Global scale assessment of the human-induced extinction crisis of terrestrial carnivores
Human impacts on carnivores are a persistent conservation challenge worldwide. We present a global analysis showing the overlap of conservation lands and the cumulative impact of humans on the distribution ranges of 257 terrestrial carnivore species. Our findings reveal that 64% of carnivore ranges overlap with areas characterized by high human pressures. We found that Indigenous peoples' lands emerge as crucial for carnivore population viability, potentially safeguarding 26% of carnivore ranges globally, while protected and wilderness areas cover roughly 10 and 16% of carnivore ranges, respectively. These three areas combined cover 35% of the global range of carnivores. Reducing human pressure on conservation lands and managing them to protect carnivores are therefore critical, yet challenging. The extent of carnivore ranges outside these areas underscores the necessity to expand the network of conservation lands, which are a pivotal component of global conservation planning, alongside broader proactive species-specific conservation measures.
Authors
- Nuria Selva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3389-201X)
- Timothy M. Eppley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1456-6948)
- Thomas M. Newsome (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3457-3256)
- Andrés Ordiz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6141-8457)
- Vincenzo Penteriani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9333-7846)
- William J. Ripple (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6557-3043)
- Erik Joaquín Torres‐Romero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1078-9223)
- Miha Krofel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2010-5219)
- Neil Carter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4399-6384)
- Tadeu Gomes de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8760-3159)
Institutions
- Portland State University (US)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Oregon State University (US)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- University of Ljubljana (SI)
- Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca (MX)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corvallis Environmental Center (US)
- Life Services (United States) (US)
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (ES)
- Institute of Nature Conservation (PL)
- Universidad Politécnica de Puebla (MX)
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (BR)
- Conservation Biology Institute
- Universidad de Huelva (ES)
- Universidad de León (ES)
- Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Published
- 2025-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq2853
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 12.01