Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests

J. Liang; T.W. Crowther; N. Picard; S. Wiser; M. Zhou; G. Alberti; E.D. Schulze; A.D. Mcguire; F. Bozzato; H. Pretzsch; S. de Miguel; A. Paquette; B. Herault; M. Scherer-Lorenzen; C.B. Barrett; H.B. Glick; G.M. Hengeveld; Gert-Jan Nabuurs; S. Pfautsch; H. Viana; A.C. Vibrans; C. Ammer; P. Schall; D. Verbyla; N. Tchebakova; M. Fischer; J.V. Watson; Han Y.H. Chen; X. Lei; M.J. Schelhaas; Huicui Lu; D. Gianelle; E.I. Parfenova; C. Salas; E. Lee; B. Lee; H.S. Kim; H. Bruelheide; D.A. Coomes; D. Piotto; T. Sunderland; B. Schmid; S. Gourlet-Fleury; B. Sonke; R. Tavani; J. Zhu; S. Brandl; J. Vayreda; F. Kitahara; E.B. Searle; V.J. Neldner; M.R. Ngugi; C. Baraloto; L. Frizzera; R. Ba Azy; J. Oleksyn; T. Zawila-Niedzwiecki; O. Bouriaud; F. Bussotti; L. Finer; B. Jaroszewicz; T. Jucker; F. Valladares; A.M. Jagodzinski; P.L. Peri; C. Gonmadje; W. Marthy; T. Obrien; E.H. Martin; A.R. Marshall; F. Rovero; R. Bitariho; P.A. Niklaus; P. Alvarez-Loayza; N. Chamuya; R. Valencia; F. Mortier; V. Wortel; N.L. Engone-Obiang; L.V. Ferreira; D.E. Odeke; R.M. Vasquez; S.L. Lewis; P.B. Reich

doi:10.1126/science.aaf8957

Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests

J. Liang^*, T.W. Crowther, N. Picard, S. Wiser, M. Zhou, G. Alberti, E.D. Schulze, A.D. Mcguire, F. Bozzato, H. Pretzsch, S. de Miguel, A. Paquette, B. Herault, M. Scherer-Lorenzen, C.B. Barrett, H.B. Glick, G.M. Hengeveld, Gert-Jan Nabuurs, S. Pfautsch, H. VianaA.C. Vibrans, C. Ammer, P. Schall, D. Verbyla, N. Tchebakova, M. Fischer, J.V. Watson, Han Y.H. Chen, X. Lei, M.J. Schelhaas, Huicui Lu, D. Gianelle, E.I. Parfenova, C. Salas, E. Lee, B. Lee, H.S. Kim, H. Bruelheide, D.A. Coomes, D. Piotto, T. Sunderland, B. Schmid, S. Gourlet-Fleury, B. Sonke, R. Tavani, J. Zhu, S. Brandl, J. Vayreda, F. Kitahara, E.B. Searle, V.J. Neldner, M.R. Ngugi, C. Baraloto, L. Frizzera, R. Ba Azy, J. Oleksyn, T. Zawila-Niedzwiecki, O. Bouriaud, F. Bussotti, L. Finer, B. Jaroszewicz, T. Jucker, F. Valladares, A.M. Jagodzinski, P.L. Peri, C. Gonmadje, W. Marthy, T. Obrien, E.H. Martin, A.R. Marshall, F. Rovero, R. Bitariho, P.A. Niklaus, P. Alvarez-Loayza, N. Chamuya, R. Valencia, F. Mortier, V. Wortel, N.L. Engone-Obiang, L.V. Ferreira, D.E. Odeke, R.M. Vasquez, S.L. Lewis, P.B. Reich

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

966 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The biodiversity-productivity relationship (BPR) is foundational to our understanding of the global extinction crisis and its impacts on ecosystem functioning. Understanding BPR is critical for the accurate valuation and effective conservation of biodiversity. Using ground-sourced data from 777,126 permanent plots, spanning 44 countries and most terrestrial biomes, we reveal a globally consistent positive concave-down BPR, showing that continued biodiversity loss would result in an accelerating decline in forest productivity worldwide. The value of biodiversity in maintaining commercial forest productivity alone—US$166 billion to 490 billion per year according to our estimation—is more than twice what it would cost to implement effective global conservation. This highlights the need for a worldwide reassessment of biodiversity values, forest management strategies, and conservation priorities.

Original language	English
Article number	aaf8957
Number of pages	15
Journal	Science
Volume	354
Issue number	6309
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf8957
Publication status	Published - 2016

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1126/science.aaf8957

Files and links

Dataset (Non-WUR)

Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI)- Dataset Global#1
Liang, J. (Creator), Crowther, T. W. (Creator), Picard, N. (Creator), Hengeveld, G. M. (Creator), Nabuurs, G. (Creator), Schelhaas, M. (Creator) & Lu, H. (Creator), West Virginia University, 5 Dec 2016
DOI: 10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.4286552
Dataset

PEGASUS: Public Ecosystem Goods And Services from land management - Unlocking the Synergies
1/03/15 → 28/02/18
Project: EU research project
SIMWOOD AF-EU-15002 (BO-21.04-003-004)
Nabuurs, G.-J. (Project Leader)
1/01/15 → 31/12/17
Project: LVVN project
SIMWOOD: Sustainable Innovative Mobilisation of Wood
1/11/13 → 31/10/17
Project: EU research project

Cite this

Liang, J., Crowther, T. W., Picard, N., Wiser, S., Zhou, M., Alberti, G., Schulze, E. D., Mcguire, A. D., Bozzato, F., Pretzsch, H., de Miguel, S., Paquette, A., Herault, B., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Barrett, C. B., Glick, H. B., Hengeveld, G. M., Nabuurs, G.-J., Pfautsch, S., ... Reich, P. B. (2016). Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests. Science, 354(6309), Article aaf8957. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf8957

@article{3209cb8803724aa7a1d01b7e2657d2cf,

title = "Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests",

abstract = "The biodiversity-productivity relationship (BPR) is foundational to our understanding of the global extinction crisis and its impacts on ecosystem functioning. Understanding BPR is critical for the accurate valuation and effective conservation of biodiversity. Using ground-sourced data from 777,126 permanent plots, spanning 44 countries and most terrestrial biomes, we reveal a globally consistent positive concave-down BPR, showing that continued biodiversity loss would result in an accelerating decline in forest productivity worldwide. The value of biodiversity in maintaining commercial forest productivity alone—US$166 billion to 490 billion per year according to our estimation—is more than twice what it would cost to implement effective global conservation. This highlights the need for a worldwide reassessment of biodiversity values, forest management strategies, and conservation priorities.",

author = "J. Liang and T.W. Crowther and N. Picard and S. Wiser and M. Zhou and G. Alberti and E.D. Schulze and A.D. Mcguire and F. Bozzato and H. Pretzsch and {de Miguel}, S. and A. Paquette and B. Herault and M. Scherer-Lorenzen and C.B. Barrett and H.B. Glick and G.M. Hengeveld and Gert-Jan Nabuurs and S. Pfautsch and H. Viana and A.C. Vibrans and C. Ammer and P. Schall and D. Verbyla and N. Tchebakova and M. Fischer and J.V. Watson and Chen, {Han Y.H.} and X. Lei and M.J. Schelhaas and Huicui Lu and D. Gianelle and E.I. Parfenova and C. Salas and E. Lee and B. Lee and H.S. Kim and H. Bruelheide and D.A. Coomes and D. Piotto and T. Sunderland and B. Schmid and S. Gourlet-Fleury and B. Sonke and R. Tavani and J. Zhu and S. Brandl and J. Vayreda and F. Kitahara and E.B. Searle and V.J. Neldner and M.R. Ngugi and C. Baraloto and L. Frizzera and R. Ba Azy and J. Oleksyn and T. Zawila-Niedzwiecki and O. Bouriaud and F. Bussotti and L. Finer and B. Jaroszewicz and T. Jucker and F. Valladares and A.M. Jagodzinski and P.L. Peri and C. Gonmadje and W. Marthy and T. Obrien and E.H. Martin and A.R. Marshall and F. Rovero and R. Bitariho and P.A. Niklaus and P. Alvarez-Loayza and N. Chamuya and R. Valencia and F. Mortier and V. Wortel and N.L. Engone-Obiang and L.V. Ferreira and D.E. Odeke and R.M. Vasquez and S.L. Lewis and P.B. Reich",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1126/science.aaf8957",

language = "English",

volume = "354",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6309",

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Liang, J, Crowther, TW, Picard, N, Wiser, S, Zhou, M, Alberti, G, Schulze, ED, Mcguire, AD, Bozzato, F, Pretzsch, H, de Miguel, S, Paquette, A, Herault, B, Scherer-Lorenzen, M, Barrett, CB, Glick, HB, Hengeveld, GM, Nabuurs, G-J, Pfautsch, S, Viana, H, Vibrans, AC, Ammer, C, Schall, P, Verbyla, D, Tchebakova, N, Fischer, M, Watson, JV, Chen, HYH, Lei, X, Schelhaas, MJ, Lu, H, Gianelle, D, Parfenova, EI, Salas, C, Lee, E, Lee, B, Kim, HS, Bruelheide, H, Coomes, DA, Piotto, D, Sunderland, T, Schmid, B, Gourlet-Fleury, S, Sonke, B, Tavani, R, Zhu, J, Brandl, S, Vayreda, J, Kitahara, F, Searle, EB, Neldner, VJ, Ngugi, MR, Baraloto, C, Frizzera, L, Ba Azy, R, Oleksyn, J, Zawila-Niedzwiecki, T, Bouriaud, O, Bussotti, F, Finer, L, Jaroszewicz, B, Jucker, T, Valladares, F, Jagodzinski, AM, Peri, PL, Gonmadje, C, Marthy, W, Obrien, T, Martin, EH, Marshall, AR, Rovero, F, Bitariho, R, Niklaus, PA, Alvarez-Loayza, P, Chamuya, N, Valencia, R, Mortier, F, Wortel, V, Engone-Obiang, NL, Ferreira, LV, Odeke, DE, Vasquez, RM, Lewis, SL & Reich, PB 2016, 'Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests', Science, vol. 354, no. 6309, aaf8957. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf8957

TY - JOUR

T1 - Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests

AU - Liang, J.

AU - Crowther, T.W.

AU - Picard, N.

AU - Wiser, S.

AU - Zhou, M.

AU - Alberti, G.

AU - Schulze, E.D.

AU - Mcguire, A.D.

AU - Bozzato, F.

AU - Pretzsch, H.

AU - de Miguel, S.

AU - Paquette, A.

AU - Herault, B.

AU - Scherer-Lorenzen, M.

AU - Barrett, C.B.

AU - Glick, H.B.

AU - Hengeveld, G.M.

AU - Nabuurs, Gert-Jan

AU - Pfautsch, S.

AU - Viana, H.

AU - Vibrans, A.C.

AU - Ammer, C.

AU - Schall, P.

AU - Verbyla, D.

AU - Tchebakova, N.

AU - Fischer, M.

AU - Watson, J.V.

AU - Chen, Han Y.H.

AU - Lei, X.

AU - Schelhaas, M.J.

AU - Lu, Huicui

AU - Gianelle, D.

AU - Parfenova, E.I.

AU - Salas, C.

AU - Lee, E.

AU - Lee, B.

AU - Kim, H.S.

AU - Bruelheide, H.

AU - Coomes, D.A.

AU - Piotto, D.

AU - Sunderland, T.

AU - Schmid, B.

AU - Gourlet-Fleury, S.

AU - Sonke, B.

AU - Tavani, R.

AU - Zhu, J.

AU - Brandl, S.

AU - Vayreda, J.

AU - Kitahara, F.

AU - Searle, E.B.

AU - Neldner, V.J.

AU - Ngugi, M.R.

AU - Baraloto, C.

AU - Frizzera, L.

AU - Ba Azy, R.

AU - Oleksyn, J.

AU - Zawila-Niedzwiecki, T.

AU - Bouriaud, O.

AU - Bussotti, F.

AU - Finer, L.

AU - Jaroszewicz, B.

AU - Jucker, T.

AU - Valladares, F.

AU - Jagodzinski, A.M.

AU - Peri, P.L.

AU - Gonmadje, C.

AU - Marthy, W.

AU - Obrien, T.

AU - Martin, E.H.

AU - Marshall, A.R.

AU - Rovero, F.

AU - Bitariho, R.

AU - Niklaus, P.A.

AU - Alvarez-Loayza, P.

AU - Chamuya, N.

AU - Valencia, R.

AU - Mortier, F.

AU - Wortel, V.

AU - Engone-Obiang, N.L.

AU - Ferreira, L.V.

AU - Odeke, D.E.

AU - Vasquez, R.M.

AU - Lewis, S.L.

AU - Reich, P.B.

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The biodiversity-productivity relationship (BPR) is foundational to our understanding of the global extinction crisis and its impacts on ecosystem functioning. Understanding BPR is critical for the accurate valuation and effective conservation of biodiversity. Using ground-sourced data from 777,126 permanent plots, spanning 44 countries and most terrestrial biomes, we reveal a globally consistent positive concave-down BPR, showing that continued biodiversity loss would result in an accelerating decline in forest productivity worldwide. The value of biodiversity in maintaining commercial forest productivity alone—US$166 billion to 490 billion per year according to our estimation—is more than twice what it would cost to implement effective global conservation. This highlights the need for a worldwide reassessment of biodiversity values, forest management strategies, and conservation priorities.

AB - The biodiversity-productivity relationship (BPR) is foundational to our understanding of the global extinction crisis and its impacts on ecosystem functioning. Understanding BPR is critical for the accurate valuation and effective conservation of biodiversity. Using ground-sourced data from 777,126 permanent plots, spanning 44 countries and most terrestrial biomes, we reveal a globally consistent positive concave-down BPR, showing that continued biodiversity loss would result in an accelerating decline in forest productivity worldwide. The value of biodiversity in maintaining commercial forest productivity alone—US$166 billion to 490 billion per year according to our estimation—is more than twice what it would cost to implement effective global conservation. This highlights the need for a worldwide reassessment of biodiversity values, forest management strategies, and conservation priorities.

UR - http://doi.org/10.7277/9rbf-ra12

U2 - 10.1126/science.aaf8957

DO - 10.1126/science.aaf8957

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 354

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6309

M1 - aaf8957

ER -

Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Files and links

Fingerprint

Datasets

Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI)- Dataset Global#1

Projects

PEGASUS: Public Ecosystem Goods And Services from land management - Unlocking the Synergies

SIMWOOD AF-EU-15002 (BO-21.04-003-004)

SIMWOOD: Sustainable Innovative Mobilisation of Wood

Cite this