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National contributions to global ecosystem values |
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| Authors: | Laura E Coristine Sheila Colla Nathan Bennett Anja M Carlsson Christina Davy Kimberley TA Davies Brett Favaro DT Tyler Flockhart Kevin Fraser Diane Orihel Sarah P Otto Wendy Palen Jean L Polfus Oscar Venter Adam T Ford |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7 Canada;2. Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3 Canada;3. Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 Canada;4. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T3R 1J3 Canada;5. Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, K9L 1Z8 Canada Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 W Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 0G2 Canada;6. Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2 Canada;7. School of Fisheries, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, 155 Ridge Road, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 5R3 Canada;8. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Appalachian Laboratory, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, 21532 U.S.A.;9. Department of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Manitoba, R3T 2N2 Canada;10. School of Environmental Studies and Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6 Canada;11. Biodiversity Research Centre & Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 Canada;12. Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6 Canada;13. Natural Resource and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N 4Z9 Canada |
| Abstract: | Current conservation templates prioritize biogeographic regions with high intensity ecosystem values, such as exceptional species richness or threat. Intensity-based targets are an important consideration in global efforts, but they do not capture all available opportunities to conserve ecosystem values, including those that accrue in low intensity over large areas. We assess six globally-significant ecosystem values—intact wilderness, freshwater availability, productive marine environments, breeding habitat for migratory wildlife, soil carbon storage, and latitudinal potential for range shift in the face of climate change—to highlight opportunities for high-impact broadly-distributed contributions to global conservation. Nations can serve as a cohesive block of policy that can profoundly influence conservation outcomes. Contributions to global ecosystem values that exceed what is predicted by a nation's area alone, can give rise to countries with the capacity to act as ‘conservation superpowers’, such as Canada and Russia. For these conservation superpowers, a relatively small number of national policies can have environmental repercussions for the rest of the world. |
| Keywords: | breeding habitat freshwater global resource supply marine productivity policy range shift soil carbon storage wilderness |