Conservation Funding Favours Large Vertebrates Neglecting Other Species

A 2024 study revealed a significant bias in global conservation funding, with the majority of resources being allocated to larger, more popular animals at the expense of other critically endangered species. The study analyzed 14,566 conservation projects from 1992 to 2016, showing that 82.9% of the $1.963 billion allocated went to vertebrates, with birds and mammals receiving 85% of the funding. This bias towards megafauna, particularly large-bodied mammals like elephants and rhinoceroses, neglects other species at direct risk of extinction.

Plants and invertebrates received only 6.6% of the funding, despite the fact that 45% of flowering plant species are threatened with extinction, and invertebrates account for about 97% of all animals on the planet. The study highlights the need for a more balanced approach to conservation funding, advocating for the protection of all species in the Animal Kingdom. The researchers emphasize that neglecting the majority of threatened species, which have unique roles in ecosystems and represent diverse evolutionary strategies, undermines the goal of preserving biodiversity.