Peer-reviewed publications

The reciprocal relationships between human communities and mangrove forests, how people relate with, perceive, and maintain these seascapes, has received little attention in the ecosystem services literature, which has largely focused on the benefits mangroves provide rather than the relational values embedded in human-nature connections. This study distinguishes the value-preference paradigm in a protected mangrove forest region, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, on the east coast of India. We ask how exclusion impacts local values, motivations, and priorities toward mangrove forest conservation. Using Q-methodology, a mixed-method approach, we identify the narratives that dominate the human-mangrove reciprocal sphere among different participant groups and gender. Our findings reveal three distinct narratives: livelihood security (30 %) that calls for both current and perceived focus on quality-of-life attributes in the region closely related to the livelihoods of the local people, conservation value through management (16 %) which drives the management regime of this region, and sense of place (13 %) that reinforces the importance of recognizing social and cultural norms. Differences in perspectives were also evident between participant groups (Researchers, NGO Workers, Government Officials, vs Villagers) and influenced by gender, accentuating the need for both value-centered and gender-sensitive approaches for mangrove conservation.

Food systems transformations are needed to meet global climate, health, and biodiversity goals. Improving production practices, reducing food loss and waste, and shifting towards healthier diets are food system transformation strategies that could help achieve global sustainability priorities. Opportunities to advance these strategies will require considering national contexts because food systems vary substantially between countries. Little research has explored how transformations toward more sustainable food systems might manifest at the national level. Here, we use evidence from semi-structured qualitative interviews with 68 food systems experts to identify what opportunities exist at the national level for advancing food systems transformation strategies and how they are similar or different depending on the country context. We use a case study approach that compares four countries that represent a range of food systems: Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Our analysis revealed that broadly similar opportunities to address all three food system transformation strategies (improving production practices, reducing food loss and waste, shifting towards healthier diets) could be found across all four countries. However, national-level geographic and socio-economic conditions lead to differences in how similar opportunities may be most effectively implemented. Our results suggest that the national level may be an especially productive geopolitical domain for decision makers seeking to advance food system transformation efforts aligned with global targets.

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In the face of rapid ecological decline, biodiversity information is essential for safeguarding life on Earth. Although this information is increasingly valued by governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, it remains insufficiently accessible and usable. Because the rarity and functions of biodiversity vary greatly across land- and seascapes, the global and local ecological and social significance of biodiversity change within and among regions can differ greatly. Measuring biodiversity at both scales is therefore critical for effective monitoring and conservation—an expectation embedded in global frameworks. We review the challenges and opportunities in biodiversity measurement, examining key users, producers, and use cases, and the role of emerging technologies. As catalysts for a more robust, efficient, and collaborative global measurement system we highlight Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) as a flexible foundation to integrate across scales by linking local data into global significance assessments. EBVs also underpin indicators, geospatial data products, and an evolving ‘bag of metrics’ required by different users. We call for improved incentives and organization around thematic and regional networks to produce EBVs and structured end-to-end initiatives and workflows as a blueprint for the next phase of coordinated biodiversity measurement globally

As the coverage of area-based conservation increases across the globe, it is critical to improve understanding of the social and ecological outcomes of such measures and the pathways to their outcomes. A social–ecological systems approach to monitoring and evaluation is increasingly advocated; yet, applications remain scarce. We sought to facilitate operationalization of this approach through prioritization of indicators when resources are scarce and to improve capture of social–ecological interactions. We convened a working group of practitioners and academics to explore linked social and ecological interactions through a case study of marine protected areas (MPAs). We used causal models (implemented through causal loop diagrams) in participatory and future-oriented approaches to identify interactions among key nodes of the system that can be a focus of monitoring. These nodes and their interactions provided insight into linked indicators of key system components, for example, biomass, compliance, perceived legitimacy, catches, and perceived fairness. We called these indicator bundles. Indicator bundles can be applied to analyze causal modeling diagrams, identify essential elements to monitor, and inform analytical and reporting protocols. The bundles can also help identify key leverage points for adaptive management to improve outcomes of existing interventions. This approach can inform monitoring and evaluation and, ultimately, the design and adaptive management of conservation areas that maximize social and ecological benefits and minimize negative trade-offs.

The 100th anniversary of the first scientific account of roadkill recognizes the growing awareness of roads’ ecological impacts. Since the first scientific record of roadkill in 1925, global road networks have expanded to over 21.6 million km. Roads result in the mortality of millions of animals annually, threatening biodiversity by reducing populations, fragmenting habitats, and raising extinction risks. Although it was not until the early 2000s that road ecology became formally established as a discipline, research has since advanced substantially. A recent global roadkill dataset spanning 2,283 species in 54 countries is an example of this advancement, and it highlights the urgency of this issue. As road expansion accelerates, especially into intact habitats, it is essential to align infrastructure development with both ecological sustainability and economic objectives. We need to build better roads that meet human needs while safeguarding biodiversity, promoting conservation, and preventing another century of major ecological harm.

Much recent research has focused on the impact of human recreation on wildlife, but relatively few studies have used causal inference approaches; doing so would strengthen recreation management and decision-making. Here, we use tools from the causal analysis literature and a multi-year observational dataset to assess how human road- and trail-use affects an apex predator, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). Our study leverages a natural experiment that reduced—via access restrictions and changes to tourism operator conditions—peak-season human recreation by ∼ 85% in 2023 compared to levels in 2018–2022.We used structural time series forecasting to quantify how weekly detection rates of grizzly bears changed in 2023 versus previous years, and “placebo tests” to strengthen causal inference and rule out competing hypotheses. We show that grizzly bear detections and temporal trends were 185% higher in late summer 2023 due to reduced human trail-use, providing robust evidence that human recreation can cause reduced wildlife activity in protected areas.

Contemporary fisheries have been shaped by a paradigm of perpetual growth, characterized by increasing global production and consumption. While this growth has driven economic benefits and technological progress, it has jeopardized the sustainability of marine ecosystems, with implications for the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of fishers, consumers and resource dependent coastal populations worldwide. This paper advocates for a shift beyond growth towards a wellbeing economy. It considers how five fundamental principles intrinsic to a wellbeing economy - purpose, nature, fairness, participation and dignity - can help reorient the fisheries sector. The paper then provides ten actionable recommendations for reshaping the composition and structure of economic activity in fisheries to enhance societal wellbeing and equity within ecological boundaries. In a world grappling with the consequences of unchecked economic growth, this paper offers insights into fostering a regenerative fisheries system that safeguards human prosperity and environmental integrity.

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Terrestrial ecosystems could contribute to climate mitigation through nature-based climate solutions (NbCS), which aim to reduce ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase ecosystem carbon storage. Forests have the largest potential for NbCS, aligned with broader sustainability benefits, but—unfortunately—a broad body of literature has revealed widespread problems in forest NbCS projects and protocols that undermine the climate mitigation of forest carbon credits and hamper efforts to reach global net zero. Therefore, there is a need to bring better science and policy to improve NbCS climate mitigation outcomes going forward. Here we synthesize challenges to crediting forest NbCS and offer guidance and key next steps to make improvements in the implementation of these strategies immediately and in the near-term. We structure our Perspective around four key components of rigorous forest NbCS, illuminating key science and policy considerations and providing solutions to improve rigour. Finally, we outline a ‘contribution approach’ to support rigorous forest NbCS that is an alternative funding mechanism that disallows compensation or offsetting claims.