Relationship of Economic Growth to Wildlife Conservation

Economic growth is facilitated by technological progress, which tends to expand the breadth of the human niche. Such expansion increases the competitive exclusion of most wildlife species. Production and consumption of all goods and services ultimately requires liquidation of natural capital, including habitats for wildlife. Therefore, an alternative to economic growth, such as a steady-state economy with stable human population and per capita consumption, may be necessary to ensure wildlife conservation over the long term.