Speaker
Description
The European Union has set an ambitious target to tackle climate change: achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this target, it is essential that the EU focuses on increasing carbon storage in our soils and forests. According to most experts, the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) is crucial to tackling the climate crisis. Rewilding is a type of NbS that aims to allow nature to regenerate through minimal human intervention. WildE is an innovative Horizon Europe-funded project. WildE introduce a new rewilding strategy called "Climate-Smart Rewilding". The aim is to generate climate-related benefits while achieving other important goals. This can include ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and the well-being of local communities. Climate-smart rewilding could bring numerous economic benefits, particularly through the acquisition of new carbon credits. At a low cost, this strategy could help meet other environmental and societal needs. Our research explores how different rewilding interventions can help mitigate and adapt to the negative impacts of climate change on both ecosystems and human well-being. We develop a conceptual framework that incorporates key components such as land use, biodiversity, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and socio-economic aspects in an integrated re-wilding analysis. This framework can enable policy makers, conservation managers, communities and the private sector to jointly develop climate-smart strategies as effective NbS across the European continent to achieve EU climate and biodiversity targets. The flexibility of the approach and the potential for economic benefits make it a compelling solution to the challenges of the coming century.
| Status Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
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