Dolors Armenteras

The “luxury effect” (the tendency for wealthier urban areas to host higher biodiversity) is well-documented in cities of the Global North but remains understudied in the Global South, where socioeconomic inequality is often more pronounced. This study examines the luxury effect in Bogotá, Colombia, a biodiverse yet highly stratified city, using citizen science data from eBird and socioeconomic indicators such as land value and neighborhood stratification. We employed spatial regression models (SAR and SEM) to assess the relationship between bird species distribution and socioeconomic status while accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Over half of the analysed species (> 50%) showed a positive association with higher land values, and their occurrences were spatially clustered, confirming the luxury effect in Bogotá. However, species-specific responses varied: aquatic and migratory birds were less influenced by socioeconomic factors, while generalist species exhibited no clear pattern. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between urban tree species richness—including both native and ornamental non‑native trees, which are particularly prevalent in affluent neighborhoods—and bird species richness ( r = 0.47, p < 0.001), though tree richness explained only 23% of the variation, suggesting other ecological factors also play a role. These findings highlight how socioeconomic inequality shapes urban biodiversity, with wealthier neighborhoods benefiting from greater access to green spaces and higher bird richness. The study highlights that equitable urban planning, specifically the fair distribution of green spaces, is critical to reducing biodiversity inequities and promoting conservation in rapidly urbanizing megacities of the Global South. Graphical abstract Illustrated by Sara G Acosta M

Remote forest landscapes provide critical references for understanding ecosystem functions (EFs) under low anthropogenic pressure, yet their capacity to sustain multiple EFs simultaneously remains poorly understood. We assessed landscape multifunctionality in western Patagonia by integrating satellite indicators, field data, and spatial modeling. Six EFs (carbon storage, nutrient availability, water regulation, erosion control, habitat quality, and ecological connectivity) were mapped, and their spatial relationships and hotspot distribution within and outside protected areas (PAs) were analyzed. Old-growth and secondary forests showed the highest functional performance. Strong synergies (ρ ≥ 0.6) between carbon storage and nutrient availability covered >50% of the landscape, whereas strong trade-offs (ρ ≤ –0.6) were spatially limited ( < 6%). Notably, 78% of multifunctionality hotspots occurred outside PAs, indicating that high-functional-value areas extend beyond formal conservation boundaries. These findings reveal spatial mismatches between multifunctionality and protection status and provide a replicable framework for integrating multifunctionality into conservation planning under global change.

Changes in land use, climate, and socio-ecology drive altered fire regimes that in turn reshape global ecosystems. Rapid afforestation with commercial tree plantations is transforming fire-prone savannas and grasslands globally and particularly in tropical South America, yet its effects on fire dynamics remain poorly understood. Using hierarchical models, we analyzed trends in annual burned area within concentric buffers (1–6 km) around each of 44 plantation and 52 grassland sites in Colombia’s Orinoquia region—a savanna grassland forest mosaic undergoing major land-use transitions from the expansion of commercial tree plantations. Plantations reduced burned areas in two ways: order-of-magnitude increases in plantation area reduced burnt area by 15% and plantation sites reduced their burnt area by 2% each year; both results consistent with trees replacing more inflammable grassland vegetation. While the mechanisms behind divergent savanna/plantation fire dynamics remain unresolved and could involve active fuel management and fire response, increased canopy cover, or some combination thereof, this study provides spatially explicit, context-sensitive evidence on how land-use transitions interact with fire regimes with direct relevance for savannas and grasslands management and climate adaptation policy in South America.

Fire is increasingly more frequent and severe in many tropical regions, leading to significant forest loss, diminished biodiversity, and reduced Nature's contributions to people (NCPs). In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of fire in Peru and its regions, focusing on: (1) burned area, (2) size, and (3) number of fires, using satellite data spanning two decades (2001–2020). Furthermore, we examined postfire changes in forest and shrubland. Our analysis revealed that 2.1 million hectares were burned in Peru, with over 80% of this area located in the Andean and Low Rainforest regions. Distinct fire seasonality was observed. The years 2005, 2010, 2016, 2019, and 2020 witnessed extensive burns across Peru, while the Coast region experienced peak fires in 2016 and 2017. Notably, the Coast region saw an increasing trend in fire frequency, and both the Coast and Andean regions experienced growth in fire size over time. Factors such as the dry season, El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and land‐use activities were found to influence these spatiotemporal patterns. Grasslands were the most burned land cover, followed by savannas and forests, although regional variations exist. Significantly, we found that nearly half or more of burned forests and shrublands underwent a transformation to different land covers within the two decades. While grasslands were the dominant postfire land cover nationally, regional variations were evident. Our findings offer a comprehensive insight into the fire dynamics and postfire cover shifts in Peru, underscoring the need for developing strong and sustainable fire management and land‐use policies.

The Amazon is a complex and interdependent mosaic of ecosystems that supports billions of lives. Deforestation has caused the loss of around 18% of the Amazon region, and 38% of the remaining forest is degraded, disrupting ecological and socio-cultural connectivity, accelerating carbon emissions, exacerbating water and food insecurity, causing economic instability, and weakening climate resilience. The system may be approaching a tipping point, with models indicating that ecosystem transitions could affect as much as 47% of forest area by 2050.