Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
The minimum land area requiring conservation attention to safeguard biodiversity
Author(s)
Allan James R.; Possingham Hugh P.; Atkinson Scott C.; Waldron Anthony; Di Marco Moreno; Butchart Stuart H. M.; Adams Vanessa M.; Kissling W. Daniel; Worsdell Thomas; Sandbrook Chris; Gibbon Gwili; Kumar Kundan; Mehta Piyush; Maron Martine; Williams Brooke A.; Jones Kendall R.; Wintle Brendan A.; Reside April E.; Watson James E. M.
Published
2022
Publisher
Science
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl9127
Abstract
Ambitious conservation efforts are needed to stop the global biodiversity crisis. In this study, we estimate the minimum land area to secure important biodiversity areas, ecologically intact areas, and optimal locations for representation of species ranges and ecoregions. We discover that at least 64 million square kilometers (44% of terrestrial area) would require conservation attention (ranging from protected areas to land-use policies) to meet this goal. More than 1.8 billion people live on these lands, so responses that promote autonomy, self-determination, equity, and sustainable management for safeguarding biodiversity are essential. Spatially explicit land-use scenarios suggest that 1.3 million square kilometers of this land is at risk of being converted for intensive human land uses by 2030, which requires immediate attention. However, a sevenfold difference exists between the amount of habitat converted in optimistic and pessimistic land-use scenarios, highlighting an opportunity to avert this crisis. Appropriate targets in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to encourage conservation of the identified land would contribute substantially to safeguarding biodiversity.
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB35645