No matter where you look in the world, biodiversity is in decline. Habitats and ecosystems are threatened by development and climate change, and tens of thousands of species are at risk of extinction. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, where more than 2 million square kilometers have been classified as protected areas: Forests, savannahs or other sites where biodiversity conservation has been established as a priority.
But how do governments and conservation organizations identify the areas that are most in need of protection? Are some areas that are important to biodiversity not yet being protected? Are conservation funds incorrectly going to less vital sites, while more important areas are being ignored? Until recently, the only way to answer some of these questions was with extensive ground surveys, which require outlays of capital, manpower and time — and which can become out-of-date almost as soon as they are completed......
Your new post is loading...
