Characteristics, drivers and feedbacks of global greening

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 14 - 27

Published: Dec. 9, 2019

Language: Английский

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Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(2)

Published: Jan. 11, 2021

Nature is under siege. In the last 10,000 y human population has grown from 1 million to 7.8 billion. Much of Earth’s arable lands are already in agriculture (1), millions acres tropical forest cleared each year (2, 3), atmospheric CO2 levels at their highest concentrations more than 3 (4), and climates erratically steadily changing pole pole, triggering unprecedented droughts, fires, floods across continents. Indeed, most biologists agree that world entered its sixth mass extinction event, first since end Cretaceous Period 66 ago, when 80% all species, including nonavian dinosaurs, perished. Ongoing losses have been clearly demonstrated for better-studied groups organisms. Terrestrial vertebrate sizes ranges contracted by one-third, many mammals experienced range declines least over century (5). A 2019 assessment suggests half amphibians imperiled (2.5% which recently gone extinct) (6). Bird numbers North America fallen 2.9 billion 1970 (7). Prospects world’s coral reefs, beyond middle this century, could scarcely be dire (8). 2020 United Nations report estimated a species danger next few decades (9), but also see bridled assessments refs. 10 11. Although flurry reports drawn attention insect abundance, biomass, richness, (e.g., 12⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓–18; reviews 19 20), whether rates insects on par with or exceed those other remains unknown. There still too … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may addressed. Email: david.wagner{at}uconn.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1

Language: Английский

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Pervasive shifts in forest dynamics in a changing world

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 368(6494)

Published: May 28, 2020

Forest dynamics arise from the interplay of environmental drivers and disturbances with demographic processes recruitment, growth, mortality, subsequently driving biomass species composition. However, forest subsequent recovery are shifting global changes in climate land use, altering these dynamics. Changes drivers, disturbance regimes forcing forests toward younger, shorter stands. Rising carbon dioxide, acclimation, adaptation, migration can influence impacts. Recent developments Earth system models support increasingly realistic simulations vegetation In parallel, emerging remote sensing datasets promise qualitatively new more abundant data on underlying consequences for structure. When combined, advances hold improving scientific understanding demographics disturbances.

Language: Английский

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Landscapes that work for biodiversity and people

Science, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 362(6412)

Published: Oct. 18, 2018

How can we manage farmlands, forests, and rangelands to respond the triple challenge of Anthropocene-biodiversity loss, climate change, unsustainable land use? When managed by using biodiversity-based techniques such as agroforestry, silvopasture, diversified farming, ecosystem-based forest management, these socioeconomic systems help maintain biodiversity provide habitat connectivity, thereby complementing protected areas providing greater resilience change. Simultaneously, use management improve yields profitability more sustainably, enhancing livelihoods food security. This approach "working lands conservation" create landscapes that work for nature people. However, many challenges impede uptake practices. Although improving voluntary incentives, market instruments, environmental regulations, governance is essential support working conservation, it community action, social movements, broad coalitions among citizens, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies have power transform how protect environment.

Language: Английский

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Global maps of twenty-first century forest carbon fluxes

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(3), P. 234 - 240

Published: Jan. 21, 2021

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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Anthropogenic climate change has slowed global agricultural productivity growth

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(4), P. 306 - 312

Published: April 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Global and Regional Trends and Drivers of Fire Under Climate Change

Reviews of Geophysics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 60(3)

Published: April 11, 2022

Abstract Recent wildfire outbreaks around the world have prompted concern that climate change is increasing fire incidence, threatening human livelihood and biodiversity, perpetuating change. Here, we review current understanding of impacts on weather (weather conditions conducive to ignition spread wildfires) consequences for regional activity as mediated by a range other bioclimatic factors (including vegetation biogeography, productivity lightning) ignition, suppression, land use). Through supplemental analyses, present stocktake trends in burned area (BA) during recent decades, examine how relates its drivers. Fire controls annual timing fires most regions also drives inter‐annual variability BA Mediterranean, Pacific US high latitude forests. Increases frequency extremity been globally pervasive due 1979–2019, meaning landscapes are primed burn more frequently. Correspondingly, increases ∼50% or higher seen some extratropical forest ecoregions including high‐latitude forests 2001–2019, though interannual remains large these regions. Nonetheless, can override relationship between weather. For example, savannahs strongly patterns fuel production fragmentation naturally fire‐prone agriculture. Similarly, tropical relate deforestation rates degradation than changing Overall, has reduced 27% past two part decline African savannahs. According models, prevalence already emerged beyond pre‐industrial Mediterranean change, emergence will become increasingly widespread at additional levels warming. Moreover, several major wildfires experienced years, Australian bushfires 2019/2020, occurred amidst were considerably likely Current models incompletely reproduce observed spatial based their existing representations relationships controls, historical vary across models. Advances observation controlling supporting addition optimization processes exerting upwards pressure intensity weather, this escalate with each increment global Improvements better interactions climate, extremes, humans required predict future mitigate against consequences.

Language: Английский

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Agricultural intensification and climate change are rapidly decreasing insect biodiversity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(2)

Published: Jan. 11, 2021

Major declines in insect biomass and diversity, reviewed here, have become obvious well documented since the end of World War II. Here, we conclude that spread intensification agriculture during past half century is directly related to these losses. In addition, many areas, including tropical mountains, are suffering serious losses because climate change as well. Crops currently occupy about 11% world's land surface, with active grazing taking place over an additional 30%. The industrialization second 20th involved farming on greatly expanded scales, monoculturing, application increasing amounts pesticides fertilizers, elimination interspersed hedgerows other wildlife habitat fragments, all practices destructive biodiversity near fields. Some insects destroying, pollinators predators crop pests, beneficial crops. tropics generally, natural vegetation being destroyed rapidly often replaced export crops such oil palm soybeans. To mitigate effects Sixth Mass Extinction event caused experiencing now, following will be necessary: a stable (and almost certainly lower) human population, sustainable levels consumption, social justice empowers less wealthy people nations world, where vast majority us live, necessary.

Language: Английский

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Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions

Global Environmental Change, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 56, P. 1 - 10

Published: March 20, 2019

Deforestation, the second largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, is largely driven by expanding forestry and agriculture. However, despite agricultural expansion being increasingly foreign demand, links between deforestation demand for commodities have only been partially mapped. Here we present a pan-tropical quantification carbon emissions from associated with agriculture forest plantations, trace embodied through global supply chains to consumers. We find that in period 2010–2014, tree plantations into forests across tropics was net approximately 2.6 gigatonnes dioxide per year. Cattle oilseed products account over half these emissions. Europe China are major importers, many developed countries, imports rival or exceed domestic Depending on trade model used, 29–39% deforestation-related were international trade. This substantially higher than share fossil trade, indicating efforts reduce land-use change need consider role driving deforestation. Additionally, similar to, larger than, other footprint key forest-risk commodities. Similarly, constitute substantial (˜15%) total food consumption EU countries. highlights consumption-based accounts include deforestation, implementation policy measures cross supply-chains if be effectively reduced.

Language: Английский

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