A conservation‐planning paradigm for a changing climate might be the answer. It’s called Whole-Earth.

New research from Prof. Josh Lawler calls for a new conservation strategy. Existing conservation strategies call for protecting 30–50% of the earth’s surface to preserve biodiversity and respond to the climate crisis. Expanding the world’s protected area network will be difficult due to climate-driven species movements, shifting conditions, increasing human demand and ongoing environmental injustices. We cannot overcome these challenges by simply doubling or tripling the footprint of protected areas. Instead, successful biodiversity conservation will require planning for conservation mosaics — large, integrated landscapes and seascapes composed of areas with variable protection and management protocols — that cover much of, if not the whole earth.

Q&A with Professor Josh Lawler

Most of the current planning around conservation focuses on targeting 30% of lands, waters and seas for conservation. This paper’s proposed plan suggests that if we want to meet today’s climate-intensified challenges around conservation we should focus on large land and seascapes that comprise most of the earth. How do you begin to convince current stakeholders (community leaders, Indigenous knowledge holders, economic experts) that this might be the best path forward?

Josh Lawler: What we have proposed won’t be easy, but I think most people will be able to find some part of the concept that appeals to them.  For example, governance of the landscape and seascape mosaics that we describe would be in the hands of local communities, including Indigenous peoples. This would put many of the conservation and land management decisions in the hands of those most invested in the land.  In addition, although we have proposed to conserve most of the planet, we are proposing a wide range of different levels of protection. There could be relatively few new regulations in urban and intensively farmed areas. Instead, in these areas, incentives could be used to increase conservation actions. 

In the paper, you talk about the need for collaborative governance in coordinating conservation efforts. Can you give us an example of what collaborative governance might look like? Any real world examples of this in action?

JL: We provide a couple of examples of collaborative governance of landscape mosaics. One is the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area spans 80  miles of the Columbia River and overlaps two states and six counties. The area was established in 1986 to protect the scenic beauty of the gorge. It is governed by a commission with representatives from the six counties and the two states as well as a non-voting member from the US Forest Service. The Commission works with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Yakama Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Forest Service also consults with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the Cowlitz Tribe, and the Siletz Tribe.

How has your research team defined the growing human needs component of broad-scale conservation? Can you give a few examples of these needs that this conservation paradigm addresses?

JL: In many areas, climate change is already reducing water availability and increasing flood, storm, and fire risk. Future projections indicate that these impacts will likely increase, along with decreases in crop production and fisheries catches in many regions.  A conservation paradigm that increases the amount of highly protected land without considering these future impacts is not likely to succeed. The whole-earth planning we describe would allow for people to remain on the landscape, to farm, and to harvest food. The ways that we do these things would need to change in some places. The general idea is that if we farm, build, and harvest in ways that are more sustainable and more friendly to plants and animals across the whole landscape, we won’t need to have so many more highly protected areas that exclude most human activities. 

This research mentions OECMs, or Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures. OECM refers to a geographic area that is not a protected area but still effectively conserves biodiversity through long-term conservation outcomes under equitable governance and management. Essentially, it’s a way to recognize and account for areas outside traditional protected areas that contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation. 

In this research you mention the governance of Ziro Valley agrosystems by India’s Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh and its success as an OECM. Can you give us an example of the traditional and statutory governance systems in place that have led to Ziro Valley’s success?

JL: The valley is governed by the Apatani tribe in ways that draw on a deep cultural appreciation for, and knowledge of, the ecosystems of the valley. One aspect of this governance is the traditional farmer group.  There are eight different types of farmer groups with rotating leadership among the members. Some of the groups are as large as 600 households whereas others are as few as 5 households. The groups manage water allocation, paths, fencing, weeding, planting, and harvesting. The biodiversity-friendly practices that the community uses–both with respect to forest management and harvest and agriculture and aquaculture–has made the valley more productive and more ecologically sound than much of the rest of the region.

You use the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area as an example of a mosaic of lands with multiple levels of protection and different regulations. Why did your team select the national scenic area as a good example of a conservation mosaic? 

JL: The Gorge is a good example of a conservation mosaic because it does include multiple levels of protection and has a collaborative governance structure that oversees the whole landscape. There are highly protected areas (Special Management Areas), areas that have less protection but still have regulations on land-uses and human activities (General Management Areas), and urban areas with few restrictions.  As I mentioned above, the area is jointly governed by representatives from six counties and two states. There are currently three Tribal members serving on the Council, one of whom is the Vice-Chair.