Protecting just 1.2% of Earth’s land could save most-threatened species, says study

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses a new study that found protecting just 1.2% of the Earth's surface would be enough to prevent the extinction of the world's most threatened species. The study identified 16,825 priority sites for conservation to prevent imminent extinctions of animals and plants found nowhere else. The article also discusses the need for more than just expanding protected areas to prevent biodiversity loss and maintain crucial ecosystems.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Protecting 1.2% of the Earth's Surface

1. What did the new study find about protecting just 1.2% of the Earth's surface?

• The study found that targeting the expansion of protected areas on land would be enough to prevent the loss of thousands of the most threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and plants.

2. What are the key sites identified for urgent protection?

• The researchers identified 16,825 sites that should be prioritized for conservation in the next five years to prevent imminent extinctions of animals and plants found nowhere else.
• These sites are primarily located in the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar and Colombia.

3. What proportion of the identified sites are near existing protected areas?

• 38% of the identified sites are within 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of an existing protected area, indicating they could be potential "quick wins" for conservation.

4. How much would it cost to protect the key sites identified?

• Protecting the key sites would cost $29 billion to $46 billion over the next five years, and cover 1.6 million square km.

[02] Gaps in Current Conservation Efforts

1. What did the study find about how governments are currently protecting the most threatened species?

• The study found that governments were often failing to safeguard the most biodiverse areas that were most urgently in need of protection.
• The authors estimated that just 7% of sites in new protected areas between 2018 and 2023 were home to the most threatened species.

2. What does the lead author say about the need for better conservation efforts?

• The lead author, Dr. Eric Dinerstein, said "it's almost as if countries are using a reverse-selection algorithm and picking the non-rare sites to add to the global areas under protection."
• He stated that "the call to arms of this paper is that we have to be doing a much better job in the next five years and it is doable."

3. What does the article say is needed beyond just expanding protected areas?

• The article states that more than just expanding protected areas is needed to prevent the destruction of biodiversity and maintain crucial ecosystems for human societies.
• In 2020, the researchers identified half of the Earth's land surface that, if protected, would reverse biodiversity loss and enhance natural carbon removal.