Conserving critical sites for biodiversity provides disproportionate benefits to people

Frank Wugt Larsen; Will R. Turner; Thomas M. Brooks

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036971

Conserving critical sites for biodiversity provides disproportionate benefits to people

Frank Wugt Larsen, Will R. Turner, Thomas M. Brooks

Ecology and Evolution

26 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Protecting natural habitats in priority areas is essential to halt the loss of biodiversity. Yet whether these benefits for biodiversity also yield benefits for human well-being remains controversial. Here we assess the potential human well-being benefits of safeguarding a global network of sites identified as top priorities for the conservation of threatened species. Conserving these sites would yield benefits - in terms of a) climate change mitigation through avoidance of CO₂ emissions from deforestation; b) freshwater services to downstream human populations; c) retention of option value; and d) benefits to maintenance of human cultural diversity - significantly exceeding those anticipated from randomly selected sites within the same countries and ecoregions. Results suggest that safeguarding sites important for biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to human well-being.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	e36971 EP
Tidsskrift	PLOS ONE
Vol/bind	7
Udgave nummer	5
Antal sider	9
ISSN	1932-6203
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036971
Status	Udgivet - 30 maj 2012

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1371/journal.pone.0036971

Citationsformater

@article{12fe735247a2445093901af47d412d19,

title = "Conserving critical sites for biodiversity provides disproportionate benefits to people",

abstract = "Protecting natural habitats in priority areas is essential to halt the loss of biodiversity. Yet whether these benefits for biodiversity also yield benefits for human well-being remains controversial. Here we assess the potential human well-being benefits of safeguarding a global network of sites identified as top priorities for the conservation of threatened species. Conserving these sites would yield benefits - in terms of a) climate change mitigation through avoidance of CO2 emissions from deforestation; b) freshwater services to downstream human populations; c) retention of option value; and d) benefits to maintenance of human cultural diversity - significantly exceeding those anticipated from randomly selected sites within the same countries and ecoregions. Results suggest that safeguarding sites important for biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to human well-being.",

author = "Larsen, {Frank Wugt} and Turner, {Will R.} and Brooks, {Thomas M.}",

year = "2012",

month = may,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0036971",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "PLoS Computational Biology",

issn = "1932-6203",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Conserving critical sites for biodiversity provides disproportionate benefits to people

AU - Larsen, Frank Wugt

AU - Turner, Will R.

AU - Brooks, Thomas M.

PY - 2012/5/30

Y1 - 2012/5/30

N2 - Protecting natural habitats in priority areas is essential to halt the loss of biodiversity. Yet whether these benefits for biodiversity also yield benefits for human well-being remains controversial. Here we assess the potential human well-being benefits of safeguarding a global network of sites identified as top priorities for the conservation of threatened species. Conserving these sites would yield benefits - in terms of a) climate change mitigation through avoidance of CO2 emissions from deforestation; b) freshwater services to downstream human populations; c) retention of option value; and d) benefits to maintenance of human cultural diversity - significantly exceeding those anticipated from randomly selected sites within the same countries and ecoregions. Results suggest that safeguarding sites important for biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to human well-being.

AB - Protecting natural habitats in priority areas is essential to halt the loss of biodiversity. Yet whether these benefits for biodiversity also yield benefits for human well-being remains controversial. Here we assess the potential human well-being benefits of safeguarding a global network of sites identified as top priorities for the conservation of threatened species. Conserving these sites would yield benefits - in terms of a) climate change mitigation through avoidance of CO2 emissions from deforestation; b) freshwater services to downstream human populations; c) retention of option value; and d) benefits to maintenance of human cultural diversity - significantly exceeding those anticipated from randomly selected sites within the same countries and ecoregions. Results suggest that safeguarding sites important for biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to human well-being.

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0036971

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0036971

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22666337

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 7

JO - PLoS Computational Biology

JF - PLoS Computational Biology

IS - 5

M1 - e36971 EP

ER -