Exploring the Interface Between Planetary Boundaries and Palaeoecology – New IHOPE Publication

A new IHOPE article has been published by Global Change Biology entitled “Exploring the Interface Between Planetary Boundaries and Palaeoecology”. IHOPE SSC member Paul Lane is a co-author on this interesting article.

This article explores the intersection of planetary boundaries and paleoecology, emphasizing the need for long-term perspectives to define safe operating spaces for Earth’s critical systems. It argues that understanding Holocene ranges of variability is crucial for assessing deviations from past conditions and informing sustainable management strategies. Paleoecological data, including fossil pollen and charcoal records, provide insights into past vegetation, fire regimes, and environmental changes, aiding in the identification of thresholds and potential tipping points in key variables like biodiversity and land cover.

The authors highlight the importance of integrating paleoecological data with other time-series data and archaeological records to create a temporal continuum spanning millennia to months. This interdisciplinary approach enhances our understanding of past and present management practices, enabling informed decision-making regarding ecosystem services and adaptation to novel conditions. By examining historical ranges of variability, researchers can better delineate safe operating spaces and envision plausible scenarios of climate and land cover change.

By anchoring its findings in deep-time perspectives, the research provides actionable knowledge for sustainable futures. This is a core objective of IHOPE’s mission to bridge past insights with present solutions.