Nature-based climate solutions can safeguard the world's threatened species

This dataset consists of three output raster layers:

1. Climate change mitigation potential across all areas that qualify for investible nature-based climate solutions (tCO₂e ha^-1yr^-1);
2. Climate change mitigation potential of areas of nature-based climate solutions that could be profitable (tCO₂e ha^-1yr^-1);
3. Net present value estimates of these profitable areas based on the baseline scenario ($ha^-1yr^-1).

It also contains two output csv files (biodiversity benefits at country-level and species level), and one R-script that provides an example of our analyses. This dataset is designed to accompany Zeng et al. and the full methodology is described in that publication.

Briefly, in this study we modelled the potential financial returns of nature-based climate solutions that focus on avoided habitat loss and restoration of terrestrial forests, grasslands, peatswamp forests and mangrove forests, across the globe. We then determined the potential for financially viable sites to safeguard the distributional ranges of 3,975 species of mammals, amphibians and birds which are currently threatened by range restriction or reduction. Last, we calculated the effect of increasing the price of carbon on the coverage of species ranges. Details of this methods can be in “Dataset overview”.

For questions or issues on the spatial data layers, please contact Yiwen Zeng (yz0467@princeton.edu).