A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2015

William J Sutherland; Mick Clout; Michael Depledge; Lynn V Dicks; Jason Dinsdale; Abigail C Entwistle; Erica Fleishman; David W Gibbons; Brandon Keim; Fiona A Lickorish; Kathryn A Monk; Nancy Ockendon; Lloyd S Peck; Jules Pretty; Johan Rockström; Mark D Spalding; Femke H Tonneijck; Bonnie C Wintle

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2014.11.002

A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2015

Trends Ecol Evol. 2015 Jan;30(1):17-24. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2014.11.002. Epub 2014 Nov 27.

Authors

William J Sutherland¹, Mick Clout², Michael Depledge³, Lynn V Dicks⁴, Jason Dinsdale⁵, Abigail C Entwistle⁶, Erica Fleishman⁷, David W Gibbons⁸, Brandon Keim⁹, Fiona A Lickorish¹⁰, Kathryn A Monk¹¹, Nancy Ockendon⁴, Lloyd S Peck¹², Jules Pretty¹³, Johan Rockström¹⁴, Mark D Spalding¹⁵, Femke H Tonneijck¹⁶, Bonnie C Wintle¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK. Electronic address: w.sutherland@zoo.cam.ac.uk.
² Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, PB 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
³ European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Truro, TR1 3HD, UK.
⁴ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.
⁵ Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH, UK.
⁶ Fauna & Flora International, 4th Floor, Jupiter House, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD, UK.
⁷ John Muir Institute of the Environment, The Barn, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
⁸ RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK.
⁹ WIRED, 520 3rd Street, Third Floor at Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA.
¹⁰ Institute for Environment, Health, Risks, and Futures, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK.
¹¹ Natural Resources Wales, Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0TP, UK.
¹² British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
¹³ Department of Biological Sciences and Essex Sustainability Institute, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
¹⁴ Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, Kräftriket2B, SE-106 19 Stockholm, Sweden.
¹⁵ Global Marine Team, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.
¹⁶ Wetlands International, P.O. Box 471, 6700 AL Wageningen, The Netherlands.
¹⁷ Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group, National Environmental Research Program Environmental Decisions Hub, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

PMID: 25433442
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2014.11.002

Abstract

This paper presents the results of our sixth annual horizon scan, which aims to identify phenomena that may have substantial effects on the global environment, but are not widely known or well understood. A group of professional horizon scanners, researchers, practitioners, and a journalist identified 15 topics via an iterative, Delphi-like process. The topics include a novel class of insecticide compounds, legalisation of recreational drugs, and the emergence of a new ecosystem associated with ice retreat in the Antarctic.

Keywords: Antarctica; drugs; environment; future; priority setting; public health; trade.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Climate Change
Conservation of Natural Resources / trends*
Ecosystem
Environment
Environmental Pollution
Insecticides

Substances

Insecticides