Output association: LCNR associated

Tropical forests dominate terrestrial photosynthesis, yet there are major contradictions in our understanding due to a lack of field studies, especially outside the tropical Americas. A recent field study indicated that West African forests have among the highest forests gross primary productivity (GPP) yet observed, contradicting models that rank them lower than Amazonian forests. Here, we explore possible reasons for this data-model mismatch. We found the in situ GPP measurements higher than multiple global GPP products at the studied sites in Ghana. The underestimation of GPP by models largely disappears when a standard photosynthesis model is informed by local field-measured values of (a) fractional absorbed photosynthetic radiation (fAPAR), and (b) photosynthetic traits. Satellites systematically underestimate fAPAR in the tropics due to cloud contamination issues. The study highlights the potential widespread underestimation of tropical forests GPP and carbon cycling and hints at the ways forward for model and input data improvement.

Highlights
• Local planning constraints deliver poor biodiversity net gain (BNG) offsets
• Removing those constraints results in significant BNG improvements
• Alternatively, offsets can deliver gains in environmental access

Tree diseases are one of the major threats to forests worldwide. As the frequency and severity of disease outbreaks increase, effective prevention and mitigation strategies are urgently needed. Emerging methods are available to tackle this issue, however, trade-offs and potential ecological consequences should be considered for successful forest preservation.

Highlights

• A complexity-appropriate model was developed to forecast an invasive forest disease
• If 15 % of trees are resistant they create an efficient buffer against population decline
• Our modelling framework helps prediction, error assessment, and scenario building

Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO2.

Delivery of ecosystem restoration plans can lead to gains and losses of environmental and societal benefits, disproportionately impacting different groups of society. The tradeoffs and inequity can potentially be large when considering plans focused on a single benefit. Such information is especially lacking in tropical countries, such as India, that must balance local societal needs while delivering actions for ambitious global climate change and biodiversity goals. Here, we show that forest restoration schemes aimed at multiple objectives deliver most of the available benefits, implying minimal tradeoffs. Such schemes deliver benefits evenly across potential restoration areas, implying multiple land options for implementation. Lastly, these schemes are equitable as they deliver benefits to a large proportion of Indians who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management examining the benefits and drawbacks of digital tools for engagement. The paper tests the applicability of current theories for engagement in digital and remote settings, finding that key factors known to shape outcomes in engagement take on new dimensions in digital environments. New considerations are suggested which make engagement theory more relevant and applicable in digital contexts, with actionable recommendations for practitioners.