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

---

Area-based conservation in the twenty-first century

Nature, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 586(7828), P. 217 - 227

Published: Oct. 7, 2020

Humanity will soon define a new era for nature—one that seeks to transform decades of underwhelming responses the global biodiversity crisis. Area-based conservation efforts, which include both protected areas and other effective area-based measures, are likely extend diversify. However, persistent shortfalls in ecological representation management effectiveness diminish potential role stemming loss. Here we show how expansion by national governments since 2010 has had limited success increasing coverage across different elements (ecoregions, 12,056 threatened species, 'Key Biodiversity Areas' wilderness areas) ecosystem services (productive fisheries, carbon on land sea). To be more successful after 2020, must contribute effectively meeting goals—ranging from preventing extinctions retaining most-intact ecosystems—and better collaborate with many Indigenous peoples, community groups private initiatives central biodiversity. The long-term requires parties Convention Biological Diversity secure adequate financing, plan climate change make far stronger part land, water sea policies. conservation—including measures—after 2020 depend securing funding prioritizing management.

Language: Английский

---

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

---

A Global Deal For Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(4)

Published: April 5, 2019

The Global Deal for Nature sets an ambitious agenda to protect our biosphere through ecosystem conservation and land restoration.

Language: Английский

---

Global buffering of temperatures under forest canopies

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(5), P. 744 - 749

Published: April 1, 2019

Language: Английский

---

Managing the middle: A shift in conservation priorities based on the global human modification gradient

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 25(3), P. 811 - 826

Published: Jan. 10, 2019

Abstract An increasing number of international initiatives aim to reconcile development with conservation. Crucial successful implementation these is a comprehensive understanding the current ecological condition landscapes and their spatial distributions. Here, we provide cumulative measure human modification terrestrial lands based on modeling physical extents 13 anthropogenic stressors estimated impacts using spatially explicit global datasets median year 2016. We quantified degree land amount configuration low modified (i.e., natural areas relatively free from alteration) across all ecoregions biomes. identified that fewer unmodified remain than previously reported most world in state intermediate modification, 52% classified as moderately modified. Given fall within critical use thresholds, propose they warrant elevated attention require proactive planning maintain biodiversity ecosystem function before important environmental values are lost.

Language: Английский

---

Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(7), P. 1328 - 1348

Published: Jan. 25, 2021

Abstract Urgent solutions to global climate change are needed. Ambitious tree‐planting initiatives, many already underway, aim sequester enormous quantities of carbon partly compensate for anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, which a major cause rising temperatures. However, tree planting that is poorly planned and executed could actually increase emissions have long‐term, deleterious impacts on biodiversity, landscapes livelihoods. Here, we highlight the main environmental risks large‐scale propose 10 golden rules, based some most recent ecological research, implement forest ecosystem restoration maximizes rates both sequestration biodiversity recovery while improving These as follows: (1) Protect existing first; (2) Work together (involving all stakeholders); (3) Aim maximize meet multiple goals; (4) Select appropriate areas restoration; (5) Use natural regeneration wherever possible; (6) species biodiversity; (7) resilient plant material (with genetic variability provenance); (8) Plan ahead infrastructure, capacity seed supply; (9) Learn by doing (using an adaptive management approach); (10) Make it pay (ensuring economic sustainability project). We focus design long‐term strategies tackle crises support livelihood needs. emphasize role local communities sources indigenous knowledge, benefits they derive from successful reforestation restores functioning delivers diverse range products services. While there no simple universal recipe restoration, crucial build upon currently growing public private interest in this topic, ensure interventions provide effective, sinks people.

Language: Английский

---

Global restoration opportunities in tropical rainforest landscapes

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(7)

Published: July 3, 2019

Assessment of socioenvironmental benefits and feasibility identifies priority areas for restoring global tropical rainforests.

Language: Английский

---

Long-term (1990–2019) monitoring of forest cover changes in the humid tropics

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 7(10)

Published: March 5, 2021

Accurate characterization of tropical moist forest changes is needed to support conservation policies and quantify their contribution global carbon fluxes more effectively. We document, at pantropical scale, the extent (degradation, deforestation, recovery) these forests over past three decades. estimate that 17% have disappeared since 1990 with a remaining area 1071 million hectares in 2019, from which 10% are degraded. Our study underlines importance degradation process ecosystems, particular, as precursor recent increase disturbances (natural anthropogenic or deforestation). Without reduction present disturbance rates, undisturbed will disappear entirely large humid regions by 2050. suggests reinforcing actions prevent initial leads clearance 45% cases.

Language: Английский

---

Long-term forest degradation surpasses deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 369(6509), P. 1378 - 1382

Published: Sept. 10, 2020

Although deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon are well known, extent of area affected by forest degradation is a notable data gap, with implications for conservation biology, carbon cycle science, and international policy. We generated long-term spatially quantified assessment entire from 1992 to 2014. measured mapped full range activities that degrade forests evaluated relationship deforestation. From 2014, total degraded was 337,427 square kilometers (km2), compared 308,311 km2 were deforested. Forest separate increasing form disturbance, now greater than due

Language: Английский

---