The theme for this week’s sustainability research is BIODIVERSITY
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Research in Details
Research #1
Assessing the emergence of pro-biodiversity practices in citizen scientists of a backyard butterfly survey
Highlights
ConcAnnual information on gardening practices (2006–2013, 2362 volunteers) is analyzed
Gardening practices that benefit butterflies increase with sustained participation.
Reduction in pesticide use was greatest in backyards not used to grow food.
Changing participant behaviors, citizen science can have direct conservation benefits.
Authors: Nicolas Deguines, Karine Princé, Anne-Caroline Prévot, Benoît Fontaine
Date of publication: 10 May, 2020
Summary
By monitoring biodiversity through citizen science programs, volunteers help scientists gather data at unprecedented temporal and geographical scales, and increase their knowledge and awareness of the surrounding biodiversity. While scientific outcomes of such programs may in the long run improve the state of biodiversity by informing environmental policies, direct benefits to biodiversity could arise locally if such experience of nature leads to biodiversity-friendly behaviors in volunteers. However, whether engagement into nature-based CS programs promotes individual behavioral changes remains poorly known.
Here, we explored whether sustained participation in a nature-based citizen science program, called the French Butterfly citizen science project, is associated with changes in individual gardening practices. Specifically, using information provided by volunteers (n = 2362, from 2006 to 2013), we quantified gardening practices that directly affect butterflies, through two different indices: provision of nectar resources, and pesticide use.
We found quantitative evidence that individual gardening practices shifted with multi-year participation, towards increased provision of nectar resources and decreased use of pesticides. However, the reduction in pesticide use was weakened if the backyard was used to grow fruits or vegetables. Other variables such as the size of the backyard affected gardening practices.
This study reveals that participation in a nature-based citizen science program can prompt biodiversity-friendly behaviors, and highlights citizen science not only as a way to collect ecologically sound data but also as a direct conservation tool. Yet, future interdisciplinary research remains critical to overcome factors limiting firm adoption of pro-biodiversity behaviors.
Keywords: Citizen Scientists, Lepidoptera, Pro-environmental behaviors, Nature-based monitoring program, Urban green spaces.
Research #2
Setting the scene for achievable post-2020 convention on biological diversity targets: A review of the impacts of invasive alien species on ecosystem services in Africa
Highlights
A review of invasive alien species shows impacts on key ecosystem services in Africa.
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services in Africa.
There is a need to focus resources and efforts on priority invasive alien species common for the continent.
There is a dire need to build capacity for research and management of IAS across Africa.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) National Reports is a good source of information for future global targets.
Authors: Benis N.Egoh, Phumza Ntshotsho, Malebajoa A.Maoela, Ryan Blanchard, Lacour M.Ayompe, Sebataolo Rahlao
Date of publication: 1 May, 2020
Summary
Invasive alien species (IAS) are known to pose a serious threat to biodiversity, and reduce the ability of ecosystems to provide benefits to humans. In recognition of this threat and to address the impacts of IAS, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted Aichi Biodiversity Target 9, which is dedicated to the control or eradication of priority IAS and the management of their introduction pathways by 2020. The achievement of Target 9 relies strongly on the commitment and ability of Parties to set ambitious national or regional targets and archive them, the availability of information and the requisite expertise on invasion biology. Now that the global community is gearing for the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, it is time to take stock and identify opportunities to improve the performance of the African region beyond 2020. We approached this task by reviewing information on the impacts of IAS on ecosystem services in Africa, as a large proportion of Africans directly rely on ecosystem services, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, we assessed the expertise on IAS in Africa. Our data sources were National Reports of African countries to the CBD, as well as peer-reviewed scientific literature. National Reports under the CBD provide information on measures taken to implement the Convention at country level, as well as progress towards the achievement of set targets. We found National Reports for 48 (about 90%) countries of which 73% provided feedback on IAS indicating commitment to fight IAS. However, there were few studies within peer-reviewed scientific literature looking at impacts of IAS on ecosystem services in Africa and almost half of the authors were non-Africans. This alludes to limited scientific expertise to inform and support IAS management on the continent. Both the National Reports and scientific literature showed that provisioning services were the most negatively affected by IAS. Also, more than 100 species were listed as problematic. More efforts and resources are needed to document IAS impacts across different realms (e.g. marine, terrestrial and freshwater) and for sub-regional bodies so that more integrated strategies and approaches can be developed. This information is also needed to support the development and implementation of national legislative and regulatory initiatives, as well as to report on international obligations such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Keywords: Ecosystem Services, Invasive Alien Species, Convention on Biological Diversity, Aichi Target 9, Africa, CBD National Report
Research #3
Connecting people to biodiversity in cities of tomorrow: Is urban foraging a powerful tool?
Highlights:
Urban foraging is a promising tool to connect society to urban nature.
People from diverse backgrounds collect edible plants outside of gardens.
Neither rare nor native species are over-foraged in Berlin.
Barriers that prevent people from foraging are identified.
Support for strategies that enhance edible components in urban green infrastructure.
Authors: Guodi Zheng, Xiankai Wang, Tongbin Chen, Jun Yang, Junxung Yang, Junwan Liu, Xiaoxiao Shi
Date of publication: May, 2020
Summary
As global population becomes increasingly urban, opportunities for people to experience nature have decreased. Counteracting this trend is a key challenge for future urban development as interactions of urban people with biodiversity support human health and wellbeing, and may also result in positive attitudes towards biodiversity conservation. Collecting edible plants in urban surroundings, especially outside of gardens (“urban foraging”) is a traditional interaction with nature, based on knowledge about multiple uses of plants. Although some studies exist from different cities around the world, urban foraging has been revealed as a critically understudied phenomenon. We now analyze (i) the relevance of this human-nature interaction in Berlin, one of Europe’s metropolises, (ii) how people’s sociocultural background matters in attitudes of urban foragers vs. non-foragers towards this activity, and (iii) whether urban foraging may lead to conflicts with biodiversity conservation. Our survey revealed urban foraging as a relevant human-nature interaction with a high potential to grow: 33% of 535 respondents already collected edible plants outside of gardens and another 38% would be doing so given certain conditions, e.g. when contamination risks can be excluded. Many sociocultural groups (differing, e.g. on gender, age, childhood experience) shared attitudes towards foraging and existing barriers. Risks to biodiversity seem to be manageable as neither native species nor rare species were over-foraged in relation to species’ abundance in the local flora, with more abundant species being collected more frequently. We conclude that urban foraging can be a powerful tool for connecting urban people to nature without putting native biodiversity at risk. We make a claim for integrated approaches towards environmental policy, environmental education and greenspace management: these should aim on keeping potential health risks at a minimum, and should support urban foraging as a biodiversity-friendly and sustainable human-nature interaction in the cities of tomorrow.
Keywords: Edible plants, Biocultural diversity, Gathering activity, Informal green infrastructure, Provisioning ecosystem services, Urban biodiversity
Research #4
Global priorities of environmental issues to combat food insecurity and biodiversity loss
Highlights:
We must prioritize global biodiversity and food threats for effective protection.
Our comprehensive prioritization included importance, neglect, and tractability.
Pollinator loss and soil degradation are top priorities for food security.
Biodiversity is best served by combating ocean acidification and land use change.
Our results call for a shift in attention towards the high-priority challenges.
Authors: Efi Drimmili, Ruth H erreror-martin, Juain Suardiaz-muro, Efithimios Zervas
Date of publication: April 30, 2020
Summary
Various environmental challenges are rapidly threatening ecosystems and societies globally. Major interventions and a strategic approach are required to minimize harm and to avoid reaching catastrophic tipping points. Setting evidence-based priorities aids maximizing the impact of the limited resources available for environmental interventions. Focusing on protecting both food security and biodiversity, international experts prioritized major environmental challenges for intervention based on three comprehensive criteria – importance, neglect, and tractability. The top priorities differ between food security and biodiversity. For food security, the top priorities are loss of pollinators, soil compaction, and nutrient depletion, and for biodiversity conservation, ocean acidification and land and sea use (especially habitat degradation) are the main concerns. While climate change might be the most pressing environmental challenge and mitigation is clearly off-track, other issues rank higher because of climate change's high attention in research. Research and policy agendas do not yet consistently cover these priorities. Thus, a shift in attention towards the high-priority environmental challenges, identified here, is needed to increase the effectiveness of global environmental protection.
Keywords: Prioritization, Effectiveness, Environmental protection, Global change, Agriculture, Ecosystems
Research #5
A conservation criminology-based desk assessment of vulture poisoning in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Highlights
Vultures are haunted illegally in Africa.
Vulture species in a particular ecosystem are poisoned with significant effect on human, wildlife, and ecosystem.
The case of illegal vulture poisoning was used in Great Limpopo Transforntier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) as an example.
The assessment identifies different elements of Vulture poisoning and they informed prevention strategies and tactics.
The methods used for vulture preservation are evidence-based theory and illustration of positive potential of interdisciplinary team science.
Authors: Meredith L. Gore, Annette Hübshle, André J. Botha, Brent M. Coverdale, Rebecca Garbett, Reginal M. Mullinax, Lars J. Olson, Mary Ann Ottinger, Hanneline Smit Robinson, L.jen Shaffer, Lindy J. Thompson, Linda Van den Heer, William Bowerman
Date of publication: 29 April 2020
Summary
Vulture declines are uniquely problematic for socioecological systems because they are nature's most important scavengers. Intentional and unintentional poisoning, human-wildlife conflict, energy infrastructure, belief-based use, and illegal hunting activities remain threats to vulture populations across Africa. Conservation stakeholders have identified evidence that a number of vulture species in particular ecosystems are being systematically targeted by poisoning with potentially significant effects on human, wildlife and ecosystem health. We explored the extent to which an interdisciplinary expert-team approach linking conservation and criminology could help inform efforts to prevent poisoning of Africa's vultures. We used the case of illegal vulture poisoning and conservation in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), a known poisoning site, as an exemplar. We used an interdisciplinary framework, conservation criminology, to guide a desk assessment of how the local environment may create opportunities for illegal poisoning. Our assessment was conducted as a science team and included multiple iterations and structured discourse. The assessment identifies different elements of vulture poisoning and the opportunity factors that can both underly the problem and inform prevention strategies and tactics. We discuss controlling tools and weapons, extending local guardianship, denying benefits, reducing frustration and stress, and assisting compliance to help prevent illegal poisoning. Results provide insights into harm prevention using evidence-based theory and illustrate the positive potential of interdisciplinary team science for vulture conservation. With additional application, monitoring and evaluation, strategies and tactics explored in this desk assessment may be revised and implemented and portend other benefits for vulture conservation beyond poisoning; the spread of beneficial influence could be a welcome force multiplier for this important scavenger guild.
Keywords: Community-based conservation, Elephants, Ivory, Human-wildlife conflict, Lions, Scavengers, Team science, Wildlife crime