title: Wilderness and biodiversity conservation.
abstract: Human pressure threatens many species and ecosystems, so conservation efforts necessarily prioritize saving them. However, conservation should clearly be proactive wherever possible. In this article, we assess the biodiversity conservation value, and specifically the irreplaceability in terms of species endemism, of those of the planet's ecosystems that remain intact. We find that 24 wilderness areas, all > or = 1 million hectares, are > or = 70% intact and have human densities of less than or equal to five people per km2. This wilderness covers 44% of all land but is inhabited by only 3% of people. Given this sparse population, wilderness conservation is cost-effective, especially if ecosystem service value is incorporated. Soberingly, however, most wilderness is not speciose: only 18% of plants and 10% of terrestrial vertebrates are endemic to individual wildernesses, the majority restricted to Amazonia, Congo, New Guinea, the Miombo-Mopane woodlands, and the North American deserts. Global conservation strategy must target these five wildernesses while continuing to prioritize threatened biodiversity hotspots.
authors.affiliation: Conservation International, 1919 M Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, USA. r.mittermeier@conservation.org
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mittermeier
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mittermeier
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pilgrim
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Konstant
authors.forename: G A B
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kormos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans