The Anthropocene biosphere: do threatened species, Red Lists, and protected areas have a future role in nature conservation?

Abstract

Threatened species, red listing and an increase in protected areas have been, and currently remain, key foci for nature conservation. Yet as it becomes more evident we are living in the Anthropocene biosphere the relevance and value of those activities declines. The “new conservation”, controversially argued for by some since 2011, has different foci and strategies, yet they are perhaps too anthropic. A nature conservation for the Anthropocene biosphere must be built on an understanding of biocultural diversity, take account of the conservation potential of novel ecosystems, de-emphasise the role of protected areas while examining the role of novel ex situ approaches to biodiversity conservation and review effort and expenditure on Red Listing of threatened species as conservation actions. The 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress offers potential to provide global leadership towards a new nature conservation for the Anthropocene biosphere.