Conservation efforts should shift their focus from protecting specific species to safeguarding natural processes, according to a group of researchers. Current conservation policies often prioritize flagship animals such as pandas and polar bears, but experts argue that a broader approach is needed to ensure the resilience of ecosystems.
In a new article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers outline a plan to bridge the gap in conservation efforts and create lasting impacts on biodiversity. Dr. Orly Razgour from the University of Exeter emphasizes the importance of preserving ecological processes at the landscape level to support complex networks that allow biodiversity to flourish.
“Ecological processes are essential for maintaining the stability of ecosystems and making them adaptable to environmental changes,” says Dr. Razgour. “By protecting processes like migration, pollination, seed dispersal, and predator-prey interactions, we can help ecosystems withstand the rapid global changes they are facing.”
The proposed policies include enhancing connectivity between natural landscapes, promoting rewilding initiatives, and safeguarding animal groups that play critical roles in ecosystems. Professor Joseph Tobias from Imperial College London stresses the need for a unified strategy that considers the bigger picture of conservation efforts.
“While it’s important to protect individual species, we must also prioritize the preservation of natural processes that support all living things, including humans,” explains Prof. Tobias. This transformative shift in conservation science and policy aligns with global goals like the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The article, titled “Biodiversity conservation requires integration of species-centric and process-based strategies,” is part of a special issue focusing on monitoring and restoring gene flow in fragmented ecosystems of the Anthropocene. The research underscores the urgency of adopting a more holistic approach to conservation to ensure the long-term health of ecosystems.
This article is based on a press release from the University of Exeter and was written by Brendan Montague, a member of the editorial team at The Ecologist online. By prioritizing the protection of natural processes, conservation efforts can create a lasting legacy of resilient and thriving ecosystems.
