We might be able to save thousands of lives if we take action based on some findings by Frank and Sudarshan 2024, identifying a 4% increase in all-cause mortality (100k/year). This was caused by the collapse of the vulture population in India. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal also suffered vulture population crashes. Vulture populations in Africa may also be at risk. This project searches for undiscovered highly cost-effective health intervention for human-health declines following diclofenac-caused vulture crashes.
Assess the excess deaths found in the original report by Frank and Sudarshan.
Assess the causes and likelihood of a repeat crisis.
Identify and explore the best interventions against disease outbreaks from lost carcass disposal.
Generate a Coefficient Giving style BOTEC calculation of the best intervention identified
It will fund my research time (~40 hours) into the cost effectiveness of various interventions.
I'm the solo team member. So far I've done brief checks into nutrient cycling, water purification, disease control, and others to see if they were a) contingent on biodiversity b) replaceable with artificial systems. Other examples of my research here and here. Critique of this report will be provided by Jackson Wagner.
This research may determine there are no cost effective interventions available. This results in no further action.
This is a one-off short research proposal. None.
Tandena Wagner
16 days agoNo major changes from the original proposal.
Research expanded into Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and various parts of Africa especially Ethiopia and Guinea Bissau. Research expanded to other causes of vulture death (carbamate poisoning) and a potential genetic fix.
Report
BOTECs
A follow up post is planned for substack and the EA forum.
~40 hours of research and report writing
Falcon Fund
20 days agoTandena, I think this is great work. Thank you for doing it. I'm glad my offer to pay enticed you to do this. Post this on the EA forum?
Tandena Wagner
20 days ago@MarcusAbramovitch Here's the "vulture carcass disposal x human health" research proposal