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Giovanni Strona and Corey Bradshaw modelled how vertebrate communities might respond to climate and land use change until 2100 © EU 2022

Ecosystems might lose 27% of vertebrate diversity by 2100

A new study from a European Commission scientist, Dr Giovanni Strona, and Professor Corey Bradshaw from Flinders University, Australia models how climate and land use change will drive local biodiversity loss, further weakening the resilience of...

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Europe's forests increasingly under pressure from climate-driven disturbances

European forests are being increasingly affected by natural disturbances, a new ground-based observation study shows. An international team of forest scientists from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the European Forest Institute (EFI) and 19...

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SYKE Policy Brief: Enhanced utilization of wastewater nutrients

Changes are needed in water management solutions. New technologies in the treatment of wastewater and sewage sludge would enable more efficient and more contaminant-free nutrient recovery, which would enable their utilisation in food production and...

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Postdoctoral Researcher, molecular biologist Jacqueline Jerney working at the laboratory onboard research vessel Aranda. © Ilkka Lastumäki

Genetic methods can be used to improve the monitoring of phytoplankton biodiversity

The Finnish Environment Institute has tested the possibilities of using a genetic method to support the Finnish marine phytoplankton monitoring. The genetic method revealed two previously undetected species and one previously undetected genus in the...

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Less intensively managed grassland has greater plant diversity and better soil health

Researchers have shown for the first time that less intensively managed British grazed grasslands have on average 50% more plant species and better soil health than intensively managed grassland, including increased nitrogen and carbon levels and...

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International Science Festival 2022: agriculture – food – environment

Online webinar presented by the French UN Mission to Rome on 23. Nov. 12.30-15.00 CET.

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Over the years, the IPCC has given increasing importance to the risk concept, promoting now an almost universal trefoil figure, where risks result from the intersection of three components: hazard, exposure and vulnerability. (Photo: Colorbox).

New PEER Paper: The Yin and the Yang of the paths towards sustainability

Uncareful expansion of the renewable energy production systems risks to counter the goal to protect and restore ecosystems. At the same time increased food production to fulfil the zero hunger SDG may lead to biodiversity loss and water shortages.

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Deforestation in a tropical rainforest to make way for palm oil plantations Photo: Adobe stock / whitcomberd Deforestation in a tropical rainforest to make way for palm oil plantations Photo: Adobe stock / whitcomberd

Deforestation and grassland conversion are the biggest causes of biodiversity loss

The conversion of natural forests and grasslands to intensive agriculture and livestock is the biggest cause of global biodiversity loss. The next biggest drivers are the exploitation of wildlife through fishing, logging, trade and hunting - and then...

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Photo: Adobe.stock.com - Ilham

Natural carbon dioxide reduction implemented faster and with less risk than high-tech approaches

Carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere by natural or technical means. Natural sinks such as peatlands can be restored, and innovative technologies already exist to extract carbon from the air. Researchers from the Helmholtz Climate...

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Sheeps grazing on grassland t the UFZ research station in Bad Lauschstädt, Germany. Photo: André Künzelmann/UFZ The interaction of light, eutrophication and grazing was tested. Photo: André Künzelmann / UFZ

The importance of light for grassland plant diversity

Field experiment shows that competition for light is the key mechanism driving loss of plant diversity under eutrophication and lack of grazing.

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