AI chatbots contribute to global conservation injustices

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 11(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 3, 2024

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven language models (chatbots) progressively accelerate the collection and translation of environmental evidence that could be used to inform planetary conservation plans strategies. Yet, consequences chatbot-generated content have never been globally assessed. Drawing on distributive, recognition, procedural, epistemic dimensions justice, we interviewed analysed 30,000 responses from ChatGPT ecological restoration expertise, stakeholder engagements, techniques. Our results show more than two-thirds chatbot’s answers rely expertise male academics working at universities in United States, while largely ignoring low- lower-middle-income countries (7%) Indigenous community experiences (2%). A focus planting reforestation techniques (69%) underpins optimistic outcomes (60%), neglecting holistic technical approaches consider non-forest ecosystems (25%) non-tree species (8%). This analysis highlights how biases AI-driven knowledge production can reinforce Western science, overlooking diverse sources perspectives regarding research practices. In fast-paced domain generative AI, safeguard mechanisms are needed ensure these expanding chatbot developments incorporate just principles addressing pace scale worldwide crisis.

Язык: Английский

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Brazil’s natural grasslands under attack

Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 384(6692), С. 168 - 169

Опубликована: Апрель 11, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Planning for the Restoration of Functional Connectivity in Brazil

Journal of Biogeography, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 20, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Land use and land cover (LULC) change is the main driver of biodiversity loss, causing habitat loss fragmentation that hinders species movement negatively impacts populations. While fragments are structurally disconnected, functional connectivity can still occur depending on species' dispersal abilities. Incorporating landscape into restoration planning helps identify strategic areas significantly enhancing connectivity. Here, we present an unprecedented, nationwide continuous spatial layer representing each restorable pixel's contribution to connectivity, using Brazil as a case study. Location Brazil. Methods We performed dynamic pixel‐based analysis across Brazilian biome assess potential increases in Integral Index Connectivity (IIC) resulting from restoring pixel landscape. For that, defined hypothetical with medium, high very abilities calculated IIC for different natural LULC biome. Then, ran Results Our dataset represents relative landscape, considering all Since assessing contributions individual pixels overall most values expectedly low. However, highest show stand‐alone biome‐wide thus were interpreted priorities restoration. Notably, nested regions restoration, trend higher priority rankings (e.g., top 5% important regions) being surrounded by subsequent priorities. Main Conclusions study first evaluate impact efforts biomes. identified within biome, providing valuable information guide decision‐making policy implementation. The innovative used be replicated other regions, aiming make more efficient.

Язык: Английский

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Unveiling above‐ and below‐ground ecological strategies that underlie woody plant encroachment in grasslands

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2025

Abstract Forests and grasslands often occur side by in the landscape, forming a complex mosaic system with contrasting environmental conditions, maintained different fire‐vegetation stabilising feedbacks. Woody species that along this sharp gradient must adopt viable ecological strategies to deal environments of these ecosystems. For this, plants are challenged efficiently coordinate functioning strategy dimensions above‐ below‐ground. We tested hypotheses related structural changes vegetation associated shifts community‐level trait patterns during woody plant encroachment. surveyed 60 permanent plots forest‐grassland mosaics at two times (2012–2022) obtain data on structure, composition, abundance after 10 years without disturbance, capturing from open plant‐encroached closed forests. An integrated functional approach was used assess variation, including below‐ground traits, representing whole‐plant, leaf, stem root strategies. encroachment led substantial increase density former grasslands, transforming their structure resemble young Interestingly, we found clear trade‐offs between traits among species. On one hand, occurring grassland had conservative leaves, for protection against high solar incidence, physical damage drought, roots ‘do‐it‐yourself’ strategy, which ensures efficiency acquisition nutrients water nutrient‐limited soils, thick bark fire resistance. other forest were usually taller acquisitive indicating highly competitive ability light‐limited forests, whereas an ‘outsourcing’ resource uptake mycorrhizal fungi nutrient‐rich soils Synthesis: advanced current understanding showing underlying trait‐based enable transition through space time. Importantly, have shown how important explaining strategies, negative covariance Our integrative will be helpful better managing southern Brazil analogous patchy ecosystems around world.

Язык: Английский

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Prioritize grassland restoration to bend the curve of biodiversity loss

Restoration Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 31(5)

Опубликована: Май 11, 2023

In times of unprecedented climate change, ecological restoration efforts have a strong focus on forests for the purpose carbon sequestration. Grasslands, in contrast, remain relatively neglected global policies. Concurrently, we are midst biodiversity crisis—it is estimated that 1 million species globally threatened with extinction. Here, present analyses from central Europe and southern Brazil show majority our endangered plant fact found open ecosystems. Using Germany as an example, could reduce extinction risk by up to 82% if restore open, grassy This also holds true Brazil, where grassland constitute single largest share species, but ecosystems continue be systematically We further expand argument include role can play mitigating change. posit ramping may not only best bet bend curve loss, it will make critical contribution resilience dynamic decades come. It time receive higher priority policy.

Язык: Английский

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Evaluating the temporal patterns of land use and precipitation under desertification in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Ecological Informatics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 77, С. 102192 - 102192

Опубликована: Июль 6, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Beyond tree planting: Mobilizing a global production network for savanna restoration in Brazil

Environmental Development, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 51, С. 101017 - 101017

Опубликована: Июнь 7, 2024

Emerging global production networks innovate the supply of restoration products and services to reverse degraded ecosystems globally. Yet, savanna interventions often neglect diverse plant life forms planting techniques in implementing large-scale pledges. Drawing on network analysis, we examine how configuration practices Brazil influences decision-making processes outcomes. Our assessment a case study Central reveals myriad forces affecting interconnections between institutional drivers, markets, systems for actions across multiple scales. Prevailing policies regulations disregard expertise, economic strategies, socio-cultural perspectives when setting priorities incentives. While identify different buyers influencing market demands meet mandatory or voluntary environmental compliance, wide range suppliers remakes according regional contexts. The experiences community-led material showcase collective organization that enables situated socio-technical innovations link high diversity non-tree species with livelihood This contributes revealing drivers markets assert political authority commercial objectives multifaceted decisions, while community partnerships catalyze place-based innovations.

Язык: Английский

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When Drought Matters: Changes Within and Outside Protected Areas from the Pantanal Ecoregion

Wetlands, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 44(5)

Опубликована: Апрель 11, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Uruguayan Grasslands: A Threatened Natural Asset

Austral Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 50(2)

Опубликована: Янв. 30, 2025

ABSTRACT Grasslands are often mis‐defined, mainly due to the legacy of colonial narratives in several regions, which have described them as deforested, unproductive or wastelands. They been largely ignored global conservation and protection policies, leading increased exploitation. Although there is much accumulated evidence on ecosystem services that grasslands provide, Uruguay, this still neglected parts society for most sustainability policies. Twenty percent Uruguayan replaced by other land uses (crops forestry) recent decades. Nevertheless, large areas natural remain their preservation crucial. The aim work was show value through a brief review history multiple assets (i.e., biodiversity, services, cultural identity economic activities). We also outline some advances public policy initiatives, but emphasise such policies critically underdeveloped terms conservation, threatening existence Uruguay future generations.

Язык: Английский

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On the risks of good intentions and poor evidence – comment on “Back to the future? Conservative grassland management can preserve soil health in the changing landscapes of Uruguay” by Säumel et al. (2023)

SOIL, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 11(1), С. 193 - 198

Опубликована: Фев. 6, 2025

Abstract. In this article, we make comments on some methodological issues and the general approach of paper “Back to future? Conservative grassland management can preserve soil health in changing landscapes Uruguay” (Säumel et al., 2023). We have identified several design problems aforementioned article that may induce potential misinterpretations. First, our concerns are related aspects study methodology that, opinion, introduce biases critical errors. Second, concerned about possible interpretations with respect policies development non-tariff barriers for South American countries.

Язык: Английский

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