The illegal theft of old trees threatens China’s ecological and cultural heritage. Despite legal protections, their high-value timber has persistently fuelled illicit trade driven by economic incentives and weak enforcement in remote areas, endangering biodiversity and cultural traditions. This Comment article proposes comprehensive and alternative approaches to combat the illegal theft of old trees by advocating for a strengthened legal framework, enhanced monitoring systems and increased support for local authorities. It highlights the importance of public awareness and community engagement in conservation efforts to address the ingrained economic drivers of this illegal trade.

Distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) studies are essential components of assessment and registration processes for plant varieties, including those within the Morus alba species, commonly known as white mulberry. M. alba L. holds a unique place in agriculture sciences due to its historical significance in silk production and its cultivation for its edible fruits. This study provides an overview of DUS studies in M. alba carried out in the Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) India, highlighting the critical features and characteristics evaluated to distinguish between different cultivars. It explores the factors contributing to uniformity and the stability of these characteristics over time, emphasizing the importance of these studies in guiding breeding programmes, supporting agricultural practices and preserving the diversity within this species. The study includes DUS characterization of M. alba germplasm based on 3 qualitative, 11 pseudo-qualitative and 11 quantitative characteristics. DUS studies play a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy of cultivar identification, thus facilitating the sustainable cultivation and conservation of M. alba, a species with deep-rooted cultural and economic significance. It is concluded that many varieties with distinct and distinguishable characteristics and better economic and genetic values can be registered for their protection under the PPV&FR Act, 2001 and can be used in breeding programmes.

Cycads, an ancient lineage, face a higher threat of extinction than any other plant group. To address this urgent issue, a more comprehensive method for assessing extinction threat, the Conservation and Prioritization Index (CPI), is proposed and tested for cycads in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. The CPI is a multifaceted approach that incorporates techniques used in conservation status assessments by the IUCN and the Mexican NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 but incorporates other information, including georeferenced distribution data, endemism in Veracruz, number of locations, extent of occurrence, and distribution area. Using CPI, correlations were found between longitude and extinction risk for Ceratozamia species in Veracruz. Zamia vazquezii and Z. inermis were assessed to have the highest level of extinction risk. Overall, this study indicates that a more holistic approach, incorporating broader sources of environmental health, can be used to more effectively and proactively manage extinction threats to cycads in Veracruz. In this sense, Veracruz can serve as a model for conservation planning in different states in Mexico and worldwide. CPI is a tool that can be applied to other regions to manage another threatened biota. This method enhances objectivity and effectiveness in conservation efforts, promoting data-driven decision-making that can be used globally.

Since the 1950s, the United Nations (UN) has designated days (e.g., World Wetland Day), years (e.g., Year of the Gorilla) and decades (e.g., Decade on Biodiversity) with a commonly stated goal to raise awareness and funding for conservation-oriented initiatives, and these Days, Years and Decades of ‘…’ (hereafter ‘DYDOs’) continue. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives to achieve their stated objectives and to contribute to positive conservation outcomes is unclear. Here we used a binary analysis change model to evaluate the effectiveness of UN conservation-oriented DYDOs observed between 1974 and 2020. We also examined four case studies to understand the different strategies employed to meet specified conservation goals. We found that DYDOs apparently contributed to positive conservation outcomes when they were tied to social media campaigns and/or when they were strategically situated in current events or global discourse. Although the outcomes of DYDOs were varied, those with longer timescales and those that engaged local communities were more likely to be successful. We suggest that DYDO organizers should identify all possible paths of action through the lens of the change model outlined in this paper to strengthen the value and effectiveness of these initiatives in the future. Using this approach could help ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively, and that initiatives yield positive conservation outcomes that benefit people and nature.

Human-induced pressures such as climate and land-use changes in the Anthropocene disproportionately threaten island ecosystems and the endemic species they host. Shedding light on the ecological needs of island species is key to the conservation of these fragile ecosystems and their unique species. Here we present the ecological needs of a bat species endemic to Sardinia, the long-eared bat Plecotus sardus, and analyse the relationship between this Critically Endangered species and the insular environment at different spatial scales to inform action for its conservation. We show that besides displaying a unique phenology and roost use, the species is closely associated with the dry broadleaf forests of native oaks Quercus ilex and Quercus suber at all scales and, in contrast, is negatively affected by coniferous stands, open pastures and urban environments. Our results not only provide key information for the conservation of P. sardus but also provide insights into the unique adaptations of insular endemic species to the fragile island ecosystems, highlighting the importance of ecological studies to informing conservation in biodiversity hotspots. We also demonstrate that protection and restoration of key habitats, particularly within 2 km of roosts, are key to protecting the few known reproductive colonies.

Gyalolechia fruticum, a new epiphytic species with a Mediterranean-Macaronesian distribution, is described. It differs in molecular data and in ecology from two closely related calcicolous species, G. luteococcinea and G. marmorata, both formerly called Caloplaca subochracea auct. The new species grows on coastal shrubs (rarely on wood), accompanied by species-rich communities of maritime epiphytic lichens. The typical habitat is undisturbed sand dunes, under dry conditions with frequent spells of humid air from the sea. The species is so far known from Greece, Italy, Tunisia, the Canary Islands and probably mainland Spain. We consider this conspicuous lichen an umbrella species of endangered and declining epiphytic communities of ancient shrub vegetation on well-developed sand dunes along Mediterranean coasts affected by touristic overexploitation.

Vaccines have revolutionised the field of medicine, eradicating and controlling many diseases. Recent pandemic vaccine successes have highlighted the accelerated pace of vaccine development and deployment. Leveraging this momentum, attention has shifted to cancer vaccines and personalised cancer vaccines, aimed at targeting individual tumour-specific abnormalities. The UK, now regarded for its vaccine capabilities, is an ideal nation for pioneering cancer vaccine trials. This article convened experts to share insights and approaches to navigate the challenges of cancer vaccine development with personalised or precision cancer vaccines, as well as fixed vaccines. Emphasising partnership and proactive strategies, this article outlines the ambition to harness national and local system capabilities in the UK; to work in collaboration with potential pharmaceutic partners; and to seize the opportunity to deliver the pace for rapid advances in cancer vaccine technology.

Two new species in the genera Diploicia and Physcia are described from the tropical dry forest of Mexico. Both species are supported by morphological, chemical and molecular evidence. Diploicia edulis, a species heavily consumed by invertebrates, is characterized by lecanorine apothecia, a dull brown epihymenium not diffused by a green pigment (K−), a subhymenium conspicuously inspersed with oil droplets, and the diploicin chemosyndrome. We provide the first molecular evidence to support the inclusion of species with lecanorine apothecia in the genus Diploicia. Physcia ornamentalis, previously reported under the name Physcia undulata s. lat. as one of the main construction materials for the bags of a moth caterpillar species (Psychidae), is characterized by a frosted-pruinose thallus, soralia originating in the lobe sinuses, and by lacking soralia in the thalline margin of the apothecia.