Actions to conserve biodiversity
We have summarised evidence from the scientific literature about the effects of actions to conserve wildlife and ecosystems.
Review the evidence from the studies
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3690 Actions found
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Action | Effectiveness | Studies | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Soil: Plant or maintain ground cover in orchards or vineyards Action Link |
Beneficial | 22 | Synopsis Link | |
Release translocated/captive-bred mammals in areas with invasive/problematic species eradication/control Action Link |
Beneficial | 22 | Synopsis Link | |
Install overpasses over roads/railways Action Link |
Beneficial | 22 | Synopsis Link | |
Create pit habitats (1–50 mm) on intertidal artificial structures Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 22 | Synopsis Link | |
Rear declining species in captivity Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 22 | Synopsis Link | |
Restore or create grasslands Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Breed reptiles in captivity: Lizards Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Reintroduce primates into habitat where the species is present Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Crop production: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link |
Likely to be ineffective or harmful | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Modify fishing trap/pot configuration Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a different design or configuration of size-sorting escape grid/system in trawl fishing gear (bottom and mid-water) Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 23 | Synopsis Link | |
Create beetle banks Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Use clearcutting to increase understory diversity Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Conduct veterinary screens of animals before reintroducing/translocating them Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Soil: Add compost to the soil Action Link |
Beneficial | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Restore habitat along watercourses Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Directly plant non-woody plants: freshwater wetlands Action Link |
Beneficial | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food to increase reproduction/survival Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Release translocated mammals into fenced areas Action Link |
Beneficial | 24 | Synopsis Link | |
Rear declining bumblebees in captivity Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food for birds or mammals Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Head-start amphibians for release Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Allow primates to adapt to local habitat conditions for some time before introduction to the wild Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Crop production: Grow cover crops in arable fields Action Link |
Likely to be ineffective or harmful | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Restore/create freshwater marshes or swamps (specific action unclear) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove/control non-native mammals Action Link |
Beneficial | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Install tunnels/culverts/underpass under roads Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a different hook type Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 25 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate adult or juvenile reptiles: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Crop production: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Soil: Use organic fertilizer instead of inorganic Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Raise water level to restore/create freshwater marshes from other land uses Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Release translocated/captive-bred mammals in family/social groups Action Link |
Beneficial | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a square mesh instead of a diamond mesh codend in a trawl net Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease grazing on grassland to allow early succession Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant grass buffer strips/margins around arable or pasture fields Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for wildfowl Action Link |
Beneficial | 27 | Synopsis Link | |
Rehabilitate and release injured, sick or weak marine and freshwater mammals Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 27 | Synopsis Link | |
Use prescribed burning on pine forests Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 28 | Synopsis Link | |
Use prescribed burning: Forest, open woodland & savanna Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 28 | Synopsis Link | |
Breed reptiles in captivity: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 28 | Synopsis Link | |
Soil: Grow cover crops in arable fields Action Link |
Beneficial | 29 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit all types of fishing Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 29 | Synopsis Link | |
Pay farmers to cover the costs of bird conservation measures Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce grazing intensity on grassland (including seasonal removal of livestock) Action Link |
Likely to be ineffective or harmful | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Create ponds for amphibians Action Link |
Beneficial | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Reintroduce primates in groups Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Directly plant non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link |
Beneficial | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees Action Link |
Beneficial | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit a size-sorting escape grid (rigid or flexible) to a prawn/shrimp trawl net Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Release captive-bred individuals to re-establish or boost populations in native range Action Link |
Beneficial | 31 | Synopsis Link | |
Use holding pens at release site prior to release of captive-bred mammals Action Link |
Beneficial | 31 | Synopsis Link | |
Install culverts or tunnels as road crossings Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 32 | Synopsis Link | |
Pay farmers to cover the costs of conservation measures (as in agri-environment schemes or conservation incentives) Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 32 | Synopsis Link | |
Use acoustic devices on fishing gear Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 33 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase adult survival Action Link |
Beneficial | 34 | Synopsis Link | |
Captive breeding frogs Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 34 | Synopsis Link | |
Use holding pens at release site prior to release of translocated mammals Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 35 | Synopsis Link | |
Rewet peatland (raise water table) Action Link |
Beneficial | 36 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 37 | Synopsis Link | |
Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 37 | Synopsis Link | |
Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 37 | Synopsis Link | |
Use prescribed burning Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 37 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 38 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit mesh escape panels/windows to a trawl net Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 38 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant wild bird seed or cover mixture Action Link |
Beneficial | 40 | Synopsis Link | |
Soil: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 40 | Synopsis Link | |
Soil: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link |
Beneficial | 40 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a larger mesh size Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 42 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide bat boxes for roosting bats Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 44 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nest sites for solitary bees Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 45 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Exclude grazers Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 45 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce tillage Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 46 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide use generally Action Link |
Beneficial | 47 | Synopsis Link | |
Pay farmers to cover the cost of conservation measures (as in agri-environment schemes) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 47 | Synopsis Link | |
Directly plant trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link |
Beneficial | 47 | Synopsis Link | |
Create uncultivated margins around intensive arable or pasture fields Action Link |
Beneficial | 49 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant wild bird seed or cover mixture Action Link |
Beneficial | 49 | Synopsis Link | |
Sow native grass and forbs Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 50 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland Action Link |
Beneficial | 54 | Synopsis Link | |
Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads Action Link |
Beneficial | 55 | Synopsis Link | |
Change tillage practices Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 56 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands) Action Link |
Beneficial | 57 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate to re-establish or boost populations in native range Action Link |
Beneficial | 64 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds Action Link |
Beneficial | 65 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant grass buffer strips/margins around arable or pasture fields Action Link |
Beneficial | 69 | Synopsis Link | |
Restore/create species-rich, semi-natural grassland Action Link |
Beneficial | 71 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 79 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips Action Link |
Beneficial | 104 | Synopsis Link |
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What are 'Individual studies' and 'Actions'?
Individual studies
An individual study is a summary of a specific scientific study, usually taken from a scientific journal, but also from other resources such as reports. It tells you the background context, the action(s) taken and their consequences.
If you want more detail please look at the original reference.
Actions
Each action page focuses on a particular action you could take to benefit wildlife or ecosystems.
It contains brief (150-200 word) descriptions of relevant studies (context, action(s) taken and their consequences) and one or more key messages.
Key messages show the extent and main conclusions of the available evidence. Using links within key messages, you can look at the paragraphs describing each study to get more detail. Each paragraph allows you to assess the quality of the evidence and how relevant it is to your situation.
Where we found no evidence, we have been unable to assess whether or not an intervention is effective or has any harmful impacts.