Global alternatives of natural vegetation cover
Abstrak
Abstract Preserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems is essential to preventing the decline of life on Earth. To guide global conservation efforts, we present a detailed counterfactual map showing Earth’s natural tree, short vegetation, and bare ground cover. This map accounts for environmental filtering along with realistic scenarios of fire frequency and wildlife herbivory. The most likely scenario suggests 43% (5669 ± 74 Mha) of land could support trees, 39% (5183 ± 86 Mha) shrubs and grasses, and 18% (2352 ± 59 Mha) bare ground. Adjustments in fire and herbivory could shift a minimum of 675 Mha of land, stressing the importance of considering alternative outcomes when restoring a landscape. Our findings also suggest that adjustments in fire frequency and wildlife herbivory could have a greater impact on natural vegetation than expected climate changes by 2050, highlighting decision-makers’ responsibility to guide conservation and restoration toward a sustainable and biodiverse future.
Topik & Kata Kunci
Penulis (32)
Jean-François Bastin
Nicolas Latte
Jan Bogaert
Claude A. Garcia
Fabio Berzaghi
Fernando T. Maestre
Jens-Christian Svenning
Emeline Assede
Sabas Barima
Timothée Besisa
Samuel Bouchoms
Thomas W. Crowther
Thalès de Haulleville
Hugo de Lame
Pauline Depoortere
Marc Dufrêne
Anne J. Hoek Van Dijke
Simon Lhoest
Gregory Mahy
Christian Messier
Danilo Mollicone
Felana Nantenaina Ramalason
Marc Peaucelle
Antoine Plumacker
Fabien Quétier
Olivia Rakotondrasoa
Kouagou Raoul Sambieni
Ben Sparrow
Yegor Tarelkin
Yannick Useni Sikuzani
Arthur Vander Linden
Philippe Lejeune
Akses Cepat
- Tahun Terbit
- 2025
- Sumber Database
- DOAJ
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-025-61520-8
- Akses
- Open Access ✓