A Horizon Scan of Emerging Issues for Global Conservation in 2019.

Abstract

We present the results of our tenth annual horizon scan. We identified 15 emerging priority topics that may have major positive or negative effects on the future conservation of global biodiversity, but which at present, have low awareness within the conservation community. We thus hope to focus increased research and policy attention on these areas, improving the capacity of the community to mitigate impacts of issues likely to have negative effects, and maximise the benefits of issues that provide opportunities. The topics include advances in crop breeding, which may affect insects and land use; manipulations of natural water flows and weather systems on the Tibetan Plateau; release of carbon and mercury from melting polar ice and thawing permafrost; new funding schemes and regulations; and land-use changes across Indo-Malaysia.