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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Action | Effectiveness | Studies | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Protect nests from ants Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Guard nests to prevent predation Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Use ‘cat curfews’ to reduce predation Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Use lion dung to deter domestic cats Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Play spoken-word radio programmes to deter predators Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Use collar-mounted devices to reduce predation Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Use supplementary feeding to reduce predation Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Use aversive conditioning to reduce nest predation by avian predators Action Link |
Unlikely to be beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Use aversive conditioning to reduce nest predation by mammalian predators Action Link |
Unlikely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce predation by translocating nest boxes Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce inter-specific competition for nest sites of ground nesting seabirds by removing competitor species Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce inter-specific competition for nest sites of woodpeckers by removing competitor species Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce inter-specific competition for nest sites of songbirds by removing competitor species Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce inter-specific competition for nest sites by modifying habitats to exclude competitor species Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Protect nest sites from competitors Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce competition between species by providing nest boxes Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce inter-specific competition for food by removing or controlling competitor species Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce adverse habitat alterations by excluding problematic terrestrial species Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce adverse habitat alterations by excluding problematic aquatic species Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Control or remove habitat-altering mammals Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove problematic vegetation Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Use buffer zones to reduce the impact of invasive plant control Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove/treat endoparasites and diseases Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Exclude or control ‘reservoir species’ to reduce parasite burdens Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove/treat ectoparasites to increase survival or reproductive success Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove ectoparasites from feathers to increase survival or reproductive success Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove ectoparasites from nests to increase survival or reproductive success Action Link |
Unlikely to be beneficial | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce nest ectoparasites by providing beneficial nesting material Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Guard nests to reduce risk of ectoparasites Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove/control adult brood parasites Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 12 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove brood parasite eggs from target species’ nests Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Use false brood parasite eggs to discourage brood parasitism Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food to increase parental presence and so reduce brood parasitism Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Alter artificial nest sites to discourage brood parasitism Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use copper strips to exclude snails from nests Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Clean birds following oil spills Action Link |
Unlikely to be beneficial | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Relocate birds following oil spills Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Deter or prevent birds from landing on toxic pools Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Use visual and acoustic ‘scarers’ to deter birds from landing on pools polluted by mining or sewage Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Use repellents to deter birds from landing on pools polluted by mining Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce pesticide or herbicide use generally Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 9 | Synopsis Link | |
Restrict certain pesticides or other agricultural chemicals for birds Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide food for vultures to reduce mortality from diclofenac Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Make selective use of spring herbicides Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Use organic rather than mineral fertilisers Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce chemical inputs in permanent grassland management Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 12 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide unfertilised cereal headlands in arable fields Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide buffer strips along rivers and streams Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide buffer strips around in-field ponds Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Use lime to reduce acidification in lakes Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce incidental mortality from birds being attracted to artificial lights Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Turn off lights to reduce mortality from artificial lights Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce the intensity of lighthouse beams Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Shield lights to reduce mortality from artificial lights Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use flashing lights to reduce mortality from artificial lights Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use lights low in spectral red to reduce mortality from artificial lights Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Use volunteers to collect downed birds and rehabilitate them Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Water nesting mounds to increase incubation success in malleefowl Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Replace nesting substrate following severe weather Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use artificial visual and auditory stimuli to induce breeding in wild populations Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Rehabilitation of injured and treated birds Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove eggs from wild nests to increase reproductive output Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for divers/loons Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for grebes Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for ground and tree-nesting seabirds Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for burrow-nesting seabirds Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 14 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for wildfowl Action Link |
Beneficial | 27 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for wildfowl using artificial/floating islands Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for gamebirds Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for rails Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for waders Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for ibises and flamingos Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for raptors Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 9 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for falcons Action Link |
Beneficial | 22 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for owls Action Link |
Beneficial | 18 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for oilbirds Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for pigeons Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for trogons Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for rollers Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for swifts Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for woodpeckers Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for parrots Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds Action Link |
Beneficial | 65 | Synopsis Link | |
Clean nest boxes to increase occupancy or reproductive success Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 10 | Synopsis Link | |
Use differently-coloured artificial nests Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide nesting material for wild birds Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Repair/support nests to support breeding Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Artificially incubate eggs or warm nests Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide nesting habitat for birds that is safe from extreme weather Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove vegetation to create nesting areas Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 6 | Synopsis Link | |
Guard nests to increase nest success Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of gannets and boobies with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of waders with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of vultures with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of raptors with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of owls with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of cranes with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of bustards with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Foster eggs or chicks of woodpeckers with wild conspecifics Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | 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.