title: Pinpointing and preventing imminent extinctions.
abstract: Slowing rates of global biodiversity loss requires preventing species extinctions. Here we pinpoint centers of imminent extinction, where highly threatened species are confined to single sites. Within five globally assessed taxa (i.e., mammals, birds, selected reptiles, amphibians, and conifers), we find 794 such species, three times the number recorded as having gone extinct since 1500. These species occur in 595 sites, concentrated in tropical forests, on islands, and in mountainous areas. Their taxonomic and geographical distribution differs significantly from that of historical extinctions, indicating an expansion of the current extinction episode beyond sensitive species and places toward the planet's most biodiverse mainland regions. Only one-third of the sites are legally protected, and most are surrounded by intense human development. These sites represent clear opportunities for urgent conservation action to prevent species loss.
authors.affiliation: Conservation Science Program, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC 20037, USA. taylor.ricketts@wwfus.org
authors.forename: Taylor H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ricketts
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dinerstein
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Stuart H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Butchart
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lamoreux
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pilgrim
authors.forename: Ana S L
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Wes
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sechrest
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berlin
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bielby
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Don R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: Colby
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loucks
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.forename: Lawrence L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Master
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ridgely
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shire
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: Wes
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wettengel
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wikramanayake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000639:trends; D005843:Geography