The Legal Protection of Animal Parasites in International Biodiversity Law

Abstract Approximately half of all animal species on the planet are parasites. Many of these species play important roles in ecological communities, including maintaining the balance within ecosystems by regulating host populations. Though parasite species are often neglected by ecologists and derided generally, many are threatened with extinction. Against this backdrop, this article examines the extent to which current international biodiversity law offers protection to animal parasites, and whether the protection aligns with scientific findings. Taking a diagnostic approach, this study shows that parasites are overlooked in international biodiversity law, and as such, it reports a major blind spot in conservation measures. Following from this, lines of further enquiry into parasites and (international) biodiversity law are suggested, including examining the interaction between law and (ecological) parasitology, and species bias in international biodiversity law. In addition, theoretical questions that arise when considering the legal protection of parasites in biodiversity law are also considered.