The grasslands of Central Anatolia in Türkiye, including the steppes and forest-steppes, are often mischaracterized as degraded ecosystems due to long-standing human activities, particularly agriculture and domestic grazing. However, palaeoecological evidence and recent research suggest that these grasslands are ancient, biodiversity-rich systems that have persisted through various climatic changes and disturbance regimes. This manuscript challenges the conventional view that Central Anatolian grasslands are secondary and degraded, arguing instead that they represent old-growth ecosystems that coexisted with forests as alternative biome states throughout history. We emphasize the need to re-evaluate current land management practices, particularly afforestation efforts, which may undermine the resilience of these ecosystems to climate change. By recognizing the ecological value of these old-growth grasslands and adopting a comprehensive conservation strategy, the conservation and restoration of these vital ecosystems can be improved, ensuring their resilience and biodiversity in the face of future environmental challenges.

Net zero as a policy for reducing atmospheric carbon emissions is relatively straightforward; however, the implementation of that policy is not, particularly in difficult-to-measure sectors such as agriculture. As strategies to reduce emissions are explored, multiple uncertainties in measuring these emissions are confronted. In this paper, we use the example of a coffee supply chain in Peru to illustrate the magnitude of potential variability in emissions accounting results, which represent a necessary first step in moving towards net zero. We show that scope boundaries and emissions factors chosen for carbon calculations significantly alter emissions outcomes and can result in discrepancies of over 77 million kg CO2e when scaled to a medium-size coffee trader. Net zero targets and efforts to reduce emissions may be over- or understated depending on subjective decisions that cause significant differences in emissions results. Although framework guidance exists, it is apparent that a greater set of micro-level agreements is needed for calculating the emissions of lesser-studied sectors, such as agricultural supply chains. This process is imperative to focus efforts on reducing emissions and on moving from net zero as a mere policy to action and implementation.

In West Africa, vast areas are being deforested; the remnant forest patches provide a wealth of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation potential, yet they are threatened by human activity. Forest patches <100 ha have not been widely catalogued before; we mapped forest loss of small forest patches outside of protected areas in the Guinean savannah and humid Guineo-Congolian bioclimatic regions of Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon between 2000 and 2022. Focusing on the dynamics of small patches, without considering the splitting process of larger patches, we quantified changes in their number and area and the rate and trend of forest loss. Small forest patches are widespread, yet their area and number have decreased, while the forest loss rate is increasing. Primary forest patches lost almost half of their area annually – twice as much as secondary forests, and this loss was especially pronounced across small patches (0.5 – 10 ha), suggesting deforestation preferentially occurs in the smallest patches of primary forest. If forest loss continues at the current rate, 14% of the total forest area mapped in this study will have disappeared by 2032, jeopardizing their potential to provide ecosystem services and emphasizing the need for measures to counter their deforestation.

The water footprint (WF) is a metric used to quantify the total volume of fresh water consumed directly and indirectly by individuals and communities; it helps to inform responses to global challenges such as water scarcity, climate change and sustainable water management. This study assessed virtual (VWF), direct (DWF) and total (TWF) water footprints in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city. Data collected from 382 households showed that the average individual VWF was 1314 m3 per month, the average individual DWF was 228 m3 per month and the average individual TWF was 1538 m3 per month. Additionally, key consumption patterns were identified, with rice and bread emerging as the most consumed items and vegetables as the least consumed. Over a 5-year period, direct water use declined. Significant correlations emerged between family size, annual cost and VWF and TWF, yet no association was found between age and the WFs. There were income-based disparities in VWF and TWF but no differences across education levels in terms of DWF, VWF and TWF. These findings offer crucial insights for policymakers and water authorities in formulating effective water-saving policies to address pressing environmental concerns.

Natural disturbances influence wetland carbon cycling, and fire is a key driver of terrestrial carbon stocks. However, the influence of fire on wetland carbon cycling remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated how prescribed fire and wildfire impact soil carbon storage in a forested floodplain of south-eastern Australia. We sampled four areas within Murray Valley National Park, the world’s largest river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) stand, and compared soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and C:N ratios between control (unburnt in the 50 years prior to sampling), prescribed burn and wildfire-impacted floodplain areas. Mean soil C and N concentrations were 4.7% ± 0.32% and 0.36% ± 0.02%, respectively, and mean C:N ratios were 14.23 ± 0.33. Carbon concentrations and C:N were highest in control areas of the floodplain, while N concentrations were highest at wildfire-impacted areas. However, flood frequency was a stronger driver of soil C than fire disturbance. Soils at more frequently flooded areas had higher C concentrations compared to less frequently flooded areas, suggesting that resilience to C loss through fire could be enhanced through hydrological restoration. We believe this warrants further research as a potential nature-based climate measure. Mean C density data indicate soil C stocks of 9.4 Tg across Barmah-Millewa Forest, highlighting the significant carbon storage value of this ecosystem.

Capacity development is crucial for enduring conservation success. Recent scholarship has called for a systems perspective based on input from local stakeholders to better understand and develop conservation capacity. However, few studies have adopted such an approach to explore interactions among capacities or how capacity development needs and priorities evolve. We address this gap through a case study from Bhutan, centred on perceptions from 52 local conservation practitioners, planners, funders and community members. We use mixed methods to identify which capacities have been important for conservation success, which capacities are needed for future success, which capacities are foundational and how capacities interact. We find that capacity needs have shifted from individual-level knowledge and skills to community- and societal-level capacities in response to changing political and economic dynamics. Participants identified political support and leadership, reliable and sufficient funding, strengthening the research base, and increasing community awareness and engagement as critical future needs. Investing in these capacities holds the promise of further augmenting capacity development, thus increasing the value of limited resources. Our results demonstrate that capacity development should be viewed as a dynamic process and supported by strategic investment even in countries with track records of conservation success.

As countries transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, impacts on wildlife, particularly avian species, have become a concern. In Kenya, the effects of human-made infrastructure such as power lines and wind turbines on birds have been overlooked. To prevent further loss of biodiversity, it is necessary for infrastructure development policies to consider these impacts on birds. We aim to identify gaps in current policies by analysing the intersection of wildlife conservation and power-line infrastructure development in Kenya. Through content analysis, we evaluate the effectiveness of existing wildlife protection and energy-related policies and identify strengths and weaknesses to highlight areas for improvement. Our analysis reveals that current policies neglect threats posed by power lines and other infrastructure to birds. This oversight points to challenges such as a lack of awareness among policymakers and stakeholders and a lack of legal obligation for energy institutions to implement mitigation measures; conservationists may also face conflicts with those responsible for electricity distribution. Addressing these policy gaps is essential for effective wildlife conservation and sustainable development. This paper underscores the need to integrate wildlife conservation considerations into energy infrastructure planning to mitigate adverse impacts on avian species.

Online markets are becoming increasingly important for the trade of orchids. However, the sale of orchids online raises conservation concerns, as some sellers use these platforms to bypass regulations. In March 2024, we assessed the extent of trade of 28 nationally protected orchid species in the five most visited Indonesian-language online markets. Twenty-four of the 28 orchid species protected in Indonesia were being traded online, involving 1294 advertisements posted by 789 sellers. The majority (93%) of these sellers were located in Java; 3882 orchid individuals were sold during the performance of this research, with a total trade value of IDR 262 129 387 (USD 16 911). Furthermore, there were 2 831 688 orchid individuals reported to be available in stock by sellers, with a total potential trade value of more than IDR 231 billion (USD 14.9 million). None of the recorded sellers in the present study declared a permit for the orchids they offered. Our findings can be utilized by law enforcement agencies to identify key players and areas involved in this trade, as well as by conservationists and policymakers to determine which species are being traded and so might require further conservation measures.