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When should we save the most endangered species?

Howard B Wilson1, Liana N Joseph, Alana L Moore

  • 1The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx, NY 10460, USA. h.wilson1@uq.edu.au

Ecology Letters
|July 14, 2011
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Summary

Prioritizing only the most endangered species may not minimize long-term extinctions. A long-term conservation strategy, including preventive actions, is crucial for preserving biodiversity.

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Area of Science:

  • Conservation Biology
  • Decision Analysis
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Debate exists on prioritizing cost-effective conservation or focusing on most endangered species.
  • Current conservation funding often favors short-term, reactive strategies.

Discussion:

  • Allocating resources solely to the most endangered species may not minimize long-term extinctions.
  • This approach neglects the extinction risk of less endangered species over time.
  • Short planning timeframes and optimistic future outlooks favor prioritizing the most endangered.

Key Insights:

  • Decision-analytic framework reveals limitations of prioritizing solely the most endangered species.
  • Long-term extinction minimization requires considering the risk to less endangered populations.
  • Short-term funding cycles bias conservation efforts towards immediate crisis intervention.

Outlook:

  • Emphasizes the need for long-term biodiversity resource allocation.
  • Highlights the importance of 'preventive conservation' over 'fire-fighting' reactive measures.
  • Suggests a shift towards strategic, forward-looking conservation planning.