A watershed review aimed at understanding whether wildlife conservation programs around the world are actually effective has found that two-thirds of cases are successful. However, conservationists such as wildlife presenter Chris Packham warn that more needs to be done to prevent mass extinctions.
The review, the first of its kind, found that global conservation programs have had an overall positive impact on biodiversity: a measure of the diversity of living species within a given area. However, the analysis also found that if we want to make a real difference in tackling the biodiversity crisis, we need to significantly scale up conservation action.
“It’s important to celebrate success,” Packham said. BBC Science Focus. But at the same time, I think one of the reasons we’re not doing enough is that we’re too timid. We have always asked politely rather than asked outright. Now we don’t have much time.
The research is published in the journal scienceincluding scientists from universities and institutions around the world, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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To assess the overall impact of conservation efforts, the team considered more than 1,400 studies spanning more than a century, covering local to continental conservation scales around the world. They then narrowed it down to only measuring changes before and after conservation actions.
For the remaining 186 studies, the team standardized biodiversity measurements, collecting data on biodiversity levels before and after action.
They found that the most successful conservation was species and ecosystem-specific. These efforts include projects such as invasive species control, habitat loss reduction and habitat restoration, protected areas, and sustainable management of ecosystems.
Here, success means either improving biodiversity or at least slowing its decline. In some cases, conservation has even prevented species extinction.
Scientists say this is the first comprehensive analysis of conservation impacts using multiple indicators since conservation efforts began more than a century ago.
Many international conservation goals have yet to be met, but new research suggests that’s because researchers haven’t previously understood the impact wildlife conservation can have. Understanding the success of current conservation methods can help develop more accurate targets.
While celebrations of individual species and local areas may be justified, researchers say a significant increase in conservation, especially beyond the traditional conservation sector, is necessary if the global biodiversity crisis is to be reversed. Human-caused climate change, habitat destruction and pollution threaten species.
“While we’ve been charting these catastrophic declines, we’ve also been putting together this recovery toolkit,” Packham said. “But as the paper makes very poignantly and pertinently, we’re simply not doing it fast enough and broadly enough. .
He added: “There’s a lot of hope, but there’s no urgency. That’s the problem. Let’s get on with it.”
protect communicators Sophie Pavel The review is both encouraging and worrying because it is a narrative well known within the conservation sector, but it misses a crucial step.
Yes, scaling conservation practices to the landscape scale will restore important ecosystem resilience, but efforts must also be made to link these practices to the mobilization of an informed, energized, and voting public.
About our experts
Chris Packham is a conservationist and wildlife presenter.His television credits include the BBC nature series spring watcher, Earthand Asperger’s and me.Listen to Chris Packham speak instant genius: Chris Packham wants you to become a scientist and then forget about science.
Sophie Pavel is a science communicator.her book Forget-me-not: In search of Britain’s forgotten species in climate change Track the status of Britain’s wildlife and its conservation efforts.
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