Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The German Hunters Association (DJV) has called on the "federal and state governments to better coordinate management measures for invasive species in the future and commit to hunting as a tool for species protection."

Citing the IPBES Assessment on Invasive Alien Species and their Control, the DJV stated: "Only recently, [IPBES] pointed out the negative, sometimes irreversible effects of invasive alien species on biological diversity: along with habitat loss, they are one of the five main causes of global species loss."

"Current political measures for management and their implementation are inadequate and there is an urgent need for action," it continued. Focusing on raccoons, the DJV claims that planned restrictions on hunting in Rhineland-Palatinate and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania endanger biodiversity and that the species benefits from the ban on trapping.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The October 2023 edition (Volume 64) of the journal Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability was published as a special issue focusing on the IPBES Values Assessment, with 15 articles exploring nature’s values, transformative change and sustainability, and other related themes.

In it's Editorial Overview titled "Leveraging the multiple values of nature for transformative change to just and sustainable futures — Insights from the IPBES Values Assessment," the authors state: "This special issue draws on the IPBES Values Assessment published in 2022 and engages with key questions about the role of values and valuation of nature for transformative change towards more just and sustainable futures. The special issue presents papers that review topics about how to conceptualise value diversity and undertake valuation to guide decisions geared towards transformative change. It also focuses on how power, justice and socio-environmental conflicts intersect with nature’s values, and the role of diverse values in conservation and development policy instruments."

The "Values for transformative change: The IPBES approach" special edition was edited by Unai Pascual, Patricia Balvanera and Mike Christie - the three co-Chairs of the IPBES Assessment.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) "The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has recognised buffel grass’s potential to completely take over arid ecosystems, forcing out native plant and animal species," said the South Australian government as it announced that the state's Landscape Priorities Fund and the Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board (AWLB) will jointly contribute more than $2.2M to a multi-agency buffel grass program.

"The IPBES’s Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control has been welcomed by the South Australian Government and the Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board (AWLB), which has led the fight against buffel grass in remote parts of the state for more than a decade," read the press release issued by the entities. The organizations stated that "buffel grass is a threat to remote Indigenous communities in Australia because it causes heightened fire risk, damage to cultural sites, and a reduction in the ability to pass on cultural knowledge to the next generation," and that "left unmanaged, the weed poses a threat to grazing and cropping systems because it spreads quickly in hotter, stormier weather."

Dr. Ellen Ryan-Colton, South Australian contributor to IPBES report, said "IPBES is at the forefront of including Indigenous knowledge in their reporting and recognising the effects on human communities." Likewise, Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board Chair Mick Haynes said, "the IPBES report is encouraging, especially the mention of the impact such invasive species have on the wellbeing and quality of life of human populations."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing open access to data, announced the launch of a new task group to address data challenges revealed by the IPBES Invasive Species Assessment Report, including national needs for tracking progress toward reducing impacts of invasive alien species

"The task group recommended by the GBIF Science Committee, and endorsed by the GBIF Executive Committee will review recent developments in the science-policy interface relating to invasive alien species, and recommend actions for GBIF that will best address the needs of data users. These developments include not just the IPBES Assessment but also the needs of governments to track progress towards Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), relating to preventing or reducing the introduction and establishment of invasive alien species," stated the organization via a press release.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new paper published in the September 2023 edition of the Journal of Environmental Management has identified four core areas that must be strengthened for a better approach to wildlife trade and monitoring.

Titled "Determining the sustainability of legal wildlife trade," in the study, authors highlight the finding from the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment that exploitation of wildlife is the second greatest threat to global diversity and its vital contributions to people.

The authors provide 183 examples showing unsustainable trade in a broad range of taxonomic groups and calling for enacting changes in regulatory frameworks, deeming them "essential to the continued survival of many threatened species." These are: (1) rigorous data collection and analyses of populations; (2) linking trade quotas to IUCN and international accords; (3) improved databases and compliance of trade; and (4) enhanced understanding of trade bans, market forces, and species substitutions.

"Given that wildlife exploitation is a major driver of biodiversity loss (IPBES et al., 2019), demand-related information is urgently required to determine sustainability," cited the authors.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new report led by The James Hutton Institute and commissioned by NatureScot (Scotland's Nature Agency), points to factors which are indirectly contributing to nature loss in Scotland including culture, education, demography, economy, political systems and technology.

The report follows the framework of the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and its definitions of the indirect drivers. The paper summarizes the description of these drivers given in the IPBES report, transposing these to the Scottish situation with relevant evidence presented to support this transposition and identify potential levers of change.

The report presents a critical assessment of the status and trends of the natural world, the social implications of these trends, their direct and indirect causes, and actions that can be taken to ensure a better future for all. The report identifies ways to reduce the impacts of some of these contributing factors to help move towards a future where humans live more in harmony with nature. Government, public bodies, schools, businesses, individuals and communities are highlighted as having a lead role to play. Recommendations include that policy makers and businesses move away from measuring performance based on levels of production and consumption and focus more on regenerative uses of the land and sea as part of a sustainable, circular economy.

The report also makes extensive use of knowledge published in the IPBES Assessment of Scenarios and Models of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, as well as the IPBES Assessment on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new report led by The James Hutton Institute and commissioned by NatureScot (Scotland's Nature Agency), points to factors which are indirectly contributing to nature loss in Scotland including culture, education, demography, economy, political systems and technology.

The report follows the framework of the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and its definitions of the indirect drivers. The paper summarizes the description of these drivers given in the IPBES report, transposing these to the Scottish situation with relevant evidence presented to support this transposition and identify potential levers of change.

The report presents a critical assessment of the status and trends of the natural world, the social implications of these trends, their direct and indirect causes, and actions that can be taken to ensure a better future for all. The report identifies ways to reduce the impacts of some of these contributing factors to help move towards a future where humans live more in harmony with nature. Government, public bodies, schools, businesses, individuals and communities are highlighted as having a lead role to play. Recommendations include that policy makers and businesses move away from measuring performance based on levels of production and consumption and focus more on regenerative uses of the land and sea as part of a sustainable, circular economy.

The report also makes extensive use of knowledge published in the IPBES Assessment of Scenarios and Models of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, as well as the IPBES Assessment on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new report led by The James Hutton Institute and commissioned by NatureScot (Scotland's Nature Agency), points to factors which are indirectly contributing to nature loss in Scotland including culture, education, demography, economy, political systems and technology.

The report follows the framework of the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and its definitions of the indirect drivers. The paper summarizes the description of these drivers given in the IPBES report, transposing these to the Scottish situation with relevant evidence presented to support this transposition and identify potential levers of change.

The report presents a critical assessment of the status and trends of the natural world, the social implications of these trends, their direct and indirect causes, and actions that can be taken to ensure a better future for all. The report identifies ways to reduce the impacts of some of these contributing factors to help move towards a future where humans live more in harmony with nature. Government, public bodies, schools, businesses, individuals and communities are highlighted as having a lead role to play. Recommendations include that policy makers and businesses move away from measuring performance based on levels of production and consumption and focus more on regenerative uses of the land and sea as part of a sustainable, circular economy.

The report also makes extensive use of knowledge published in the IPBES Assessment of Scenarios and Models of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, as well as the IPBES Assessment on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The new IPBES work programme “assessment of transformative change” aims to identify factors in human society—behavioural, social, cultural dimensions, among others—that may be leveraged to bring about transformative change. In this context and based on its scientific recommendations, the third French National Strategy for Biodiversity for 2030 (SNB3), published in 2022, aims to contribute to the implementation of France’s international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. We carried out a critical assessment of the capacity of the first version of SNB3 to initiate transformative change.
. Firstly, we describe a two-step assessment methodology for determining the leverage potential of the strategy’s measures, based on a robust and replicable independent scientific audit and a multi-criteria analysis.
. Secondly, we present the main results of the assessment using the SNB3 as a case example.
We confirm the scientific and practical relevance of this type of exercise for policy makers, for establishing strategies that are part of a transition process allowing for real transformative change in society. By analysing the measures and ranking them from most to least efficient, this study reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the strategy by anticipating what should have and may not have an impact, while highlighting what needs to be improved as a priority.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The new IPBES work programme “assessment of transformative change” aims to identify factors in human society—behavioural, social, cultural dimensions, among others—that may be leveraged to bring about transformative change. In this context and based on its scientific recommendations, the third French National Strategy for Biodiversity for 2030 (SNB3), published in 2022, aims to contribute to the implementation of France’s international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. We carried out a critical assessment of the capacity of the first version of SNB3 to initiate transformative change.
. Firstly, we describe a two-step assessment methodology for determining the leverage potential of the strategy’s measures, based on a robust and replicable independent scientific audit and a multi-criteria analysis.
. Secondly, we present the main results of the assessment using the SNB3 as a case example.
We confirm the scientific and practical relevance of this type of exercise for policy makers, for establishing strategies that are part of a transition process allowing for real transformative change in society. By analysing the measures and ranking them from most to least efficient, this study reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the strategy by anticipating what should have and may not have an impact, while highlighting what needs to be improved as a priority.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new article published in the Sustainability Science journal explores how the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) may be implemented for improved assessment of freshwater ecosystems. In the article, researchers outline how the NFF and its main value perspectives can be translated to freshwater systems and explore what desirable freshwater futures would look like from three perspectives (Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, and Nature as Culture).

Second, they also review scenario strategies and current models to examine how freshwater modelling can be linked to the NFF in terms of its aims and outcomes. In doing so, authors aimed to identify which aspects of the NFF framework are not yet captured in current freshwater models and suggest possible ways to bridge them.

"We believe that the knowledge gaps that exist should be bridged by mobilising existing freshwater research communities and projects to model nature futures for freshwater ecosystems. We see the development of the Nature Futures Framework under IPBES as an opportunity for freshwater modelling communities from across the world to strengthen the representation of freshwater nature and biodiversity in global environmental governance," wrote the authors, extensively building on IPBES science throughout the publication.

"Current freshwater ecosystem models can represent Nature for Nature, partially represent Nature for Society, and represent limited or indirect aspects of Nature as Culture," they concluded.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new article published in the Sustainability Science journal explores how the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) may be implemented for improved assessment of freshwater ecosystems. In the article, researchers outline how the NFF and its main value perspectives can be translated to freshwater systems and explore what desirable freshwater futures would look like from three perspectives (Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, and Nature as Culture).

Second, they also review scenario strategies and current models to examine how freshwater modelling can be linked to the NFF in terms of its aims and outcomes. In doing so, authors aimed to identify which aspects of the NFF framework are not yet captured in current freshwater models and suggest possible ways to bridge them.

"We believe that the knowledge gaps that exist should be bridged by mobilising existing freshwater research communities and projects to model nature futures for freshwater ecosystems. We see the development of the Nature Futures Framework under IPBES as an opportunity for freshwater modelling communities from across the world to strengthen the representation of freshwater nature and biodiversity in global environmental governance," wrote the authors, extensively building on IPBES science throughout the publication.

"Current freshwater ecosystem models can represent Nature for Nature, partially represent Nature for Society, and represent limited or indirect aspects of Nature as Culture," they concluded.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new article published in the Sustainability Science journal explores how the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) may be implemented for improved assessment of freshwater ecosystems. In the article, researchers outline how the NFF and its main value perspectives can be translated to freshwater systems and explore what desirable freshwater futures would look like from three perspectives (Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, and Nature as Culture).

Second, they also review scenario strategies and current models to examine how freshwater modelling can be linked to the NFF in terms of its aims and outcomes. In doing so, authors aimed to identify which aspects of the NFF framework are not yet captured in current freshwater models and suggest possible ways to bridge them.

"We believe that the knowledge gaps that exist should be bridged by mobilising existing freshwater research communities and projects to model nature futures for freshwater ecosystems. We see the development of the Nature Futures Framework under IPBES as an opportunity for freshwater modelling communities from across the world to strengthen the representation of freshwater nature and biodiversity in global environmental governance," wrote the authors, extensively building on IPBES science throughout the publication.

"Current freshwater ecosystem models can represent Nature for Nature, partially represent Nature for Society, and represent limited or indirect aspects of Nature as Culture," they concluded.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new article published in the Sustainability Science journal explores how the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) may be implemented for improved assessment of freshwater ecosystems. In the article, researchers outline how the NFF and its main value perspectives can be translated to freshwater systems and explore what desirable freshwater futures would look like from three perspectives (Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, and Nature as Culture).

Second, they also review scenario strategies and current models to examine how freshwater modelling can be linked to the NFF in terms of its aims and outcomes. In doing so, authors aimed to identify which aspects of the NFF framework are not yet captured in current freshwater models and suggest possible ways to bridge them.

"We believe that the knowledge gaps that exist should be bridged by mobilising existing freshwater research communities and projects to model nature futures for freshwater ecosystems. We see the development of the Nature Futures Framework under IPBES as an opportunity for freshwater modelling communities from across the world to strengthen the representation of freshwater nature and biodiversity in global environmental governance," wrote the authors, extensively building on IPBES science throughout the publication.

"Current freshwater ecosystem models can represent Nature for Nature, partially represent Nature for Society, and represent limited or indirect aspects of Nature as Culture," they concluded.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The Global NGO, Traffic, has extensively cited IPBES findings and recommendations in its June 2023 report "Legal and sustainable wild species trade: Learnings and implications for nature market governance." The NGO refers to the IPBES Sustainable Use Assessment to provide general context around nature markets based on trade in wild species, as well as market-based voluntary standards, certification schemes, benchmarking and reporting initiatives.

"The 2022 Sustainable Use Assessment (SUA) by IPBES considers that the effectiveness of these initiatives, particularly certification and labelling schemes is varied. They have primarily benefited large-scale operations and have generally been limited to high-value markets," writes TRAFFIC. The SUA's recommendations are also touched on by the TRAFFIC report when focusing on stronger laws, regulations and policies and their enforcement.

The IPBES Global Assessment's findings are also cited to provide an overview of regulated wild species trade.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The Global NGO, Traffic, has extensively cited IPBES findings and recommendations in its June 2023 report "Legal and sustainable wild species trade: Learnings and implications for nature market governance." The NGO refers to the IPBES Sustainable Use Assessment to provide general context around nature markets based on trade in wild species, as well as market-based voluntary standards, certification schemes, benchmarking and reporting initiatives.

"The 2022 Sustainable Use Assessment (SUA) by IPBES considers that the effectiveness of these initiatives, particularly certification and labelling schemes is varied. They have primarily benefited large-scale operations and have generally been limited to high-value markets," writes TRAFFIC. The SUA's recommendations are also touched on by the TRAFFIC report when focusing on stronger laws, regulations and policies and their enforcement.

The IPBES Global Assessment's findings are also cited to provide an overview of regulated wild species trade.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) In June 2023, seven directors from natural science institutes in Europe referenced IPBES in an open letter supporting the European Nature Restoration Law, which was later passed by the European Parliament in July 2023.

"Report after report, from regional or national studies to international organizations such as IPCC and IPBES, the science is clear: we must act now, not only on climate but also on biodiversity, as both are intricately and inseparably linked. That is why we are addressing you today," states the open letter.

Furthermore, the letter also cites IPBES findings by stating: "With currently one million species at risk of extinction we hope you will take the right decisions to avoid nature to be found only in our museums."

The public were invited to sign the open letter in support of the directors' appeal. Signatories included the directors of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, the Natural History Museum of Denmark, the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in The Netherlands, the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in France, the UK's Natural History Museum, and CETAF - Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) On National Endangered Species Day 2023 (19th May), Singapore will play host to the largest sculpture in the world - Love The Last March. Depicting the greatest animal march on earth planet, it aims to bring awareness to the massive rate of wildlife extinction and to help save the animal kingdom. The sculpture will be made by internationally renowned artists, Gillie and Marc, who have been bringing awareness to wildlife through their art for decades.

According to the article, '1 million species are at risk of extinction because of habitat loss, about 85% of all wildlife," a finding of the IPBES Global Assessment.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) On National Endangered Species Day 2023 (19th May), Singapore will play host to the largest sculpture in the world - Love The Last March. Depicting the greatest animal march on earth planet, it aims to bring awareness to the massive rate of wildlife extinction and to help save the animal kingdom. The sculpture will be made by internationally renowned artists, Gillie and Marc, who have been bringing awareness to wildlife through their art for decades.

According to the article, '1 million species are at risk of extinction because of habitat loss, about 85% of all wildlife," a finding of the IPBES Global Assessment.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers utilized the IPBES conceptual framework as a conceptual tool to examine and update the understanding of resource meanings and knowledge systems within historically non-sedentary societies. Researchers incorporated the concepts and methodologies outlined in the IPBES framework to analyze the connection between food customs, land knowledge, and resource understandings among non-sedentary peoples in Eurasia, specifically focusing on sturgeon aquaculture facilities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.

"This study’s expanded IPBES model meets the call of the IPBES framework for addressing environmental discourse and resource understandings which naturalize categorical distinctions," wrote the paper's authors.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers have used IPBES Global Assessment and the Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment findings to illustrate how the belief that human population growth is the main cause of biodiversity is erroneous.

"...Inequitable consumption drives global biodiversity loss, whilst population is used to scapegoat responsibility. Instead, the responsibilities are clear and have recently been summarized by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services IPBES: Leverage points for biodiversity conservation lie in reducing unsustainable consumption through diet shifts, tracking supply chains, and technological innovation as well as ensuring sustainable production to reduce biodiversity losses associated with industrial agriculture," state the authors.

By examining the drivers of biodiversity loss in highly biodiverse countries, researchers argue that population growth is not the primary factor behind habitat loss. Instead, the growth of commodities for export, such as soybean and oil-palm, primarily for livestock feed or biofuel consumption in wealthier economies, plays a significant role. Inequitable consumption patterns drive global biodiversity loss, while population is often used as a scapegoat to shift responsibility.

The paper was published in the January 2023 (Volume 277) edition of the Biological Conservation journal.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers have used IPBES Global Assessment and the Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment findings to illustrate how the belief that human population growth is the main cause of biodiversity is erroneous.

"...Inequitable consumption drives global biodiversity loss, whilst population is used to scapegoat responsibility. Instead, the responsibilities are clear and have recently been summarized by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services IPBES: Leverage points for biodiversity conservation lie in reducing unsustainable consumption through diet shifts, tracking supply chains, and technological innovation as well as ensuring sustainable production to reduce biodiversity losses associated with industrial agriculture," state the authors.

By examining the drivers of biodiversity loss in highly biodiverse countries, researchers argue that population growth is not the primary factor behind habitat loss. Instead, the growth of commodities for export, such as soybean and oil-palm, primarily for livestock feed or biofuel consumption in wealthier economies, plays a significant role. Inequitable consumption patterns drive global biodiversity loss, while population is often used as a scapegoat to shift responsibility.

The paper was published in the January 2023 (Volume 277) edition of the Biological Conservation journal.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Since the publication of the Charter for Upgrading Journalistic Practices to Tackle the Ecological Emergency, several media outlets in France committed themselves to train their editorial staff on climate and biodiversity issues. In May 2023, IPBES and IPCC experts held a seminar to train journalists from France Télévisions on this topic.

More than 1,500 journalists have already chosen to sign the charter, accessible at www.chartejournalismeecologie.fr

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Since the publication of the Charter for Upgrading Journalistic Practices to Tackle the Ecological Emergency, several media outlets in France committed themselves to train their editorial staff on climate and biodiversity issues. In May 2023, IPBES and IPCC experts held a seminar to train journalists from France Télévisions on this topic.

More than 1,500 journalists have already chosen to sign the charter, accessible at www.chartejournalismeecologie.fr

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Since the publication of the Charter for Upgrading Journalistic Practices to Tackle the Ecological Emergency, several media outlets in France committed themselves to train their editorial staff on climate and biodiversity issues. In May 2023, IPBES and IPCC experts held a seminar to train journalists from France Télévisions on this topic.

More than 1,500 journalists have already chosen to sign the charter, accessible at www.chartejournalismeecologie.fr

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Through a series of workshops outlined in a new research paper, scientists undertook "a futures thinking process that could use the Nature Futures Framework [NFF] as a mechanism to bring more transformative energy into how humans conceptualise the high seas and therefore how we aim to govern the ocean."

Published in the July 2023 edition of the Marine Policy journal, the study found that "engaging with the future through science fiction narratives allowed a more radical appreciation of what could be and infusing science with artistic elements can inspire audiences beyond academia."

The study also references the IPBES Global Assessment (2019) and the IPBES Scoping Report for the Transformative Change Assessment. "Recognising the need for more pluralistic, transformative and positive scenarios for nature, the IPBES task force on scenarios and models developed the NFF for use in research and governance processes that require a sense of what potential futures could be possible, even the more radical," wrote the authors.

"Operationalizing the NFF in the high seas provides a key, timely case study for examining the need for transformative change, the role of envisioning futures, how transformative change can occur and the process of rolling out transformative change. This output could feed directly into the ongoing IPBES assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity," they continued.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Through a series of workshops outlined in a new research paper, scientists undertook "a futures thinking process that could use the Nature Futures Framework [NFF] as a mechanism to bring more transformative energy into how humans conceptualise the high seas and therefore how we aim to govern the ocean."

Published in the July 2023 edition of the Marine Policy journal, the study found that "engaging with the future through science fiction narratives allowed a more radical appreciation of what could be and infusing science with artistic elements can inspire audiences beyond academia."

The study also references the IPBES Global Assessment (2019) and the IPBES Scoping Report for the Transformative Change Assessment. "Recognising the need for more pluralistic, transformative and positive scenarios for nature, the IPBES task force on scenarios and models developed the NFF for use in research and governance processes that require a sense of what potential futures could be possible, even the more radical," wrote the authors.

"Operationalizing the NFF in the high seas provides a key, timely case study for examining the need for transformative change, the role of envisioning futures, how transformative change can occur and the process of rolling out transformative change. This output could feed directly into the ongoing IPBES assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity," they continued.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Through a series of workshops outlined in a new research paper, scientists undertook "a futures thinking process that could use the Nature Futures Framework [NFF] as a mechanism to bring more transformative energy into how humans conceptualise the high seas and therefore how we aim to govern the ocean."

Published in the July 2023 edition of the Marine Policy journal, the study found that "engaging with the future through science fiction narratives allowed a more radical appreciation of what could be and infusing science with artistic elements can inspire audiences beyond academia."

The study also references the IPBES Global Assessment (2019) and the IPBES Scoping Report for the Transformative Change Assessment. "Recognising the need for more pluralistic, transformative and positive scenarios for nature, the IPBES task force on scenarios and models developed the NFF for use in research and governance processes that require a sense of what potential futures could be possible, even the more radical," wrote the authors.

"Operationalizing the NFF in the high seas provides a key, timely case study for examining the need for transformative change, the role of envisioning futures, how transformative change can occur and the process of rolling out transformative change. This output could feed directly into the ongoing IPBES assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity," they continued.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Through a series of workshops outlined in a new research paper, scientists undertook "a futures thinking process that could use the Nature Futures Framework [NFF] as a mechanism to bring more transformative energy into how humans conceptualise the high seas and therefore how we aim to govern the ocean."

Published in the July 2023 edition of the Marine Policy journal, the study found that "engaging with the future through science fiction narratives allowed a more radical appreciation of what could be and infusing science with artistic elements can inspire audiences beyond academia."

The study also references the IPBES Global Assessment (2019) and the IPBES Scoping Report for the Transformative Change Assessment. "Recognising the need for more pluralistic, transformative and positive scenarios for nature, the IPBES task force on scenarios and models developed the NFF for use in research and governance processes that require a sense of what potential futures could be possible, even the more radical," wrote the authors.

"Operationalizing the NFF in the high seas provides a key, timely case study for examining the need for transformative change, the role of envisioning futures, how transformative change can occur and the process of rolling out transformative change. This output could feed directly into the ongoing IPBES assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity," they continued.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Members of the IPBES task force on scenarios and models have provided an example of how the Nature Futures Framework can be implemented for the development of illustrative narratives representing a diversity of desirable nature futures: information that can be used to assess and develop scenarios and models whilst acknowledging the underpinning value perspectives on nature.

To explore the interdependence between narratives, and therefore their potential to be translated into scenarios and models, six narratives developed were assessed around three areas of the transformative change debate, specifically, (1) land sparing vs. land sharing, (2) Half Earth vs. Whole Earth conservation, and (3) green growth vs. post-growth economic development.

The paper concludes with an assessment of how the Nature Futures Framework could be used to assist in developing and articulating transformative pathways towards desirable nature futures.

The article is part of the Sustainability Science journal's Special Feature: Operationalizing the Nature Futures Framework to Catalyze the Development of Nature-Future Scenarios.