This study emphasizes the need to combine spatial ecology with economic models to improve African elephant conservation and better manage the ivory trade. Many current approaches ignore how elephants move across landscapes or how poachers operate geographically. The authors argue that protecting habitat—migration corridors, ranges and connected wilderness—is just as critical as regulating trade. One-size-fits-all policies and ivory bans that don’t consider these ecological realities often backfire. A more informed strategy would include spatial data to identify high-risk poaching areas and support sustainable, incentive-based conservation tools like hunting programs, eco-tourism and compensation schemes. These approaches must be grounded in how elephants actually use their environments. Ultimately, integrating ecological knowledge with smart economic policy allows conservationists and policymakers to craft more effective, locally relevant solutions. For hunters and conservationists alike, this research reinforces the importance of habitat protection and the value of regulated, science-backed wildlife use.
