Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science’s Post

Working with nature could include things like wildlife ponds and perch poles that attract birds to come and poop out a wonderful combination of seeds and nutrients. In monoculture tree plantations, birds seed in the next layer of diversity. If the monoculture is managed as a nurse crop, a more diverse forest can grow underneath. But if the monoculture is managed as a crop, killing the diverse understory to facilitate crop growth, less biodiversity. Learn how to work with nature!

Our new research published today in #Nature shows that natural forest regeneration in tropical regions—without costly interventions—can restore over 215 million hectares of forest, an area larger than Mexico. The world has committed to ambitious forest restoration targets - such as #Target2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework #GBF. In some locations, these can only be achieved through cost-effective forest restoration techniques. Nature-based solutions will be a key topic of discussion at #COP16 #COP16Colombia #COP16EnCali. Our dataset informs on where the potential for natural forest restoration can be leveraged to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. This work was carried out in collaboration with Conservation International with an amazing group of co-authors - Hawthorne Beyer Matthew Fagan Robin Chazdon Marina Schmoeller do P. Rodrigues Starry Sprenkle-Hyppolite, Ph.D. Bronson Griscom James Watson Anazélia Tedesco Mariano Gonzalez Roglich Gabriel Daldegan Blaise Bodin Danielle Celentano Sarah Jane Wilson Jonathan Rhodes Nikola Alexandre Do-Hyung Kim Diego Bastos Renato Crouzeilles Link to the article:

Our new paper on the global potential for natural regeneration was published today in #Nature

TLDR - in our enthusiasm for tree planting, let's not forget that forests can sometimes regrow themselves if we just get out of the way! And increasingly there are maps pinpointing the places with highest regrowth potential. Back in 2020 we mapped how much carbon could be achieved from natural forest regrowth across any 1-km2 pixel (https://lnkd.in/eDrZnuUe). With over 100-fold variation in potential carbon removal across the globe, we were excited to have maps to pinpoint places with the highest potential carbon returns per hectare of investment. But we didn't say where we thought that regrowth would/could actually happen. This new study shows where that natural regrowth is most likely across the tropics. Congrats to Brooke Williams, the co-authors I know (Starry Sprenkle-Hyppolite, Ph.D., Matthew Fagan, Robin Chazdon, Bronson Griscom) and the rest of the group! It's a very nice and useful study.

Dbytes #609 (28 February 2024) Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making “The total value of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean’s ecosystem services to about US$180 billion a year. This is a conservative estimate.” Rachel Baird & Natalie Stoeckl [see item 5] In this issue of Dbytes 1. How to speak with your family and friends about environmental issues 2. Biodiversity and human health: A scoping review and examples of underrepresented linkages 3. Ecological restoration and rewilding: two approaches with complementary goals? 4. Bat bridges and signs on nests: nature conservation’s epic fails – and how to avoid them 5. Antarctica provides at least $276 billion a year in economic benefits to the world, new research finds 6. Transition versus transformation; change is needed but how fast? 7. Woke corporatism has started to implode 8. National resilience: lessons for Australian policy from international experience https://lnkd.in/gMcaF55R

Do you know what indicator species are? Indicator species are species whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition. A research paper on the correlation of forest degradation and carbon loss, identified the following bird species as indicators of carbon loss. 1. Blackburnian Warbler: Known for its bright orange throat and striking black and white stripes, this warbler is a true beauty of the northern forests. 2. Black-throated Green Warbler: This warbler is a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into its coniferous forest habitat. 3. Black-throated Blue Warbler: With its distinctive blue-gray plumage, this warbler is a common sight in eastern North American forests. 4. Ovenbird: This ground-nesting bird gets its name from its oven-shaped nest, which is often hidden beneath leaf litter. The conservation of these birds' habitat should also provide carbon storage benefits. We were happy to identify three of these bird species in one of the forests in our care! Have you seen any of them? You can learn more about the link between biodiversity and carbon storage here https://loom.ly/RGsbMP0 Photo credits: Oregon State University through Flickr #conservation #birds #carbonstorage #forestprotection

🌿 Exciting news from the global scientific community! The recent Nature publication, "Global change drivers of forest degradation," highlights the critical challenges facing our forests worldwide. 🌍 Prof. Robin Chazdon from the Forest Research Institute (FRI) contributed to this impactful study, which examines the drivers of forest degradation and the urgent need for conservation strategies. As a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, Prof. Chazdon’s expertise in forest ecology and restoration is invaluable to understanding and addressing these global challenges. Read the full paper here to learn more about how we can better protect our forests: https://lnkd.in/gEynZSBp #ForestResearch #Sustainability #FRI #ClimateChange #Conservation #UniSC

Oceans store 90% of the planet’s carbon but receive only 4% of global conservation funding. SeaTrees is a California-based platform that supports communities and scientists who protect and regenerate blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. They introduced marine biodiversity credits at the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference to restore marine ecosystems. Initial credits will focus on three key projects: Kenyan mangroves, an Australian kelp forest, and a coral reef in Fiji. SeaTrees hopes to grow its portfolio to 100 marine restoration projects by 2030. #marinebiodiversity https://ow.ly/18rJ50Ug4c1

🌊 Celebrating World Ocean Day with insights from Dr Tundi Agardy! This #WorldOceanDay, Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme Oversight and Selection Panel member Dr Tundi Agardy shares her expertise on the challenges and opportunities in marine restoration and spatial planning. 🔹 Despite the goals set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, conservation and restoration often operate in silos with different communities, disciplines, and policies. 🔹Utilising existing marine spatial planning frameworks can direct investment towards areas where restoration can enhance ocean health. Climate-smart marine spatial planning allows for scenario planning and evaluating trade-offs in ocean use. 🔹Successful large-scale restoration depends on meaningful engagement with local communities and stakeholders, ensuring restoration projects are critical anchor points for ocean stewardship. Let's unite efforts in conservation and restoration to achieve our global targets by 2030! 🌍🌿 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3dN3a8b

Restoring islands from the threats of invasive mammals can protect and restore carbon stocks of native woody vegetation that exist nowhere else in the world. A new study just published in Environmental Research Letters authored with the support of my colleagues at FLINTpro, terraPulse, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, University of Maryland, and ASU Center for Biodiversity Outcomes leverages AI, modeling, and carbon accounting to evaluate changes in forests over the last 40 years on nearly 1,000 islands, for the first time ever, using #NASA Earth Observations. We use these to report on the positive effects of island restoration on climate and develop a scalable framework to inform policy-making. Thanks to Predator Free 2050 Limited, Salesforce Nature Accelerator, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Biological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Clare.nz, and many others for making this possible. #remotesensing #islandrestoration #climatesolutions