Review Article
Ecosystem services in decision making: time to deliverBackgroundOver the past decade, valuing and protecting ecosystem services has been promoted as a strategy to mainstream conservation globally. While the vision of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is gaining traction, a significant scientific and policy-implementation gap remains. Natural capital is often undervalued or ignored in major decisions by governments, businesses, and the public, a problem highlighted by natural disasters and crises where the loss of protective services becomes starkly apparent. Open access copy available |
Tree species that ‘live slow, die older’ enhance tropical peat swamp restoration: Evidence from a systematic reviewBackgroundHighly degraded forests often require active reforestation, which presents additional challenges with species selection for tree plantings. In tropical peat swamp forests, where harsh environmental conditions threaten seedling survival, various seedling and site treatments can enhance seedling survival and growth in restoration projects. Open access copy available |
The weak land carbon sink hypothesisBackgroundOpen access copy available |
The changing global carbon cycle: linking plant–soil carbon dynamics to global consequencesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
The drivers and impacts of Amazon forest degradationBackgroundThis research examines the growing threat of forest degradation across the Amazon, a region critical to global carbon balance and biodiversity. Beyond deforestation, widespread disturbances such as fire, edge effects, selective logging, and extreme drought have emerged as major causes of ecological and social disruption. These human-driven stressors, intensified by climate change, now affect approximately 2.5 million km²—around 38% of remaining Amazon forests—posing risks comparable to deforestation itself. Open access copy available |
Local‐ and landscape‐scale drivers of terrestrial herbaceous plant diversity along a tropical rainfall gradient in Western Ghats, IndiaBACKGROUND:Open access copy available |
Herbaceous plant diversity in forest ecosystems: patterns, mechanisms, and threatsBACKGROUND:Recent studies have expanded our ecological understanding by focusing on forest herbs, highlighting that while trees dominate ecological theory, they represent only a small fraction of forest plant diversity. Forests showcase varying plant diversity due to human activities like land-use changes, invasive species, climate change, and overabundant herbivores, necessitating comprehensive management strategies. By understanding the complex interplay of these factors, the research aims to promote effective long-term conservation and sustainability of herbaceous plant communities in these environments. Available with subscription or purchase |
Hope for Threatened Tropical Biodiversity: Lessons from the PhilippinesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
People and Mangroves: Biocultural Utilization of Mangrove Forest Ecosystem in Southeast AsiaBackgroundMangrove forests in Southeast Asia are recognized as biodiverse ecosystems that offer ecological, social, and economic benefits. However, this region also experiences the highest global rates of mangrove loss. This is concerning because the decline of mangrove forests in Southeast Asia potentially leads to the loss of valuable indigenous and local knowledge systems (ILKS) and even the disappearance of ethnic cultures. Open access copy available |
Integrating science-based and local ecological knowledge: a case study of mangrove restoration and rehabilitation projects in the PhilippinesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
