Change in Terrestrial Human Footprint Drives Continued Loss of Intact Ecosystems

One Earth, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 3(3), P. 371 - 382

Published: Sept. 1, 2020

Language: Английский

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Renewable energy development threatens many globally important biodiversity areas

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 26(5), P. 3040 - 3051

Published: March 5, 2020

Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is fundamental for halting anthropogenic climate change. However, facilities can be land-use intensive and impact conservation areas, little attention has been given whether the aggregated effect of transitions poses a substantial threat global biodiversity. Here, we assess extent current likely future infrastructure associated with onshore wind, hydropower solar photovoltaic generation, within three important areas: protected areas (PAs), Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) Earth's remaining wilderness. We identified 2,206 fully operational boundaries these another 922 under development. Combined, span are degrading 886 PAs, 749 KBAs 40 distinct wilderness areas. Two trends particularly concerning. First, while majority historical overlap occurs in Western Europe, electricity development increasingly Southeast Asia, globally region Second, this next wave represents ~30% increase number PAs impacted could compromised by ~60%. If world continues rapidly transition towards will face increasing pressure allow expansion. Coordinated planning expansion biodiversity essential avoid conflicts that compromise their respective objectives.

Language: Английский

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Intact but empty forests? Patterns of hunting-induced mammal defaunation in the tropics

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 17(5), P. e3000247 - e3000247

Published: May 14, 2019

Tropical forests are increasingly degraded by industrial logging, urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure, with only 20% of the remaining area considered intact. However, this figure does not include other, more cryptic but pervasive forms degradation, such as overhunting. Here, we quantified mapped spatial patterns mammal defaunation in tropics using a database 3,281 abundance declines from local hunting studies. We simultaneously accounted for population probability extirpation function several predictors related to human accessibility remote areas species' vulnerability hunting. estimated an average decline 13% across all tropical species, medium-sized species being reduced >27% large mammals >40%. Mammal populations predicted be partially defaunated (i.e., 10%-100%) ca. 50% pantropical forest (14 million km2), (>70%) West Africa. According our projections, 52% intact (IFs) 62% wilderness (WAs) devoid mammals, may affect protected (PAs) tropics, particularly Central Africa Southeast Asia. The effects overhunting on have profound ramifications ecosystem functioning livelihoods wild-meat-dependent communities, underscore that coverage alone is necessarily indicative intactness. call systematic consideration (large-scale) biodiversity assessments representative estimates human-induced loss.

Language: Английский

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The costs and benefits of primary prevention of zoonotic pandemics

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(5)

Published: Feb. 4, 2022

The lives lost and economic costs of viral zoonotic pandemics have steadily increased over the past century. Prominent policymakers promoted plans that argue best ways to address future pandemic catastrophes should entail, “detecting containing emerging threats.” In other words, we take actions only after humans get sick. We sharply disagree. Humans extensive contact with wildlife known harbor vast numbers viruses, many which not yet spilled into humans. compute annualized damages from zoonoses. explore three practical minimize impact pandemics: better surveillance pathogen spillover development global databases virus genomics serology, management trade, substantial reduction deforestation. find these primary prevention cost less than 1/20th value each year zoonoses cobenefits.

Language: Английский

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Supporting resurgent Indigenous-led governance: A nascent mechanism for just and effective conservation

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 240, P. 108284 - 108284

Published: Nov. 4, 2019

Substantial increases in the pace, scale, and effectiveness of conservation will be required to abate ongoing loss global biodiversity simultaneous ecological degradation. Concurrently, need for respect inherent human rights, including rights title Indigenous Peoples, is increasingly recognized. Here, we describe often overlooked role that resurgent Indigenous-led governance could have driving rapid, socially just conservation. Whereas resurgence spans all aspects governance, focus on three highlight both necessity nascent potential supporting systems as they relate lands seas. Firstly, much landscapes seascapes interest are within territories, so augmenting them not possible, justified, nor legal without consent partnership. Secondly, provides rapidly increasing spatial coverage conserved areas. Thirdly, increased effectiveness. We Canada, a country disproportionately composed globally significant intact ecosystems other with considerable value, comprised where governments well-positioned advance meaningful at large scale. discuss broader implications, territories covering swaths globe, five countries (Canada, USA, Australia, Brazil, Russia) whose borders contain majority world's remaining landscapes. offer suggestions achieve effective just.

Language: Английский

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