Preserving 40% forest cover is a valuable and well-supported conservation guideline: reply to Banks-Leite et al
- Authors:Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez, Lenore Fahrig, James I. Watling, Justin Nowakowski, Marcelo Tabarelli, Lutz Tischendorf, Felipe P. L. Melo, Bráulio A. Santos, Maíra Benchimol, Jose Carlos Morante-Filho, J. W. Ferry Slik, Ima C. G. Vieira, Teja Tscharntke
- Publication Date:January 5, 2021
- Type:Journal Article
- DOI:10.1111/ele.13689
- Publication On:Ecology Letters
Abstract
Banks-Leite et al. (2021) claim that our suggestion of preserving ≥ 40% forest cover lacks evidence and can be problematic. We find these claims unfounded, and discuss why conservation planning urgently requires valuable, well-supported and feasible general guidelines like the 40% criterion. Using region-specific thresholds worldwide is unfeasible and potentially harmful.