Better data may be needed in order to stop the sixth mass extinction. Scientists have found that in order to prevent a new mass extinction of the world's species, we need to better understand threats to biodiversity.
Over the past two years, researchers have compiled all available global data on biodiversity threats. In fact, the scientists reviewed almost 300 data sets and marked them on five attributed required for conservation assessments. The researchers found that only 5 percent of the data sets were freely available, up to date, repeated and at appropriate spatial resolution.
"This analysis can help pioneer a new approach to mapping and measuring the threats facing endangered species and ecosystems," said Jon Hutton, director of the Luc Hoffmann Institute and one of the researchers. "This is critical if we are to understand why some populations of, for example, tiger or elephants are doing better than others."
The researchers were surprised to find so few data sets that met all five of their requirements. This, in particular, highlights the need for more research.
With that said, in some cases the data needed for effective conservation policy already exists. However, the data isn't accessible due to associated costs, commercial considerations and intellectual property arrangements. Agreements between conservation organizations and private companies may be able to help address this.
"Open Government Initiatives such as those in the UK and U.S. have made more than 200,000 data sets freely available, including several that are relevant to environmental conservation," said Piero Visconti, a postdoctoral scientist at UNEP-WCMC and one of the researchers involved in the new study. "We encourage more initiatives of this kind."
The findings show that more data is needed for conservation purposes. This is particularly important since some studies say that the sixth mass extinction, caused by human impacts, is already underway. However, we may be able to mitigate some of the impacts on various species by finding out what strategies work best for particular species.
"We are working with TRAFFIC and UNEP to analyze legal and illegal wildlife trade to address one of the critical knowledge gaps we identified in this study," said Neil Burgess, head of science at UNEP-WCMC.
The findings are published in the April 2016 edition of the journal Science.
