Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions

Oswald J. Schmitz; Magnus Sylvén; Trisha B. Atwood; Elisabeth S. Bakker; Fabio Berzaghi; Jedediah F. Brodie; Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt; Andrew B. Davies; Shawn J. Leroux; Frans J. Schepers; Felisa A. Smith; Sari Stark; Jens Christian Svenning; Andrew Tilker; Henni Ylänne

doi:10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6

Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions

Oswald J. Schmitz, Magnus Sylvén, Trisha B. Atwood, Elisabeth S. Bakker, Fabio Berzaghi, Jedediah F. Brodie, Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt, Andrew B. Davies, Shawn J. Leroux, Frans J. Schepers, Felisa A. Smith, Sari Stark, Jens Christian Svenning, Andrew Tilker, Henni Ylänne

Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Natural climate solutions are being advanced to arrest climate warming by protecting and enhancing carbon capture and storage in plants, soils and sediments in ecosystems. These solutions are viewed as having the ancillary benefit of protecting habitats and landscapes to conserve animal species diversity. However, this reasoning undervalues the role animals play in controlling the carbon cycle. We present scientific evidence showing that protecting and restoring wild animals and their functional roles can enhance natural carbon capture and storage. We call for new thinking that includes the restoration and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystem roles as a key component of natural climate solutions that can enhance the ability to prevent climate warming beyond 1.5 °C.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	324-333
Number of pages	10
Journal	Nature Climate Change
Volume	13
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6
State	Published - Apr 2023

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10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6

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Schmitz, O. J., Sylvén, M., Atwood, T. B., Bakker, E. S., Berzaghi, F., Brodie, J. F., Cromsigt, J. P. G. M., Davies, A. B., Leroux, S. J., Schepers, F. J., Smith, F. A., Stark, S., Svenning, J. C., Tilker, A., & Ylänne, H. (2023). Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions. Nature Climate Change, 13(4), 324-333. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6

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abstract = "Natural climate solutions are being advanced to arrest climate warming by protecting and enhancing carbon capture and storage in plants, soils and sediments in ecosystems. These solutions are viewed as having the ancillary benefit of protecting habitats and landscapes to conserve animal species diversity. However, this reasoning undervalues the role animals play in controlling the carbon cycle. We present scientific evidence showing that protecting and restoring wild animals and their functional roles can enhance natural carbon capture and storage. We call for new thinking that includes the restoration and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystem roles as a key component of natural climate solutions that can enhance the ability to prevent climate warming beyond 1.5 °C.",

author = "Schmitz, {Oswald J.} and Magnus Sylv{\'e}n and Atwood, {Trisha B.} and Bakker, {Elisabeth S.} and Fabio Berzaghi and Brodie, {Jedediah F.} and Cromsigt, {Joris P.G.M.} and Davies, {Andrew B.} and Leroux, {Shawn J.} and Schepers, {Frans J.} and Smith, {Felisa A.} and Sari Stark and Svenning, {Jens Christian} and Andrew Tilker and Henni Yl{\"a}nne",

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AU - Sylvén, Magnus

AU - Atwood, Trisha B.

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AU - Berzaghi, Fabio

AU - Brodie, Jedediah F.

AU - Cromsigt, Joris P.G.M.

AU - Davies, Andrew B.

AU - Leroux, Shawn J.

AU - Schepers, Frans J.

AU - Smith, Felisa A.

AU - Stark, Sari

AU - Svenning, Jens Christian

AU - Tilker, Andrew

AU - Ylänne, Henni

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AB - Natural climate solutions are being advanced to arrest climate warming by protecting and enhancing carbon capture and storage in plants, soils and sediments in ecosystems. These solutions are viewed as having the ancillary benefit of protecting habitats and landscapes to conserve animal species diversity. However, this reasoning undervalues the role animals play in controlling the carbon cycle. We present scientific evidence showing that protecting and restoring wild animals and their functional roles can enhance natural carbon capture and storage. We call for new thinking that includes the restoration and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystem roles as a key component of natural climate solutions that can enhance the ability to prevent climate warming beyond 1.5 °C.

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JO - Nature Climate Change

JF - Nature Climate Change

IS - 4

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Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions

Abstract

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