Using the IUCN Red List to map threats to terrestrial vertebrates at global scale

Harfoot, Michael B.J.; Johnston, Alison; Balmford, Andrew; Burgess, Neil D.; Butchart, Stuart H.M.; Dias, Maria P.; Hazin, Carolina; Hilton-Taylor, Craig; Hoffmann, Michael; Isaac, Nick J.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4869-8052; Iversen, Lars L.; Outhwaite, Charlotte L.; Visconti, Piero; Geldmann, Jonas. 2021 Using the IUCN Red List to map threats to terrestrial vertebrates at global scale. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5 (11). 1510-1519. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01542-9

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01542-9

Abstract/Summary

The Anthropocene is characterized by unparalleled human impact on other species, potentially ushering in the sixth mass extinction. Yet mitigation efforts remain hampered by limited information on the spatial patterns and intensity of the threats driving global biodiversity loss. Here we use expert-derived information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List on threats to 23,271 species, representing all terrestrial amphibians, birds and mammals, to generate global maps of the six major threats to these groups: agriculture, hunting and trapping, logging, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Our results show that agriculture and logging are pervasive in the tropics and that hunting and trapping is the most geographically widespread threat to mammals and birds. Additionally, current representations of human pressure underestimate the overall pressure on biodiversity, due to the exclusion of threats such as hunting and climate change. Alarmingly, this is particularly the case in areas of the highest biodiversity importance.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01542-9
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2397-334X
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	conservation biology, environmental impact
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	01 Nov 2021 10:52 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531323

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01542-9

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2397-334X

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

conservation biology, environmental impact