathan M Jeschke (9, 10, 11) , Uri Roll (12) , Kate Sherren (13) , Laura Thomas-Walters (14) , Diogo Veríssimo (15) , Richard J Ladle (5, 16)

1 BIOLOGY CENTRE CAS - Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences
2 University of South Bohemia
3 ESE - Ecologie Systématique et Evolution
4 Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation
5 UFAL - Universidade Federal de Alagoas = Federal University of Alagoas
6 SBiK-F - Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre
7 Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
8 University of Exeter
9 IGB - Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
10 Freie Universität Berlin
11 Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
12 BGU - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
13 Dalhousie University [Halifax]
14 University of Stirling
15 University of Oxford
16 Universidade do Porto = University of Porto

Flagship species are an important tool for mobilizing support for conservation. Here, we extend this concept to include individual organisms, whose characteristics, fates and connections to people can garner public attention, attract conservation support, and spur activism. Flagship individuals typically have some of the following characteristics: (i) species traits associated with charisma, (ii) unique or distinguishing individual traits, (iii) high level of exposure to humans, and (iv) a known, noteworthy life history or fate. The interplay between these characteristics and human agency creates unique connections between flagship individuals and people, and generates widespread media attention. We discuss how the selection and promotion of flagship individuals can inspire empathy and, ultimately, conservation action. Finally, we identify the limitations of the flagship individual approach, while arguing that, if carefully and strategically implemented, it has the potential to produce significant benefits for conservation policy and practice.

Mots clés: conservation flagship; flagship species; threatened species; focal species; charisma; public attention; conservation science; extinction risk; endangered species

Domaines: Environnement et Société; Milieux et Changements globaux

Ivan Jarić, Iran C Normande, Ugo Arbieu, Franck Courchamp, Sarah L Crowley, et al.. Flagship individuals in biodiversity conservation. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, inPress, ⟨10.1002/fee.2599⟩. ⟨hal-03935818v1⟩