Browsing by Author "Martinez-Harms, Maria J."

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    Natural forests loss and tree plantations: large-scale tree cover loss differentiation in a threatened biodiversity hotspot
    (2020) Altamirano, Adison; Miranda, Alejandro; Aplin, Paul; Carrasco, Jaime; Catalan, German; Cayuela, Luis; Fuentes-Castillo, Taryn; Hernandez, Angela; Martinez-Harms, Maria J.; Peluso, Franco; Prado, Marco; Reyes-Riveros, Rosa; Van Holt, Tracy; Vergara, Cristian; Zamorano-Elgueta, Carlos; Di Bella, Carlos
    Distinguishing between natural forests from exotic tree plantations is essential to get an accurate picture of the world's state of forests. Most exotic tree plantations support lower levels of biodiversity and have less potential for ecosystem services supply than natural forests, and differencing them is still a challenge using standard tools. We use a novel approach in south-central of Chile to differentiate tree cover dynamics among natural forests and exotic tree plantations. Chile has one of the world's most competitive forestry industry and the region is a global biodiversity hotspot. Our collaborative visual interpretation method combined a global database of tree cover change, remote sensing from high-resolution satellite images and expert knowledge. By distinguishing exotic tree plantation and natural forest loss, we fit spatially explicit models to estimate tree-cover loss across 40 millions of ha between 2000 and 2016. We were able to distinguish natural forests from exotic tree plantations with an overall accuracy of 99% and predicted forest loss. Total tree cover loss was continuous over time, and the disaggregation revealed that 1 549 909 ha of tree plantations were lost (mean = 96 869 ha year(-1)), while 206 142 ha corresponded to natural forest loss (mean = 12 884 ha year(-1)). Mostly of tree plantations lost returned to be plantation (51%). Natural forests were converted mainly (75%) to transitional land covers (e.g. shrubland, bare land, grassland), and an important proportion of these may finish as tree plantation. This replacement may undermine objectives of increasedcarbon storage and biodiversity. Tree planting as a solution has gained increased attention in recen years with ambitious commitments to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, negative outcomes for the environment could result if strategies incentivize the replacement of natural forests into other land covers. Initiatives to reduce carbon emissions should encourage differentiating natural forests from exotic tree plantations and pay more attention on protecting and managing sustainably the former.
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    Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders
    (2019) Moreira, Francisco; Allsopp, Nicky; Esler, Karen J.; Wardell-Johnson, Grant; Ancillotto, Leonardo; Arianoutsou, Margarita; Clary, Jeffrey; Brotons, Lluis; Clavero, Miguel; Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G.; Fagoaga, Raquel; Fiedler, Peggy; Filipe, Ana F.; Frankenberg, Eliezer; Holmgren, Milena; Marquet, Pablo A.; Martinez-Harms, Maria J.; Martinoli, Adriano; Miller, Ben P.; Olsvig-Whittaker, Linda; Pliscoff, Patricio; Rundel, Phil; Russo, Danilo; Slingsby, Jasper A.; Thompson, John; Wardell-Johnson, Angela; Beja, Pedro
    The identification of research questions with high relevance for biodiversity conservation is an important step towards designing more effective policies and management actions, and to better allocate funding among alternative conservation options. However, the identification of priority questions may be influenced by regional differences in biodiversity threats and social contexts, and to variations in the perceptions and interests of different stakeholders. Here we describe the results of a prioritization exercise involving six types of stakeholders from the Mediterranean biome, which includes several biodiversity hotspots spread across five regions of the planet (Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australia). We found great heterogeneity across regions and stakeholder types in the priority topics identified and disagreement among the priorities of research scientists and other stakeholders. However, governance, climate change, and public participation issues were key topics in most regions. We conclude that the identification of research priorities should be targeted in a way that integrates the spectrum of stakeholder interests, potential funding sources and regional needs, and that further development of interdisciplinary studies is required. The key questions identified here provide a basis to identify priorities for research funding aligned with biodiversity conservation needs in this biome.