Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored
Details
State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_1605F8D9BE53
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored
Journal
PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET
ISSN
2572-2611
2572-2611
2572-2611
Publication state
Published
Issued date
15/01/2025
Language
english
Abstract
Tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas have historically been neglected in global and local conservation policies. As a result, nearly half of their coverage has been lost. In 2023, the world's most biodiverse savanna (Brazilian Cerrado) lost 1.110.326 ha, increasing the rate of land conversion by 67.7% (MapBiomas, 2024). The result- ing biodiversity and ecosystem service losses, including the ability to mitigate climate change, are profound and irreversible.
As scientists specialized in ecology, conservation, and restoration, from around the world, we call on policymakers at COP 16 to act deci- sively: Tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas matter for biodi- versity protection, and the future of this planet relies on these ecosystems to the same extent it relies on forests.
We urge the following commitments:
• Prioritize conservation and adequate management of grasslands and savannas.
• Establish mechanisms to reduce and halt land conversion in these ecosystems immediately.
• Promote conservation aligned with local economic activities, such as ecotourism and sustainable bioeconomic initiatives.
• Reject afforestation initiatives disguised as restoration efforts that harm these unique ecosystems.
As scientists specialized in ecology, conservation, and restoration, from around the world, we call on policymakers at COP 16 to act deci- sively: Tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas matter for biodi- versity protection, and the future of this planet relies on these ecosystems to the same extent it relies on forests.
We urge the following commitments:
• Prioritize conservation and adequate management of grasslands and savannas.
• Establish mechanisms to reduce and halt land conversion in these ecosystems immediately.
• Promote conservation aligned with local economic activities, such as ecotourism and sustainable bioeconomic initiatives.
• Reject afforestation initiatives disguised as restoration efforts that harm these unique ecosystems.
Keywords
biodiversity crises, conservation, COP 16, ecological restoration, open ecosystems
Open Access
Yes
Create date
17/01/2025 15:11
Last modification date
20/01/2025 7:10