It turns out that when it comes to conserving nature, having an economic incentive certainly doesn't hurt.

Recently, research led by a group of biologists revealed that a number of the highest-performing countries of wildlife conversation are countries that are dependent on nature-tourism.

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According to the scientists' report that was published in Global Ecology and Conservation, Botswana was No.1 in the world in its preservation of wildlife, along with a number of countries in central, eastern, and southern Africa. Scandinavian countries like Norway also made the top ten list.

Countries that performed less well in its protection of "megafauna" or terrestrial mammals span several countries in northern Africa, the Middle East, and somewhat surprisingly, Australia.

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[The Economist]