Over 80% of Africa's savannah conservation land is failing or deteriorating according to lions as an indicator species

Calls to increase the global area under protection for conservation assume existing conservation areas are effective but, without adequate investment, they may not be. We collected survey data from expert respondents on perceived budgets, management, and threats for 516 protected areas and community conservation areas in savannah Africa to create a Conservation Area Performance Index. Combining this index with an indicative biodiversity outcome-population status of African lion, Panthera leo-we found that 82% of the sampled area was in a state of failure or deterioration, with only 10% in a state of success or recovery. A large proportion of succeeding or recovering conservation areas received external support through collaborative management partnerships. That Africa's current conservation area network-the foundation of conservation efforts-is crumbling complicates proposed strategies to protect additional land. We contend that investing in the effective management of existing conservation areas-potentially through well-structured collaborative management partnerships-should be prioritized urgently.

Automated summary

The study found that the majority of protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa are in a state of failure or deterioration, with successful or recovering areas largely receiving external support through collaborative management partnerships. The current conservation area network in Africa is crumbling, complicating proposed strategies to protect additional land.