Showing papers by "International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources published in 2020"
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Charles University in Prague1, Stellenbosch University2, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic3, Canterbury of New Zealand4, University of Tennessee5, University of Fribourg6, University College London7, Zoological Society of London8, Williams College9, Durham University10, University of Vienna11, South African National Parks12, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources13, Free University of Berlin14, Leibniz Association15, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg16, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ17, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague18, United States Forest Service19, University of Toronto20, University of Rhode Island21, University of Concepción22, Taizhou University23, University of Konstanz24, University of Seville25, Spanish National Research Council26, University of Pretoria27
TL;DR: Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods, as synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders.
Abstract: Biological invasions are a global consequence of an increasingly connected world and the rise in human population size The numbers of invasive alien species – the subset of alien species that spread widely in areas where they are not native, affecting the environment or human livelihoods – are increasing Synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders Invasions have complex and often immense long‐term direct and indirect impacts In many cases, such impacts become apparent or problematic only when invaders are well established and have large ranges Invasive alien species break down biogeographic realms, affect native species richness and abundance, increase the risk of native species extinction, affect the genetic composition of native populations, change native animal behaviour, alter phylogenetic diversity across communities, and modify trophic networks Many invasive alien species also change ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services by altering nutrient and contaminant cycling, hydrology, habitat structure, and disturbance regimes These biodiversity and ecosystem impacts are accelerating and will increase further in the future Scientific evidence has identified policy strategies to reduce future invasions, but these strategies are often insufficiently implemented For some nations, notably Australia and New Zealand, biosecurity has become a national priority There have been long‐term successes, such as eradication of rats and cats on increasingly large islands and biological control of weeds across continental areas However, in many countries, invasions receive little attention Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods Countries can strengthen their biosecurity regulations to implement and enforce more effective management strategies that should also address other global changes that interact with invasions
677 citations
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Stockholm Resilience Centre1, Australian National University2, University of Tasmania3, Stockholm University4, Charles Darwin University5, University of Montana6, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources7, National Autonomous University of Mexico8, The Pew Charitable Trusts9, McGill University10, Stellenbosch University11, University of Bern12, University of Maryland, College Park13, International Center for Tropical Agriculture14, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation15, University of Wisconsin-Madison16, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences17, Hobart Corporation18, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research19, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile20, University of Sussex21, University College Cork22, Lüneburg University23, University of Arizona24, Azim Premji University25, University of the Witwatersrand26, Radboud University Nijmegen27, Utrecht University28
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a set of four general principles that underlie high-quality knowledge co-production for sustainability research, and offer practical guidance on how to engage in meaningful co-productive practices, and how to evaluate their quality and success.
Abstract: Research practice, funding agencies and global science organizations suggest that research aimed at addressing sustainability challenges is most effective when ‘co-produced’ by academics and non-academics. Co-production promises to address the complex nature of contemporary sustainability challenges better than more traditional scientific approaches. But definitions of knowledge co-production are diverse and often contradictory. We propose a set of four general principles that underlie high-quality knowledge co-production for sustainability research. Using these principles, we offer practical guidance on how to engage in meaningful co-productive practices, and how to evaluate their quality and success.
607 citations
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Conservation International1, Griffith University2, Carleton University3, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources4, International Institute of Minnesota5, United States Geological Survey6, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education7, University of Washington8, Cardiff University9, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust10, Free University of Berlin11
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an emergency recovery plan to bend the curve of freshwater biodiversity loss, which includes accelerating implementation of environmental flows; improving water quality; protecting and restoring critical habitats; managing the exploitation of freshwater ecosystem resources, especially species and riverine aggregates; preventing and controlling nonnative species invasions; and safeguarding and restoring river connectivity.
Abstract: Despite their limited spatial extent, freshwater ecosystems host remarkable biodiversity, including one-third of all vertebrate species. This biodiversity is declining dramatically: Globally, wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests, and freshwater vertebrate populations have fallen more than twice as steeply as terrestrial or marine populations. Threats to freshwater biodiversity are well documented but coordinated action to reverse the decline is lacking. We present an Emergency Recovery Plan to bend the curve of freshwater biodiversity loss. Priority actions include accelerating implementation of environmental flows; improving water quality; protecting and restoring critical habitats; managing the exploitation of freshwater ecosystem resources, especially species and riverine aggregates; preventing and controlling nonnative species invasions; and safeguarding and restoring river connectivity. We recommend adjustments to targets and indicators for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals and roles for national and international state and nonstate actors.
420 citations
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University of Helsinki1, Australian National University2, Brandenburg University of Technology3, Stellenbosch University4, University of Osnabrück5, University of Salzburg6, Radboud University Nijmegen7, University of Huddersfield8, University of Trier9, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources10, National University of Singapore11, IRSA12, University of Los Andes13, University of Florida14, Florida A&M University15, University of Zurich16, James Cook University17, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul18, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ19, University of the Philippines Los Baños20, Griffith University21
TL;DR: In this paper, a group of conservation biologists deeply concerned about the decline of insect populations, reviewed what we know about the drivers of insect extinctions, their consequences, and how extinctions can negatively impact humanity.
392 citations
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International Institute of Minnesota1, The Catholic University of America2, University of Queensland3, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro4, Wageningen University and Research Centre5, Autonomous University of Barcelona6, Federal Fluminense University7, University of Cambridge8, University of the Philippines Los Baños9, University of Tasmania10, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources11, BirdLife International12, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna13, University of São Paulo14, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds15, National University of Cordoba16, World Conservation Monitoring Centre17, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis18, Environmental Change Institute19, University of Vienna20
TL;DR: It is found that restoring 15% of converted lands in priority areas could avoid 60% of expected extinctions while sequestering 299 gigatonnes of CO 2 —30% of the total CO 2 increase in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.
Abstract: Extensive ecosystem restoration is increasingly seen as being central to conserving biodiversity and stabilizing the climate of the Earth. Although ambitious national and global targets have been set, global priority areas that account for spatial variation in benefits and costs have yet to be identified. Here we develop and apply a multicriteria optimization approach that identifies priority areas for restoration across all terrestrial biomes, and estimates their benefits and costs. We find that restoring 15% of converted lands in priority areas could avoid 60% of expected extinctions while sequestering 299 gigatonnes of CO2—30% of the total CO2 increase in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. The inclusion of several biomes is key to achieving multiple benefits. Cost effectiveness can increase up to 13-fold when spatial allocation is optimized using our multicriteria approach, which highlights the importance of spatial planning. Our results confirm the vast potential contributions of restoration to addressing global challenges, while underscoring the necessity of pursuing these goals synergistically.
348 citations
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University of Queensland1, Centre national de la recherche scientifique2, Zoological Society of London3, University College London4, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis5, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources6, World Conservation Monitoring Centre7, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro8, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro9, International Institute of Minnesota10, Wildlife Conservation Society11, University of Northern British Columbia12
TL;DR: To be more successful after 2020, area-based conservation must contribute more effectively to meeting global biodiversity goals-ranging from preventing extinctions to retaining the most-intact ecosystems-and must better collaborate with the many Indigenous peoples, community groups and private initiatives that are central to the successful conservation of biodiversity.
Abstract: Humanity will soon define a new era for nature—one that seeks to transform decades of underwhelming responses to the global biodiversity crisis. Area-based conservation efforts, which include both protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, are likely to extend and diversify. However, persistent shortfalls in ecological representation and management effectiveness diminish the potential role of area-based conservation in stemming biodiversity loss. Here we show how the expansion of protected areas by national governments since 2010 has had limited success in increasing the coverage across different elements of biodiversity (ecoregions, 12,056 threatened species, ‘Key Biodiversity Areas’ and wilderness areas) and ecosystem services (productive fisheries, and carbon services on land and sea). To be more successful after 2020, area-based conservation must contribute more effectively to meeting global biodiversity goals—ranging from preventing extinctions to retaining the most-intact ecosystems—and must better collaborate with the many Indigenous peoples, community groups and private initiatives that are central to the successful conservation of biodiversity. The long-term success of area-based conservation requires parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to secure adequate financing, plan for climate change and make biodiversity conservation a far stronger part of land, water and sea management policies.
334 citations
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TL;DR: The authors reviewed the literature on the political and power dimensions of co-production and showed how depoliticization dynamics in coproduction reinforce rather than mitigate existing unequal power relations and how they prevent wider societal transformation from taking place.
306 citations
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TL;DR: The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for small-scale fishers, including marketing and processing aspects of the sector, and coastal fishing communities, drawing from news and reports from around the world are discussed in this paper.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly spread around the world with extensive social and economic effects. This editorial focuses specifically on the implications of the pandemic for small-scale fishers, including marketing and processing aspects of the sector, and coastal fishing communities, drawing from news and reports from around the world. Negative consequences to date have included complete shut-downs of some fisheries, knock-on economic effects from market disruptions, increased health risks for fishers, processors and communities, additional implications for marginalized groups, exacerbated vulnerabilities to other social and environmental stressors, and increased Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. Though much of the news is dire, there have been some positive outcomes such as food sharing, the revival of local food networks, increases in local sales through direct marketing and deliveries, collective actions to safeguard rights, collaborations between communities and governments, and reduced fishing pressure in some places. While the crisis is still unfolding, there is an urgent need to coordinate, plan and implement effective short- and long-term responses. Thus, we urge governments, development organizations, NGOs, donors, the private sector, and researchers to rapidly mobilize in support of small-scale fishers, coastal fishing communities, and associated civil society organizations, and suggest actions that can be taken by each to help these groups respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
237 citations
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TL;DR: There is ample scope for restoring the global environment from the ill-effects of anthropogenic activities through temporary shutdown measures through temporaryshutdown measures, according to a high prospective meteorological suitability for COVID-19 spread.
167 citations
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University of Valle1, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute2, Stellenbosch University3, Zoological Society of London4, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences5, American Museum of Natural History6, Center for Biological Diversity7, Tufts University8, Wageningen University and Research Centre9, Naturalis10, University of Nevada, Reno11, University of Amsterdam12, University of Osnabrück13, University of Queensland14, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources15, University of Sussex16, University of Salzburg17, Michigan State University18, Radboud University Nijmegen19, Macquarie University20, University of Trier21, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden22, Xerces Society23, Cardiff University24, Çukurova University25, University of Freiburg26, University of Sydney27, Harper Adams University28, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute29, Cornell University30, Chinese Academy of Sciences31, University of Waikato32, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology33, University of Reading34, Bogor Agricultural University35, National Agricultural Research Institute36, Washington State University Vancouver37, Kasetsart University38, University of Göttingen39, University of Canterbury40, University of Novi Sad41, University of Connecticut42, Butterfly Conservation43, Natural History Museum44
TL;DR: A global ‘roadmap’ for insect conservation and recovery is proposed that entails the immediate implementation of several ‘no-regret’ measures that will act to slow or stop insect declines.
Abstract: To the Editor — A growing number of studies are providing evidence that a suite of anthropogenic stressors — habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, invasive species, climate change and overharvesting — are seriously reducing insect and other invertebrate abundance, diversity and biomass across the biosphere1–8. These declines affect all functional groups: herbivores, detritivores, parasitoids, predators and pollinators. Insects are vitally important in a wide range of ecosystem services9 of which some are vitally important for food production and security (for example, pollination and pest control)10. There is now a strong scientific consensus that the decline of insects, other arthropods and biodiversity as a whole, is a very real and serious threat that society must urgently address11–13. In response to the increasing public awareness of the problem, the German government is committing funds to combat and reverse declining insect numbers13. This funding should act as a clarion call to other nations across the world — especially wealthier ones — to follow suit and to respond proactively to the crisis by addressing the known and suspected threats and implementing solutions. We hereby propose a global ‘roadmap’ for insect conservation and recovery (Fig. 1). This entails the immediate implementation of several ‘no-regret’ measures (Fig. 1, step 1) that will act to slow or stop insect declines. Among the initiatives we encourage are the following immediate measures: Taking aggressive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; reversing recent trends in agricultural intensification including reduced application of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and pursuing their replacement with agro-ecological measures; promoting the diversification and maintenance of locally adapted landuse techniques; increasing landscape heterogeneity through the maintenance of natural areas within the landscape matrix and ensuring the retention and creation of microhabitats within habitats which may be increasingly important for insects during extreme climatic events such as droughts or heatwaves; reducing identified local threats such as light, water or noise pollution, invasive species and so on; prioritizing the import of goods that are not produced at the cost of healthy, species-rich ecosystems; designing and deploying policies (for example, subsidies and taxation) to induce the innovation and adoption of insectfriendly technologies; enforcing stricter measures to reduce the introduction of alien species, and prioritizing nature-based tactics for their (long-term) mitigation; compiling and implementing conservation strategies for species that are vulnerable, threatened or endangered; funding educational and outreach programs, including those tailored to the needs of the wider public, farmers, land managers, decision makers and conservation professionals; enhancing ‘citizen science’ or ‘community science’ as a way of obtaining more data on insect diversity and abundance as well as engaging the public, especially in areas where academic or professional infrastructure is lacking; devising and deploying measures across agricultural and food value chains that favour insect-friendly farming, including tracking, labelling, certification and insurance schemes or outcome-based incentives that facilitate behavioural changes, and investing in capacity building to create a new generation of insect conservationists and providing knowledge and skills to existing professionals (particularly in developing countries). To better understand changes in insect abundance and diversity, research should aim to prioritize the following areas: Quantifying temporal trends in insect abundance, diversity and biomass by extracting long-term datasets from existing insect collections to inform new censuses; exploring the relative contributions of different anthropogenic stressors causing insect declines within and across different taxa; initiating long-term studies comparing insect abundance and diversity in different habitats and ecosystems along a management-intensity gradient and at the intersection of agricultural and natural habitats; designing and validating insectfriendly techniques that are effective, locally relevant and economically sound in agriculture, managed habitats and urban environments; promoting and applying standardized monitoring protocols globally and establishing long-term monitoring plots or sites based on such protocols, as well as increasing support for existing monitoring efforts; establishing an international governing body under the auspices of existing bodies (for example, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) or the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)) that is accountable for documenting and monitoring the effects of proposed solutions on insect biodiversity in the longer term; launching public–private partnerships and sustainable financing initiatives with the aim of restoring, protecting and creating new vital insect habitats as well as managing key threats; increasing exploration and research to improve biodiversity assessments, with a focus on regional capacity building in understudied and neglected areas, and performing large-scale assessments of the conservation status of insect groups to help define priority species, areas and issues. Most importantly, we should not wait to act until we have addressed every key knowledge gap. We currently have enough information on some key causes of insect decline to formulate no-regret solutions whilst more data are compiled for lesserknown taxa and regions and long-term data are aggregated and assessed. Implementation should be accompanied by research that examines impacts, the results of which can be used to modify and improve the implementation of effective measures. Furthermore, such a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach ensures that these conservation strategies are robust to newly emerging pressures and threats. We must act now. ❐
167 citations
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Mammal Research Institute1, Griffith University2, University of Amsterdam3, University of Cambridge4, University of Oxford5, University of Cape Town6, World Bank7, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit8, Eduardo Mondlane University9, Wildlife Conservation Society10, International Institute for Environment and Development11, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources12, Institut national de la recherche agronomique13, University of Nairobi14
TL;DR: It is argued that the net conservation impacts of COVID-19 will be strongly negative in Africa, and the critical importance of conserving habitat and regulating unsafe wildlife trade practices to reduce the risk of future pandemics.
Abstract: The SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 illness are driving a global crisis. Governments have responded by restricting human movement, which has reduced economic activity. These changes may benefit biodiversity conservation in some ways, but in Africa, we contend that the net conservation impacts of COVID-19 will be strongly negative. Here, we describe how the crisis creates a perfect storm of reduced funding, restrictions on the operations of conservation agencies, and elevated human threats to nature. We identify the immediate steps necessary to address these challenges and support ongoing conservation efforts. We then highlight systemic flaws in contemporary conservation and identify opportunities to restructure for greater resilience. Finally, we emphasize the critical importance of conserving habitat and regulating unsafe wildlife trade practices to reduce the risk of future pandemics.
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TL;DR: Accurate generation lengths for all birds will improve assessment of extinction within the group, and strengthen future extinction risk assessments and augment key databases of avian life history and trait data.
Abstract: Birds have been comprehensively assessed on the IUCN Red List more times than any other taxonomic group. However, to date, generation lengths have not been systematically estimated to scale population trends when undertaking assessments, as required by the Red List Criteria. We compiled information from major databases of published life history and trait data for all birds, and imputed missing life history data as a function of species traits using Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Generation lengths were derived for all species, based on our modelled values of age-at-first-breeding (F), maximum longevity (L) and annual adult survival (S). The resulting generation lengths vary from 1.42 to 27.87 years, with a median of 2.99 years. We found that most species (61%) have generation lengths shorter than 3.33 years, meaning that the period of three generations - over which population declines are assessed under Criterion A of the Red List - was shorter than 10 years, the value used for Red List assessments of species with short generation times. For these species, our trait-informed estimates of generation length suggest that 10 years is a robust precautionary value for threat assessment. In other cases, however, for whole families, genera or individual species, generation length has a substantial impact on their estimated extinction risk, resulting in higher extinction risk in longer-lived species. While our approach is an effective means of addressing data gaps, there is some evidence that generation lengths for some species may still have been underestimated, owing to a paucity of life history data. Overall, our results will strengthen future extinction risk assessments and augment key databases of avian life history and trait data. We hope the findings stimulate future research to fill the remaining data gaps. Article impact statement: Accurate generation lengths for all birds will improve assessment of extinction within the group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn1, Spanish National Research Council2, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton3, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources4, Newcastle University5, University of Queensland6, Scripps Institution of Oceanography7, Hebrew University of Jerusalem8, Norwegian Institute for Water Research9, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute10, University of Hawaii11, Memorial University of Newfoundland12, Jacobs University Bremen13, Duke University14, University of Hong Kong15
TL;DR: Analysis of expert elicitation methods indicates a wide consensus amongst deep-sea experts that monitoring should prioritize large organisms living in deep waters and in benthic habitats, whereas monitoring of ecosystem functioning should focus on trophic structure and biomass production.
Abstract: The deep sea (>200 m depth) encompasses >95% of the world's ocean volume and represents the largest and least explored biome on Earth (<0.0001% of ocean surface), yet is increasingly under threat from multiple direct and indirect anthropogenic pressures. Our ability to preserve both benthic and pelagic deep-sea ecosystems depends upon effective ecosystem-based management strategies and monitoring based on widely agreed deep-sea ecological variables. Here, we identify a set of deep-sea essential ecological variables among five scientific areas of the deep ocean: (1) biodiversity; (2) ecosystem functions; (3) impacts and risk assessment; (4) climate change, adaptation and evolution; and (5) ecosystem conservation. Conducting an expert elicitation (1,155 deep-sea scientists consulted and 112 respondents), our analysis indicates a wide consensus amongst deep-sea experts that monitoring should prioritize large organisms (that is, macro- and megafauna) living in deep waters and in benthic habitats, whereas monitoring of ecosystem functioning should focus on trophic structure and biomass production. Habitat degradation and recovery rates are identified as crucial features for monitoring deep-sea ecosystem health, while global climate change will likely shift bathymetric distributions and cause local extinction in deep-sea species. Finally, deep-sea conservation efforts should focus primarily on vulnerable marine ecosystems and habitat-forming species. Deep-sea observation efforts that prioritize these variables will help to support the implementation of effective management strategies on a global scale.
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International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources1, Stockholm University2, Morton Arboretum3, Cardiff University4, University of Freiburg5, University of Montana6, National Autonomous University of Mexico7, Arizona State University8, Université libre de Bruxelles9, University of Bordeaux10, University of Idaho11, University of São Paulo12, University of Gothenburg13, Massey University14, Australian National University15, Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences16, European Cooperation in Science and Technology17
TL;DR: This paper aims to demonstrate the efforts towards in-situ applicability of EMMARM, as to provide real-time information about the phytochemical properties of E.M.B.H.
Abstract: M.H. receives funding from an “Investissement d’Avenir”
grant managed by Agence Nationale de la Recherche
[Centre d’etude de la biodiversite amazonienne (CEBA), ref.
ANR-10-LABX-25-01].
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National University of Singapore1, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources2, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University3, University of Florence4, University of Hong Kong5, Smithsonian Institution6, Manchester Metropolitan University7, University of California, Los Angeles8, Griffith University9, Macquarie University10, Université libre de Bruxelles11, Vrije Universiteit Brussel12, Edinburgh Napier University13, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center14, University of Bremen15, The Chinese University of Hong Kong16, Florida International University17, University of Wollongong18, University of Malaya19, Yale-NUS College20, Guangxi University21
TL;DR: The results of conservation efforts for mangrove forests in recent years are discussed, with a focus on coastal mangroves in Southeast Asia.
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University of Queensland1, University of Kent2, University of the Philippines Los Baños3, University of Tasmania4, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources5, New York University6, Nanyang Technological University7, ETH Zurich8, Center for International Forestry Research9, World Conservation Monitoring Centre10, University of Amsterdam11, Liverpool John Moores University12, National University of Singapore13, Rainforest Alliance14, Leibniz Association15, University of Exeter16, Wageningen University and Research Centre17, Bogor Agricultural University18, Stanford University19, University of Cambridge20, Federal University of Pará21, Stellenbosch University22, Norwegian University of Life Sciences23
TL;DR: The Review highlights that although substantial gaps remain in understanding of the relationship between the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of oil palm, and the scope, stringency and effectiveness of initiatives to address these, there has been little research into the impacts and trade-offs of other vegetable oil crops.
Abstract: Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires balancing demands on land between agriculture (SDG 2) and biodiversity (SDG 15). The production of vegetable oils and, in particular, palm oil, illustrates these competing demands and trade-offs. Palm oil accounts for ~40% of the current global annual demand for vegetable oil as food, animal feed and fuel (210 Mt), but planted oil palm covers less than 5–5.5% of the total global oil crop area (approximately 425 Mha) due to oil palm’s relatively high yields. Recent oil palm expansion in forested regions of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, where >90% of global palm oil is produced, has led to substantial concern around oil palm’s role in deforestation. Oil palm expansion’s direct contribution to regional tropical deforestation varies widely, ranging from an estimated 3% in West Africa to 50% in Malaysian Borneo. Oil palm is also implicated in peatland draining and burning in Southeast Asia. Documented negative environmental impacts from such expansion include biodiversity declines, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. However, oil palm generally produces more oil per area than other oil crops, is often economically viable in sites unsuitable for most other crops and generates considerable wealth for at least some actors. Global demand for vegetable oils is projected to increase by 46% by 2050. Meeting this demand through additional expansion of oil palm versus other vegetable oil crops will lead to substantial differential effects on biodiversity, food security, climate change, land degradation and livelihoods. Our Review highlights that although substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the relationship between the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of oil palm, and the scope, stringency and effectiveness of initiatives to address these, there has been little research into the impacts and trade-offs of other vegetable oil crops. Greater research attention needs to be given to investigating the impacts of palm oil production compared to alternatives for the trade-offs to be assessed at a global scale.
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Stellenbosch University1, University of Vienna2, University of Fribourg3, Fisheries and Oceans Canada4, University of Lisbon5, University of Hawaii at Manoa6, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources7, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences8, Lincoln University (New Zealand)9, Leibniz Association10, Free University of Berlin11, University of the Aegean12, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg13, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ14, McGill University15, United States Forest Service16, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague17, Chinese Academy of Sciences18, Great Lakes Institute of Management19, University of Rhode Island20, National University of Comahue21, University of Concepción22, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic23, Charles University in Prague24, Environment Agency25, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center26, University of Auckland27, University of Vermont28, Brown University29, University of California, Davis30, Université Paris-Saclay31, King's College London32, University of Konstanz33, Taizhou University34, National Science Foundation35, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna36
TL;DR: It is shown that some best‐case scenarios can substantially reduce potential future impacts of biological invasions, however, rapid and comprehensive actions are necessary to use this potential and achieve the goals of the Post‐2020 Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Abstract: Understanding the likely future impacts of biological invasions is crucial yet highly challenging given the multiple relevant environmental, socio-economic and societal contexts and drivers. In the absence of quantitative models, methods based on expert knowledge are the best option for assessing future invasion trajectories. Here, we present an expert assessment of the drivers of potential alien species impacts under contrasting scenarios and socioecological contexts through the mid-21st century. Based on responses from 36 experts in biological invasions, moderate (20%-30%) increases in invasions, compared to the current conditions, are expected to cause major impacts on biodiversity in most socioecological contexts. Three main drivers of biological invasions-transport, climate change and socio-economic change-were predicted to significantly affect future impacts of alien species on biodiversity even under a best-case scenario. Other drivers (e.g. human demography and migration in tropical and subtropical regions) were also of high importance in specific global contexts (e.g. for individual taxonomic groups or biomes). We show that some best-case scenarios can substantially reduce potential future impacts of biological invasions. However, rapid and comprehensive actions are necessary to use this potential and achieve the goals of the Post-2020 Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
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TL;DR: This research used a novel futures-oriented and participatory approach that asked what future envisioned knowledge systems might need to look like and how they might get there to suggest that envisioned future systems will need to be much more collaborative, open, diverse, egalitarian, and able to work with values and systemic issues.
Abstract: Formalised knowledge systems, including universities and research institutes, are important for contemporary societies. They are, however, also arguably failing humanity when their impact is measured against the level of progress being made in stimulating the societal changes needed to address challenges like climate change. In this research we used a novel futures-oriented and participatory approach that asked what future envisioned knowledge systems might need to look like and how we might get there. Findings suggest that envisioned future systems will need to be much more collaborative, open, diverse, egalitarian, and able to work with values and systemic issues. They will also need to go beyond producing knowledge about our world to generating wisdom about how to act within it. To get to envisioned systems we will need to rapidly scale methodological innovations, connect innovators, and creatively accelerate learning about working with intractable challenges. We will also need to create new funding schemes, a global knowledge commons, and challenge deeply held assumptions. To genuinely be a creative force in supporting longevity of human and non-human life on our planet, the shift in knowledge systems will probably need to be at the scale of the enlightenment and speed of the scientific and technological revolution accompanying the second World War. This will require bold and strategic action from governments, scientists, civic society and sustained transformational intent.
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TL;DR: This work brings together long-term demographic and behavioral data on one of the worlds’ most conflict-prone species, the brown bear, to quantify the mechanisms facilitating human–carnivore coexistence, and suggests that connected wilderness is critical to sustain coexistence landscapes.
Abstract: With a shrinking supply of wilderness and growing recognition that top predators can have a profound influence on ecosystems, the persistence of large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes has emerged as one of the greatest conservation challenges of our time Carnivores fascinate society, yet these animals pose threats to people living near them, resulting in high rates of carnivore death near human settlements We used 41 y of demographic data for more than 2,500 brown bears-one of the world's most widely distributed and conflict-prone carnivores-to understand the behavioral and demographic mechanisms promoting carnivore coexistence in human-dominated landscapes Bear mortality was high and unsustainable near people, but a human-induced shift to nocturnality facilitated lower risks of bear mortality and rates of conflict with people Despite these behavioral shifts, projected population growth rates for bears in human-dominated areas revealed a source-sink dynamic Despite some female bears successfully reproducing in the sink areas, bear persistence was reliant on a supply of immigrants from areas with minimal human influence (ie, wilderness) Such mechanisms of coexistence reveal a striking paradox: Connectivity to wilderness areas supplies bears that likely will die from people, but these bears are essential to avert local extirpation These insights suggest carnivores contribute to human-carnivore coexistence through behavioral and demographic mechanisms, and that connected wilderness is critical to sustain coexistence landscapes
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01 May 2020
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a dramatic impact on the global community; on people's lives and health, livelihoods, economies, and behaviours as mentioned in this paper, as well as impacts on the livelihoods of communities living in and around these areas.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a dramatic impact on the global community; on people’s lives and health, livelihoods, economies, and behaviours. Most zoonotic disease pandemics, including COVID-19, arise from the unsustainable exploitation of nature. This special editorial provides a snapshot of how protected and conserved areas around the world are being impacted by COVID-19. For many protected and conserved areas, negative impacts on management capacity, budgets and effectiveness are significant, as are impacts on the livelihoods of communities living in and around these areas. We provide a commentary on how effectively and equitably managed systems of protected and conserved areas can be part of a response to the pandemic that both lessens the chance of a recurrence of similar events and builds a more sustainable future for people and nature. We conclude the editorial with a Call for Action for the rescue, recovery, rebuilding and expansion of the global network of protected and conserved areas.
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University of Hawaii at Manoa1, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources2, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute3, University of California, San Diego4, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research5, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory6, University of Southampton7, Massachusetts Institute of Technology8, Nova Southeastern University9, University of Maine10, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology11
TL;DR: It is argued that deep-sea mining poses significant risks to midwater ecosystems and how these risks could be evaluated more comprehensively to enable environmental resource managers and society at large to decide whether and how deep- sea mining should proceed.
Abstract: Despite rapidly growing interest in deep-sea mineral exploitation, environmental research and management have focused on impacts to seafloor environments, paying little attention to pelagic ecosystems. Nonetheless, research indicates that seafloor mining will generate sediment plumes and noise at the seabed and in the water column that may have extensive ecological effects in deep midwaters (1), which can extend from an approximate depth of 200 meters to 5 kilometers. Deep midwater ecosystems represent more than 90% of the biosphere (2), contain fish biomass 100 times greater than the global annual fish catch (3), connect shallow and deep-sea ecosystems, and play key roles in carbon export (4), nutrient regeneration, and provisioning of harvestable fish stocks (5). These ecosystem services, as well as biodiversity, could be negatively affected by mining. Here we argue that deep-sea mining poses significant risks to midwater ecosystems and suggest how these risks could be evaluated more comprehensively to enable environmental resource managers and society at large to decide whether and how deep-sea mining should proceed.
Midwater animal biodiversity: Squid, fish, shrimp, copepods, medusa, filter-feeding jellies, and marine worms are among the midwater creatures that could be affected by deep sea mining. Photos by E. Goetze, K. Peijnenburg, D. Perrine, Hawaii Seafood Council (B. Takenaka, J. Kaneko), S. Haddock, J. Drazen, B. Robison, DEEPEND (Dante Fenolio), and MBARI.
Interest in deep-sea mining for sulfide deposits near hydrothermal vents, polymetallic nodules on the abyssal seafloor, and cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts (6) has grown substantially in the last decade. Equipment and system development are already occurring. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international organization created under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to manage deep-sea mining beyond national jurisdiction, is developing mineral exploitation regulations, the Mining Code. Currently, 30 ISA exploration contracts cover over 1.5 million …
[↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jdrazen{at}hawaii.edu.
[1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
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TL;DR: It is argued that integrated ocean management (IOM) should be the key overarching approach—building upon and connecting existing sectoral governance efforts—for achieving a sustainable ocean economy.
Abstract: The rapidly evolving ocean economy, driven by human needs for food, energy, transportation and recreation, has led to unprecedented pressures on the ocean that are further amplified by climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution. The need for better governance of human activities in the ocean space has been widely recognized for years, and is now also incorporated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Even so, many challenges relating to the implementation of existing governance frameworks exist. Here, we argue that integrated ocean management (IOM) should be the key overarching approach—building upon and connecting existing sectoral governance efforts—for achieving a sustainable ocean economy. IOM is a holistic, ecosystem-based and knowledge-based approach that aims to ensure the sustainability and resilience of marine ecosystems while integrating and balancing different ocean uses to optimize the overall ocean economy. We discuss examples of IOM in practice from areas where preconditions differ substantially, and identify six universal opportunities for action that can help achieve a sustainable ocean economy. There is an urgent need to ensure that marine ecosystems are able to support biodiversity and the services they sustain in the face of rapid global change. Here, the authors argue that a holistic approach of integrated ocean management can ensure a sustainable and resilient ocean economy.
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Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic1, Stellenbosch University2, Charles University in Prague3, University of Rhode Island4, University of Fribourg5, University of Florida6, King's College London7, University of Vienna8, South African National Parks9, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources10, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences11, University of Oxford12, ETH Zurich13, Macquarie University14, University of Adelaide15, University of Lausanne16, University of Cape Town17, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity18
TL;DR: It is argued that invasion syndromes can account for the context-dependency of biological invasions while incorporating insights from comparative studies and will help to structure thinking, identify transferrable risk assessment and management lessons, and highlight similarities among events that were previously considered disparate invasion phenomena.
Abstract: Our ability to predict invasions has been hindered by the seemingly idiosyncratic context-dependency of individual invasions. However, we argue that robust and useful generalisations in invasion science can be made by considering “invasion syndromes” which we define as “a combination of pathways, alien species traits, and characteristics of the recipient ecosystem which collectively result in predictable dynamics and impacts, and that can be managed effectively using specific policy and management actions”. We describe this approach and outline examples that highlight its utility, including: cacti with clonal fragmentation in arid ecosystems; small aquatic organisms introduced through ballast water in harbours; large ranid frogs with frequent secondary transfers; piscivorous freshwater fishes in connected aquatic ecosystems; plant invasions in high-elevation areas; tall-statured grasses; and tree-feeding insects in forests with suitable hosts. We propose a systematic method for identifying and delimiting invasion syndromes. We argue that invasion syndromes can account for the context-dependency of biological invasions while incorporating insights from comparative studies. Adopting this approach will help to structure thinking, identify transferrable risk assessment and management lessons, and highlight similarities among events that were previously considered disparate invasion phenomena.
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King's College London1, Royal Botanic Gardens2, Emory University3, Utrecht University4, Chinese Academy of Sciences5, University of Pretoria6, Addis Ababa University7, University of Oxford8, University of Cuenca9, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources10, Norwich Research Park11, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara University12, University of Missouri13, National University of Colombia14, Botanic Gardens Conservation International15
TL;DR: Current and emerging scientific approaches are presented, to uncover and preserve nature-based health solutions for the future, through harmonization with biodiversity conservation strategies.
Abstract: Societal Impact Statement Plants and fungi have provided, or inspired, key pharmaceuticals for global health challenges, including cancer, heart disease, dementia, and malaria, and are valued as traditional medicines worldwide. Global demand for medicinal plants and fungi has threatened certain species, contributing to biodiversity loss and depletion of natural resources that are important for the health of humanity. We consider the evolving role of plants and fungi in global healthcare as new challenges to human health and to biodiversity arise. We present current and emerging scientific approaches, to uncover and preserve nature‐based health solutions for the future, through harmonization with biodiversity conservation strategies. Summary Non‐communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the main causes of deaths globally, and communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis affect billions of people. Plants and fungi have provided key pharmaceuticals in our armory against these global health challenges, while in some regions of the world, they continue to have a central role in healthcare systems as traditional medicines. Consequently, global demand for plants and fungi in healthcare has threatened certain medicinal species, and is a driving factor in biodiversity loss. Yet the future of therapeutics from nature is evolving. Scientific advances are enabling the untapped potential of the world's plants and fungi to be explored for their medicinal value, and to reveal other roles they may have for improving health and well‐being; this demonstrates the value of natural capital as an incentive for biodiversity conservation. Emerging technologies also offer new hope for safeguarding essential medicines for the future, by revealing more sustainable solutions for sourcing key natural products. This review discusses recent developments and future approaches for the discovery of natural products as medicines, for health and well‐being, and strategies to harmonize the therapeutic use of biodiversity with its proactive conservation through nature‐based solutions.
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TL;DR: This work is the first to identify the influence of the IUCN Red List on conservation, and studied increased scientific knowledge, raised awareness, access to funding and resource allocation, and increased conservation activity.
Abstract: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, a species extinction risk assessment tool, has been guiding conservation efforts for over 5 decades. It is widely assumed to have been instrumental in preventing species from moving closer to extinction and driving recoveries. However, the impact of the IUCN Red List in guiding conservation has not been evaluated. We conducted, transcribed, and coded interviews with experts who use the IUCN Red List across a range of sectors to understand how the list is used in conservation. We developed a theory of change to illustrate how and why change is expected to occur along causal pathways contributing to the long-term goal of the IUCN Red List and an evaluation framework with indicators for measuring the impact of the IUCN Red List in generating scientific knowledge, raising awareness among stakeholders, designating priority conservation sites, allocating funding and resources, influencing development of legislation and policy, and guiding targeted conservation action (key themes). Red-list assessments were the primary input leading to outputs (scientific knowledge, raised awareness), outcomes (better informed priority setting, access to funding and resource availability, improved legislation and policy), and impact (implemented conservation action leading to positive change) that have resulted in achievement of IUCN Red List goals. To explore feasibility of attributing the difference made by the IUCN Red List across themes, we studied increased scientific knowledge, raised awareness, access to funding and resource allocation, and increased conservation activity. The feasibility exploration showed increased scientific knowledge over time identified through positive trends in publications referring to the IUCN Red List in the literature; raised awareness of the list following high IUCN activity identified by peaks in online search activity; an increased proportion of conservation funding bodies requesting IUCN Red List status in the application process; and, based on interviews with Amphibian Specialist Group members, red-list assessments were essential in connecting relevant stakeholders and ensuring conservation action. Although we identified the IUCN Red List as a vital tool in global conservation efforts, it was challenging to measure specific impacts because of its ubiquitous nature. We are the first to identify the influence of the IUCN Red List on conservation.
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University of Cambridge1, World Wide Fund for Nature2, National University of Singapore3, Griffith University4, Aberystwyth University5, University of Exeter6, Zoological Society of London7, Goddard Space Flight Center8, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources9, University of Maryland, College Park10, Wetlands International11, East Carolina University12, The Nature Conservancy13, University of Queensland14, James Cook University15, University of California, Santa Cruz16, California Institute of Technology17
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the recent and forthcoming global datasets on mangrove extent, structure, and condition and explore the challenges of translating these new analyses into policy action and on-the-ground conservation.
Abstract: Mangrove forests are found on sheltered coastlines in tropical, subtropical, and some warm temperate regions. These forests support unique biodiversity and provide a range of benefits to coastal communities, but as a result of large-scale conversion for aquaculture, agriculture, and urbanization, mangroves are considered increasingly threatened ecosystems. Scientific advances have led to accurate and comprehensive global datasets on mangrove extent, structure, and condition, and these can support evaluation of ecosystem services and stimulate greater conservation and rehabilitation efforts. To increase the utility and uptake of these products, in this Perspective we provide an overview of these recent and forthcoming global datasets and explore the challenges of translating these new analyses into policy action and on-the-ground conservation. We describe a new platform for visualizing and disseminating these datasets to the global science community, non-governmental organizations, government officials, and rehabilitation practitioners and highlight future directions and collaborations to increase the uptake and impact of large-scale mangrove research.
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TL;DR: In this article, a new agreement is being negotiated under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to provide legally binding mechanisms to protect the marine environment and to conserve and ensure the sustainable use of marine biodiversity on the high seas (international waters in areas beyond national jurisdiction).
Abstract: Protecting mobile marine species and habitats under climate change will require innovative and dynamic tools A new agreement is being negotiated under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to provide legally binding mechanisms to protect the marine environment and to conserve and ensure the sustainable use of marine biodiversity on the high seas (international waters in areas beyond national jurisdiction) (1). One of the suggested objectives in the current draft text is to “apply an approach that builds ecosystem resilience to the adverse effects of climate change” when applying area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). Yet even though climate change is resulting in shifts in species' ranges (2) and in the behavior of the human users of mobile, commercially valuable species (3), protection of highly mobile species and the dynamic habitats on which they depend is not currently a focus of negotiations. With the final language to be determined as early as 2020 (1), we urge negotiators to include new dynamic management tools, including mobile MPAs (mMPAs), whose boundaries shift across space and time, that could help to safeguard marine life and build ecosystem resilience by protecting dynamic habitats as well as migratory marine species in a changing ocean.
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Szent István University1, University of Bologna2, University of Lleida3, University of Seville4, University of Göttingen5, University of Zagreb6, University of California, Riverside7, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University8, University of Brawijaya9, International Rice Research Institute10, Centre national de la recherche scientifique11, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources12, Bogor Agricultural University13
TL;DR: Opportunities to advance applied research, IPM technology validation, and grower education to halt or drastically reduce the authors' over-reliance on systemic insecticides globally are identified.
Abstract: We present a synthetic review and expert consultation that assesses the actual risks posed by arthropod pests in four major crops, identifies targets for integrated pest management (IPM) in terms of cultivated land needing pest control and gauges the implementation “readiness” of non-chemical alternatives. Our assessment focuses on the world’s primary target pests for neonicotinoid-based management: western corn rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) in maize; wireworms (Agriotes spp.) in maize and winter wheat; bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) in winter wheat; brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) in rice; cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) and silver-leaf whitefly (SLW, Bemisia tabaci) in cotton. First, we queried scientific literature databases and consulted experts from different countries in Europe, North America, and Asia about available IPM tools for each crop-pest system. Next, using an online survey, we quantitatively assessed the economic relevance of target pests by compiling country-level records of crop damage, yield impacts, extent of insecticide usage, and “readiness” status of various pest management alternatives (i.e., research, plot-scale validation, grower-uptake). Biological control received considerable scientific attention, while agronomic strategies (e.g., crop rotation), insurance schemes, decision support systems (DSS), and innovative pesticide application modes were listed as key alternatives. Our study identifies opportunities to advance applied research, IPM technology validation, and grower education to halt or drastically reduce our over-reliance on systemic insecticides globally.
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Newcastle University1, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic2, Free University of Berlin3, Leibniz Association4, University of Vienna5, Technische Universität München6, Sewanee: The University of the South7, University of Aberdeen8, Charles University in Prague9, Environment Agency10, University of Iceland11, University of Michigan12, Institute of Ecosystem Studies13, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources14, Animal and Plant Health Agency15
TL;DR: This work defines the different forms of active management using a novel approach based on changes in species status, avoiding the need for stand-alone descriptions of management types, and proposes a standardised set of management terminology as an emergent feature of this framework.
Abstract: Managing the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) is a great societal challenge A wide variety of terms have been used to describe the management of invasive alien species and the sequence in which they might be applied This variety and lack of consistency creates uncertainty in the presentation and description of management in policy, science and practice Here we expand on the existing description of the invasion process to develop an IAS management framework We define the different forms of active management using a novel approach based on changes in species status, avoiding the need for stand-alone descriptions of management types, and provide a complete set of potential management activities We propose a standardised set of management terminology as an emergent feature of this framework We identified eight key forms of management: (1) pathway management, (2) interception, (3) limits to keeping, (4) secure keeping, (5) eradication, (6) complete reproductive removal, (7) containment and (8) suppression We recognise four associated terms: prevention; captive management; rapid eradication; and long-term management, and note the use of impact mitigation and restoration as associated forms of management We discuss the wider use of this framework and the supporting activities required to ensure management is well-targeted, cost-effective and makes best use of limited resources
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Chinese Academy of Sciences1, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden2, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus3, Tallinn University4, University of Oxford5, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology6, Macquarie University7, Duke University8, World Wide Fund for Nature9, University of Sheffield10, Tsinghua University11, University of Central Asia12, University of British Columbia13, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China14, International Institute of Minnesota15, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources16, Kunming Institute of Zoology17, University of East Anglia18
TL;DR: This first BRI Horizon Scan identifies 11 frontier issues that may have large environmental and social impacts but are not yet recognised and will increase China's participation in international environmental governance.
Abstract: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents the largest infrastructure and development project in human history, and presents risks and opportunities for ecosystems, economies, and communities. Some risks (habitat fragmentation, roadkill) are obvious, however, many of the BRI's largest challenges for development and conservation are not obvious and require extensive consideration to identify. In this first BRI Horizon Scan, we identify 11 frontier issues that may have large environmental and social impacts but are not yet recognised. More generally, the BRI will increase China's participation in international environmental governance. Thus, new cooperative modes of governance are needed to balance geopolitical, societal, and environmental interests. Upgrading and standardising global environmental standards is essential to safeguard ecological systems and human societies.