Abstract This synthesis report is a meta-analysis of perspectives for biodiversity
and ecosystems, with a strong focus on human impacts on the environment, and a
work order to enable and manage the protection, survival and evolution of all species
on Earth. The goal is to protect nature without any further species loss (Zero
Extinction). With this report, we assess alarming signals from the environment;
determine the needs of threatened biota and the required actions to manage and
protect landscapes and ecosystems; and identify some inescapable tendencies, challenges but also possibilities. The story of humans on Earth is at a critical juncture.
Human behaviour is inherently dependent on physical and societal relations,
including orientation and positioning within the physical environment. There is no
single cultural benefit that is independent of provisioning through ecosystem services. Humans are part of the environment, acquire all needs from it and, as such,
T. Gaens · V. Müller-Benedict
Interdisciplinary Institute of Environmental, Social and Human Sciences (I2), University of
Flensburg (EUF), Flensburg, Germany
A. S. Hansen · M. Sandberg
Department of Economy and Society, Unit for Human Geography, University of Gothenburg,
Gothenburg, Sweden
M. Janišová
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
J. Jansen
Plant Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
M. Lindner
Department of Biology Education, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale),
Germany
K. Ott
Department of Philosophy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
K. C. Reinmuth
Department of Philosophy, University of Flensburg (EUF), Flensburg, Germany
N. M. van Rooijen
Vegetation, Forest and Landscape Ecology Group, Wageningen University and Research,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
J. H. J. Schamineé
Wageningen University and Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The
Netherlands
C. Q. Tang
Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan
University, Yunnan, China
H.-C. Vahle
Academy of Applied Vegetation Science, Witten, Germany
S. E. Vanderplank
Pronatura Noroeste, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
452
C. Hobohm et al.
and ecosystems, with a strong focus on human impacts on the environment, and a
work order to enable and manage the protection, survival and evolution of all species
on Earth. The goal is to protect nature without any further species loss (Zero
Extinction). With this report, we assess alarming signals from the environment;
determine the needs of threatened biota and the required actions to manage and
protect landscapes and ecosystems; and identify some inescapable tendencies, challenges but also possibilities. The story of humans on Earth is at a critical juncture.
Human behaviour is inherently dependent on physical and societal relations,
including orientation and positioning within the physical environment. There is no
single cultural benefit that is independent of provisioning through ecosystem services. Humans are part of the environment, acquire all needs from it and, as such,
T. Gaens · V. Müller-Benedict
Interdisciplinary Institute of Environmental, Social and Human Sciences (I2), University of
Flensburg (EUF), Flensburg, Germany
A. S. Hansen · M. Sandberg
Department of Economy and Society, Unit for Human Geography, University of Gothenburg,
Gothenburg, Sweden
M. Janišová
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
J. Jansen
Plant Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
M. Lindner
Department of Biology Education, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale),
Germany
K. Ott
Department of Philosophy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
K. C. Reinmuth
Department of Philosophy, University of Flensburg (EUF), Flensburg, Germany
N. M. van Rooijen
Vegetation, Forest and Landscape Ecology Group, Wageningen University and Research,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
J. H. J. Schamineé
Wageningen University and Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The
Netherlands
C. Q. Tang
Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan
University, Yunnan, China
H.-C. Vahle
Academy of Applied Vegetation Science, Witten, Germany
S. E. Vanderplank
Pronatura Noroeste, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
452
C. Hobohm et al.