• To protect nature's benefits, focus on p

    From ScienceDaily@1337:3/111 to All on Mon Oct 12 21:30:32 2020
    To protect nature's benefits, focus on people

    Date:
    October 12, 2020
    Source:
    Stanford University - Natural Capital Project
    Summary:
    New paper calls for the consideration of people's diverse needs in
    order to develop effective nature-based policies and investments
    in ecosystems.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    To calculate the true value of a forest, we need to know how people
    benefit from it, according to new research published in Nature
    Sustainability. A healthy forest holds a treasure trove of benefits for
    people -- it can filter water for downstream communities, supply timber
    for building, and provide a place for people to connect with nature. But
    a forest -- or any other ecosystem -- won't necessarily provide the same
    things to everyone.


    ========================================================================== "Context matters," says Lisa Mandle, lead scientist at the Stanford
    Natural Capital Project and lead author on the paper. "If we want to
    protect the critical natural assets we all depend on, we need actionable policies that incorporate people's diverse needs. It shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all approach when we're talking about people and nature."
    There's a growing global movement to invest in nature in order to
    protect vital resources and improve climate resilience. But for nature
    to be factored into policies, sustainable development plans, and other management decisions, the researchers say the science behind them needs
    to be more inclusive and people- centric.

    They also say a focus on equity is crucial. People benefit from nature
    in different ways -- a forest might provide valuable timber for one
    group while providing deep cultural significance for another. When all
    the individuals or groups receiving those benefits aren't considered,
    the people who depend on nature the most can be left behind.

    "If you don't know who specifically would benefit from which ecosystems,
    how can you prioritize where and how to conserve?" said Taylor Ricketts, director of University of Vermont's Gund Institute for Environment and co-author on the paper. "We want to make sure the benefits of ecosystems
    are shared equitably, so that we don't make existing racial and social inequality even worse." Nature-based solutions can create triple-win
    scenarios for economies, ecosystems, and people. From securing local
    water supplies to informing coastal development plans, understanding
    the values that nature provides to people can be a powerful tool for decision-makers. But too often, the research doesn't pay enough attention
    to the people part.

    "People need to see themselves -- their values and needs -- supported
    in conservation efforts. Often, research will try to assign an overall
    dollar value to nature without thinking about who will benefitting
    from it. That's like saying you have $50 of food in your pantry, but
    you don't know what kind of food it is or who will be eating. You can't
    plan your meal without knowing what you have and what your diners need,"
    said Mandle.

    The researchers recommend actions for their own scientific community that
    focus on building understanding around who is benefitting from nature in
    the communities they're hoping to serve. They emphasize direct engagement
    with people, so that science and policy can be better equipped to meet
    societal needs, increase equity, and protect vital resources.

    "This is a call for us all to do a better job. We can better deliver
    the information needed to move towards a more sustainable and equitable future," said Mandle. "And that's what we're all working toward."

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Stanford_University_-_Natural_Capital_Project. Original written by Sarah Cafasso. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Lisa Mandle, Analisa Shields-Estrada, Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer,
    Matthew G.

    E. Mitchell, Leah L. Bremer, Jesse D. Gourevitch, Peter Hawthorne,
    Justin A. Johnson, Brian E. Robinson, Jeffrey R. Smith, Laura
    J. Sonter, Gregory M. Verutes, Adrian L. Vogl, Gretchen C. Daily &
    Taylor H. Ricketts.

    Increasing decision relevance of ecosystem service science. Nature
    Sustainability, 2020 DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00625-y ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201012120002.htm

    --- up 7 weeks, 6 hours, 50 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)