Conservation actions have improved the state of biodiversity worldwide

A global meta-analysis of 186 studies reveals that conservation actions – particularly those targeted at species and ecosystems – yield significant positive impacts on biodiversity, according to a new study. Each year, billions of dollars are spent globally on conservation actions designed to halt and/or reverse the loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems. Despite this, many international conservation goals, including those set by the Convention on Biological Diversity, remain unmet. While it could be concluded that current actions are insufficient or ineffective, researchers lack an understanding of how conservation actions contribute to conservation goals compared to the predicted outcomes without intervention. According to the authors, a robust evaluation of policy targets and an assessment of whether current conservation interventions result in positive outcomes for biodiversity is crucial to guide future efforts. Penny Langhammer and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of the impact of a wide range of conservation interventions globally and found that in two-thirds of cases, conservation efforts had a net positive effect, either improving the state of biodiversity or at least slowing declines. Specifically, Langhammer et al. discovered that interventions targeted at species and ecosystems, such as invasive species control, habitat loss reduction and restoration, protected areas, and sustainable management, are the most effective and have the largest effect sizes. However, while successful, the authors note that conservation efforts must be scaled substantially to reverse the global biodiversity crisis. “Such an increase in conservation action and associated outcomes will require expanded implementation and significant additional investment across many sectors of society, particularly beyond the traditional conservation sector,” write Langhammer et al.