Equivalent biodiversity area: A novel metric for No Net Loss success in Brazil's changing biomes.

This study presents a new method to incorporate the No Net Loss (NNL) principle within corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. This principle aims to ensure that biodiversity losses from human activities are fully offset. In this context, we tackle two main challenges: managing epistemic uncertainties in environmental modeling and accurately assessing compensatory areas needed to replace lost habitats. Focusing on Brazil's diverse biomes, which are undergoing rapid changes, we highlight the role of expert opinion surveys in addressing the uncertainties of the InVEST Habitat Quality, a model that simulates changes in landscape integrity under different land use scenarios. Our analysis across three of Brazil's regions - Caatinga Semi-arid, Cerrado Savanna, and Atlantic Forest - leverages open-source data to reveal substantial habitat losses due to activities like wind farm development, mining, and intensive agriculture, leading to a widespread decline in habitat quality. We introduce the Equivalent Biodiversity Area (EBA) metric to support NNL and Net Gain of Biodiversity efforts, measured in hectares. Findings show a reduction in EBA across all studied areas, highlighting the need for effective compensation strategies. Such strategies should merge Legal Reserves and ecological restoration into ESG policies, encourage landholder collaboration, and align with larger environmental efforts, such as watershed revitalization and Biodiversity Credits markets.

Environmental impact assessment of algal bloom Noctiluca scintillans in the Mandapam group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Southeast coast of India.

The present investigation accounts for the environmental impact assessment of an intense algal bloom caused by the dinoflagellate Noctilucas scintillans. The bloom was first observed on the 10th of September 2019, in the vicinity of the Mandapam group of Islands, spreading from Rameswaram Coast in the North (9° 14' 15″ N, 79° 9' 46″ E) to Hare Island in the South (9° 14' 51″ N, 79° 5' 48″ E). The coastal waters in and around the Mandapam region appeared dark green, and the microscopic examination of the water sample revealed the presence of N. scintillans in large numbers. N. scintillans is a bioluminescent organism; it is inflated and sub-spherical in shape, and the size of the organisms ranged from 350 to 1300 microns. During the intense periods of the bloom, the average density of N. scintillans was recorded with 226.5 × 103 cells/l, and the dissolved oxygen content was very low and the ammonia content was extremely high in certain sites (avg. 4.3635 µm/l). Intensive bloom may lead to a loss of biodiversity in the affected areas of the region. Subsequent investigations indicated that the resilience of the ecosystem in response to natural adversity.

The impact of tantalite mining on the flora diversity in Nasarawa state, Nigeria.

The activities of the artisanals and small-scale miners in Nasarawa state, Nigeria, are increasing daily without considering the loss of biodiversity, which has continuously disrupted ecological functions and environmental balance. The study aimed at investigating the effect of tantalite mining activities on flora diversity. Three study sites were selected for floristic data collection, comprising tantalite mining site A situated in Azara, Awe LGA; tantalite mining site B situated in Tunga, Awe LGA; and referred site C situated along the Makurdi-Obi Road, Lafia LGA. Eight plots of 20 × 20 m were systematically placed along two transect lines of 1000 m with 500 m distance apart. The total numbers of 32 plant species, at the ratio of 11:20:21 individual species, were found in sites A, B, and referred site C, respectively. Tantalite mining site A showed 46% rare herbs dominating the site, with an introduction of new non-native species of Jateorhiza spp. and Hyptis suaveolens, presenting a significantly high number of individuals (p ˂ 0.0069). Tantalite site B, Tunga, had 50% reductions of several indigenous tree species such as Daniellia oliveri and Vitex doniana, while site A had 75% reduction of tree species. Therefore, the floristic diversity in site A endured a higher degradation than in site B. The indigenous species in site A were almost completely replaced with problematic weeds, invasive weed species, and non-native plant species. The tree diversities in sites A and B were seriously threatened, and H. suaveolens has been regarded as a potentially invasive plant species in Nasarawa state, Nigeria.

Declining population trends of European mountain birds.

Mountain areas often hold special species communities, and they are high on the list of conservation concern. Global warming and changes in human land use, such as grazing pressure and afforestation, have been suggested to be major threats for biodiversity in the mountain areas, affecting species abundance and causing distribution shifts towards mountaintops. Population shifts towards poles and mountaintops have been documented in several areas, indicating that climate change is one of the key drivers of species' distribution changes. Despite the high conservation concern, relatively little is known about the population trends of species in mountain areas due to low accessibility and difficult working conditions. Thanks to the recent improvement of bird monitoring schemes around Europe, we can here report a first account of population trends of 44 bird species from four major European mountain regions: Fennoscandia, UK upland, south-western (Iberia) and south-central mountains (Alps), covering 12 countries. Overall, the mountain bird species declined significantly (-7%) during 2002-2014, which is similar to the declining rate in common birds in Europe during the same period. Mountain specialists showed a significant -10% decline in population numbers. The slope for mountain generalists was also negative, but not significantly so. The slopes of specialists and generalists did not differ from each other. Fennoscandian and Iberian populations were on average declining, while in United Kingdom and Alps, trends were nonsignificant. Temperature change or migratory behaviour was not significantly associated with regional population trends of species. Alpine habitats are highly vulnerable to climate change, and this is certainly one of the main drivers of mountain bird population trends. However, observed declines can also be partly linked with local land use practices. More efforts should be undertaken to identify the causes of decline and to increase conservation efforts for these populations.

Ten years of native seed certification in Germany - a summary.

Many renaturation projects and compensation areas are based on the use of seeds from regional indigenous wild plants; in the following: native or regional seeds. Despite this, such seeds make up only a small proportion of the total number of seeds used for greening projects; in Germany, for example, it is only around 1% (=200 t per year). Although the market for regional seeds is small, it is highly competitive. High-priced native seeds compete with flower mixes of unspecified origin and can only be differentiated from them by reliable quality seals. A quality assurance system based on seed legislation (EU Directive 2010/60, preservation mixtures) has been developed in a few European countries. However, quality assurance ends with the sale of the seeds. Thus, seed use remains unmonitored, and often unsuitable material, or material foreign to the region, is planted in restoration areas. Unfortunately, nature conservation has not made seed-based restoration one of its key issues, neither at the European nor at the national level. Currently there are many different local and regional standards, methods and private certificates that are confusing for users and which provide little continuity and predictability for producers. We recommend the establishment of an EU directive or a broadly agreed recommendation to the EU member states, spearheaded by nature conservation, which would define the standards for producing and using native seeds (e.g. harmonised regions that cross national borders, quality regulations). At the same time, wild plant interest groups should combine existing structures in order to strengthen seed-based restoration through international cooperation.