Grounding nature-based climate solutions in sound biodiversity science

Abstract

Grounding nature-based climate solutions in sound biodiversity science The current narrow focus on afforestation in climate policy runs the risk of compromising longterm carbon storage, human adaptation and efforts to preserve biodiversity. An emphasis on diverse, intact natural ecosystems-as opposed to fast-growing tree plantations-will help nations deliver Paris Agreement goals and much more.

Step back from the forest and step up to the Bonn Challenge: how a broad ecological perspective can promote successful landscape restoration

“…Clearly, continued destruction of natural vegetation (including draining of wetlands and peatlands and concomitant massive greenhouse gas emissions) is “the biggest megatrend not pointing in the right direction” (Carrington ). Annual tree losses have nearly doubled since 2000, even though we know that destruction of forests for ranching, timber, and farming cause around 10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (Seddon et al ).…”

“…Brazil and Indonesia's governments alone invested $276 billion in the same time frame in just four key driver commodities: palm oil, soy, beef, and timber (Wolosin et al ). In contrast, in the Paris Agreement, 42% of signatories include afforestation and/or restoration of forests as components of their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), compared with only 19% for coastal habitats (in countries with coastlines), and grasslands in only 8% of NDCs (Seddon et al ). Clearly restoration investments are occurring based on the assumption that trees equate with conservation rather that evenhanded assessments of the restoration value of ecosystems based on antiquity, biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and services (including C storage), and not by whether they appear to be “natural” or not.…”

“…The fact that temperate grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, and Mediterranean woodlands and forests have higher conservation risk index ratios compared to tropical, temperate, and boreal forests, deserts, or tundra (Hoekstra et al ; UNCCD ) clearly shows that open, grassy and shrubby biomes are not getting the protection or restoration they need. As a consequence, there is a vast untapped potential to improve both their conservation (via changes to their protection) and restoration through more explicit inclusion in the Bonn Challenge and other science‐policy platforms (Seddon et al ).…”

“…Indeed, the very recent emergence of the inclusive term “natural climate solutions” (Griscom et al ) invites us to consider the restoration of a whole range of different habitat types as a means to address “the global environmental challenges humanity, and biodiversity, faces.” It is well‐known that the wording and focus people use reflects quite directly on engagement, policy decisions, and also focus of scientific research (Jacobs et al ; McNie ; Seddon et al ). Indeed, Seddon et al (), who advocate conservation solutions based on sound biodiversity science, express their concern on aspects of the (forest‐focused) narrative that is currently reaching policymakers: they “call on scientists studying biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services to fully engage with and inform the process by which high‐level pledges are translated into on‐the‐ground actions.”…”

“…Explicit consideration of the overall framing of the Bonn Challenge and engaging in an open discussion of its implications for restoration practice on the ground is particularly important due to the predominance of tree‐planting and forest restoration in FLR (Chazdon & Laestadius ; Veldman et al ). We see a continued focus on trees as a blind spot to the true potential for restoring biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and improving local livelihoods in a whole range of different habitats and biomes (Seddon et al ). Originally the programme was called Forest Landscape Restoration with a focus on reforestation and afforestation of degraded land, but then, partly in response to concern of scientists about the potential negative effect of afforesting biodiverse natural grasslands or savannas (Veldman et al ), was renamed Forest and Landscape Restoration .…”