General
Towards more effective integration of tropical forest restoration and conservationBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
The Restoration of Degraded Lands by Local Communities and Indigenous PeoplesBackgroundLand degradation is a global ecological crisis that threatens biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and human well-being. Over 75% of land worldwide is affected, impacting the livelihoods of 3.2 billion people. Causes include deforestation, desertification, unsustainable agriculture, and climate change. In response, the United Nations launched the “Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” (2021–2030) to promote land restoration and achieve Land Degradation Neutrality. Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) manage a significant portion of intact ecosystems and possess deep ecological knowledge, making them vital actors in restoration efforts. Available with subscription or purchase |
Indigenous exploitation and management of tropical forest resources: an evolutionary continuum in forest-people interactionsBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Forests, food, and fuel in the tropics: the uneven social and ecological consequences of the emerging political economy of biofuelsBackgroundOpen access copy available |
The Need for Carbon Finance Schemes to Tackle Overexploitation of Tropical Forest WildlifeBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Contrasting Effects of Defaunation on Aboveground Carbon Storage Across the Global TropicsBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Drivers and spatial patterns of avian defaunation in tropical forestsBackgroundTropical forests harbor an immense diversity of bird species, but hunting and wildlife trade are driving widespread declines in bird populations. Unlike habitat loss, hunting often occurs in seemingly intact forests, making its impact more difficult to detect. Birds are harvested for both subsistence (food) and commercial purposes (pet trade), but the spatial extent and drivers of avian defaunation remain poorly understood. This study aims to assess the factors influencing bird population declines and map defaunation patterns across tropical forests. Open access copy available |
Cascading effects of contemporaneous defaunation on tropical forest communitiesBackgroundDefaunation, caused by hunting and habitat fragmentation, is a major threat to biodiversity in tropical forests. It disproportionately affects large-bodied vertebrates, which play key roles as seed dispersers, seed predators, and herbivores. The loss of these animals can have cascading effects on plant populations, altering species composition, seed dispersal, and plant recruitment. This study reviews empirical evidence from 42 studies to understand how defaunation influences plant-animal interactions, plant demography, and overall community diversity. Available with subscription or purchase |
Reimagine fire science for the AnthropoceneBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Navigating power in conservationBackgroundConservation has traditionally centered on the natural sciences, but there is a growing recognition that it also deeply involves people and society. As a result, conservation efforts constantly navigate power dynamics, often without fully acknowledging them. Conservationists wield power when they decide which animals or plants to protect, where to focus their efforts, and how to implement them. Recognizing these power dynamics is essential for making conservation more effective, fair, and just. However, many conservationists either overlook or misunderstand the concept of power. Open access copy available |
