New study identifies Conservation Imperatives to safeguard endangered species

Protecting 1.22 percent of land worldwide prevents the extinction of the most-threatened species, according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Science. The analysis identified 16,825 unprotected sites where prioritising conservation actions would prevent the extinction of thousands of species. These so-called Conservation Imperatives ‘provide important insights into an effective deployment of resources in the right areas to safeguard biodiversity,’ says Senior Expert Nature Conservation Caspar Verwer, who contributed to the study. ‘Identifying them is essential as the urgency for conservation is greater than ever.’

Header photo: ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) from Madagascar have IUCN Red List status Endangered. © Juan Camilo Guarin P on Unsplash.

Habitat of endangered species

There is an urgent need to prioritise conservation of habitats of vulnerable and endangered species as part of a global biodiversity strategy. The Conservation Imperatives identified by the study offer a solution for preserving the habitats of vulnerable, restricted and endangered species that are not protected yet. According to Verwer, ‘they should therefore be at the centre of the strategies to protect at least 30 percent of the Earth’s surface by 2030, a target which was globally agreed upon in 2022.’

‘Targeted investments in nature conservation are necessary as the world seeks to expand the network of protected areas from 15.7 percent to 30 percent by 2030,’ says the conservation expert. Safeguarding just 1.22 percent of land, covering 164 million hectares, over the next five years can prevent the most imminent extinctions. Not entirely surprising, the majority of this land (75 percent) is found in the tropics.

‘Targeted investments in nature conservation are necessary as the world seeks to expand the network of protected areas from 15.7 percent to 30 percent by 2030.’

Caspar Verwer, Senior Expert Nature Conservation at IUCN NL

Prioritising conservation actions

Conservation Imperatives help to priorities conservation actions in the coming five years. Moreover, because conservation imperatives represent the most biologically important and endangered places to be protected, they can be seen as anchor points for designing regional-scale conservation planning efforts for the 30×30 target. They provide spatial focus supporting more efficient and effective nature policies

The study shows that protecting these areas is feasible and affordable. This is especially the case in the tropics, according the study, as the purchase of the tropical subset of these areas costs approximately US$169 billion.

No free ticket

Conservation Imperatives, however, are by no means a free ticket to destroy nature outside these areas, but an essential tool to avert impending extinction and increase the effectiveness of protected areas. They are just one of the much-needed strategies to save our natural world, along with addressing the major drivers of biodiversity loss, transforming our economies and implementing large-scale ecosystem restoration.

Urgency for concrete actions

In the midst of a global climate and biodiversity crises, the urgency for concrete actions for international nature conservation is higher than ever. According to Verwer, ‘Conservation Imperatives provide important insights into an effective deployment of resources in the right areas to safeguard biodiversity. This is essential for our governments to make a meaningful contribution.’

‘Moreover’, he continues ‘funding or encouraging developments at the expense of biodiversity in these important areas goes against international agreements made as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.’

‘Funding or encouraging developments at the expense of biodiversity in these important areas goes against international agreements made as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.’

Caspar Verwer, Senior Expert Nature Conservation at IUCN NL

Land Acquisition Fund

The recently published study helps to prioritise important conservation areas and calls for more efficient and effective conservation policies. The actual availability of the land that should be protected was outside the scope of this study, and in reality establishing effective protected areas strongly depends on the local context.

The IUCN NL Land Acquisition Fund supports local conservation NGOs in safeguarding, expanding and connecting the habitat of vulnerable and endangered species. ‘By supporting the acquisition of land, strategically located in conservation imperatives, we can make a substantial contribution to preventing the extinction of the most endangered species within five years,’ concludes Verwer.

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