Species recovery depends on sustained government support
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Governments meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, for COP17 will review their progress toward biodiversity goals, after failing to fully meet any of the previous agreements’ 20 targets.
Last year, the Christmas Island shrew, slender-billed curlew (a wading bird), and three Australian bandicoots were officially declared extinct, highlighting the ongoing loss of species. Biodiversity loss extends beyond extinction, as the death of keystone animals like elephants can destabilise entire ecosystems.
Under the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework, countries pledged to conserve 30% of land and seas and restore degraded ecosystems by 2030, but only four years remain to meet the deadline. Success depends on consistent funding and protection for conservation workers, who often face violence and political opposition. Brazil’s recent decrease in deforestation, falling for five consecutive years, demonstrates that progress can be reversed, as upcoming elections could threaten protections for the Amazon rainforest.
In Tanzania, the electric-blue gecko’s recovery illustrates how effective conservation can be. A ban on international trade combined with habitat restoration, including the removal of 100,000 invasive trees since 2016 and planting of native species, has aided the gecko’s rebound. Jane Goodall encouraged local action, and delegates in Yerevan must now support those efforts by providing resources and ensuring legal protections for conservationists.
