2
1272 NEWSFOCUS 2010, THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY, CELEBRATES Earth’s glorious variety of species and ecosystems. But many are threatened or damaged. This special News Focus section and a Review on page 1298 take a broad look at the global status of bio- diversity and conservation. The principal international effort is a 1992 treaty called the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which has failed to meet its lofty goal of a significant slowdown in biodiversity loss by 2010. Next month, CBD meets to adopt a new strategic plan. * The draft revises several of the 21 previous subtargets, such as controlling invasive species and creating more nature reserves. Below, we examine the major modifications proposed for six central targets, which will be negotiated 18 to 29 Octo- ber in Nagoya, Japan. For each, we include a recent example of an advance or setback, as well as the assessment of prog- ress by CBD’s Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, published in May. The charts show the change over time of key parameters. These global trends mask large regional variation, some of which is explored in the following pages. –ERIK STOKSTAD * www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-10/official/cop-10-09-en.pdf Despite Progress, Biodiversity Declines After failing to meet its major conservation goal, the Convention on Biological Diversity is setting new targets for stemming the loss of species 2010 goal: Decrease the rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats. Progress: “Some.” Many regions rich in biodiversity, such as Indonesia, continue to lose habitat. In the Amazon and a few other places, conservation action or economic recession has slowed the loss. Sustainable forestry is expanding but remains small. Good news: In May, Canada’s largest timber compa- nies agreed to caribou protection and ecosystem-based management of 72 million hectares of boreal forest. 2020 goal: Halve or nearly eliminate the rate of loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat. 2010 goal: Restore, maintain, or reduce the decline of populations of species of selected taxonomic groups. Progress: “Some.” In some countries, conservation efforts have helped species recover. Yet overall, more and more are in trouble. (A value of 1.0 on IUCN’s Red List Index means no extinctions are likely in the near future.) Bad news: The golden toad (Incilius periglenes) of the cloud forests in Costa Rica was declared extinct in 2008. Global warming, pollution, and disease contributed. 2020 goal: Prevent the decline and extinction of known threatened species; improve the conservation status of at least 10% of these species. In 2002, scientists with WWF published a map of 238 ecoregions selected to represent the range of Earth’s ecosystems. The ecoregions include areas with particularly rich biodiversity or unusual ecology or evolutionary phenomena, such as the radiation of Galápagos finches. Many of these areas face dire threats, whereas others are better protected. The color coding groups the terrestrial regions into 14 biomes. 10 SEPTEMBER 2010 VOL 329 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org CREDITS (PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT): THINKSTOCK; WIKIPEDIA; THINKSTOCK 1970 1990 2010 1.0 RED LIST INDEX Corals Birds Mammals Amphibians 1990 1970 2010 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.9 1970 1990 2010 EXTENT OF SUSTAINABLY MANAGED FOREST 1990 1970 2010 0 1 2 3 4 1970 1990 2010 Million km 2 Degradation of Habitat Conservation Status of Species 2010 goal: To transfer new financial resources to developing country CBD participants. Progress: “Some.” From 2005 to 2007, official aid increased from about $3.1 bil- lion to nearly $3.9 billion, but the emphasis is shifting to fighting climate change. Even rich countries spend just a tiny fraction of their national budgets on biodiversity. Good news: New money being invested to prevent climate emissions from deforestation will help save biodiversity. In 2008, Norway contributed $1 billion to Brazil’s Amazon Fund. 2020 goal: Increase 10-fold the human resources and financing for implementing the convention. BIODIVERSITY AID 0 1 2 3 4 5 2008 2007 2006 2005 $ Billions Funding for Conservation Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Temperate coniferous forests Boreal forests/taiga Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Flooded grasslands and savannas Montane grasslands and shrublands Tundra Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub Deserts and xeric shrublands Mangroves 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 Published by AAAS on October 17, 2012 www.sciencemag.org Downloaded from

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Page 1: Biodiversity Conservation: Challenges Beyond 2010

1272

NEWSFOCUS

2010, THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY, CELEBRATES

Earth’s glorious variety of species and ecosystems. But many are

threatened or damaged. This special News Focus section and a

Review on page 1298 take a broad look at the global status of bio-

diversity and conservation.

The principal international effort is a 1992 treaty called the

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which has failed

to meet its lofty goal of a signifi cant slowdown in biodiversity

loss by 2010. Next month, CBD meets to adopt a new strategic

plan.* The draft revises several of the 21 previous subtargets,

such as controlling invasive species and creating more nature

reserves. Below, we examine the major modifi cations proposed

for six central targets, which will be negotiated 18 to 29 Octo-

ber in Nagoya, Japan. For each, we include a recent example

of an advance or setback, as well as the assessment of prog-

ress by CBD’s Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, published in May.

The charts show the change over time of key parameters. These

global trends mask large regional variation, some of which is

explored in the following pages. –ERIK STOKSTAD

*www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-10/offi cial/cop-10-09-en.pdf

Despite Progress,Biodiversity DeclinesAfter failing to meet its major conservation goal, the

Convention on Biological Diversity is setting new

targets for stemming the loss of species

2010 goal: Decrease the rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats.

Progress: “Some.” Many regions rich in biodiversity, such as Indonesia, continue to lose habitat. In the Amazon and a few other places, conservation action or economic recession has slowed the loss. Sustainable forestry is expanding but remains small.

Good news: In May, Canada’s largest timber compa-nies agreed to caribou protection and ecosystem-based management of 72 million hectares of boreal forest.

2020 goal: Halve or nearly eliminate the rate of loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat.

2010 goal: Restore, maintain, or reduce the decline of populations of species of selected taxonomic groups.

Progress: “Some.” In some countries, conservation efforts have helped species recover. Yet overall, more and more are in trouble. (A value of 1.0 on IUCN’s Red List Index means no extinctions are likely in the near future.)

Bad news: The golden toad (Incilius periglenes) of the cloud forests in Costa Rica was declared extinct in 2008. Global warming, pollution, and disease contributed.

2020 goal: Prevent the decline and extinction of known threatened species; improve the conservation status of at least 10% of these species.

In 2002, scientists with WWF published a map of 238 ecoregions selected to represent the range of Earth’s ecosystems. The ecoregions include areas with particularly rich biodiversity or unusual ecology or evolutionary phenomena, such as the radiation of Galápagos fi nches. Many of these areas face dire threats, whereas others are better protected. The color coding groups the terrestrial regions into 14 biomes.

10 SEPTEMBER 2010 VOL 329 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org

CR

ED

ITS

(P

HO

TO

S L

EF

T T

O R

IGH

T):

TH

INK

ST

OC

K; W

IKIP

ED

IA; T

HIN

KS

TO

CK

1970 1990 2010

1.0

RED LIST INDEX

CoralsBirds

Mammals

Amphibians

19901970 2010

0.5

0.7

0.6

0.8

0.9

1970 1990 2010

EXTENT OF SUSTAINABLY

MANAGED FOREST

19901970 2010

0

1

2

3

4

1970 1990 2010

Million k

m2

Degradation of Habitat Conservation Status of Species

2010 goal: To transfer new fi nancial resources to developing country CBD participants.

Progress: “Some.” From 2005 to 2007, offi cial aid increased from about $3.1 bil-lion to nearly $3.9 billion, but the emphasis is shifting to fi ghting climate change. Even rich countries spend just a tiny fraction of their national budgets on biodiversity.

Good news: New money being invested to prevent climate emissions from deforestation will help save biodiversity. In 2008, Norway contributed $1 billion to Brazil’s Amazon Fund.

2020 goal: Increase 10-fold the human resources and fi nancing for implementing the convention.

BIODIVERSITY AID

0

1

2

3

4

5

2008200720062005

$B

illions

Funding for Conservation

Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests

Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests

Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests

Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

Temperate coniferous forests

Boreal forests/taiga

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

Flooded grasslands and savannas

Montane grasslands and shrublands

Tundra

Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub

Deserts and xeric shrublands

Mangroves

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

Published by AAAS

on

Oct

ober

17,

201

2w

ww

.sci

ence

mag

.org

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from

Page 2: Biodiversity Conservation: Challenges Beyond 2010

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 329 10 SEPTEMBER 2010 1273

CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY | NEWSFOCUSC

RE

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HO

TO

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T T

O R

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T):

TH

INK

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K; G

ET

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KS

TO

CK

CREDITS: WWF’S GLOBAL 200 ECOREGIONS; D. OLSON AND E. DINERSTEIN, ANN. MISSOURI BOT. GARD. 89, 199 (2002); (CHARTS 1, 2, 4, 5) ADAPTED FROM CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (2010) GLOBAL

BIODIVERSITY OUTLOOK 3 ; (CHART 3) SOURCE: UNEP, GEF; (CHART 6) ADAPTED FROM S. BUTCHART ET AL., SCIENCE 328, 1164 (2010)

2010 goal: Reduce unsustainable con-sumption of biologi-cal resources or other consumption that harms biodiversity.

Progress: “None.” The goal has not been met globally and is a major reason for biodiversity loss.

Bad news: Prized for sushi, the northern bluefi n tuna is considered critically endangered. In March, conser-vation groups failed in their attempt to get an inter-national ban on trade.

2020 goal: Continue to reduce consumption, with a new goal to end overfi shing and destructive fi shing practices, such as using dynamite or poison.

1970 1990 2010

OVER/FULLY EXPLOITED

OR DEPLETED FISH STOCKS

19901970 2010

50%

60%

70%

80%

1970 1990 2010

Consumption of Biological Resources

2010 goal: Effectively conserve at least 10% of each of the world’s eco-logical regions.

Progress: “Signifi cant.” The target has been achieved for more than half of the terrestrial ecoregions. Overall, 12% of all land is protected, but less than 0.5% of the oceans.

Good news: In May, the United Kingdom designated the Chagos Archipelago as the largest marine reserve in the world, setting aside 544,000 square kilometers.

2020 goal: Protect 15% to 20% of land. CBD has not proposed a fi gure for coastal and marine ecosystems. The draft target emphasizes that protected areas should be interconnected and well-managed.

2010 goals: Establish manage-ment plans and control the pathways for major potential invasive species.

Progress: “Some.” Global trade and travel continue to spread alien species, some of which become invasive. Most countries don’t have management plans.

Bad news: The voracious snakehead fi sh (Channa

striata) of tropical Asia has spread around the world. Around 2007, it arrived in southern Papua New Guinea and is eating native fi shes.

2020 goal: Prioritize control efforts. The target out-lines the steps to be taken.

19901970

Million k

m2

EXTENT OF

PROTECTED AREAS

2010

30

0

10

20

1970 1990 2010

ALIEN SPECIES

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0Change s

ince 1

970

Protected Areas Invasive Species

4 5

5

6

6

Published by AAAS

on

Oct

ober

17,

201

2w

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.sci

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mag

.org

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from