Conservation Funding Prioritizes Large Mammals Over More Threatened Species, Study Finds

A 25-year study has found that conservation funding often prioritizes larger, charismatic animals over more threatened species. Large mammals such as elephants and rhinos receive a significant amount of funding, even though they are not as threatened as other species. The study showed that vertebrates, particularly birds and mammals, receive the majority of funding, while smaller species like amphibians, plants, and invertebrates receive very little attention despite their high levels of threat.

Plants and invertebrates only account for a small percentage of conservation funding and projects, despite a large number of flowering plant species being threatened with extinction. The research points out that a lack of conservation status assessments for many species, as well as a focus on single species instead of whole ecosystems, contributes to this funding bias. The researchers suggest that a more balanced approach is needed to address these biases and provide support for a wider range of vulnerable species.