16,825 or 1.2% of Conservation Areas on Earth are Only Needed of Protection to Prevent 6th Mass Extinction [Study]

Conservation areas have been defined as a type of national wildlife refuge or an area of land protected by law. This means animals can live safely in these sites which cannot be replaced by land expansion or constructed infrastructure. Such measure aims to conserve and protect local animal populations, especially for endangered and threatened species, which can prevent the 6th mass extinction of life.

For decades, conservationists and climate scientists have recorded a significant correlation between the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, or destruction. Due to this threat, various groups and institutions have focused on protecting a large number of conservation areas.

However, a new study proposed that a small number of these areas need protection to prevent the next extinction event.

Conservation Areas

In the study published in the journal Frontiers in Science on June 25, researchers calculated that only 16,825 or 1.2% conservation areas are only needed protection to prevent the extinction of thousands of species in contemporary times. This figure is in contrast to "ambitious biodiversity goals" of protecting at least 30% of Earth's surface by the year 2030, according to the authors of the new research paper.

The study emphasizes that the world should focus its efforts on these conservation areas, where 80% of these sites are found in 30 countries. Meanwhile, 72% of these sites are concentrated in only 10 countries. Lastly, 33.3% of these sites are located in Brazil and the Philippines, according to a news release by the University of Minnesota which led the breakthrough research.

Also Read: Can Bringing Extinct Species to Life Affect Conservation of Other Species?

Mass Extinction Events

This proposed conservation method will potentially save certain species ahead of the possible or imminent species extinctions. With this in mind, conservation efforts are focused on preventing the complete annihilation of many animal species as of the 21^st century, regardless of what the cause of the next mass extinction event will be.

Mass extinction events have occurred several times since Earth formed more than 4.5 billion years ago, decimating both flora and fauna species, as well as microorganisms. These events were caused by different forces relating to weather, climatic, geological, and even astronomical factors. The latter pertains to the Chicxulub asteroid that wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs and most life on the planet around 66 million years ago.

Climate Change

While all these catastrophic phenomena happened in ancient Earth, it does not mean they will not recur in the future. Scientists projected that the previous five mass extinction events on the planet can be followed by a 6th apocalyptic event.

For decades, scientists and experts from various fields have pondered the idea as to how the next extinction event will happen. Proposed theories have ranged from deadly pandemics to nuclear wars, asteroid strikes, and global warming.

However, out of all these mentioned potential or imminent disasters, one catastrophe stands out among the rest: climate change. Unless concrete action is taken, the next mass extinction event will happen and it is likely to happen in the world's oceans, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.