Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ian H. Luby, Steve J. Miller, Stephen Polasky
Summary: Ongoing deforestation poses a major threat to biodiversity. This study used a dynamic optimization approach to identify the optimal sequence for plant conservation in forested ecoregions globally over the next 50 years. The results highlight the potential for significant gains in conservation with targeted investments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Pietro Colelli, Johannes Emmerling, Giacomo Marangoni, Malcolm N. Mistry, Enrica De Cian
Summary: This study reveals that climate adaptation can lead to higher energy demand, power system costs, and carbon prices, but the benefits of mitigation can offset decarbonization costs. Adaptation actions increase power generation capacity and costs, but in ambitious mitigation scenarios, energy system costs may be lower or even negative due to reduced adaptation needs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Corey Lesk, Denes Csala, Robin Hasse, Sgouris Sgouridis, Antoine Levesque, Katharine J. Mach, Daniel Horen Greenford, H. Damon Matthews, Radley M. Horton
Summary: The article discusses the need for a global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate risks caused by climate change. The study estimates the CO2 emissions embedded in the broader climate transition using a set of models. The results suggest that while emissions from adaptation-related interventions are relatively low, emissions from deploying renewable energy capacity are much higher. The article emphasizes the importance of considering emissions from mitigation actions and highlights the potential for reducing emissions through ambitious energy decarbonization efforts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
H. Cooper, S. Sjogersten, R. M. Lark, S. J. Mooney
Summary: Zero-tillage can reduce GHG emissions, increase soil carbon storage, and mitigate against climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Siir Kilkis
Summary: This research develops emission scenarios for specific urban areas based on socioeconomic and concentration pathways, and analyzes the effects of improving land use efficiency and adopting renewable energy scenarios on emissions reductions. The results show that with effective action, urban areas can approach net-zero emissions by 2050. However, urban land expansion may have negative impacts on the sequestration potential of local ecosystems.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Charlotte Gohr, Jeanette S. Blumroeder, Douglas Sheil, Pierre L. Ibisch
Summary: This study proposes a new method to estimate the temperature response and inertia of landscapes in high temperatures based on land cover share. Forests and wetlands were found to remain cool in high temperature ranges, contributing significantly to cooling effects in the region.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guillemette Labadie, Ilhem Bouderbala, Yan Boulanger, Jean-Michel Beland, Christian Hebert, Antoine Allard, Mark Hebblewhite, Daniel Fortin
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of threatened boreal caribou as an umbrella species for bird and beetle conservation under global change. It found that management strategies that best mitigate human impact on boreal caribou also effectively maintained bird and beetle assemblages. While land-use change had a stronger impact than climate change, the umbrella value of management strategies for caribou habitat conservation was still influenced by the severity of climate change.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wang Li, Wen-Yong Guo, Maya Pasgaard, Zheng Niu, Li Wang, Fang Chen, Yuchu Qin, Jens-Christian Svenning
Summary: Climate and human factors are the most important drivers of global forest structure, with human factors being dominant at the regional level. Uncertainties still exist regarding the pervasiveness of climate change and human activities on forests and how they will shape the future forest structure. Understanding the relative influences of climate and human activities is essential for predicting the role of forests in carbon cycling, biodiversity conservation, and climate mitigation strategies.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maria Vincenza Chiriaco, Riccardo Valentini
Summary: This study examines the potential of sustainable land management in reducing GHG emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land uses. By implementing a land-based approach at a small-scale rural landscape level, it is possible to achieve carbon neutral livestock systems by offsetting emissions and implementing sustainable land-use options. The results from a case study in Italy demonstrate the significant contribution of the land sector to climate change mitigation when sustainable practices are applied.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lian Pin Koh, Yiwen Zeng, Tasya Vadya Sarira, Kelly Siman
Summary: The translation highlights that carbon finance projects protecting tropical forests can benefit both nature conservation and climate change mitigation, while also creating financial returns. However, there are financially unviable projects, emphasizing the importance of implementing other conservation interventions beyond carbon finance to safeguard carbon stocks and biodiversity in vulnerable forests.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Alienor Jue Hammer, Charles Millar, Sebastian John Hennige
Summary: This article highlights the greenhouse gas emissions in the Scottish salmon aquaculture industry and calls for the development of comprehensive emissions reductions measures. Case studies of two aquaculture operators and comparison with data from the Carbon Disclosure Project reveal imbalances in mitigation strategies and identify potential routes for carbon emission reductions.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anu Vijayan, Joseph M. Maina, Rochelle Lawson, Hsing-Chung Chang, Linda J. Beaumont, Peter J. Davies
Summary: Urbanization and climate change are major factors contributing to habitat loss and local extinction rates. Effective management of native vegetation in urban settings requires understanding the impacts of these factors and how species and communities may adapt, as well as identifying climate refugia to support management decisions under urban expansion and climate change pressures.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Charles W. Davison, Carsten Rahbek, Naia Morueta-Holme
Summary: Research shows that land-use change is one of the greatest threats to nature, but there are challenges in forming a comprehensive synthesis due to influences such as location, research methods, and taxonomic focus. Biases in taxonomy and regional representation have been identified, calling for more studies in understudied regions to capture regional differences and enhance understanding of the impacts of land-use change on biodiversity.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deb Raj Aryal, Danilo Enrique Morales-Ruiz, Susana Lopez-Cruz, Cesar Noe Tondopo-Marroquin, Alejandra Lara-Nucamendi, Jose Antonio Jimenez-Trujillo, Edwin Perez-Sanchez, Juan Edduardo Betanzos-Simon, Francisco Casasola-Coto, Alejandra Martinez-Salinas, Claudia Janeth Sepulveda-Lopez, Roselia Ramirez-Diaz, Manuel Alejandro La O. Arias, Francisco Guevara-Hernandez, Rene Pinto-Ruiz, Muhammad Ibrahim
Summary: This study assessed the impact of different land uses on carbon stocks in livestock-dominated landscapes in Mexico. The results showed that silvopastoral systems and forest remnants stored significantly more carbon compared to open pasturelands. This highlights the importance of promoting these land uses as a carbon mitigation strategy and for better management of livestock-dominated landscapes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Can Cui, Dabo Guan, Daoping Wang, Jing Meng, Vicky Chemutai, Paul Brenton, Shaohui Zhang, Yuli Shan, Qiang Zhang, Steven J. Davis
Summary: Efforts to mitigate dangerous climate change have largely focused on major economies and populous countries. However, recent years have seen a significant increase in emissions from a group of less-examined countries, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current mitigation targets. This study analyzes the trends and drivers of emissions in these 'emerging emitters' and estimates the costs of decarbonization pathways. The results highlight the need for increased mitigation efforts in these countries and faster emission reductions in other nations to achieve international climate goals.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adrianna C. Foster, Jacquelyn K. Shuman, Brendan M. Rogers, Xanthe J. Walker, Michelle C. Mack, Laura L. Bourgeau-Chavez, Sander Veraverbeke, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: Forest characteristics, structure, and dynamics in the North American boreal region are influenced by wildfire intensity, severity, and frequency. Increasing temperatures may result in more intense and frequent fires, but an increase in deciduous forest cover could decrease flammability. A forest model was used to analyze the bottom-up (fuels) and top-down (climate) controls on fire activity and project future dynamics. The model showed good agreement with observations and predicted changes in biomass and fire probability.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Colin A. Quinn, Patrick Burns, Gurman Gill, Shrishail Baligar, Rose L. Snyder, Leonardo Salas, Scott J. Goetz, Matthew L. Clark
Summary: This study successfully predicted different components of soundscape using an acoustic dataset and deep learning framework, and identified patterns of soundscape variation across space and time, which are significant for environmental planning, ecosystem conservation and restoration, and biodiversity monitoring.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew J. Macander, Peter R. Nelson, Timm W. Nawrocki, Gerald Frost, Kathleen M. Orndahl, Eric C. Palm, Aaron F. Wells, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: Widespread changes in plant functional types (PFTs) are occurring in Arctic and boreal ecosystems. This study improves on previous methods by modeling plant abundance and mapping PFT changes over a 35-year time series. The maps have important applications for assessing surface energy budgets, permafrost changes, nutrient cycling, and wildlife management and movement analysis.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Logan T. Berner, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: The boreal forest biome is projected to shift northward due to climate change, with increasing greening observed in cold areas and decreasing browning observed in warm margins.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Duncanson, James R. Kellner, John Armston, Ralph Dubayah, David M. Minor, Steven Hancock, Sean P. Healey, Paul L. Patterson, Svetlana Saarela, Suzanne Marselis, Carlos E. Silva, Jamis Bruening, Scott J. Goetz, Hao Tang, Michelle Hofton, Bryan Blair, Scott Luthcke, Lola Fatoyinbo, Katharine Abernethy, Alfonso Alonso, Hans-Erik Andersen, Paul Aplin, Timothy R. Baker, Nicolas Barbier, Jean Francois Bastin, Peter Biber, Pascal Boeckx, Jan Bogaert, Luigi Boschetti, Peter Brehm Boucher, Doreen S. Boyd, David F. R. P. Burslem, Sofia Calvo-Rodriguez, Jerome Chave, Robin L. Chazdon, David B. Clark, Deborah A. Clark, Warren B. Cohen, David A. Coomes, Piermaria Corona, K. C. Cushman, Mark E. J. Cutler, James W. Dalling, Michele Dalponte, Jonathan Dash, Sergio de-Miguel, Songqiu Deng, Peter Woods Ellis, Barend Erasmus, Patrick A. Fekety, Alfredo Fernandez-Landa, Antonio Ferraz, Rico Fischer, Adrian G. Fisher, Antonio Garcia-Abril, Terje Gobakken, Jorg M. Hacker, Marco Heurich, Ross A. Hill, Chris Hopkinson, Huabing Huang, Stephen P. Hubbell, Andrew T. Hudak, Andreas Huth, Benedikt Imbach, Kathryn J. Jeffery, Masato Katoh, Elizabeth Kearsley, David Kenfack, Natascha Kljun, Nikolai Knapp, Kamil Kral, Martin Krucek, Nicolas Labriere, Simon L. Lewis, Marcos Longo, Richard M. Lucas, Russell Main, Jose A. Manzanera, Rodolfo Vasquez Martinez, Renaud Mathieu, Herve Memiaghe, Victoria Meyer, Abel Monteagudo Mendoza, Alessandra Monerris, Paul Montesano, Felix Morsdorf, Erik Naesset, Laven Naidoo, Reuben Nilus, Michael O'Brien, David A. Orwig, Konstantinos Papathanassiou, Geoffrey Parker, Christopher Philipson, Oliver L. Phillips, Jan Pisek, John R. Poulsen, Hans Pretzsch, Christoph Rudiger, Sassan Saatchi, Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa, Nuria Sanchez-Lopez, Robert Scholes, Carlos A. Silva, Marc Simard, Andrew Skidmore, Krzysztof Sterenczak, Mihai Tanase, Chiara Torresan, Ruben Valbuena, Hans Verbeeck, Tomas Vrska, Konrad Wessels, Joanne C. White, Lee J. T. White, Eliakimu Zahabu, Carlo Zgraggen
Summary: This paper presents the development of models used by NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) to estimate forest aboveground biomass density (AGBD). The models were developed using globally distributed field and airborne lidar data, with simulated relative height metrics as predictor variables. The study found that stratification by geographic domain and the use of square root transformation improved model performance.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kathleen M. Orndahl, Libby P. W. Ehlers, Jim D. Herriges, Rachel E. Pernick, Mark Hebblewhite, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: Arctic vegetation communities are changing rapidly due to climate warming, impacting wildlife, carbon cycling, and climate feedbacks. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using high-resolution UAV imagery to predict cover, height, and biomass of Arctic plant functional types, providing a link towards improved mapping of vegetation across large areas using satellite imagery.
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Logan T. Berner, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: This study responds to a reader's concerns regarding vegetation greenness changes and their association with climate warming, reaffirming the initial conclusion.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Heidi Rodenhizer, Fay Belshe, Gerardo Celis, Justin Ledman, Marguerite Mauritz, Scott Goetz, Temuulen Sankey, Edward A. G. Schuur
Summary: Abrupt thaw of permafrost ecosystems could result in the release of more carbon than predicted from gradual thaw alone. A thermokarst detection algorithm was developed and applied in Healy, Alaska, with an accuracy of 71.5%. The study found that abrupt thaw was positively correlated with carbon uptake during the growing season, but led to higher carbon release in thermokarst features during the nongrowing season. Additionally, abrupt thaw was positively correlated with methane production year-round.
ARCTIC ANTARCTIC AND ALPINE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kathleen M. Orndahl, Matthew J. Macander, Logan T. Berner, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: Changes in vegetation distribution in the Arctic and boreal regions, driven by climate warming and fire disturbance, have wide-ranging impacts. A study mapped live aboveground biomass for five plant functional types. The results showed increases in deciduous and evergreen shrub biomass, and decreases in graminoid and lichen biomass, with fire being an important driver of these changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Scott Goetz, Ralph Dubayah, Laura Duncanson
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Letter
Ecology
Christopher R. Hakkenberg, Hao Tang, Patrick Burns, Scott J. Goetz
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
L. Duncanson, M. Liang, V. Leitold, J. Armston, S. M. Krishna Moorthy, R. Dubayah, S. Costedoat, B. J. Enquist, L. Fatoyinbo, S. J. Goetz, M. Gonzalez-Roglich, C. Merow, P. R. Roehrdanz, K. Tabor, A. Zvoleff
Summary: Forests are crucial in stabilizing Earth's climate, and protected areas (PAs) are one approach to conserving forests. However, the global impact of PAs on the carbon cycle has not been quantified due to a lack of accurate global-scale carbon stock maps. Using lidar samples from NASA's GEDI mission, this study estimated a total PA aboveground carbon stock of 61.43 Gt, with 26% attributed to PAs. These higher carbon stocks are mainly from avoided emissions in PAs compared to unprotected forests, equivalent to one year of global fossil fuel emissions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Matthew L. Clark, Leonardo Salas, Shrishail Baligar, Colin A. Quinn, Rose L. Snyder, David Leland, Wendy Schackwitz, Scott J. Goetz, Shawn Newsam
Summary: Monitoring biodiversity at multiple scales is crucial for conservation efforts. Autonomous recording units (ARUs) provide a cost-effective way to collect long-term and systematic data on sound-producing wildlife. By using deep learning and citizen science, we developed a CNN-based classification pipeline to detect bird species in Sonoma County, California.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Melissa A. Boyd, Xanthe J. Walker, Jennifer Barnes, Gerardo Celis, Scott J. Goetz, Jill F. Johnstone, Nicholas T. Link, April M. Melvin, Lisa Saperstein, Edward A. G. Schuur, Michelle C. Mack
Summary: As climate warms and fires become more common in boreal forests, fuel reduction treatments are used to mitigate fire risks. However, these treatments introduce uncertainties to ecosystem structure and fire behavior. This study evaluated the long-term effects of fuel reduction treatments in Interior Alaska and found that they can promote low flammability and deciduous tree dominance, but their effectiveness in reducing fire spread and behavior varies depending on the treatment methods and locations. The study highlights the importance of considering these factors in the design and management of fuel reduction treatments.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Richard Massey, Brendan M. Rogers, Logan T. Berner, Sol Cooperdock, Michelle C. Mack, Xanthe J. Walker, Scott J. Goetz
Summary: Deciduous tree cover is expected to increase in North American boreal forests with climate warming and wildfire, potentially generating biophysical cooling. However, recent decades have seen a small net decrease in deciduous fraction and near-neutral net biophysical change in radiative forcing associated with albedo, indicating no systematic negative feedbacks to climate warming.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)