A watershed review into whether wildlife conservation projects around the world actually work has found success in two-thirds of cases. However, conservationists such as wildlife presenter Chris Packham have warned that much more work is needed in order to prevent mass extinctions.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1422872401/1718027913/articles/YSgz4OGx61718047123099/7057021474.jpg]
The review, the first of its kind, found that global conservation projects had an overall positive impact on biodiversity: the measure of how much variety in living species there is in a given area. However, the analysis also found that conservation actions will need to be vastly scaled up if we truly want to make a difference in tackling the biodiversity crisis.
"It's important to celebrate success," Packham told BBC Science Focus. "But at the same time, one of the reasons I would argue we haven't done enough is that we've been too timid. We've been asking politely rather than demanding forthrightly. Now we're running out of time." The study, published in the journal Science, involved scientists from universities and institutions around the world, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). To evaluate the overall impact of conservation work, they considered 186 conservation projects, from local to continental scales, with a measurable impact. They collected and standardised data on biodiversity levels before and after the projects.
The most successful conservation, they found, targeted species and ecosystems. These efforts included projects like invasive species control, reducing habitat loss and restoring habitats, protecting areas and managing ecosy...
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1422872401/1718027913/articles/YSgz4OGx61718047123099/7057021474.jpg]
The review, the first of its kind, found that global conservation projects had an overall positive impact on biodiversity: the measure of how much variety in living species there is in a given area. However, the analysis also found that conservation actions will need to be vastly scaled up if we truly want to make a difference in tackling the biodiversity crisis.
"It's important to celebrate success," Packham told BBC Science Focus. "But at the same time, one of the reasons I would argue we haven't done enough is that we've been too timid. We've been asking politely rather than demanding forthrightly. Now we're running out of time." The study, published in the journal Science, involved scientists from universities and institutions around the world, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). To evaluate the overall impact of conservation work, they considered 186 conservation projects, from local to continental scales, with a measurable impact. They collected and standardised data on biodiversity levels before and after the projects.
The most successful conservation, they found, targeted species and ecosystems. These efforts included projects like invasive species control, reducing habitat loss and restoring habitats, protecting areas and managing ecosy...
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BBC Science Focus (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2024