| 1. |
- Blicharska, Malgorzata, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Contribution of social science to large scale biodiversity conservation : a review of research about the Natura 2000 network
- 2016
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 199, s. 110-122
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Successful conservation needs to be informed by social science because it is closely linked to socio-economic processes and human behaviour. Limited knowledge about ecosystems' interactions with these processes currently undermines conservation efforts. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of social science concerning the world's largest multinationally-coordinated conservation infrastructure: the European Ecological Network - ‘Natura 2000’. Based on a review of 149 publications, we analyse and discuss the main findings and outline key social-science research gaps with regard to the Natura 2000 network. The review shows that human dimension of the Natura 2000 network is complex and varies among EU Member States. In general, low level and quality of public participation in implementation of the Natura 2000 network and its management, negative public perceptions of the network, lack of flexibility of responsible authorities and insufficient consideration of the local context pose the greatest challenges to the network's functioning. Important but hitherto little studied research topics include: evaluation of participation; effects of education on potential to raise public awareness; effects of potential financing mechanisms for compensating private land-owners; economic studies on cost-effectiveness; and benefits from conservation and ecosystem services. These knowledge gaps will need to be filled for the Natura 2000 network to reach its goals.
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| 2. |
- Blomqvist, Elin L., et al.
(författare)
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The effects of dry heat and steam on germination of dry and imbibed seeds of the invasive garden lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.)
- 2024
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Ingår i: Invasive Plant Science and Management. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1939-7291 .- 1939-747X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Regularly mown road verges are an important habitat for conservation of grassland vegetation. Disturbance and movement of seed-contaminated soil during road construction and maintenance makes road verges susceptible to the establishment of invasive alien plants such as garden lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.). To combat spread of L. polyphyllus via seeds, we tested methods for seed destruction using heat. This study aimed at developing heat eradication methods for dry and imbibed L. polyphyllus seeds applying dry heat (88, 93, 98, 103 C at 1, 3, 5, 10 min) in a laboratory, steam (85, 90, 95 C at 3, 5, 10 min) in a test-box steaming device and (97 C at 10-17 min; dry seeds only) in a stationary soil-steaming machine (S30). In order to speed up water absorption and post-treatment germination, the imbibed seeds were manually scarified before the heat treatment and the dry seeds afterwards. Additionally, germination of two different age seed batches was tested applying dry heat (88, 98 C at 3, 5 min). The results showed that steam treatments inhibited seed germination more than dry heat in both dry and imbibed seeds. Germination dropped to < 5% when steamed at ≥ 90 C or dry-heated at > 100 C. Seed germination decreased with higher temperatures and longer exposure times. Imbibed seeds exhibited lower germination compared to dry seeds for dry and steam heat. Approximately 0.5% of dry seeds germinated when steamed using S30. 2022-collected seeds were less sensitive to dry heat th an seeds from 2020. In conclusion, hot steam is more effective in reducing L. polyphyllus seed germination than dry heat. Thus, to successfully eradicate L. polyphyllus seeds in soil masses, we recommend steaming them at 97 C for at least 10 minutes.
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| 3. |
- Elbakidze, Marine, et al.
(författare)
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Hållbar landsbygdsutveckling : samverkan för kunskapsproduktion och lärande
- 2017
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Ingår i: Fakta. Skog. - 1400-7789.
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Annan publikation (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Landsbygdens naturresurser och andra värden är viktiga för att vidareutveckla en biobaserad ekonomi och att stärka Sverige som besöksnation. Därför är det viktigt med befolkade, aktiva och växande landsbygder. Landsbygden står dock inför stora utmaningar. Hur skapas attraktiva bygder? Hur bevaras gamla jobb, och skapas nya? Hur bevaras ekologiska, sociala och kulturella värden? Genom tvärvetenskaplig forskning tillsammans med aktörer på olika samhällsnivåer verkar vi för en hållbar landsbygd genom att generera kunskap och bidra till lärande. Vårt internationella arbetssätt ger nya perspektiv på kunskapsproduktion och lärande tillsammans med praktiker, och skapar förutsättningar för problembaserad utbildning för hållbar landsbygdsutveckling. Här presenteras huvudinriktningarna för vår forskning för hållbar landsbygdsutveckling.
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| 4. |
- Mikusinski, Grzegorz, et al.
(författare)
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Elucidating human-nature connectedness in three EU countries: A pro-environmental behaviour perspective
- 2023
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Ingår i: People and Nature. - 2575-8314. ; 5, s. 1577-1591
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 1. Strengthening positive human-nature relationships is seen as a way to more pro-environmental behaviour and leads to a greater environmental sustainability. Therefore, understanding human-nature relationships has attracted increasing attention among researchers. Nature connectedness is a concept developed to measure such relationships. Since nature connectedness is complex and context dependent phenomenon, more research comparing sociocultural and environmental factors within societies in different countries is needed to understand its determinants.2. In this study, we explored how sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and value orientation of respondents and environmental variables affected nature connectedness across different contexts in the European Union. We used 11 sociodemographic, socioeconomic and personal value factors from the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) and six environmental variables characterizing the local environments of 1054 respondents as independent variables to explain the nature connectedness of the respondents in Greece, Poland and Sweden. The individual level of nature connectedness (response variable) was expressed by an additive index (NC-index) based on a 5-item scale originating from CAWI. The general additive model was applied to link NC-index to sociodemographic, value orientation and selected environmental variables.3. We found that the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents and their value orientation were substantially more important in explaining the individual level of nature connectedness than environmental variables. The NC-index was positively correlated with the frequency of visits to the natural environment and biospheric values of the respondents, and was higher for women and the most prosperous respondents. Moreover, we observed several country-wise differences in associations between explanatory variables and NC-index. For example, altruistic orientation was positively related to the level of nature connectedness only in Greece, but not in two other countries, and residence during childhood was important to nature connectedness only in Sweden.4. Our findings that some sociodemographic, socioeconomic and value orientation variables affect the level of individual nature connectedness across studied countries are encouraging. They indicate that some universally applied educational actions may elevate the level of nature connectedness. We argue that exploration of nature connectedness from a cross-country perspective may provide significant insights into the environmental debate in national and international contexts.
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| 5. |
- Mikusinski, Grzegorz, et al.
(författare)
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Strengthening the Network of High Conservation Value Forests in Boreal Landscapes
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-701X. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The natural and old-growth forests and their associated biodiversity continues to fade worldwide due to anthropogenic impact in various forms. The boreal forests in Fennoscandia have been subject to intensive clearfelling forestry since the middle of twentieth century. As a result, only a fraction of forests with long temporal continuity remains at the landscape level. In Sweden, some of these primary forests have been formally protected, whereas other forests with known high conservation values are not. Collectively, both protected and not protected known valuable primary forests are included in a nationally delineated network of high conservation value forests (HCVF). In addition to HCVF, older forests that have not been clearfelled since the mid-1900s, i.e., "proxy continuity forests," have recently been mapped across the entire boreal biome in Sweden. In this paper, we analyze how these proxy continuity forests may strengthen the HCVF network from a green infrastructure perspective. First, we evaluate the spatial overlap between proxy continuity forests and HCVF. Second, we perform a large-scale connectivity analysis, in which we show that adding proxy continuity forests located outside HCVF strongly increases the structural connectivity of the network of protected forests. Finally, by assessing habitat suitability for virtual species specialized in pine, spruce, and broadleaf forests, we find large regional differences in the ability to secure habitat and thereby functional green infrastructure by considering currently unprotected primary forest. We show that, by adding those forests to the network, the area of habitat for low-demanding species dependent on spruce or pine forests can be largely increased. For high-demanding species, additional habitat restoration in the landscape matrix is needed. By contrast, even counting all valuable broadleaf forests available is not enough to provide a suitable habitat for their associated species, which indicates a large need for landscape-scale habitat restoration initiatives, in particular, for broadleaf forests.
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| 6. |
- Orlikowska, Ewa, et al.
(författare)
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Gaps in ecological research on the world's largest internationally coordinated network of protected areas: A review of Natura 2000
- 2016
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 200, s. 216-227
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Natura 2000 (N2k) is a multinational and" coordinated conservation network designated to support the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable species and habitats. It is the key conservation tool in the European Union. We reviewed 510 peer-reviewed publications (period 1998-2014) focusing on ecological aspects of N2k, with the aims of identifying key research gaps and proposing future research priorities for improved conservation success. We categorized the articles by spatial scale, biogeographical regions, taxonomic groups, habitat types, and the analytical methods used. The majority of studies were performed in single N2k sites or at the regional level within countries. The Mediterranean region had the greatest number of publications and the terrestrial Black Sea, Macaronesia, Pannonian and Steppic regions were overrepresented in relation to their total area and to the area of N2k sites that they comprised. Grasslands, freshwater and wetland habitats were overrepresented in comparison to their area within N2k. Plants were the most commonly studied taxonomic group and quantitative empirical studies dominated. Future N2k research should address knowledge gaps by directing more efforts towards: 1) the Boreal region, 2) alpine, agricultural, forest and marine habitats, and 3) under represented taxonomic groups such as reptiles, amphibians, lichens and fungi. For enhanced evaluation and realization of the conservation potential of N2k, more studies will need to encompass large spatial scales and utilize modelling approaches to effectively address future climate and land-use changes. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Orlikowska, Ewa, et al.
(författare)
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Hit or miss? : Evaluating the effectiveness of Natura 2000 for conservation of forest bird habitat in Sweden
- 2020
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : ELSEVIER. - 2351-9894. ; 22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biodiversity conservation often requires a landscape perspective. When establishing the Natura 2000 (N2k) network, the effectiveness of the sites and the influence of the surrounding landscapes for species of interest was often disregarded. We analyzed the effectiveness of N2k sites in Sweden for three forest bird species of conservation interest in the European boreal landscapes: lesser spotted woodpecker (LSW), Siberian jay (SJ) and hazel grouse (HG). Our objectives were to: 1) quantify effective suitable habitat area in N2k sites with and without consideration of the adjoining landscapes; 2) examine effective habitat area within N2k sites along the north-south vegetation gradient 3) analyze functionality of N2k sites and assess how forests outside the sites affect habitat suitability inside N2k. GISbased habitat suitability index models were applied to calculate the amount of effective habitat within and outside N2k sites. N2k sites contributed with 10% (HG), 13% (SJ) and 51% (LSW) suitable habitat identified in Sweden. Functionality of forest environments as habitat was higher inside N2k sites for LSW within all vegetation zones, and for SJ in the Alpine and Middle Boreal zones; for HG habitat outside the sites was more functional in all zones accept Alpine and Middle Boreal. The majority of N2k sites were of quite small size (<500 ha) and the size influenced their functionality for LSW and HG, with larger N2k sites being more functional. For SJ, however, average functionality of N2k sites was not influenced by their size. The largest average habitat increase linked to considering the contribution of areas outside N2k sites for their functionality as habitat was for the N2k sites of smaller size (1-500 ha). Therefore, the presence and quality of forests outside of N2k sites are of a greater importance for smaller sites, and as such these should be carefully managed. To improve conservation efficiency of the N2k sites in Sweden, we call for incorporating them into the development and implementation of the regional Green Infrastructure plans. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 9. |
- Orlikowska, Ewa
(författare)
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Protecting Half the Planet and Transforming Human Systems Are Complementary Goals
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Conservation Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2673-611X. ; 2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The unfolding crises of mass extinction and climate change call for urgent action in response. To limit biodiversity losses and avert the worst effects of climate disruption, we must greatly expand nature protection while simultaneously downsizing and transforming human systems. The conservation initiative Nature Needs Half (or Half Earth), calling for the conservation of half the Earth's land and seas, is commensurate with the enormous challenges we face. Critics have objected to this initiative as harboring hardship for people near protected areas and for failing to confront the growth economy as the main engine of global ecological destruction. In response to the first criticism, we affirm that conservation policies must be designed and implemented in collaboration with Indigenous and local communities. In response to the second criticism, we argue that protecting half the Earth needs to be complemented by downscaling and reforming economic life, humanely and gradually reducing the global population, and changing food production and consumption. By protecting nature generously, and simultaneously contracting and transforming the human enterprise, we can create the conditions for achieving justice and well-being for both people and other species. If we fail to do so, we instead accept a chaotic and impoverished world that will be dangerous for us all.
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| 10. |
- Orlikowska, Ewa
(författare)
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Red Alder-Conifer Stands in Alaska: An Example of Mixed Species Management to Enhance Structural and Biological Complexity
- 2017
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Ingår i: Forests. - : MDPI AG. - 1999-4907. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is worldwide interest in managing forests to improve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and assure long-term sustainability of forest resources. An increasingly important goal of forest management is to increase stand diversity and improve wildlife and aquatic habitat. Well-planned silvicultural systems containing a mixture of broadleaf-conifer species have potential to enhance stand diversity and provide other ecosystem services earlier than typical even-aged conifer plantations. Here, we use the example of mixed Sitka spruce/western hemlock and red alder in young, managed stands in southeast Alaska to achieve these goals. We briefly describe the silvics of Sitka spruce, western hemlock and red alder plantations as pure conifer stands or pure broadleaf stands. Then, we synthesize studies of mixed red alder-Sitka spruce/western hemlock stands in southeast Alaska and present their potential for improving stand structural complexity, biodiversity and other ecosystem services over pure conifer forests. Finally, we discuss some of the opportunities and potential tradeoffs for managing mixed broadleaf-conifer stands for providing a number of natural resources and the influence of these broadleaf-conifer forests on ecosystem linkages and processes.
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| 11. |
- Orlikowska, Ewa
(författare)
-
Strengthening conservation through green infrastructure : linking protected areas, habitats and species
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The green infrastructure (GI) concept was developed to mitigate habitat fragmentation. The European Union (EU) defines GI as “a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas …designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services and to improve connectivity of protected areas in order to promote multifunctional landscapes”. Natura 2000, the EU network of protected areas, constitutes the backbone of the EU’s GI. In Sweden, the “Swedish strategy for biodiversity and ecosystem services” bill incorporates GI. I analyzed GI at different spatial, habitat and species scales. These ranged from the entire EU, to Natura 2000 sites in all of Sweden, to boreal forests of northern Sweden, including forest birds and virtual species. A review of the Natura 2000 scientific literature revealed that the majority of studies were at regional or single-site scales; those from the Mediterranean region dominated. Research gaps included underrepresentation of alpine, agricultural, forest and marine habitats, as well as reptiles, amphibians, lichens, and fungi taxa. The Boreal region was also underrepresented. Analyses of the Swedish Natura 2000 network effectiveness for three forest bird species, lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor), Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus) and hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia), demonstrated that the majority of sites were of small size and of low functionality. The largest potential habitat increase was linked to surrounding landscapes for the smaller sites. In boreal Sweden, non-protected proxy continuity forests and forests providing Siberian jay habitat can strengthen the high conservation value forest network for GI. Sub-regional differences in functionality of spruce-, pine- and broadleaf forest types require type-specific restoration in different regions. To strengthen conservation through GI, I conclude that future Natura 2000 studies should encompass large spatial scales and modelling approaches. In Sweden, the habitat matrix surrounding the Natura 2000 sites should be carefully managed. Non-protected forest habitat networks in boreal Sweden can improve connectivity of protected areas and support functional GI over large parts of the region.
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| 12. |
- Piccolo, John, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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A biological risk assessment for an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) invasion in Alaskan waters
- 2012
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Ingår i: Aquatic Invasions. - : Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre. - 1798-6540 .- 1818-5487. ; 7:2, s. 259-270
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present an event-tree biological risk assessment for a non-native Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) invasion into Alaskan waters. Atlanticsalmon farming is prohibited in Alaska, USA, but large numbers of them are reared in ocean net-pens in Washinton (WA) USA, and BritishColumbia (BC), Canada. Large numbers of Atlantic salmon escape each year, and they have been recovered in both saltwater and freshwaterin WA, BC, and Alaska. There is limited evidence of successful spawning and rearing in BC, but none from Alaska. No stream-reared smoltsare known to have returned successfully from ocean migrations, but survey efforts for escaped adults and reared juveniles in streams havebeen very limited in time and space. Given recurring, large-scale escape events, propagule pressure could be great enough in any given yearfor a successful invasion. To date, such large numbers of adults have not been recorded ascending Alaskan streams, but again, monitoring isvery limited. Atlantic salmon could most likely successfully spawn and rear in Alaskan streams, so successful ocean migration appears to bethe factor most likely to limit their success. Successful invasion of BC waters, where propagule pressure is greater, followed by a subsequentinvasion of a pre-adapted stock by straying to Alaskan waters, may pose the greatest risk. The lack of adequate surveys, under-reporting ofescapes and recoveries, and inherent ecosystem variation, make it impossible to assign meaningful probabilities to the risk of an invasion ofAlaskan waters. We conclude that the short-term risk of invasion generally appears low, but that it might increase over time. We also notethat invasion is only part of the ecological risk of Atlantic salmon farming in Pacific waters. Disease, parasites, and pollution may also poserisks to local ecosystems – we do not assess these risks here.
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| 13. |
- Piccolo, John, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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“Nature's contributions to people” and peoples' moral obligations to nature
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 270
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has become influential in biodiversity conservation. Its research is published widely and has been adopted by the United Nations and the Convention for Biological Diversity. This platform includes discussion about how values relate to biodiversity conservation. The IPBES emphasizes “relational values”, connecting these with living a “good life,” and “nature's contributions to people” (NCP); building upon ecosystem services (ES), which have dominated nature valuation for 15+ years. Although the IPBES acknowledges instrumental and intrinsic natural values, they purport that by adopting relational values, conservation will become more socially- and culturally- inclusive, moving beyond the “unhelpful dichotomy” between instrumental and intrinsic values. We wholeheartedly agree that conservation should become more inclusive – it should, in fact, morally include nonhuman nature. We argue that far from being half of an unhelpful dichotomy, intrinsic natural values are incontrovertible elements of any honest effort to sustain Earth's biodiversity. We find NCP to be mainly anthropocentric, and relational values to be largely instrumental. The “good life” they support is a good life for humans, and not for nonhuman beings or collectives. While passingly acknowledging intrinsic natural values, the current IPBES platform gives little attention to these, and to corresponding ecocentric worldviews. In this paper we demonstrate the important practical implications of operationalizing intrinsic values for conservation, such as ecological justice, i.e., “peoples' obligations to nature”. We urge the IPBES platform, in their future values work, to become much more inclusive of intrinsic values and ecocentrism.
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| 14. |
- Taylor, Bron, et al.
(författare)
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The need for ecocentrism in biodiversity conservation
- 2020
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Ingår i: Conservation Biology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0888-8892 .- 1523-1739. ; 34:5, s. 1089-1096
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the past 5 decades, scientists have been documenting negative anthropogenic environmental change, expressing increasing alarm, and urging dramatic socioecological transformation in response. A host of international meetings have been held, but the erosion of biological diversity continues to accelerate. Why, then, has no effective political action been taken? We contend that part of the answer may lie in the anthropocentric ethical premises and moral rhetoric typically deployed in the cause of conservation. We further argue that it is essential to advance moral arguments for biodiversity conservation that are not just based on perceived human interests but on ecocentric values, namely, convictions that species and ecosystems have value and interests that should be respected regardless of whether they serve human needs and aspirations. A broader array of moral rationales for biodiversity conservation, we conclude, would be more likely to lead to effective plans, adopted and enforced by governments, designed to conserve biological diversity. A good place to start in this regard would be to explicitly incorporate ecocentric values into the recommendations that will be made at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled to be held in October 2020.
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