Faurecia’s Post

Beatrice Crona - Reporting from the #WorldBiodiversityForum in Davos 2024 has seen the first ever session on Finance and Biodiversity at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos. This is a welcome addition to the program, and judging from the number of people in the room it was a topic that attracted significant attention. The conveners has done a great job of attracting speakers who tackled the interface of Finance and Biodiversity from a diversity of angles. A quick summary is therefore difficult. But financial practitioners and biodiversity scientists are beginning to have a conversation at scale. That is, a critical mass of people from both sides are starting to engage, and this is positive. However, it was clear from discussions that the demand from the corporate and financial sector for easy-to-use metrics, tools and procedures still sit uncomfortably with the scientific community given the complexity and divergent ways of conceptualizing and measuring biodiversity. Yet the scientific community is also observing the rapid development in the Biodiversity Finance space; from rudimentary attempts at already launching biodiversity credits, to the development of marketplaces for Nature-Based Solutions providers, and of course the rapidly developing and consolidating space of corporate reporting. This necessitates an engagement by scientists with this hybrid space and I think (and hope) that the Finance and Biodiversity session will become a recurring feature at the WBF in years to come. Because we still have a lot to learn, from both sides (finance and science) and we need to engage to leverage science for improved decision-making quickly, yet without compromising on scientific integrity. I believe it can be done, and I think the dialogues, collaborative learning and hopefully co-design of usable concepts and tools emerging from the FinBio program (and broader Stockholm Resilience Centre community) are a testament to that.

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Despite technological advancements in monitoring climate change and developing adaptation technology, data on biodiversity, seas and forests remains comparatively poor and somewhat flawed. Even though we've set 23 ambitious targets as part of COP 15 (Biodiversity Conference) to be met by 2030, addressing the limitations in our measurement systems is important. We cannot effectively protect what we don't fully understand.   Scientists and researchers propose innovative systems that combine satellite imagery with on-ground monitoring tools like camera traps, acoustic monitoring, and DNA barcoding. These systems aim to collect accurate and real-time data. Several countries are also establishing their own Biodiversity Observation Networks (BONs) to gain deeper insights into raw planetary data. 32 planetary "dark spots" on Earth were identified in 2023 that harbor rich plant biodiversity, yet suffer from a lack of data. Without comprehensive information systems in place, our assessments and progress towards conservation will be inherently flawed.

While humanity is remembering our common stewardship role called to play for life on earth, and has started to track the natural world more accurately through innovations in remote sensing, eDNA, bioacoustics and citizen science, there is a need to demonstrate whether, in aggregate, nature is in recovery at different scales. NaturaTech LAC is an Open Innovation effort to develop and pilot projects across the Americas to accelerate the transition to a #RegenerativeEconomy by not only scaling the 4th Industrial Revolution, but also driving standardized and comparable nature metrics to achieve genuine outcomes in halting and reversing nature loss. It builds upon learnings from the carbon neutrality and Paris Agreement alignment, to create guidelines for #NaturePositive which hinders private sector engagement, accountability, financial disclosure, and the tracking of progress towards the mission of ‘halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030’ of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of 2022. From restoring connectivity of biodiversity hotspots across the continental jaguar corridor with indigenous peoples, to improving marine protection with multisector blue economy plans, MRV systems are the cornerstone for success. Looking not to replace but enhance Ancestral Knowledge Systems and Indigenous Science, #NaturaTech will without doubt have a profound impact upon private and public development in the region. #InternationalBiodiversityDay 🪷 Graham Watkins Gregory Watson Irene Arias Hofman, CFA César Buenadicha Svante Persson Constanza Gomez Mont Josefina Klinger Klinger Gregory Landua

🔉🪱🐛Can we use bioacoustics to help measure below ground soil biodiversity? "Sounds of Soil: A New World of Interactions under Our Feet?" explores the concept of soil as a dynamic environment where sound and vibrations, produced by various soil biota, play a significant role in communication and interaction. https://lnkd.in/etAguAis It suggests that these acoustic signals, previously overlooked, could be crucial for understanding the behavior of soil organisms, such as their responses to predators or disturbances. The paper proposes the potential for 'acoustic-based' precision agriculture and raises questions about the impact of sound pollution on soil ecosystems. We recently explored emerging tech from eDNA to Bioacoustics for measuring biodiversity in our Poscast series https://lnkd.in/etSRr7Y2

The term “#Biodiversity” refers to the variety of all life forms on #Earth, including plants, animals, microorganisms, and the ecosystems they form. (National Geographic)   Here are some key facts about it:   🔹 #Ecosystem Health: Diverse ecosystems are more resilient and can better withstand environmental changes. They provide us with essentials like clean air, water, and fertile soil. (UN)   🔹 #Climate Change: Healthy ecosystems are essential for regulating the climate. Forests, for example, absorb carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate global warming. (UN)   🔹 Alarming Loss: We're losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. According to the WWF, #species are disappearing 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than the natural extinction rate. Over 1 million species are currently at risk of extinction. (WWF)   🔹 Human Impact: Habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change are the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Our actions directly impact the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. (IUCN)   Protecting biodiversity is not just about saving species; it's about ensuring the health and sustainability of our planet. Simple actions like reducing waste, supporting sustainable practices, and conserving natural habitats can make a big difference. #BIOTRAILS’ main mission is to generate knowledge and develop tools to inspire and accelerate positive biodiversity-related transformative change in our society. Using Participatory Systems Dynamics Modelling (#PSDM), it will consider the complex interconnections between the indirect drivers of change in the value chains of four products. For more detailed insights visit the BIOTRAILS website: https://lnkd.in/drJwK9w4. Sources: · National Geographic: Biodiversity (Encyclopedia) · WWF - Living Planet Report 2020 · United Nations/ UN environment programme · IUCN: Biodiversity DRAXIS Environmental S.A. eBOS ETH Zürich Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche White Research Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT adelphi Harokopio University of Athens Resilient Cities Network

Dear all, It’s been a motivating year science-wise, with important progress on our research on the basic understanding of nature, the emergence of unprecedented #biosphere conditions, and how to get the best of them. It’s been the first year for Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) (https://econovo.au.dk), our Danmarks Grundforskningsfond / The Danish National Research Foundation Center of Excellence on exactly these topics & we have had a very good start in terms of our science, recruitment & collaborations. Not least this year’s many #climate records (https://bit.ly/3NGfwQs) and political crises have made the need for our work even clearer. The situation is worrisome – with global temperatures reaching unprecedented levels for >10,000 years, free democracies under rising pressure from totalitarian regimes & ideologies (https://bit.ly/4aHDcxJ), and ongoing, severe #biodiversity losses, and insufficient, uncertain political responses (see e.g., UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023 https://bit.ly/4aAol81 and this commentary from the Atlantic Council on the inadequate support for Ukraine https://bit.ly/41ECRaW). But, it feels meaningful to do something towards a better future. It was wonderful to receive the Carlsberg Foundation’s Research Prize this year (https://bit.ly/48EGK1T) – I’m grateful to the foundation and the international Prize Committee appointed by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and the foundation. I also want to thank VILLUM FONDEN # VELUX FONDEN (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) for their generous VILLUM Investigator grant 2017-2023, which has allowed to build a strong foundation for our ECONOVO work with many of the resulting studies coming out this year. For an overview of the scientific publications from our team this year, see my Google Scholar page (https://bit.ly/3S0t6k4). For press releases for a few of these studies, see e.g.: ·      People, not the climate, caused the decline of the giant #mammals https://bit.ly/3TIjueT (Nature Communications) ·      Europe was not covered by dense #forest before the arrival of modern humans https://bit.ly/47jgYyU (Science Advances) ·      Large #herbivores keep #invasiveplants at bay https://bit.ly/3vqIaOX (Nature Ecology & Evolution) ·      The diversity of present #tree species is shaped by #climatechange in the last 21,000 years https://bit.ly/47hgfhR (Science Advances) To make a difference, it’s of course not enough to “just” do our science, and it’s been highly motivating to engage with students in teaching & training the broader society in varied manners of outreach and interactions, e.g., via the Danish Biodiversity Council. The interview “Er ny natur værre end den gamle?” (https://bit.ly/48BVnmi, in Danish) in the DR podcast series “Vildt Naturligt” was a nice opportunity to discuss many of the important themes on current and future #nature . Warm thanks to collaborators, students & funders for interactions and support. Best wishes for 2024!

Three CST researchers and experts in their fields - Julia van Velden, Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs and Tanja Hichert - recently published a journal article on "Futures for invasive alien species management: using bottom-up innovations to envision positive systemic change" in the journal, Sustainability Science. The article discusses how invasive species management in South Africa can be reimagined to achieve a more sustainable, just and biodiverse future. As one of the principal drivers of change in the Anthropocene, it is vital to investigate how current approaches to managing invasive species may be lacking. Researchers use bottom-up, experimental initiatives – so-called “seeds” - to stimulate creative visions for the future of this challenging sector, and explore how these futures can be practically achieved through collaborative actions. If this interests you, click on the link to read the full article.

Can we develop any minimum viable product here in Pakistan along these lines?