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Biology subjects

Pollock, L. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Pollock, L. J..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

30x30 biodiversity gains rely on national coordination

Protecting 30% of land by 2030 is an invaluable opportunity to combat the ongoing biodiversity crisis, but critical questions remain regarding what biodiversity to prioritize, how to coordinate protection, and how to incorporate global change. Here, we evaluate how well different 30x30 expansion scenarios capture the climatically viable ranges of Canadian terrestrial vertebrates, plants, and butterflies. We find that national coordination protects vastly more biodiversity (65% of species; 40% of species-at-risk) than regional approaches, which safeguard at least 33% fewer species and 75% fewer species-at-risk. Whereas prioritizing different taxa or biodiversity facets (e.g., phylogenetic diversity) incur smaller trade-offs. Surprisingly, national priorities closely match transnational ones, indicating that national coordination could efficiently contribute to global targets while protecting Canadas biodiversity at large.

ecology↗

The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework must safeguard the Tree of Life

Following our failure to fully achieve any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets, the future of biodiversity rests in the balance. The Convention on Biological Diversitys Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) presents us with the opportunity to preserve Natures Contributions to People (NCPs) for current and future generations through conserving biodiversity and averting extinction across the Tree of Life. Here we call attention to our need to conserve the Tree of Life to maintain its benefits into the future as a key mechanism for achieving intergenerational equity. We highlight two indicators available for adoption in the post-2020 GBF to monitor our progress towards safeguarding the Tree of Life. The Phylogenetic Diversity indicator, adopted by IPBES, can be used to monitor biodiversitys capacity to maintain NCPs for future generations. The EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) Index monitors how well we are performing at averting the greatest losses across the Tree of Life by conserving the most distinctive species. By committing to safeguarding the Tree of Life post-2020, we can reduce biodiversity loss to preserve natures contributions to humanity now and into the future.

ecology↗