A Horizon Scan of Emerging Global Biological Conservation Issues for 2020

Sutherland, William J.; Dias, Maria P.; Dicks, Lynn V.; Doran, Helen; Entwistle, Abigail C.; Fleishman, Erica; Gibbons, David W.; Hails, Rosie; Hughes, Alice C.; Hughes, Jonathan; Kelman, Ruth; Le Roux, Xavier; LeAnstey, Becky; Lickorish, Fiona A.; Maggs, Luke; Pearce-Higgins, James W.; Peck, Lloyd S.; Pettorelli, Nathalie; Pretty, Jules; Spalding, Mark D.

A Horizon Scan of Emerging Global Biological Conservation Issues for 2020

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Sutherland, William J.

Dias, Maria P.

Dicks, Lynn V.

Doran, Helen

Entwistle, Abigail C.

Fleishman, Erica

Gibbons, David W.

Hails, Rosie

Hughes, Alice C.

Hughes, Jonathan

Kelman, Ruth

Le Roux, Xavier

LeAnstey, Becky

Lickorish, Fiona A.

Maggs, Luke

Pearce-Higgins, James W.

Peck, Lloyd S.

Pettorelli, Nathalie

Pretty, Jules

Spalding, Mark D.

Tonneijck, Femke H.

Wentworth, Jonathan

Thornton, Ann

Date published

January 2020

Abstract

In this horizon scan, we highlight 15 emerging issues of potential relevance to global conservation in 2020. Seven relate to potentially extensive changes in vegetation or ecological systems. These changes are either relatively new, for example, conversion of kelp forests to simpler macroalgal systems, or may occur in the future, for example, as a result of the derivation of nanocelluose from wood or the rapid expansion of small hydropower schemes. Other topics highlight potential changes in national legislation that may have global effect on international agreements. Our panel of 23 scientists and practitioners selected these issues using a modified version of the Delphi technique from a long-list of 89 potential topics.