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Using data for 25,780 species categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we present an assessment of the status of the world's vertebrates. One-fifth of species are classified as Threatened, and we show that this figure is increasing: On average, 52 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians move one category closer to extinction each year. However, this overall pattern conceals the impact of conservation successes, and we show that the rate of deterioration would have been at least one-fifth again as much in the absence of these. Nonetheless, current conservation efforts remain insufficient to offset the main drivers of biodiversity loss in these groups: agricultural expansion, logging, overexploitation, and invasive alien species.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.1194442

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

10/12/2010

Volume

330

Pages

1503 - 1509

Keywords

Amphibians, Animals, Biodiversity, Birds, Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecosystem, Endangered Species, Extinction, Biological, Introduced Species, Mammals, Population Dynamics, Vertebrates