Biodiversity Loss Research Articles

Best Practice for Publishing Environmental DNA (eDNA) Data According to FAIR Principles

Reversing global biodiversity loss will require transformational human actions and robust measurements of their effectiveness. Diversity assessment using environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a cutting-edge technique with the potential to address the challenges of measuring biodiversity. Vast amounts of eDNA sequences and eDNA-based species detections are generated in scientific studies. These datasets are typically stored in a variety of different repositories in multiple formats, hindering their reuse (Berry et al. 2020). Ensuring the publication of eDNA data following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles (Wilkinson et al. 2016) would revolutionise environmental assessment, including monitoring of biodiversity, individual species, and interactions across extensive spatial and temporal scales, and generate critical knowledge for evidence-based management. Archiving FAIR eDNA data requires standardising data formats and vocabularies, cyberinfrastructures, guidelines, data sharing policy, and collaboration among scientists and institutions. Some of these requirements are addressed by existing data standards and infrastructures, including Darwin Core (DwC) (Wieczorek et al. 2012), Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence (MIxS) (Yilmaz et al. 2011), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) network, and International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) partners (Arita et al. 2020). However, multiple challenges remain and FAIR data practices have yet to be established among the eDNA community. This is partly because critical attributes unique to eDNA data are not adequately accommodated by existing standards. For example, monitoring contamination and excluding non-target taxa, and the parameters used for quality filtering and species detection vary greatly between studies, depending on the study scopes and the associated financial and ecological costs of incorrectly inferring presence or absence. Making such information FAIR is needed for future studies reusing data and requiring high confidence levels in species detection and taxonomic assignment. Furthermore, the procedures of targeted-taxon detection approach (e.g., interpretations of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results in detecting the presence of DNA from individual taxa) have not yet been fully captured by existing standards. Increasing efforts have been made to establish minimum reporting requirements to validate eDNA study methods and data (Klymus et al. 2020, Thalinger et al. 2021). These requirements need further development to be translated into data standards and formats to enhance machine readability and reusability, and to support and guide the eDNA community, so that they are effectively utilised. In this talk, we share our best practice guide for formatting and publishing eDNA data, developed by an international multidisciplinary working-group comprising eDNA researchers, journal editors, and biodiversity and omics data scientists. We identified required data types, formats and metadata checklists through reviewing and integrating existing data standards, devising subject-specific vocabularies, and introducing additional terms to accommodate the distinctive properties of eDNA data. Implementing the FAIR eDNA data best practice guide, offers a pivotal step towards standardising and enhancing the publication and re-use of eDNA data.

Balancing conservation and development for achieving land degradation neutrality

The loss of biodiversity has risen dramatically in the face of a global emergency and worsened by human activities which involves habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development, supporting ecosystem services crucial for agriculture, forestry and climate regulation. These services are threatened by biodiversity loss, which also has an impact on world cultural heritage, economic stability and human well-being. Moreover, a decline in biodiversity exacerbates the effects of climate change, undermining ecosystem resilience and making food poverty worse. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), a global goal to stop and reverse land degradation through sustainable land management techniques, depends on effective biodiversity protection. LDN projects aim to balance restoration efforts against deterioration in order to preserve or improve land-based natural capital. This chapter highlights the biophysical and socioeconomic factors driving land degradation, including unsustainable agricultural practices, urbanization and climate change impacts. It underscores the importance of integrated approaches that consider ecological, social and economic dimensions in achieving LDN. Principles such as respecting human rights, promoting good governance, and engaging stakeholders are critical for successful LDN implementation. This chapter emphasizes the need for global cooperation and policy reforms to mitigate biodiversity loss, combat land degradation and ensure sustainable land use practices for future generations.

Barriers to Pro-Environmental Behavior Change: A Review of Qualitative Research

In recent decades, reports of deforestation, mass extinctions, biodiversity loss, and emergencies like floods and droughts have clearly highlighted the impact of human activities on climate change. This underscores the need for significant lifestyle changes to mitigate this impact. Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) change involves adopting actions that protect the environment and reducing environmentally harmful activities to promote sustainability. While qualitative research may provide unique insights into PEB barriers that are challenging to capture through quantitative methods, reports of qualitative studies are scattered across different literatures with little integration. With the present review, we bring together qualitative studies on PEB barriers and examine whether those studies reveal barriers compatible with existing barrier frameworks from environmental psychology. We identified 38 qualitative studies on barriers to PEB change. Our analysis revealed that most of the barriers to individual pro-environmental action identified in qualitative studies align with environmental psychology frameworks. These barriers were experienced not only by individuals in their role as consumer or citizen, but also by community-level actors (e.g., seeking to implement pro-environmental policies) and industrial decision-makers (e.g., aiming to reduce the ecological footprint of their business activities). Our findings underscore the multifaceted nature of barriers to PEB change and emphasize the importance of addressing structural and institutional factors alongside individual-level interventions.

Savage Gardens: Balancing Maintenance, Aesthetics, and Ecosystem Services in the Biodiversity Crisis Era

The escalating biodiversity crisis, coupled with the increasing frequency of droughts and anticipated water shortages due to climate change, necessitates a shift towards biodiversity-led landscape architecture, including domestic gardens. Traditionally viewed as high-maintenance spaces emphasising tidiness, domestic gardens can significantly impact urban green infrastructure and species richness. This paper explores the concept of ‘savage gardens’—untamed and natural spaces representing a fourth nature approach, incorporating wild gardens and neglected areas. Despite potential challenges in public appreciation, it is argued that savage gardens offer substantial benefits, such as reduced maintenance, increased biodiversity, and enhanced resilience to climate change. By reframing the perception of ‘savage’ from biophobic to a reconnection with nature, savage gardens are proposed as a viable solution for balancing aesthetics, maintenance, ecosystem services, and biodiversity in domestic landscapes, promoting a more sustainable future in the face of the biodiversity emergency.

Challenges and strategies for implementing the Ramsar Convention. Balancing Economic Development and Wetland Conservation

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, particularly focusing on waterfowl habitats, signifies a pivotal shift in global attitudes towards wetland conservation. Historically viewed as hindrances to development, wetlands have suffered from drainage and reclamation efforts, resulting in significant biodiversity loss. However, a growing recognition of their ecological significance has spurred international action. The Convention, established in 1971, serves as a landmark agreement to safeguard wetland ecosystems. It mandates member states to designate and conserve wetlands within their territories, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation due to the transboundary nature of wetland ecosystems. The Convention’s objectives encompass sustainable development goals, including water quality, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation. Implementation relies on national policies and collaboration among stakeholders. Furthermore, the Convention aligns with other environmental agreements, fostering synergies to enhance wetland protection globally. Despite these positive developments, there are significant challenges in ensuring the effective implementation of the Convention, particularly when economic interests conflict with environmental conservation. As highlighted in the case of the Bystroe Canal project in the Danube Delta, balancing development with wetland protection remains a critical issue. This article addresses the question of whether the Ramsar Convention can effectively apply its provisions in such cases, arguing that while it provides a strong framework, its effectiveness is often undermined by competing economic priorities. Without stronger enforcement mechanisms and increased international cooperation, the objectives of the Convention risk being compromised.

Exploring botanical diversity, ecological traits, and edaphic determinants in Kala Chitta National Park, Pakistan: Implications for conservation and management

Globally, environmental degradation has prompted several countries to strengthen their protected area networks to halt biodiversity loss. National parks incorporate into their design, are based on scientific evidence, and offer a complete management mechanism to enable successful conservation for the most ecologically critical and vulnerable ecosystem. However, managing these protected areas effectively requires a grasp of the complex dynamics of plant ecosystems and edaphic factors. Nevertheless, Pakistan's protected areas have seen the least investigation of these relationships. To fill this knowledge gap, this study investigates the vegetation dynamics and edaphic factors that influence plant distribution in Kala Chitta National Park of Pakistan. A comprehensive botanical survey documented 203 plant species across 60 study sites, revealing a diverse flora comprising species from 160 genera and 54 families. The most abundant families were Poaceae (34 species) and Fabaceae (21 species), Amaranthaceae (13 species) and Asteraceae (15 species). The majority of species were herbaceous (49.2%), followed by grasses (16.7%) and shrubs (15.2%). Climbers and ferns constituted 1.4% and 1.9% of the total, respectively, with co-dominant habits of tall reed and sedge accounting for 2.9% of the vegetation. Ecologically, Therophytes emerged as the most numerous life forms (42.8%), followed by hemicryptophytes (17.7%) and megaphanerophytes (8.3%). Analysis of leaf spectra revealed Nanophylls as the dominant type (36.9%), followed by Microphylls (33%). Phytogeographical distribution highlighted three major clusters, with Asia Tropical, Asia Temperate, and Europe accounting for 45% of species. Four distinct plant communities were identified using TWINSPAN analysis: Senegalia-Dichanthium-Justica (SDJ), Neltuma-Lantana-Cannabis (NLC), Prosopis-Saccharum-Desmostachya (PSD), and Dodonaea-Alhagi-Oxalis (DAO). Each community exhibited unique species compositions and ecological gradients influenced by edaphic factors. PCA revealed associations between specific edaphic variables and plant communities, with available phosphorus (AP) and potassium (AK) linked to the NLC community. At the same time, total nitrogen (TN) was predominantly associated with the DAO community. These findings highlight the importance of soil conservation and sustainable land management practices for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem integrity within Kala Chitta National Park. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring of vegetation dynamics and collaborative conservation initiatives involving local stakeholders to promote ecosystem resilience in the face of environmental change.

Leveraging genomes to support conservation and bioeconomy policies in a megadiverse country.

The biodiversity crisis is a global phenomenon, and measures to monitor, stop, and revert the impacts on species' extinction risk are urgently needed. Megadiverse countries, especially in the Global South, are responsible for managing and protecting Earth's biodiversity. Various initiatives have started to sequence reference-level genomes or perform large-scale species detection and monitoring through environmental DNA. Here, we outline the Genomics of the Brazilian Biodiversity (GBB) consortium that is contributing to public policies on the conservation and management of Brazilian species. We describe our unique public-private governance and lessons in setting up a genomic consortium in a megadiverse country of continental scale. We explore the challenges while sharing knowledge for similar initiatives in the Global South. Ultimately, we aim to encourage Brazilian institutions and other megadiverse countries to invest and participate in large-scale genomic initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to preserving and monitoring their exceptional natural heritage while contributing to global biodiversity conservation.

Strengthen farmers' fertilizer self-sufficiency in the tourist area with a reduce-reuse-recycle system

Mining activities at Tebing Breksi are a vital source of income for the community in Sambirejo village, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta. However, these activities have caused several environmental issues, such as lowered pH levels, reduced soil fertility, shallow soil profiles, and water scarcity. Additionally, mining has led to biodiversity loss and land degradation, making post-mining reclamation essential to restore the area's environmental and social functions. This project aimed to enhance the community’s skills in soil analysis and the production of liquid organic fertilizer using effective methods. The activities took place in the Tebing Breksi tourist area, located in Nglengkong, Sambirejo Village, Prambanan District, Sleman Regency. The project included a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), soil fertility analysis using test kits, and the creation of liquid organic fertilizer from household waste. During the FGD, it was discovered that the local community had not received prior training on producing fertilizer from household and organic waste. Until then, they relied on expensive commercial fertilizers to quickly stabilize soil pH. Through this training, the community learned how to perform rapid soil chemical analysis and produce liquid organic fertilizer independently. As a result, they can now apply the fertilizer locally, improving soil conditions and reducing their reliance on costly commercial products.

Insights into Boreal Forest Disturbance from Canopy Stability Index

The world’s forests are being increasingly disturbed from exposure to the compounding impacts of land use and climate change, in addition to natural disturbance regimes. Boreal forests have a lower level of deforestation compared to tropical forests, and while they have higher levels of natural disturbances, the accumulated impact of forest management for commodity production coupled with worsening fire weather conditions and other climate-related stressors is resulting in ecosystem degradation and loss of biodiversity. We used satellite-based time-series analysis of two canopy indices—canopy photosynthesis and canopy water stress—to calculate an index that maps the relative stability of forest canopies in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. By drawing upon available spatial time-series data on logging, wildfire, and insect infestation impacts, we were able to attribute the causal determinants of areas identified as having unstable forest canopy. The slope of the two indices that comprise the stability index also provided information as to where the forest is recovering from prior disturbances. The stability analyses and associated spatial datasets are available in an interactive web-based mapping app. that can be used to map disturbed forest canopies and the attribution of disturbances to human or natural causes. This information can assist decision-makers in identifying areas that are potentially ecologically degraded and in need of restoration and those stable areas that are a priority for protection.

Advancing stem cell technologies for conservation of wildlife biodiversity.

Wildlife biodiversity is essential for healthy, resilient and sustainable ecosystems. For biologists, this diversity also represents a treasure trove of genetic, molecular and developmental mechanisms that deepen our understanding of the origins and rules of life. However, the rapid decline in biodiversity reported recently foreshadows a potentially catastrophic collapse of many important ecosystems and the associated irreversible loss of many forms of life on our planet. Immediate action by conservationists of all stripes is required to avert this disaster. In this Spotlight, we draw together insights and proposals discussed at a recent workshop hosted by Revive & Restore, which gathered experts to discuss how stem cell technologies can support traditional conservation techniques and help protect animal biodiversity. We discuss reprogramming, in vitro gametogenesis, disease modelling and embryo modelling, and we highlight the prospects for leveraging stem cell technologies beyond mammalian species.

Progress in developing and operationalizing the Monitoring Framework of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

The failure to halt the global decline in biodiversity by 2020 contributed to the adoption of the ambitious Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes transparency and responsibility as foundations. The Global Biodiversity Framework identifies the actions needed so that societies are living in harmony with nature by 2050. To support the delivery of this ambition, the transparency and responsibility mechanisms defined in the Global Biodiversity Framework include a detailed Monitoring Framework designed to prompt evidence-based actions and track progress towards its goals and targets at the national and global level. The Monitoring Framework includes a set of indicators selected by the Parties through a political process. These indicators have since been operationalized through a scientific process led by an expert group focused on assessing and clarifying their methods. Most indicators are now ready to inform on progress, but key limitations of data availability and methodological challenges remain. The onus is now on the Parties to resource implementation and on the scientific community to support indicator use and development. Implementation of the Monitoring Framework will provide an unprecedented view of the state of biodiversity at the national level, which can be used to assess both national and global progress. Investment to overcome the Monitoring Framework's weaknesses will improve our ability to measure progress and mobilize the actions needed to protect and restore biodiversity and the many benefits we receive from nature.

Going beyond carbon: Influence of structural parameters on the environmental impacts of typical building structures

The construction sector has a large impact on the environment, be it climate change, biodiversity loss or resources depletion. Part of those impacts comes from construction materials, and more specifically, concrete and steel building structures. Early-stage design tools including environmental damage assessment are therefore required to achieve sustainable construction practices. This article presents a parametric approach aiming at studying the influence of early-stage structural parameters on the environmental impacts of a structure. The developed methodology combines parametric structural design with a multicriteria cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment, applied to typical housing structures such as grid based beam column structures with a central core for lateral stability. Results show that span, number of levels and materials greatly influence the environmental impacts of considered structures. Climate change scores per floor area range from 80 kgCO2/m2 for short span timber structure to 215 kgCO2/m2 for long span steel buildings with few levels. Beams and slabs have the largest contribution in such impacts. Changing the production processes of materials is a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, decarbonizing steel production processes or reducing the cement content of concrete participate in burdenshifting with increased scores in several impact categories, such as carcinogenic toxicity or ozone depletion.

Shallow drainage of agricultural peatlands without land-use change: have your peat and eat it too

IntroductionDrainage for agricultural purposes is one of the main drivers of peatland degradation, leading to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biodiversity loss, and soil eutrophication. Rewetting is a potential solution to restore peatlands, but it generally requires a land-use shift to paludiculture or nature areas.MethodsThis study explored whether three different water level management techniques (subsoil irrigation, furrow irrigation, and dynamic ditch water level regulation) could be implemented on dairy grasslands to yield increases in essential ecosystem services (vegetation diversity and soil biogeochemistry) without the need to change the current land use or intensity. We investigated vegetation diversity, soil biogeochemistry, and CO2 emission reduction in fourteen agricultural livestock pastures on drained peat soils in Friesland (Netherlands).ResultsAcross all pastures, Shannon-Wiener diversity was below 1, and the species richness was below 5. The plant-available phosphorus (P) was consistently higher than 3 mmol L−1. None of the water level management (WLM) techniques enhanced vegetation diversity or changed soil biogeochemistry despite a notable increase in water table levels. The potential for CO2 emission reduction remained small or even absent. Indicators of land-use intensity (i.e., grass harvest and fertilization intensity), however, showed a strong negative correlation with vegetation diversity. Furthermore, all sites’ total and plant-available P and nitrate exceeded the upper threshold for species-rich grassland communities.DiscussionIn conclusion, our research suggests that incomplete rewetting (i.e., higher water tables while maintaining drainage) while continuing the current land use does neither effectively mitigate GHG emissions nor benefit vegetation diversity. Therefore, we conclude that combining WLM and reducing land-use intensity is essential to limit the degradation of peat soils and restore more biodiverse vegetation.

Climate Change in Canadian Civil Engineering Curricula: Gaps and Best Practices

This study examines the state of curricula, knowledge, and practices in Canada’s civil engineering programs with respect to climate change, identifies best practices, and formulates recommendations on ways to improve climate change knowledge and skills training for Canadian civil engineering programs. A survey based on the Climate Framework was distributed to 856 civil engineering instructors across all 25 accredited engineering schools listed by Engineers Canada and gathered data on 55 civil engineering climate change related courses, with representation from 20 out of the 25 accredited programs across the country. The results of this study provide important benchmarks to help instructors incorporate most relevant climate change topics and resources into their courses for equipping civil engineering students with the necessary skills to tackle emerging challenges related to the mitigation of climate change and adaptation to wildfires, droughts, sea level rise, increased precipitation, storms, heat domes, floods, earthquakes, and biodiversity loss.

New species and records of limpets (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from the Pacific Costa Rica Margin.

The ocean remains a reservoir of unknown biodiversity, particularly in the deep sea. Chemosynthesis-based ecosystems, such as hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps, host unique and diverse life forms that continue to be discovered and described. The present study focuses on patelliform gastropods (limpets) collected from Pacific Costa Rica Margin hydrocarbon seeps during three research cruises from 2017 to 2019. Genetic and morphological analyses revealed the presence of several new lineages within the genera Bathyacmaea Okutani, Tsuchida & Fujikura,1992, Cocculina Dall, 1882, Paralepetopsis McLean, 1990, and the family Lepetodrilidae McLean, 1988: Bathyacmaealevinae sp. nov., Paralepetopsisvariabilis sp. nov., Pseudolepetodriluscostaricensis gen. et sp. nov., and Cocculinamethana sp. nov. These investigations also expanded the known ranges of the species Pyropeltacorymba McLean, 1992 and Lepetodrilusguaymasensis McLean, 1988 to the Costa Rica Margin. This research highlights the uniqueness of gastropod fauna at the Costa Rica Margin and contributes to our understanding of the biodiversity at chemosynthesis-based deep-sea ecosystems in the face of global biodiversity loss and increased commercial interest in deep-sea resources.

Briefing: Time for transformation – the opportunity for civil engineering to contribute to a nature-positive future

A nature-positive special issue of Civil Engineering is being published this year, and it could not be more timely. We are living in a time of biodiversity loss and we need to move into a new era of nature recovery – a nature-positive future. Working towards a nature-positive future can provide a multitude of benefits, including restoring lost biodiversity and mitigating and adapting to climate change. Globally, we need positive action at massive scale, and civil engineering projects are uniquely placed to contribute to the change we need. As a first step, we can take a similar approach to the early days of carbon dioxide management, applying our efforts to improve outcomes and helping work towards that nature-positive future. By adopting a nature-positive approach across civil engineering, we could contribute to restoring and enhancing biodiversity on this massive scale, while at the same time as addressing critical environmental risks.

A GIS-MCDA approach to map environmental suitability of Posidonia oceanica meadows as blue nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean eco-region

The growing environmental risks induced by interacting climate and human-induced pressures threaten the survival and growth of marine coastal ecosystems (MCEs) and the ecosystem services they provide. Nature-based solutions (NBS), consisting of ecosystem-based approaches, have emerged as vital tools for climate adaptation and mitigation facing biodiversity loss and societal challenges. Identifying suitable environmental conditions for implementing Blue-NBS in marine coastal areas is a key priority to drive robust and cost-effective nature-based adaptation pathways. This study developed a suitability model for Blue-NBS, with a specific focus on Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean Sea under a baseline scenario. GIS-based Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was applied for data integration and prioritization of different environmental variables in geomorphological (e.g., depth), water quality (WQ) (e.g., salinity), and climatic (e.g., thermal stress) sub-groups. Suitability classes and scores for each variable were determined using statistical distributions, ensuring a data-driven approach to defining environmental suitability. Variables' weights were derived from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on expert judgment and then combined with scores to generate suitability maps for managing Blue-NBS on seagrasses. Depth was found to be the most dominant environmental variable, with shallow areas (e.g., Northern Adriatic, Gulf of Gabés) showing higher suitability. The southern part of the Mediterranean (e.g., Egypt) reported relatively low scores for both climate and WQ, while the Northern Adriatic had the lowest WQ scores. This study represents the first attempt to evaluate Blue-NBS suitability for seagrass meadows at the eco-regional scale with geomorphologic, WQ, and climatic variables, providing decision support for the selection and allocation of Blue-NBS in different environmental settings. The resulting environmental suitability maps represent a basis for the integration of socio-economic and governance-related indicators into a more complex, multi-tier approach to support NBS mainstreaming.

The impact of biodiversity information on willingness to pay

AbstractBiodiversity loss is one of the planetary boundaries that is most urgently in need of action. However, very little is known about the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for products with higher (or lower) levels of biodiversity performance. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate how consumers’ WTP is influenced by a product's impact on biodiversity. To address this question, we collected representative data from 524 German consumers in a survey‐based experiment. Drawing on prospect theory, we identified the shape of the WTP reaction function for a given product in relation to its biodiversity performance. We demonstrate that consumers with sufficiently high levels of education and concern about biodiversity loss are willing to pay more for products with above‐average biodiversity performance and less for products with below‐average biodiversity performance. However, the extent to which a product outperforms the industry average does not influence consumers’ increased WTP. From a sustainable development perspective, these observed patterns highlight the problematic contrast between the pressing need for substantial improvements in product biodiversity performance and the limited incentives provided by consumers. Consequently, the findings suggest that the incentives that consumers currently provide for corporate biodiversity management are insufficient to assist in staying within the planetary boundaries.

Evaluating Water Quality through Macroinvertebrate Diversity and Physicochemical Parameters in the Thamirabarani River Basin

<p style="margin-top:13px; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Aquatic ecosystems in the Thamirabarani River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India, are facing increasingly complex challenges due to climate change, particularly concerning water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. This study delves into the intricate relationship between these variables and their profound implications for freshwater biodiversity. The rising temperatures and declining dissolved oxygen levels pose escalating threats to the health of aquatic organisms and the stability of ecosystems. To tackle this issue, a hybrid methodology that integrates remote sensing and field data is proposed to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI) and comprehensively assess ecosystem health. Remote sensing data offer valuable spatial insights, while field measurements ensure accuracy, resulting in robust findings. The study uncovers a significant negative correlation between water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels, highlighting the adverse effects of warming waters on aquatic habitats. Moreover, habitat fragmentation exacerbates climate stressors, adding further challenges to freshwater biodiversity conservation. The findings underscore the urgent need for conservation and adaptive management strategies, including temperature regulation, riparian vegetation enhancement, nutrient pollution management, and habitat connectivity preservation. By implementing these measures, biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems can be minimized, ensuring their resilience in the face of ongoing climate change. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Potential of Agroforestry Practices on Woody Species Diversity and Composition: Implication for Conservation of Indigenous Trees in Selected Districts of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Human activities such as expanding farmland, producing charcoal, and harvesting construction materials and fuel wood are major contributors to forest degradation and biodiversity loss in Northern Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess woody species' diversity, composition, and threat levels in different agroforestry practices to prioritize their conservation. As the result three potential Agroforestry practices were purposively identified and selected for the study. A total of 45 sample plots, 15 plots from each agroforestry practices such as Woodlot agroforestry (WLAF) (10m x 10m), Homegarden Agroforestry (HGAF) (20m x 10m), and Parkland agroforestry (PLAF) (50m x 100m). Data on woody species were analyzed using Past version 2.17c and SPSS version 20. The results identified 36, 26, and 21 woody plant species from 31, 23, and 19 genera, as well aswell as 22, 16, and 15 families in HGAF, PLAF, and WLAF, respectively. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found among the agroforestry practices in terms of tree density, species richness, species abundance, and Shannon diversity, though species evenness did not vary. The Importance Value Index (IVI) highlighted the top species in HGAF as A. etbaica (75.2), F. albida (33.1), and A. seyal (30.6). Species with low IVI values, such as B. polystachya (1.56), R. vulgaris (1.57), G. ferruginea (1.62), and C. aurantiifolia (0.90), require significant conservation efforts. In PLAF, the key species were F. albida (131.03), A. seyal (59.33), and C. africana (26.21). In WLAF, E. globulus (61.8), A. seyal (8.83), and C. edulis (31.4) were the most abundant, frequent, and dominant. Trees and shrubs in HGAF and WLAF had smaller stem diameters compared to those in PLAF. However, WLAF had greater tree height and basal area (BA, m²) than both HGAF and PLAF, with HGAF also showing a higher BA than PLAF (p ≤ 0.05). The study concluded that HGAF and PLAF are vital for sustaining local livelihoods, providing food, and conserving biodiversity. These agroforestry systems enhance natural forests and help prevent the extinction of woody species. Therefore, developing and enhancing HGAF, and PLAF in densely populated landscapes should be integral to biodiversity conservation strategies.