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The rapid growth of clean energy technologies is driving a rising demand for critical minerals. In 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), seven major economies formed an alliance to enhance the sustainability of mining these essential decarbonization minerals. However, there is a scarcity of studies assessing the threat of mining to global biodiversity. By integrating a global mining dataset with great ape density distribution, we estimated the number of African great apes that spatially coincided with industrial mining projects. We show that up to one-third of Africa's great ape population faces mining-related risks. In West Africa in particular, numerous mining areas overlap with fragmented ape habitats, often in high-density ape regions. For 97% of mining areas, no ape survey data are available, underscoring the importance of increased accessibility to environmental data within the mining sector to facilitate research into the complex interactions between mining, climate, biodiversity, and sustainability.

Various global-scale proposals exist to reduce the loss of biological diversity. These include the Half-Earth and Whole-Earth visions that respectively seek to set aside half the planet for wildlife conservation or to diversify conservation practices fundamentally and change the economic systems that determine environmental harm. Here we assess these visions in the specific context of Bornean orangutans Pongo pygmaeus and their conservation. Using an expert-led process we explored three scenarios over a 10-year time frame: continuation of Current Conditions, a Half-Earth approach and a Whole-Earth approach. In addition, we examined a 100-year population recovery scenario assuming 0% offtake of Bornean orangutans. Current Conditions were predicted to result in a population c. 73% of its current size by 2032. Half-Earth was judged comparatively easy to achieve and predicted to result in an orangutan population of c. 87% of its current size by 2032. Whole-Earth was anticipated to lead to greater forest loss and ape killing, resulting in a prediction of c. 44% of the current orangutan population for 2032. Finally, under the recovery scenario, populations could be c. 148% of their current size by 2122. Although we acknowledge uncertainties in all of these predictions, we conclude that the Half-Earth and Whole-Earth visions operate along different timelines, with the implementation of Whole-Earth requiring too much time to benefit orangutans. None of the theorized proposals provided a complete solution, so drawing elements from each will be required. We provide recommendations for equitable outcomes.

The metabarcoding of vertebrate DNA found in invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) has proven a powerful tool for monitoring biodiversity. To date, iDNA has primarily been used to detect the presence/absence of particular taxa using metabarcoding, though recent efforts demonstrated the potential utility of these data for estimating relative animal abundance. Here, we test whether iDNA can also be used to reconstruct complete mammalian mitogenomes and therefore bring the field closer to population-level analyses. Specifically, we used mitogenomic hybridization capture coupled with high-throughput sequencing to analyze individual (N = 7) or pooled (N = 5) fly-derived DNA extracts, and individual (N = 7) or pooled (N = 1) leech-derived DNA extracts, which were known a priori to contain primate DNA. All sources of iDNA showed their ability to generate large amounts of mammalian mitogenomic information and deeper sequencing of libraries is predicted to allow for even more complete recovery of primate mitogenomes from most samples (90%). Sixty percent of these iDNA extracts allowed for the recovery of (near) complete mammalian mitochondrial genomes (hereafter mitogenomes) that proved useable for phylogenomic analyses. These findings contribute to paving the way for iDNA-based population mitogenomic studies of terrestrial mammals.

1. Reconciling conservation and socioeconomic development goals is key to sus- tainability but remains a source of fierce debate. Protected areas (PAs) are be- lieved to play an essential role in achieving these seemingly conflicting goals. Yet, there is limited evidence as to whether PAs are actually achieving the two goals simultaneously. 2. Here, we investigate when and to what extent synergies or trade- offs between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development occur. To ex- plore these relationships, we collected data across a wide range of socioeco- nomic settings through face-to-face survey with PA managers from 114 African and European PAs using structured questionnaire. 3. We found synergies between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development for 62% of the PAs, albeit with significant differences between African (55%) and European PAs (75%). Moreover, the sustainability of PAs in conserving biodiversity was strongly correlated with the empowerment of the PA management and the involvement of local communities in PA planning and decision-making processes. 4. Our results demonstrate that for PAs to promote synergies between biodiver- sity conservation and local socioeconomic development, and to enhance their long-term sustainability, they should invest in the empowerment of their respec- tive management and involvement of local communities in their planning and management activities

Rapid changes of the biosphere observed in recent years are caused by both small and large scale drivers, like shifts in temperature, transformations in land-use, or changes in the energy budget of systems. While the latter processes are easily quantifiable, documentation of the loss of biodiversity and community structure is more difficult. Changes in organismal abundance and diversity are barely documented. Censuses of species are usually fragmentary and inferred by often spatially, temporally and ecologically unsatisfactory simple species lists for individual study sites. Thus, detrimental global processes and their drivers often remain unrevealed. A major impediment to monitoring species diversity is the lack of human taxonomic expertise that is implicitly required for large-scale and fine-grained assessments. Another is the large amount of personnel and associated costs needed to cover large scales, or the inaccessibility of remote but nonetheless affected areas. To overcome these limitations we propose a network of Automated Multisensor stations for Monitoring of species Diversity (AMMODs) to pave the way for a new generation of biodiversity assessment centers. This network combines cutting-edge technologies with biodiversity informatics and expert systems that conserve expert knowledge. Each AMMOD station combines autonomous samplers for insects, pollen and spores, audio recorders for vocalizing animals, sensors for volatile organic compounds emitted by plants (pVOCs) and camera traps for mammals and small invertebrates. AMMODs are largely self-containing and have the ability to pre-process data (e.g. for noise filtering) prior to transmission to receiver stations for storage, integration and analyses. Installation on sites that are difficult to access require a sophisticated and challenging system design with optimum balance between power requirements, bandwidth for data transmission, required service, and operation under all environmental conditions for yea

Altres ajuts: "la Caixa" Foundation doctoral fellowship program LCF/BQ/DE15/10360006, Altres ajuts: "la Caixa" Foundation (ID 100010434), fellowship code LCF/BQ/PR19/11700002, Knowledge on the population history of endangered species is critical for conservation, but whole-genome data on chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) is geographically sparse. Here, we produced the first non-invasive geolocalized catalog of genomic diversity by capturing chromosome 21 from 828 non-invasive samples collected at 48 sampling sites across Africa. The four recognized subspecies show clear genetic differentiation correlating with known barriers, while previously undescribed genetic exchange suggests that these have been permeable on a local scale. We obtained a detailed reconstruction of population stratification and fine-scale patterns of isolation, migration, and connectivity, including a comprehensive picture of admixture with bonobos (Pan paniscus). Unlike humans, chimpanzees did not experience extended episodes of long-distance migrations, which might have limited cultural transmission. Finally, based on local rare variation, we implement a fine-grained geolocalization approach demonstrating improved precision in determining the origin of confiscated chimpanzees. Fontsere et al. captured and sequenced chromosome 21 from 828 non-invasively collected chimpanzee samples, providing an extensive catalog of genomic diversity for wild chimpanzee populations. The authors describe patterns of isolation and connectivity between localities and implement a fine-grained geolocalization approach to infer the origin of confiscated chimpanzees.

Hunting and its impacts on wildlife are typically studied regionally, with a particular focus on the Global South. Hunting can, however, also undermine rewilding efforts or threaten wildlife in the Global North. Little is known about how hunting manifests under varying socioeconomic and ecological contexts across the Global South and North. Herein, we examined differences and commonalities in hunting characteristics across an exemplary Global South-North gradient approximated by the Human Development Index (HDI) using face-to-face interviews with 114 protected area (PA) managers in 25 African and European countries. Generally, we observed that hunting ranges from the illegal, economically motivated, and unsustainable hunting of herbivores in the South to the legal, socially and ecologically motivated hunting of ungulates within parks and the illegal hunting of mainly predators outside parks in the North. Commonalities across this Africa-Europe South-North gradient included increased conflict-related killings in human-dominated landscapes and decreased illegal hunting with beneficial community conditions, such as mutual trust resulting from community involvement in PA management. Nevertheless, local conditions cannot outweigh the strong effect of the HDI on unsustainable hunting. Our findings highlight regional challenges that require collaborative, integrative efforts in wildlife conservation across actors, while identified commonalities may outline universal mechanisms for achieving this goal.

Assessing where wildlife populations are at risk from future habitat loss is particularly important for land-use planning and avoiding biodiversity declines. Combining projections of future deforestation with species density information provides an improved way to anticipate such declines. Using the critically endangered Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) as a case study we applied a spatio-temporally explicit deforestation model to forest loss data from 2001-2017 and projected future impacts on orangutans to the 2030s. Our projections point to continued deforestation across the island, amounting to a potential loss of forest habitat for 26,200 orangutans. Populations currently persisting in forests gazetted for industrial timber and oil palm concessions, or unprotected forests outside of concessions, were projected to experience the worst losses within the next 15 years, amounting to 15,400 individuals. Our analysis indicates the importance of protecting orangutan habitat in plantation landscapes, maintaining protected areas and efforts to prevent the conversion of logged forests for the survival of highly vulnerable wildlife. The modeling framework could be expanded to other species with available density or occurrence data. Our findings highlight that species conservation should not only act on the current information, but also anticipate future changes to be effective.

Die in den letzten Jahren beobachteten raschen Veränderungen der Biosphäre werden sowohl durch kleine als auch durch großräumige Faktoren verursacht, wie z. B. Temperaturverschiebungen, Veränderungen in der Landnutzung oder Veränderungen im Energiehaushalt der Systeme. Während sich die letztgenannten Prozesse leicht quantifizieren lassen, ist es schwieriger, den Verlust an biologischer Vielfalt und Gemeinschaftsstrukturen zu dokumentieren. Veränderungen in der Abundanz und Vielfalt von Organismen werden kaum dokumentiert. Zählungen von Arten sind in der Regel lückenhaft und werden durch einfache, räumlich, zeitlich und ökologisch oft unbefriedigende Artenlisten für einzelne Untersuchungsgebiete abgeleitet. So bleiben schädliche globale Prozesse und ihre Triebkräfte oft unentdeckt. Ein Haupthindernis für die Überwachung der Artenvielfalt ist der Mangel an taxonomischem Fachwissen, das für großflächige und feingranulare Bewertungen unbedingt erforderlich ist. Ein weiteres Hindernis ist der hohe Personalaufwand und die damit verbundenen Kosten, die für die Erfassung großer Gebiete erforderlich sind, oder die Unzugänglichkeit entlegener, aber dennoch betroffener Gebiete. Um diese Einschränkungen zu überwinden, schlagen wir ein Netz von automatisierten Multisensor-Stationen zur Überwachung der Artenvielfalt (AMMODs) vor, das den Weg für eine neue Generation von Zentren zur Bewertung der biologischen Vielfalt ebnen soll. Dieses Netzwerk kombiniert Spitzentechnologien mit Biodiversitätsinformatik und Expertensystemen, die das Expertenwissen bewahren. Jede AMMOD-Station kombiniert autonome Probennehmer für Insekten, Pollen und Sporen, Audiorekorder für lautäußernde Tiere, Sensoren für flüchtige organische Verbindungen, die von Pflanzen emittiert werden (pVOC), und Kamerafallen für Säugetiere und kleine Wirbellose. AMMODs sind weitgehend eigenständig und können die Daten vor der Übertragung an die Empfangsstationen zur Speicherung, Integration und Analyse vorverarbeiten (z., Rapid changes of the biosphere observed in recent years are caused by both small and large scale drivers, like shifts in temperature, transformations in land-use, or changes in the energy budget of systems. While the latter processes are easily quantifiable, documentation of the loss of biodiversity and community structure is more difficult. Changes in organismal abundance and diversity are barely documented. Censuses of species are usually fragmentary and inferred by often spatially, temporally and ecologically unsatisfactory simple species lists for individual study sites. Thus, detrimental global processes and their drivers often remain unrevealed. A major impediment to monitoring species diversity is the lack of human taxonomic expertise that is implicitly required for large-scale and fine-grained assessments. Another is the large amount of personnel and associated costs needed to cover large scales, or the inaccessibility of remote but nonetheless affected areas. To overcome these limitations we propose a network of Automated Multisensor stations for Monitoring of species Diversity (AMMODs) to pave the way for a new generation of biodiversity assessment centers. This network combines cutting-edge technologies with biodiversity informatics and expert systems that conserve expert knowledge. Each AMMOD station combines autonomous samplers for insects, pollen and spores, audio recorders for vocalizing animals, sensors for volatile organic compounds emitted by plants (pVOCs) and camera traps for mammals and small invertebrates. AMMODs are largely self-containing and have the ability to pre-process data (e.g. for noise filtering) prior to transmission to receiver stations for storage, integration and analyses. Installation on sites that are difficult to access require a sophisticated and challenging system design with optimum balance between power requirements, bandwidth for data transmission, required service, and operation under all environmental conditions for yea, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)