Oak decline is a complex disorder caused by multiple abiotic and biotic stressors, which can interact resulting in deterioration in tree condition. This has resulted in periodic tree mortality across Europe since 1700. This review discusses the key stressors associated with declines in Quercus robur and Q. petraea in Europe, including the newly described acute oak decline.

To improve biocrust cultivation for field hardiness and increase cultivation capacity we tested two field cultivation methods compared to traditional greenhouse cultivation. The “quesadilla” method (weed cloth base, a thin soil or sand layer, with sieved biocrust sprinkled on top, drip tape over top and shade cloth directly on top) led to the highest lichen and cyanobacteria cover, which is most like the field source and is the most easily scalable and simple. Field cultivation had the added benefit of growing out the weed seed bank.

Several types of artificial nests have been deployed in major colonies of endangered African penguins for the past decade to compensate for the reduction of suitable breeding habitat. These nests successfully increase African penguin productivity, but the variety of habitats and threats faced in different colonies further calls for colony-specific conservation strategies, including increasing access to prey beyond artificial nests.

Community science initiatives are proving to be game changers for detecting and managing biological invasions. By leveraging the extensive, real-time data provided by community scientists on iNaturalist, we assessed the distribution and invasion ecology of the widely cultivated genus Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) in South Africa. After verifying, filtering, and applying criteria to increase reliability, we confirmed over 2800 records of 26 Melaleuca species in South Africa—32% of which were wild-growing (naturalised). iNaturalist data provided new insights on five Melaleuca species that were not previously known to be naturalised in South Africa. These findings underline the value of community science for identifying and tracking invasive species early before they cause widespread harm.

We explored associations between Lantana camara and common native species in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. The floristic composition of invaded areas differed significantly from that of noninvaded areas, with several palatable species rare or absent from L. camara-invaded areas. Our observations indicate the presence of potential recovery constraints that will need to be overcome after L. camara has been removed.

The selection of flowering plants for pollination service delivery may differ from those selected for other aims. Plants selected to support crop pollination ideally need to be evaluated both for their use by flower-visiting taxa, as well as alignment with industry growing practices. In this study, we developed and trialled a framework for selecting plants to specifically meet stakeholder needs.

Bird collisions with aircraft pose a serious threat to human safety. We assessed seasonal and latitudinal trends in bird strikes. Overall, strikes were higher during late-summer and autumn seasons on both hemispheres. Strikes were also more seasonal in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, biogeographical patterns in bird strikes reveal hemispherical asymmetry in seasonality, seemingly concomitant with avian breeding phenology and migration.

Great ape populations are rapidly declining across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, but not in the community-based Nkuba Conservation Area, where numbers of gorillas and chimpanzees show short-term signs of stablisation and possible increase over a 7 year period. These trends are a cautious but optimistic first sign of the conservation potential of this community initiative.

“Early detection and rapid response” (EDRR) is the most successful framework for preventative invasive species management, but prioritizing localized EDRR actions with limited resources is challenging. Here, we worked with regional practitioners in Arkansas, USA and the broader Southeastern USA to co-produce a workflow for preventative aquatic invasive species management that estimates establishment risk under current and future climates with a species distribution model, scores waterbodies according to difficulty of eradicating an aquatic invasive species if it were introduced, and combines establishment risk and eradication difficulty scores to rank waterbodies according to preventative management priority. We envision our approach fitting into this potential EDRR workflow (1) horizon scanning and/or climate matching generates lists of high-risk invasive species; (2) species lists are narrowed according to eradication feasibility scores; (3) for all remaining species, all waterbodies across a geography of interest receive prioritization rankings based on establishment risk and eradication difficulty scores.

We quantified the nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium losses from the removal of culled deer carcasses using nationwide statutory cull reports for four deer species in Scotland between 2010 and 2021. Our findings suggest that current practices of carcass removal are gradually stripping nutrients from the landscape, potentially undermining habitat recovery goals.

We tested the spectral variance hypothesis (SVH) in a heterogeneous, species-rich system using high-resolution hyperspectral imagery. Our findings indicate that the correlation between spectral and taxonomic diversity varies with spatial resolution and is context-dependent, particularly in recently burned areas dominated by C3 grasses. This suggests the need for high-resolution, repeated data to effectively monitor biodiversity.

Enonkishu Conservancy theory of change summary including their end goals, mission and vision and how these can be achieved. Diverse revenue streams enabled Enonkishu to withstand the pressures of COVID-19. Livestock is crucial for defining the vision of the conservancy, and the institutions and governance that underpin it.

We performed floral surveys in revegetated roadside sites that were 2–20 years old, and were either seeded with diverse native grassland mixes or non-native mixes. We found that seeding native forbs is indeed necessary to have them establish. Both native and non-native sites had most of the floral diversity coming from colonising, non-native species. We highlight how refining the composition of seed mixes could benefit pollinators without increasing management costs.

Information on the impacts of maintenance operations, biological condition, water quality, costs and benefits and impact on surrounding landscape are important gaps that hinder a modern approach to design and management of SWMPs for multiple co-benefits.

Wild lions in small reserves in South Africa function as a managed meta-population and is effective. Currently this is through ad hoc movements facilitated by the Lion Management Forum of South Africa. Incentives and coordination should be explored to ensure the continued success of this meta-population.

The successful reintroduction of apex predator in a dry deciduous ecosystem of central Indian Landscape. Starting from three individuals, the population reached to the carrying capacity in a decade, exhibiting dedication to successful conservation translocation.

Peat-forming temperate wet woodlands have the potential to contribute to nature-based solutions for climate change through above- and below-ground carbon storage, biodiversity provision and flood regulation. Co-written by experts in academia and policymakers in the UK, we highlight critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of peat-forming wet woodlands that, once addressed, could form the basis for radical changes to their inclusion in net zero and landuse policies.

The establishment of apiaries in shea parklands enhances bee visits to shea flowers but the positive effect of beekeeping on pollination and fruit set is dependent on tree proximity to the apiary.

Conserving and restoring southeast Australia's degraded remnant lowland grasslands is a priority, but many are used for sheep grazing and rarely burnt, despite being shaped by Indigenous fire-use. We returned fire to a degraded grassland fragment in the Tasmanian midlands that is used for sheep grazing, and assessed how this influenced; (i) sheep and wild herbivore activity; (ii) vegetation biomass and (iii) broad vegetation composition. The results suggest grazing is an important control on exotic grasses in degraded grassland fragments, and that restoring fire can be compatible with livestock production and conservation goals.

The size of the human settlement together with its location nearby protected area and/or placement of the market by the main road are the main drivers determining numbers and diversity of sold animals, and further attention to government conservation activities should be focused on these markets.