Protecting just 1.2% of Earth’s land could save most-threatened species, study says

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new study published in Frontiers in Science reveals that protecting just 1.2% of Earth's land could prevent the extinction of the most threatened species
• Researchers identified 16,825 sites globally as top priorities for conservation

🔭 The context: The study highlights that these sites, home to unique species found nowhere else, are crucial for averting imminent extinctions
• While protecting more land is necessary for restoring biodiversity, these targeted areas offer a significant starting point

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Safeguarding these critical habitats could prevent the loss of thousands of species, maintaining ecosystems essential for human societies and natural carbon removal
• The study underscores the urgency of focusing conservation efforts on biodiversity hotspots

⏭️ What's next: The study calls for immediate action, estimating the protection of these sites would cost $29bn-$46bn over five years
• Efforts could include land purchases, expanding Indigenous rights, and creating protected areas on government land

💬 One quote: “It’s almost as if countries are using a reverse-selection algorithm and picking the non-rare sites to add to the global areas under protection," said Dr. Eric Dinerstein of Resolve, the study’s lead author

📈 One stat: Protecting the identified sites would cover 1.6 million sq km (630,000 sq miles), or 1.2% of Earth's land surface

Click for more news covering the latest on biodiversity