Biodiversity and ecosystem services on the African continent – What is changing, and what are our options?

E. Archer*, L.E. Dziba, K.J. Mulongoy, M.A. Maoela, M. Walters, R. Biggs, M.-C.C. Salem, F. DeClerck, M.C. Diaw, A.E. Dunham, P. Failler, C. Gordon, K.A. Harhash, R. Kasisi, F. Kizito, W.D. Nyingi, N. Oguge, B. Osman-Elasha, L.C. Stringer, L. Tito de MoraisA. Assogbadjo, B.N. Egoh, M.W. Halmy, K. Heubach, A. Mensah, L. Pereira, N. Sitas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Throughout the world, biodiversity and nature's contributions to people are under threat, with clear changes evident. Biodiversity and ecosystem services have particular value in Africa– yet they are negatively impacted by a range of drivers, including land use and climate change. In this communication, we show evidence of changing biodiversity and ecosystem services in Africa, as well as the current most significant drivers of change. We then consider five plausible futures for the African continent, each underlain by differing assumptions. In three out of the five futures under consideration, negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services are likely to persist. Those two plausible futures prioritizing environment and sustainability, however, are shown as the most likely paths to achieving long term development objectives without compromising the continent's biodiversity and ecosystem services. Such a finding shows clearly that achievement of such objectives cannot be separated from full recognition of the value of such services.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100558
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalEnvironmental Development
Volume37
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the comments of two anonymous reviewers, as well as the editor – they were very useful. We would also like to thank Kerry Irish de Gale for work undertaken in redrawing our infographics, and in making them more understandable and accessible. R.B. received support from the South African Research Chairs Initiative ( SARChI ) of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (grant 98766 ); the Guidance for Resilience in the Anthropocene: Investments forDevelopment ( GRAID ) project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency ( Sida ); and a Young Researchers Grant from the Vetenskapsrådet in Sweden (grant 621-2014-5137 ).

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the comments of two anonymous reviewers, as well as the editor ? they were very useful. We would also like to thank Kerry Irish de Gale for work undertaken in redrawing our infographics, and in making them more understandable and accessible. R.B. received support from the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (grant 98766); the Guidance for Resilience in the Anthropocene: Investments forDevelopment (GRAID) project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida); and a Young Researchers Grant from the Vetenskapsr?det in Sweden (grant 621-2014-5137).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Africa
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate change
  • Degradation
  • Ecosystem services

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