Forest restoration can boost people, nature and climate simultaneously
AUGUST 12, 2024
by University of Exeter
Forest restoration can benefit humans, boost biodiversity and help tackle climate change simultaneously, new research suggests.
Restoring forests is often seen in terms of "trade-offs"meaning it often focuses on a specific goal such as capturing carbon, nurturing nature or supporting human livelihoods.
The new study, by the universities of Exeter and Oxford, found that restoration plans aimed at a single goal tend not to deliver the others. However, "integrated" plans would deliver over 80% of the benefits in all three areas at once.
It also found that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups would benefit disproportionately from this approach.
The paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is titled: "Optimizing Restoration: holistic spatial planning to deliver Nature's Contributions to People with minimal tradeoffs and maximal equity."
More:
https://phys.org/news/2024-08-forest-boost-people-nature-climate.html