Limited and biased global conservation funding means most threatened species remain unsupported

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Guenard, Benoit; Hughes, Alice C.; Laine, Claudianne; Cannicci, Stefano; Russell, Bayden D.; Williams, Gray A.
• 署名单位: University of Hong Kong; University of Florence; University of Hong Kong; University of Hong Kong
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-11511
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2412479122
• 发表日期: 2025-03-04
• 关键词: taxonomic bias; TRENDS; extinction; declines; science; mammals; VALUES

摘要

The conservation of biodiversity represents a global challenge as the world experiences its sixth mass extinction. Understanding how conservation efforts are allocated is paramount to effectively protect threatened species. We analyzed similar to 14,600 conservation projects over a 25- y period, revealing substantial taxonomic biases in funding. When matched with formal assessments of species' threat status, several highly threatened groups such as amphibians receive little and ever- decreasing support. Within particular groups (e.g., Mammalia, Reptilia), funding is directed to a very narrow selection of taxa, leaving the majority of their threatened species with limited or no support. More attention is urgently needed to assess the extinction risks of neglected taxa, especially smaller species. Paradoxically, while approximately 6% of species identified as threatened were supported by conservation funds, 29% of the funding was allocated to species of least concern. A more holistic distribution of conservation funding is, therefore, urgently needed if we are to protect biodiversity efficiently. We suggest avenues and mechanisms for a more balanced coverage of threatened species within conservation programs and highlight some of the benefits that could be derived from such an approach.