Challenges and opportunities for sustainable wildlife population recovery

Abstract Although biodiversity is declining at the global scale, some species populations are recovering in recent decades, mainly because of effective conservations efforts. However, population increases of some species are sustained only briefly, and public concern over human–wildlife conflict following population recovery is also on the rise, jeopardizing the wildlife species’ long-term recovery. Questions related to the extent and sustainability of wildlife population recoveries and their impacts on human society and local ecosystems remain unanswered across many of the areas where they have occurred. These answers are vital if ongoing public support for wildlife conservation and species recovery programs is to continue. In the present article, we outline evidence, benefits, challenges, and unforeseen consequences of wildlife population recoveries globally, and highlight a series of policies and conservation practices to foster long-term wildlife population recovery.