Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 375(1794), P. 20190120 - 20190120

Published: Jan. 27, 2020

There is growing awareness that ‘nature-based solutions' (NbS) can help to protect us from climate change impacts while slowing further warming, supporting biodiversity and securing ecosystem services. However, the potential of NbS provide intended benefits has not been rigorously assessed. are concerns over their reliability cost-effectiveness compared engineered alternatives, resilience change. Trade-offs arise if mitigation policy encourages with low value, such as afforestation non-native monocultures. This result in maladaptation, especially a rapidly changing world where biodiversity-based multi-functional landscapes key. Here, we highlight rise policy—focusing on for adaptation well mitigation—and discuss barriers evidence-based implementation. We outline major financial governance challenges implementing at scale, highlighting avenues research. As turns increasingly towards greenhouse gas removal approaches afforestation, stress urgent need natural social scientists engage makers. They must ensure achieve tackle both crisis also contributing sustainable development. will require systemic way conduct research run our institutions. article part theme issue ‘Climate ecosystems: threats, opportunities solutions’.

Language: Английский

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Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 26(13), P. 3005 - 3035

Published: Nov. 4, 2017

Language: Английский

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Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(8), P. 1518 - 1546

Published: Feb. 1, 2021

Abstract Nature‐based solutions (NbS)—solutions to societal challenges that involve working with nature—have recently gained popularity as an integrated approach can address climate change and biodiversity loss, while supporting sustainable development. Although well‐designed NbS deliver multiple benefits for people nature, much of the recent limelight has been on tree planting carbon sequestration. There are serious concerns this is distracting from need rapidly phase out use fossil fuels protect existing intact ecosystems. also expansion forestry framed a mitigation solution coming at cost rich biodiverse native ecosystems local resource rights. Here, we discuss promise pitfalls framing its current political traction, present recommendations how get message right. We urge policymakers, practitioners researchers consider synergies trade‐offs associated follow four guiding principles enable provide society: (1) not substitute rapid fuels; (2) wide range land in sea, just forests; (3) implemented full engagement consent Indigenous Peoples communities way respects their cultural ecological rights; (4) should be explicitly designed measurable biodiversity. Only by following these guidelines will design robust resilient urgent sustaining nature together, now into future.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 20(11), P. 1414 - 1426

Published: Sept. 18, 2017

Abstract The importance of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functioning is generally well accepted. However, most evidence comes from small‐scale studies, and scaling‐up patterns biodiversity–ecosystem (B‐EF) remains challenging, part because the environmental factors shaping B‐EF relations poorly understood. Using a forest research platform which 26 functions were measured along gradients tree species richness six regions across Europe, we investigated extent potential drivers context dependency relations. Despite considerable variation effects continent, found tendency for stronger drier climates as areas with longer growing seasons more functionally diverse species. water availability driving suggests that limitation increases under climate change, may become even important to support high levels European forests.

Language: Английский

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Which practices co‐deliver food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and combat land degradation and desertification?

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 26(3), P. 1532 - 1575

Published: Oct. 22, 2019

Abstract There is a clear need for transformative change in the land management and food production sectors to address global challenges of climate mitigation, adaptation, combatting degradation desertification, delivering security (referred hereafter as “land challenges”). We assess potential 40 practices these find that: Nine options deliver medium large benefits all four challenges. A further two have no estimates but other Five mitigation (>3 Gt CO 2 eq/year) without adverse impacts on moderate potential, with Sixteen adaptation (>25 million people benefit), side effects Most can be applied competing available land. However, seven could result competition number do not require dedicated land, including several options, value chain risk options. Four greatly increase if at scale, though impact scale context specific, highlighting safeguards ensure that expansion does natural systems security. practices, such increased productivity, dietary reduced loss waste, reduce demand conversion, thereby potentially freeing‐up creating opportunities enhanced implementation making them important components portfolios combined

Language: Английский

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Grounding nature-based climate solutions in sound biodiversity science

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(2), P. 84 - 87

Published: Jan. 28, 2019

Language: Английский

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The functional complex network approach to foster forest resilience to global changes

Forest Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: April 9, 2019

Human impacts on Earth's ecosystems have greatly intensified in the last decades. This is reflected unexpected disturbance events, as well new and increasing socio-economic demands, all of which are affecting resilience forest worldwide provision important ecosystem services. Anthropocene era forcing us to reconsider past current management silvicultural practices, search for ones that more flexible better at dealing with uncertainty brought about by these accelerating cumulative global changes. Here, we briefly review focus limitations practices mainly developed Europe North America. We then discuss some recent promising concepts, such managing forests complex adaptive systems, approaches based resilience, functional diversity, assisted migration multi-species plantations, propose a novel approach integrate functionality species-traits into network multi-scale way manage Anthropocene. takes consideration high level associated future environmental societal It relies quantification dynamic monitoring diversity indices network. Using this approach, most efficient can be determined, where, what scale, intensity landscape-scale resistance, capacity changes improved.

Language: Английский

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Fostering natural forest regeneration on former agricultural land through economic and policy interventions

Environmental Research Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 043002 - 043002

Published: Feb. 25, 2020

Abstract Under suitable conditions, deforested land used for agricultural crops or pastures can revert to forest through the assisted unassisted process of natural regeneration. These naturally regenerating forests conserve biodiversity, provide a wide array ecosystem goods and services, support rural economies livelihoods. Based on studies in tropical temperate ecosystems, we summarize cases where regeneration is occurring landscapes around world identify socio-ecological factors that favor its development affect qualities, outcomes persistence. We describe how economic policy context creates barriers development, persistence, management forests, including perverse policies intended enhance protection native forests. conclude with recommendations specific interventions at local, national, global scales promote sustainable regrowth former while strengthening communities economies.

Language: Английский

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Tree Diversity and Forest Resistance to Insect Pests: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Prospects

Annual Review of Entomology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 66(1), P. 277 - 296

Published: Sept. 9, 2020

Ecological research conducted over the past five decades has shown that increasing tree species richness at forest stands can improve resistance to insect pest damage. However, commonality of this finding is still under debate. In review, we provide a quantitative assessment (i.e., meta-analysis) diversity effects on herbivory and discuss plausible mechanisms underlying observed patterns. We recommendations working hypotheses serve lay groundwork for come. Based more than 600 study cases, our review indicates was, average, lower in mixed pure stands, but these were contingent herbivore diet breadth composition. particular, mainly reduced damage specialist herbivores with phylogenetically distant species. Overall, findings essential guidance management.

Language: Английский

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The greater resilience of mixed forests to drought mainly depends on their composition: Analysis along a climate gradient across Europe

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 481, P. 118687 - 118687

Published: Oct. 28, 2020

Despite growing evidence that diverse forests play an important role in ecosystem functioning, ensuring the provision of different services, whether such diversity improves their response to drought events remains unclear. In this study, we use a large tree-ring database from thirty case studies across nine European countries and eleven species, covering Mediterranean hemiboreal forests, test if growth site specific occurred between 1975 2015 varied mixed monospecific stands. particular, quantify how stands resist those recover after them, thus analyzing resilience. For each event forest stand calculated resistance, recovery, resilience relative related variation these indices with type admixture, tree species identity, aridity gradient, basal area age. We found variability among studies, even for share similar composition have climates. On average, showed higher than However, beneficial effect mixtures could not be generalized, being greatly modulated by admixture depending on water supply characteristics, as The increase compared monocultures was greater conifer-broadleaved admixtures, lesser extent broadleaved-broadleaved combinations. observed patterns largely studied revealing importance functional traits understanding species' its distribution range. Along increased drier sites both stands, trend towards hotter sites. Our results confirm complexity relationships when comparing pure vs

Language: Английский

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