As part of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K‐M GBF), signatory nations of the... more As part of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K‐M GBF), signatory nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aim to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 (Target 3). This bold ambition has been widely celebrated and its implementation seen as pivotal for the overall success of K‐M GBF. However, given that many CBD signatory nations prioritised quantity (e.g., area) over quality (e.g., important areas for biodiversity) when attempting to meet their 2010 CBD Aichi protected area commitments, it is critical that nations focus on protecting those terrestrial, inland waters and marine areas that have the best chance of halting and reversing biodiversity loss and thus contribute to Goal A of the K‐M GBF. Here we provide a review on the type of areas that nations need to prioritise when implementing Target 3 that relates to area ‘quality’: areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and m...
The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies bet... more The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies between Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania and Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique. The area is dominated by miombo woodland with a mosaic of different land uses. Unfortunately, this mosaic of wildlife, forests, people with a variety of often competing land uses, as well as the presence of an international border close by, helps make it one of the worst impacted areas in Africa in terms of elephant poaching for the ivory trade. Despite the recent resurgence of elephant poaching in Tanzania, and in particular within the Selous ecosystem which includes the REP area, the results show the project has managed to curb elephant poaching. It is believed that the local elephant population within the REP area should remain stable if current anti-poaching input levels can be maintained. The success of the REP may be attributed to various approaches and activities that are beyond the scope of c...
Citation: Woodley, S., Middlemiss, J. & Borg, K." Islands to Networks-Solution f... more Citation: Woodley, S., Middlemiss, J. & Borg, K." Islands to Networks-Solution for Nature Conservation?." Paper Commissioned for Canadian Parks for Tomorrow: 40th Anniversary Conference, May 8 to 11, 2008, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
The rapid global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, s... more The rapid global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, show humanity's vulnerability to zoonotic disease pandemics. Although anthropogenic land use change is known to be the major driver of zoonotic pathogen spillover from wildlife to human populations, the scientific underpinnings of land use-induced zoonotic spillover have rarely been investigated from the landscape perspective. We call for interdisciplinary collaborations to advance knowledge on land use implications for zoonotic disease emergence with a view toward informing the decisions needed to protect human health. In particular, we urge a mechanistic focus on the zoonotic pathogen infect–shed–spill–spread cascade to enable protection of landscape immunity—the ecological conditions that reduce the risk of pathogen spillover from reservoir hosts—as a conservation and biosecurity priority. Results are urgently needed to formulate an integrated, holistic set of science-based policy and management measures that effectively and cost-efficiently minimise zoonotic disease risk. We consider opportunities to better institute the necessary scientific collaboration, address primary technical challenges, and advance policy and management issues that warrant particular attention to effectively address health security from local to global scales.
Dead organic matter is an important structural and functional element in natural forests, but its... more Dead organic matter is an important structural and functional element in natural forests, but its quantity, quality, and spatial distribution are greatly modified by intensive harvesting and management through forestry. From the perspective of conflicts with biodiversity, the most important changes are associated with reductions in the abundance of snags, cavity trees, and coarse-woody debris, all of which are well known as critical habitat elements for a wide range of indigenous species. Changes in the depth and quality of the forest floor of managed stands are also important for some species and guilds of wildlife. Resolution of this conflict between forestry and biodiversity will require the design and implementation of management systems that accommodate the critical habitat qualities associated with dead organic matter, particularly with large-dimension deadwood and cavities. This goal may be most effectively achieved by an integrated strategy that involves (i) basing forest-ma...
Earth systems are under ever greater pressure from human population expansion and intensifying na... more Earth systems are under ever greater pressure from human population expansion and intensifying natural resource use. Consequently, novel micro-organisms that cause disease are emerging, dynamics of pathogens in wildlife are altered by land use change bringing wildlife and people in closer contact. We provide a brief overview of the processes governing ‘land use-induced spillover’, emphasising ecological conditions that foster ‘landscape immunity’ and reduce the likelihood of wildlife that host pathogens coming into contact with people. If ecosystems remain healthy, wildlife , and people are more likely to remain healthy too. We recommend practices to reduce the risk of future pandemics through protected and conserved area management. Our proposals reinforce existing conservation strategies while elevating biodiversity conservation as a priority health measure. Pandemic prevention requires that human health be regarded as an ecological service. We call on multi-lateral conservation f...
A workshop was convened in Chile in August 2010 as part of the 7th International Deer Biology Con... more A workshop was convened in Chile in August 2010 as part of the 7th International Deer Biology Congress (IDBC). Its aim was to explore global differences in the policies and management of overabundant deer in protected areas. The main goal of the workshop was to provide South American researchers and managers with a snapshot of some of the approaches to management of deer overabundance used in a diverse array of case studies from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Various case studies were presented to illustrate the different methodological approaches in implementing deer control measures. Some general recommendations were formulated.
The rapid, global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19 disease, d... more The rapid, global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19 disease, demonstrates humanity’s vulnerability to zoonotic disease pandemics. Although anthropogenic land use change is known to be the major driver of zoonotic pathogen spillover from wildlife to human populations, the scientific underpinnings of land use-induced zoonotic spillover have rarely been investigated from the macro-ecology perspective. We call on colleagues to advance our knowledge of land use implications for zoonotic disease emergence. A wide range of disciplinary cosmologies, approaches, and tools are needed to identify the environmental triggers of spillover and inform the decisions needed to protect public health by reducing spillover risk as a biosecurity priority. We call for a mechanistic focus on the zoonotic pathogen “infect-shed-spill-spread” cascade and review the relevant literature, elucidating the current biases and information gaps. We also consider the opportunities fo...
The world’s climate is changing rapidly and protected areas are an increasingly important compone... more The world’s climate is changing rapidly and protected areas are an increasingly important component of national and international climate change adaptation strategies. These guidelines articulate essential elements for adaptation planning and implementation, and it describes additional resources that site managers can use right away.
Human impacts on the Earth’s biosphere are driving the global biodiversity crisis. Governments ar... more Human impacts on the Earth’s biosphere are driving the global biodiversity crisis. Governments are preparing to agree on a set of actions intended to halt the loss of biodiversity and put it on a path to recovery by 2050. We provide evidence that the proposed actions can bend the curve for biodiversity, but only if these actions are implemented urgently and in an integrated manner.
As part of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K‐M GBF), signatory nations of the... more As part of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K‐M GBF), signatory nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aim to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 (Target 3). This bold ambition has been widely celebrated and its implementation seen as pivotal for the overall success of K‐M GBF. However, given that many CBD signatory nations prioritised quantity (e.g., area) over quality (e.g., important areas for biodiversity) when attempting to meet their 2010 CBD Aichi protected area commitments, it is critical that nations focus on protecting those terrestrial, inland waters and marine areas that have the best chance of halting and reversing biodiversity loss and thus contribute to Goal A of the K‐M GBF. Here we provide a review on the type of areas that nations need to prioritise when implementing Target 3 that relates to area ‘quality’: areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and m...
The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies bet... more The Ruvuma Elephant Project (REP) area is located in the United Republic of Tanzania and lies between Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania and Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique. The area is dominated by miombo woodland with a mosaic of different land uses. Unfortunately, this mosaic of wildlife, forests, people with a variety of often competing land uses, as well as the presence of an international border close by, helps make it one of the worst impacted areas in Africa in terms of elephant poaching for the ivory trade. Despite the recent resurgence of elephant poaching in Tanzania, and in particular within the Selous ecosystem which includes the REP area, the results show the project has managed to curb elephant poaching. It is believed that the local elephant population within the REP area should remain stable if current anti-poaching input levels can be maintained. The success of the REP may be attributed to various approaches and activities that are beyond the scope of c...
Citation: Woodley, S., Middlemiss, J. & Borg, K." Islands to Networks-Solution f... more Citation: Woodley, S., Middlemiss, J. & Borg, K." Islands to Networks-Solution for Nature Conservation?." Paper Commissioned for Canadian Parks for Tomorrow: 40th Anniversary Conference, May 8 to 11, 2008, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
The rapid global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, s... more The rapid global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, show humanity's vulnerability to zoonotic disease pandemics. Although anthropogenic land use change is known to be the major driver of zoonotic pathogen spillover from wildlife to human populations, the scientific underpinnings of land use-induced zoonotic spillover have rarely been investigated from the landscape perspective. We call for interdisciplinary collaborations to advance knowledge on land use implications for zoonotic disease emergence with a view toward informing the decisions needed to protect human health. In particular, we urge a mechanistic focus on the zoonotic pathogen infect–shed–spill–spread cascade to enable protection of landscape immunity—the ecological conditions that reduce the risk of pathogen spillover from reservoir hosts—as a conservation and biosecurity priority. Results are urgently needed to formulate an integrated, holistic set of science-based policy and management measures that effectively and cost-efficiently minimise zoonotic disease risk. We consider opportunities to better institute the necessary scientific collaboration, address primary technical challenges, and advance policy and management issues that warrant particular attention to effectively address health security from local to global scales.
Dead organic matter is an important structural and functional element in natural forests, but its... more Dead organic matter is an important structural and functional element in natural forests, but its quantity, quality, and spatial distribution are greatly modified by intensive harvesting and management through forestry. From the perspective of conflicts with biodiversity, the most important changes are associated with reductions in the abundance of snags, cavity trees, and coarse-woody debris, all of which are well known as critical habitat elements for a wide range of indigenous species. Changes in the depth and quality of the forest floor of managed stands are also important for some species and guilds of wildlife. Resolution of this conflict between forestry and biodiversity will require the design and implementation of management systems that accommodate the critical habitat qualities associated with dead organic matter, particularly with large-dimension deadwood and cavities. This goal may be most effectively achieved by an integrated strategy that involves (i) basing forest-ma...
Earth systems are under ever greater pressure from human population expansion and intensifying na... more Earth systems are under ever greater pressure from human population expansion and intensifying natural resource use. Consequently, novel micro-organisms that cause disease are emerging, dynamics of pathogens in wildlife are altered by land use change bringing wildlife and people in closer contact. We provide a brief overview of the processes governing ‘land use-induced spillover’, emphasising ecological conditions that foster ‘landscape immunity’ and reduce the likelihood of wildlife that host pathogens coming into contact with people. If ecosystems remain healthy, wildlife , and people are more likely to remain healthy too. We recommend practices to reduce the risk of future pandemics through protected and conserved area management. Our proposals reinforce existing conservation strategies while elevating biodiversity conservation as a priority health measure. Pandemic prevention requires that human health be regarded as an ecological service. We call on multi-lateral conservation f...
A workshop was convened in Chile in August 2010 as part of the 7th International Deer Biology Con... more A workshop was convened in Chile in August 2010 as part of the 7th International Deer Biology Congress (IDBC). Its aim was to explore global differences in the policies and management of overabundant deer in protected areas. The main goal of the workshop was to provide South American researchers and managers with a snapshot of some of the approaches to management of deer overabundance used in a diverse array of case studies from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Various case studies were presented to illustrate the different methodological approaches in implementing deer control measures. Some general recommendations were formulated.
The rapid, global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19 disease, d... more The rapid, global spread and human health impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19 disease, demonstrates humanity’s vulnerability to zoonotic disease pandemics. Although anthropogenic land use change is known to be the major driver of zoonotic pathogen spillover from wildlife to human populations, the scientific underpinnings of land use-induced zoonotic spillover have rarely been investigated from the macro-ecology perspective. We call on colleagues to advance our knowledge of land use implications for zoonotic disease emergence. A wide range of disciplinary cosmologies, approaches, and tools are needed to identify the environmental triggers of spillover and inform the decisions needed to protect public health by reducing spillover risk as a biosecurity priority. We call for a mechanistic focus on the zoonotic pathogen “infect-shed-spill-spread” cascade and review the relevant literature, elucidating the current biases and information gaps. We also consider the opportunities fo...
The world’s climate is changing rapidly and protected areas are an increasingly important compone... more The world’s climate is changing rapidly and protected areas are an increasingly important component of national and international climate change adaptation strategies. These guidelines articulate essential elements for adaptation planning and implementation, and it describes additional resources that site managers can use right away.
Human impacts on the Earth’s biosphere are driving the global biodiversity crisis. Governments ar... more Human impacts on the Earth’s biosphere are driving the global biodiversity crisis. Governments are preparing to agree on a set of actions intended to halt the loss of biodiversity and put it on a path to recovery by 2050. We provide evidence that the proposed actions can bend the curve for biodiversity, but only if these actions are implemented urgently and in an integrated manner.
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Papers by Stephen Woodley