Australian Wildlife Conservancy joins global Genetic Rescue Community

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) has joined with other global conservation leaders to provide a strong Australian perspective to the Genetic Rescue Community statement on the future of de-extinction and conservation.

Following recent initiatives to recreate extinct species through genetic engineering, global scientists and conservationist have united to develop a shared values statement on the application of biotechnology to conservation.

The Genetic Rescue Community is a growing network of biotechnologists, conservationists, legal scholars, ethicists, and others who acknowledge that there are various approaches to developing and applying biotechnologies for conservation efforts.

In the shared statement posted by not-for-profit, Revive & Restore, the group noted that: “while biotechnologies can enhance conservation practices, they are dependent upon foundational conservation science and infrastructure.”

AWC’s Chief Science Officer, Dr John Kanowski and Senior Ecologist, Dr Jennifer Pierson were both active participants in the global forum urging for recognition of Australia’s unique conservation landscape and dire extinction crisis.

“There has been a storm of controversy in the conservation sector around the science, ethics and politics of this claim of ‘de-extinction,’” Dr Kanowski said. “AWC has long been a proponent of innovative approaches to conservation and for a decade we’ve publicly advocated for the potential of gene drives and other types of ‘synthetic biology’ to control invasive species.”

“The key issue we are all agreed on is that biotechnology is not a substitute for conservation of the natural world, rather it is a tool to help achieve conservation goals. Protection of species and their habitats remains a central focus of the global conservation science community,” Kanowski said.

The global Genetic Rescue Community noted in its online statement that recent “misguided statements have been made that biotechnologies could replace existing conservation measures. This has evoked skepticism and concern from scientists, ecologists, ethicists, conservationists, and the broader public, jeopardizing the development and application of biotechnologies.”

Revive & Restore, with members of the Genetic Rescue Community, have outlined five shared values to create common ground for responsible innovation in conservation as we strive toward our shared biodiversity goals.

Biotechnologies are Not a Panacea for Conservation Problems
Laws Protecting Threatened and Endangered Species and Nature Reserves Remain Essential
Habitat Protection is Non-Negotiable
New Biotechnologies Can Play an Important Role in Conservation
This Genetic Rescue Community is Committed to Defining and Following Best Practices

The hope of this newly formed global community is that: “By embracing these principles, we can integrate cutting-edge biotechnology with established conservation practices while maintaining our fundamental commitment to protecting biodiversity and ecological health through multiple complementary approaches.”

AWC will continue to actively engage in this, and other, global conservation forums to ensure Australia’s unique biodiversity needs are considered and that we have the opportunity to also learn from leaders around the world.

Read more about AWC and its work in protecting native wildlife and the habitats in which they live: https://www.australianwildlife.org/

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a global leader in conservation, providing hope for Australia’s wildlife with a science-informed, land management partnership model that delivers high impact results. AWC is a national leader in landscape scale conservation land management, reintroductions of threatened species and the establishment of feral cat and fox-free areas. More information can be found at: www.australianwildlife.org.

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