A gene pool approach to international wildlife law

Abstract

The current approach to wildlife' conservation law is anthropocentric and ad hoc in the manner in which it deals with species and groups of species. It lacks a sound ecological foundation and would benefit from the establishment of a new approach
based on ecology and genetics. Before considering the merits of this new approach it is useflul to examine the historical development of wildlife law, the degree of protection the international community is prepared to give to wildlife and the extent to which current approaches have been successful.