General Lessons and Positive Trends in Large Carnivore Conservation

The goal of this special section is to aid the long-term survival of wild, free-ranging carnivores in the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. This is a goal we share with many people in government, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and business. We conclude that there is no assurance that conventional management will be successful. When considering this body of work and allied studies, it is apparent that many improvements in practice must be made to achieve wild carnivore conservation. On all the fronts analyzed in this special section, from problem-solving approaches to the legal system, current practices in large carnivore conservation in the Rocky Mountains need significant upgrading to ensure the long-term viability of large carnivores and the wildland complexes that support them. This conclusion is not meant to detract from the substantial progress made in the last 30 years; it merely points to the considerable progress we must still make.