War Is Wiping Out the Planet's Species — And It Doesn't Stop When the Shooting Does

A new study shows armed conflict makes the global biodiversity crisis worse, while a separate report warns one in nine migratory bird species now faces extinction.

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War doesn't just kill people. It kills nature too — and the damage keeps spreading long after the fighting stops.

A new study published in the journal *Science* reveals that armed conflicts make the global biodiversity crisis worse, damaging nature in ways that outlast the fighting itself [1]. Biodiversity means the variety of all living things — plants, animals, and the ecosystems they form [1]. The research, published in September 2026, calls for stronger protection of the environment during wartime [1].

The warning comes as wildlife is already under severe pressure. One in nine migratory bird species is threatened with extinction, according to a new global report [2]. The report also found that 45 percent of migratory species — including cuckoos, turtle doves, and Arctic terns — are in decline [2].

The slender-billed curlew was officially declared extinct last year, the first bird extinction in mainland Eurasia and Africa in recent centuries [2]. Worldwide, seven migratory bird species have been confirmed or are suspected to have gone extinct over the last 150 years [2].

Scientists writing in *Science* are also warning that peatlands need urgent protection [3]. Peat is partially decayed plant material that builds up in waterlogged ground over thousands of years, and these bogs lock away huge amounts of carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere [3]. When peatlands are drained or dug up, that stored carbon is released as carbon dioxide, a gas that drives climate change [3]. Researchers argue that saving these wetlands is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to fight global warming [3].

Other new research points to additional threats. A report warns that fencing is spreading across China's protected areas, putting wildlife and natural habitats at risk [4]. The study, published in *Science* in September 2026, highlights how these barriers can block animal movement and fragment ecosystems [4]. Fencing is often used to mark boundaries or manage land, but when built inside protected areas, it can cut off migration routes and isolate animal populations [4]. The authors call for stronger controls on fencing to protect China's conservation gains [4].

Scientists are also considering a new way to protect nature: using burial grounds as conservation areas [5]. The idea appears in *Science*, Volume 393, Issue 6816, published in September 2026 [5]. Burial grounds are often left undisturbed for long periods, which makes them possible safe places for plants and animals [5]. Researchers say these sites could help support conservation efforts, though the proposal is still under discussion [5].

Sources

War is killing the planet’s species, scientists warn #239744One in Nine Migratory Birds Faces Extinction, Global Report Warns #239313Peat bogs are vital carbon stores, but they are disappearing fast. #239722China’s protected areas under threat from fencing #239743Burial grounds could become conservation areas #239745

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