Bending the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss: what are the prospects?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 2, 2024

ABSTRACT Freshwater biodiversity conservation has received substantial attention in the scientific literature and is finally being recognized policy frameworks such as Global Biodiversity Framework its associated targets for 2030. This important progress. Nonetheless, freshwater species continue to be confronted with high levels of imperilment widespread ecosystem degradation. An Emergency Recovery Plan (ERP) proposed 2020 comprises six measures intended “bend curve” loss, if they are widely adopted adequately supported. We review evidence suggesting that combined intensity persistent emerging threats become so serious current projected efforts preserve, protect restore inland‐water ecosystems may insufficient avert losses coming decades. In particular, climate change, complex harmful impacts, will frustrate attempts prevent from already affected by multiple threats. Interactions among these limit recovery populations exacerbate declines resulting local or even global extinctions, especially low‐viability degraded fragmented ecosystems. addition impediments represented we identify several other areas where absolute scarcity fresh water, inadequate information predictive capacity, a failure mitigate anthropogenic stressors, liable set limits on biodiversity. Implementation ERP rapidly at scale through many dispersed actions focused regions intense threat, together an intensification ex‐situ efforts, necessary preserve native during increasingly uncertain climatic future which poorly understood, emergent interacting have more influential. But implementation must accompanied improve energy food security humans – without further compromising condition Unfortunately, political policies arrest environmental challenges change do not inspire confidence about possible success ERP. parts world, Anthropocene seems certain include extended periods uncontaminated surface runoff inevitably appropriated humans. Unless there step‐change societal awareness commitment biodiversity, established methods protecting bend curve enough continued degradation loss.

Language: Английский

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Strategic restoration-development mitigates tradeoffs between hydropower and fish habitat fragmentation in the Mekong

One Earth, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(6), P. 1096 - 1107

Published: June 1, 2024

Hydropower can play an important role in decarbonizing energy systems, but opportunities for future low-impact hydropower are limited by existing dams, which driving declines freshwater fish worldwide. How to mitigate past development impacts while enabling expansion remains unclear. Here, we propose a strategic restoration-development paradigm break unfavorable lock-ins from development. For the Lower Mekong River, demonstrate how multi-objective optimization and habitat fragmentation modeling 710 species be used design policies. Our results show that combination of removing high-impact fishways retrofitting, planning locked-in environmental restore connectivity level achievable had been adopted before onset deployment. This highlights essential restoration with sustainable

Language: Английский

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A Watershed Moment for Western U.S. Dams

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 59(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2023

Abstract The summer of 2023 is a notable time for water‐resource management in the western United States: Glen Canyon Dam, on Colorado River, turns 60 years old while largest dam‐removal project history beginning Klamath River. This commentary discusses these events context changing paradigm dam and reservoir this region. Since era large building began to wane six decades ago, new challenges have arisen owing climate change, population increase, sedimentation, declining safety aging dams, more environmentally focused objectives. Today we also better understand dams' benefits, costs, environmental impacts, including some that were unforeseen took become apparent. Where dams unsafe, obsolete (e.g., due excessive sedimentation), uneconomical beyond saving, removal has common. science practice are accelerating rapidly, long‐term physical biological response studies now available. Removal four hydroelectric River will be larger complex than any previous removal. imminency reflects very different situation ago. Looking forward, States worldwide require continued collaboration innovative thinking meet wide range objectives manage water resources sustainably future generations.

Language: Английский

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Predicting Road‐Crossing Passability for River Connectivity Analysis

River Research and Applications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 25, 2025

ABSTRACT Road‐crossing structures limit organism movement, but their passabilities are rarely measured because they numerous and time‐consuming to survey. Instead, road‐crossing passability could be treated in one of four ways: assuming equal at all locations (uniform method), assigning random values sampled from barrier surveys (random sample using remote sensing data infer presence (presence/absence method) or rate (rating category method). Each prediction method produces different estimates for individual barriers, how these differences affect river connectivity has not been systematically evaluated. We compared methods the Bear River Basin, USA. parameterized with Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii utah passage survey 140 road crossings. Road crossings blocked fish 37% locations. Those barriers that obstructed movement also decreased proportion connected reaches network 12% (with dams assumed passable) just 3%. All produced similar results had considerable uncertainty predicting barriers. Our findings suggest simpler methods, like uniform predictions, sufficient characterize connectivity. work highlights importance identifying act as identifies critical limitations status analysis conservation planning.

Language: Английский

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Social considerations for the removal of dams and other aquatic barriers

BioScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 74(6), P. 393 - 404

Published: May 20, 2024

Abstract Stream connectivity restoration through the removal or mitigation of dams and other anthropogenic barriers is critical for aquatic species conservation. Historically, stream planning has been focused on biophysical criteria; however, are embedded in social contexts that can constrain decisions. To support integration considerations into conservation planning, we synthesized available research involving criteria linked to barrier removal. We found literature predominantly identify four major categories removal: economics, nonmarket values, safety, procedural context. reviewed contemporary prioritization efforts existing approaches typically only consider small subsets face issues with data availability. The findings present article establish potential could be integrated effective inform future capture

Language: Английский

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Reimagining hydropower in the United States

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(5)

Published: May 29, 2024

Abstract In this Perspective , we review the clashing narratives around role of hydropower in United States' (US) energy future. doing so, reveal how is regarded as a keystone for renewable transition but also viewed harmful technology with significant negative environmental and social impacts. These can be seen contrasting future visions US government agencies, industry, NGOs, Tribal governments. We critical lessons learned from past dam‐ hydropower‐related challenges to reimagine just that bridges diverse sectors, jurisdictions, values. conclude by highlighting some key paths forward might result more resilient adaptive water systems country strives decarbonize. This article categorized under: Human Water > Governance Science Environmental Change Engineering Planning

Language: Английский

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Пріоритети в охороні природи в умовах війни: ситуація з Великим Лугом і Великим Степом

Visnik Nacional noi academii nauk Ukrai ni, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9, P. 12 - 23

Published: Sept. 26, 2023

У статті розглянуто природоохоронне і біогеографічне значення комплексу екосистем Великого Лугу Придніпровського Степу у системі природних комплексів, знищених або суттєво порушених внаслідок гідробудівництва Каховського водосховища системи водогінних магістральних та іригаційних каналів, що йдуть від нього. Руйнація воєнних дій червні 2023 р. стала новою, вже другою (після його створення) екологічною катастрофою, за якою меліоратори починають планувати третю — повторне перекриття водотоку Дніпра відновлення первинних функцій водосховища. Докладно проаналізовано цінність територій, вивільнених води (заплава) іригації (степ), перспективи екосистем, підстави засади такого відновлення, а також комплекс мінімально необхідних біотехнічних заходів для каналізації корегування процесів природи й подолання наслідків девастації виголення дна водосховища, припинення зрошення значних територій Степу.

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The impact of dam removal on county level earnings

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 13

Published: Oct. 24, 2023

In recent years, the dam removal movement, driven by concerns about safety, populations of native aquatic species, and conservation overall habitats, has gone mainstream. Although many studies focus on ecological benefits a particular dam, research economic changes at county level are limited. Most concerned with this topic examine single location fail to provide comprehensive evaluation impact broader economy. We address gap in literature using difference-in-differences approach estimate effect earnings Leisure Hospitality Supersector (NAICS 71 NAICS 72). Results show little level. This means that policymakers, when evaluating removal, should other economic, environmental, aesthetic factors specific site.

Language: Английский

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Dam removal blind spots: debating the importance of community engagement in dam decommissioning projects

Frontiers in Water, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Dec. 14, 2023

This article calls for social justice within the transition from dam building to decommissioning. Dam decommissioning is escalating in global north, and sooner than later, tied will spread south. Though removal an essential strategy riverine landscape restoration, it may yield negative outcomes communities living along dams. Ecological restoration must not be achieved at expense of local communities. Decisions on are predominantly made by experts government agencies, often exclusion For this reason, decisions remove several dams north have been opposed leading suspension or, worst-case scenarios, reversal such decisions. By referring cases Europe, USA, Canada where removals opposed, argues better incorporation decision-making. Community consultations consent key achieving successful with minimal harm Yet, they received sufficient attention conversations. The socio-economic issues also sufficiently interrogated literature removal. We underscore gap provides recommendations best performance removals.

Language: Английский

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The Spatial–Racial Patterns of U.S. Dam Removals Since 2010

The Professional Geographer, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 76(4), P. 434 - 449

Published: June 5, 2024

Dam removal in the United States has grown exponentially, yet we do not know whether pattern of such removals comports with principles environmental justice. This exploratory study investigates spatial dam across to ascertain there were any geographic areas where probability was correlated racial or ethnic composition environs. We analyze since 2010 using national data on existing dams, removed and demographics. estimate multivariate models stratified by census region ownership pinpoint contexts significant spatial-racial patterns occur that cannot be attributed characteristics. Our exploration reveals only a few contexts. After controlling for purpose, construction type, age, height, being is positively associated proportion nearby White residents dams owned local state governments South. The negatively privately West. Future case studies should probe these clear spatial–racial from an justice perspective.

Language: Английский

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