Stockholm university

Genetic diversity is key to restoring nature

People and governments are recognising that the world faces a biodiversity crisis. Nature is struggling in the face of new diseases, climate change and other human pressures. However, animals, plants and fungi have a powerful tool to adapt these pressures: the variation within their genes.

Image credit: Jerker Lokrantz/Azote

A study published in Biological Conservation has examined whether conserving genetic diversity could be integrated into the implementation of the European Union’s new flagship conservation law, the Nature Restoration Regulations. The research was led by scientists from across Europe and North America.

Monitoring and reporting on genetic diversity is now affordable and practical and can also tell us whether the Regulation’s aspiration to enhance connectivity is successful.

Professor Linda Laikre, Stockholm University

They found case studies across the continent that could form a blueprint which could easily be transferred to any country or even cross-border projects. From Polish bison to wildflowers in Belgium, there is clear evidence that genetic diversity is vital for nature recovery. 

Genetic diversity gives populations the ability to adapt. Naturally occurring genes convey resilience to drought, high temperatures, new diseases and other threats. Variation is found in wild populations: think for example of the slight differences in colour and shape within any species of wildflower. 

“Without genetic diversity, species and ecosystem recovery plans jeopardise longterm resilience, but when people incorporate genetics the chances of lasting success are far greater”, says co-author Dr Debbie Leigh.

Populations can lose this variation if they become too small or fragmented however, meaning that conservationists and other land-managers need to include safeguarding genetic diversity when they plan. The group’s research showed that genetic diversity can be included in nature restoration and that there were cases across Europe where this had enhanced the effectiveness of conservation projects.

“We believe that genetic diversity can be incorporated into every country’s Nature Restoration Plans and can make a major difference to the success of conservation at a continental level”, says study coordinator Dr David O’Brien of NatureScot. 

 

Read more

The study "The Restoring genetic diversity to facilitate the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law" was published in Biological Conservation in February 2025. 

More about Linda Laikre´s and her colleagues´ work to improve genetic diversity conservation

 

Theme
Climate and Environment - Theme page Plants, Animals and Nature - Theme page
Research subject
Population Genetics

Last updated: February 21, 2025

Source: Communications Office

eventNewsArticle

standard-article

false

{
  "dimensions": [
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.subject",
      "name": "Global categories",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Keywords",
      "name": "Keywords",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Person",
      "name": "Person",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Tag",
      "name": "Tag",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "localcategorytree.su.se.english",
      "name": "Local categories for www.su.se/english",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category",
      "name": "Globala kategorier Nyheter (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [
        {
          "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category.research.news",
          "name": "Research",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        }
      ],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label",
      "name": "Tema (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en",
      "name": "Themes (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [
        {
          "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.ClimateEnv",
          "name": "Climate and Environment",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        },
        {
          "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.Plants",
          "name": "Plants, Animals and Nature",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        }
      ],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Keyword",
      "name": "Keywords (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    }
  ]
}