Nature sustainability
Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2020
Forest subsidies in Chile
Given the benefits of forests, there are growing efforts to restore lost ones. This study finds that between 1986 and 2011, Chile’s forest subsidies encouraged expansion of plantations with exotic trees at the expense of native forest, likely reducing biodiversity and not increasing aboveground carbon storage.
See Heilmayr et al.
Image: Robert Heilmayr, University of California, Santa Barbara. Cover design: Valentina Monaco
Editorial
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Editorial | 14 September 2020
Wildfires and politics
Sustainable interventions to manage wildfires are needed but require understanding the causes of such events.
Comment & Opinion
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Comment | 03 August 2020
Imagining transformative biodiversity futures
Biodiversity research is replete with scientific studies depicting future trajectories of decline that have failed to mobilize transformative change. Imagination and creativity can foster new ways to address longstanding problems to create better futures for people and the planet.
- Carina Wyborn
- Federico Davila
- & Emma Woods
Q&A | 03 August 2020
A collaborative process
Jon Hutton and Melanie Ryan, respectively the Director and the Head of Programme of the Luc Hoffmann Institute, tell Nature Sustainability about the making of the Biodiversity Revisited project.
- Monica Contestabile
News & Views
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News & Views | 11 May 2020
Shield science for robust decisions
Political pressure on the creation and use of scientific evidence to support environmental approvals for the Adani coal mine has undermined the legitimacy of these approvals. We need to harness the power of law more effectively to protect the independence and rigour of scientific processes, and enable transparent consideration of the evidence.
- Erin O’Donnell
- & Rebecca Nelson
Reviews
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Perspective | 18 May 2020
Sustainable commoditization of seafood
For seafood, concerns about food security often clash with those about sustainability. This Perspective proposes the reconciling concept of ‘sustainable commoditization’ and identifies actions to catalyse this for seafood in the Global South.
- Ben Belton
- Thomas Reardon
- & David Zilberman
Review Article | 11 May 2020
Culture and low-carbon energy transitions
Culture influences low-carbon energy transitions and as a result should be considered in the design of relevant policies. Focusing on a selection of low-carbon technologies and behavioural practices, this Review highlights the role of culture with respect to different dimensions of sustainability.
- Benjamin K. Sovacool
- & Steve Griffiths
Research
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Article | 22 June 2020
Divergent responses of soil organic carbon to afforestation
Forest planting is considered a natural climate solution, but effects on soil carbon are unclear. This study, in northern China, finds that planting forests increases carbon in soils poor in it and vice versa.
- Songbai Hong
- Guodong Yin
- & Anping Chen
Article | 22 June 2020
Impacts of Chilean forest subsidies on forest cover, carbon and biodiversity
After forest loss, public subsidies often encourage reforestation with tree plantations. This modelling study finds that between 1986 and 2011, Chile’s forest subsidies probably reduced biodiversity without increasing carbon stored in aboveground plant material.
- Robert Heilmayr
- Cristian Echeverría
- & Eric F. Lambin
Article | 25 May 2020
Smart renewable electricity portfolios in West Africa
A smart management of hydropower, combined with solar and wind energy, can provide the flexibility needed to power West Africa and at cheaper cost than using natural gas, according to a simulation model.
- Sebastian Sterl
- Inne Vanderkelen
- & Wim Thiery
Article | 22 June 2020
Global reduction of solar power generation efficiency due to aerosols and panel soiling
Air pollution and dust can reduce photovoltaic electricity generation. This study shows that, without cleaning and with precipitation-only removal, particulate matter can reduce photovoltaic generation in polluted and desert regions by more than 50%, with soiling being the major cause of reduction.
- Xiaoyuan Li
- Denise L. Mauzerall
- & Mike H. Bergin
Article | 18 May 2020
Disruption of emergency response to vulnerable populations during floods
Natural disasters can obstruct first responders when and where they are needed most. This analysis models the response of emergency service stations during flooding events in England to find major impacts on ambulance and fire services at a time of escalating flood risks to the country.
- Dapeng Yu
- Jie Yin
- & Shiyuan Xu
Article | 01 June 2020
Resource stress and subsistence diversification across societies
Ethnographic and anthropological records of 91 societies show that chronic resource scarcity and environmental unpredictability are linked to higher subsistence diversity and resilience.
- Carol R. Ember
- Erik J. Ringen
- & Emily Pitek
Article | 25 May 2020
Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour through green identity labelling
Four experiments where participants choose between products ‘for green shoppers’ and/or cheaper products show that the green label encourages purchases only in the absence of price discount.
- Daniel Schwartz
- George Loewenstein
- & Loreto Agüero-Gaete
Article | 18 May 2020
Sustainable production of value-added carbon nanomaterials from biomass pyrolysis
Biomass pyrolysis for renewable energy and chemicals offers sustainability advantages but is expensive. This study shows a route to improve both the sustainability and economic viability of biomass pyrolysis by using pyrolytic gases and waste heat to fabricate high-quality carbon nanomaterials.
- Shun Zhang
- Shun-Feng Jiang
- & Han-Qing Yu
Analysis | 01 June 2020
PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste
The renewable polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) has potential to replace the fossil-based polyethylene terephthalate, but the energy-intensive production hinders wider adoption. This study shows that PEF from industrial CO2 emissions and non-food biomass can save 40.5% emissions and energy use.
- L. Jiang
- A. Gonzalez-Diaz
- & A. J. Smallbone
Amendments & Corrections
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Author Correction | 27 July 2020
Author Correction: Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests
- W. J. Blaser
- J. Oppong
- & J. Six
Author Correction | 03 August 2020
Author Correction: Political dynamics and governance of World Heritage ecosystems
- T. H. Morrison
- W. N. Adger
- & T. P. Hughes
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