Dr. Trisha Gopalakrishna’s landmark Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that integrated conservation plans may balance environmental protection and human prosperity. It shows a new way to fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and help local populations.
The Nature’s Contribution to People (NCP) framework helped Dr. Gopalakrishna’s team show how carbon capture, biodiversity restoration, and human livelihoods may work together to achieve great results. They found that integrated strategies deliver over 80% of the benefits across all three sectors, with socioeconomically disadvantaged people benefiting most.
Compared to single-objective solutions, integrated plans achieved 83.3% climate mitigation, 89.9% biodiversity value, and 93.9% societal benefits on 3.88 million hectares of potential forest restoration in India. This integrated approach contrasts with traditional systems that prioritise one goal over others.
The study emphasises the necessity for multifunctional landscapes that store carbon, support humans, and shelter wildlife. Globally, the UN Development Programme and European environmentalists are embracing this holistic approach.
Dr. Gopalakrishna’s research promotes equity and gender concerns in conservation efforts, advancing sustainable and inclusive environmental solutions.
