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The Positive Impact of Conservation Action

Langhammer, Penny, Bull, Joseph W., Bicknell, Jake E., Oakley, Joseph L., Brown, Mary H., Bruford, Michael W., Butchart, Stuart H.M., Carr, Jamie A., Church, Don, Cooney, Rosie, and others. (2024) The Positive Impact of Conservation Action. Science, 384 (6694). pp. 453-458. ISSN 0036-8075. E-ISSN 1095-9203. (doi:10.1126/science.adj6598) (KAR id:105632)

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Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adj6598

Abstract

Governments recently adopted new global targets to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. It is therefore crucial to understand the outcomes of conservation actions. We conducted a global meta-analysis of 186 studies (including 665 trials) that measured biodiversity over time and compared outcomes under conservation action with a suitable counterfactual of no action. We find that in two-thirds of cases, conservation either improved the state of biodiversity or at least slowed declines. Specifically, we find that interventions targeted at species and ecosystems, such as invasive species control, habitat loss reduction and restoration, protected areas, and sustainable management, are highly effective and have large effect sizes. This provides the strongest evidence to date that conservation actions are successful but require transformational scaling up to meet global targets.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1126/science.adj6598
Uncontrolled keywords: Animals, Biodiversity, Introduced Species, Extinction, Biological, Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecosystem
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Q Science
Q Science > QH Natural history
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Jake Bicknell
Date Deposited: 16 Apr 2024 10:01 UTC
Last Modified: 09 May 2024 11:37 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/105632 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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