Joining the dots Global Challenges and the Valuing Nature Agenda

The Valuing Nature Network aims to improve understanding of the value of nature in both economic and non-economic terms, and improve the use of these valuations in decision making. It funds interdisciplinary research and builds links between researchers and people who make decisions that affect nature in business, policy-making, and in practice. The Global Challenges Research Fund aims to support research that directly contributes to the sustainable development and welfare of people in developing countries. • A review of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (see Annex I) and their targets revealed a number of themes that have links to the Valuing Nature Network research agenda, specifically: the governance of natural resources; conservation of natural capital and sustainable use of ecosystems; environmentally, socially and economically sustainable agro-forestry systems; and knowledge exchange at the science-policy interface. Assessing the extent and depth of existing research in these areas, and identifying networks of current research collaboration, can enable the identification of key opportunities for advancing research into the natural environment that also seeks to address the challenges associated with international development

Future restoration should enhance ecological complexity and emergent properties at multiple scales

Ecological restoration has a paradigm of re-establishing ‘indigenous reference' communities. One resulting concern is that focussing on target communities may not necessarily create systems which function at a high level or are resilient in the face of ongoing global change. Ecological complexity – defined here, based on theory, as the number of components in a system and the number of connections among them – provides a complementary aim, which can be measured directly and has several advantages. Ecological complexity encompasses key ecosystem variables including structural heterogeneity, trophic interactions and functional diversity. Ecological complexity can also be assessed at the landscape scale, with metrics including β diversity, heterogeneity among habitat patches and connectivity. Thus, complexity applies, and can be measured, at multiple scales. Importantly, complexity is linked to system emergent properties, e.g. ecosystem functions and resilience, and there is evidence that both are enhanced by complexity. We suggest that restoration ecology should consider a new paradigm to restore complexity at multiple scales, in particular of individual ecosystems and across landscapes. A complexity approach can make use of certain current restoration methods but also encompass newer concepts such as rewilding. Indeed, a complexity goal might in many cases best be achieved by interventionist restoration methods. Incorporating complexity into restoration policies could be quite straightforward. Related aims such as enhancing ecosystem services and ecological resilience are to the fore in initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Implementation in policy and practice will need the development of complexity metrics that can be applied at both local and regional scales. Ultimately, the adoption of an ecological complexity paradigm will be based on an acceptance that the ongoing and unprecedented global environmental change requires new ways of doing restoration that is fit for the future

Future restoration should enhance ecological complexity and emergent properties at multiple scales

Ecological restoration has a paradigm of re-establishing ‘indigenous reference' communities. One resulting concern is that focussing on target communities may not necessarily create systems which function at a high level or are resilient in the face of ongoing global change. Ecological complexity – defined here, based on theory, as the number of components in a system and the number of connections among them – provides a complementary aim, which can be measured directly and has several advantages. Ecological complexity encompasses key ecosystem variables including structural heterogeneity, trophic interactions and functional diversity. Ecological complexity can also be assessed at the landscape scale, with metrics including β diversity, heterogeneity among habitat patches and connectivity. Thus, complexity applies, and can be measured, at multiple scales. Importantly, complexity is linked to system emergent properties, e.g. ecosystem functions and resilience, and there is evidence that both are enhanced by complexity. We suggest that restoration ecology should consider a new paradigm to restore complexity at multiple scales, in particular of individual ecosystems and across landscapes. A complexity approach can make use of certain current restoration methods but also encompass newer concepts such as rewilding. Indeed, a complexity goal might in many cases best be achieved by interventionist restoration methods. Incorporating complexity into restoration policies could be quite straightforward. Related aims such as enhancing ecosystem services and ecological resilience are to the fore in initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Implementation in policy and practice will need the development of complexity metrics that can be applied at both local and regional scales. Ultimately, the adoption of an ecological complexity paradigm will be based on an acceptance that the ongoing and unprecedented global environmental change requires new ways of doing restoration that is fit for the future

How are nature based solutions contributing to priority societal challenges surrounding human well-being in the United Kingdom: a systematic map protocol

Background: The concept of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) has evolved as an umbrella concept embracing concepts such as Green/Blue/Nature Infrastructure, Ecosystem Approach, Ecosystem Services, but at their core, they cluster into the general theme of learning from and using nature to create sustainable socio-ecological systems, which enhance human well-being (HWB). NBS address societal challenges across a broad range of spatial scales—local, regional and global—and temporal scales—medium to long-term. While there are many reviews and a clear evidence base linking certain NBS to various elements of HWB, particularly urban greenspace and human health, no comprehensive mapping exists of the links between NBS interventions and the associated multiple positive and negative HWB outcomes across a range of habitats. The initial research phase used a participatory co-design process to select four priority societal challenges facing the United Kingdom: three related to management issues i.e. NBS cost-efficacy, governance in planning, environmental justice, and the fourth threats to the acoustic environment. These challenges collectively address priority management issues which stakeholders requested be investigated widely i.e. across landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes and soundscapes. Results of the study are intended to identify and define potential future environmental evidence challenges for UK science. Methods: This protocol describes the methodology for approaching the research question: What evidence is there for nature based solutions and their impacts on human wellbeing for societal challenges related to cost-efficacy, governance in planning, environmental justice, and the acoustic environment? Using systematic mapping, this study will search for and identify studies that seek to assess nature-based solutions on human well-being with regard to these four societal challenges. Systematic searches across a number of academic/online databases are tested against a number of test articles. Search results are refined using eligibility criteria through a three stage process: title, abstract, full text. Data from screened studies are extracted using a predefined coding strategy. Key trends in data will be synthesized according to a range of secondary questions and be presented in a graphical matrix illustrating the knowledge gaps and clusters for research into nature-based solutions and human well-being for each societal challenge

Valuing Nature through multiple lenses: highlights from the Valuing Nature PCT Programme (2014–2021)

This is the final report for the Valuing Nature Programme. The aim of the report is less about sharing its achievements, but about discussing what worked and what did not work as well, in the hope that recently initiated and future programmes may benefit from the lessons learned

Scoping potential routes to UK civil unrest via the food system: Results of a structured expert elicitation

We report the results of a structured expert elicitation to identify the most likely typesof potential food system disruption scenarios for the UK, focusing on routes to civil unrest. Wetake a backcasting approach by defining as an end-point a societal event in which 1 in 2000 peoplehave been injured in the UK, which 40% of experts rated as “Possible (20–50%)”, “More likely thannot (50–80%)” or “Very likely (>80%)” over the coming decade. Over a timeframe of 50 years, thisincreased to 80% of experts. The experts considered two food system scenarios and ranked theirplausibility of contributing to the given societal scenario. For a timescale of 10 years, the majorityidentified a food distribution problem as the most likely. Over a timescale of 50 years, the expertswere more evenly split between the two scenarios, but over half thought the most likely route tocivil unrest would be a lack of total food in the UK. However, the experts stressed that the variouscauses of food system disruption are interconnected and can create cascading risks, highlighting theimportance of a systems approach. We encourage food system stakeholders to use these results intheir risk planning and recommend future work to support prevention, preparedness, response andrecovery planning

Study of temperature-growth interactions of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from chalk grassland in the UK

The majority of studies on the regulation of insect populations by entomopathogenic fungi have been in the context of pest control, whereas there has been little research into how they may impact on natural populations of insects. The Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) and Chalkhill Blue (Polyommatus coridon) butterflies are species of Lepidoptera with particular conservation interest in the UK. Both of these species exist on the most northern edge of their climatic range in populations that are restricted to fragmented chalk grassland habitats in the South of England. Larvae of both butterflies feed on the same single host plant species (Hippocrepis comosa) and can be found in the soil during their development. It is therefore reasonable to assume that larvae will be exposed to soil entomopathogenic fungi. Polyommatus bellargus are bivoltine, and the distribution of early season larvae is very closely linked to warmer temperatures in sheltered microhabitats. The use of turf height and shelter category can accurately predict the occupancy of sites across a landscape for P. bellargus and define optimal and sub-optimal habitats, and it is thought a similar relationship exists for P. coridon. A combination of host- and habitat- selection could result in local adaptation of entomopathogenic fungi. Because shelter category is a proxy for temperature, it is possible that one of the driving selectors is the ability of fungi to operate at certain temperatures. Soil was collected from these habitats and turf height and shelter category was recorded. A total of 130 entomopathogenic fungi were extracted from 144 soil samples using Galleria melonella as bait. The in vitro growth of 40 of these isolates was investigated at a range of four different temperatures between 10 and 25ºC. The in vitro growth of a number of selected isolates was then profiled at a wider range of temperatures

Defining the response of Mamestra brassicae to mixed infections

The analysis of multiple dose-response assays usually focuses on overall response patterns of synergism or antagonism. It is rare that more complex response patterns are described that incorporate dose-level or dose-dependent specific synergism and antagonism. We will present an example where we have adapted models from recently developed ecotoxicological mixture dose-response analysis to specifically describe the mortality response of cabbage moth larvae Mamestra brassicae exposed to combinations of pathogens and toxins. This forms part of a larger study investigating whether baculoviruses can be combined with other entomopathogens to achieve improved biological control of insect pests. Larvae of M. brassicae were exposed in the laboratory to a closely related nucleopolyhedrovirus Panolis flammea NPV (PaflNPV) or a homologous baculovirus Autographa californica NPV (AcalNPV) in mixtures with either Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk), the pesticide Spinosad (active ingredients Spinosyns A & D) or the chemical Diethyldithiocarbamic acid (DETC) a sodium salt which has known suppression effects of the host immune system. To account for the antifeedant activity of Btk and Spinosad, the pathogen concentration received by each larva was adjusted relative to food consumption. Mortality of larvae due to each pathogen/toxin was assessed in each assay for 64 treatment combinations. Both PaflNPV and AcalNPV interacted in a similar way in mixtures with Btk and displayed a significant level of synergism across several of the doses tested. The interaction between Spinosad/PaflNPV and DETC/PaflNPV was more complex but was described by the adapted ecotoxicology independent action model. The use of such models enables us to identify doses at which synergy with another pathogen or toxin can increase baculovirus mortality in a Lepidopteran host

Mass rearing Lepidoptera with persistent baculovirus infections

A large number of pathogens are able to infect arthropods, including fungi, viruses, microsporidia and bacteria. Saprophytic true insect pathogens are generally not problematic in sanitised insectaries although outbreaks may occur under certain circumstances. Of more importance are those pathogens that cause chronic, debilitating disease and have the potential to affect insect fitness. Baculoviruses are DNA viruses that primarily infect Lepidoptera and some Hymenoptera. There are two main groups, the nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPV) and the granuloviruses (GV). These viruses can cause acute infections in mass reared arthropods; examples being Douglas fir tussock moth Orygia pseudotsugata, codling moth Cydia pomonella, cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni and Beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua. The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has reared several species of Lepidoptera for more than 20 years in a specialised insectary. In the early 1990’s a persistent baculovirus infection was discovered in a culture of cabbage moth Mamestra brassicae. The virus was shown to be actively transcribed but individual insects did not succumb to infection. The culture has been continuously reared since this time with 100% infection in each generation but with extremely rare mortality due to the virus and little apparent fitness costs in the hosts. We discuss the methods by which these insect cultures are maintained and examine another example from a large insect facility, rearing codling moth for an orchard codling moth suppression programme. We will also examine how these persistent infections may be triggered into fully overt disease and the implications that this has for mass rearing of insects

Scoping study to develop understanding of a natural capital asset check. Revised final report for Defra

This study has scoped a Natural Capital Asset Check, which was a commitment in the 2010 Natural Environment White Paper. The development of this asset check approach is continuing under the UK National Ecosystem Assessment follow-on project, which will conclude in October 2013. This summary attempts to answer some basic questions about a Natural Capital Asset Check that this scoping study has investigated