30 Apr 2010

Loss of species unchecked - study

7:57 pm on 30 April 2010

The world's governments will not meet their internationally agreed target of curbing the loss of species and nature by this year, a study has confirmed.

The study, published in journal Science, concludes that virtually all species and ecosystems show continued decline, and that pressures on nature are increasing.

It confirms what conservationists have known for several years.

The 2010 target was adopted in 2002, but the scientists behind the study say implementation has been "woeful".

Research leader Stuart Butchart, from the United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre, says biodiversity is still being lost as fast as ever.