Protecting just 1.2% of Earth's land could save most-threatened species, says study

Protecting just 1.2% of the Earth's surface for nature would be enough to prevent the extinction of the world's most threatened species, according to a new study.

From Argentina to Papua New Guinea, the team of researchers identified 16,825 sites that should be prioritised for conservation in the next five years to prevent imminent extinctions of animals and plants found nowhere else.

In 2020 the researchers identified half of the Earth's land surface that, if protected, would reverse biodiversity loss and enhance natural carbon removal.

Scientists say that more than expanding protected areas is needed to prevent the destruction of biodiversity and maintain ecosystems crucial to human societies.

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