Taking the Easy Route in Saving the World

How Protecting a Small Fraction of Land Can Prevent Mass Extinctions and Preserve Our Planet’s Future

I still remember being a teenager who thought that the only way to save the planet was to remove everything from humans’ hands. Oh, youth!

Luckily, years of academic research and work in the non-profit and public sectors have taught me this is just the worst idea. Everyone wants, needs, and deserves a place to live and a means to have a livelihood, and that’s unfortunately incompatible with isolating humans from nature.

Just like me, scientists, activists, and policy-makers are increasingly recognizing the need for solutions that integrate human and natural needs, such as nature-based solutions.

Among these strategies resides one based on identifying critical habitats and ecosystems that, if protected, will provide the most benefits. In a way, it is important to choose the conservation efforts that come with the higher ROI (return on investment) in terms of ecosystems and ecosystem services saved. In a world where biodiversity is constantly threatened, protecting critical habitats has never been more urgent.

But how do we identify these ecosystems, and is this a strategy that will bring us success?

A recent study published in Frontiers in Science outlines a strategic approach to safeguarding Earth’s most vulnerable species, those that are at higher risk of going extinct due to anthropological effects.

One key point is that this research introduces the concept of “Conservation Imperatives,” which identifies specific unprotected sites crucial for preventing imminent extinctions.

Ane the most promising message: by protecting just 1.22% of the planet’s land surface, we could stave off what scientists are calling “the sixth great extinction of life on Earth.”

But let’s look at what this team of scientists did.

To understand the scope of this challenge, the research team, led by Dr. Eric Dinerstein, conducted a global analysis to pinpoint areas that house most rare and threatened species. The authors used six layers of global biodiversity data, mapping out the entire world to identify where these species are most at risk.

I have performed these sorts of analyses, and kudos to the advanced machines they used. In my experience, these analyses can be so intense that even supercomputers can take days or even weeks to complete.

But let’s go back to their experimental design. By combining these layers with satellite imagery and existing protected area maps, they were able to isolate 16,825 critical sites. These sites, referred to as Conservation Imperatives, are home to over 4,700 threatened species, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and rare plants.

The study’s results are both alarming and hopeful. Yes, there’s such a thing.

The identified Conservation Imperatives (areas that MUST be protected) cover approximately 164 million hectares, a relatively small fraction of the Earth’s surface.

However, the potential impact of protecting these areas is immense. For example, securing the sites located in the tropics, just those, could prevent the majority of predicted species extinctions.

Even more fascinating, the research highlights a significant missed opportunity: between 2018 and 2023, global efforts to expand protected areas only covered 7% of these critical sites. This underlines the importance of prioritizing conservation efforts where they are needed most and, of course, performing research like this to identify these areas.

But the task isn’t just about drawing lines on a map. Protecting these sites comes with a price tag — approximately $34 billion per year over the next five years. While this may sound like a lot, it represents less than 0.2% of the United States’ GDP and a fraction of what is spent globally on fossil fuel subsidies.

Moreover, 38% of these Conservation Imperatives are adjacent to existing protected areas, which could make it easier and more cost-effective to integrate them into larger conservation networks.

The implications of this research, however, extend beyond biodiversity conservation. As Dr. Dinerstein notes, “Preserving wildlife is also key to halting and reversing the climate crisis.” By protecting these biodiverse regions, we are also safeguarding the Earth’s carbon sinks — forests that absorb carbon dioxide and help mitigate climate change. This dual benefit highlights the interconnectedness of our environmental challenges and the need for holistic solutions that track both the climate and biodiversity crises.

Moving forward, the study emphasizes that simply purchasing land isn’t enough. Yes, it needed to be said.

Effective conservation will require collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and other stakeholders to ensure that these areas are managed sustainably, ethically, and with socioeconomic needs in mind. This approach protects biodiversity and supports the livelihoods of those who have been stewards of these lands for generations.

The take-home message from this research is clear: we have a limited window of opportunity to protect the most vulnerable species on our planet, and by strategically targeting conservation efforts, we can make a significant impact with relatively modest resources. The concept of Conservation Imperatives offers a practical, science-based roadmap for achieving this goal, providing hope that we can preserve Earth’s biodiversity for future generations.

While the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, this research offers hope. Protecting the most critical habitats isn’t just an unattainable goal—it’s an achievable one if we act swiftly and decisively. We can turn the tide against extinction and ensure a vibrant, diverse planet for the future.