Despite the accelerated creation of protected areas and other measures to combat biodiversity loss, there is limited documentation on how well various conservation interventions work in protecting global biodiversity. In a landmark new study, researchers found that conservation interventions are notably insufficient or absent for 58% of the world’s threatened terrestrial species.
The study was partially supported by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation in furtherance of the Half-Earth Project and co-authored by the Lead PI of the Foundation’s Half-Earth Project Map, Walter Jetz, Jack and Laura Dangermond Scientific Chair of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation; Alexander Killion, Managing Director of the Half-Earth Project Map and Center for Biodiversity and Global Change at Yale University; and Danyan Leng, post graduate associate at the Center for Biodiversity and Global Change at Yale University.
Researchers utilized data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and other global databases to evaluate conservation interventions for all 5,963 species threatened by habitat loss, overexploitation for international trade, or invasive species.
Among the conservation shortcomings that the study identified, a particularly glaring disparity was evident in the biodiversity outcomes of protected areas. Though 76% of species threatened by overexploitation for international trade are subjects of international trade controls, only 9% of species threatened by habitat loss have sufficient representation of their habitat in protected areas to meet target thresholds.
While area-based conservation is important, prioritized protection of a network of habitats that safeguard species is particularly critical to maximize global biodiversity outcomes. The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s Half-Earth Project is committed to mapping species-level data to best inform conservation action and uses the Species Protection Index (SPI) and Species Protection Score (SPS) indicators to measure success and ensure that no species is left behind.
“Given we found that 58% of threatened terrestrial species lack meaningful habitat protection, we highlight the importance of mapping species distributions and current conservation efforts,” Killion said. “The Species Protection Index measures how well we are meeting species-specific conservation targets anywhere in the world and can be a useful tool for effective conservation planning.”
Such an approach is important to consider as the conservation world prepares for COP16—the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference—in Cali, Colombia. With resource mobilization and technical cooperation headlining discussions, the need for better targeted conservation activities to safeguard biodiversity cannot be overstated.
The Foundation congratulates Jetz, Killion, Leng, Durham University, Princeton University, and the other co-authors for their contributions to this remarkable study.
About the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s mission is to reimagine the way we care for our planet. The Foundation’s major initiative, the Half-Earth Project, is working to inspire informed collective action to save the biosphere. Visit www.eowilsonfoundation.org to learn more.
Media Contacts:
E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
Niquole Esters
Vice President of Strategic Engagement
nesters@eowilsonfoundation.org
(510) 631-7571
