A new global analysis led by researchers at the University of Minnesota suggests countries can improve biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation and economic development simultaneously through more efficient land use and land management.
The study, published in Science, evaluated 146 countries by combining spatial biophysical and economic data with optimization methods to develop what researchers call sustainable landscape efficiency frontiers. These models identify the highest achievable combinations of biodiversity conservation, land-based climate mitigation and economic value from agricultural crops, livestock and forestry production.
The analysis found that most countries currently operate below their potential, indicating opportunities to improve environmental and economic outcomes at the same time through better land management decisions.
Across all 146 countries, researchers estimated the potential to increase land-based climate mitigation by more than 200 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing an increase of more than 20%, or to increase net economic value by more than $350 billion, an increase of more than 80%, without reducing biodiversity conservation or other climate-related objectives.
Researchers said those gains could come from a combination of targeted land reallocation, including selective forest restoration on highly productive lands, and crop intensification, particularly in lower-income countries where agricultural yields remain relatively low.
The research team said the findings challenge the assumption that environmental protection must come at the expense of economic growth. By identifying more efficient land use strategies, countries may be able to pursue multiple national and international objectives at once.
The researchers said the analysis could help governments, development organizations and international financial institutions better target investments that support national development priorities while also advancing biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation and climate adaptation commitments.
The team also said the country-level analysis provides a framework for evaluating alternative land management strategies and identifying opportunities to improve environmental and economic performance.
NatCap TEEMs and its collaborators, including NatCap Insights, have begun applying the approach with partners, including the World Bank, to conduct country-specific analyses tailored to individual policy and development questions.
Researchers noted the current analysis does not include all ecosystem services or economic activities, leaving opportunities for future studies to expand and refine the framework.
Funding for the research was provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the University of Minnesota Fesler-Lampert Endowment, the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment, the World Resources Institute and the World Bank.
Source: University of Minnesota, "Better land use and management could improve biodiversity, climate and economic development"