Journal article
Global priority areas for ecosystem restoration
Nature, Vol.586, pp.724-729
2020
Abstract
Extensive ecosystem restoration is increasingly seen as being central to conserving biodiversity1 and stabilizing the climate of the Earth2. Although ambitious national and global targets have been set, global priority areas that account for spatial variation in benefits and costs have yet to be identified. Here we develop and apply a multicriteria optimization approach that identifies priority areas for restoration across all terrestrial biomes, and estimates their benefits and costs. We find that restoring 15% of converted lands in priority areas could avoid 60% of expected extinctions while sequestering 299 gigatonnes of CO2—30% of the total CO2 increase in the atmosphere, or 14% of total emissions, since the Industrial Revolution. The inclusion of several biomes is key to achieving multiple benefits. Cost effectiveness can increase up to 13-fold when spatial allocation is optimized using our multicriteria approach, which highlights the importance of spatial planning. Our results confirm the vast potential contributions of restoration to addressing global challenges, while underscoring the necessity of pursuing these goals synergistically.
Details
- Title
- Global priority areas for ecosystem restoration
- Authors
- Bernardo B N Strassburg (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroAlvaro Iribarrem (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroHawthorne L Beyer (Author) - University of QueenslandCarolos Leandro Cordeiro (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroRenato Crouzeilles (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroCatarina C Jakovac (Author) - Wageningen University & ResearchAndré B Junqueira (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroEduardo Lacerda (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroAgnieszka E Latawiec (Author) - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroAndrew Balmford (Author) - University of CambridgeThomas M Brooks (Author) - International Union for Conservation of NatureStuart H M Butchart (Author) - University of CambridgeRobin Chazdon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests & People Research CentreKarl-Heinz Erb (Author) - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, ViennaPedro Brancalion (Author) - University of Sao PauloGraeme Buchanan (Author) - Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsDavid Cooper (Author) - Secretariat of the Convention on Biological DiversitySandra Diaz (Author) - Universidad Nacional de CórdobaDavid Leclère (Author) - International Institute for Applied Systems AnalysisLera Miles (Author) - UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring CentrePaul F Donald (Author) - University of CambridgeValerie Kapos (Author) - UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring CentreMichael Obersteiner (Author) - International Institute for Applied Systems AnalysisChristoph Plutzar (Author) - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, ViennaCarlos Alberto de M. Scaramuzza (Author) - Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio GrandeFabio R Scarano (Author) - Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroPiero Visconti (Author) - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
- Publication details
- Nature, Vol.586, pp.724-729
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41586-020-2784-9
- ISSN
- 1476-4687
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests & People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99482292502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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