Global biodiversity: Indicators of recent declines
In 2002, world leaders committed, through the Convention on Biological Diversity, to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. We compiled 31 indicators to report on progress toward this target. Most indicators of the state of biodiversity (covering species’ population trends, extinction risk, habitat extent and condition, and community composition) showed declines, with no significant recent reductions in rate, whereas indicators of pressures on biodiversity (including resource consumption, invasive alien species, nitrogen pollution, overexploitation, and climate change impacts) showed increases. Despite some local successes and increasing responses (including extent and biodiversity coverage of protected areas, sustainable forest management, policy responses to invasive alien species, and biodiversity-related aid), the rate of biodiversity loss does not appear to be slowing.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2011 |
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Title | Global biodiversity: Indicators of recent declines |
DOI | 10.1126/science.1187512 |
Authors | Stuart H.M. Butchart, Matt Walpole, Ben Collen, Arco Van Strien, Jorn P.W. Scharlemann, Rosamunde E.A. Almond, Jonathan E.M. Baillie, Bastian Bomhard, Claire Brown, John Bruno, Kent E. Carpenter, Genevieve M. Carr, Janice Chanson, Anna M. Chenery, Jorge Csirke, Nick C. Davidson, Frank Dentener, Matt Foster, Alessandro Galli, James N. Galloway, Piero Genovesi, Richard D. Gregory, Marc Hockings, Valerie Kapos, Jean-Francois Lamarque, Fiona Leverington, Jonathan Loh, Melodie A. McGeoch, Louise McRae, Anahit Minasyan, Monica Hernandez Morcillo, Thomasina E.E. Oldfield, Daniel Pauly, Suhel Quader, Carmen Revenga, John R. Sauer, Benjamin Skolnik, Dian Spear, Damon Stanwell-Smith, Simon N. Stuart, Andy Symes, Megan Tierney, Tristan D. Tyrrell, Jean-Christophe Vie, Reg Watson |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Science |
Index ID | 70004540 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |