Conservation International and IUCN Reveal One in Five Soil-Dependent Species Facing Extinction

New research from Conservation International and IUCN warns that 20% of soil-dependent species face extinction, threatening global food security and climate.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 10:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Earth.Org

The Emergence of a Subterranean Biodiversity Crisis

A groundbreaking study published by Cambridge University Press in the journal Oryx has unveiled a severe extinction threat residing in the earth beneath the human population. While charismatic megafauna like pandas and penguins typically dominate conservation headlines, this new research, led by 44 scientists from Conservation International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), indicates that one in five studied soil-dependent species is now globally threatened. The data reveals that out of 8,653 species identified as being reliant on soil, approximately 1,758 are classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable. Lead author Neil Cox described the finding as a significant oversight in global biodiversity knowledge, noting that these groups have been historically underrepresented on the IUCN Red List.

Quantifying the Invisible Extinction Risk

The scale of the threat is compounded by a profound lack of information regarding subterranean life, with nearly 20% of the reviewed species classified as Data Deficient. This means that for at least 1,722 species, researchers do not yet have enough information to accurately determine their extinction risk. Furthermore, the study identifies 35 soil-dependent species that are already believed to be globally extinct. With 59% of all known species on Earth living at least partially in the soil, the high percentage of threatened and data-deficient organisms suggests that a substantial portion of the planet's biological foundation is at risk. The researchers emphasize that these invertebrates, fungi, and plants are not just biological curiosities but are essential to the survival of the global food chain.

Ecosystem Services and the Mechanics of Decay

Soil-dependent species perform critical roles in climate regulation, soil formation, and the decomposition of organic matter. Fungi and soil fauna are the primary agents of decomposition, a process that ensures nutrients are returned to the earth to support plant life. Without these organisms in a healthy condition, the natural nutrient cycle would effectively stall, leading to a collapse in soil fertility. Additionally, soil plays a massive role in carbon sequestration, with current estimates suggesting that healthy soils can sequester up to 3.38 gigatonnes of CO2 per year. The lo...