Pandemic ‘undermining conservation efforts’ with cuts to poaching patrols and wildlife protections, warns IUCN

Collapse of international tourism leads to heavy revenue losses for many wildlife parks – but some animals are enjoying respite from visitors, finds Tom Batchelor

A black rhino in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa. Conservation efforts in Africa and Asia were most severely affected, according to a group of surveys on the impacts of the pandemic (PA)

The pandemic is undermining nature conservation efforts around the world, including cuts to park rangers and anti-poaching patrols, according to new research.

More than half of protected areas in Africa reported they were forced to halt or reduce field patrols while a quarter of protected areas in Asia had to scale back conservation activities, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said on Thursday.

Tourism revenues that are key to many conservation projects have plummeted and other closures have impacted environmental projects globally.