Using artificial intelligence to optimize ecological restoration for climate and biodiversity

Artificial intelligence in the software CAPTAIN identifies spatial priorities that improve threatened species conservation with only slight reductions in carbon capture during ecological restoration.

• Why it matters: Restoring degraded ecosystems is essential for climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation, but balancing multiple objectives and economic considerations remains scientifically challenging.
• What they did: The authors used AI-based simulations in CAPTAIN to evaluate trade-offs between biodiversity and climate goals, applying the approach to plant diversity in the Atlantic Forest of eastern South America.
• The result: The method shows that even modest inclusion of biodiversity considerations favors threatened species conservation with minimal impact on carbon sequestration, supporting bundling of biodiversity and carbon credits for restoration projects.