Indigenous knowledge and the shackles of wilderness

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(40)

Published: Sept. 27, 2021

The environmental crises currently gripping the Earth have been codified in a new proposed geological epoch: Anthropocene. This epoch, according to Anthropocene Working Group, began mid-20th century and reflects "great acceleration" that with industrialization Europe [J. Zalasiewicz et al.,

Language: Английский

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Locally Based, Regionally Manifested, and Globally Relevant: Indigenous and Local Knowledge, Values, and Practices for Nature

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 46(1), P. 481 - 509

Published: July 23, 2021

The knowledge, values, and practices of Indigenous peoples local communities offer ways to understand better address social-environmental problems. article reviews the state literature on this topic by focusing six pathways which engage with management relationships nature. These are ( a) undertaking territorial customary governance, b) contributing nature conservation restoration efforts regional global implications, c) co-constructing knowledge for assessments monitoring, d) countering drivers unsustainable resource use resisting environmental injustices, e) playing key roles in governance across scales, f) offering alternative conceptualizations interrelations between people review shows that through these making significant contributions managing health ecosystems, producing based diverse values nature, confronting societal pressures burdens, leading partnering governance. have implications but yet be fully recognized development polices, society at large.

Language: Английский

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Scientists' Warning to Humanity on Threats to Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems

Journal of Ethnobiology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 41(2), P. 144 - 169

Published: July 1, 2021

The knowledge systems and practices of Indigenous Peoples local communities play critical roles in safeguarding the biological cultural diversity our planet. Globalization, government policies, capitalism, colonialism, other rapid social-ecological changes threaten relationships between their environments, thereby challenging continuity dynamism Local Knowledge (ILK). In this article, we contribute to “World Scientists' Warning Humanity,” issued by Alliance World Scientists, exploring opportunities for sustaining ILK on behalf future stewardship Our warning raises alarm about pervasive ubiquitous erosion practice social ecological consequences erosion. While can be adaptable resilient, foundations these are compromised ongoing suppression, misrepresentation, appropriation, assimilation, disconnection, destruction biocultural heritage. Three case studies illustrate processes how protecting is central conservation. We conclude with 15 recommendations that call recognition support systems. Enacting will entail a transformative sustained shift systems, holders, multiple expressions lands waters recognized, affirmed, valued. appeal urgent action efforts around world maintain languages, rights, ties waters, integrity territories—on which all depend.

Language: Английский

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Land Use and Ecological Change: A 12,000-Year History

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 46(1), P. 1 - 33

Published: Oct. 18, 2021

Human use of land has been transforming Earth's ecology for millennia. From hunting and foraging to burning the farming industrial agriculture, increasingly intensive human reshaped global patterns biodiversity, ecosystems, landscapes, climate. This review examines recent evidence from archaeology, paleoecology, environmental history, model-based reconstructions that reveal a planet largely transformed by over more than 10,000 years. Although always sustained societies, its ecological consequences are diverse sometimes opposing, both degrading enriching soils, shrinking wild habitats shaping novel ones, causing extinctions some species while propagating domesticating others, emitting absorbing greenhouse gases cause climate change. By ecology, literally paved way Anthropocene. Now, better future depends on strategies can effectively sustain people together with rest terrestrial nature limited land.

Language: Английский

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Global forest fragmentation change from 2000 to 2020

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 11, 2023

Abstract A comprehensive quantification of global forest fragmentation is urgently required to guide protection, restoration and reforestation policies. Previous efforts focused on the static distribution patterns remnants, potentially neglecting dynamic changes in landscapes. Here, we map fragments their temporal between 2000 2020. We find that landscapes tropics were relatively intact, yet these areas experienced most severe over past two decades. In contrast, 75.1% world’s forests a decrease fragmentation, fragmented temperate subtropical regions, mainly northern Eurasia South China, declined also identify eight modes indicate different recovery or degradation states. Our findings underscore need curb deforestation increase connectivity among fragments, especially tropical areas.

Language: Английский

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Scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal, milestones and indicators for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 5(10), P. 1338 - 1349

Published: Aug. 16, 2021

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity: Concepts, Patterns, Trends, and Perspectives

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 47(1), P. 31 - 63

Published: Sept. 2, 2022

Biodiversity, a term now widely employed in science, policy, and wider society, has burgeoning associated literature. We synthesize aspects of this literature, focusing on several key concepts, debates, patterns, trends, drivers. review the history multiple dimensions values biodiversity, we explore what is known not about global patterns biodiversity. then changes biodiversity from early human times to modern era, examining rates extinction direct drivers change also highlighting some less-well-studied Finally, turn attention indirect loss, notably humanity's increasing consumption footprint, might be required reverse ongoing decline fabric life Earth.

Language: Английский

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Animal board invited review: Animal source foods in healthy, sustainable, and ethical diets – An argument against drastic limitation of livestock in the food system

animal, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16(3), P. 100457 - 100457

Published: Feb. 11, 2022

Animal source foods are evolutionarily appropriate for humans. It is therefore remarkable that they now presented by some as unhealthy, unsustainable, and unethical, particularly in the urban West. The benefits of consuming them nonetheless substantial, offer a wide spectrum nutrients needed cell tissue development, function, survival. They play role proper physical cognitive development infants, children, adolescents, help promote maintenance function with ageing. While high-red meat consumption West associated several forms chronic disease, these associations remain uncertain other cultural contexts or when part wholesome diets. Besides health concerns, there also widespread anxiety about environmental impacts animal foods. Although production methods detrimental (intensive cropping feed, overgrazing, deforestation, water pollution, etc.) require substantial mitigation, damaging not intrinsic to husbandry. When well-managed, livestock farming contributes ecosystem management soil health, while delivering high-quality foodstuffs through upcycling resources otherwise non-suitable food production, making use marginal land inedible materials (forage, by-products, etc.), integrating crop where possible has potential benefit plant enhanced nutrient recycling, minimising external input needs such fertilisers pesticides. Moreover, on use, wastage, greenhouse gas emissions highly contextual, their estimation often erroneous due reductionist metrics. Similarly, whether husbandry ethical depends practical specificities, fact animals involved. Such discussions need factor plays an important culture, societal well-being, security, provision livelihoods. We seize this opportunity argue less preconceived assumptions alleged effects planet humans involved, top-down planning based isolated metrics (Western) technocratic perspectives, more holistic circumstantial approaches system.

Language: Английский

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Global importance of Indigenous Peoples, their lands, and knowledge systems for saving the world’s primates from extinction

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(32)

Published: Aug. 10, 2022

Primates, represented by 521 species, are distributed across 91 countries primarily in the Neotropic, Afrotropic, and Indo-Malayan realms. Primates inhabit a wide range of habitats play critical roles sustaining healthy ecosystems that benefit human nonhuman communities. Approximately 68% primate species threatened with extinction because global pressures to convert their for agricultural production extraction natural resources. Here, we review scientific literature conduct spatial analysis assess significance Indigenous Peoples’ lands safeguarding biodiversity. We found account 30% range, 71% these lands. As on increases, less likely be classified as or have declining populations. Safeguarding lands, languages, cultures represents our greatest chance prevent world’s primates.

Language: Английский

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What do you mean, ‘megafire’?

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(10), P. 1906 - 1922

Published: May 3, 2022

Abstract Background ‘Megafire’ is an emerging concept commonly used to describe fires that are extreme in terms of size, behaviour, and/or impacts, but the term’s meaning remains ambiguous. Approach We sought resolve ambiguity surrounding ‘megafire’ by conducting a structured review use and definition term several languages peer‐reviewed scientific literature. collated definitions descriptions megafire identified criteria frequently invoked define megafire. recorded size location megafires mapped them reveal global variation described as megafires. Results 109 studies or identify megafire, with first appearing literature 2005. Seventy‐one (~65%) these attempted term. There was considerable variability although based on fire were most common. Megafire thresholds varied geographically from > 100–100,000 ha, 10,000 ha common threshold (41%, 18/44 studies). Definitions led authors North America (52%, 37/71). 137 instances 84 where reported megafires, vast majority (94%, 129/137) which exceed size. Megafires occurred range biomes, forested biomes (112/137, 82%), usually single ignition (59% 81/137). Conclusion As Earth’s climate ecosystems change, it important scientists can communicate trends occurrence larger more clarity. To overcome ambiguity, we suggest arising multiple related events. introduce two additional – gigafire (> 100,000 ha) terafire 1,000,000 for even scale than

Language: Английский

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