A study reveals that ambitious aims to prevent the deterioration of nature are already sliding out of reach.
The impacts of climate change and habitat loss on animal populations, according to scientists, have been underestimated.
They claim that reintroducing species may take longer than planned, and that unless we act immediately, global biodiversity targets will be missed.
Almost 200 countries agreed in December to prevent the degradation of nature by the end of the decade.
They set lofty targets for halting biodiversity loss and protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030.
“What this analysis is highlighting is that it’s even harder than we think [to meet the targets]” said Dr Robin Freeman of the Institute of Zoology in London.
“We need to act more urgently and more quickly, and tackle more things to achieve them.”
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B, examined population patterns in over 600 distinct bird and mammal species.
Previous modeling efforts had largely neglected temporal lags of decades before the consequences of causes such as climate change and habitat loss become apparent.
This suggests that we may be further along the path of biodiversity loss than previously assumed.
“We’ve seen delayed effects of up to 40 years for large mammals and birds,” Dr Freeman told BBC News.
“And that means that the longer we wait to take action the longer it will take to see any kind of response.”
On the plus side, the research suggests immediate action on such things as unsustainable hunting and over-exploitation of natural resources will have immediate and far-ranging benefits.
More plants and animals are going extinct than at any other point in human history.
In December countries signed up to a landmark agreement setting global goals to address biodiversity loss.
A total of 188 governments including the UK committed to global targets for 2030, from reducing global food waste by half to phasing out subsidies that harm biodiversity.
BBC
