| 1. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N, et al.
(författare)
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The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7758. ; 7:1, s. 145-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
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| 2. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N., et al.
(författare)
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The PREDICTS database : a global database of how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts
- 2014
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 4:24, s. 4701-4735
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species' threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project - and avert - future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local-scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups - including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems - ). We make site-level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015.
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| 3. |
- Angelstam, Per
(författare)
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Analys av skogarna i Dalarnas och Gävleborgs län : Prioriteringsstöd inför områdesskydd
- 2003
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Den svenska skogspolitiken innebär att biologiska mångfald ska bevaras, både i from av hållbara produktiva ekosystem och bevarande av livskraftiga populationer av alla förekommande arter. Givet en lång historia av intensivt nyttjande av skogarna för produktion av virke, och en konkurrens mellan arealer för produktion och naturvård, så är det angeläget att utveckla kostnadseffektiva och verksamma tekniker för strategisk och taktisk planering.Detta gäller såväl skydd av natur, men även skogsskötsel och återskapande av funktionella ekosystem.Som en praktisk tillämpning av utvecklingsarbetet inom forskningsprogrammet ” Fjärranalys för miljö” genomfördes under 2002 en regional bristanalys presenteras sedan en rumslig analys av var trakter av speciellt intresse för bevarande av av olika skogstyper ligger, i vilken grad är de skyddade och om de utgör fungerade nätverk av livsmiljöer för olika artar. Inledningsvis presenteras en metodik för regional bristanalys.I det andra avsnittet presenterar vi ett angreppssätt för att utvärdera funktionen av de arealer som det enligt den regionala bristanalysen är brist på. Detta baseras på kvalitativa och kvantitativa kunskaper om arter med olika landskapsekologiska krav som är specialiserade på olika skogstyper, och en kartering av olika skogstyper.
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| 4. |
- Angelstam, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Sweden does not meet agreed national and international forest biodiversity targets : A call for adaptive landscape planning
- 2020
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 202
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Loss of forest naturalness challenges the maintenance of green infrastructure (GI) for biodiversity conservation and delivery of diverse ecosystem services. Using the Convention on Biological Diversity's Aichi target #11 with its quantitative and qualitative criteria as a normative model, we aim at supporting landscape planning through a pioneering assessment of the extent to which existing amounts and spatial distributions of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) meet these criteria. Highly forested and committed to both intensive wood production and evidence-based conservation targets of 17–20% protected areas, Sweden was chosen as a case study. Specifically, we estimated the amount, regional representation, and functional connectivity of HCVF patches using virtual bird species, validated the results using field surveys of focal bird species, and assessed conservation target fulfilment. Finally, we linked these results to the regional distribution of forest land ownership categories, and stress that these provide different opportunities for landscape planning. Even if 31% of forest land in Sweden is officially protected, voluntarily set-aside, or not used for wood production now and in the future, we show that applying the representation and connectivity criteria of Aichi target #11 reduces this figure to an effective GI of 12%. When disaggregating the five ecoregions the effective GI was 54% for the sub-alpine forest ecoregion, which hosts EU's last intact forest landscapes, but only 3–8% in the other four ecoregions where wood production is predominant. This results in an increasing need for forest habitat and landscape restoration from north to south. The large regional variation in the opportunity for landscape planning stresses the need for a portfolio of different approaches. We stress the need to secure funding mechanisms for compensating land owners’ investments in GI, and to adapt both the approaches and spatial extents of landscape planning units to land ownership structure.
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| 5. |
- Angelstam, Per, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Two-dimensional gap analysis : a tool for efficient conservation planning and biodiversity policy implementation
- 2003
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 32:8, s. 527-534
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The maintenance of biodiversity by securing representative and well-connected habitat networks in managed landscapes requires a wise combination of protection, management, and restoration of habitats at several scales. We suggest that the integration of natural and social sciences in the form of "Two-dimensional gap analysis" is an efficient tool for the implementation of biodiversity policies. The tool links biologically relevant "horizontal" ecological issues with "vertical" issues related to institutions and other societal issues. Using forest biodiversity as an example, we illustrate how one can combine ecological and institutional aspects of biodiversity conservation, thus facilitating environmentally sustainable regional development. In particular, we use regional gap analysis for identification of focal forest types, habitat modelling for ascertaining the functional connectivity of "green infrastructures", as tools for the horizontal gap analysis. For the vertical dimension we suggest how the social sciences can be used for assessing the success in the implementation of biodiversity policies in real landscapes by identifying institutional obstacles while implementing policies. We argue that this interdisciplinary approach could be applied in a whole range of other environments including other terrestrial biota and aquatic ecosystems where functional habitat connectivity, nonlinear response to habitat loss and a multitude of economic and social interests co-occur in the same landscape.
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| 6. |
- Axelsson, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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The Challenge of Transdisciplinary Research : A Case Study of Learning by Evaluation for Sustainable Transport Infrastructures
- 2020
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 12:17, s. 1-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While transdisciplinary (TD) research is desired in order to solve real world sustainability issues, this may be challenging for both academic and non-academic participants. Supporting learning through evaluation, we analyzed a project aiming at sustainable transport infrastructures. After developing a TD research framework as a benchmark, two external independent evaluators interviewed all project researchers, representatives for end-users, and donors. The evaluators compared results with the framework, and evaluators and participants critically reflected on the results together. There were three inconsistencies relative to the framework: (1) limited understanding of TD research among project management, end-users, and most of the researchers; (2) no structured learning process among end-users; instead, they expressed very diverse opinions about what they expected from the project; (3) project leaders had limited understanding of the special challenges of TD research, did not fully understand the status of the project's social system, and thus did not act as facilitators of the required collaborative learning process. Non-academic participants saw themselves as customers and not as partners in the knowledge production process. We conclude that TD problem-solving research requires much time and needs facilitation and training. A preparatory phase with a lower level of funding would be helpful in preparing for TD processes.
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| 7. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Between biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management - A multidisciplinary assessment of the emblematic Bialowieza Forest case
- 2020
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 248
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The tension between biodiversity conservation and multipurpose forest management may lead to conflicts. An internationally prominent example is the Bialowieza Forest Massif (BFM), an extensive forest complex with high levels of naturalness. We apply a systematic, multidisciplinary assessment process to review empirical evidence on different dimensions of the BFM conflict. While there is broad consensus that this forest massif is an exceptional place worth conserving and that a way forward is a zonation system combining conservation with management, exactly how this should be done has yet to be agreed upon. Our assessment shows that the key reasons for the BFM controversy go beyond the availability of knowledge on the ecological status of the BFM and include: 1) evidence stemming from different sources, which is often contradictory and prone to different interpretations; 2) knowledge gaps, particularly with regard to socio-economic drivers and beneficiaries as well as uncertainties about future trends; 3) fundamentally different values and priorities among stakeholder groups, resulting in power struggles, and an overall lack of trust. We conclude that evidence-based knowledge alone is insufficient to cope with complex conservation conflicts. While more evidence may help assess the consequences of decisions, the actual management decisions depend on different actors' worldviews, which are rooted in their professional identities and power, and their political and legal realities. This calls for conflict management through a well-organized participatory process organized and supervised by a body deemed legitimate by the groups involved.
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| 8. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Biodiversity’s contributions to sustainable development
- 2019
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Ingår i: Nature Sustainability. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2398-9629. ; 2, s. 1083-1093
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- International concern to develop sustainably challenges us to act upon the inherent links between our economy, society and environment, and is leading to increasing acknowledgement of biodiversity's importance. This Review discusses the breadth of ways in which biodiversity can support sustainable development. It uses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a basis for exploring scientific evidence of the benefits delivered by biodiversity. It focuses on papers that provide examples of how biodiversity components (that is, ecosystems, species and genes) directly deliver benefits that may contribute to the achievement of individual SDGs. It also considers how biodiversity's direct contributions to fulfilling some SDGs may indirectly support the achievement of other SDGs to which biodiversity does not contribute directly. How the attributes (for example, diversity, abundance or composition) of biodiversity components influence the benefits delivered is also presented, where described by the papers reviewed. While acknowledging potential negative impacts and trade-offs between different benefits, the study concludes that biodiversity may contribute to fulfilment of all SDGs.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, et al.
(författare)
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Metrics: a long-term threat to society.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 490, s. 343-
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 12. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, et al.
(författare)
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Old Trees: Cultural Value
- 2013
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 339, s. 904-
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 13. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, et al.
(författare)
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Practical implementation of species' recovery plans - lessons from the White-backed Woodpecker Action Plan in Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: Ornis Fennica. - 0030-5685. ; 91, s. 108-128
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Successful biodiversity conservation requires safeguarding viable populations of species. To work with this challenge Sweden has introduced a concept of Action Plans, which focus on the recovery of one or more species; while keeping in mind the philosophy of addressing ecosystems in a more comprehensive way, following the umbrella concept. In this paper we investigate the implementation process of the Action Plan for one umbrella species, the White-backed Woodpecker (WBW) Dendrocopos leucotos. We describe the plan's organisation and goals, and investigate its implementation and accomplishment of particular targets, based on interviewing and surveying the key actors. The achievement of the targets in 2005-2008 was on average much lower than planned, explained partially by the lack of knowledge/data, experienced workers, and administrative flexibility. Surprisingly, the perceived importance of particular conservation measures, the investment priority accorded to them, the money available and various practical obstacles all failed to explain the target levels achieved. However qualitative data from both the interviews and the survey highlight possible implementation obstacles: competing interests with other conservation actions and the level of engagement of particular implementing actors. Therefore we suggest that for successful implementation of recovery plans, there is a need for initial and inclusive scoping prior to embarking on the plan, where not only issues like ecological knowledge and practical resources are considered, but also possible conflicts and synergies with other conservation actions. An adaptive approach with regular review of the conservation process is essential, particularly in the case of such complex action plans as the one for the WBW.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Shades of grey challenge practical application of the Cultural Ecosystem Services concept
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecosystem Services. - : Elsevier BV. - 2212-0416 .- 2212-0416. ; 23, s. 55-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite rapid advances in development of the ecosystem services (ES) concept, challenges remain for its use in decision making. Cultural ES (CES) have proven particularly difficult to pin down and resultant “shades of grey” impede their consideration by decision-makers. This study undertakes a literature review of CES to highlight the shades of grey, briefly illustrates findings by reference to the Swedish mountain landscape, then addresses potential implications for practical decision making. The concept of CES is complex and difficult to operationalize. The root of confusion appears to be a lack of rigour in identifying CES, hindering identification of proper methods for determining: the ecosystem elements that underpin CES; the beneficiaries of CES and how they value benefits delivered; and how CES may vary in space and time. We conclude by proposing a framework of questions, which we relate to the ES cascade model, that is intended to help researchers and decision-makers to reflect when considering CES. Answers to the questions should enable decision-makers to prioritise policy development or implementation in relation to the differing needs of potentially competing beneficiaries and what needs to be done or not done to the ecosystem, where, when and by whom.
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| 17. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, et al.
(författare)
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Steps to overcome the North-South divide in research relevant to climate change policy and practice
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nature Climate Change. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1758-678X .- 1758-6798. ; 7, s. 21-27
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A global North-South divide in research, and its negative consequences, has been highlighted in various scientific disciplines. Northern domination of science relevant to climate change policy and practice, and limited research led by Southern researchers in Southern countries, may hinder further development and implementation of global climate change agreements and nationally appropriate actions. Despite efforts to address the North-South divide, progress has been slow. In this Perspective, we illustrate the extent of the divide, review underlying issues and analyse their consequences for climate change policy development and implementation. We propose a set of practical steps in both Northern and Southern countries that a wide range of actors should take at global, regional and national scales to span the North-South divide, with examples of some actions already being implemented.
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| 18. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Steps to overcome the North-South divide in research relevant to climate-change policy and practice
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Nature Climate Change. - 1758-678X .- 1758-6798. ; 7, s. 21-27
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A global North-South divide in research, and its negative consequences, has been highlighted in various scientific disciplines. Northern domination of science relevant to climate change policy and practice, and limited research led by Southern researchers in Southern countries, may hinder further development and implementation of global climate change agreements and nationally appropriate actions. Despite efforts to address the North-South divide, progress has been slow. In this Perspective, we illustrate the extent of the divide, review underlying issues and analyse their consequences for climate change policy development and implementation. We propose a set of practical steps in both Northern and Southern countries that a wide range of actors should take at global, regional and national scales to span the North-South divide, with examples of some actions already being implemented.
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| 19. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, et al.
(författare)
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Think bigger for conservation
- 2011
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 470, s. 39-39
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 20. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, et al.
(författare)
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Why is it difficult to enlarge a protected area? Ecosystem services perspective on the conflict around the extension of the Bialowieza National Park in Poland
- 2014
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Ingår i: Land Use Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0264-8377 .- 1873-5754. ; 38, s. 314-329
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explains the difficulties with the enlargement of the Bialowieza National Park in Poland through an ecosystem services perspective. We carried out a questionnaire survey among the local communities to investigate local use of ecosystem services and respondents' attitude towards the national park enlargement. The results indicate that local people are not as dependent on forest resources as often claimed. Firewood proved a crucial resource as the vast majority of the respondents depended on it for heating their houses. We also found that the local population has a rather low awareness of the national park territory and rules involved. The results suggest that previous enlargement attempts might have failed because decision makers did not adequately consider resources the local people depend on. Lack of clear information and transparent decision-making also amplified the conflict. Future enlargement initiatives should provide clear rules concerning the local use of ecosystem services and the access to firewood in particular. Furthermore, new policies should be developed in cooperation with local people and accompanied by an appropriate information campaign. It is argued that the ecosystem services perspective provides important data which can inform more effective conservation policy-making. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 21. |
- Bubnicki, Jakub W., et al.
(författare)
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The conservation value of forests can be predicted at the scale of 1 hectare
- 2024
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Ingår i: Communications Earth & Environment. - : Springer Nature. - 2662-4435. ; 5:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To conserve biodiversity, it is imperative to maintain and restore sufficient amounts of functional habitat networks. Therefore, the location of the remaining forests with natural structures and processes over landscapes and large regions is a key objective. Here we integrated machine learning (Random Forest) and open landscape data to scan all forest landscapes in Sweden with a 1 ha spatial resolution with respect to the relative likelihood of hosting High Conservation Value Forests. Using independent spatial stand- and plot-level validation data, we confirmed that our predictions correctly represent different levels of forest naturalness, from degraded to those with high and associated biodiversity conservation values. Given ambitious national and international conservation objectives and increasingly intensive forestry, our model and the resulting wall-to-wall mapping fill an urgent gap for assessing the achievement of evidence-based conservation targets, spatial planning, and designing forest landscape restoration.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Duit, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Saving the Woodpeckers : Social Capital, Governance, and Policy Performance
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Environment and Development. - : SAGE Publications. - 1070-4965 .- 1552-5465. ; 18:1, s. 42-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article investigates if higher levels of social capital,better governance structures, and a more ambitious conservationpolicy are positively linked to the ability of states to addressbiodiversity loss. Serving this purpose is a data set containingestimates of woodpecker diversity in 20 European countries.These data are argued to be a more valid indicator of biodiversitythan most other available cross-national measures of environmentalquality. A seemingly unrelated regression analysis reveals thatnone of the indicators are linked to higher levels of woodpeckerdiversity, which in turn leads to the conclusion that presentinstitutions, environmental policies, and social structureshave negligible effects on biodiversity compared to long-termlandscape transformations.
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| 24. |
- Edenius, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Bird communities of two forest types in Chitwan Valley, Nepal
- 2020
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Ingår i: Ornithological science. - : Ornithological Society of Japan. - 1347-0558. ; 19, s. 29-40
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Maintaining biological diversity is an important objective at Chitwan National Park (CNP), the most visited national park in Nepal. Given human uses and manipulations of forests both in and around CNP, developing forest management guidelines that can both support human use of trees and sustain the biological diversity of the forests is a high priority. In Febniary 2009 we measured bird communities with point counts, woodpecker abundance with playback, and collected vegetation data in Sal Shorea robusta and riverine forests in CHP and a nearby community forest to provide basic data on bird-habitat associations with an emphasis on woodpeckers. Riverine forest had over twice the density of trees per ha (many small trees), higher tree species richness, and greater basal area than Sal forest. Sal forest had more large trees than riverine forest. We detected 71 bird species during the point counts in the study forests, 18 more during playback sessions, and an additional 12 species that were more associated with adjacent habitats (e.g., wetlands or flying overhead) for a total of 101 species. Among resident species, 31% were primary or secondary tree-cavity nesters. On average for point counts, we detected 29.5 bird species (2.2 woodpeckers) on transects located in riverine forest and 23.3 bird species (1.8 woodpeckers) in Sal forests, but the difference was not statistically significant. While riverine forest had several commonly occurring species not detected in Sal forest, the opposite was not the case. The regression of woodpecker species richness against large tree density in both Sal and riverine forests was positive, but not statistically significant. As a method of sampling woodpeckers, playback resulted in approximately twice the number of individuals and species compared to detection from point counts.
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| 25. |
- Edenius, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Can Repeated Fertilizer Applications to Young Norway Spruce Enhance Avian Diversity in Intensively Managed Forests?
- 2011
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Ingår i: AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 40, s. 521-527
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Repeated fertilization of forests to increase biomass production is an environmentally controversial proposal, the effects of which we assessed on breeding birds in stands of young Norway spruce (Picea abies), in an intensively managed forest area in southern Sweden. Our results show that fertilized stands had 38% more species and 21% more individuals than unfertilized stands. Compared with stands under traditional management, the further intensification of forestry by repeated applications of fertilizers thus seemed to enhance species richness and abundance of forest birds. We cannot conclude at this stage whether the response in the bird community was caused by changes in food resources or increased structural complexity in the forest canopy due to the skid roads used for the application of the fertilizers. Future studies should focus on structural and compositional effects of fertilization processes during the entire rotation period and at assessing its effects in a landscape context.
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