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Showing papers by "Adrian C. Newton published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used meta-analyses of selective logging impact studies, focusing specifically on residual tree damage, aboveground biomass and tree species richness, to test the hypothesis that reduced impact logging (RIL) might reduce negative impacts of logging once intensity is controlled for.

90 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Different effects of barley genotype and weed species diversity are interpreted as the consequence of small vs large trait variation associated with intraspecific barley diversity and interspecific weed diversity, respectively, highlighting the underestimated and overlooked role of genetic diversity for ecosystem functioning.
Abstract: Biodiversity regulates ecosystem functions such as productivity, and experimental studies of species mixtures have revealed selection and complementarity effects driving these responses. However, the impacts of intraspecific genotypic diversity in these studies are unknown, despite it forming a substantial part of the biodiversity. In a glasshouse experiment we constructed plant communities with different levels of barley (Hordeum vulgare) genotype and weed species diversity and assessed their relative biodiversity effects through additive partitioning into selection and complementarity effects. Barley genotype diversity had weak positive effects on aboveground biomass through complementarity effects, whereas weed species diversity increased biomass predominantly through selection effects. When combined, increasing genotype diversity of barley tended to dilute the selection effect of weeds. We interpret these different effects of barley genotype and weed species diversity as the consequence of small vs large trait variation associated with intraspecific barley diversity and interspecific weed diversity, respectively. The different effects of intra- vs interspecific diversity highlight the underestimated and overlooked role of genetic diversity for ecosystem functioning.

72 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The slow recovery by some functional groups essential to ecosystem functioning makes old‐growth forest an effectively irreplaceable biodiversity resource that should be exempt from biodiversity offsetting initiatives.
Abstract: Both active and passive forest restoration schemes are used in degraded landscapes across the world to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. Restoration is increasingly also being implemented in biodiversity offset schemes as compensation for loss of natural habitat to anthropogenic development. This has raised concerns about the value of replacing old-growth forest with plantations, motivating research on biodiversity recovery as forest stands age. Functional diversity is now advocated as a key metric for restoration success, yet it has received little analytical attention to date. We conducted a meta-analysis of 90 studies that measured differences in species richness for functional groups of fungi, lichens, and beetles between old-growth control and planted or secondary treatment forests in temperate, boreal, and Mediterranean regions. We identified functional-group-specific relationships in the response of species richness to stand age after forest disturbance. Ectomycorrhizal fungi averaged 90 years for recovery to old-growth values (between 45 years and unrecoverable at 95% prediction limits), and epiphytic lichens took 180 years to reach 90% of old-growth values (between 140 years and never for recovery to old-growth values at 95% prediction limits). Non-saproxylic beetle richness, in contrast, decreased as stand age of broadleaved forests increased. The slow recovery by some functional groups essential to ecosystem functioning makes old-growth forest an effectively irreplaceable biodiversity resource that should be exempt from biodiversity offsetting initiatives.

63 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is illustrated how engineering resilience can potentially be measured by estimating the rate of forest recovery following disturbance using meta-analysis and ecological modelling approaches, and the potential value of resistance as a restoration goal can be estimated using such approaches.
Abstract: Although the concept of resilience is increasingly being incorporated into environmental policy and linked to ecological restoration goals, there is considerable uncertainty regarding how resilience should be defined and measured in practice. Here we briefly review some of the definitions of resilience that have been proposed, including those referred to as “ecological” and “engineering” resilience. We also examine evidence for the existence of multiple stable states in forest ecosystems, on which concepts of ecological resilience are based. As evidence for multiple stable states is limited, we suggest that ecological resilience may often have limited value as a goal for forest restoration. We illustrate how engineering resilience can potentially be measured by estimating the rate of forest recovery following disturbance, through analysis of recovery trajectories using meta-analysis and ecological modelling approaches. We also highlight the potential value of resistance as a restoration goal, which can similarly be estimated using such approaches. Based on application of these concepts, we suggest how guidance for restoration practitioners could potentially be developed, to support the practical achievement of both resilience and resistance during forest restoration.

57 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
26 Jun 2015-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: The results suggest that habitat fragmentation can reduce the potential for developing “win win” solutions that contribute to biodiversity conservation while also supporting socio-economic development, and approaches to multi-purpose management of fragmented landscapes should consider the potential trade-offs.
Abstract: While habitat fragmentation represents a major threat to global biodiversity, its impacts on provision of ecosystem services are largely unknown. We analysed biodiversity value and provision of multiple ecosystem services in 110 fragments of lowland heathland ecosystems in southern England, in which vegetation dynamics have been monitored for over 30 years. Decreasing fragment size was found to be associated with a decrease in biodiversity and recreational values, but an increase in relative carbon storage, aesthetic value and timber value. The trade-off between either biodiversity or recreational values with the other ecosystem services therefore became more pronounced as heathland size decreased. This was attributed to a higher rate of woody succession in smaller heathland fragments over the past three decades, and contrasting values of different successional vegetation types for biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services. These results suggest that habitat fragmentation can reduce the potential for developing “win win” solutions that contribute to biodiversity conservation while also supporting socio-economic development. Approaches to multi-purpose management of fragmented landscapes should therefore consider the potential trade-offs in ecosystem services and biodiversity associated with fragmentation, in order to make an effective contribution to sustainable development.

33 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jul 2015-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: The results suggest that climate change represents a significant threat to tree species in the tropical Andes, contradict previous suggestions thatClimate change will become the most important cause of biodiversity loss in coming decades.
Abstract: There are widespread concerns that anthropogenic climate change will become a major cause of global biodiversity loss. However, the potential impact of climate change on the extinction risk of species remains poorly understood, particularly in comparison to other current threats. The objective of this research was to examine the relative impact of climate change on extinction risk of upper montane tree species in the tropical Andes, an area of high biodiversity value that is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The extinction risk of 129 tree species endemic to the region was evaluated according to the IUCN Red List criteria, both with and without the potential impacts of climate change. Evaluations were supported by development of species distribution models, using three methods (generalized additive models, recursive partitioning, and support vector machines), all of which produced similarly high AUC values when averaged across all species evaluated (0.82, 0.86, and 0.88, respectively). Inclusion of climate change increased the risk of extinction of 18–20% of the tree species evaluated, depending on the climate scenario. The relative impact of climate change was further illustrated by calculating the Red List Index, an indicator that shows changes in the overall extinction risk of sets of species over time. A 15% decline in the Red List Index was obtained when climate change was included in this evaluation. While these results suggest that climate change represents a significant threat to tree species in the tropical Andes, they contradict previous suggestions that climate change will become the most important cause of biodiversity loss in coming decades. Conservation strategies should therefore focus on addressing the multiple threatening processes currently affecting biodiversity, rather than focusing primarily on potential climate change impacts.

30 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive transcriptional reference map of the early potato responses to exogenous application of the defence hormones abscisic acid, brassinolides, ethylene, ethane precursor aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid is generated.
Abstract: Phytohormones are involved in diverse aspects of plant life including the regulation of plant growth, development and reproduction, as well as governing biotic and abiotic stress responses. We have generated a comprehensive transcriptional reference map of the early potato responses to exogenous application of the defence hormones abscisic acid, brassinolides (applied as epibrassinolide), ethylene (applied as the ethylene precursor aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid), salicylic acid and jasmonic acid (applied as methyl jasmonate). Of the 39000 predicted genes on the microarray, a total of 2677 and 2473 genes were significantly differentially expressed at 1 h and 6 h after hormone treatment, respectively. Specific marker genes newly identified for the early hormone responses in potato include: a homeodomain 20 transcription factor (DMG400000248) for abscisic acid; a SAUR gene (DMG400016561) induced in epibrassinolide treated plants; an osmotin gene (DMG400003057) specifically enhanced by aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid; a gene weakly similar to AtWRKY40 (DMG402007388) that was induced by salicylic acid; and a jasmonate ZIM-domain protein 1 (DMG400002930) which was specifically activated by methyl jasmonate. An online database has been set up to query the expression patterns of potato genes represented on the microarray that can also incorporate future microarray or RNAseq-based expression studies.

29 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present monitoring data collected over 50 years along two transects in a temperate forest ecosystem, in which the canopy dominant beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) has demonstrated significant dieback.

25 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 2015-Oryx
TL;DR: It is suggested that recent developments in plant systematics, online databases, remote sensing data and associated analytical tools offer an unprecedented opportunity to conduct a comprehensive conservation assessment of the world's tree species.
Abstract: Although trees have high economic, cultural and ecological value, increasing numbers of species are potentially at risk of extinction because of forest loss and degradation as a result of human activities, including overharvesting, fire and grazing. Emerging threats include climate change and its interaction with the spread of pests and diseases. The impact of such threats on the conservation status of trees is poorly understood. Here we highlight the need to conduct a comprehensive conservation assessment of the world's tree species, building on previous assessments undertaken for the IUCN Red List. We suggest that recent developments in plant systematics, online databases, remote sensing data and associated analytical tools offer an unprecedented opportunity to conduct such an assessment. We provide an overview of how a Global Tree Assessment could be achieved in practice, through participative, open-access approaches to data sharing and evaluation.

24 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors combined the spatial coverage of crops in Scotland with spatially coherent, probabilistic climate change data to project the future risk of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat.
Abstract: Methods used to assess climate change risk for crop diseases often assume that both host and pathogen are present. Consequently, model output may misrepresent future growing seasons, due to a failure to reflect likely change at the landscape- and farm-scale and its impact on disease risk. In this study, data defining the spatial coverage of crops in Scotland were combined with spatially coherent, probabilistic climate change data to project the future risk of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat. Primary inoculum was initially treated as non-limiting, and a widely accepted crop-disease-climate model for FHB risk assessment was used to project the risk of disease occurrence in over 50,000 crop locations. Primary inoculum was then treated as limiting, and an atmospheric dispersion model was used to modify projections according to the risk of inoculum dispersal from overwintering refugia to crop locations. In both cases it was predicted that FHB hazard will decrease in Scotland over time. Consequences for the species composition of the FHB complex and therefore the associated mycotoxin hazard were considered. To guide adaptation strategies, we also considered agronomic scenarios regarding potential climate-change-driven shifts in agricultural practices and planting patterns, and their effects on disease risk. We found that opportunities exist for increased cultivation of crops that are potent sources of Fusarium or Gibberella inoculum, and for movement of crops away from coastal areas vulnerable to sea-level rise, with little additional risk of FHB. These projections, made by considering the temporal and spatial coincidence of host and pathogen species under various climate change scenarios, suggest that improved control of FHB might not be a high priority for future food security in Scotland.

20 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that unsustainable land-use practices may be impacting negatively on populations of threatened fruit tree species and highlight the need to regulate local forest use to ensure that threatened fruit and nut tree species are effectively conserved.
Abstract: Information is lacking on the status of threatened tree species in Central Asia. This paper aims to provide preliminary information for 10 fruit and nut tree species of Kyrgyzstan. A field survey was conducted throughout the range of walnut-fruit forests in this country, supported by a socio-economic survey. Results indicated that species differed markedly in abundance. Whereas Malus sieversii was found in all locations, four species (Crataegus pontica,Pistacia vera,Pyrus korshinskyi and Sorbus persica) were only found in a minority ( ≤ 30%) of sites. Four species showed evidence of a bimodal distribution of stem diameters, which could be attributed to fuelwood harvesting, as indicated by the socio-economic survey. A majority of respondents reported a decline in the available grazing resource, a decline in the availability of harvested fruits and an increase in time required to collect fuelwood over the past decade. These results suggest that unsustainable land-use practices may be impacting negatively on...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that cultivar mixtures could result in less need for weed control in arable fields, and possibly that the development of complementary cultivars could reinforce this effect, and confirms the results of other studies which show that mixtures either improve yields or make yields less variable in response to weed competition.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the effect of local environmental heterogeneity on the successional trajectories of tropical forests in seasonally dry tropical forests, and found that a higher portion of variation in species composition was explained by environmental characteristics compared to successional stage, whereas spatial structure of the data was weak.
Abstract: Environmental characteristics have a major effect on the species composition of seasonally dry tropical forest. However, this effect has been little considered when describing secondary succession of this ecosystem. We tested the hypothesis that local environmental heterogeneity influences successional trajectories when high species richness is available. Changes in species composition and structure were described in 126 vegetation plots differing in successional stage and located along a topographical and soil nutrient gradient. Variation in community composition was partitioned between successional stage, environmental characteristics, and spatial structure using redundancy analyses. In addition, relationships between plot distance matrices for these factors were analysed by means of Mantel tests. High species turnover was observed during succession and species composition similarity was higher among late successional forest than among early and intermediate forests. A higher portion of variation in species composition was explained by environmental characteristics compared to successional stage, whereas the spatial structure of the data was weak. Our results suggest that in the region of study, variation in the successional trajectories is occurring owing to environmental heterogeneity, as well as to human disturbance and other unmeasured processes. Resumen Las caracteristicas ambientales tienen un efecto importante sobre la composicion floristica de los bosques secos tropicales. Sin embargo, este efecto ha sido poco considerado al describir la sucesion secundaria de este ecosistema. En este estudio probamos la hipotesis de que la heterogeneidad ambiental influye en las trayectorias sucesionales cuando se presenta una alta diversidad de especies. Se describieron cambios en la estructura y composicion de 126 parcelas de vegetacion diferenciadas en etapa sucesional y ubicadas a lo largo de un gradiente topografico y de contenido de nutrientes en el suelo. La variacion en la composicion de la comunidad fue particionada entre la etapa sucesional, las caracteristicas ambientales y la estructura espacial mediante analisis de redundancia. Adicionalmente, se analizo la relacion entre matrices de distancia de las parcelas para estos factores mediante test de Mantel. Se observo un alto recambio de especies entre etapas sucesionales y la similitud en la composicion fue mayor entre parcelas de etapa tardia que entre parcelas de etapas intermedia y temprana. Una mayor porcion de la variacion en composicion fue explicada por las caracteristicas ambientales en comparacion con la etapa sucesional mientras que la estructura espacial de los datos fue debil. Nuestros resultados sugieren que en el area de estudio se presenta variacion en las trayectorias sucesionales en relacion a las variables ambientales, asi como al disturbio humano y otros procesos no considerados.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, a set of 113 tropical forest species was analyzed by analyzing the relationships among eleven leaf and stem traits that have been related to shade and drought tolerance in seasonally dry tropical forests.
Abstract: In seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) plant trait variation has been associated with adaptation to light and water availability and a coordinated tolerance of plants to shortage of both resources has been proposed. We tested this hypothesis in a set of 113 species by analyzing the relationships amongst eleven leaf and stem traits that have been related to shade and drought tolerance. In addition, the usefulness of different types of functional classifications describing community plant trait variation was evaluated. Strong relationships were observed between leaf and stem traits, potentially conferring coordinated tolerance to shade and drought, and three axes of variation were identified by means of a principal component analysis. The first axis described leaf and stem economy, the second was related to leaf thickness and organization and the third was related to the trade-offs between leaf size, stem density and bark thickness. Stem density was correlated strongly with several plant traits, emphasizing its key role in explaining variation in life history strategies of SDTF species. Significant differences were found between functional groups categorized by phylogeny and leaf

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The genetic basis of resistance to Rhynchosporium commune was investigated in a winter barley mapping population derived from a cross between cultivars Saffron and Retriever and identified a number of major differences in fungal growth morphology between the resistant and susceptible parent.
Abstract: The genetic basis of resistance to Rhynchosporium commune was investigated in a winter barley mapping population derived from a cross between cultivars Saffron (moderately susceptible) and Retriever (moderately resistant). Resistance was assessed in field trials through total infection (measured using qPCR), and visible disease symptoms. Phenotypic correlations between both methods of assessing disease severity were high. QTL mapping from three years of field trials identified five significant QTL effects. One QTL effect on chromosome 2H confirms a previously reported resistance from a population derived from the spring cultivar Cocktail and a winter parent derived from the cultivars Pearl and Cocktail. Another QTL effect on 3H corresponds to the reported position of major resistance gene Rrs1. An effect was detected at the mapped position of the semi-dwarfing gene sdw-1 despite the fact that neither parent has the semi-dwarf phenotype. Of the remaining two QTL effects, one on 6H may represent a previously reported rhynchosporium resistance (QTLTritonRrs6H271), whilst the final QTL, represents a novel resistance. In addition, interactions during early infection stages in the parental lines were studied by confocal microscopy of detached leaves inoculated with a GFP-expressing R. commune isolate. This approach identified a number of major differences in fungal growth morphology between the resistant and susceptible parent.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Stem density was correlated strongly with several plant traits, emphasizing its key role in explaining variation in life history strategies of SDTF species, and three axes of variation were identified by means of a principal component analysis.
Abstract: In seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) plant trait variation has been associated with adaptation to light and water availability and a coordinated tolerance of plants to shortage of both resources has been proposed. We tested this hypothesis in a set of 113 species by analyzing the relationships amongst eleven leaf and stem traits that have been related to shade and drought tolerance. In addition, the usefulness of different types of functional classifications describing community plant trait variation was evaluated. Strong relationships were observed between leaf and stem traits, potentially conferring coordinated tolerance to shade and drought, and three axes of variation were identified by means of a principal component analysis. The first axis described leaf and stem economy, the second was related to leaf thickness and organization and the third was related to the trade-offs between leaf size, stem density and bark thickness. Stem density was correlated strongly with several plant traits, emphasizing its key role in explaining variation in life history strategies of SDTF species. Significant differences were found between functional groups categorized by phylogeny and leaf phenology, whereas for life forms differences were only observed for palms and bamboos.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 2015-Oryx
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the first regional conservation assessment of upper montane tree species in this region, identifying 3,750 tree species, of which 917 were excluded due to a lack of data on their distribution.
Abstract: The Tropical Andes are characterized by a high level of endemism and plant species richness but are under pressure from human activities. We present the first regional conservation assessment of upper montane tree species in this region. We identified 3,750 tree species as occurring in this region, of which 917 were excluded because of a lack of data on their distribution. We identified a subset of 129 taxa that were restricted to higher elevations (> 1,500 m) but occurred in more than one country, thus excluding local endemics evaluated in previous national assessments. Distribution maps were created for each of these selected species, and extinction risk was assessed according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (version 3.1), drawing on expert knowledge elicited from a regional network of specialists. We assessed one species, Polylepis microphylla, as Critically Endangered, 47 species as Endangered and 28 as Vulnerable. Overall, 60% of the species evaluated were categorized as threatened, or 73% if national endemics are included. It is recommended that extinction risk assessments for tree species be used to inform the development of conservation strategies in the region, to avoid further loss of this important element of biodiversity.

Posted ContentDOI
19 Feb 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used meta-analyses to explore differences in the impacts of logging on (1) residual tree damage, (2) aboveground biomass and (3) tree species richness.
Abstract: 17 18 Background. At least a fifth of tropical forests have been logged in the recent past. This practice is 19 an important source of timber but there are concerns about its long-sustainability and impacts on 20 biodiversity and carbon storage. However, there is wide variation in the impacts of logging, making 21 generalisation, and thus policy implementation, difficult. Recent syntheses of animal biodiversity 22 have indicated that differences in logging intensity – the volume of wood removed per hectare – 23 may help explain some of these differences. In addition there have been suggestions that reduced 24 impact logging (RIL) may reduce some of the negative effects of logging. 25 Methods. We aimed to test these hypotheses using meta-analyses to explore differences in the 26 impacts of logging on (1) residual tree damage, (2) aboveground biomass and (3) tree species 27 richness. 28 Results. Our results indicate that RIL may reduce residual tree damage when compared to 29 conventional methods, but that at higher logging intensities this effect is negated. Changes in 30 aboveground biomass were negatively related to logging intensity, but any effect of RIL was 31 obscured by it being carried out at relatively low intensities. Tree richness appeared to initially 32 increase at low intensities but was reduced at higher intensities. 33 Discussion. Our results give only weak support to the hypothesis that RIL reduces the negative 34 impacts of logging on tree damage, and do not support suggestions that RIL reduces loss of biomass 35 or species richness. However, we do not think this is because there is no difference between the 36 impacts of RIL and conventional logging but rather that better evidence is needed to assess these 37 differences. We suggest that studies that take account of plot-level differences in logging intensity 38 are likely to provide a solution to this knowledge gap. 39

24 Aug 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared a diversity of approaches in CS design and experimental layouts and highlighted the importance of field experiments to evaluate the sustainability of IPM-based cropping systems.
Abstract: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) emphasizes physical and biological regulation strategies to control pests while reducing the reliance on pesticides It is often based on combinations of control measures, because each available alternative measure might have a moderate efficiency Field experiments are required to analyse the interactions between control measures, and to evaluate the sustainability of IPM-based cropping systems (CS) A network of European agronomists managing field experiments at the CS level was set recently, aiming at sharing data and expertise to enhance our knowledge on IPM Comparing methodologies highlighted a diversity of approaches in CS design and experimental layouts This diversity is partly related with the research context and objectives Some experiments intend to explore really innovative strategies and gain scientific knowledge about how such innovative CS behave, while others aim at providing quickly adoptable solutions for local farmers In some research programs, the experiment is part of the CS design process, and tested CS are regularly revised, while in other cases CS are kept stable across years so as to be able to evaluate cumulative long term effects The concept of CS itself is viewed differently across scientists, and this affects protocols: some consider each CS as a sequence of techniques, which has to be similar across repetitions, others define a CS as a set of decision-making rules that allows a flexibility in the actual sequences of techniques The main difference among experiments differentiates factorial layouts from systemic approaches: factorial experiments make it possible to quantify the effects of each IPM factor, and to analyse the interactions, without particular attention for the consistency among components constituting each CS On the contrary, system approach focuses on the overall evaluation of CS designed with a great attention paid to their consistency, hence maximizing the chance to meet the system objectives (in the case of IPM, to use little amount of pesticide while maintaining the CS sustainability) Such field experiments are costly, so preliminary reflections defining the experimental strategy have a critical importance Networking at the European level may constitute a useful exchange platform with potential scientific added value

DOI
05 Jun 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an examination of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka and the factors that are likely to impact upon its ability to adopt a green economy approach, and the challenge for the government and the industry is to ensure that its expansion does not result in adverse environmental, social and economic impacts.
Abstract: This chapter presents an examination of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka and the factors that are likely to impact upon its ability to adopt a green economy approach. It begins with a brief discussion of the green tourism economy concept followed by the methods section. The tourism industry in Sri Lanka had, been stifled by the long-running civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The growth in tourism is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits including increased foreign currency earnings and increased employment opportunities. However, the challenge for the government and the industry is to ensure that its expansion does not result in adverse environmental, social and economic impacts. Sri Lanka receives many of its tourists from India and, to a lesser extent, China and the Middle East. These countries, with large populations, are experiencing high levels of economic growth resulting in rapidly expanding middle classes with high levels of discretionary spending.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight the need to conduct a comprehensive conservation assessment of the world's tree species, building on previous assessments undertaken for the IUCN Red List and suggest that recent developments in plant systematics, online databases, remote sensing data and associated analytical tools offer an unpre- cedented opportunity to conduct such an assessment.
Abstract: Although trees have high economic, cultural and ecological value, increasing numbers of species are poten- tially at risk of extinction because of forest loss and degra- dation as a result of human activities, including overharvesting, fire and grazing. Emerging threats include climate change and its interaction with the spread of pests and diseases. The impactofsuch threatsonthe conservation status of trees is poorly understood. Here we highlight the need to conduct a comprehensive conservation assessment of the world's tree species, building on previous assessments undertaken for the IUCN Red List. We suggest that recent developments in plant systematics, online databases, remote sensing data and associated analytical tools offer an unpre- cedented opportunity to conduct such an assessment. We provide an overview of how a Global Tree Assessment could be achieved in practice, through participative, open- access approaches to data sharing and evaluation.

DOI
29 Jul 2015
TL;DR: Lindmayer, D.B., et al. as discussed by the authors proposed new policies for old trees: averting a global crisis in a keystone ecological structure, where dieback may cause rapid transitions to non-forest states, in forests with low resilience.
Abstract: Lindenmayer, D.B., et al., 2013. New policies for old trees: averting a global crisis in a keystone ecological structure. Conserv. Lett.. doi:10.1111/conl.12013 This work was funded by the United Kingdom’s Natural Environment Research Council as part of their six year (2011-2017) Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability (BESS) programme. • Dieback may cause rapid transitions to non-forest states, in forests with low resilience • Transitions can have dramatic effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services