As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for the Convention on Bi... more As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity, attention is focusing on how new goals and targets for ecosystem conservation might serve its vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’1,2. Advancing dual imperatives to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services requires reliable and resilient generalizations and predictions about ecosystem responses to environmental change and management3. Ecosystems vary in their biota4, service provision5 and relative exposure to risks6, yet there is no globally consistent classification of ecosystems that reflects functional responses to change and management. This hampers progress on developing conservation targets and sustainability goals. Here we present the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology, a conceptually robust, scalable, spatially explicit approach for generalizations and predictions about functions, biota, risks and ...
Despite substantial increases in the scope and magnitude of biodiversity conservation and ecologi... more Despite substantial increases in the scope and magnitude of biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration, there remains ongoing degradation of natural resources that adversely affects both biodiversity and human wellbeing. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be an effective framework for reversing this trend, by increasing the alignment between conservation and sustainable development objectives. However, unless there is clarity on its evolution, definition and principles, and relationship with related approaches, it will not be possible to develop evidence-based standards and guidelines, or to implement, assess, improve and upscale NbS interventions globally. In order to address this gap, we present the definition and principles underpinning the NbS framework, recently adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and compare it to (1) the Ecosystem Approach that was the foundation for developing the NbS definitional framework, and (2) four specific ecosystem-based approaches (Forest Landscape Restoration, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Ecological Restoration and Protected Areas) that can be considered as falling under the NbS framework. Although we found substantial alignment between NbS principles and the principles of the other frameworks, three of the eight NbS principles stand out from other approaches: NbS can be implemented alone or in an integrated manner with other solutions; NbS should be applied at a landscape scale; and, NbS are integral to the overall design of policies, measures and actions, to address societal challenges. Reversely, concepts such as adaptive management/governance, effectiveness, uncertainty, multi-stakeholder participation, and temporal scale are present in other frameworks but not captured at all or detailed enough in the NbS principles. This critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the NbS principles can inform the review and revision of principles supporting specific types of NbS (such as the approaches reviewed here), as well as serve as the foundation for the development of standards for the successful implementation of NbS.
David A. Keith, Jose R. Ferrer, Emily Nicholson, Melanie J. Bishop, Beth A. Polidoro, Eva Ramirez... more David A. Keith, Jose R. Ferrer, Emily Nicholson, Melanie J. Bishop, Beth A. Polidoro, Eva RamirezLlodra, Mark G. Tozer, Jeanne L. Nel, Ralph Mac Nally, Edward J. Gregr, Kate E. Watermeyer, Franz Essl, Don Faber-Langendoen, Janet Franklin, Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Andres Etter, Dirk J. Roux, Jonathan S. Stark, Jessica A. Rowland, Neil A. Brummitt, Ulla C. Fernandez-Arcaya, Iain M. Suthers, Susan K. Wiser, Ian Donohue, Leland J. Jackson, R. Toby Pennington, Nathalie Pettorelli, Angela Andrade, Tytti Kontula, Arild Lindgaard, Teemu Tahvanainan, Aleks Terauds, Oscar Venter, James E. M. Watson, Michael A Chadwick, Nicholas J. Murray, Justin Moat, Patricio Pliscoff, Irene Zager, Richard T. Kingsford
Despite significant conservation efforts, the loss of ecosystems continues globally, along with r... more Despite significant conservation efforts, the loss of ecosystems continues globally, along with related loss of species and Nature’s contributions to people. A new ecosystem goal and milestone, supported by clear targets and indicators, is urgently needed for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and beyond, to support efforts to abate climate change, and to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Here, we detail the scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal and milestones, founded on a theory of change, and review available indicators to measure progress. An ecosystem goal should include three core components: area, integrity, and risk of collapse. Targets, the actions necessary for the goals to be met, should address pathways to ecosystem loss and recovery, including retaining threatened ecosystems and intact areas, and restoring degraded ecosystems. Multiple indicators are needed to capture the different dimensions of ecosystem ...
This set of guidelines on best practices for Nature-based adaptation identification, implementati... more This set of guidelines on best practices for Nature-based adaptation identification, implementation and monitoring can improve consistency and the ability to compare and aggregate adaptation results achieved through nature-based solutions for adaptation implemented by organizations and governmental bodies. Such consistency and aggregation can help increase the evidence base of Nature-based solutions for adaptation and track adaptation goals at multiple levels, from project site to global. A key barrier to the implementation of Nature-based solutions for adaptation at-scale has been an underdeveloped evidence base and lack of standard methods for Nature-based adaptation projects. Addressing these issues could ultimately lead to increased funding and scaled-up implementation of this important approach.
C-4 .2 A cost-effectiveness study is provided to support the choice of NbS including the likely i... more C-4 .2 A cost-effectiveness study is provided to support the choice of NbS including the likely impact of any relevant regulations and subsidies. .. .. . C-4 .3 The effectiveness of the NbS design is justified against available alternative solutions, taking into account any associated externalities. .. . C-4 .4 The NbS design considers a portfolio of resourcing options such as market-based, public sector, voluntary commitments and actions to support regulatory compliance. .
The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies bet... more The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies between Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania and Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique. The area is dominated by miombo woodland with a mosaic of different land uses. Unfortunately, this mosaic of wildlife, forests, people with a variety of often competing land uses, as well as the presence of an international border close by, helps make it one of the worst impacted areas in Africa in terms of elephant poaching for the ivory trade. Despite the recent resurgence of elephant poaching in Tanzania, and in particular within the Selous ecosystem which includes the REP area, the results show the project has managed to curb elephant poaching. It is believed that the local elephant population within the REP area should remain stable if current anti-poaching input levels can be maintained. The success of the REP may be attributed to various approaches and activities that are beyond the scope of c...
La presente guia es un instrumento que permite hacer una rapida valoracion del nivel de aplicacio... more La presente guia es un instrumento que permite hacer una rapida valoracion del nivel de aplicacion del Enfoque Ecosistemico (EE), por medio de un conjunto de preguntas que abordan aspectos fundamentales de la gestion de los ecosistemas para poder afirmar que el enfoque se esta aplicando en un espacio geografico determinado, en un proyecto o en algun esquema de intervencion del territorio.
The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do n... more The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CATIE, IUCN or other participant institution concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its ...
Maloca rodead a de chagras en diferentes estad ios de desarroll o. Co munidades indígenas de l Pi... more Maloca rodead a de chagras en diferentes estad ios de desarroll o. Co munidades indígenas de l Piraparaná. Fotografía: Ge rmán Andrade.
Word Count (8000 limit) 7892 including endnote, but not the 3 summaries, table, declarations, or ... more Word Count (8000 limit) 7892 including endnote, but not the 3 summaries, table, declarations, or references Non-Technical Summary (100 words max, 99 currently) Many conservation initiatives call for 'transformative change' to counter biodiversity loss, climate change, and injustice. The term connotes fundamental, broad, and durable changes to human relationships with nature. However, if oversimplified or overcomplicated, or not focused enough on power and the political action necessary for change, associated initiatives can perpetuate or exacerbate existing crises. This article aims to help practitioners deliberately catalyze and steer transformation processes. It provides a theoretically and practically grounded definition of 'transformative conservation', along with six strategic, interlocking recommendations. These cover systems pedagogy, political mobilization, inner transformation, as well as planning, action, and continual adjustment. Technical Summary (200 words max, 200 currently): Calls for 'transformative change' point to the fundamental reorganization necessary for global conservation initiatives to stem ecological catastrophe. However, the concept risks being oversimplified or overcomplicated, and focusing too little on power and the political action necessary for change. Accordingly, its intersection with contemporary biodiversity and climate change mitigation initiatives needs explicit deliberation and clarification. This article advances the praxis of 'transformative conservation' as both (1) a desired process that rethinks the relationships between individuals, society, and nature, and restructures systems accordingly, and (2) a desired outcome that conserves biodiversity while justly transitioning to net zero emissions economies and securing the sustainable and regenerative use of natural resources. It first reviews criticisms of area-based conservation targets, natural climate solutions, and nature-based solutions that are framed as transformative, including issues of ecological integrity, livelihoods, gender, equity, growth, power, participation, knowledge, and governance. It then substantiates six strategic recommendations designed to help practitioners deliberately
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Land clearing and ecosystem degradation are primary causes of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem ... more Land clearing and ecosystem degradation are primary causes of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide, putting at risk sustainable options for Earth and humankind. According to recent global estimates, degraded lands already account for at least 1 and up to 6 billion ha. Given high rates of habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes with high levels of ecosystem transformation, conventional approaches to conservation such as setting aside lands in protected areas, are not enough; in combination with ecosystem protection, ecological restoration is essential to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and delivery of ecosystem services. Despite recognition of the role of ecological restoration, the planning of restoration at the landscape scale remains a major challenge. Specifically, more studies are needed on developing restoration plans that maximize conservation and provisioning of ecosystem services, while minimizing competition with highproductivity land uses. We use Colombia, one of the world's mega-diversity countries in which ca. 25 % of ecosystems are listed as critically endangered (CR), as a test case for exploring the potential advantages of including the Red List of Ecosystems, a newly developed tool for assessing conservation value, in restoration planning. We identified restoration priorities focused on both high-risk ecosystems and low-productivity lands, to maximize conservation value and minimize land-use conflicts. This approach allowed us to identify over 6 M ha of priority areas for restoration, targeting the restoration of 31 (75 %) of the country's endangered ecosystems. Eight of the Regional Administrative Environmental Planning Areas (CARs) had greater than 20 % of their area identified as restoration priorities. We roughly estimated that the cost of restoring the prioritized areas with restoration through natural regeneration, using payment for ecosystem services (PES), would equal less than 50 % of the annual budget of the CARs. Our results are in sharp contrast (only 12 % agreement) with the priorities identified under the current National Restoration Strategy of Colombia, and highlight the potential contribution of the Red List of Ecosystems in refining and improving restoration planning strategies at both national and subnational levels.
The field of ecological restoration (ER) is now challenged by the need to achieve recovery at lar... more The field of ecological restoration (ER) is now challenged by the need to achieve recovery at large spatial scales. Such scaling up requires technological expertise, inclusiveness and clarity of goals, and correct governance schemes and monitoring protocols, which are often absent from ER projects in most countries. We analyze the case of Colombia by assessing the planning, governance, and monitoring practices of 119 ER projects, and discuss them in the context of scaling up efforts to meet international commitments. In a top-down approach, Colombia´s government is the biggest ER driver: setting up the necessary policy framework to promote ER, and initiating 64% and fully financing 78% of the projects in the country. However, projects lack depth in participatory governance and adequate planning and monitoring, limiting their potential for sustainability and knowledge sharing, both of which are necessary for scaling up. We propose three areas for improvement in order to scale-up and meet international ER targets in Colombia, as well as in other Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, which are also in the process of consolidating a large-scale ER vision. The benefits of some of those improvements have already been demonstrated in Brazil.
Bosques y cambio climático en América Latina Vincular adaptación y mitigación Bruno Locatelli1, 2... more Bosques y cambio climático en América Latina Vincular adaptación y mitigación Bruno Locatelli1, 2, Vanessa Evans2, Andrew Wardell2, Angela Andrade3 y Raffaele Vignola4 1 Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) 2 Center for International Forestry Research 3 ...
Climate change can be addressed by mitigation (reducing the sources or enhancing the sinks of gre... more Climate change can be addressed by mitigation (reducing the sources or enhancing the sinks of greenhouse gases) and adaptation (reducing the impacts of climate change). Mitigation and adaptation present two fundamentally dissimilar approaches whose differences are now well documented. Forest ecosystems play an important role in both adaptation and mitigation and there is a need to explore the linkages between these two options in order to understand their trade-offs and synergies. In forests, potential trade-offs can be observed between global ecosystem services, such as the carbon sequestration relevant for mitigation, and the local ecosystem services that are relevant for adaptation. In addition, mitigation projects can facilitate or hinder the adaptation of local people to climate change, whereas adaptation projects can affect ecosystems and their potential to sequester carbon. Linkages between adaptation and mitigation can also be observed in policies, but few climate change or forest policies have addressed these linkages in the forestry sector. This paper presents examples of linkages between adaptation and mitigation in Latin American forests. Through case studies, we investigate the approaches and reasons for integrating adaptation into mitigation projects or mitigation into OPEN ACCESS Forests 2011, 2 432 adaptation projects. We also analyze the opportunities for mainstreaming adaptation-mitigation linkages into forest or climate change policies.
El cambio climatico puede abordarse a traves de la mitigacion (reduciendo las fuentes o aumentand... more El cambio climatico puede abordarse a traves de la mitigacion (reduciendo las fuentes o aumentando los sumideros de gases de efecto invernadero) y la adaptacion (reduciendo los impactos del cambio climatico). La mitigacion y la adaptacion presentan dos enfoques fundamentalmente distintos cuyas diferencias estan bien documentadas. Los ecosistemas forestales juegan un rol importante tanto en la mitigacion como en la adaptacion y existe la necesidad de explorar los vinculos entre estas dos opciones para comprender sus compensaciones (trade-offs) y sinergias. En los bosques, las compensaciones potenciales pueden observarse entre los servicios ecosistemicos globales, como la captura de carbono relevante para la mitigacion, y los servicios ecosistemicos locales, relevantes para la adaptacion. Ademas, los proyectos de mitigacion pueden facilitar o impedir la adaptacion de las poblaciones locales al cambio climatico, mientras que los proyectos de adaptacion pueden afectar a los ecosistemas ...
In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature adopted the Red List of Ecosystems (I... more In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature adopted the Red List of Ecosystems (IUCN RLE) criteria as the global standard for assessing risks to terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. Identifying and quantifying the impacts of biodiversity assessments on the status of nature is key to justifying continued investment in assessments and enabling strategic planning to maximize future impact. In this policy perspective, we use an established impact evaluation framework to identify the impacts of the IUCN RLE since its inception. To date, 1,397 ecosystem units in 100 countries have been assessed following the IUCN RLE protocol. Systematic assessments are complete or underway in more than 25 countries and two continental regions (the Americas and Europe). Countries with established ecosystem red lists have already used them to inform legislation, land-use planning, protected area expansion, monitoring and reporting, and ecosystem management. IUCN RLE indices based...
Sustainable development aims at addressing economic, social, and environmental concerns, but the ... more Sustainable development aims at addressing economic, social, and environmental concerns, but the current lack of responsive environmental governance hinders progress. Short-term economic development has led to limited actions, unsustainable resource management, and degraded ecosystems. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may continue to fall short of achieving significant progress without a better understanding of how ecosystems contribute to achieving sustainability for all people. Ecosystem governance is an approach that integrates the social and ecological components for improved sustainability and includes principles such as adaptive ecosystem co-management, subsidiarity, and telecoupling framework, as well as principles of democracy and accountability. We explain the importance of ecosystem governance in achieving the SDGs, and suggest some ways to ensure that ecosystem services are meaningfully considered. This paper reflects on how integration of these approaches into...
As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for the Convention on Bi... more As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity, attention is focusing on how new goals and targets for ecosystem conservation might serve its vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’1,2. Advancing dual imperatives to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services requires reliable and resilient generalizations and predictions about ecosystem responses to environmental change and management3. Ecosystems vary in their biota4, service provision5 and relative exposure to risks6, yet there is no globally consistent classification of ecosystems that reflects functional responses to change and management. This hampers progress on developing conservation targets and sustainability goals. Here we present the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology, a conceptually robust, scalable, spatially explicit approach for generalizations and predictions about functions, biota, risks and ...
Despite substantial increases in the scope and magnitude of biodiversity conservation and ecologi... more Despite substantial increases in the scope and magnitude of biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration, there remains ongoing degradation of natural resources that adversely affects both biodiversity and human wellbeing. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be an effective framework for reversing this trend, by increasing the alignment between conservation and sustainable development objectives. However, unless there is clarity on its evolution, definition and principles, and relationship with related approaches, it will not be possible to develop evidence-based standards and guidelines, or to implement, assess, improve and upscale NbS interventions globally. In order to address this gap, we present the definition and principles underpinning the NbS framework, recently adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and compare it to (1) the Ecosystem Approach that was the foundation for developing the NbS definitional framework, and (2) four specific ecosystem-based approaches (Forest Landscape Restoration, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Ecological Restoration and Protected Areas) that can be considered as falling under the NbS framework. Although we found substantial alignment between NbS principles and the principles of the other frameworks, three of the eight NbS principles stand out from other approaches: NbS can be implemented alone or in an integrated manner with other solutions; NbS should be applied at a landscape scale; and, NbS are integral to the overall design of policies, measures and actions, to address societal challenges. Reversely, concepts such as adaptive management/governance, effectiveness, uncertainty, multi-stakeholder participation, and temporal scale are present in other frameworks but not captured at all or detailed enough in the NbS principles. This critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the NbS principles can inform the review and revision of principles supporting specific types of NbS (such as the approaches reviewed here), as well as serve as the foundation for the development of standards for the successful implementation of NbS.
David A. Keith, Jose R. Ferrer, Emily Nicholson, Melanie J. Bishop, Beth A. Polidoro, Eva Ramirez... more David A. Keith, Jose R. Ferrer, Emily Nicholson, Melanie J. Bishop, Beth A. Polidoro, Eva RamirezLlodra, Mark G. Tozer, Jeanne L. Nel, Ralph Mac Nally, Edward J. Gregr, Kate E. Watermeyer, Franz Essl, Don Faber-Langendoen, Janet Franklin, Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Andres Etter, Dirk J. Roux, Jonathan S. Stark, Jessica A. Rowland, Neil A. Brummitt, Ulla C. Fernandez-Arcaya, Iain M. Suthers, Susan K. Wiser, Ian Donohue, Leland J. Jackson, R. Toby Pennington, Nathalie Pettorelli, Angela Andrade, Tytti Kontula, Arild Lindgaard, Teemu Tahvanainan, Aleks Terauds, Oscar Venter, James E. M. Watson, Michael A Chadwick, Nicholas J. Murray, Justin Moat, Patricio Pliscoff, Irene Zager, Richard T. Kingsford
Despite significant conservation efforts, the loss of ecosystems continues globally, along with r... more Despite significant conservation efforts, the loss of ecosystems continues globally, along with related loss of species and Nature’s contributions to people. A new ecosystem goal and milestone, supported by clear targets and indicators, is urgently needed for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and beyond, to support efforts to abate climate change, and to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Here, we detail the scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal and milestones, founded on a theory of change, and review available indicators to measure progress. An ecosystem goal should include three core components: area, integrity, and risk of collapse. Targets, the actions necessary for the goals to be met, should address pathways to ecosystem loss and recovery, including retaining threatened ecosystems and intact areas, and restoring degraded ecosystems. Multiple indicators are needed to capture the different dimensions of ecosystem ...
This set of guidelines on best practices for Nature-based adaptation identification, implementati... more This set of guidelines on best practices for Nature-based adaptation identification, implementation and monitoring can improve consistency and the ability to compare and aggregate adaptation results achieved through nature-based solutions for adaptation implemented by organizations and governmental bodies. Such consistency and aggregation can help increase the evidence base of Nature-based solutions for adaptation and track adaptation goals at multiple levels, from project site to global. A key barrier to the implementation of Nature-based solutions for adaptation at-scale has been an underdeveloped evidence base and lack of standard methods for Nature-based adaptation projects. Addressing these issues could ultimately lead to increased funding and scaled-up implementation of this important approach.
C-4 .2 A cost-effectiveness study is provided to support the choice of NbS including the likely i... more C-4 .2 A cost-effectiveness study is provided to support the choice of NbS including the likely impact of any relevant regulations and subsidies. .. .. . C-4 .3 The effectiveness of the NbS design is justified against available alternative solutions, taking into account any associated externalities. .. . C-4 .4 The NbS design considers a portfolio of resourcing options such as market-based, public sector, voluntary commitments and actions to support regulatory compliance. .
The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies bet... more The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies between Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania and Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique. The area is dominated by miombo woodland with a mosaic of different land uses. Unfortunately, this mosaic of wildlife, forests, people with a variety of often competing land uses, as well as the presence of an international border close by, helps make it one of the worst impacted areas in Africa in terms of elephant poaching for the ivory trade. Despite the recent resurgence of elephant poaching in Tanzania, and in particular within the Selous ecosystem which includes the REP area, the results show the project has managed to curb elephant poaching. It is believed that the local elephant population within the REP area should remain stable if current anti-poaching input levels can be maintained. The success of the REP may be attributed to various approaches and activities that are beyond the scope of c...
La presente guia es un instrumento que permite hacer una rapida valoracion del nivel de aplicacio... more La presente guia es un instrumento que permite hacer una rapida valoracion del nivel de aplicacion del Enfoque Ecosistemico (EE), por medio de un conjunto de preguntas que abordan aspectos fundamentales de la gestion de los ecosistemas para poder afirmar que el enfoque se esta aplicando en un espacio geografico determinado, en un proyecto o en algun esquema de intervencion del territorio.
The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do n... more The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CATIE, IUCN or other participant institution concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its ...
Maloca rodead a de chagras en diferentes estad ios de desarroll o. Co munidades indígenas de l Pi... more Maloca rodead a de chagras en diferentes estad ios de desarroll o. Co munidades indígenas de l Piraparaná. Fotografía: Ge rmán Andrade.
Word Count (8000 limit) 7892 including endnote, but not the 3 summaries, table, declarations, or ... more Word Count (8000 limit) 7892 including endnote, but not the 3 summaries, table, declarations, or references Non-Technical Summary (100 words max, 99 currently) Many conservation initiatives call for 'transformative change' to counter biodiversity loss, climate change, and injustice. The term connotes fundamental, broad, and durable changes to human relationships with nature. However, if oversimplified or overcomplicated, or not focused enough on power and the political action necessary for change, associated initiatives can perpetuate or exacerbate existing crises. This article aims to help practitioners deliberately catalyze and steer transformation processes. It provides a theoretically and practically grounded definition of 'transformative conservation', along with six strategic, interlocking recommendations. These cover systems pedagogy, political mobilization, inner transformation, as well as planning, action, and continual adjustment. Technical Summary (200 words max, 200 currently): Calls for 'transformative change' point to the fundamental reorganization necessary for global conservation initiatives to stem ecological catastrophe. However, the concept risks being oversimplified or overcomplicated, and focusing too little on power and the political action necessary for change. Accordingly, its intersection with contemporary biodiversity and climate change mitigation initiatives needs explicit deliberation and clarification. This article advances the praxis of 'transformative conservation' as both (1) a desired process that rethinks the relationships between individuals, society, and nature, and restructures systems accordingly, and (2) a desired outcome that conserves biodiversity while justly transitioning to net zero emissions economies and securing the sustainable and regenerative use of natural resources. It first reviews criticisms of area-based conservation targets, natural climate solutions, and nature-based solutions that are framed as transformative, including issues of ecological integrity, livelihoods, gender, equity, growth, power, participation, knowledge, and governance. It then substantiates six strategic recommendations designed to help practitioners deliberately
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Land clearing and ecosystem degradation are primary causes of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem ... more Land clearing and ecosystem degradation are primary causes of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide, putting at risk sustainable options for Earth and humankind. According to recent global estimates, degraded lands already account for at least 1 and up to 6 billion ha. Given high rates of habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes with high levels of ecosystem transformation, conventional approaches to conservation such as setting aside lands in protected areas, are not enough; in combination with ecosystem protection, ecological restoration is essential to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and delivery of ecosystem services. Despite recognition of the role of ecological restoration, the planning of restoration at the landscape scale remains a major challenge. Specifically, more studies are needed on developing restoration plans that maximize conservation and provisioning of ecosystem services, while minimizing competition with highproductivity land uses. We use Colombia, one of the world's mega-diversity countries in which ca. 25 % of ecosystems are listed as critically endangered (CR), as a test case for exploring the potential advantages of including the Red List of Ecosystems, a newly developed tool for assessing conservation value, in restoration planning. We identified restoration priorities focused on both high-risk ecosystems and low-productivity lands, to maximize conservation value and minimize land-use conflicts. This approach allowed us to identify over 6 M ha of priority areas for restoration, targeting the restoration of 31 (75 %) of the country's endangered ecosystems. Eight of the Regional Administrative Environmental Planning Areas (CARs) had greater than 20 % of their area identified as restoration priorities. We roughly estimated that the cost of restoring the prioritized areas with restoration through natural regeneration, using payment for ecosystem services (PES), would equal less than 50 % of the annual budget of the CARs. Our results are in sharp contrast (only 12 % agreement) with the priorities identified under the current National Restoration Strategy of Colombia, and highlight the potential contribution of the Red List of Ecosystems in refining and improving restoration planning strategies at both national and subnational levels.
The field of ecological restoration (ER) is now challenged by the need to achieve recovery at lar... more The field of ecological restoration (ER) is now challenged by the need to achieve recovery at large spatial scales. Such scaling up requires technological expertise, inclusiveness and clarity of goals, and correct governance schemes and monitoring protocols, which are often absent from ER projects in most countries. We analyze the case of Colombia by assessing the planning, governance, and monitoring practices of 119 ER projects, and discuss them in the context of scaling up efforts to meet international commitments. In a top-down approach, Colombia´s government is the biggest ER driver: setting up the necessary policy framework to promote ER, and initiating 64% and fully financing 78% of the projects in the country. However, projects lack depth in participatory governance and adequate planning and monitoring, limiting their potential for sustainability and knowledge sharing, both of which are necessary for scaling up. We propose three areas for improvement in order to scale-up and meet international ER targets in Colombia, as well as in other Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, which are also in the process of consolidating a large-scale ER vision. The benefits of some of those improvements have already been demonstrated in Brazil.
Bosques y cambio climático en América Latina Vincular adaptación y mitigación Bruno Locatelli1, 2... more Bosques y cambio climático en América Latina Vincular adaptación y mitigación Bruno Locatelli1, 2, Vanessa Evans2, Andrew Wardell2, Angela Andrade3 y Raffaele Vignola4 1 Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) 2 Center for International Forestry Research 3 ...
Climate change can be addressed by mitigation (reducing the sources or enhancing the sinks of gre... more Climate change can be addressed by mitigation (reducing the sources or enhancing the sinks of greenhouse gases) and adaptation (reducing the impacts of climate change). Mitigation and adaptation present two fundamentally dissimilar approaches whose differences are now well documented. Forest ecosystems play an important role in both adaptation and mitigation and there is a need to explore the linkages between these two options in order to understand their trade-offs and synergies. In forests, potential trade-offs can be observed between global ecosystem services, such as the carbon sequestration relevant for mitigation, and the local ecosystem services that are relevant for adaptation. In addition, mitigation projects can facilitate or hinder the adaptation of local people to climate change, whereas adaptation projects can affect ecosystems and their potential to sequester carbon. Linkages between adaptation and mitigation can also be observed in policies, but few climate change or forest policies have addressed these linkages in the forestry sector. This paper presents examples of linkages between adaptation and mitigation in Latin American forests. Through case studies, we investigate the approaches and reasons for integrating adaptation into mitigation projects or mitigation into OPEN ACCESS Forests 2011, 2 432 adaptation projects. We also analyze the opportunities for mainstreaming adaptation-mitigation linkages into forest or climate change policies.
El cambio climatico puede abordarse a traves de la mitigacion (reduciendo las fuentes o aumentand... more El cambio climatico puede abordarse a traves de la mitigacion (reduciendo las fuentes o aumentando los sumideros de gases de efecto invernadero) y la adaptacion (reduciendo los impactos del cambio climatico). La mitigacion y la adaptacion presentan dos enfoques fundamentalmente distintos cuyas diferencias estan bien documentadas. Los ecosistemas forestales juegan un rol importante tanto en la mitigacion como en la adaptacion y existe la necesidad de explorar los vinculos entre estas dos opciones para comprender sus compensaciones (trade-offs) y sinergias. En los bosques, las compensaciones potenciales pueden observarse entre los servicios ecosistemicos globales, como la captura de carbono relevante para la mitigacion, y los servicios ecosistemicos locales, relevantes para la adaptacion. Ademas, los proyectos de mitigacion pueden facilitar o impedir la adaptacion de las poblaciones locales al cambio climatico, mientras que los proyectos de adaptacion pueden afectar a los ecosistemas ...
In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature adopted the Red List of Ecosystems (I... more In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature adopted the Red List of Ecosystems (IUCN RLE) criteria as the global standard for assessing risks to terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. Identifying and quantifying the impacts of biodiversity assessments on the status of nature is key to justifying continued investment in assessments and enabling strategic planning to maximize future impact. In this policy perspective, we use an established impact evaluation framework to identify the impacts of the IUCN RLE since its inception. To date, 1,397 ecosystem units in 100 countries have been assessed following the IUCN RLE protocol. Systematic assessments are complete or underway in more than 25 countries and two continental regions (the Americas and Europe). Countries with established ecosystem red lists have already used them to inform legislation, land-use planning, protected area expansion, monitoring and reporting, and ecosystem management. IUCN RLE indices based...
Sustainable development aims at addressing economic, social, and environmental concerns, but the ... more Sustainable development aims at addressing economic, social, and environmental concerns, but the current lack of responsive environmental governance hinders progress. Short-term economic development has led to limited actions, unsustainable resource management, and degraded ecosystems. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may continue to fall short of achieving significant progress without a better understanding of how ecosystems contribute to achieving sustainability for all people. Ecosystem governance is an approach that integrates the social and ecological components for improved sustainability and includes principles such as adaptive ecosystem co-management, subsidiarity, and telecoupling framework, as well as principles of democracy and accountability. We explain the importance of ecosystem governance in achieving the SDGs, and suggest some ways to ensure that ecosystem services are meaningfully considered. This paper reflects on how integration of these approaches into...
Publicación en el marco del Taller "Experiencias de adaptación al cambio
climático en ecosistemas... more Publicación en el marco del Taller "Experiencias de adaptación al cambio climático en ecosistemas de montaña (páramos y bosques de niebla) en los Andes del Norte. De World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ministerio de Ambiente de Colombia, IDEAM y la Fundación Humedales.
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Papers by Angela Andrade
climático en ecosistemas de montaña (páramos y bosques de niebla) en los Andes del Norte. De World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ministerio de Ambiente de Colombia, IDEAM y la Fundación Humedales.