Newcastle University and IUCN publish a framework for local use of the STAR metric to reduce species extinction risk
Authors from Newcastle University and IUCN described steps from global estimates to locally verified targets and progress tracking, toward the goal of halting species extinctions by 2050.
Researchers from Newcastle University and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have published a conceptual framework for implementing the threat abatement component of the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric. The work appeared in the journal «Conservation Biology» and is dated 3 November 2026 doi.org
Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗. It is tied to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), one of whose goals is to halt species extinction and reduce extinction risk 10-fold by 2050
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Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗.
STAR quantifies the potential contribution of threat abatement or habitat restoration in an area to reducing species' extinction risk. The new framework covers the threat abatement component, STAR T, and describes how to move from global data to local data, then to target setting and progress measurement doi.org
Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗.
From global estimates to local calibration
The framework has several stages. Estimated STAR T scores use global data to give an initial indication of which species and threats are expected in an area. Calibrated STAR T scores then require confirming the local presence of species and threats doi.org
Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗.
Locally verified data allow authors to set threat abatement targets, which can be expressed as target STAR T scores. According to the authors, calibrated STAR T can also inform both reactive and proactive threat management doi.org
Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗.
Measuring realized results
At the final stage, changes in threat intensity are monitored and used to calculate realized STAR T. Achieving realized STAR T requires actors not only to reduce existing threats but also to prevent additional threats emerging in the area doi.org
Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗.
The authors state that the framework lets actors working at different spatial scales quantify, plan, monitor and deliver interventions, and report their impact with a consistent metric that is comparable and aggregable across actors and locations doi.org
Conservation Biologydoi.orgOpen source ↗.
The release notes the first on-the-ground application of STAR, in the Northern Sub-catchments of San José, Costa Rica. According to IUCN and Newcastle University scientists, the greatest potential to reduce extinction risk there lies in addressing habitat loss and degradation from livestock farming and ranching, urban expansion, and the spread of non-native invasive species.
Lead author Louise Mair of Newcastle University said the framework allows the contribution of local actions to global conservation targets to be measured. The method of research is listed as computational simulation and modeling.
