A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2022

Sutherland, William J; Atkinson, Philip W; Butchart, Stuart HM; Capaja, Marcela; Dicks, Lynn V; Fleishman, Erica; Gaston, Kevin J; Hails, Rosemary S; Hughes, Alice C; Le Anstey, Becky; Le Roux, Xavier; Lickorish, Fiona A; Maggs, Luke; Noor, Noor; Oldfield, Thomasina EE; Palardy, James E; Peck, Lloyd S; Pettorelli, Nathalie; Pretty, Jules; Spalding, Mark D; Tonneijck, Femke H; Truelove, Gemma; Watson, James EM; Wentworth, Jonathan; Wilson, Jeremy D; Thornton, Ann

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Authors

Sutherland, William J

Atkinson, Philip W

Butchart, Stuart HM

Capaja, Marcela

Dicks, Lynn V

Fleishman, Erica

Gaston, Kevin J

Publication Date

2022-01

Journal Title

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

ISSN

0169-5347

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Language

Type

Article

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Citation

Sutherland, W. J., Atkinson, P. W., Butchart, S. H., Capaja, M., Dicks, L. V., Fleishman, E., Gaston, K. J., et al. (2022). A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2022. Trends in Ecology & Evolution https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.014

Abstract

We present the results of our 13th annual horizon scan of issues likely to impact biodiversity conservation. Issues are either novel within the biological conservation sector or could cause a substantial step-change in impact, either globally or regionally. Our global panel of 26 scientists and practitioners identified 15 issues that we believe represent the highest priorities for tracking and action. Many of the issues we identified, including the impact of satellite megaconstellations, and the use of long-distance wireless energy transfer, have elements of threats and emerging opportunities. The recent state-sponsored application to commence deep-sea mining represents a significant step-change in impact. We hope that this horizon scan will increase research and policy attention on the highlighted issues.

Keywords

biodiversity conservation, emerging, global, horizon scan, Animals, Biodiversity, Conservation of Natural Resources, Global Health, Policy

Sponsorship

This exercise was coordinated by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative with funding offered by the Natural Environment Research Council and the RSPB (this funding was not needed because the proceedings were held online). We are grateful to everyone who submitted ideas to the exercise and the following who suggested a topic that made the final list: Jason Dinsdale (wireless energy infrastructure), Ian Francis (floating photovoltaics), Robin Freeman (airborne eDNA), Lizzie Garratt (environmental consequences of new refrigerants), Lammert Hilarides (mangrove expansion) and Jiping Shi (green ammonia). We would also like to thank Mick Clout who contributed to the process but was unable to attend the workshop and the referees for comments. The results, conclusions, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of their organisations. AT and WJS are funded by Arcadia.

Funder references

NERC (NE/N014472/2)

Identifiers

External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.014

This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/331160

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Licence URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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