A watershed review to see 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 much more work is needed to prevent mass extinctions.
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 want to actually make a difference in tackling the biodiversity crisis.
"It is 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 journal Science, involved scientists from universities and institutions around the world, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
undefined
To evaluate the overall impact of conservation work, the team considered over 1,400 studies spanning over a century, at scales of local to continental conservation across the world. They then narrowed this down to only those which could measure changes from before to after the conservation actions.
For the remaining 186 studies, the team standardised their biodiversity measurements, collecting data on biodiversity levels before and after the action.
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 ecosystems sustainably.
Here, ‘success’ meant either improving biodiversity or at least slowing down its decline. In some cases, conservation even prevented species extinctions.
The scientists say this is the first time “since conservation action started over a century ago” that a full analysis of the impact of conservation using multiple metrics has been conducted.
Many international conservation goals have yet to be met, but the new study argues this is because researchers haven’t previously understood what the impact of wildlife conservation may be. Knowing whether current conservation methods are successful could help to create more accurate targets.
While celebrations for individual species and local areas may be in order, the researchers say the scale of conservation must be significantly increased, “particularly beyond the traditional conservation sector,” if we’re going to reverse the global biodiversity crisis. Threats to species have been caused by human-induced climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution.
"Whilst we've been charting these catastrophic declines, we also have been putting together this toolkit for recovery,” Packham said. “But as the paper very poignantly and pertinently points out, we simply haven't been doing it rapidly and broadly enough. That's the bottom line."
He added: "There is plenty of hope, but there's no urgency. That's the problem. Let's get on with it.”
Conservation communicator Sophie Pavelle said the review is “both heartening and concerning” as a “narrative that is already known across the conservation sector” – but one that misses a crucial step.
“Yes, expansion of conservation measures to landscape-scale will restore crucial ecosystem resilience, but efforts must also be made to link up those practices with mobilising an informed, energised, and voting public.”
About our experts
Chris Packham is a conservationist and wildlife presenter. His television shows include the BBC nature series Springwatch, Earth, and Asperger’s and Me. Listen to Chris Packham on Instant Genius: Chris Packham wants you to be a scientist – and then forget the science.
Sophie Pavelle is a science communicator. Her book Forget Me Not: Finding the Forgotten Species of Climate-change Britain tracks the state of the UK’s wildlife and the conservation efforts to protect it.
Read more: