Post by Heidi Pearson

Some of the most important insights into the natural world emerge from years of evidence gathered across different ecosystems, species, and fields of science. In recent times, research has continued to reveal the many ways wild animals can influence their ecosystems in ways that matter for creating a healthy planet, including climate. While these effects can vary across different contexts, broader patterns have become increasingly visible. Earlier this month, I was pleased to see the launch of the Scientific Consensus on Wildlife and Climate, which I developed as part of a global group of scientists. We sought to identify where scientific agreement exists, while acknowledging the research gaps and uncertainties that remain. The consensus states that wild animals must be better recognized in climate and biodiversity policy, because of how they directly drive ecosystem processes, resilience, and carbon cycling. This consensus is important since it reflects agreement - from some of the world's leading experts working on this topic - on the important roles that wild animals play in ecosystem functioning. This is also critical to human well-being and thus efforts promoting animal recovery and conservation should be prioritized in policy and management action. The resulting consensus is now supported by 300+ scientists worldwide. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/guUpUh2d