Foundation for Amazon Sustainability’s Post

I am excited to share our new conference paper on the "Relationship between the Vegetation Structure and Butterfly Diversity in the Peradeniya Campus and adjacent Forested Areas." Our study sought to examine and compare the diversity of butterflies in the suburban university campus and the nearby forested area. Additionally, we aimed to understand how the arrangement of vegetation influences the diversity and distribution of butterflies. The abstract was published at the International Conference of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ICCES) 2023.

🌱 🇪🇺 Exciting news! Last Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted the EU #NatureRestorationLaw (NRL). Our colleague prof. dr. Bas Arts explains below how our chair group is contributing to social science research on the NRL. 'EU countries must now restore at least 30% of habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. The law is not only about Nature 2000 reserves, but about other nature areas, agricultural lands and cities as well. Since 80% of habitats are degraded in Europe, the task is enormous and of crucial importance. To get insight in what the NRL will imply in practice, the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group conducts an ‘ex-ante evaluation’ in two landscapes in the Netherlands, as part of the Wageningen Environmental Research-project Restore-Connect: Sint-Jansberg close to Nijmegen and Kalmthoutse Heide close to Breda. The researchers involved are Peter Buse, Ditmar van Poeteren and Bas Arts. The question is whether the social-ecological networks in the two areas exhibit sufficient collaborative potential to make local implementation and translation of the NRL possible, if not successful. Results will be expected by mid-April.' Find out more about Restore-Connect here: https://lnkd.in/eEw7SRgv

A few thoughts for Australia from the NATURA Network’s urban Nature-based Solutions workshop in Miami (which Annemie Rose Janssen and I were lucky to attend). Nature-based Solutions are distinct from the dominant paradigms in Australia of biodiversity conservation and green infrastructure, blending elements of both. NbS must be address a societal challenge e.g. urban heat, mental health, flood mitigation, Indigenous self-determination, but must also provide benefits to biodiversity (unlike GI – see the recent Urban Biodiversity Playbook). NbS can complement rather than encompass these existing approaches. National policy is driving the uptake of NbS globally (e.g. President Biden’s Roadmap for Nature-based Solutions in the USA, and a broad range of European policies and research programs). This is linked to a Nature Positive agenda, but we haven’t seen the same emphasis on NbS in Australia (yet). Australia’s emerging focus on Nature-positive could be realised through specific NbS policy initiatives. Urban NbS overseas are mostly led by cities and communities. Australia has a rich tradition of  Nature-based initiatives led by cities. In an urban biodiversity landscape that is increasingly being shaped by the needs and rights of Traditional Owners and local communities, NbS provides a useful approach to address these multiple goals. However, more work needs to adapt NbS to the Australian context e.g. to ensure the IUCN standards lead to positive biodiversity outcomes. (And Melbourne is well-known internationally for its urban nature policies and programs – let’s keep up the good work!)   https://lnkd.in/gHAMabwp

The EU nature restoration law has just been officially adopted by the European Parliament, with 329 votes in favour and 275 against. 🌱 Reflecting on the past two years of dedicated effort on this legislative matter, we successfully advocated for Southern Finland's perspective to be considered. Thanks to our collaborative efforts together with our member organisations, our work led to amendments in the original Commission proposal, making it more sensible and considerate of national specificities. ❓The new law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. While today's accepted law may not be perfect, it is a good start towards a more sustainable future. The battle against biodiversity loss remains crucial, and our collective efforts are instrumental in addressing this challenge. Let's continue working together for a healthier planet! 🌍 Uudenmaan liitto Päijät-Hämeen liitto Kymenlaakson liitto | Regional Council of Kymenlaakso Helsingin kaupunki – Helsingfors stad – City of Helsinki Espoon kaupunki - Esbo stad - City of Espoo Vantaan kaupunki - Vanda stad - City of Vantaa Wilhelmiina Koivuniemi Hilu Kangas-Ranta Anu Riila Ilona Mansikka Mariikka Manninen Silja Aalto Pasi Rajala Tarja Söderman

🌊 How to Foster the Collaboration of Public Administration in Environmental Research Projects 🌿 The Besòs river basin, spanning 1,038 square kilometres, showcases the dynamic Mediterranean climate with its significant annual fluctuations. 🌡️ These changes significantly impact water quality and alter the river flow, highlighting the region's unique environmental challenges. 🚰 Recent years have seen shifts in the rivers' flow regimes, mainly due to water extraction activities. To address these challenges, we've developed a comprehensive management approach for the Besòs river basin. It integrates various climate change drivers like ecological quality, land cover changes, urbanization, and industrialization. 🌱 A crucial aspect, often overlooked, is the integration of various public administrations, ranging from local city councils and citizens to regional bodies like the Consorci Besòs Tordera (CBT) and the Agència Catalana de l'Aigua. It's vital for them to work effectively together to enhance water quality, though achieving this is not always straightforward. ⚙️ CBT's Support Program for river restoration offers vital links to the town councils, providing financial and technical tools necessary for addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation. 📊 The insights from the KNOWING project facilitate collaboration and support among diverse councils, promoting the broad application of knowledge in their work. However, a key challenge in administrative collaboration lies in reconciling differences in regulations and internal structures, such as control of discharges into the environment. 📝 We believe in promoting participatory processes, like KNOWING workshops, across various domains—citizens, academia, public administrations, etc.—to create a more holistic river management approach. 🤝 These processes empower socio-ecological knowledge across disciplines, especially from the perspective of citizenship, enriching the overall management of natural areas, particularly in fluvial systems.

📣 Approachable expert Warren McGrath is set to present - at the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) 2023 Annual Conference | Aratakina te ngaru o te huringa - Leading the wave of change in New Zealand next week. The conference is a convergence of professionals working in fields such as environmental management, ecology, sustainability, and impact assessment across Australia and New Zealand. 💡 Attendees include environmental consultants, scientists, academics, government representatives, industry professionals, and passionate advocates for sustainability. It's a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse community, sharing ideas and exploring innovative approaches to address environmental challenges. 💡 In his presentation titled, "Should climate vulnerability and future scenario mapping be an integral part of EIA to improve accuracy of predicted outcomes", Warren proposes that our traditional approach to impact assessment  may not be keeping up with the changes that are occurring to our environment.  He underlies the critical need to evaluate potential impacts, and the effectiveness of mitigation, not just in the present context, but also in the medium to long term, considering climate-induced alterations in the natural environment.  Stay tuned for updates and Warren's key takeaways from the conference. 🌏 #ecologicalaustralia #tetratech #leadingwithscience #approachableexpert #EIANZ #climateaction #sustainability #environmentalimpact #innovation 

The nature-culture debate on culture, environment and sustainable development. It is unsurprising that the nature-culture debate has always constituted an important binary in the construction of anthropological knowledge and discourse about culture, environment and sustainable development. The reclassification of nature and habitats into reserves and or parks for environmental sustainability motives, has received tons of criticism as development theorists argue that it indirectly reinforces western influence and negatively affects the livelihoods of the local people whose natural living habitat have been targeted as conservation reserves. Central to the debate put forth by global environmentalist agencies is the assertion that the problem of environmental degradation and the strategies embarked upon is a sustainable measure to curb the destructive human influence on the environment. In the context of global political governance, environmental issues have become increasingly prominent in the past two decades. Among other major international agreements that have been reached in the 1990s, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) paid particular attention to the protection of the “global commons”. Based on the realisation that many areas of the world that contain high levels of biodiversity are anthropogenic landscapes inhabited by indigenous and local communities, the significant role such communities play in preserving natural resources was underlined in the convention. Article 8 asserts the crucial role of protected areas in achieving the objectives of the agreement. “In particular, it calls for the acknowledgement and wider application of local knowledge systems as they may contribute to the protection of biodiversity in natural surroundings”. Building on this recognition that the effective management of protected landscapes depends on the participation of local residents, current approaches have been refined, linking conservation initiatives with community based development schemes. Recently, the nature-culture debate has seemingly shifted angles towards deliberate attempts of development agencies and environmental corporations to succinctly demarcate this nature-culture boundaries or relationships as a measure towards safeguarding the environment and natural habitats; hence conservation.

A big, multiyear research is coming on the best approach to climate and species diversity. We concur with the need for further research on the effects of greening the city, as we're involved with ROEF & NK Tegelwippen (the latter via fellow ROEF'er Remco Moen Marcar of Frank Lee). "Does a communal garden provide cool air and warm neighbourly relations? Does an additional row of trees increase biodiversity? These kinds of questions are key in the COMBINED project, on which Leiden scientists and residents of The Hague, among others, can work for six years with 4 million euros from NWO." "They will evaluate existing adaptations in the urban landscape. Van Oudenhoven: ‘It concerns so-called nature-based solutions such as green roofs, communal gardens, rows of trees and dune strips. The Dutch tile-flipping championship is another good example.’ Important research incoming, not just on the technical sustainable side, but also on social aspects. More info on this research below!

Did you know that the Conexão Mata Atlântica project, our #CaseStudyOfTheMonth, has already contributed to the conservation and restoration of approximately 2,440 hectares of land in the State of Rio de Janeiro? Moreover, the project brings significant environmental benefits: 🌊 Water regulation. 🌍 Increased connectivity between forest remnants. 🌿 Recovery and preservation of biodiversity. 🌞 Greenhouse gas mitigation. 🌱 Preservation of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. But that's not all. In the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Conexão Mata Atlântica also supports rural landowners in the environmental adequacy of their properties, providing training, technical assistance, and financial support. Through the project, degraded areas have been transformed into agroforestry and silvopastoral systems, increasing income for producers and generating economic, social, and environmental benefits. An investment of US$1.7 million in Payments for Environmental Services (PES) is transforming the lives of numerous families and boosting the local economy. Want to learn more about how Conexão Mata Atlântica is making a difference? Read the full case study by Secretaria de Estado do Ambiente e Sustentabilidade - SEAS in the #CSD at 👉 https://lnkd.in/ggUBqk84

Invitation to contribute to our special issue "Implications of the new environmental agendas for Land Use Policy" in the journal Land Use Policy (Elsevier) Environmental agendas such as Green Deal, carbon and biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and bioeconomy policies are high in policy agendas throughout the world. However, it is unknown how this might influence the dynamics of landscape change and land use policy. With this special issue we want to address the following questions: - How the environmental agendas from 2020 onwards are shaping land use policy and changing landscapes across the world? - How can we monitor and assess the pathways for transformative changes towards sustainability transition? This special issue analyses and discusses the nature, type, outreach, underlined processes and impacts in different sectors of activity, including energy, food fibre and timber production, tourism etc. Guest editors: Sonia Ribeiro (UFMG Universidade Federal Minas Gerais, Brazil), Isabel Loupa-Ramos (Tecnico, Tecnico Lisboa), Teresa Pinto Correia (Universidade de Évora), Werner Rolf (Technical University of Munich), Britaldo Soares Filho (UFMG Universidade Federal Minas Gerais, Brazil) Feel free to distribute #GreenDeal #LandUse #LandscapeEcology #AcademicWriting Manuscript submission deadline: December 31, 2023 Read full call: