Suchergebnisse

Nature Conservation; Environmental Management; Biodiversity; Landscape Ecology; Applied Ecology

Large-scale ecological restoration is crucial for effective biodiversity conservation and combating climate change. However, perspectives on the goals and values of restoration are highly diverse, as are the different approaches to restoration e.g. ranging from the restoration of cultural ecosystems to rewilding. We assess how the future of nature is envisioned in participatory scenarios, focusing on which elements of rewilding and nature contributions to people have been considered in scenario narratives across Europe. We used the Nature Futures Framework archetypes as a template to synthesize pluralistic perspectives of nature. We found that different values of nature are often represented as counteracting elements and fail to integrate the plural views of nature. Nature as Culture was the main archetype found in the scenarios, usually associated with positive impacts on the non-material benefits to people. Intrinsic values of nature (i.e., Nature for Nature) were associated with positive impacts on regulating benefits and negative impacts on material benefits, being the only archetype of future associated with positive impacts on all three components of rewilding. Nature for Society was associated with moderate positive impacts on material and regulatory nature contributions to people. Business as usual futures were associated with negative impacts on regulating and non-material benefits to people and on all three components of rewilding. Our results highlight two major gaps in the scenarios that should be addressed in participatory restoration planning and models. Firstly, there is a paucity of spatially explicit approaches, with most studies failing to transform the results of participatory scenario planning into model projections. Secondly, we found scenarios that explored co-benefits between multiple nature perspectives were overall missing from the literature. Novel scenario narratives and approaches that explore synergies among different nature values are needed to design future large-scale restoration where biodiversity recovery and human well-being are intrinsically linked and fostered. ; The work was supported by the project TERRANOVA the European Landscape Learning Initiative, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 813904. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of iDiv funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG-FZT 118, 202548816). ; Peer reviewed

Rewilding ist ein neuartiger, dynamischer Ansatz zur Renaturierung von Ökosystemen dessen mögliche Risiken und Nutzen in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft umstritten sind. Bislang fehlt jedoch eine einheitliche Definition des Begriffs "Rewilding" und es gibt nur wenige empirische Untersuchungen seiner Effekte. Hier lege ich ein Rahmenwerk vor, das, basierend auf anerkannten ökologischen Theorien, verschiedene Herangehensweisen des Rewilding vereint und damit verbundene ökologische und gesellschaftliche Risiken und Nutzen erfasst. Es bietet damit einen Leitfaden für die Entwicklung, Umsetzung, Überwachung und Bewertung von Rewildingprojekten auf verschiedenen räumlichen Skalen und unter verschiedenen sozio-ökologischen Voraussetzungen von urbanen Räumen bis hin zu Wildnisgebieten. Des Weiteren präsentiere ich zwei Beispiele, wie Rewilding mithilfe von Wildtierkameras und multispecies-occupancy-Modellierungen empirisch untersucht werden kann. Die vorliegenden Studien testen die Annahmen des theoretischen Rahmenwerks und liefern einen wichtigen Beitrag zu den dringend benötigten empirischen Grundlagen für Rewilding.

Despite the scientific consensus on the extinction crisis and its anthropogenic origin, the quantification of historical trends and of future scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services has been limited, due to the lack of inter-model comparisons and harmonized scenarios. Here, we present a multi-model analysis to assess the impacts of landuse and climate change from 1900 to 2050. During the 20th century provisioning services increased, but biodiversity and regulating services decreased. Similar trade-offs are projected for the coming decades, but they may be attenuated in a sustainability scenario. Future biodiversity loss from land-use change is projected to keep up with historical rates or reduce slightly, whereas losses due to climate change are projected to increase greatly. Renewed efforts are needed by governments to meet the 2050 vision of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Im Anthropozän formt der Mensch die Welt um und beeinflusst die Ökosysteme, das Klimaregime und die biologische Vielfalt. Um unser Verständnis für die neuen Herausforderungen, denen die Erde gegenübersteht, zu verbessern, sind Analysen auf Makroebene erforderlich. Makroanalysen helfen, globale Muster und Trends zu erkennen und veränderte Regionen zu lokalisieren, die wichtigen oder sich beschleunigenden Verschlechterungen ausgesetzt sind. Die Identifizierung und Überwachung solcher Regionen ist durch die Entwicklung von globalen Indikatoren möglich. In dieser Arbeit werden drei Anwendungen globaler Indikatoren untersucht, indem drei Fragen beantwortet werden: (1) Was ist zu schützen, (2) wie ist der Schutz wirksam und (3) wie kann die Überwachung verbessert werden? Ich beantworte diese Fragen durch die Untersuchung von Wald- und Feuchtgebiets-Ökosystemen, die stark durch anthropogene Faktoren beeinflusst werden. Ich schließe diese Arbeit ab, indem ich jeden einzelnen Indikator im internationalen politischen Kontext untersuche.

Im Anthropozän formt der Mensch die Welt um und beeinflusst die Ökosysteme, das Klimaregime und die biologische Vielfalt. Um unser Verständnis für die neuen Herausforderungen, denen die Erde gegenübersteht, zu verbessern, sind Analysen auf Makroebene erforderlich. Makroanalysen helfen, globale Muster und Trends zu erkennen und veränderte Regionen zu lokalisieren, die wichtigen oder sich beschleunigenden Verschlechterungen ausgesetzt sind. Die Identifizierung und Überwachung solcher Regionen ist durch die Entwicklung von globalen Indikatoren möglich. In dieser Arbeit werden drei Anwendungen globaler Indikatoren untersucht, indem drei Fragen beantwortet werden: (1) Was ist zu schützen, (2) wie ist der Schutz wirksam und (3) wie kann die Überwachung verbessert werden? Ich beantworte diese Fragen durch die Untersuchung von Wald- und Feuchtgebiets-Ökosystemen, die stark durch anthropogene Faktoren beeinflusst werden. Ich schließe diese Arbeit ab, indem ich jeden einzelnen Indikator im internationalen politischen Kontext untersuche.

Landnutzungswandel ist zweifellos ein Hauptgrund für Biodiversitätswandel und beeinflusst die Muster von Artenvielfalt von der lokalen bis zur globalen Ebene. Dennoch wird in aktuellen Untersuchungen von Biodiversitätswandel häufig vernachlässigt, dass Arten häufig nicht von Habitatverlust sondern von Habitatwandel betroffen sind und dass nicht alle Arten gleichermaßen auf Habitatwandel reagieren. Hier erweitere ich unser Verständnis von der Reaktion von Arten auf Habitatwandel und verfeinere eine Methode mit der Biodiversitätswandel auf verschiedenen räumlichen Skalen vorhergesagt werden kann.

Aim Farmland abandonment or "ecological rewilding" shapes species distribution and ecological process ultimately affecting the biodiversity and functionality of ecosystems. Land abandonment predictions based on alternative future socioeconomic scenarios allow foretell the future of biota in Europe. From here, we predict how these forecasts may affect large‐scale distribution of the Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), an apex scavenger closely linked to Mediterranean agro‐grazing systems. Location Iberian Peninsula. Methods Firstly, we modelled nest‐site and foraging habitat selection in relation to variables quantifying physiography, trophic resources and human disturbance. Secondly, we evaluate to what extent land abandonment may affect the life traits of the species and finally we determined how potential future distribution of the species would vary according to asymmetric socioeconomic land‐abandonment predictions for year 2040. Results Cinereous vultures selected breeding areas with steep slopes and low human presence whereas foraging areas are characterized by high abundance of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and wild ungulates. Liberalization of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could potentially transform positively 66% of the current nesting habitat, favouring the recovery of mature forest. Contrarily, land abandonment would negatively affect the 63% of the current foraging habitat reducing the availability of preferred food resources (wild European rabbit). On the other hand, the maintenance of the CAP would determine lower frequencies (24%–22%) of nesting and foraging habitat change. Main conclusions Land abandonment may result into opposite effects on the focal species because of the increase in nesting habitats and wild ungulates populations and, on the other hand, lower availability of open areas with poorer densities of European rabbits. Land‐abandonment models' scenarios are still coarse‐grained; the apparition of new human uses in natural areas may take place at small‐sized and ...

Aim: Farmland abandonment or "ecological rewilding" shapes species distribution and ecological process ultimately affecting the biodiversity and functionality of ecosystems. Land abandonment predictions based on alternative future socioeconomic scenarios allow foretell the future of biota in Europe. From here, we predict how these forecasts may affect large-scale distribution of the Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), an apex scavenger closely linked to Mediterranean agro-grazing systems. Location: Iberian Peninsula. Methods: Firstly, we modelled nest-site and foraging habitat selection in relation to variables quantifying physiography, trophic resources and human disturbance. Secondly, we evaluate to what extent land abandonment may affect the life traits of the species and finally we determined how potential future distribution of the species would vary according to asymmetric socioeconomic land-abandonment predictions for year 2040. Results: Cinereous vultures selected breeding areas with steep slopes and low human presence whereas foraging areas are characterized by high abundance of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and wild ungulates. Liberalization of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could potentially transform positively 66% of the current nesting habitat, favouring the recovery of mature forest. Contrarily, land abandonment would negatively affect the 63% of the current foraging habitat reducing the availability of preferred food resources (wild European rabbit). On the other hand, the maintenance of the CAP would determine lower frequencies (24%–22%) of nesting and foraging habitat change. Main conclusions: Land abandonment may result into opposite effects on the focal species because of the increase in nesting habitats and wild ungulates populations and, on the other hand, lower availability of open areas with poorer densities of European rabbits. Land-abandonment models' scenarios are still coarse-grained; the apparition of new human uses in natural areas may take place at small-sized and medium-sized scales, ultimately adding complexity to the prediction on the future of biota and ecosystems.

The Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), established in 2012 to counter the biodiversity crisis, requires the best scientific input available to function as a successful science-policy interface that addresses the knowledge needs of governments for safeguarding nature and its services. For the macroecological research community, IPBES presents a great opportunity to contribute knowledge, data and methods, and to help identify and address knowledge gaps and methodological impediments. Here, we outline our perspectives on how macroecology may contribute to IPBES. We focus on three essential topics for the IPBES process, where contributions by macroecologists will be invaluable: biodiversity data, biodiversity modelling, and modelling of ecosystem services. For each topic, we discuss the potential for contributions from the macroecological community, as well as limitations, challenges, and knowledge gaps. Overall, engagement of the macroecological community with IPBES should lead to mutual benefits. Macroecologists may profit as their contributions to IPBES may strengthen and inspire them as a community to design and conduct research that provides society-relevant results. Furthermore, macroecological contributions will help IPBES become a successful instrument of knowledge exchange and uncover the linkages between biodiversity and human well-being.

Biodiversity and ecosystem service losses driven by land use change are expected to intensify as a growing and more affluent global population requires more agricultural and forestry products, and teleconnections in the global economy lead to increasing remote environmental responsibility. By combining global biophysical and economic models, we show that between the years 2000-2011 overall population and economic growth resulted in increasing total impacts on bird diversity and carbon sequestration globally, despite a reduction of land–use impacts per unit of GDP. The exceptions were North America and Western Europe, where there was a reduction of forestry and agriculture impacts on nature, accentuated by the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Biodiversity losses occurred predominantly in Central and Southern America, Africa and Asia with international trade an important and growing driver. In 2011, 33% of Central and Southern America and 26% of Africa's biodiversity impacts were driven by consumption in other world regions. Overall, cattle farming is the major driver of biodiversity loss, but oil seeds production showed the largest increases in biodiversity impacts. Forestry activities exerted the highest impact on carbon sequestration, and also showed the largest increase in the 2000-2011 period. Our results suggest that to address the biodiversity crisis, governments should take an equitable approach recognizing remote responsibility, and promote a shift of economic development towards activities with low biodiversity impacts.

Biodiversity and ecosystem service losses driven by land-use change are expected to intensify as a growing and more affluent lobal population requires more agricultural and forestry products, and teleconnections in the global economy lead to increasing remote environmental responsibility. By combining global biophysical and economic models, we show that, between the years 2000 and 2011, overall population and economic growth resulted in increasing total impacts on bird diversity and carbon sequestration globally, despite a reduction of land-use impacts per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). The exceptions were North America and Western Europe, where there was a reduction of forestry and agriculture impacts on nature accentuated by the 2007–2008 financial crisis. Biodiversity losses occurred predominantly in Central and Southern America, Africa and Asia with international trade an important and growing driver. In 2011, 33% of Central and Southern America and 26% of Africa's biodiversity impacts were driven by consumption in other world regions. Overall, cattle farming is the major driver of biodiversity loss, but oil seed production showed the largest increases in biodiversity impacts. Forestry activities exerted the highest impact on carbon sequestration, and also showed the largest increase in the 2000–2011 period. Our results suggest that to address the biodiversity crisis, governments should take an equitable approach recognizing remote responsibility, and promote a shift of economic development towards activities with low biodiversity impacts.