Lacher, Thomas E;
Butchart, Stuart HM;
Gumbs, Rikki;
Long, Barney;
Lopez-Gallego, Cristina;
Raimondo, Domitilla;
Simkins, Ashley T;
... Hoffmann, Michael; + view all
(2025)
The status, threats and conservation of Critically Endangered species.
Nature Reviews Biodiversity
, 1
pp. 421-438.
10.1038/s44358-025-00059-4.
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Abstract
Over 47,000 species on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature are assessed as being at risk of extinction, including more than 10,000 Critically Endangered (CR) species. In this Review, we focus on the status, geographical and taxonomic patterns, and threats to CR species, and the actions needed for their conservation and restoration. Just 16 countries host more than half of all CR species. Although many CR species benefit from protected areas, two-fifths require targeted species-based interventions, such as ex situ actions and conservation translocations. Further, although conservation actions are associated with improved outcomes for CR species, including reduced extinction risk, actions in place have been documented for fewer than half of these species. In addition, the assessment of conservation status is incomplete for many species and subject to taxonomic and geographical bias; as more species are assessed the number of CR species is expected to increase. To address these challenges, the conservation community has improved approaches to planning and prioritization, developed tools and metrics, and enhanced capacity to deliver conservation actions. Nevertheless, greater political ambition and substantial financial investments are needed to resource the work of governments, institutions, communities and Indigenous peoples if we are to save and recover CR species.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The status, threats and conservation of Critically Endangered species |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s44358-025-00059-4 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-025-00059-4 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Genetics, Evolution and Environment |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10214881 |
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