Maximizing the effectiveness of national commitments to protected area expansion for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem carbon under climate change

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(15), P. 3395 - 3414

Published: April 15, 2021

Global commitments to protected area expansion should prioritize opportunities protect climate refugia and ecosystems which store high levels of irrecoverable carbon, as key components an effective response biodiversity loss change. The United States Canada are responsible for one-sixth global greenhouse gas emissions but hold extensive natural that globally significant above- below-ground carbon. has initiated a process network in concert with efforts at reconciliation Indigenous Peoples, acknowledged nature-based solutions aspect change mitigation. US, although not party conventions, recently committed protecting 30% its extent by 2030 achieving the UNFCCC Paris Agreement's mitigation targets. afforded these dual conservation require coordinated national regional policies ensure new areas maximize biodiversity-focused adaptation opportunities. We address how can best inform policy initiatives build on existing agency mandates planning species conservation. Previous analyses priorities under have been tenuously linked contexts individual nations lacked information due limitations available datasets. Comparison synthesis predictions from range developed metrics allow such data despite substantial uncertainty arising contrasting model assumptions inputs. A case study endangered old-forest-associated US Pacific Northwest demonstrates be nested hierarchically within strategies integrate refugia, connectivity, ecosystem carbon holistically evaluate role different land designations where protection biodiversity's resilience aligned.

Language: Английский

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A Science Agenda to Inform Natural Resource Management Decisions in an Era of Ecological Transformation

BioScience, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 72(1), P. 71 - 90

Published: Sept. 8, 2021

Abstract Earth is experiencing widespread ecological transformation in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems that attributable to directional environmental changes, especially intensifying climate change. To better steward facing unprecedented lasting change, a new management paradigm forming, supported by decision-oriented framework presents three distinct choices: resist, accept, or direct the trajectory. make these choices strategically, managers seek understand nature of could occur if change accepted while identifying opportunities intervene resist In this article, we inspire research agenda for science focused on social based five central questions align with resist–accept–direct (RAD) framework. Development needed apply RAD support natural resource conservation our rapidly changing planet.

Language: Английский

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Increasing fire frequency and severity will increase habitat loss for a boreal forest indicator species

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(3)

Published: Jan. 30, 2022

Climate change will lead to more frequent and severe fires in some areas of boreal forests, affecting the distribution availability late-successional forest communities. These communities help protect globally significant carbon reserves beneath permafrost layers provide habitat for many animal species, including forest-dwelling caribou. Many caribou populations are declining, yet mechanisms by which changing fire regimes could affect declines poorly understood. We analyzed resource selection 686 GPS-collared female from three ecotypes 15 a ~600,000 km2 region northwest Canada eastern Alaska. span wide gradient frequency but experience low levels human-caused disturbance. used mixed-effects modeling framework characterize response burns at different seasons spatiotemporal scales, test functional responses burn availability. also tested driving observed patterns using severity lichen cover data. Caribou avoided strongly during winter relative summer larger scales smaller scales. During winter, consistently both as increased, indicating little evidence response. However, they decreased their avoidance increased. Burn explained variation than ecotype. Within burns, severely burned this lasted nearly 30 years after fire. within selected higher terrestrial (an important food source). found negative relationship between cover, confirming that was consistent with lower abundance. Consistent suggests increasing loss increase. Our results highlight potential climate-induced alteration natural disturbance biodiversity through loss. suggest management strategies prioritizing protection core range probabilities would climate-change refugia

Language: Английский

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Conservation strategies for the climate crisis: An update on three decades of biodiversity management recommendations from science

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 268, P. 109497 - 109497

Published: March 11, 2022

Language: Английский

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Integrating climate‐change refugia into 30 by 30 conservation planning in North America

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 21(2), P. 77 - 84

Published: Jan. 11, 2023

Countries have set targets for conserving natural areas to mitigate biodiversity loss, such as the protection of 30% lands by 2030, commonly referred “30 30”. Yet strategic conservation planning align those with climate‐change refugia is lacking. We investigated feasibility achieving 30 in North America assessing proportions state/provincial/territorial land projected provide terrestrial and that are currently protected. also conducted a reserve selection prioritization identify priority complement current protected area network capture seven taxonomic groups. In America, <15% protected, but ample opportunity exists expand if warming limited 2°C. Beyond 2°C, however, majority will occur only at high latitudes elevations. Incorporation into efforts facilitate species persistence under climate change.

Language: Английский

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Priorities for embedding ecological integrity in climate adaptation policy and practice

One Earth, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(6), P. 632 - 644

Published: June 1, 2023

Humanity must adapt rapidly to climate change as the impacts accelerate. Growing scientific evidence underscores role of ecological integrity in improving adaptation outcomes for nature and people by providing refugia biodiversity, buffering natural hazards, protecting freshwater resources, benefiting human health. However, initiatives have largely neglected prioritize integrity, even though it is critical effective achieving global conservation goals. Here, we highlight how biodiversity policy practice can help manage ecosystems social outcomes. We discuss challenges associated with operationalizing describe seven priorities scientists, policymakers, practitioners improve through supporting retention high-integrity restoration low-integrity ecosystems. Finally, show linking these UN frameworks on climate, sustainable development would attain best a changing climate.

Language: Английский

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Using structural equation models (SEM) to link climate change, forest composition, deer, and outdoor recreation

Ecological Modelling, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 493, P. 110731 - 110731

Published: May 13, 2024

Language: Английский

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Rewilding in the face of climate change

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(1), P. 155 - 167

Published: June 1, 2020

Abstract Expansion of the global protected‐area network has been proposed as a strategy to address threats from accelerating climate change and species extinction. A key step in increasing effectiveness such expansion is understanding how novel biodiversity alter concepts rewilding, which have underpinned many proposals for large interconnected reserves. We reviewed potential challenges that poses rewilding found conservation value protected areas persists under change. Nevertheless, more attention should be given protection microrefugia, macrorefugia, complete environmental gradients, connect current future suitable climates maintaining ecosystem processes stabilizing feedbacks via strategies are resilient uncertainty regarding trends. Because major element threat stems its geographic patterns, we examined, an example, implications climate‐adaptation planning latitudinal, longitudinal (continental maritime), elevational gradients climate‐change exposure across Yellowstone‐to‐Yukon region, locus iconic proposal initially designed conserve wide‐ranging carnivore species. In addition continued emphasis on conserving intact landscapes, restoration degraded low‐elevation within region needed capture sites important landscape‐level resilience. Extreme projected boreal North America suggests need ambitious goals there include refugia created by topography ecological features, peatlands, whose can also reduce emissions carbon stored soil. Qualitative underlying reserve design rules geography strengthen outcomes inclusive regional identify specific protection.

Language: Английский

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Building on the last “new” thing: exploring the compatibility of ecological and adaptation silviculture

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 51(2), P. 172 - 180

Published: Oct. 20, 2020

Sustaining the structure, function, and services provided by forest ecosystems in face of changing climate disturbance regimes represents a grand challenge for managers policy makers. To address this challenge, range adaptation approaches have been proposed centered on conferring ecosystem resilience adaptive capacity; however, considerable uncertainty exists regarding how to translate these broad often theoretical frameworks on-the-ground practice. Complicating issue has movement away, some cases, from other recent advances management, namely ecological silviculture strategies that focus restoration. In paper, we highlight areas compatibility conflict between two reviewing four principles (continuity, complexity diversity, timing, context) perspective global change adaptation. We conclude given many commonalities outcomes conditions capacity, remain relevant starting point guiding operationalization strategies.

Language: Английский

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Combining physical and species‐based approaches improves refugia identification

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 18(5), P. 254 - 260

Published: June 1, 2020

Climate‐change refugia – locations likely to facilitate species persistence under climate change are increasingly important components of conservation planning. Recent approaches for identifying at broad scales include regions that projected experience less severe changes (climatic exposure), contain a diversity physical and topographic features (environmental diversity), either retain or remain close suitable climatic conditions (climate tracking, including both “species‐neutral” species‐based approaches). We compared the degree agreement between these with respect their spatial coverage other characteristics across much North America. This analysis found based on environmental species‐neutral gradients favored topographically complex regions, whereas exposure identified range characteristics. Species‐based targeting specific habitat groups unique missed by approaches, emphasizing importance asking question “refugia what?” when prioritizing refugia. Our results highlight necessity information in addition analyses.

Language: Английский

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