Environmental science and conservation news
Explore the beauty of the Ground Beetle in astonishing detail. Created from around 8000 photographs taken by Levon Biss as part of the Microsculpture project.
Urban biodiversity offers important benefits to residents and may be crucial to reaching global biodiversity conservation targets, but little research has been conducted on how cities actually plan for biodiversity. In this study, we conducted a mixed methods content analysis of biodiversity plans by 39 cities around the world to determine whether they measured their actions, how they did so (via quantitative indicators and qualitative outputs), and what topics these actions and measures covered. We based our analytical framework on the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity (also known as the City Biodiversity Index), a widely applied 23-indicator index that helps cities track their progress in biodiversity planning. The Singapore Index groups its indicators into the following three core components: native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and governance and management. For actions and measures not classifiable by the Singapore Index, we inductively derived additional categories. Across all plans, we identified 2,231 actions, 346 indicators, and 444 outputs. We found that all of the plans included actions, while 82% included measures (67% included indicators and 72% included outputs). Only 29% of actions were associated with a measure. Overall, the plans covered all of the categories in the Singapore Index, particularly within the core components of native biodiversity and governance and management, though some plans had a narrower focus. The 20 additional urban biodiversity topics that were not covered by the Singapore Index framework included socioeconomic considerations, data collection, genetic diversity, urban agriculture and forestry, green infrastructure, human-wildlife conflicts, indigenous concerns, and citizen science. Indicators were the most common measures for native biodiversity and ecosystem service topics, while outputs were the most common measures for governance and management. Our results may inform the revision and development of urban biodiversity indicators in the post-2020 framework and of other initiatives that guide cities in contributing to local and global biodiversity goals.
Biodiversity loss and climate change are two of the greatest challenges of our time. IKEA joins UN Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) to demonstrate support for the Global Biodiversity Framework and share how we are safeguarding and enhancing biodiversity throughout our value chain and beyond.
Movement of organisms is one of the key mechanisms shaping biodiversity, e.g. the distribution of genes, individuals and species in space and time. Recent technological and conceptual advances have improved our ability to assess the causes and consequences of individual movement, and led to the emergence of the new field of ‘movement ecology’. Here, we outline how movement ecology can contribute to the broad field of biodiversity research, i.e. the study of processes and patterns of life among and across different scales, from genes to ecosystems, and we propose a conceptual framework linking these hitherto largely separated fields of research. Our framework builds on the concept of movement ecology for individuals, and demonstrates its importance for linking individual organismal movement with biodiversity. First, organismal movements can provide ‘mobile links’ between habitats or ecosystems, thereby connecting resources, genes, and processes among otherwise separate locations. Understanding these mobile links and their impact on biodiversity will be facilitated by movement ecology, because mobile links can be created by different modes of movement (i.e., foraging, dispersal, migration) that relate to different spatiotemporal scales and have differential effects on biodiversity. Second, organismal movements can also mediate coexistence in communities, through ‘equalizing’ and ‘stabilizing’ mechanisms. This novel integrated framework provides a conceptual starting point for a better understanding of biodiversity dynamics in light of individual movement and space-use behavior across spatiotemporal scales. By illustrating this framework with examples, we argue that the integration of movement ecology and biodiversity research will also enhance our ability to conserve diversity at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
Millions of people depend on mangroves and other coastal ecosystems. They deliver vital benefits #ForNature, people and climate. 🌊🌱🐠 These #RootsOfHope must remain part of the 30x30 goal enshrined in the Global Biodiversity Framework! #COP15
Humanity’s enormous and increasing demand for the planet’s natural resources has resulted in a dramatic loss of biodiversity. Many of the pressures and underlying causes affecting ecosystems interact at a variety of scales from local to global. Trying to reverse or prevent further detrimental effects on nature within such a complex web of interdependent processes is a formidable challenge. Intensive unsustainable agriculture is one of the central global challenges affecting ecosystem integrity and biodiversity. The Netherlands is a hotspot intensive agricultural area and biodiversity in agricultural areas has been steadily declining. With a 35% share in land use in the Netherlands, dairy farming poses one of the key threats, but can also be part of the solution to restoring biodiversity. At the request of WWF-NL, the Louis Bolk Institute developed a conceptual framework for ‘biodiversity-based dairy farming to increase resilience and reduce risks’. Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners were commissioned by WWF-NL, to turn this theoretical concept into a spatial landscape transformation framework. control model A focus on short-term risk management and maximum profit drives intensive production. Production levels are boosted through the use of external inputs such as fertilizers, irrigation, antibiotics and pesticides. This model relies heavily on controlling externalities in the environment and the market and is characterized by a dependency on loans and bank investments. Resilience MODEL The resilience model provides an alternative approach where biodiversity and natural processes provide the foundation for increased resilience and reduced risks. Such a system combines optimisation of production with nature and biodiversity protection. By doing so, it also reduces off-farm impacts on the natural environment. Balance Input & output The control model targets high output (production), but requires substantial external input (resources). The resilience model aims to optimize production levels in relation to available resources. A better balance between input and output makes a system more resilient and therefore better able to cope with fluctuations and risk. The transformation from the control model to the resilience model requires a paradigm shift. Moving from maximum production to optimal production in relation to available resources results in larger profit margins and a more resilient system. THE 4 PILLARS OF BIODIVERSITY A resilient and biodiverse dairy farming system builds on four interconnected pillars of biodiversity: Functional agrobiodiversity, landscape diversity on the farm, specific species and corridors and source areas. To improve resilience and reduce risk, it is important to enhance functional agrobiodiversity. Functional agrobiodiversity should be supported by landscape diversity and connections of biodiversity source areas in the wider landscape. Maintaining and increasing specific target species often requires additional management. Building blocks The resilience model moves away from a ‘one size fits all’ model for dairy farming. Instead, it provides principles and building blocks whose physical implementation depend on the local ecological and cultural context. application in a cultural and ecological context The ecological context is determined by biophysical factors such as climate, topography, landscape type, local flora and fauna and soil composition. The cultural context derives from societal factors such as the history, values and belief systems in an area. The resilience model provides a framework for locally adapted biodiversity-based dairy farming. idzegea, friesland To illustrate the context specific elaboration of the resilience model, a case study has been developed for a pilot area. Idzegea is an area in Friesland, in the northern part of the Netherlands, with a long history of dairy farming, milk production and cows at pasture. Idzegea is a peatland area dominated by dairy farming on pasture with some nature reserves, crisscrossed by a network of ditches and lakes. The landscape is dotted with small villages and dairy farms. The cultural and ecological conditions give substance to the four pillars of the resilience model for the specific context at Idzegea. slider
Hi , I am Lovely . This is a Youtube channel specially designed for the students of Jammu and Kashmir . I hope it will help you guys .Do comment , on which t...
Articles on biodiversity and the importance of protecting the breadth of life on our planet for future generations and our survival.
Holding frame, trust me #trust #framework
Framework. — Rural Economic Development
Download this Free Vector about Hand drawn biodiversity illustration, and discover more than 15 Million Professional Graphic Resources on Freepik
Oh Canada
Biodiversity vertical illustration of human hands hugging planet earth with wild plants and green trees. Global nature care or eco friendly campaign concept. Download a free preview or high-quality Adobe Illustrator (ai), EPS, PDF, SVG vectors and high-res JPEG and PNG images.
A blog about nature, plants, benefits of plants, science, health
Graphic recording | Visual Summary | Infographic on sustainability at Tampines Park. Includes initiatives like vertical farming, black soldier fly farming and Tilapia fish farm
The Biodiversity Heritage Library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.
The Biodiversity Heritage Library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.
