Conservation efforts directed towards just 0.7% of the world’s land mass could help protect 1/3 of the world’s threatened and unique tetrapod species. At present, however, just 20% of the areas identified in the study are under some form of protection.

I’ve linked to the press release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51992-5

From the linked article:

Conservation efforts directed towards just 0.7% of the world’s land mass could help protect 1/3 of the world’s threatened and unique tetrapod species.

The study, led by researchers at Imperial College London and published in Nature Communications, finds that large gains in conservation are possible by focusing on areas home to exceptional biodiversity and species with high levels of evolutionary distinctiveness and global endangerment.

These endangered species include animals like the aye-aye, a highly distinctive lemur found in Madagascar; the long-legged and eagle-bodied secretary bird; the purple frog, which has a nose similar to a pig; and the gharial, a long-snouted and critically endangered crocodile found in the Indian subcontinent.

At present, however, just 20% of the areas identified in the study are under some form of protection, with most areas facing consistent and increasing levels of human pressure.

“Our research highlights the regions of the world that are of immediate concern. Furthermore, it shows that in protecting just a fraction of the Earth’s land surface, huge gains can be made for the preservation of nature,” says lead author and PhD student at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, Sebastian Pipins.

The title says tetrapod, but the photo is a biped.