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The promise of Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) for conservation policy depends on how pervasively ILK is held among local people. In the Peruvian Amazon, we conducted a landscape-scale concordance analysis between (1) ILK for game, timber, and fish species collected by the largest representative ILK survey as yet undertaken in tropical forests, and (2) remotely sensed land cover as proxies for species habitat. From our survey among 4000 households in 235 communities, we find that concordant ILK is highly pervasive across gender, age, place of origin, and social status, irrespective of species and people’s indigeneity. Resource users possess more concordant knowledge than nonusers for timber and fish, not game. Concordance between ILK for fish and remote sensing is associated with cooperative forest clearing in shifting cultivation—an informal community institution in which forest peoples engage with nature. Our findings point to the promise of ILK for large-scale tropical conservation.

Science shows decline in biodiversity, economics shows its value, but conservation failures are political. CBD COP15 in Oct 2022 promised US$700B p.a. in new conservation funding, via the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. As of 02 Nov 2024, post CBD COP16, all new plus existing funds total only 3.5% of the international target, and 3–6% of the domestic target. The multilateral funding institutions exist, but the developed, newly-industrialised, and developing economic blocs have conflicting interpretations of KMGBF. To overcome this impasse, conservation scientists, NGOs, and parks agencies could combine conservation projects into multi-billion-dollar regional investment bundles, to be managed by reliable conservation NGOs, and package them for the World Bank Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, GBFF. If donor nations can see what they paying for and how it will be delivered, they are more likely to contribute, especially if projects include tourism and health components to provide ongoing conservation funding.

There is broad consensus on the socioeconomic importance of beekeeping and the essential services it provides through pollination. However, beekeeping is being impacted by global environmental changes, and more specific insights are needed. Beekeeping is not a homogeneous activity; it is practiced in various ways and contexts. This study examines how these changes affect beekeeping operations of different sizes in Mediterranean Spain and whether size influences adaptation. Structured interviews were conducted to assess the sector's vulnerability, with climate change identified as a key contributing factor. The findings reveal that the vulnerability of beekeeping is shaped not only by multiple transformations but also by the diverse adaptive capacities of beekeepers. Additionally, the size of beekeeping operations significantly influences this capacity, a factor that should be integrated into policymaking given the sector’s highly polarized nature.

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are key elements in the physical and biological Earth system. Human-induced climate change, and other human activities in the region, are leading to several potential interacting tipping points with major and irreversible consequences. Here, we examine eight potential physical, biological, chemical, and social Antarctic tipping points. These include ice sheets, ocean acidification, ocean circulation, species redistribution, invasive species, permafrost melting, local pollution, and the Antarctic Treaty System. We discuss the nature of each potential tipping point, its control variables, thresholds, timescales, and impacts, and focus on the potential for cumulative and cascading effects as a result of their interactions. The analysis provides substantial evidence of the need for more concerted and rapid action to limit climate change and to minimise the impacts of local human activities to avoid these cascading tipping points.

Border militarization can impede people’s interactions with nature in borderlands. We surveyed one border community to understand how local use of Białowieża Forest, one of Europe’s last primary forest complexes, is affected by militarization. Out of 100 returned surveys, most respondents had a negative view of enforced border security measures (closure of the border zone, construction of a border barrier, military activities). Many felt they were not adequately consulted about these policies. Respondents felt discouraged from visiting Białowieża Forest mainly due to the presence of uniformed services and worsened conditions of forest roads caused by heavy machinery and traffic. Newcomers reported negative impacts on their health and well-being, while people born in the region (locals) had mixed reactions. Although locals were more equivocal in opposing the border barrier than newcomers, both groups perceived the environmental costs of its construction as high and reported a sense of separation from neighboring Belarus.

The emergence of nature-based solutions (NbS) in science, policy, and practice signals a paradigmatic shift in urban climate change adaptation, yet empirical investigations into its impact on adaptation definitions and progress tracking remain scarce. Addressing this gap, we conducted thematic analysis on semi-structured interviews (n = 15) with practitioners responsible for implementing and evaluating urban NbS in different countries. We provide a nuanced understanding of urban adaptation goals within urban NbS according to the insights from these practitioners, extending beyond hazard mitigation and towards cultivating and strengthening relationships between humans and nature. Tracking adaptation progress towards such relational adaptation goals requires acknowledging knowledge pluralism and the diversity of human–nature relations. We propose an alternative definition of adaptation supported by our data that aims to foster a more holistic approach to urban climate adaptation that accounts for the potential benefits of urban NbS across interconnected climate, biodiversity, and social goals.

A global assessment of the status of tertiary, vocational, and technical forest education and training found deficits in inclusion of knowledge and student diversity. Coverage of forest services and cultural and social issues was characterized as weak in the curricula of many programs. The inclusion of traditional and Indigenous knowledge was frequently poor or absent. Gaps were found in enrollment at tertiary education levels with respect to diversity by gender, race/ethnicity, and other societal groups. If unaddressed, forest researchers, professionals, and workers will continue to lack familiarity with different knowledge systems and the importance of inclusive representation. Improvements in forest education related curricula, research, monitoring, policy, recruitment, and promotion are recommended. Without remedial action to build a representative, skilled, and knowledgeable workforce, prospects for forests to meet local, national, and global goals are at risk. Improved social and knowledge diversity in forest education is paramount for the future of forests.