Policy-makers, take these actions to avoid biosphere breakdown

The paper, published in the journal Biogeosciences, identifies eight key environmental domains that require immediate attention:

1. Climate-resilient forest landscapes
2. Threats to coastal ecosystems and seashores
3. Declining soil fertility and erosion
4. Toxic and plastic pollution in remote ecosystems
5. Water scarcity and ecosystem degradation
6. Biodiversity collapse and ecological homogenization
7. Unsustainable food systems
8. Displacement of Indigenous stewardship and knowledge

Each issue is presented with a concise scientific background and practical policy solutions.

For forest protection, the researchers point out that curbing deforestation requires more protected areas, strong penalties for illegal logging and more satellite and ground-based data.

“If forests in the Amazon are cleared for livestock farming, rainfall decreases, which can lead to crop failures in agriculture” explains co-author Anja Rammig of the Technical University of Munich.

The inaugural report “Current perspectives on biosphere research 2024–2025” addresses the urgent need for more frequent scientific updates between major global assessments such as those from the IPCC and IPBES.

“An annual update is important as the various crises in the Earth system all affect the biosphere and therefore food security, material cycles and cultural and economic values,” says lead author Dr. Friedrich Bohn of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.

A Call for Inclusive and Place-Based Governance

The authors stress that top-down policies alone are not sufficient. Effective solutions must incorporate local knowledge, particularly that of Indigenous Peoples, whose territories host 60% of the world’s terrestrial mammals.

“Conservation that respects and integrates Indigenous knowledge leads to better outcomes for both nature and people,” says Dr. Niak Sian Koh of Oxford University’s Nature Positive Hub.

Importantly, the report is not just a list of problems—it is a toolkit of solution-oriented proposals accessible to decision-makers at all governance levels. These are also available in a user-friendly format at www.c-pob.com.

“Business as usual no longer pays off for the majority of people,” says Dr. Romina Martin from the Stockholm Resilience Centre. “The biosphere that once sustained us is out of balance. Yet, if policymakers, scientists, citizens, and entrepreneurs act together, we can restore stability and prosperity.”

From Knowledge to Action

This publication is part of a growing movement to bridge disciplines and sectors, translating research into real-world strategies. It offers a scientific backbone for initiatives like the Global Stocktake and supports implementation of the Paris Agreement, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and Agenda 2030.

As Dr. Giles Sioen of Future Earth puts it:

"This peer-reviewed synthesis not only highlights the urgency of the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change but also equips decision-makers with science-based solutions developed over the past decade. Bridging disciplines and making knowledge accessible across sectors is critical to driving real-world impact.”