[Animals] Conservation slowing biodiversity loss, scientists say

[Wolf.17]

 

Conservation actions are effective at reducing global biodiversity loss, according to a major study.

International researchers spent 10 years looking at measures, from hatching Chinook salmon to eradication of invasive algae.

The authors said their findings offered a "ray of light" for those working to protect threatened animals and plants.

One out of every three species monitored is currently endangered because of human activities.

In the first study of its kind, published in the journal Science, scientists from dozens of research institutes reviewed 665 trials of conservation measures, some from as far back as 1890, in different countries and oceans and across species types, and found they had had a positive effect in two out of every three of cases.

Co-author Dr Penny Langhammer, executive vice-president of environment charity Re:wild, told BBC News: "If you read the headlines about extinction these days, it would be easy to get the impression that we are failing biodiversity - but that's not really looking at the whole picture.

"This study provides the strongest evidence to date that not only does conservation improve the state of biodiversity and slow its decline, but when it works, it really works."

The success stories include:

• deforestation rates falling 74% in the Congo Basin, following the introduction of management plans
• Least Tern breeding rates doubling, because of predator management in Florida's barrier islands.

  In one out of every five cases, however, the measures had caused the targeted species to decline.

  But Dr Langhammer said: "One of the most interesting findings was that even when a conservation intervention didn't work for the species that is was intended, other species unintentionally benefited."

  Creating marine protected areas for Australian seahorses, for example, had meant more of them were eaten as their natural predators' po[CENSORED]tions had increased.

  https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68897433