With rapid urbanization and shifting lifestyles, restoring the balance between humans and nature has become increasingly critical. In China, nature education has expanded rapidly since 2014, guided by the vision of “Ecological Civilization”, which aims to reconnect people with their environment. However, research and practice in this field remain fragmented. This editorial proposes inclusive nature education and emphasize multidimensional connections (human-nature, people-place, and people-people) as core principles for promoting human-nature well-being. Specifically, inclusiveness requires broadening settings, participation, contents, and approaches, to ensure equity while integrating ecological inquiry, cultural perspectives, and traditional knowledge. Framing nature education through multidimensional connections emphasizes that personal, social, spatial, and ecological bonds could enrich individual development and build collective capacity for both nature and society. Looking ahead, advancing inclusive nature education will require more systematic, interdisciplinary research and collaborative approaches linking practitioners and scholars. Strengthening these efforts can further reduce barriers, foster innovation, and ultimately contribute to biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and human-nature well-being.

Although the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has received considerable conservation attention, little is known about its reproductive biology across its range. Here, we report three cases of nesting behavior in Yunnan Province, China, which represent the first documented nesting and clutch size of O. hannah in China outside of the Xizang Autonomous Region. Our observations confirmed multi-individual participation in nest guarding, a behavior associated with an exceptionally large clutch size. We discuss possible explanations for the observed high clutch size and call for future studies on the reproductive biology of this flagship snake species.

Besides global climate change and the pollution crisis, the global biodiversity crisis is one of the key challenges that must be overcome to secure the development and prosperity of human societies across the globe. China's commitment to resolving this crisis is reflected in the updated list of National Key Protected Wild Plants (NKPWP), which aims to provide a framework to protect all plant species occurring in China and to secure access to plant-derived natural resources in support of the transition toward an ecological civilization. While the updated NKPWP has addressed many previous challenges, further advances are achievable by considering several recommendations put forward in this opinion study: (1) Employ integrative taxonomy to resolve taxonomic ambiguities that hamper conservation actions; (2) implement adaptive conservation strategies integrating technological solutions and local community-based monitoring; (3) promote science-driven, sustainable utilization of plant resources; and (4) promote transboundary conservation by emphasizing international collaboration in conservation-oriented research and the implementation of conservation policies. Together with recommendations from other stakeholders, continued revisions to the NKPWP will be a key process for securing the successful protection of all species and associated plant resources.

Ecosystem restoration, guided by numerous principles and practical guidelines, has been hailed as a strategy to combat climate change, reduce global biodiversity loss, restore ecosystem services, and enhance human well-being. Yet, translating restoration principles into practice remains challenging for policymakers and practitioners. To address this issue, we identify five frontiers for advancing ecosystem restoration in East Africa's forest landscapes, using western Rwanda as a case study. Instead of drawing on existing high-level ecosystem restoration guidelines, we synthesized locally grounded insights into tangible restoration priorities. We conducted a full-day multi-expert workshop using a “world café” approach to facilitate participatory large-group discussions, involving scientists, practitioners, and decision-makers working on ecosystem restoration in Rwanda. Five critical frontiers for ecosystem restoration science and practice were identified: (i) defining ecosystem restoration goals and elements of success; (ii) embedding ecosystem restoration in the promotion of multifunctional landscapes; (iii) enhancing food security, nutrition, and livelihoods through ecosystem restoration; (iv) engaging with values and nature's contributions to people in ecosystem restoration; and (v) governing ecosystem restoration for equity. For each of these frontiers, we highlight the state-of-the-art, emerging research priorities, and recommendations for practice and policy to move ecosystem restoration ahead.

The Brazilian Semiarid Region is in a vulnerable state due to ongoing anthropogenic pressure. The lack of efficient regulation of regional economic development has resulted in deforestation, desertification, and soil salinization, threatening traditional communities, cultures and biodiversity. Although technological and scientific progress can help to address climate and environmental crises in the region, fragmented knowledge of biodiversity status and trends along with poor infrastructure to monitor environmental quality impede safeguarding ecosystem functions and cultural heritage. In this essay, we suggest a potential solution to fill knowledge gaps through citizen (or community) science. We discuss how public engagement can provide large-scale data, while raising public awareness with regard to conservation considering human and environmental aspects of the Brazilian Semiarid Region. We argue that converting laypeople into scientists through participative monitoring can efficiently increase our knowledge and public scientific literacy to support public policies to avoid biological extinctions and environmental injustice.

Sri Lanka, situated at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, is globally recognized for its remarkable biodiversity. Although it covers a small land area, the country supports a wide range of ecosystems and endemic species, particularly within its wet-zone rainforests, which form part of the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, one of the 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots. Despite its ecological richness, traditional conservation methods, such as in situ and ex situ approaches, face increasing challenges from climate change, habitat fragmentation, and the recalcitrant seed behavior of many tropical species. To address these limitations, modern biotechnological tools offer promising alternatives. Plant tissue culture techniques, including micropropagation, cryopreservation, and synthetic seed technology, support large-scale propagation and long-term germplasm conservation of rare and endangered species. Meanwhile, DNA barcoding ensures accurate species identification and genetic fidelity, safeguarding endemic and medicinal plants from misidentification and overharvesting. The integration of tissue culture with DNA barcoding, particularly through advances like DNA mini-barcoding and meta-barcoding supported by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), provides a powerful, holistic approach to conservation. However, in regions like Sri Lanka, the limited availability of curated DNA barcode reference libraries continues to hinder effective implementation. This paper explores how combining these technologies can enhance biodiversity conservation efforts and proposes strategic directions for their broader application in both national and global contexts.

Accurate species delineation is crucial for biodiversity conservation. The genus Firmiana Marsili (Malvaceae) comprises deciduous trees and shrubs, many of which are rare and endangered in China, underscoring the urgent need for effective conservation measures. However, morphological similarities among closely related Firmiana species complicate taxonomic identification, and traditional morphology-based approaches are often insufficient for taxa with complicated evolutionary histories. To address this, we conducted genome skimming on 62 Firmiana samples representing all 10 recognized Chinese species and two unidentified taxa, assembling plastome and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. We evaluated the effectiveness of super-barcodes (plastid genomes and nrDNA), plastid hyper-variable barcodes, and four universal barcodes. Our results show that nrITS exhibited the highest discriminatory power, successfully identifying all 10 recognized Firmiana species, and is thus recommended as the primary barcode for the genus. In addition, two cryptic lineages were discovered within the Firmiana major complex. These results provide critical insights for the conservation, management, and sustainable use of endangered Firmiana species. This study underscores the urgent need to revise species boundaries within the F. major complex, and highlights the potential of DNA barcoding as an efficient tool for species identification and conservation of the genus Firmiana.

Phoebe zhennan is a Chinese endemic and valuable timber species of Phoebe (Lauraceae). It is known for its fragrant, high-value wood and is the primary source of the renowned “golden-thread nanmu.” In this study, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of P. zhennan, consisting of 12 chromosomes (979.28 Mb; scaffold N50: 87.69 Mb) with an estimated 26,262 protein-coding genes. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) analysis revealed that P. zhennan has undergone two WGD events: an older one shared by Magnoliales and Laurales, and a younger one shared by Lauraceae and Calycanthaceae species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that magnoliids (together with Chloranthales) form a sister clade to monocots. We identified 197 members of the MYB gene family and further selected 44 MYB genes that may be associated with phenylpropanoid lignin biosynthesis, including 28 genes acting as positive regulatory transcription factors and 16 as negative regulators. Gene expression analysis indicated that PzMYB6 is highly expressed in the cambium, suggesting it may play a critical regulatory role in the lignin biosynthesis pathway of P. zhennan. Overall, this chromosome-level reference genome provides new insights into the genome evolution of Phoebe and offers essential genetic resources for the rational utilization and conservation of this valuable timber species.

For population management of threatened species according to the One Plan Approach to Conservation by the IUCN's CPSG, not only knowledge about in situ but also about ex situ populations is required. To enhance the conservation of threatened birds and improve zoos participation in the One Plan Approach we analyzed non-passerine bird data from the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS): their individual numbers, breeding success, and the number of holding institutions. We categorized species as threatened, non-threatened, or not evaluated based on IUCN Red List assessments. Only 1541 (34.2%) of 4503 recognized non-passerine bird species are held in ZIMS institutions worldwide, mostly in Europe, North America, and Asia. Approximately ~83% of the species kept globally are classified as non-threatened, and ~16% (246 species) as threatened. About 49% of the species kept have successfully bred in the last year, 31% in only one zoo each. Of the threatened species, 146 species reproduced. About ~15% of threatened species are kept in only one zoo. About one-third of the non-passerine bird species kept are represented by less than 10 individuals. To improve the conservation of threatened non-passerine birds, a shift toward keeping threatened species should be considered within ex situ management programs, thus extending conservation breeding networks. Cooperative projects with institutions and stations in species richness hotspots could greatly benefit the conservation of passerine birds by supporting future reintroductions and are thus in full agreement with the One Plan Approach to conservation.

The illegal wildlife trade poses a growing threat to species conservation worldwide. Although international bird trading has received considerable attention, the scale and dynamics of regional markets remain poorly understood, especially regarding illegal activities. Using social media data, we characterized China's online illicit trade in avifauna and explored its conservation implications. We identified 178 avian species advertised for illegal sale online. Most species (96.1%) were native to China and protected under national law: Forty-two species (23.6%) were listed as State Key Protected Wild Animals, and 129 species (72.5%) were categorized as State Protected Terrestrial Wild Animals with Important Ecological, Scientific, and Social Values. About 20% of traded species were included in CITES Appendices, and 10 species (5.6%) were globally threatened (CR = 1; EN = 2; and VU = 7) according to the IUCN Red List. The number of online posts per species ranged from 1 to 421 (median = 15.5), with over half exceeding 10 posts. Trait analyses indicated that traded species occupied a wide range of ecological niches. Logistic regression indicated that passerine trade status (traded vs. non-traded) was correlated with body mass and distributional range size, while negative binomial regression revealed that trade intensity (postcount) was related to national protection status. Our findings reveal extensive, diverse illegal bird trading on Chinese social media and highlight the need for coordinated action between governments and social media platforms to combat wildlife cybercrime.

In recent years, community-based conservation approaches have gained popularity as essential tools for enhancing biodiversity conservation while improving community livelihoods. These approaches emphasize the vital role of communities in preserving and sustainably managing natural resources. However, their contribution to strengthening community capacity for conservation and development remains underexplored. This study applies the Community Capital Framework (CCF) to examine how Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), a community-based conservation initiative in Tanzania, enhance community capacity for conservation and development. Using a multiple case study design, data were collected randomly from selected respondents in two WMAs: Ikona (northern Tanzania) and MBOMIPA (southern Tanzania). Qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated through household surveys and key informant interviews, and analyzed using expert-driven and data-driven techniques (Betti & Verma double-weighting scheme) to generate weights of each community capital. Results indicate that natural and financial capitals are the most important for enhancing community capacity for conservation and development. No significant differences were found between the two WMAs in the contribution of community capital overall. However, the development of financial capital in Ikona WMA has stimulated improvements in physical capital, which in turn have strengthened human capital and supported the development of political, cultural, and social capital. In contrast, MBOMIPA WMA has invested less in financial capital, limiting development of physical capital and subsequent progress in human, political, cultural, and social capitals. The overall Community Capacity Index shows contributions ranging from low (natural and cultural capitals) to moderate (social, physical, human, political, and financial capitals) across WMAs. These findings suggest that WMAs have moderately enhanced community capacity for conservation and development. This study recommends that WMAs invest more evenly across all capitals to significantly strengthen community capacity for conservation and development.

Stochastic events such as hurricanes can influence the survival and consequently distribution and abundance of various taxa. The Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli) is an endangered subspecies and an ecosystem engineer endemic to its namesake island in the Florida Keys that has evolved with regular hurricane disturbances. Yet, climate change has led to more frequent and stronger storms which could exacerbate the immediate threat to these rodents since their population is already limited in distribution and threatened by invasive predators. Therefore, understanding how the woodrat population responds to such events can provide important information for future conservation efforts. To assess how the Key Largo woodrat population responded to a major hurricane, we estimated genetic diversity, effective population size, and spatial genetic structure before and after Hurricane Irma—a Category 4 storm that made landfall in the Keys in 2017. Despite overall low genetic diversity and effective population size pre- and post-Hurricane Irma, we observed increases in both metrics post-hurricane as well as shifts in spatial genetic structure. These results indicate that flooding from the hurricane likely drove a mixing of family groups as woodrats took refuge in trees and stick-nests and then likely sought alternative green-up resources following the storm. As climate change drives more intense storms and rising sea levels, these adaptive behaviors will become more important for the persistence of this fragile island population.

Primates today live along a continuum of conditions in the wild and in captivity, providing diverse settings to study ecological flexibility. The western sifakas, a clade of endangered lemurs endemic to Madagascar, live in diverse ecosystems, including dry, spiny, and montane forests, and persist even in small forest fragments across their native ranges. A colony of the Coquerel's sifakas (Propithecus coquereli) is also housed at the Duke Lemur Center (DLC) in Durham, NC, where select groups gain access to forest enclosures, a setup that blends human management with an experimental introduction to non-native habitats. To better understand how sifakas adjust to local conditions, we profiled a suite of circulating nutritional and physiological markers collected from DLC sifakas with and without forest access in two seasons. In spring compared to summer, the sifakas had elevated concentrations of many amino acids, which may reflect the seasonal consumption of proteinaceous young leaves. Sifakas with forest access, compared to peers in stall enclosures, had elevated glucose, hippuric acid, the liver enzyme ALT, and a marker of muscle protein turnover—3-methylhistidine. These results likely differentially reflect freely foraged diets and the energy required for locomotion and thermoregulation under more naturalistic conditions. Calcium concentrations were well above values published for wild sifakas in Madagascar. Whereas some markers, like ALT, highlight how sifakas adjust to environmental heterogeneity seemingly without detrimental health effects, others, like calcium, may point to the potential consequences of a mismatch between the environments where species evolved to live and the conditions they now face. Our results can inform husbandry management and dietary optimization for this endangered species in captivity. More broadly, we advocate for research of captive wildlife under ecologically relevant conditions to inform understanding of how wild kin persist under diverse, novel, and local conditions, with implications for conservation management and monitoring in the wild.

Conservation action, vital in biodiversity hotspots, depends on reliable data on endangered taxa. This is especially important for species that are morphologically cryptic and difficult to distinguish in the field. The dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (Cheirogaleus spp.) exemplify these challenges: They are widespread but endangered, nocturnal, small-sized, and cryptic. The genus is diverse, with nine described species and as many candidate species, falling into four distinct lineages (“medius,” “sibreei,” “crossleyi,” and “major”). Many protected areas in Madagascar harbor dwarf lemur populations that await genetic species confirmation. Here, we collated tissue samples from 30 individual dwarf lemurs in 10 forest sites collected by a network of collaborators over a decade. We sequenced the simple but diagnostic cytochrome-b marker gene and placed samples into a curated database of > 200 published sequences. Except for an individual from the “sibreei” lineage in Marojejy that separated from close relatives farther south, our samples fell into described or candidate species, supporting geographic clustering within lineages. We identified two sites in the northeast that harbor different assemblages of species from three distinct lineages in sympatry. We confirmed the presence of C. crossleyi at sites across Madagascar's central highlands, considerably extending its known range, and posit that this is the dominant dwarf lemur of the highlands north of the Mangoky river. Although our results are limited in resolution and call for in-depth genomics, we advocate for foundational field work, natural history exploration, and survey/sampling expeditions to generate the very data on which sophisticated genomics and computational methods rely.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis offers a noninvasive, efficient, and sensitive approach for biomonitoring in aquatic ecosystems compared with traditional capture-based methods. However, accurately estimating species abundance using eDNA analysis remains challenging due to uncertainty in the correlative relationship between eDNA concentration and organism abundance in natural environments. This uncertainty is partly attributed to variation in body mass distribution within and among populations, which may be addressed by integrating body size allometry into eDNA production models. In this study, we focused on the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica), an endangered species of anguillid eel that is globally recognized as a significant food and cultural resource, to investigate whether eDNA production scales allometrically with body size. We reanalyzed existing datasets describing the relationships between A. japonica eDNA concentration and abundance under both laboratory and riverine conditions. Our results show that eDNA concentrations were scaled allometrically with body mass (0 < b < 1), with scaling coefficients closely matching those previously estimated for A. japonica oxygen consumption rate. The effect of allometric scaling, however, appeared weaker in riverine environments than under laboratory conditions, and integrating body size allometry did not substantially strengthen the relationship between eDNA concentration and abundance. These findings underscore the importance of body size structure in eDNA production for anguillid eels and highlight the potential of allometric scaling to refine eDNA-based abundance estimates. Further studies on the mechanisms of eDNA production and the influence of environmental parameters are needed to enhance the accuracy and applicability of eDNA analytical procedures for population assessments in the wild.

The introduction of nonnative plant species often leads to extensive land colonization and poses a threat to already limited arable land resources. Restoring invaded land and improving soil fertility are therefore essential. In this study, both biochar derived from the invasive Chromolaena odorata and a fungicide were used to improve the soil invaded by this species. The results revealed that fungicide application increased the total biomass of the subsequent plants growing in the invaded soil and significantly altered the recruitment of mycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi. The addition of biochar to invaded soil had a negative legacy effect on subsequent invasive plants but a positive effect on native plants. The combined application of biochar and fungicide effectively diminished the competitive advantage of invasive species, whereas biochar alone markedly increased the competitiveness of native plants. This study proposes a remediation method for mitigating the legacy effects of alien plant invasion that not only suppresses the spread of invasive species but also improves soil fertility and provides potential economic benefits.

The decline in biodiversity and escalating climate crisis underscore the urgent need for effective conservation leadership to drive behavioral change and public engagement. Although previous studies have identified key components of conservation leadership in addressing ecological challenges, few have empirically examined how youth-focused environmental programs cultivate these competencies. This study investigates the Roots & Shoots Next Jane program in China, a pioneering initiative launched in 2021 to develop conservation leadership among youth. Using qualitative interviews with 21 program participants, supplemented by portfolio data collection, we assessed the program's impact on participants' leadership competencies and conservation behaviors. The findings indicate that the program positively influenced a range of developmental traits, including influence, empathy, environmental literacy, altruism, interpersonal skills, sense of responsibility, and decisiveness. Furthermore, the program significantly shaped participants' environmental behaviors and career intentions. Fully engaged participants exhibited deeper and more internalized improvements across most traits, while those less engaged primarily showed gains in environmental literacy and interpersonal skills. The process of developing conservation leadership involved an interplay of skills development, supportive environments, and reflective action—an iterative spiral of learning and practice. Despite the limited sample size, this study demonstrates the potential of conservation leadership-focused programs to foster leadership competencies in youth and provides empirical support for future conservation education initiatives.