title: Global biodiversity: indicators of recent declines.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. stuart.butchart@birdlife.org
authors.forename: Stuart H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Butchart
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walpole
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Collen
authors.forename: Arco
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Strien
authors.forename: Jörn P W
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Scharlemann
authors.forename: Rosamunde E A
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Almond
authors.forename: Jonathan E M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bomhard
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Kent E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Geneviève M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chanson
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chenery
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Csirke
authors.forename: Nick C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dentener
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Genovesi
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hockings
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapos
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lamarque
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leverington
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Melodie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McGeoch
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: Anahit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minasyan
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández Morcillo
authors.forename: Thomasina E E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Oldfield
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.forename: Suhel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quader
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Revenga
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skolnik
authors.forename: Dian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: Damon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stanwell-Smith
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Tristan D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vié
authors.forename: Reg
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000639:trends; D017753:Ecosystem; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D038622:Internationality; D010944:Plants; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013997:Time Factors; D014197:Trees; D014714:Vertebrates