Protecting 0.7% of the Earth could help save 1/3 of the world’s unique and threatened species.

Global biodiversity is facing an extinction crisis like never before. Species that have existed for millions of years are disappearing at an alarming rate, and with them we risk losing the rich evolutionary history that makes life on Earth so astonishingly diverse.

A new study by researchers at Imperial College London, published in Nature Communications, has made a startling revelation: protecting just 0.7% of the planet’s land surface could save a third of the most unique and threatened tetrapod species. Yes, you read that right: just 0.7%. It is a finding that turns conventional conservation thinking upside down and shows how targeted action can yield colossal results.

Why evolutionary history matters

When we hear about species going extinct, it’s natural to think about the loss of individual animals or plants. But there’s a much bigger picture. Every species that disappears takes with it a branch of the “Tree of Life” – sometimes entire limbs – that has been growing and evolving for hundreds of millions of years. Because evolution isn’t just an abstract concept for scientists to ponder; it’s the story of how life on Earth became what it is today. And when we lose a species that’s been around for thousands of years, we lose a piece of that story forever.

These species, many of which have no close relatives, have been shaped by time and natural forces in ways that can’t be replicated. And if they disappear, we won’t just lose organisms, we’ll erase millions of years of evolutionary development. This loss will be felt throughout ecosystems and ultimately by humanity itself. The study highlights this and urges us to act before it’s too late.

EDGE Zones: Last bastions of evolutionary distinctiveness

These are the parts of the world where Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species live. They’re not just biodiversity hotspots; they’re the last refuges of life forms that have evolved along solitary branches of the tree of life, often with no living relatives. These are species that carry a unique evolutionary heritage – creatures like the aye-aye, a peculiar lemur found only in Madagascar, or the gharial, a long-snouted crocodile that is critically endangered on the Indian subcontinent. These are survivors of ancient lineages, hanging on by a thread, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The research mapped nearly 3,000 of these species around the world and identified 25 critical areas where conservation efforts could have the greatest impact. These areas – scattered across Southeast Asia, the Amazon Basin, the Atlantic Forest, Madagascar, Mexico and Indonesia – are home to life forms found nowhere else. Protecting these areas isn’t just a goal; it’s a necessity if we’re serious about preserving the richness and diversity of life on Earth.

A call for urgent action

Sebastian Pipins, lead author of the study, couldn’t have put it better: “Our research shows that by protecting just a fraction of the Earth’s surface, we can have a huge impact on biodiversity conservation.” But here’s the kicker – less than 20% of these vital EDGE Zones are currently under any form of protection. It’s a frightening thought. These zones, home to the world’s most unique species, are under relentless pressure from human activity, with deforestation, agriculture and urban sprawl encroaching on them at a breakneck pace.

It’s not enough to acknowledge this crisis – we must act, and act quickly. We’re at a crossroads, and the choices we make today will either preserve these evolutionary treasures or condemn them to oblivion.

Human pressure: A challenge we can’t ignore

One of the biggest obstacles to protecting EDGE Zones is the overwhelming human pressure they face. In many of these areas, local communities are struggling with poverty and basic needs. It’s easy to see why conservation might not be a top priority when people are struggling to survive. The study shows that a staggering 80% of these areas are under significant human pressure, making the biodiversity crisis even more urgent. It’s a delicate balancing act – how do we protect these threatened species while ensuring that the people who live in these regions can thrive?

The answer lies in global cooperation. High-income countries have a moral responsibility to step up and support sustainable development in these areas. As Pipins rightly points out, “it is crucial that wealthy countries mobilise resources to promote development that benefits both local communities and nature”. Protecting these areas is not just a local issue, it’s a global one. If we lose these species, we lose them forever – and that’s a tragedy we cannot afford.

Looking ahead: Hope for the future

The study makes one thing clear: with relatively small investments, we can make huge strides in conservation. With the Convention on Biological Diversity’s target of protecting 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030, there’s a real opportunity to act. The researchers are urging world leaders to prioritise these unprotected EDGE Zones in their conservation plans.

It’s also a wake-up call for us all – conservation isn’t just about saving the most species, it’s about protecting the story of life itself. Every branch of the tree of life that’s lost is gone forever. Pipins puts it perfectly: “Conservation is not just about saving as many species as possible; it’s about making sure we don’t lose whole branches of the tree of life.” This study shows us the way forward, but we must have the courage to follow it.

Now is the time to act

This study is a watershed moment for biodiversity conservation. By focusing on EDGE Zones, we can maximise our efforts and save not just species, but entire evolutionary histories millions of years in the making. We’re running out of time. The choices we make today will determine the future of life on Earth, and that future depends on us taking action – before it’s too late.