A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2022

William J Sutherland; Philip W Atkinson; Stuart H M Butchart; Marcela Capaja; Lynn V Dicks; Erica Fleishman; Kevin J Gaston; Rosemary S Hails; Alice C Hughes; Becky Le Anstey; Xavier Le Roux; Fiona A Lickorish; Luke Maggs; Noor Noor; Thomasina E E Oldfield; James E Palardy; Lloyd S Peck; Nathalie Pettorelli; Jules Pretty; Mark D Spalding; Femke H Tonneijck; Gemma Truelove; James E M Watson; Jonathan Wentworth; Jeremy D Wilson; Ann Thornton

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.014

A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2022

Trends Ecol Evol. 2022 Jan;37(1):95-104. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.014. Epub 2021 Nov 19.

Authors

William J Sutherland¹, Philip W Atkinson², Stuart H M Butchart³, Marcela Capaja⁴, Lynn V Dicks⁵, Erica Fleishman⁶, Kevin J Gaston⁷, Rosemary S Hails⁸, Alice C Hughes⁹, Becky Le Anstey¹⁰, Xavier Le Roux¹¹, Fiona A Lickorish¹², Luke Maggs¹³, Noor Noor¹⁴, Thomasina E E Oldfield¹⁵, James E Palardy¹⁶, Lloyd S Peck¹⁷, Nathalie Pettorelli¹⁸, Jules Pretty¹⁹, Mark D Spalding²⁰, Femke H Tonneijck²¹, Gemma Truelove²², James E M Watson²³, Jonathan Wentworth²⁴, Jeremy D Wilson²⁵, Ann Thornton²⁶

Affiliations

¹ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine's (BioRISC), St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1RL, UK. Electronic address: w.sutherland@zoo.cam.ac.uk.
² British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford IP24 2PU, UK.
³ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK.
⁴ Natural England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Rd, Cambridge CB2 8DR, UK.
⁵ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
⁶ College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
⁷ Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.
⁸ National Trust, Heelis, Swindon SN2 2NA, UK.
⁹ Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 666303, PR China.
¹⁰ Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK.
¹¹ Microbial Ecology Centre, UMR1418 INRAE, UMR5557 CNRS, University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; BiodivERsA, la Fondation pour la recherche sur la biodiversité, 195 rue Saint Jacques, 75005 Paris, France.
¹² UK Research and Consultancy Services (RCS) Ltd, Valletts Cottage, Westhope, Hereford HR4 8BU, UK.
¹³ Natural Resources Wales, Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0TP, UK.
¹⁴ UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK.
¹⁵ TRAFFIC, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK.
¹⁶ The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA.
¹⁷ British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK.
¹⁸ Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
¹⁹ Centre for Public and Policy Engagement and School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.
²⁰ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; The Nature Conservancy, Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Pian dei Mantellini, Siena 53100, Italy.
²¹ Wetlands International, 6700 AL Wageningen, The Netherlands.
²² UK Research and Innovation, Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1EU, UK.
²³ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
²⁴ Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 14 Tothill Street, Westminster, London SW1H 9NB, UK.
²⁵ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Centre for Conservation Science, 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh EH12 9DH, UK.
²⁶ Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK.

PMID: 34809998
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.014

Abstract

We present the results of our 13th annual horizon scan of issues likely to impact on biodiversity conservation. Issues are either novel within the biological conservation sector or could cause a substantial step-change in impact, either globally or regionally. Our global panel of 26 scientists and practitioners identified 15 issues that we believe to represent the highest priorities for tracking and action. Many of the issues we identified, including the impact of satellite megaconstellations and the use of long-distance wireless energy transfer, have both elements of threats and emerging opportunities. A recent state-sponsored application to commence deep-sea mining represents a significant step-change in impact. We hope that this horizon scan will increase research and policy attention on the highlighted issues.

Keywords: biodiversity conservation; emerging; global; horizon scan.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Biodiversity*
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Global Health / trends*
Policy