State of the Apes

The world's primates are among the most endangered of all tropical species. All great ape species – gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo and orangutan – are classified as either Endangered or Critically Endangered. Furthermore, nearly all gibbon species are threatened with extinction. Whilst linkages between ape conservation and economic development, ethics and wider environmental processes have been acknowledged, more needs to be done to integrate biodiversity conservation within broader economic, social and environmental communities if those connections are to be fully realized and addressed.

Intended for a broad range of policy makers, industry experts and decision makers, academics, researchers, and NGOs, the State of the Apes series will look at the threats to these animals and their habitats within the broader context of economic and community development. Each publication presents a different theme, providing an overview of how these factors interrelate and affect the current and future status of apes, with robust statistics, welfare indicators, official and various other reports providing an objective and rigorous analysis of relevant issues.

Review of the series:
"Truly groundbreaking [...] Through keen analysis and vivid research, the [State of the Apes] series considers the survival of the world's ape species in light of both long-standing and newly emerging threats, such as mineral extraction, energy exploration, agricultural expansion and land conversion – forces that will continue to shape not only the future of wild apes, but also of all remaining blocks of wild habitat and the extraordinary biodiversity they contain. By examining the complexity of development forces across range states, [this series] offers an informed and realistic assessment of the prospects for ape conservation, as well as outlining the potential of policies that may spell the difference between destruction and survival of these extraordinary beings."
– Matthew V. Cassetta, US Department of State