Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Ecology

The effect of conservation spending

Nature volume 551, pages 309–310 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Statistical analysis of data on threatened species provides a model that can predict how rates of investment in conservation affect biodiversity under changing human population levels and agricultural and economic conditions. See Letter p.364

Global biodiversity loss is occurring at a rate that is 1,000 times greater than the estimated background rate of species extinction1. The factors affecting the decline in biodiversity, and the actions and resources needed to arrest that decline, change over time and geographical region2. Without conservation interventions, the rate of species extinctions will continue to increase. For the interventions undertaken, how can the effectiveness of these attempts be assessed? On page 364, Waldron et al.3 use statistical analysis to provide evidence-based insights into the relationship between a country's national investments to protect threatened species and the country's rate of biodiversity decline.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Predicting the effect on biodiversity if extra national-level conservation investments had been made.

Notes

  1. See all news & views

References

  1. Pimm, S. L. et al. Science 344, 1246752 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Balmford, A., Gaston, K. J., Blyth, S., James, A. & Kapos, V. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 100, 1046–1050 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Waldron, A. et al. Nature 551, 364–367 (2017).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cardillo, M. et al. Proc. R. Soc. B 275, 1441–1448 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gregory, R. et al. Structured Decision Making: A Practical Guide to Environmental Management Choices (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Hoffmann, M. et al. Science 330, 1503–1509 (2010).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kerkvliet, J. & Langpap, C. Ecol. Econ. 63, 499–510 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Butchart, S. H. et al. PLoS Biol. 2, e383 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gerber, L. R. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 113, 3563–3566 (2016).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Joseph, L. N., Maloney, R. F. & Possingham, H. P. Conserv. Biol. 23, 328–338 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. McCarthy, D. P. et al. Science 338, 946–949 (2012).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. McCarthy, M. A., Thompson, C. J. & Garnett, S. T. J. Appl. Ecol. 45, 1428–1435 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wilson, H. B., Joseph, L. N., Moore, A. L. & Possingham, H. P. Ecol. Lett. 14, 886–890 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, 4101, Queensland, Australia

    Hugh P. Possingham

  2. The University of Queensland,

    Hugh P. Possingham

  3. the School of Life Sciences and Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe, 85287, Arizona, USA

    Leah R. Gerber

Authors
  1. Hugh P. Possingham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leah R. Gerber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hugh P. Possingham or Leah R. Gerber.

Related links

Related links

Related links in Nature Research

Ecology: A global plan for nature conservation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Possingham, H., Gerber, L. The effect of conservation spending. Nature 551, 309–310 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24158

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24158

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing