Mapping unprotected natural habitats harboring the world’s remaining rare and endangered species

Dr. Anup Joshi

Program Coordinator and Research Associate, University of Minnesota

Abstract

Ambitious goals to protect 30% or more of the Earth’s surface by 2030 (30x30) require strategic near-term targets, to save unprotected natural habitats harboring rare and endangered species. To be able to protect, first we need to identify areas. We began by mapping the entire world, using six global biodiversity data layers. By combining these data layers with maps of existing protected areas and a fractional land cover analysis, using satellite images, identified the remaining habitat available to rare and threatened species. We called these Conservation Imperatives (sites). There are 16,825 sites covering 164 million hectares or just 1.22% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface. I will further discuss where these sites are, how much it will cost to protect them and how we are planning to convert these findings into actions on the ground.