General
Placing diverse knowledge systems at the core of transformative climate researchBackgroundEffective solutions-oriented research values both the process and the outcomes, recognizing that genuine partnerships across knowledge systems emerge within broader political shifts. Yet, international environmental organizations often exclude non-Western knowledge from their frameworks, reinforcing epistemic injustices that mirror social and political inequalities. Transformative change in addressing the climate crisis demands a critical examination of how knowledge and power interact, ensuring the integration—not marginalization—of diverse perspectives. Open access copy available |
Key challenges for governing forest and landscape restoration across different contextsBackgroundForest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) restores ecological integrity, strengthens climate resilience, enhances human well-being, and increases the productivity of deforested or degraded landscapes. By integrating diverse land uses and restorative actions, FLR balances environmental and socio-economic needs. Global agreements, including the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Bonn Challenge, recognize its importance. Effective governance—defined by clear rules and inclusive decision-making—plays a critical role in ensuring FLR's success. Open access copy available |
Forest carbon offsets and carbon emissions trading: Problems of contractingBACKGROUND:Monitoring and measuring carbon fluxes in forestry are complex and costly, exacerbated by asymmetric information and inadequate institutions, leading to unstable values in carbon trading. Good governance is essential for effective contracting in the carbon market but often falls short, leading to misaligned incentives and principal-agent problems. These issues frequently delay successful contracting, potentially resulting in corruption and disputes over carbon offset claims. Available with subscription or purchase |
The contribution of forest carbon credit projects to addressing the climate change challengeBACKGROUND: Historically, forestry projects face significant challenges due to uncertainties around the permanence of carbon storage and the complexities of carbon measurement. These challenges limit their effectiveness and integration into international carbon markets, such as those established under the Kyoto Protocol, which have predominantly favored other types of carbon reduction projects over forestry. The paper focuses on the potential of forest carbon credit projects, particularly in the context of enhanced carbon sequestration accounting standards and their integration into carbon markets. GOALS AND METHODS: Open access copy available |
A technological biodiversity monitoring toolkit for biocreditsBackgroundOpen access copy available |
The principles of natural climate solutionsBACKGROUND:Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) were consolidated as a holistic concept in 2017, leveraging human interventions in land management to mitigate climate change by adapting existing conservation knowledge for climate action. Over the past six years, the implementation of NCS has seen a rapid increase in attention, as indicated by a significant rise in social media discussions and funding commitments, though these efforts still fall short of the levels required to meet global climate mitigation goals. The authors use a comprehensive review of scientific literature and best practices to distill foundational and operational Open access copy available |
What works in tropical forest conservation, and what does not: Effectiveness of four strategies in terms of environmental, social, and economic outcomesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Outcomes and Impacts of Development Interventions: Toward Conceptual ClarityBackgroundOpen access copy available |
The contradiction of the sustainable development goals: Growth versus ecology on a finite planetBackgroundThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, promote a holistic vision of development that recognizes the interconnectedness of poverty, underdevelopment, and environmental concerns. Comprising 17 goals and 169 specific targets, the SDGs reflect a shift in development theory, emphasizing that human flourishing depends on addressing ecological degradation. However, the framework reveals a fundamental contradiction. Goals 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15 advocate for environmental protection and “harmony with nature,” while Goal 8 emphasizes the pursuit of continued global economic growth. Available with subscription or purchase |
Evaluating alder-endophyte (Alnus acuminata-Frankia-Mycorrhizae) interactionsBackgroundThe study examines the interactions between Alnus acuminata (a nitrogen-fixing tree), Frankia (a nitrogen-fixing actinomycete), and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM), specifically Glomus intra-radices. These symbiotic relationships are significant in upland areas of Costa Rica, Colombia, and Venezuela, where A. acuminata grows alongside pastures. Frankia forms root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen, while VAM enhances phosphorus uptake, crucial for plant growth in nutrient-poor soils. The study aims to understand the effects of these interactions on nitrogen fixation and seedling development under varying phosphorus levels. Available with subscription or purchase |
