Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions
Abstract UNESCO biosphere reserves serve as learning areas for sustainable development, where preserving ecosystem functionality is an imperative. However, this critical assumption has yet to be thoroughly examined. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated differences in satellite-derived prox...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02081-y |
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| author | Charlotte Gohr Henrik von Wehrden Sassan Saatchi Nathalie Pettorelli Pierre L. Ibisch |
| author_facet | Charlotte Gohr Henrik von Wehrden Sassan Saatchi Nathalie Pettorelli Pierre L. Ibisch |
| author_sort | Charlotte Gohr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract UNESCO biosphere reserves serve as learning areas for sustainable development, where preserving ecosystem functionality is an imperative. However, this critical assumption has yet to be thoroughly examined. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated differences in satellite-derived proxies of ecosystem functions in forests between inside and surrounding areas of biosphere reserves, globally. Our findings based on linear mixed effect models show that (i) only 18 of 119 biosphere reserves exhibited higher values for all forest ecosystem function proxies inside the reserves compared to outside, (ii) smaller reserves in fragmented forestscapes were more affected by hot day temperatures, and (iii) greater forest cover correlated with increased ecosystem functioning across all biomes. This study underscores the potential significance of biosphere reserves to biodiversity conservation efforts and the need for the integration of satellite-based, outcome-oriented proxies of ecosystem functions in assessments of protected area effectiveness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34fc050472e84d718e912cb325511972 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-34fc050472e84d718e912cb3255119722025-02-09T12:55:54ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-02-016111010.1038/s43247-025-02081-yEffectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functionsCharlotte Gohr0Henrik von Wehrden1Sassan Saatchi2Nathalie Pettorelli3Pierre L. Ibisch4Biosphere Reserves Institute and Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable DevelopmentCenter of Methods and Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana UniversityJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonBiosphere Reserves Institute and Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable DevelopmentAbstract UNESCO biosphere reserves serve as learning areas for sustainable development, where preserving ecosystem functionality is an imperative. However, this critical assumption has yet to be thoroughly examined. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated differences in satellite-derived proxies of ecosystem functions in forests between inside and surrounding areas of biosphere reserves, globally. Our findings based on linear mixed effect models show that (i) only 18 of 119 biosphere reserves exhibited higher values for all forest ecosystem function proxies inside the reserves compared to outside, (ii) smaller reserves in fragmented forestscapes were more affected by hot day temperatures, and (iii) greater forest cover correlated with increased ecosystem functioning across all biomes. This study underscores the potential significance of biosphere reserves to biodiversity conservation efforts and the need for the integration of satellite-based, outcome-oriented proxies of ecosystem functions in assessments of protected area effectiveness.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02081-y |
| spellingShingle | Charlotte Gohr Henrik von Wehrden Sassan Saatchi Nathalie Pettorelli Pierre L. Ibisch Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions |
| title_full | Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions |
| title_short | Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions |
| title_sort | effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02081-y |
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