David O'Brien
Restoring genetic diversity to facilitate the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law
O'Brien, David; Aavik, Tsipe; Fedorca, Ancuta; Fischer, Martin C.; Goffaux, Robin; Hoban, Sean; Hollingsworth, Peter; Hvilsom, Christina; Jehle, Robert; Stroil, Belma Kalamujić; Kershaw, Francine; Klinga, Peter; Kopatz, Alexander; Leigh, Deborah M.; Paz-Vinas, Ivan; Robuchon, Marine; Segelbacher, Gernot; Takacs, Viktoria; Vernesi, Cristiano; Laikre, Linda
Authors
Tsipe Aavik
Ancuta Fedorca
Martin C. Fischer
Robin Goffaux
Sean Hoban
Peter Hollingsworth
Christina Hvilsom
Dr Robert Jehle R.Jehle@salford.ac.uk
Associate Professor/Reader
Belma Kalamujić Stroil
Francine Kershaw
Peter Klinga
Alexander Kopatz
Deborah M. Leigh
Ivan Paz-Vinas
Marine Robuchon
Gernot Segelbacher
Viktoria Takacs
Cristiano Vernesi
Linda Laikre
Abstract
Governments and economic blocs are recognising that the world faces a biodiversity crisis. The restoration of biodiversity to the levels prior to widespread human induced damage has been incorporated as a crucial component of conservation in the Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity. The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) forms part of the European Union's response and after its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, it has formally become the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The NRL aims to play a role in restoring ecosystems, habitats and species but does not expressly include genetic diversity, the third biodiversity component. Considering genetic diversity in strategic biodiversity planning is important to help nature adapt to rapid anthropogenic change. We have reviewed the text of the NRL and note opportunities to incorporate genetic diversity in National Restoration Plans to augment its implementation. In particular, genetic diversity assessments are well aligned with the NRL's aspiration to enhance connectivity, and genetic indicators can assess the effectiveness of its implementation. Here we give examples where restoration has incorporated genetic diversity to ensure long term wide-reaching success. This is of relevance beyond the NRL and applies generally to policy for nature restoration efforts globally, especially those related to the Global Biodiversity Framework.
| Journal Article Type | Article |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Date | Jan 19, 2025 |
| Online Publication Date | Feb 13, 2025 |
| Publication Date | 2025-03 |
| Deposit Date | Feb 13, 2025 |
| Publicly Available Date | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Journal | Biological Conservation |
| Print ISSN | 0006-3207 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
| Volume | 303 |
| Article Number | 110995 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110995 |
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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/