Rocha, Armando Luís SilvaBalan, George DianVacar, Iulia Madalina2021-09-132021-09-132021-09-072021http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/34792Biomass studies from 2018 show that 96% of the mass of all mammals on Earth is composed of humans and their livestock, while all wild mammals together account for only 4%. 70% of the mass of all birds on Earth are those domesticated, mainly chickens. We are facing a biodiversity disaster, in the context of an environmental and climate emergency. Traditional sources of conservation financing through tourism, philanthropist and donor agencies cannot keep up with the needs of local communities in order to preserve the remaining wildlife. While tourism provides much needed revenues, it has in itself a quite high carbon footprint, and it is not a constant, reliable source in the case of travel restrictions associated with a pandemic. In recent years, there have been some new financing initiatives that could incentivize the corporate world to contribute to wildlife conservation such as the Lion’s Share fund and Rhino bonds, which for the time being have not delivered results at the needed scale. What we propose goes a step further. Recognizing collective “personality rights’’ to wildlife, triggering the payment of a 0.5% royalty fee on all products coming from companies that use wildlife logos, wildlife images on their products or in their advertising campaigns, would make a great contribution towards preserving those species while having a low impact on companies’ profits and on the environment. All revenues are to be collected into a worldwide fund, via subsidiary national agencies. They will be distributed following a destination principle, to the local communities most closely related to the respective wildlife species used on the product, so that locals can see a direct link between wildlife preservation and their welfare. This way, these often poor communities will not be tempted to raise herds, to cultivate land used by wildlife, to support poachers or to allow trophy hunting. Biodiversity-rich, healthy ecosystems will thus ensure that both people and wildlife can thrive.engWildlifeBiodiversity preservationPersonality rightsLocal communitiesSustainable financingBiodiversity and climate emergencymaster thesis202762998