Extinctions slowing for a century

Virtually no one disputes that a serious loss of biodiversity is underway. But species extinctions actually peaked about a century ago and have been declining decade by decade, according to a sweeping new study of millions of species over the past 500 years. Most human-caused extinctions historically occurred when people brought invasive species to islands. In more modern times, species are chiefly threatened by habitat loss. While climate change is a major potential concern, the study found no climate change impact on extinction rates over the past 200 years.

Also, conservation actually works. One case among many: China’s Pere David’s deer population has rebounded from less than 100 (mainly in British zoos) in 1985 to over 14,000 in the wild.

Sources: Phys.org newsletter, Xinhua News Agency