Climate co-benefits of tiger conservation

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is increasingly being recognized as an important co-benefit in climate change mitigation programmes that use nature-based climate solutions. However, the climate co-benefits of biodiversity conservation interventions, such as habitat protection and restoration, remain understudied. Here we estimate the forest carbon storage co-benefits of a national policy intervention for tiger (Panthera tigris) conservation in India. We used a synthetic control approach to model avoided forest loss and associated carbon emissions reductions in protected areas that underwent enhanced protection for tiger conservation. Over a third of the analysed reserves showed significant but mixed effects, where 24% of all reserves successfully reduced the rate of deforestation and the remaining 9% reported higher-than-expected forest loss. The policy had a net positive benefit with over 5,802 hectares of averted forest loss, corresponding to avoided emissions of 1.08 ± 0.51 MtCO2 equivalent between 2007 and 2020. This translated to US$92.55 ± 43.56 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions and potential revenue of US$6.24 ± 2.94 million in carbon offsets. Our findings offer an approach to quantitatively track the carbon sequestration co-benefits of a species conservation strategy and thus help align the objectives of climate action and biodiversity conservation.

Context matters when rewilding for climate change

“…While some TRACC initiatives may require the translocation of animals, benefits from TRACC may also be seen in efforts focused on broader ecosystem restoration goals (such as climate-resilient ecosystems), which can ultimately create habitat for the recolonization of animals. Likewise, conservation programmes, either aimed at conserving ecosystems or specific animals, may also see TRACC benefits (Lamba et al, 2023). The decision about whether to proceed with a project requires trade-off decisions between carbon and rewilding goals and the explicit engagement of all partners, including local communities, regional governance, conservation NGOs, and investors (Ainsworth et al, 2020).…”

“…We recognize that rewilding is a growing, multifaceted strategy with many different goals and socio-ecological benefits and challenges. Within such a breadth, some rewilding efforts primarily try to restore ecological function through the management and conservation of habitat and landscape connectivity, acknowledging that such efforts may have ancillary benefits of increasing carbon storage (Goswami, 2023;Lamba et al, 2023). Other rewilding programmes…”