Budget cuts and collapse in tourism revenue pose 'severe' threat to nature

Reduced environmental protections and conservation job losses could hit vital progress on climate and biodiversity, research finds

• As Maasai herding lands shrink, so does space for Kenya's elephants

Job cuts in nature reserves and environmental rollbacks by governments during the Covid-19 pandemic could undermine global efforts to conserve biodiversity and tackle the climate crisis, according to new research.

Budget cuts and a collapse in ecotourism revenue have forced national parks and conservation organisations to make staff cuts and reduce activities such as anti-poaching patrols, with Asia and Africa severely affected.