5 ways you can protect biodiversity in your area

The document outlines five ways individuals can protect biodiversity: donating to conservation organisations, volunteering, adopting a diet less reliant on meat, creating nature-friendly gardens, and managing pet cats and dogs responsibly. It highlights that around one million species are threatened with extinction and that the rate of biodiversity loss currently exceeds the pace of policy implementation. In the UK, the author notes that while protected land increased to 40.6 million hectares by 2022, funding remains insufficient. The text also emphasizes the impact of urbanisation and pet predation on wildlife, suggesting that small-scale changes in gardens and pet management can create vital corridors and protect native species.

• Approximately one million animal and plant species are currently facing the threat of extinction, and the global rate of biodiversity loss is faster than the implementation of legislation and policies.
• In the UK, the total area of protected land and sea grew from 27.6 million hectares in 2017 to 40.6 million hectares in 2022, though funding for nature conservation is often inadequate.
• Agricultural intensification and the conversion of natural habitats to farmland have significantly impacted wildlife; one-quarter of remaining mammal species are threatened with extinction, and over half of European bird species are in decline or threatened.
• The Food and Land Use Commission proposes a sustainable adult male diet for 2030 that limits red meat to 14g and chicken/poultry to 29g per day, while including 250g of dairy, 500g of fruits and vegetables, 50g of nuts, and 75g of legumes.
• Pet cats pose a severe threat to biodiversity, particularly in urban areas. In Australia, predation by free-roaming cats in residential areas is 2852 times higher than that of feral cats in natural environments.
• Responsible dog ownership, specifically picking up faeces, can significantly reduce soil nutrient imbalances by lowering nitrogen input by 57% and phosphorus by 97%.

APA

Hiseman, K. (2023). 5 ways you can protect biodiversity in your area. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/5-ways-protect-biodiversity-species-nature/

Chicago

Hiseman, Kate. 5 ways you can protect biodiversity in your area. World Economic Forum, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/5-ways-protect-biodiversity-species-nature/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hiseman |first1=Kate |title=5 ways you can protect biodiversity in your area |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=3 January 2023 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/5-ways-protect-biodiversity-species-nature/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hiseman2023ways, author = {Hiseman, Kate}, title = {{5 ways you can protect biodiversity in your area}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/5-ways-protect-biodiversity-species-nature/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }