Protected areas see continued deforestation but at a reduced rate, OSU research shows Published: - Feb 18, 2021
A survey of more than 18,000 land parcels spanning 2 million square miles across 63 countries shows that a protected area designation reduces the rate of deforestation but does not prevent it.
The findings are important because most terrestrial species live in forests and because the study suggests that just 6.5% of the Earth s woodlands are truly protected. Photo: Oregon State University
EurekaAlert | OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Published today in
Nature Ecology and Evolution, the findings are important because most terrestrial species live in forests and because
the study suggests that just 6.5% of the Earth s woodlands are truly protected, well below the 2020 target of 17% set by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
A survey of more than 18,000 land parcels spanning 2 million square miles across 63 countries shows that a protected area designation reduces the rate of deforestation but does not prevent it.