Down to Earth

'SCIENCE' PROVES THAT CONSERVATION WORKS

One would like to think that conservation efforts are never wasted, especially as, according to latest figures from the IUCN, 44,000 species are documented as being at risk of extinction, including 41% of amphibians, 26% of mammals and 12% of birds. But now a new first-of-its-kind study, published in the journal 'Science' definitively shows that conservation actions globally are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

More than a century's worth of conservation projects and outcomes targeting biodiversity around the world were evaluated by scientists from dozens of research institutes and in two-thirds of the 665 cases, conservation strategies had a positive effect. From intervention to stop predators on Florida's islands - leading to a substantial improvement in nesting success by Loggerhead Turtles, and breeding Terns, to 74% lower deforestation in logging concessions under a Forest Management plan in the Congo Basin, the findings back up the importance of all work to protect threatened animals and plants. The study also found a correlation suggesting that conservation is becoming more effective over time, as strategies and techniques improve.

However, the authors acknowledged that these conservation efforts need scaling up, especially if we're to achieve ambitious biodiversity targets by 2030 and that we also need to address the drivers of biodiversity loss, like unsustainable consumption and production.

One of the co-authors and Chief Scientist at BirdLife International, Stuart Butchart said:-

"Recognising that the loss and degradation of nature is having consequences for societies worldwide, governments recently adopted a suite of goals and targets for biodiversity conservation. This new analysis is the best evidence to date that conservation interventions make a difference, slowing the loss of species' populations and habitats and enabling them to recover. It provides strong support for scaling up investments in nature in order to meet the commitments that countries have signed up to."

You can read the full 'Science' article HERE.