Scientists’ warning on the global destruction of rock outcrop ecosystems

Abstract

Rock outcrops are geological formations that harbor a highly specialized biota adapted to harsh environmental conditions that differ from their surrounding landscapes. They are globally distributed, especially in old, highly weathered landscapes, and can function as habitat islands containing high levels of endemism and distinct evolutionary lineages. Despite their ecoevolutionary importance, rock outcrops remain largely overlooked in global conservation policy, ecosystem typologies, and biodiversity monitoring frameworks. Extractive activities directly remove the geological substrate that underpins these habitats, and climate change intensifies drought, heatwaves, and hydrological instability. Rising global demand for energy‐transition metals required for decarbonization is expected to further accelerate these pressures, particularly in biodiverse regions of the Global South where governance is weaker. Given that rock outcrop ecosystems are ecologically and evolutionarily significant, we devised a policy‐relevant conservation roadmap structured around prevention, mitigation, restoration, and governance issues. Priority actions include recognizing rock outcrops as unique ecosystems in global classifications and ecosystem typologies, integrating them into biodiversity monitoring frameworks, and improving the identification of key biodiversity areas and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems assessments. We call for stronger environmental impact assessments, cumulative‐impact evaluations for mining and quarrying projects, and the designation of mining and quarrying exclusion sites of high irreplaceability. Coordinated international policy, improved ecological data, and meaningful engagement with local and Indigenous communities are essential to safeguard these ancient ecosystems before further, irreversible losses occur.

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