Conserving tropical biological diversity

Supporting conservation of tropical biodiversity
Catalyzing efforts for conservation of ecological diversity in tropics

Description

Conserving tropical biological diversity involves implementing targeted actions to protect and restore the rich variety of species and ecosystems in tropical regions. Essential strategies include establishing and managing protected areas, enforcing anti-poaching laws, promoting sustainable land use, and supporting community-based conservation initiatives. These measures address threats such as habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and unsustainable resource exploitation, ensuring the long-term survival of unique tropical flora and fauna while supporting local livelihoods.

Context

Tropical forests and reefs cover less than 10% of the earth's surface, yet they contain over half of the world's species. The flora and fauna of these regions are the most poorly known on earth. There is an urgent need to conduct baseline biotic inventories, faunal and floral surveys, and systematic studies to document the existing biodiversity in these ecosystems and to provide information critical to managing conservation efforts. The primary goal must be to document tropical diversity and to derive hypotheses of systematic relationships, evolution, and biogeography among species of tropical plants and animals.