Planning for the Large-Scale Conservation of Biodiversity Dimensions
Given monetary constraints, large-scale biodiversity conservation policies need to be selective with respect to the areas and species they prioritize. Macroecological knowledge can help make those challenging decisions.
Biodiversity knowledge gaps can lead to policy inaction, particularly under stringent monetary constraints, and are therefore a major barrier to the success of biodiversity conservation policies. Given the accelerating pressure on biodiversity worldwide, inaction could be extremely costly and overcoming biodiversity knowledge gaps in a timely manner is paramount.
Macroecology attempts to identify patterns that might be universal across ecosystems in order to explain and predict the abundance, distribution, and diversity of organisms over regions and time periods for which we lack knowledge. As a result, macroecology can contribute greatly to the scientific evidence base for national and international decisions aimed at conserving biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for our planet. For instance, macroecological tools enable detecting ongoing biodiversity trends, forecasting responses to climate and land use change, and identifying priority regions for conservation.
Much of my research is motivated by the need for a stronger macroecology-conservation practice interface in order to improve our likelihood of successfully preserving the multiple fundamental dimensions of biodiversity.