Nature-based Solutions Initiative
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On the misuse of nature-based carbon ‘offsets’
Nature-based solutions (NbS*) are being misused for greenwashing. Promoting NbS as carbon 'offsets' while continuing business as usual in fossil fuel use is not a solution to climate change. In fact, it can encourage continued or even increased fossil fuel consumption leading to more emissions o [...] read moreWhat Can Nature offer COP26, and vice versa?
‘Nature is our life support system' says Professor Nathalie Seddon in a new video from the University of Oxford, 'and to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is critical that we work with nature'.
Professor Seddon is one of around 30 official ‘friends’ of COP26, is a member of the U [...] read more
Transdisciplinary science for improved conservation outcomes
Margules et al. 2020
Although the goals of conservation are clear, there is still much progress to be made on how to achieve those goals, balancing local aspirations with environmental values. One of the overarching reasons has been that conservation has often overlooked the complex social, economic, and political context in which conservation actions take place. [...] Read more
Tweet February 12, 2021
Tweet February 12, 2021
Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits
Di Sacco and Hardwick et al. 2021
Over the past year a growing number of tree planting pledges have been made and projects initiated, most often motivated by contributing to climate change mitigation. Such investments in nature are welcomed by the nature-based solutions community, and if well designed and implemented they should contribute significantly to carbon [...] Read more
Tweet February 12, 2021
Tweet February 12, 2021
Getting the message right on nature-based solutions
The role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in tackling the climate and nature crises has gained the world’s attention. They were high on the agenda at the World Economic Forum and the Climate Adaptation Summit last week, and will continue to be a central topic of discussion in the wake of COVID-19 and in the run-up [...] Read more
Tweet February 1, 2021
Tweet February 1, 2021
The economic costs of planting, preserving, and managing the world’s forests to mitigate climate change
Austin et al. 2020
It is now well established that forest protection, restoration, management and creation play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. This paper estimates the costs of such actions, and the amount of forest-based climate change mitigation that could be funded by different carbon prices. They find that a carbon price of $281 [...] Read more
Tweet December 10, 2020
Tweet December 10, 2020
Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity
Grantham et al. 2020
The effects of human activities on forests goes beyond deforestation – forests that are still standing are often disturbed by humans as well. This study generated a global map of forest condition, using an index of forest integrity on a continuous scale from 0 to 1. The forest integrity index acts as [...] Read more
Tweet December 10, 2020
Tweet December 10, 2020
Climate reverses directionality in the richness–abundance relationship across the World’s main forest biomes
Madrigal-González et al. 2020
It is critical that forest restoration is informed by the best possible science, to maximise carbon storage and other benefits over the long term. There are two competing hypotheses about whether the number of tree species or tree abundance is more important for maximising forest carbon storage. This study tested these hypotheses [...] Read more
Tweet November 30, 2020
Tweet November 30, 2020
The greenhouse gas offset potential from seagrass restoration
Oreska et al. 2020
Seagrass meadows are highly productive systems that bury organic carbon in sediment. This study is the first to quantify net greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere from seagrass restoration. The authors measured all the necessary greenhouse gas parameters in the 7km2 of restored eelgrass meadow in Virginia, USA, finding that the restoration [...] Read more
Tweet November 30, 2020
Tweet November 30, 2020
Strengthening synergies: how action to achieve post-2020 global biodiversity conservation targets can contribute to mitigating climate change
De Lamo et al. 2020
This report looks at how much climate change mitigation would be achieved if we meet biodiversity conservation targets. It is the first output of ongoing research on this topic, and uses information on carbon stocks in locations that have been identified as priorities for meeting biodiversity targets. The report finds that [...] Read more
Tweet November 30, 2020
Tweet November 30, 2020
Global priority areas for ecosystem restoration
Strassburg et al. 2020
It is of critical importance that multiple different outcomes of ecosystem restoration are considered when deciding where and how to restore; failure to do so can lead to detrimental trade-offs between outcomes. This study assessed the effects of ecosystem restoration on both biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, quantifying how this varies at [...] Read more
Tweet October 14, 2020
Tweet October 14, 2020
Mapping carbon accumulation potential from global natural forest regrowth
Cook-Patton et al. 2020
Estimating how much carbon is taken up by growing forests, and what the global climate change mitigation potential of reforestation is, has been a topic of much debate for the last few years. This study provides the latest estimate of carbon accumulation over the first 30 years of regrowth of natural [...] Read more
Tweet September 23, 2020
Tweet September 23, 2020
Economic and social constraints on reforestation for climate mitigation in Southeast Asia
Zeng et al. 2020
Reforestation will play an important role in mitigating climate change, but some estimates of reforestation potential lack consideration of social and economic constraints. This paper takes the example of Southeast Asia to estimate the extent to which such constraints reduce total mitigation potential from reforestation. 121 million ha of land were identified [...] Read more
Tweet August 25, 2020
Tweet August 25, 2020
Local People’s Participation in Mangrove Restoration Projects and Impacts on Social Capital and Livelihood: A Case Study in the Philippines
Valenzuela et al. 2020
Participatory management of mangrove restoration projects by local People’s Organisations in two communities in Quezon, Philippines, has been shown to provide substantial benefits for the people involved as well as increasing long-term sustainability of the restoration projects themselves. Members of People’s Organisations increased their social capital by gaining more numerous and more [...] Read more
Tweet August 24, 2020
Tweet August 24, 2020
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