Global priority areas for ecosystem restoration
Issue Date
10-2020
Abstract
Extensive ecosystem restoration is increasingly seen as being central to conserving biodiversity1 and stabilizing the climate of the Earth2. Although ambitious national and global targets have been set, global priority areas that account for spatial variation in benefits and costs have yet to be identified. Here we develop and apply a multicriteria optimization approach that identifies priority areas for restoration across all terrestrial biomes, and estimates their benefits and costs. We find that restoring 15% of converted lands in priority areas could avoid 60% of expected extinctions while sequestering 299 gigatonnes of CO2—30% of the total CO2 increase in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. The inclusion of several biomes is key to achieving multiple benefits. Cost effectiveness can increase up to 13-fold when spatial allocation is optimized using our multicriteria approach, which highlights the importance of spatial planning. Our results confirm the vast potential contributions of restoration to addressing global challenges, while underscoring the necessity of pursuing these goals synergistically.
Source or Periodical Title
Nature
ISSN
0028-0836
Volume
586
Issue
7831
Page
724-729
Document Type
Article
Physical Description
illustrations; diagram; graphs; bibliography
Language
English
Subject
Nature conservation and land resources
Recommended Citation
Strassburg, B., Iribarrem, A., Beyer, H.L., Cordeiro, C.L., Crouzeilles, R., Jakovac, C., Junqueira, A.B., Lacerda, E.R., Latawiec, A., Balmford, A., Brooks, T., Butchart, S.H.M., Chazdon, R.L., Erb, K-H., Brancalion, P.H.S., Buchanan, G.M., Cooper, H. D., Diaz, S., Donald, P.F., Kapos, V., Leclere, D., Miles, L., Obersteiner, M., Plutzar, C., Scaramuzza, C.A.DM., Scarano, F.R., & Visconti, P. (2020). Global priority areas for ecosystem restoration. Nature, 586 (7831), 724-729. 10.1038/s41586-020-2784-9.
Identifier
DOI:10.1038/s41586-020-2784-9
Digital Copy
yes
En – AGROVOC descriptors
NATURE CONSERVATION AND LAND RESOURCES