A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 25(2), P. 255 - 263

Published: Dec. 1, 2021

Global freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and meeting the challenges of this crisis requires bold goals mobilisation substantial resources. While reasons are varied, investments in both research conservation lag far behind those terrestrial marine realms. Inspired by a global consultation, we identify 15 pressing priority needs, grouped into five areas, an effort to support informed stewardship biodiversity. The proposed agenda aims advance globally as critical step improving coordinated actions towards its sustainable management conservation.

Language: Английский

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Reviving Europe's rivers: Seven challenges in the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law to restore free‐flowing rivers

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(3)

Published: Jan. 30, 2024

Abstract The EU Nature Restoration Law represents an important opportunity for freshwater habitat restoration and, consequently, biodiversity protection. However, a number of challenges must be anticipated in its implementation, which may compromise success. Some aspects, particularly those relating to ecosystems, require more clarification. We use riverine ecosystems illustrate existing ambiguities the proposed legislation and potential consequences leaving these aspects open interpretation during implementation process. also discuss solutions problems could help ensure that law's objectives are met. argue river network structure connectivity dimensions, result into meta‐ecosystems, explicitly considered. For purpose, we ask clear definitions critical terms “free‐flowing rivers,” “barriers,” “reference areas.” In addition, recommend developing methods integrated assessment across networks. As key property this used prioritize actions increase length free‐flowing rivers. Adequate planning at larger spatial scales will benefit from meta‐ecosystem perspective accurate representation aquatic‐terrestrial linkages, significantly improve efficacy efforts. Furthermore, stakeholder citizen engagement offer opportunities local, national, European scales, should fostered inclusive decision‐making. conservation outlined here rivers, but they have implications other ecosystems. These considerations useful policymakers, conservationists, stakeholders involved related policy initiatives. This article is categorized under: Water Life > Stresses Pressures on Ecosystems Conservation, Management, Awareness Human Governance

Language: Английский

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Indigenous agroecological knowledge and practices for climate change adaptation in the forest-savanna transition zone at Batchenga in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Discover Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Language: Английский

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Grand Challenges to Support the Freshwater Biodiversity Emergency Recovery Plan

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: May 10, 2021

SPECIALTY GRAND CHALLENGE article Front. Environ. Sci., 10 May 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.664313

Language: Английский

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Towards harmonized standards for freshwater biodiversity monitoring and biological assessment using benthic macroinvertebrates

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 918, P. 170360 - 170360

Published: Feb. 2, 2024

Monitoring programs at sub-national and national scales lack coordination, harmonization, systematic review analysis continental global scales, thus fail to adequately assess evaluate drivers of biodiversity ecosystem degradation loss large spatial scales. Here we the state art, gaps challenges in freshwater assessment for both biological condition (bioassessment) monitoring ecosystems using benthic macroinvertebrate community. To existence nationally- regionally- (sub-nationally-) accepted protocols that are put practice/used each country, conducted a survey from November 2022 May 2023. Responses 110 respondents based 67 countries were received. Although responses varied their consistency, clearly demonstrated being done levels lakes, rivers artificial waterbodies. Programs bioassessment more widespread, some cases even harmonized among several countries. We identified 20 challenges, which classed into five major categories, these (a) field sampling, (b) sample processing identification, (c) metrics indices, (d) assessment, (e) other challenges. Above all, identify harmonization as one most important gaps, hindering efficient collaboration communication. IUCN SSC Global Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Sampling Protocols Task Force (GLOSAM) means address globally-harmonized protocols.

Language: Английский

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Nature-based solutions and restoration are intertwined but not identical: Highlighting implications for societies and ecosystems

Nature-Based Solutions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5, P. 100116 - 100116

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and ecosystem restoration are often conflated, but cannot be assumed to identical. Understanding choosing between different framings is important. It affects our ambitions for reinvigorating natural systems, the range of actors resources that can drawn on achieve them, every part how interventions planned, delivered appraised. To explore differences relationships concepts we focus freshwater catchment management initiatives, points relevant initiatives focused other settings or framed in terms. We firstly identify potential by analysing accepted definitions Solutions; then illustrate these with examples UK Ireland, which familiar from own work collaborations. These real-world cases demonstrate NbS lead priorities ecosystems processes managed; who involved projects develop. The also show may somewhere a continuum two concepts, potentially shift over time. There lack clarity why terms used, causing sometimes unacknowledged confusion missed opportunities improve management. Different stakeholder groups could benefit more opportunity explicitly reflect preferred goals, implications this. need explicit reflection purpose an intervention, site-managers policy enabling plan vision. Given time lags outcomes, it particularly important use insights adaptive approaches understand changing drivers shaping current future action.

Language: Английский

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Bending the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss: what are the prospects?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 2, 2024

ABSTRACT Freshwater biodiversity conservation has received substantial attention in the scientific literature and is finally being recognized policy frameworks such as Global Biodiversity Framework its associated targets for 2030. This important progress. Nonetheless, freshwater species continue to be confronted with high levels of imperilment widespread ecosystem degradation. An Emergency Recovery Plan (ERP) proposed 2020 comprises six measures intended “bend curve” loss, if they are widely adopted adequately supported. We review evidence suggesting that combined intensity persistent emerging threats become so serious current projected efforts preserve, protect restore inland‐water ecosystems may insufficient avert losses coming decades. In particular, climate change, complex harmful impacts, will frustrate attempts prevent from already affected by multiple threats. Interactions among these limit recovery populations exacerbate declines resulting local or even global extinctions, especially low‐viability degraded fragmented ecosystems. addition impediments represented we identify several other areas where absolute scarcity fresh water, inadequate information predictive capacity, a failure mitigate anthropogenic stressors, liable set limits on biodiversity. Implementation ERP rapidly at scale through many dispersed actions focused regions intense threat, together an intensification ex‐situ efforts, necessary preserve native during increasingly uncertain climatic future which poorly understood, emergent interacting have more influential. But implementation must accompanied improve energy food security humans – without further compromising condition Unfortunately, political policies arrest environmental challenges change do not inspire confidence about possible success ERP. parts world, Anthropocene seems certain include extended periods uncontaminated surface runoff inevitably appropriated humans. Unless there step‐change societal awareness commitment biodiversity, established methods protecting bend curve enough continued degradation loss.

Language: Английский

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TheRACEfor freshwater biodiversity: Essential actions to create the social context for meaningful conservation

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(4)

Published: Feb. 22, 2023

Abstract Freshwater habitats are experiencing two to three times the rate of biodiversity loss terrestrial and marine habitats. As status quo actions within conservation community not reversing downward trajectory for freshwater biodiversity, we propose four shift narrative such that is no longer invisible overlooked, but rather explicitly recognized, valued, protected: (1) Reshape our relationship with (2) Appreciate indigenous knowledge systems relating habitats, (3) Connect science more directly action, (4) Elevate as a unique “domain” requires explicit recognition in planning (RACE). We highlight roles both scientists wider can play implementing “RACE” be won.

Language: Английский

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Managing exploitation of freshwater species and aggregates to protect and restore freshwater biodiversity

Environmental Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(3), P. 414 - 437

Published: Aug. 2, 2023

For millennia humans have extracted biological and physical resources from the planet to sustain societies enable development of technology infrastructure. Growth in human population changing consumption patterns increased footprint on ecosystems their biodiversity, including fresh waters. Freshwater biodiversity face many threats it is now widely accepted that we are a crisis. One means protecting restoring freshwater better manage exploitation biota aggregate (e.g., sand, gravel, boulders). Here outline arising such identify response options ensure methods levels extraction sustainable allow recovery over-exploited ecosystems. The guidance provide will practitioners, policy-makers, resource stewards embrace effective, sustainable, evidence-based approaches extraction. Response for managing species include strengthening assessment reporting, using science-based reduce overexploitation support recovery, embracing community engagement, building or tightening legislation. reducing demand harvest, governance, monitoring environmental impacts, promoting restoration degraded compensating losses. Diverse case studies highlight examples where various management actions been implemented an effort consider how they can be scaled up adapted other contexts. Managing key aspect broader initiatives needed protect restore around globe.

Language: Английский

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Building pondscapes for amphibian metapopulations

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(6)

Published: May 7, 2024

Abstract The success of ponds constructed to restore ecological infrastructure for pond‐breeding amphibians and benefit aquatic biodiversity depends on where how they are built. We studied effects pond landscape characteristics, including connectivity, metapopulation dynamics 12 amphibian species in Switzerland. To understand the determinants long‐term occupancy (here summarized as incidence), environmental both colonization persistence should be considered. fitted dynamic models 20 years monitoring data a construction program quantify characteristics different connectivity metrics probabilities ponds. Connectivity existing populations explained better than structural metrics, simple (distance nearest neighbor population, population density) were useful surrogates dispersal kernel‐weighted commonly used theory. Population mediated conservation target new ponds, suggesting source–sink newly established populations. density captured this effect well could by practitioners site selection. Ponds created there 2–4 occupied within radius ∼0.5 km had >3.5 times higher incidence (median) isolated Species individual preferences regarding but breeding sites with larger (≥100 m 2 ) total water surface area, that temporarily dried, surroundings maximally 50% forest benefitted multiple species. Pond diversity will foster at scale.

Language: Английский

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