60 % of the species of terrestrial megafauna are classified as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List.
The impending tragedy is most imminent in sub-Saharan Africa and in southeast Asia, and these also are the places with median human ages under 20 (https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-09-08/these-maps-show-where-world-s-youngest-and-oldest-people-live). That is, the locations for the greatest potential for human population growth to degrade native plant communities is exactly where these iconic animals are already imperiled (https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/66/10/807/2236134/Saving-the-World-s-Terrestrial-Megafauna).
The time is now for wealthy nations to use every available tactic to improve the well-being of the citizens of these nations and provide them with incentives to preserve and restore these plant communities and rebuild the populations of their iconic animal inhabitants. Wealthy nations and international entities could provide debt forgiveness and help them build durable infrastructure. They could further help these countries by easing patent polices, dropping vaccine costs, improving prophylactic health care, helping to fund universal education through high school, and providing microcredit. Individuals across all wealthy countries could also contribute to the means to provide incentives for effective family planning and support the purchase and protection of critical lands for wildlife. Promoting eco-tourism and volunteer tourism, thus showcasing and helping preserve the biological and cultural heritage of these countries may help as well.
ORIGINS AND EXTINCTIONS 