High-resolution mapping of losses and gains of Earth’s tidal wetlands

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 376(6594), P. 744 - 749

Published: May 12, 2022

Tidal wetlands are expected to respond dynamically global environmental change, but the extent which wetland losses have been offset by gains remains poorly understood. We developed a analysis of satellite data simultaneously monitor change in three highly interconnected intertidal ecosystem types-tidal flats, tidal marshes, and mangroves-from 1999 2019. Globally, 13,700 square kilometers lost, these substantially 9700 km2, leading net -4000 km2 over two decades. found that 27% were associated with direct human activities such as conversion agriculture restoration lost wetlands. All other changes attributed indirect drivers, including effects coastal processes climate change.

Language: Английский

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Global trends in mangrove forest fragmentation

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: April 28, 2020

Abstract Fragmentation is a major driver of ecosystem degradation, reducing the capacity habitats to provide many important services. Mangrove services, such as erosion prevention, shoreline protection and mitigation climate change (through carbon sequestration), depend on size arrangement forest patches, but we know little about broad-scale patterns mangrove fragmentation. Here conduct multi-scale analysis using global estimates density regional drivers deforestation map relationships between habitat loss fragmentation was ubiquitous; however, there are geographic disparities fragmentation; some regions, like Cambodia southern Caribbean, had relatively loss, their forests have been extensively fragmented. In Southeast Asia, hotspot conversion aquaculture rice plantations were biggest (>50%) Surprisingly, oil palm plantations, responsible for >15% all in only weakly correlated with Thus, management different may increase or decrease Our findings suggest that large scale monitoring should also consider This work highlights priorities conservation based rates can overlook associated functionality.

Language: Английский

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Variable Impacts of Climate Change on Blue Carbon

One Earth, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 3(2), P. 195 - 211

Published: Aug. 1, 2020

Summary

Blue carbon provides opportunities to mitigate climate change while increasing ecosystem services for coastal communities, including adaptation; however, blue ecosystems are vulnerable change, leading uncertainties in the future efficacy of these ecosystems. In this review, we assess potential impacts on carbon. Despite uncertainties, sequestration is enhanced by landward migration habitats, maintenance sediment supply, restoration, and improved water quality. As an example, mangroves could result 1.5 Pg 2100. Mudflats, seaweed beds, swamp forests also contribute mitigation, although there large data gaps. Achieving full requires protection restoration facilitation changes distributions with actions that will deliver adaptation benefits. Conversely, worst-case squeeze scenario, losses 3.4 sequestered 2100 occur.

Language: Английский

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Tropical cyclones and the organization of mangrove forests: a review

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 3, 2019

Abstract Background Many mangrove ecosystems are periodically exposed to high velocity winds and surge from tropical cyclones, often recover with time continue provide numerous societal benefits in the wake of storm events. Scope This review focuses on drivers disturbance mechanisms (visible functional) that cyclones various intensities have ecosystem properties around world, as well potential services role offered by mangroves along storm-ravaged coastlines. When viewed together, studies describe repeatable types impact a variety responses make them ecologically resilient winds, which served advance notion disturbance-adapted ecosystems. Conclusions Studies documented massive tree mortality forest structural shifts variability spatial effects associated proximity direction cyclone trajectory influence biogeochemical processes, recovery individual trees, regeneration succession. Mangroves coastal protection through wind suppression during yet able overcome unless some alternative environmental stress is at play (e.g. hydrological alteration or sedimentation). Structural elements influenced legacies imposed past injury, affect their current appearance, presumably function, any point time. However, much be discovered about importance these fascinating botanical ecosystems, including storm-based sediment subsidies, more effort will needed predict future patterns frequency intensity potentially change.

Language: Английский

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Mangroves give cause for conservation optimism, for now

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 30(4), P. R153 - R154

Published: Feb. 1, 2020

Mangrove forests are found along the shorelines of more than 100 countries, and provide a wide range ecosystem services that support livelihoods wellbeing tens millions people. Despite their importance, loss global mangrove area has been so substantial twelve years ago academics warned "a world without mangroves" [1Duke N.C. Meynecke J.O. Dittmann S. Ellison A.M. Anger K. Berger U. Cannicci Diele Ewel K.C. Field C.D. et al.A mangroves?.Science. 2007; 317: 41Crossref PubMed Google Scholar]. This seminal work highlighted large historical mangroves, suggesting they had declined faster almost any other ecosystem, including coral reefs tropical rainforests. The authors predicted if nothing was done, could be deprived mangroves by end this century. Such rates reflect broader environmental crisis, with intergovernmental groups such as International Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity Ecosystem Services (IPBES) recently predicting catastrophic degradation ecosystems globally [2IPBESSummary for Policymakers Global Assessment Report Services. IPBES Secretariat, Bonn, Germany2019https://ipbes.net/global-assessment-report-biodiversity-ecosystem-servicesGoogle However, we report compared ecosystems, rate is now less alarming previously suggested [3Friess D.A. Rogers Lovelock C.E. Krauss K.W. Hamilton S.E. Lee S.Y. Lucas R. Primavera J. Rajkaran A. Shi state world's forests: past, present, future.Annu. Rev. Environ. Resourc. 2019; 44: 16.1-16.27Crossref Scopus (178) gives cause conservative optimism among projections decline. Globally, have reduced an order magnitude between late 20th early 21st century, from ∼2% to <0.4% per year reduction in resulted improved monitoring data access, changing industrial practices, expanded management protection, inaccessibility remaining intact forests, greater application community-based management, increased focus rehabilitation, stronger recognition provided [4Edwards P. Aquaculture environment interactions: present likely future trends.Aquaculture. 2015; 647: 2-14Crossref (240) Scholar,5Friess Thompson B.S. Brown B. Amir A.A. Cameron C. Koldewey H.J. Sasmito S.D. Sidik F. Policy challenges approaches conservation Southeast Asia.Conserv. Biol. 2016; 30: 933-949Crossref (75) While not only metric which trends should assessed [6Lee Barbier E.B. Lewis R.R. Better restoration policies needed conserve ecosystems.Nat. Ecol. Evol. 3: 870-872Crossref (102) Scholar], there strong evidence positive change occurring. Mangroves considered high-priority number recent international initiatives Blue Carbon Initiative Alliance. also being discussed policy circles, increasingly incorporated into Nationally Determined Contributions countries meet pledges Paris Agreement United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change. It clear gained momentum, public government awareness leading investment on-the-ground action (see Supplementary Information examples successful interventions). successes, tempered necessary, gains evenly spread, nor guaranteed future. Conservation success regionally variable, still need address hotspots destruction. At 0.70% 0.41% year, Myanmar Malaysia, respectively, continue show century substantially above average primarily due rice cultivation (Myanmar) oil palm plantations (Malaysia). New deforestation frontiers beginning emerge, particularly Asia West Africa. Papua Indonesia particular concern; biodiversity hotspot experienced significant loss, but many agriculture development plans proposed increase economic food security impact Emerging can addressed governance intervention, secure outcomes these locations. rehabilitation lauded method offset ongoing losses yield long-term service provision. challenging achieve at scale, current projects around fail because key ecological thresholds best practices ignored, when planting low-intertidal locations suitable growth In some non-native species used quickly become invasive, myriad impacts intertidal zone biophysical science rehabilitating vegetation largely known; best-practice guidance available, challenge ensure executed correctly. Work required overcome socio-political hurdles, lack training, unclear land tenure unrealistic targets set national governments or NGOs encourage incentivise efforts unsuitable coastal [7Lovelock B.M. Land considerations restoration.Nat. 1135Crossref (24) These insurmountable, addressing them through robust engagement stakeholder participation, while time-consuming, unlock 800 000 hectares potentially [8Worthington, T. Spalding, M. (2019). Restoration Potential: Map Highlighting Critical Opportunity. (The Union Nature (IUCN) Conservancy (TNC)). https://www.iucn.org › mangrove-tnc-report-final.31.10.lowspreads.pdf.Google Conserved rehabilitated systems must ecologically functional adaptable anticipated sea-level rise, risk proportion [9Lovelock Cahoon D.R. Friess Guntenspergen G.R. Reef Saunders M.L. Swales al.The vulnerability Indo-Pacific rise.Nature. 526: 559-563Crossref (432) Scholar,10He Q. Silliman B.R. change, human impacts, Anthropocene.Curr. 29: R1021-R1035Abstract Full Text PDF (132) keep pace moderate rise physical biological processes allow surface elevation relation rising sea. actions interrupt supply suspended sediment, reduce resilience rise. occur reducing inshore sediment concentrations river damming creating barriers landward transgression 'coastal squeeze'. Maintaining progress requires us take decisive steps manage emerging frontiers, improve scale momentum gaining new areas rehabilitation. shifted pessimistic optimistic trajectory. though remain maintaining trajectory ensuring short-lived, spread experiencing loss. Securing will require continued attention, research value versus uses, renewed impactful. Previous great community strive just We important opportunity learn stories helped protect build upon interest sustainable blue economy. Optimism paradigm unite stakeholders inspire local action. Capitalizing successes one transferring knowledge help limit degradation, making case study movement. S.C. acknowledges ECF Project 69/2016 internal HKU RAE improvement funds. K.D. Natural Environment Research Council Grant NE/S006990/1. S.S. USFS Program Funding (IF039-2018). Conceptualization, D.A.F.; Writing – Original Draft, D.A.F. E.S.Y.; Review & Editing, G.M.O.A., J.B.A., S.C., S.W.J.C., K.C.C., R.M.C., N.C., F.D-G., K.D., D.A.F., I.C.F., S.F., T.C.J., S.Y.L., D.E.O., Z.O., K.R., J.K.R., S.S., T.M.S., A.K.S.W E.S.Y. declare no competing interests. Download .pdf (.29 MB) Help pdf files Document S1. Figure S1

Language: Английский

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Impacts of urban expansion on natural habitats in global drylands

Nature Sustainability, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(10), P. 869 - 878

Published: July 25, 2022

Language: Английский

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Mapping global distribution of mangrove forests at 10-m resolution

Science Bulletin, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 68(12), P. 1306 - 1316

Published: May 10, 2023

Language: Английский

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Quantifying net loss of global mangrove carbon stocks from 20 years of land cover change

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Aug. 26, 2020

Mangrove forests hold some of the highest densities carbon recorded in any ecosystem, but have experienced widespread deforestation through conversion to aquaculture and agriculture. Alongside deforestation, mangroves shown simultaneous natural expansion parts world, considerable investments been made into restoration programmes. Here we estimate net changes global mangrove stock due land cover change between 1996 2016, using data on forestation, proportional during processes loss gain. The declined by 158.4 Mt (95% CI = -156.8-525.9 Mt); a reduction 1.8% present 1996. Efforts conserve restore appear had success, - along with forestation contributed relatively low losses stocks over two decades.

Language: Английский

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Marshes and Mangroves as Nature-Based Coastal Storm Buffers

Annual Review of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. 95 - 118

Published: July 18, 2022

Tidal marshes and mangroves are increasingly valued for nature-based mitigation of coastal storm impacts, such as flooding shoreline erosion hazards, which growing due to global change. As this review highlights, however, hazard by tidal wetlands is limited certain conditions, not all hazards equally reduced. effective in attenuating short-period storm-induced waves, but long-period surges, elevate sea levels up several meters more than a day, attenuated less effectively, or some cases at all, depending on wetland properties, larger-scale landscape geometry. Wetlands often limit erosion, damage vegetation (especially mangrove trees) can be substantial, recovery may take years. Longer-term persistence compromised when combined with other stressors, climate change human disturbances. Due these uncertainties, defense projects need adopt adaptive management strategies.

Language: Английский

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Aquaculture: Externalities and Policy Options

Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 282 - 305

Published: June 1, 2022

Global seafood supply is increasing and prices are stable, despite the plateauing of global wild-caught fishery harvests reports collapsing fish stocks. This trend largely due to rapid growth in aquaculture (farmed seafood), which now accounts for roughly half supply. Although a key contributor food security, farming interacts closely with surrounding ecosystem, its raises many environmental concerns. Potential negative externalities include decreases water quality, disease spillovers, genetic interactions between wild domesticated fish, overuse antibiotics, pressures on stocks from reliance feed. We show that can be positive or negative, some not true because firms have incentives internalize them, perceived do exist, remaining addressed primarily through spatial management. Because outcomes strongly influenced by management issues such as siting production facilities, challenges both commons anticommons problems. conclude should focus approaches, adaptation climate change, facilitating technological innovation address encourage sustainable development sector.

Language: Английский

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