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. 2020 Sep 4;6(36):eabb2824.
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb2824. Print 2020 Sep.

A "Global Safety Net" to reverse biodiversity loss and stabilize Earth's climate

E Dinerstein  1 , A R Joshi  2 , C Vynne  3 , A T L Lee  3 , F Pharand-Deschênes  4   5 , M França  5 , S Fernando  3 , T Birch  6 , K Burkart  7 , G P Asner  8 , D Olson  9
Affiliations

A "Global Safety Net" to reverse biodiversity loss and stabilize Earth's climate

E Dinerstein et al. Sci Adv. .

Abstract

Global strategies to halt the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change are often formulated separately, even though they are interdependent and risk failure if pursued in isolation. The Global Safety Net maps how expanded nature conservation addresses both overarching threats. We identify 50% of the terrestrial realm that, if conserved, would reverse further biodiversity loss, prevent CO2 emissions from land conversion, and enhance natural carbon removal. This framework shows that, beyond the 15.1% land area currently protected, 35.3% of land area is needed to conserve additional sites of particular importance for biodiversity and stabilize the climate. Fifty ecoregions and 20 countries contribute disproportionately to proposed targets. Indigenous lands overlap extensively with the Global Safety Net. Conserving the Global Safety Net could support public health by reducing the potential for zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 from emerging in the future.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Areas of the terrestrial realm where increased conservation action is needed to protect biodiversity and store carbon.
Numbers in parentheses show the percentage of total land area of Earth contributed by each set of layers. Unprotected habitats drawn from the 11 biodiversity data layers underpinning the Global Safety Net augment the current 15.1% protected with an additional 30.6% required to safeguard biodiversity. Additional CSAs add a further 4.7% of the terrestrial realm. Also shown are the wildlife and climate corridors to connect intact habitats (yellow lines). Data are available for interactive viewing at www.globalsafetynet.app.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Interdependence of carbon and biodiversity.
Currently unprotected high-carbon areas with median total carbon >215 MT/ha overlap extensively (92.0%) with areas selected under target 1, highlighting the importance of these lands for biodiversity conservation and climate stabilization. Other areas important for biodiversity but of lower carbon value, i.e., <215 MT/ha, are also shown. Additional CSAs, including tier 1 and tier 2 CSAs, are also selected to bridge the gap for adequate carbon storage beyond areas identified in target 1.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. The Global Safety Net made more visible in a close-up of five biogeographic realms.
Shown here are Neotropic (A), Nearctic (B), Afrotropic (C), and Palearctic and Indo-Malayan (D) (adjacent realms partly included). Existing protected areas are expanded to account for additional lands requiring increased conservation attention (target 1), augmented by additional CSAs (target 2), and connected by potential wildlife and climate corridors (target 3). Numbers in parentheses show the percentage of total land area of Earth contributed by each set of layers. To explore the component terrestrial layers of the Global Safety Net, please visit www.globalsafetynet.app. Indigenous lands are not shown but overlap extensively with proposed areas for increased conservation attention (see table S2 for ecoregions depicted in Fig. 3).
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