Conservation has faced challenges in becoming widely accepted and integrated into society, as concepts like evolution, vaccines, and global warming continue to be attacked. However, a new study co-authored by BirdLife International scientists and published in the journal Science demonstrates that conservation actions can effectively halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
The groundbreaking study looked at conservation efforts around the world, including islands, forests, rivers, and plateaus, to evaluate the impact of conservation projects on biodiversity. It went beyond individual projects and compiled data from 186 studies and 665 trials, making it the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind.
Results showed that conservation actions were successful in improving the state of biodiversity or slowing its decline in 66% of cases compared to no action being taken. The study also found that when interventions were effective, they were highly successful in achieving positive outcomes.
A wide range of conservation interventions were evaluated, including protected areas, invasive species control, ecosystem management, and habitat restoration. The study covered more than a century of conservation efforts and highlighted the effectiveness of conservation actions in protecting and preserving biodiversity.