A horizon scan of emerging global biological conservation issues for 2020

William J. Sutherland, Maria P. Dias, Lynn V. Dicks, Helen Doran, Abigail C. Entwistle, Erica Fleishman, David W. Gibbons, Rosie Hails, Alice C. Hughes, Jonathan Hughes, Ruth Kelman, Xavier Le Roux, Becky LeAnstey, Fiona A. Lickorish, Luke Maggs, James W. Pearce-Higgins, Lloyd S. Peck, Nathalie Pettorelli, Jules Pretty, Mark D. SpaldingFemke H. Tonneijck, Jonathan Wentworth, Ann Thornton

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)
17 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In this horizon scan, we highlight 15 emerging issues of potential relevance to global conservation in 2020. Seven relate to potentially extensive changes in vegetation or ecological systems. These changes are either relatively new, for example, conversion of kelp forests to simpler macroalgal systems, or may occur in the future, for example, as a result of the derivation of nanocelluose from wood or the rapid expansion of small hydropower schemes. Other topics highlight potential changes in national legislation that may have global effect on international agreements. Our panel of 23 scientists and practitioners selected these issues using a modified version of the Delphi technique from a long-list of 89 potential topics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81-90
Number of pages10
JournalTrends in Ecology and Evolution
Volume35
Issue number1
Early online date5 Dec 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • Delphi
  • global biological conservation
  • Horizon scan

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