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Wilderness and biodiversity conservation.

R A Mittermeier1, C G Mittermeier, T M Brooks

  • 1Conservation International, 1919 M Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, USA. r.mittermeier@conservation.org

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 22, 2003
PubMed
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Proactive conservation of intact wilderness areas is cost-effective. However, only five wildernesses hold most endemic species, requiring targeted global conservation strategies alongside biodiversity hotspots.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Biodiversity Studies

Background:

  • Human activities pose significant threats to species and ecosystems globally.
  • Conservation efforts often focus on threatened areas, but proactive strategies for intact ecosystems are crucial.
  • Assessing the biodiversity value of intact ecosystems is vital for effective conservation planning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the biodiversity conservation value, particularly species endemism, of intact wilderness areas.
  • To identify large, intact wilderness areas with low human population densities.
  • To inform global conservation strategies by highlighting key areas for protecting endemic species.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of wilderness areas greater than or equal to 1 million hectares that are at least 70% intact.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of human population densities within these identified wilderness areas (<= 5 people/km²).
  • Assessment of species endemism (plants and terrestrial vertebrates) within these wilderness areas.

    • Main Results:

    • Twenty-four wilderness areas meet the criteria, covering 44% of land but inhabited by only 3% of the global population.
    • Most wilderness areas are not highly speciose; only 18% of plant and 10% of terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to individual wildernesses.
    • Endemic species are concentrated in Amazonia, Congo, New Guinea, Miombo-Mopane woodlands, and North American deserts.

    Conclusions:

    • Wilderness conservation is cost-effective, especially when considering ecosystem services.
    • Global conservation strategies must prioritize the five identified wildernesses with high endemism.
    • Continued prioritization of threatened biodiversity hotspots remains essential alongside wilderness conservation efforts.