Places for a Half-Earth Future showcases the most essential places in the world for biodiversity based on the science of the Half-Earth Project, promoting the research and education activities that are inspiring their successful conservation, and building a shared vision for what must be conserved to ensure that no species are left behind. Through these efforts, we aim to provide transformative scientific leadership and inspire informed collective action to save the biosphere.
What kinds of places are Places for a Half-Earth Future?
Places for a Half-Earth Future include sites on land and sea identified by the science of the Half-Earth Project;
Examples include:
What does it mean to be one of the Places for a Half-Earth Future?
Places for a Half-Earth Future are recognized for their unique and important contributions to a Half-Earth future. Their research and conservation best practices are showcased by the Half-Earth Project. Communities working in support of Places for a Half-Earth Future use their network and affiliations with Half-Earth to drive interest in their work as it supports the goal of leaving no species behind.
Where are Places for a Half-Earth Future identified?
The Half-Earth Project Map features Places as part of our outreach and programming. In the National Report Cards, the Places for a Half-Earth Future layer show up to 20 regions in each country that would benefit from additional conservation action. These areas can serve as important starting places because they comprise the top 10% of each country’s priority areas. Priority rankings are results from a global conservation planning model that minimizes the amount of additional land needed to protect a sufficient amount of habitat for terrestrial vertebrate species. This model also minimizes the amount of human pressures within the species habitat wherever possible, so that more intact habitat is prioritized over habitat in need of restoration.
Further, stories about Places in the media, social media, and our channels share and communicate research findings, methods, results and news with the conservation community, including through peer-reviewed and other publications.
At the Crossroads: Biodiversity, Civil Rights, and Science Education from the Black Belt to Paint Rock, a recent webinar about biologically and culturally rich areas in Alabama, exemplify the stories showcased through the Places for a Half-Earth Future program to advance protection of the area as well as stewardship and leadership initiatives that contribute to the goal of Half-Earth.
How can Places for a Half-Earth Future benefit my conservation efforts?
Places for a Half-Earth Future brings diverse stakeholders together to create opportunities for interconnection, expanding habitat and migration routes and improving the health of species populations, while providing examples and inspiration for anyone interested in contributing to a Half-Earth future. In turn, Places benefit from the findings, resources and enhanced visibility provided by the Half-Earth Project, in particular the Half-Earth Map, as well as opportunities for networking and public engagement.