A study reveals that lofty goals to stop nature's decline may already be slipping beyond our grasp. The impact of habitat loss and climate change on animal populations, according to scientists, has been overestimated.
They claim that stopping extinctions may take longer than anticipated and that if we don't take action right away, global biodiversity targets won't be achieved. Nearly 200 nations decided to stop the deterioration of nature by the end of the decade in December.
By 2030, they aimed to safeguard 30% of lands and waters and stop the loss of biodiversity. Dr. Robert Freeman of the London Institute of Zoology said, "This analysis shows that it's even harder than we think [to meet the targets]."
"In order to accomplish them, we must act more quickly and urgently, and we must take on more tasks." The study, which was published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B, examined population patterns for over 600 distinct bird and animal species.
The researchers discovered that decades-long time lags before the consequences of drivers like habitat loss and climate change become apparent had been largely disregarded in earlier modeling efforts. This indicates that the loss of biodiversity may be closer than we initially imagined.
"We've seen delayed effects of up to 40 years for large mammals and birds," Dr. Freeman stated. And that indicates that it will take longer to see any kind of response the longer we wait to act.
On the plus side, the research indicates that taking quick action to address issues like unsustainable hunting and overuse of natural resources will have both immediate and widespread advantages.
Compared to past times in human history, more species of plants and animals are becoming extinct. Countries joined a historic agreement setting global targets to address biodiversity loss in December.
A total of 188 states, including the UK, agreed to global goals for 2030, ranging from cutting in half the amount of food wasted globally to gradually eliminating subsidies that threaten biodiversity.