New study finds 44% of world’s land surface needs increased protection, with 1m wildlife species at risk of extinction
Almost half the planet’s land surface needs extra conservation protection if the biodiversity crisis is to be halted, a major new study has found.
Dr James Allan, who led the new research at the University of Amsterdam, says the study shows the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, as well as the opportunity to act. In 2019, a UN-backed report said about 1m species were at risk of extinction in the coming decades, as biodiversity was being lost at an unprecedented and alarming rate.The new analysis found that 44% of the world’s land surface needed increased protection – whether through measures such as improving wildfire management, development planning or increasing the size of formally protected national parks.
“That might be biodiversity-positive agriculture or carbon sequestration … everything needs to be on the table.