WiserEarth Help Desk

Consumptive use means that the resource is removed from the system or destroyed - multiple people cannot use the same resource, as they could under Human Intrusions and Disturbance. Threats in the class can affect both target species (harvest of desired trees or fish species) as well as 'collateral damage' to non-target species (trees damaged by felling or fisheries bycatch) and habitats (coral reefs destroyed by trawling). Persecution/control involves harming or killing species because they are considered undesirable. Includes Hunting and Collecting Terrestrial Animals, Gathering Terrestrial Plants, Logging and Wood Harvesting, and Fishing and Harvesting Aquatic Resources as sub-categories.

This category is part of a standard classification of ‘Direct threats to biodiversity’ edited by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and in use by all major biodiversity conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Birdlife International, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund. For a detailed description of the classification please go here. To search for solutions, service providers, consultants, practitioners, and funders related to this conservation threat use the Conservation Pages.