The significant sensitivity of these materials to physical, chemical and mechanical factors motivate conservators to elaborate new and safe methods for their conservation, and to ensure stable storage conditions.
Expensive leather belts and handbags, it seems, are doing more for their conservation than any trade ban ever could.
The findings of this latest study will need to be carefully evaluated, as it could - as the authors note - have considerable implications for their conservation.
Who should pay for their conservation?International non-governmental conservation organisations have for years provided a lifeline to protected areas in west-central Africa.
"When I started, most people were scared of sharks and didn't care much whether they survived or not," so the show of support for their conservation is encouraging, she said.
If the construction of the Ilısu hydroelectric dam continues as foreseen, 80% of Hasankeyf's historic monuments will be flooded within the next decade, yet there is no internationally recognised scheme for their conservation, preservation or relocation.
In addition to all the other good reasons for their conservation, there is a compelling economic one too," said Dr Robin Naidoo, the paper's lead author and senior conservation wildlife scientist at WWF.
Western zoos poured millions of dollars into panda displays – pandas cost $1m a year to borrow from China – with scant thought for their conservation, while China's domestic panda work was stultified by bureaucracy and paranoia.
With over 150,000 9cm pots of these plants currently in production in the Netherlands alone, it seems crazy that they are so very threatened in the wild and that money for their conservation is so very short.
Additionally, they had more social support for their conservation (non-use value).
This study demonstrates a method for modelling species habitats and selecting reserves for their conservation.
