New “umbrella” species would massively improve conservation efforts
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to new research done by the University of Queensland, the introduction of “umbrella” species would massively improve conservation efforts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Umbrella species are species which when preserved indirectly protect many other animals and plant species.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">UQ PhD candidate Michelle Ward said different choices in Australia could provide more assistance for threatened species.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Australian Federal Government’s umbrella prioritisation list identifies 73 species as conservation priorities,” she said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But this only ends up benefiting six per cent of all Australia’s threatened terrestrial species.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This figure could be increased to benefit nearly half of all threatened terrestrial species for the same budget.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One of the main reasons is that many umbrella species are chosen based on their public appeal, rather than their efficiency for protecting other species – we want to change that.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researchers investigated what umbrella species could maximise the flora and fauna benefitting from management while considering costs, actions and threats.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The koala, red goshawk, matted flax-lily and purple clover are more efficient umbrella species, yet none of these appear on the existing federal government priority species list,” she explained.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Australia has committed to prevent further extinction of known threatened species and improve their conservation status by 2020.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Yet, with limited funding committed to conservation, we need better methods to efficiently prioritise investment of resources.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Professor Hugh Possingham said that in a time of crisis, smart decision making was vital.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Now is precisely the time where governments need to get their investment in nature to be as efficient as possible,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Nations around the world can significantly improve the selection of umbrella species for conservation action by taking advantage of our transparent, quantitative and objective prioritisation approach.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“With a species extinction crisis, looming international deadlines and limited conservation funding globally, we need better methods to efficiently prioritise investment of resources in species recovery.”</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The study, published in Conservation Biology (<a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2808599/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_aQlNZXn05sHJG_MdYR0Ar.html">DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13430</a>), was conducted by UQ, <a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2808600/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_a6jGpUsKkQsMprfjcLi0h.html">The Nature Conservancy</a>, the <a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2291364/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_aeAh0IAz4MZ87vQ.Ij7du.html">Wildlife Conservation Society</a> and the <a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2808601/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_aXgEzA0c2ovhFWY3HjXCB.html">United Nations Development Program</a>.</span></em></p>
