Martin, T.G. and J.E.M. Watson (2016). Intact ecosystems provide best defence against climate change. Nature Climate Change, 6: 122-124. In this paper we illustrate how certain climate adaptation strategies may have a negative impact on nature which in turn will impact people in the long-term. We provide examples of alternative adaptation strategies that are sensitive to nature and finally explore a key mechanism for funding intelligent adaptation, namely eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. Download the paper here Read it online here
Watson, J.E.M., Darling, E.S., Venter, O., Maron, M., Walston, J.,Possingham, H.P., Dudley, N., Hockings, M., Barnes M. and T. M. Brooks (2016). Bolder science needed now for protected areas. Conservation Biology, 30: 243 – 248. Recognising that protected areas (PAs) are essential for effective biodiversity conservation action, the Convention on Biological Diversity established ambitious PA targets as part of the 2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. Under the strategic goal to “improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity”, Target 11 aims to put 17% of terrestrial and 10% of marine regions under PA status by 2020. Additionally and crucially,