As the list of imperiled species has expanded from dozens to legions it is painfully clear that the center of the conservation crisis has shifted. The simple fact is that the line of patients forming outside the emergency room door has lengthened at a rate that far exceeds the rate of discharge. Although critical patients must be treated, the current and much broader crisis is outside the emergency room door where an epidemic rages. Conservation scientists must confront this epidemic by developing proactive programs that reduce the risks of populations reaching dangerous levels. In a scenario with limited resources, prevention is the most viable strategy for sustainable conservation.
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