Global priority areas for ecosystem restoration

Bernardo B. N. Strassburg (), Alvaro Iribarrem, Hawthorne L. Beyer, Carlos Leandro Cordeiro, Renato Crouzeilles, Catarina C. Jakovac, André Braga Junqueira, Eduardo Lacerda, Agnieszka E. Latawiec, Andrew Balmford, Thomas M. Brooks, Stuart H. M. Butchart, Robin L. Chazdon, Karl-Heinz Erb, Pedro Brancalion, Graeme Buchanan, David Cooper, Sandra Díaz, Paul F. Donald, Valerie Kapos, David Leclère, Lera Miles, Michael Obersteiner, Christoph Plutzar, Carlos Alberto M. Scaramuzza, Fabio R. Scarano and Piero Visconti
Additional contact information
Bernardo B. N. Strassburg: Pontifical Catholic University
Alvaro Iribarrem: Pontifical Catholic University
Hawthorne L. Beyer: University of Queensland
Carlos Leandro Cordeiro: Pontifical Catholic University
Renato Crouzeilles: Pontifical Catholic University
Catarina C. Jakovac: Pontifical Catholic University
André Braga Junqueira: Pontifical Catholic University
Eduardo Lacerda: Pontifical Catholic University
Agnieszka E. Latawiec: Pontifical Catholic University
Andrew Balmford: University of Cambridge
Thomas M. Brooks: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Stuart H. M. Butchart: University of Cambridge
Robin L. Chazdon: International Institute for Sustainability
Karl-Heinz Erb: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
Pedro Brancalion: ‘Luiz de Queiroz’ College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo
Graeme Buchanan: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
David Cooper: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD)
Sandra Díaz: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Paul F. Donald: University of Cambridge
Valerie Kapos: UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
David Leclère: Ecosystem Services Management (ESM) Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Lera Miles: UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Michael Obersteiner: Ecosystem Services Management (ESM) Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Christoph Plutzar: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
Carlos Alberto M. Scaramuzza: International Institute for Sustainability
Fabio R. Scarano: Programa de Pós Graduacão em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Piero Visconti: Ecosystem Services Management (ESM) Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

Nature, 2020, vol. 586, issue 7831, 724-729

Abstract: Abstract Extensive ecosystem restoration is increasingly seen as being central to conserving biodiversity1 and stabilizing the climate of the Earth2. Although ambitious national and global targets have been set, global priority areas that account for spatial variation in benefits and costs have yet to be identified. Here we develop and apply a multicriteria optimization approach that identifies priority areas for restoration across all terrestrial biomes, and estimates their benefits and costs. We find that restoring 15% of converted lands in priority areas could avoid 60% of expected extinctions while sequestering 299 gigatonnes of CO2—30% of the total CO2 increase in the atmosphere, or 14% of total emissions, since the Industrial Revolution. The inclusion of several biomes is key to achieving multiple benefits. Cost effectiveness can increase up to 13-fold when spatial allocation is optimized using our multicriteria approach, which highlights the importance of spatial planning. Our results confirm the vast potential contributions of restoration to addressing global challenges, while underscoring the necessity of pursuing these goals synergistically.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2784-9

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