Threats to biodiversity are managed through a new cost-effective framework

Scientists from the University of Western Australia have developed a framework for organizations wishing to mitigate threats to biodiversity, in a way that costs many existing threat management strategies.

Conservation organizations at regional, state and national levels in Australia will benefit from a new framework aimed at managing threats to biodiversity. The framework is published in Journal of Applied Ecologyis more cost-effective than some current threat management strategies, and thus, the researchers hope, the framework will be useful in stopping the extinction of threatened species.

Lead author Dr Chuanji Yong explains, “Costs will always be at the heart of environmental decision-making. However, to date, there is no consistent method for estimating the resources needed to manage major biodiversity threats. Our project is more cost-effective than 18 of the top threat management strategies.” To save Australia’s biodiversity.

Working with threat management experts, the team has identified both the actions and costs required to manage the many threats to biodiversity. Existing cost records, for example, those from Save Our Species in New South Wales, have provided scientists with information about the financial aspects required for their new framework.

The study finds that managing some threats is more costly than previously thought – with habitat restoration ultimately being the most costly measure. The authors conclude that Australia needs to be more strategic about conservation investments, and the country also needs to reconsider how it avoids impacts on biodiversity in the first place.

Project co-leader Dr Josie Carwardine said, “The cost of conservation is critical across all levels. This approach therefore provides invaluable information in decision-making and can help people of any scale budget and realistically plan for their biodiversity aspirations.”