Conservation Efforts Are Succeeding Overall at Slowing Biodiversity Loss, Global Study Confirms – EcoWatch

Conservation Efforts Are Succeeding Overall at Slowing Biodiversity Loss, Global Study Confirms  EcoWatch

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Apr 29, 2024 - 17:00 Updated: May 3, 2024 - 17:40
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Conservation Efforts Are Succeeding Overall at Slowing Biodiversity Loss, Global Study Confirms – EcoWatch

Conservation Efforts Result in Measurable Achievements for Biodiversity, Study Finds

Introduction

  1. Conservation efforts around the world have been analyzed in a first-of-its-kind study to determine their impact on biodiversity.
  2. The study, published in the journal Science, assessed 186 studies and 665 trials to measure changes in biodiversity.
  3. About two-thirds of the conservation actions studied were found to have slowed biodiversity declines or improved biodiversity.

Positive Impacts of Conservation Efforts

  • Controlling invasive species, reducing habitat loss, restoring wildlife habitats, establishing protected areas, and managing ecosystems sustainably were identified as particularly impactful conservation actions.
  • A Forest Management Plan in the Congo Basin resulted in a 74% reduction in deforestation rates.
  • Protected areas and Indigenous lands in the Brazilian part of the Amazon Rainforest experienced lower rates of deforestation and human-caused forest fires compared to unprotected areas.
  • A captive breeding and release program in Idaho improved reproductive rates of Chinook salmon and restored their natural population in the wild.

Conservation Measures and Unintended Consequences

  • In about one in every five cases, conservation efforts led to declines in the target species; however, some unintended benefits were observed for other species.

The Need for Additional Funding and Conservation Efforts

  • Global conservation efforts require additional funding.
  • A variety of conservation actions need to be implemented to address biodiversity decline.
  • The estimated cost of a global conservation program ranges from $178 billion to $524 billion per year.

Conclusion

  • Conservation actions yield significant positive impacts on biodiversity and should be seen as investments rather than payments.

About the Author

  • Paige Bennett is a writer based in Los Angeles who is passionate about sustainability.
  • She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and specializes in sustainable agriculture.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 14: Life Below Water – The article discusses conservation efforts that have led to improved nesting success rates for loggerhead turtles and least terns.
  • SDG 15: Life on Land – The article highlights various conservation actions that have resulted in wins for biodiversity, such as controlling invasive species, reducing habitat loss, restoring wildlife habitats, establishing protected areas, and managing ecosystems sustainably.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
  • SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Indicator for SDG 14.2: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
  • Indicator for SDG 15.5: Red List Index, which measures trends in the overall extinction risk of species.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 14: Life Below Water Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. Indicator: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
SDG 15: Life on Land Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. Indicator: Red List Index, which measures trends in the overall extinction risk of species.

Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

Fuente: ecowatch.com

 

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