Global biodiversity: indicators of recent declines.
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.
Butchart
Stuart H M
SH
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. stuart.butchart@birdlife.org
Walpole
Matt
M
Collen
Ben
B
van Strien
Arco
A
Scharlemann
Jörn P W
JP
Almond
Rosamunde E A
RE
Baillie
Jonathan E M
JE
Bomhard
Bastian
B
Brown
Claire
C
Bruno
John
J
Carpenter
Kent E
KE
Carr
Geneviève M
GM
Chanson
Janice
J
Chenery
Anna M
AM
Csirke
Jorge
J
Davidson
Nick C
NC
Dentener
Frank
F
Foster
Matt
M
Galli
Alessandro
A
Galloway
James N
JN
Genovesi
Piero
P
Gregory
Richard D
RD
Hockings
Marc
M
Kapos
Valerie
V
Lamarque
Jean-Francois
JF
Leverington
Fiona
F
Loh
Jonathan
J
McGeoch
Melodie A
MA
McRae
Louise
L
Minasyan
Anahit
A
Hernández Morcillo
Monica
M
Oldfield
Thomasina E E
TE
Pauly
Daniel
D
Quader
Suhel
S
Revenga
Carmen
C
Sauer
John R
JR
Skolnik
Benjamin
B
Spear
Dian
D
Stanwell-Smith
Damon
D
Stuart
Simon N
SN
Symes
Andy
A
Tierney
Megan
M
Tyrrell
Tristan D
TD
Vié
Jean-Christophe
JC
Watson
Reg
R
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