Are protected areas tracking threats to terrestrial biodiversity?

Abstract

1Protected areas (PAs) are vital for nature conservation, yet evidence shows that pressure on biodiversity is increasing despite their global expansion. Using threat probability maps based on the IUCN Red List and PA data, we analyzed the relationship between PA coverage and the major threats--agriculture, hunting, logging, pollution, invasive species, and urbanization--affecting amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Our analysis includes data on 33,379 species and 255,848 protected sites. Our results reveal a potential disconnect between global PAs and threat tracking, often leaving high-threat areas insufficiently protected. Over half of the mapped area for amphibians and mammals faces high threat impact probability and insufficient PA cover. Amphibians face the highest proportion of high-simultaneous threats and lack sufficient cover. Areas facing a high probability of impact lacking sufficient PA cover also harbor the highest proportion of threatened species across all taxonomic groups. Our research provides crucial insights into the current state of terrestrial PAs concerning threats, highlighting areas requiring immediate attention and guiding strategic conservation planning.