This special issue explores the evolving scientific and management landscape of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) conservation, highlighting a twentyfold increase in research output alongside the persistent threats of climate change and habitat fragmentation. The assembled studies address three core themes: establishing population baselines at geographic range edges, advancing non-invasive genomic and prey monitoring methodologies, and evaluating landscape connectivity across political boundaries. Findings reveal a significant “governance-ecology mismatch,” where current protected areas fail to encompass vital movement corridors and transboundary home ranges. To ensure the long-term persistence of this cryptic apex predator, the editorial advocates for a transition from site-specific protection to integrated, landscape-scale conservation characterized by standardized monitoring, protected corridors, and coordinated international governance.

This study explores the Mawphlang Sacred Forest in Meghalaya, a northeastern state of India, as a living example of communityled conservation embedded in cultural beliefs and ritual practices. Through qualitative fieldwork involving key informant interviews and focus group discussions, the research documents how spiritual reverence, sacred taboos, and customary norms shape conservation behavior. The forest, governed through ancestral authority and protected by ritual sanctions, illustrates a culturally embedded model of environmental stewardship that complements formal governance approaches. It supports the local community not only through ecosystem services such as spring water and medicinal flora but also by providing income from eco-tourism and cultural heritage. The study further highlights the community's role in stewardship, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and shared responsibility for ecological welfare. These findings highlight the relevance of culturally rooted conservation systems, while acknowledging the need for broader integration and contextual evaluation. The Mawphlang case adds to the understanding of integrative conservation in ecologically and culturally rich regions.

The Brown Hornbill (Anorrhinus austeni), a Near Threatened frugivore, reaches the northern edge of its distribution in southern Yunnan, China, yet breeding had not been previously documented with site-attributed nests in the country. In April and May 2025, we documented two active nests in the Mengman sector of the Shangyong Protected Area, separated by ~3.5 km. Both involved sealed incubation or brooding by females attended by multiple males, providing the first definitive evidence of cooperative breeding in the species in China. One cavity occurred in a tall Choerospondias axillaris tree and was provisioned with Dysoxylum gotadhora and D. binectariferum fruits, together with insect prey such as mantis and cicadas. The other was in a tall Terminalia myriocarpa tree beside a stream gully, with food deliveries including Ormosia hosiei and Pometia tomentosa fruits. Taken together, these observations establish that A. austeni breeds in China, broaden knowledge of nest tree substrates and diet in this frontier population, and confirm that cooperative social systems persist at the species' northern range limit. Alongside recent records of Oriental Pied (Anthracoceros albirostris) and Great Hornbills (Buceros bicornis), these findings demonstrate that Shangyong sustains a multi-species hornbill guild. Safeguarding cavity-bearing trees, strengthening systematic monitoring, and enhancing transboundary cooperation with Laos are essential to secure these disturbance-sensitive frugivores at the landscape scale.

Human–wildlife conflict is a global conservation concern because it threatens human livelihoods and safety and often leads to the persecution of wildlife. Human–jaguar (Panthera onca) conflict is prevalent throughout the species' range and could intensify given the projected increases in human population and agricultural production in Latin America. This scoping review aims to describe current trends, summarize key findings, and identify gaps in the current peer-reviewed literature, gray literature, and news articles related to human–jaguar conflict (HJC) in Latin America. Four electronic databases (ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Biological Sciences Database) were used to identify peer-reviewed articles and gray literature, and a search engine (Google) was used to identify news articles. Four web-based searches were performed between August 2021 and September 2023 in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French to capture results from all countries within the jaguar's range. Of 422 publications related to HJC, 192 met the inclusion criteria. Selected publications included 89 peer-reviewed articles, 29 gray literature publications, and 74 news articles published between 1985 and 2023. Most research was conducted in Brazil and Mexico, used survey or interview methodology, and focused on characterizing conflict and assessing local communities' perceptions of and attitudes toward jaguars. We identified four major themes and one subtheme: (1) perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors, (1.1) jaguar killings, (2) attacks on domestic animals, (3) attacks on humans, and (4) conflict management. While literature related to HJC is extensive, several important gaps remain in (1) management assessment, (2) policy enforcement, (3) interdisciplinary research, (4) inclusion of a wider range of stakeholders, and (5) research in countries that harbor a large proportion of the world's jaguars.

The Asian Songbird Crisis—the recognition that trade is the major threat to the conservation of Asian songbirds—has hitherto largely focused on species valued for their singing abilities and those that enter into songbird competitions. To increase the repertoire and variability in the songs of these competition species, competitors use so-called master birds. These are caged near competition birds to train them through vocal mimicry. Here, we focus on one such master bird, the crested jayshrike Platylophus galericulatus. Recognizing the negative effect trade has had on wild populations, the Indonesian government added this species to its list of protected species in 2018. We used data from 21 bird markets surveyed between 2011–2018 (119 surveys) and 2018–2025 (105 surveys) to assess whether this legal protection was effective. We recorded crested jayshrikes openly offered for sale, with most surveys documenting one or two individuals. We found a strong contrast between the brown crested jayshrike P. g. coronatus from Borneo and Sumatra and the Javan crested jayshrike P. g. galericulatus. The former was favored because of its superior singing abilities and more varied, piercing song. Almost three-quarters of individuals traded were brown crested jayshrikes, and they commanded significantly higher prices. Overall, remarkably little change was detected over the 15-year period, and legal protection appears to have had limited effect. We found no significant change in the number of markets offering the species (16 vs. 15), in market-level abundance trends (10 decreases, 5 no change, 6 increases), in temporal patterns, or in prices (brown: US$103 vs. US$110; Javan: US$57 vs. US$41 at the start and end of the study, respectively). The mean abundance decline slightly (1.6 vs. 1.3 birds per survey). Although crested jayshrikes themselves do not enter singing competitions, they are an integral part of the competitive songbird industry as master birds, with thousands caught illegally every year. As a result, they face a risk of extinction driven indirectly by the demand for increasingly complex songs in competing species. These secondary extinctions highlight the need to rethink how best to manage, and where appropriate curb, trade in wild songbirds across Asia.

This study examines the role of nature education in advancing conservation and sustainability in China between 2014 and 2023. Drawing on national survey reports and historical–comparative methods, it analyses the dynamics of public demand, institutional supply, and practitioner capacity. Findings reveal that public demand is strong, diversified, and rising, while supply remains fragile, regionally uneven, and constrained by financial instability and talent turnover. Applying public goods theory, the study identifies a structural supply–demand imbalance that limits the sector's contribution to conservation goals. To address this mismatch, four strategies are proposed: redistributing resources to underserved regions, tailoring curricula to diverse social groups, strengthening practitioner development, and establishing hybrid funding and governance mechanisms. Aligning supply more effectively with demand is critical not only for the sustainable development of nature education but also for enhancing its contribution to conservation governance in China.

Mixed-species foraging flocks (MSFs) are widely regarded as resilient communities in response to global habitat change. Sri Lanka is a tropical region well-known for its extensive body of research on MSFs and its highly diverse MSF assemblages, especially in lowland rainforests. Identifying MSFs in high-elevation ranges is increasingly important as climate change drives species to shift toward higher elevations. This study examined MSFs across three elevation gradients (high, mid, and low) along the same stretch of the northern flank of the Knuckles Mountain Range, specifically in Riverstan (high), upper Pitawala (mid), and the Bellan-Ela area (low). Using a line transect method, we observed 40 MSFs at each elevation and estimated foraging heights of each species and their abundance within observed MSFs. To compare MSF participants, we used interpolation and extrapolation (iNEXT) four-step analyses to assess taxonomic diversity. The functional diversity of MSF participants was measured using functional richness, functional divergence, functional evenness, functional dispersion, and Rao's quadratic entropy. Additionally, we compared the foraging heights of species across elevations. Our results revealed significant differences in taxonomic diversity among MSF participants along the elevational gradient. High elevations had lower taxonomic diversity, while low elevations had the highest diversity. Mid- and low-elevation assemblages were similar in Simpson diversity, though both exceeded high-elevation assemblages. However, functional diversity remained conserved across all elevational levels. Thirteen species demonstrated flexibility in changing their foraging heights at different elevations. This flexibility may be a strong indicator of the adaptability of MSF species when shifting habitats, suggesting that MSFs may serve as refuges that increase foraging efficiency during elevational shifts. Nonetheless, only three endemic species showed foraging-height flexibility, while 12 exhibited aversion to changing their adapted niche. These findings highlight the importance of studying highland MSFs to better understand their ecology and implement targeted conservation strategies.

Understanding the distribution patterns of less charismatic species that co-occur with a charismatic umbrella species is critical for ecosystem protection. However, conservation efforts often overlook non-charismatic taxa, especially the distributions of multiple cooccurring species. Here, we use an assemblage-level approach to identify key conservation areas for a functionally important and abundant group of Galliformes occurring at high elevations in the Indian Himalayas. We address three main questions: (1) What factors influence Galliformes species distribution patterns? (2) Where are the specific regions of high species richness and high endemism in these landscapes? and (3) To what extent do these regions overlap with the current network of protected areas? We conducted extensive camera-trapping surveys covering 26,000 km² of high-altitude habitat. We found that vegetation cover and temperature seasonality were the most important predictors of Galliformes species distributions. Regions of high Galliformes species richness and endemism had low overlap with the protected area network (12.5% and 8.8%, respectively). We also found that the transition zone between the Greater and Trans-Himalaya is particularly important for conserving the Phasianidae assemblage inhabiting snow leopardlandscapes. Our study has global significance as we bring attention to the value of assessing assemblagelevel patterns for functionally significant taxa that occur largely outside the protected area networks designed primarily for umbrella species conservation.

Urbanization and the introduction of plant species can alter food source dynamics and affect plant–animal interactions; thus, wildlife persistence in novel ecosystems depends on behavioral plasticity. Changes in food availability can be particularly relevant in temperate forests, where seasonal resource depletion represents a major challenge to resident animals. Here, we aim to understand how these environmental challenges affect habitat and food use by the southernmost parrot, the Austral parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus), which lives in forests from southern South America. For this, we (1) describe seasonal foraging dynamics and (2) evaluate the use and selection of food plants. In a gradient of urbanization in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, we surveyed foraging parakeets, and documented plant resource availability and phenology throughout the year. Parakeets consumed three times as many introduced as native plant species in urban environments, mostly during winter, when native food availability is scarce. Whereas the opposite pattern occurred in natural areas. Resource use and selection varied with environment and sampling scale, including the selection of native species in urban areas and introduced species in natural environments. By revealing broad patterns of plant–animal interactions across contrasting environments, we illustrate how urbanization reshapes habitat and resource use in a behaviorally plastic species. We also provide phenological data relevant to a range of co-occurring species. Our findings underscore the trade-offs associated with urbanization for wildlife. We highlight the need to promote native vegetation to avoid introduced species potential spread into natural ecosystems, and to comprehensively assess the ecological role that introduced plant species are playing in avian nutrition and urban ecosystem functioning.

Invasive species can impact human populations beyond ecological effects, particularly in urban environments. The Johnstone's whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei), native to the Lesser Antilles, has established in urban gardens in the Caribbean and northern South America. Its loud and persistent nocturnal calls are a source of noise pollution that may affect human health and well-being. In this study, we conducted a preliminary assessment of noise-related impacts in Cali, Colombia, a major urban center where whistling frogs are present. Our methods included (1) night-time vehicle surveys to estimate property occupancy rates along city streets, (2) sampling in urban gardens to estimate their density, and (3) an online survey (n = 330) to gauge residents' perceptions of the whistling frog's calls and potential health effects. Results indicate that whistling frogs in Cali occupy approximately 25% of surveyed properties, with over 50% probability of occupancy in areas larger than 0.1 ha. Densities varied with garden vegetation, ranging from 8 to 29 individuals per 10 m², exceeding those reported from natural sites within the species' native range. Survey responses revealed divergent perceptions and health outcomes associated with whistling frog calls: 42% of respondents, mostlyyounger adults (18–34 years), reported positive perceptions linked to nature connection and relaxation. Conversely, 19% reported annoyance driven by irritability, stress, and difficulty sleeping, suggesting a dual burden on mental health and sleep disturbance. Older adults (>55 years) and those with pre-existing sleep disorders showed greater vulnerability. The remaining 39% expressed neutral perceptions, although some individuals in this group also reported negative impacts. Overall, our findings provide one of the first empirical assessments revealing potentially widespread but overlooked public health impacts caused by the noise of an invasive species, warranting further public health investigation.

Illegal demand for tiger product-based medicine remains one of several key drivers contributing to the endangered status of tigers. In this study we investigate the use of tiger bone glue (TBG), which is used to treat a variety of ailments. Our objective was to understand how much of a threat TBG consumption might be in Vietnam, with the aim of using this information to inform conservation management efforts. We used a semi-structured questionnaire and found that the use of TBG is a sensitive topic, probably due to its known illegality. Using the nominative technique, we found the estimated use of TBG within the last 12 months to be relatively low, at 6.9%. A higher level of use of Western medicine decreased the probability an individual had ever used TBG. From the qualitative results, we found a stated motivation of taking TBG to improve health, and according to the suggestion of one's social group. We suggest efforts to reduce TBG use focus on reducing the acceptability of TBG as a medicine, and encouraging non-animal-based medicinal alternatives. We also suggest the Government of Vietnam should continue its efforts to decrease accessibility to TBG by shutting down tiger farms. Both of these strategies should improve global practitioners' ability to safeguard wild populations.

Degraded tropical forests, defined here as logged, fragmented, and edge forests, constitute most of the remaining natural areas in Southeast Asia, potentially contributing to megafauna declines and extirpations. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a megafauna species native to Southeast Asian forests and is generally considered a forest specialist, and thus may be at risk from widespread forest degradation. To clarify the sun bear's responses to forest degradation, we assessed landscape- and local-level occurrence and diel activity across 38 landscapes throughout its range. First, we assess among-landscape variation in sun bear detections by comparing detection records from 185 camera studies. Second, we assess within-landscape variation in abundance using 19 new camera surveys in eight landscapes and Royle–Nichols hierarchical modelling to account for imperfect detectability. Finally, we assessed diel activity in intact versus degraded forests. Across the region (among landscapes), sun bear detections were higher in larger forests, but unexpectedly also in forests that neighbour humans. Within landscapes (i.e., local-scale), there were no significant responses to forest degradation but sun bears avoided oil palm plantations and had positive associations with elevation and humans. The diel activity analysis showed that sun bears are predominantly crepuscular and do not shift their activity patterns in degraded forests or near humans. These findings challenge prior work suggesting sun bears are specialists and suggest they are more tolerant of humans and forest degradation than previously realised. The sun bear's adaptability may be traced to its being a habitat generalist and omnivore, rather than to temporal partitioning to avoid humans. Our multi-scale synthesis suggests that, where hunting is low, degraded forests contribute to sun bear conservation.

Understanding the genetic structure of tree populations is crucial for forest conservation and management. This study investigates Pometia pinnata, an ecologically significant dominant tree species in Xishuangbanna, China. We hypothesized that historical colonization patterns and complex topography have shaped the genetic structure of the current population, with species diversity and density acting as barriers to gene flow. We sampled 988 P. pinnata individuals across a topographically complex 20 ha plot with varying elevations (821.4–1043 m a.s.l.). Using nine microsatellite loci, we genotyped individuals and categorized them into life stages based on diameter at breast height classes: Adult, Sapling I, Sapling II, and Seedlings. We excluded two microsatellites that deviated from the Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium and analyzed the genetic structure, parentage/offspring relationships, demographic history, and associations with ecological characteristics, such as species diversity, species density, and topography. The demographic history indicated that adults in the valley are a potential source for the entire population, as confirmed by bottleneck events observed during early restoration. Despite this, a panmictic structure and wide gene flow were detected, suggesting multiple progeny sources. Inbreeding was observed to increase in seedlings. Species diversity and density showed a positive correlation with genetic distance in adults, while topographic features influenced genetic structure differently across life stages. The genetic landscape of P. pinnata reflects a complex interplay of ecological and historical factors rather than a single barrier to gene flow. Forest conservation strategies should focus on maintaining landscape-level gene flow to preserve genetic diversity, ensuring the long-term adaptive potential of forest populations, and mitigating the impacts of habitat loss due to anthropogenic activity.

Traded plants, including traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) species, contribute substantially to human health and economic activity but are increasingly threatened by human pressures and climate change in the Anthropocene. However, many species lack formal extinction risk assessments (i.e., Data Deficient (DD) or Not Evaluated (NE)), making strategic conservation planning challenging. We compiled a database of 11 correlates for 580 TCM plant species recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020) and built random forest models to determine the most significant drivers of threats to TCM plants. We then applied the trait-based model to predict the extinction risk of unassessed medicinal plant species. Species occurring in fewer provinces, with narrower elevational ranges, shorter stature, monocot growth form, and harvested parts other than fruits or seeds were associated with higher extinction risks. Among 95 unassessed species (DD or NE), 16 species (17%) were predicted to be threatened. Spatial mapping analysis revealed emerging threat hotspots in provinces such as Guangxi and Guangdong. Our trait-based predictive models successfully identified key drivers of extinction risk and highlighted potentially threatened medicinal plant species, revealing protection gaps and geographic concentrations of risk. For currently and potentially threatened TCM plants, we recommend urgent conservation action and targeted management interventions.

Human population growth and associated land-use changes, such as landscape fragmentation and agricultural expansion, increasingly threaten biodiversity by affecting ecosystem functioning and species persistence. Wildlife adapt their behavior in response to both the direct and indirect impacts of human activities. We examined the effects of landscape-scale human influence on wildlife corridor use in the Chobe District, Botswana. Using motion-activated camera traps, we assessed how 10 African mammal species used wildlife corridors within urban and agricultural landscapes. Specifically, we quantified (i) temporal overlap patterns between wildlife and humans across the two landscape types, and (ii) the probability of daily wildlife presence within the corridors. Seven species showed differences in temporal use overlap with humans between landscapes. Baboons, hyenas, impala, kudu, waterbuck, and sable antelope exhibited greater temporal overlap with people in agricultural corridors, whereas elephants showed reduced overlap in these areas. We also found that the daily probability of corridor use varied across species: elephants were more likely to be found in agricultural corridors, while warthogs and waterbuck were more likely to occur in urban corridors. These results provide evidence that wildlife species respond differently to human pressures, highlighting the importance of species-specific approaches in both current and future conservation and land-use planning strategies.