Multiple ways to bend the curve of biodiversity loss

An analytical framework to support transformative change

authored by

Marion Mehring, Anna S. Brietzke, Janina Kleemann, Stefan Knauß, Christian Poßer, Vera Schreiner, Heidi Wittmer, Christian Albert, Christine Fürst, Karsten Grunewald, Michael Kolkmann, Ludwig Lettenmaier, Tanja G.M. Sanders, Christian Schleyer, Josef Settele, Tanja M. Straka, Jennifer Hauck

Abstract

Humans are significantly impacting ecosystems worldwide. Scientists of the IPBES Global Assessment are therefore calling for a transformative change that includes all aspects of society in order to address drivers of biodiversity loss. However, these calls are rather abstract, and thus it remains unclear how this goal can be achieved. With this conceptual contribution, we present an analytical framework for evaluating existing processes of societal change which are enhancing biodiversity, and we illustrate its application using three case studies in Germany. We argue that an empirical analysis provides insights into the causal mechanisms that initiate or promote change processes. In doing so, we can draw recommendations for future transformative change processes with regard to biodiversity conservation. In our analysis, we are dealing with questions concerning the following three areas: the drivers and context of societal change processes, the change processes themselves and finally their impacts. Subsequently, we generate recommendations on how to enhance and support the process of future societal transformation that aims at biodiversity conservation: (a) Retaining co-benefits for biodiversity with goals that are primarily focussing on other objectives; (b) harmonising biodiversity use and conservation by turning conflicts into drivers of transformation; (c) prioritising biodiversity conservation by taking advantage of windows of opportunity. With our conceptual framework, we provide an analytical tool to learn from existing processes of societal change how to support future transformative change. This is an important step that contributes to the generation of relevant knowledge of promoting transformative change for nature and people. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning

External Organisation(s)

Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE)
LOEWE Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER)
Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg
Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems (WO)
University of Kassel
University of Innsbruck
University of the Philippines
Technische Universität Berlin
CoKnow Consulting

Type

Article

Journal

People and Nature

Volume

6

Pages

1945-1959

No. of pages

15

ISSN

2575-8314

Publication date

04.10.2024

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10690 (Access: Open)