A “Global Safety Net” to reverse biodiversity loss and stabilize Earth’s climate

Abstract

Global strategies to halt the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change are often formulated separately, even though they are interdependent and risk failure if pursued in isolation. The Global Safety Net maps how expanded nature conservation addresses both overarching threats. We identify 50% of the terrestrial realm that, if conserved, would reverse further biodiversity loss, prevent CO2 emissions from land conversion, and enhance natural carbon removal. This framework shows that, beyond the 15.1% land area currently protected, 35.3% of land area is needed to conserve additional sites of particular importance for biodiversity and stabilize the climate. Fifty ecoregions and 20 countries contribute disproportionately to proposed targets. Indigenous lands overlap extensively with the Global Safety Net. Conserving the Global Safety Net could support public health by reducing the potential for zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 from emerging in the future.

Quaternary climate change explains global patterns of tree beta-diversity

“…Anthropogenic activities are also likely to be strong in the regions with many rare species 59 , making climate tracking more difficult for these species. This highlights the importance of conservation tools such as assisted migration 61 and a well-designed network of protected areas to help species dispersal and tracking climates 62 .…”

Environment, Biodiversity and Soil Security: A New Dimension in the Era of COVID-19

“…However, it is believed that the current pandemic, the consequent lockdown, and the post-lockdown phase until returning to normalcy may have vital positive and negative effects on the conservation of biodiversity (Bang and Khadakkar 2020). Thus, to be more aware, there is a need for an ambitious agenda for global biodiversity conservation in the post-COVID-era (Dinerstein et al 2020). The lack of such agendas led to, risingdestruction of the Amazonian rainforest during the lockdown, by 55% in the first four months of 2020 than the same time last year, Caribbean centuries-old coral reefs in Australia were irreversibly damaged due to the lack of treatments against invasive species (e.g., rats that destroy the native species) and fungal diseases on island countries such as New Zealand in the deficiency of extinction efforts (Bang and Khadakkar, 2020).…”

“…mammalian carriers that act as viral hosts (such as HIV that emerged from primates in the Northeast Congolian low-lying forests). Thus, it is important to achieve the area-based targets for protecting all remaining undamaged and semiundamaged terrestrial habitats to be an effective solution to diminish contact zones, help to limit the chances of zoonotic diseases that affect humans in the future (Dinerstein et al 2020). In this context, conserving the global safety net could care for public health by decreasing the potential emerging of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 in the future (Dinerstein et al 2020).…”

“…Thus, it is important to achieve the area-based targets for protecting all remaining undamaged and semiundamaged terrestrial habitats to be an effective solution to diminish contact zones, help to limit the chances of zoonotic diseases that affect humans in the future (Dinerstein et al 2020). In this context, conserving the global safety net could care for public health by decreasing the potential emerging of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 in the future (Dinerstein et al 2020). Hence, guide efficient conservation strategies should be adopted from such events by the intergovernmental organizations and national governments to safeguard biodiversity and human health during the COVID-19 recovery phase (Pearson et al 2020).…”

Medicinal Plants and Herbal Products From Brazil: How Can We Improve Quality?

“…Despite its potential, the native vegetation of Brazil has been undergoing intense destruction: all the ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest, have been quickly replaced by monocultures of sugarcane, soybeans, eucalyptus, and livestock, leading to an intense process of genetic and cultural erosion. On the other side, more recently, the development of bioproducts from Brazilian plants has been stimulated, aiming at a market based in the bioeconomy, which not only brings health benefits but also is important for conservation of biodiversity and consequent mitigation of climate changes ( Dinerstein et al, 2020 ). However, due to the current precarious situation of the herbal products market in Brazil, many steps need to be taken until such a goal is achieved.…”