Cook like a Neanderthal: Scientists try to replicate ancient butchering methods to learn how Neanderthals ate birds

A pilot study indicates that fire-roasted birds are easier to process, but only birds butchered raw show cutmarks — evidence that we can use to understand Neanderthal diets

Frontiers

 

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A scientist defeathers one of the birds. Image by Dr Mariana Nabais.

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Credit: Dr Mariana Nabais.

It's hard to know what Neanderthals ate: food preparation, especially when it comes to smaller items like birds, can leave few archaeological traces. But understanding their diets is critical to understanding these incredibly adaptable hominins, who thrived for hundreds of thousands of years in wildly varied environments. To learn what food preparation could look like in the archaeological record, scientists tried cooking like Neanderthals.

“Using a flint flake for butchering required significant precision and effort, which we had not fully valued before this experiment,” said Dr Mariana Nabais of the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social in Spain, lead author of the article in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. “The flakes were sharper than we initially thought, requiring careful handling to make precise cuts without injuring our own fingers. These hands-on experiments emphasized the practical challenges involved in Neanderthal food processing and cooking, providing a tangible connection to their daily life and survival strategies.”

You are what you eat

Although the big game hunting practiced by Neanderthals is well known, we know less about the birds that some Neanderthals hunted. But recent discoveries and new techniques allow us to investigate this more deeply. By testing food preparation methods that Neanderthals could have used, to see what traces these might leave on bones and how those traces compare to damage caused by natural processes or the actions of other animals, the scientists created an experimental database that can be compared to real archaeological sites.

The scientists collected five wild birds that had died of natural causes from the Wildlife Ecology, Rehabilitation and Surveillance Centre (CERVAS) in Gouveia, Portugal. They chose two carrion crows, two collared doves, and a wood pigeon, which are similar to species that Neanderthals ate, and selected cooking methods using archaeological evidence and ethnographic data.

All the birds were defeathered by hand. A carrion crow and a collared dove were then butchered raw, using a flint flake. The remaining three were roasted over hot coals until cooked, then butchered, which the scientists found much easier than butchering the raw birds.

“Roasting the birds over the coals required maintaining a consistent temperature and carefully monitoring the cooking duration to avoid overcooking the meat,” said Nabais. “Maybe because we defeathered the birds before cooking, the roasting process was much quicker than we anticipated. In fact, we spent more time preparing the coals than on the actual cooking, which took less than ten minutes.”

Putting flesh on prehistoric bones

The scientists cleaned and dried the bones, then examined them microscopically for cutmarks, breaks, and burns. They also examined the flint flake they had used for evidence of wear and tear. Although they had used their hands for most of the butchery, the raw birds required considerable use of the flint flake, which now had small half-moon scars on the edge. While the cuts used to remove meat from the raw birds did not leave traces on the bones, the cuts aimed at tendons left marks similar to those on birds found at archaeological sites.

The bones from the roasted birds were more brittle: some had shattered and couldn’t be recovered. Nearly all of them had brown or black burns consistent with controlled exposure to heat. Black stains inside some bones suggested that the contents of the inner cavity had also burned. This evidence sheds light not just on how Neanderthal food preparation could have worked, but also how visible that preparation might be in the archaeological record. Although roasting makes it easier to access meat, the increased fragility of the bones means the leftovers might not be found by archaeologists.

However, the scientists cautioned that this research should be expanded to gain a fuller understanding of Neanderthal diets. Future studies should include more species of small prey, as well as processing birds for non-food products, like talons or feathers.

“The sample size is relatively small, consisting of only five bird specimens, which may not fully represent the diversity of bird species that Neanderthals might have used,” noted Nabais. “Secondly, the experimental conditions, although carefully controlled, cannot completely replicate the exact environmental and cultural contexts of Neanderthal life. Further research with larger samples, varied species, and more diverse experimental conditions is necessary to expand upon these results.”

Usewear on the flake used for butchery. Image by Dr Marina Igreja.

Credit

Dr Marina Igreja.

Bones recovered from the birds. Image by Dr Mariana Nabais.

Credit

Dr Mariana Nabais.

Journal

Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology

DOI

10.3389/fearc.2024.1411853 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Experimental replication of early human behaviour in bird preparation: A pilot-study focusing on bone surface modification and breakage patterns

Rare archaeological site reveals ‘surprising’ Neanderthal behaviour at Pyrenees foothills

Australian National University

 

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ANU archaeologist Dr Sofia Samper Carro says the insights found at Abric Pizarro challenge widespread beliefs that Neanderthals only hunted large animals. 

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Credit: Photo: Sofia Samper Carro

An unchartered area in the foothills of the Southern Pyrenees in Spain is providing insights into a poorly known period of Neanderthal history, offering clues that could help archaeologists uncover the mystery of their downfall, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU).
 
Abric Pizarro is one of only a few sites worldwide dating from 100,000 to 65,000 years ago during a period called MIS 4. The researchers have gathered hundreds of thousands of artefacts, including stone tools, animal bones and other evidence, providing significant data about the Neanderthal way of life during that time -- largely unknown in human history until now.

The findings reveal Neanderthals were able to adapt to their environment, challenging the archaic humans’ reputation as slow-footed cavemen and shedding light on their survival and hunting skills.

Lead author and ANU archaeologist, Dr Sofia Samper Carro, said that the findings show that Neanderthals knew the best ways to exploit the area and territory and were resilient through harsh climate conditions.

“Our surprising findings at Abric Pizarro show how adaptable Neanderthals were. The animal bones we have recovered indicate that they were successfully exploiting the surrounding fauna, hunting red deer, horses and bison, but also eating freshwater turtles and rabbits, which imply a degree of planning rarely considered for Neanderthals,” she said.

According to the researchers, these new insights challenge widespread beliefs that Neanderthals only hunted large animals, such as horses and rhinoceros.

“Through the bones that we are finding, which display cut marks, we have direct proof that Neanderthals were capable of hunting small animals,” Dr Samper Carro said.

“The bones on this site are very well preserved, and we can see marks of how Neanderthals processed and butchered these animals.

“Our analysis of the stone artefacts also demonstrates variability in the type of tools produced, indicating Neanderthals’ capability to exploit the available resources in the area.”

Shedding light on this crucial transitional period helps archaeologists edge closer to solving a mystery that has plagued researchers for decades: what drove the Neanderthals to extinction?

According to the researchers, finding sites like Abric Pizarro, from this specific and not well-recorded period, gives information about how Neanderthals lived when modern humans were not in the area yet and shows that they were thriving.

“The unique site at Abric Pizarro gives a glimpse of Neanderthal behaviour in a landscape they had been roaming for hundreds of thousands of years,” Dr Samper Carro said.

“Neanderthals disappeared around 40,000 years ago. Suddenly, we modern humans appear in this region of the Pyrenees, and the Neanderthals disappear. But before that, Neanderthals had been living in Europe for almost 300,000 years.

“They clearly knew what they were doing. They knew the area and how to survive for a long time.

“This is one of the most interesting things about this site, to have this unique information about when Neanderthals were alone and living in harsh conditions and how they thrived before modern humans appeared.”

Thanks to modern excavation techniques, Abric Pizarro and other nearby Neanderthal sites provide fine-grain data to understand Neanderthal behaviour.

“We 3D plot every single remain found larger than one to two centimetres. This makes our work slow, and we have been excavating some of these sites for over 20 years, but it turns into a uniquely precise recording of the sites,” Dr Samper Carro said.

“We are interested in how the different data relates to each other, from stone tools to bones and hearths. This more thorough excavation gives archaeologists information on how Neanderthals lived and how long they were in an area.

“It’s not only the individual materials that give us clues, but also where exactly they are found in relation to other materials on the site that helps us understand how and when Neanderthals were visiting these sites. Were they settled there or just passing through?”

The research team also included scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (CEPAP-UAB). Research in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees is supported by The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Culture Department of the Catalan Government.

The research is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

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Journal

Journal of Archaeological Science

DOI

10.1016/j.jas.2024.106038 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Living on the edge: Abric Pizarro, a MIS 4 Neanderthal site in the lowermost foothills of the southeastern Pre-Pyrenees

Cash and conservation: A worldwide analysis of wildlife on money

Griffith University

 

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Examples of the most widespread (i.e., largest number of countries) species depicted on banknotes, the African savanna elephant, Loxodonta africana.

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Credit: Wiley

If you were asked what images were depicted on each side of any of your country’s banknotes, would you be able to confidently answer? 

It's a question a team of Griffith researchers has posed as a way to explore just what flora and fauna that nations around the globe choose to represent on their currency, and the opportunities they present for conservation awareness and efforts. 

In the new study published in People and Nature, lead author Beaudee Newbery and his supervisors Associate Professor Guy Castley and Dr Clare Morrison, investigated the representation of native fauna on 4,541 banknotes from 207 countries between 1980 and 2017, to identify geographic hotspots and taxonomic patterns, and determine whether threatened and endemic species were more readily represented. 

They found: 

• Native fauna depicted on 15.2% of banknotes reviewed;  

• These represented 352 unique species with a strong bias towards terrestrial species (89%); 

• A dominance of bird and mammal species (83% combined) 

• African banknotes had the highest mammal representation; 

• Birds were favoured in South America; 

• Globally, threatened species were commonly depicted on banknotes with 30% of all imagery representing these species. 

 

“For many of us around the world using banknotes and coins is part of the everyday, despite the increasing trend towards digital transactions,” Associate Professor Castley said.  

“But in making these transactions, do we pay any notice to the currency itself and the images and artwork that are used in these designs?  

“To get a sense of the ‘value’ that countries around the world might place on their native wildlife, our paper explored how wildlife imagery was used on banknotes.  

“We were interested in finding out how often wildlife, specifically native animals, were depicted, but also which species were depicted.” 

The team recommended several avenues for further investigation to explore the relationships between perceived value and wildlife representation.  

These included longitudinal studies of how representation changes over time; the inclusion of flora and/or coin imagery; identifying species-specific traits for selected wildlife; and examining the decision-making processes governing wildlife imagery on banknotes.  

“Given the global biodiversity crisis, perhaps there may be a trend to showcase threatened species to highlight their plight and raise national awareness for these species,” Associate Professor Castley said. 

“This study underscores the role that wildlife imagery on banknotes can play in shaping national identity and public perception of a country’s biodiversity.”  

“By highlighting both the celebrated and threatened species, currencies around the world serve as a unique platform for promoting conservation awareness.” 

The study ‘From cash to conservation: Which wildlife species appear on banknotes?’ has been published in People and Nature. 

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Journal

People and Nature

DOI

10.1002/pan3.10681 

  

Climate change means that tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia are developing faster, lasting longer and endangering more coastal communities, finds joint international study

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Nanyang Technological University

 

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(L-R) NTU EOS Senior Research Fellow Dr Dhrubajyoti Samanta and Director of NTU’s Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) and NTU Asian School of the Environment Professor Benjamin Horton, co-authors of the study (Credit to NTU Singapore).

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Credit: NTU Singapore

A study co-led by researchers at Rowan University in the US, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the University of Pennsylvania, US, reveals that tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia are now forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly, and lingering longer over land.

 

These changes, driven by climate change, heighten risks for tens of millions in coastal areas, with cities like Hai Phong, Yangon, and Bangkok facing unprecedented threats from longer lasting and more intense storms.

 

A tropical cyclone is a powerful, rotating storm that forms over warm ocean waters and brings strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones typically form in the tropical zone near the equator, characterised by warm ocean waters and consistent temperatures, providing the necessary heat and moisture for these cyclones to develop and intensify.

 

Based on the analysis of more than 64,000 modelled historic and future storms from the 19th century through the end of the 21st century, the study, published in the peer-reviewed Nature partner journal Climate and Atmospheric Science, highlights significant changes in tropical cyclone behaviours in Southeast Asia, such as increased formation near coastlines and slower movement over land, which could pose new risks to the region.

 

The study found that climate change alters tropical cyclones’ paths in Southeast Asia. This research is the first to use data from various climate models to examine cyclones over the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

 

The group of researchers explains that around the world, tropical cyclones are affected by warming ocean waters, and the warmer they get, the more energy storms can draw from them.

 

Lead author Assistant Professor Andra Garner, at Rowan University’s School of Earth & Environment, said: “Southeast Asia has very densely populated coastlines, currently home to more than 70 per cent of the global population that’s exposed to future sea level rise. When you’re looking at that densely populated coastline, and it’s a region affected by tropical cyclones, there’s a real risk, especially when those storms become more damaging, and populations continue to grow.”

 

Co-author of the study Professor Benjamin Horton, Director of NTU’s Earth Observatory of Singapore, said: “Tropical cyclones have caused torrential rains and severe flooding across Southeast Asia, prompting mass evacuations, destroying infrastructure, and affecting the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people. Our study shows that as the cyclones travel across warmer oceans from climate change, they pull in more water vapour and heat. That means stronger wind, heavier rainfall, and more flooding when the typhoons hit land.” Prof Horton is also a Professor in Earth Science at NTU’s Asian School of the Environment.

 

The study is part of NTU’s S$50 million interdisciplinary climate research programme, the Climate Transformation Programme (CTP). Hosted by its Earth Observatory of Singapore and funded by Singapore’s Ministry of Education, the CTP aims to investigate climate change, develop, inspire, and accelerate knowledge-based solutions, and educate future leaders to establish the stable climate and environment necessary for a resilient and sustainable Southeast Asia.

 

 

Counting on advanced climate models to uncover new cyclone risks

 

Unlike traditional studies of historical weather patterns and storms, the researchers tailored computer simulations to manipulate various factors, such as projected increases in human-caused emissions and their impact on a warming planet.

 

The simulations show changes in where cyclones form, strengthen, slow down, and eventually dissipate, providing important insights into the impact of a warming climate on these storms.

 

Study co-author Dr Dhrubajyoti Samanta, Senior Research Fellow at NTU’s Earth Observatory of Singapore, said: “By examining storms over an extended period, our study delivers insights that can help governments prepare for future storms and guide community development planning. Leveraging nine global climate models, this study significantly reduces the uncertainty in predicting tropical cyclone changes, which has been a challenge in past studies using just a single model.”

 

Study co-author Mackenzie Weaver, from the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, said: “Conducting a long-term analysis allows for better understanding of both past and future changes to tropical cyclone tracks, which can inform coastal resilience strategies in both the near-term and more distant future.

 

Asst Prof Garner added: “There were two takeaways: First, we should be acting to reduce emissions, so we can curb the impacts of future storms.  Second, we should be acting now to protect those coastlines for the future, which will likely see some worsened tropical cyclone impacts regardless of future emissions.”

 

The team of researchers will conduct more detailed studies to better understand extreme weather conditions in the region and further determine how they could impact vulnerable populations.

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Journal

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

DOI

10.1038/s41612-024-00707-0 

Article Title

Changes to tropical cyclone trajectories in Southeast Asia under a warming climate

Protecting surf breaks mitigates climate change, helps coastal communities, analysis finds

Oregon State University

 

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Maia Insinga paddles her surfboard off the Oregon coast. Photo by Maia Insinga.

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Credit: Maia Insinga, Oregon State University

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Safeguarding places to hang ten and shoot the curl is an opportunity to simultaneously mitigate climate change, fuel tourism and help surrounding ecosystems, new research has shown.

“There is a growing conservation movement regarding coastal areas that host surf breaks,” said Jacob Bukoski of Oregon State University, one of the study’s co-authors. “Earlier research showed that surf breaks tend to be biodiversity hotspots, but no one had looked at the stocks of carbon held within these ecosystems – carbon that could drive climate change if disturbed and lost.”

In study published today in Conservation Science & Practice, Bukoski and collaborators identified more than 88 million tonnes of “irrecoverable” carbon in the land-based ecosystems surrounding 3,602 surf breaks around the globe.

Surf breaks, nearshore areas whose special mix of coastal and seafloor characteristics creates waves surfers crave, are often found in or near ecosystems that are conservation priorities, such as coral reefs and mangrove forests.

Irrecoverable carbon is defined as carbon stored in nature that, if lost, could not be replenished within 30 years. Carbon sequestration is a key component of climate change mitigation.

Bukoski, a faculty member in the OSU College of Forestry, stresses that the study did not take into account the significant, but harder to quantify, carbon stocks in the marine portion of surf break areas.

The scientists looked at 28,500 square kilometers of watersheds that drain into surf areas. Their analysis showed that more than 17 million tonnes of irrecoverable surf break carbon are found in places categorized as key biodiversity areas but lacking any kind of formal protection. Just 3% of surf breaks are both formally protected and in a key biodiversity area.

Irrecoverable carbon density in surf ecosystems tends to be highest in the tropics and gets lower farther from the equator, with the exception of coastal forests in the Pacific Northwest.

“Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and temperate conifer forests combined to hold nearly one-quarter of the carbon we found,” said Bukoski, who collaborated with scientists from Conservation International, Save the Waves Coalition, California State University, Channel Islands, and Arizona State University.

Oregon ranks second among U.S. states in irrecoverable surf break carbon at almost 3.5 million tonnes. California, at just under 7 million tonnes, leads the way, and rounding out the top 10 are North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Washington, Virginia, New Jersey, South Carolina and Massachusetts.

Increasingly, surf breaks are being recognized as socio-environmental phenomena that can bring opportunity for sustained benefits for local communities, the authors say. They point to the potential intersection of the surf tourism industry, valued at as much as $65 billion globally, and the carbon offset market, where credits are trading at a price of about $10 per tonne of carbon dioxide.

“Despite their high and multifaceted value, surf breaks and their surrounding environments face all kinds of threats, including coastal development, degradation of habitats, and impacts from climate change like rising sea levels,” Bukoski said. “When carbon-dense ecosystems are converted to other uses, they pump out large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Expanded conservation of surf ecosystems – both their marine and onshore components – could provide a range of benefits in addition to biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.”

Coastal estuaries, he explains, help with nutrient cycling, control sedimentation and act as nurseries for young fish. Healthy upland ecosystems reduce erosion, which means better habitats and also reduced illness risk to surfers because of improved water quality.

“Coral reefs shape surf breaks and provide fishing grounds, offer non-surfing recreational opportunities such as diving, and protect shorelines,” Bukoski said. “And just as importantly, ecosystems associated with surf breaks are culturally and spiritually valuable to communities around the world.”

He notes that irrecoverable carbon constitutes only a fraction of the total carbon stored in surf ecosystems. Given resource and time constraints, irrecoverable is the type of carbon that should be prioritized for conservation, “but any carbon lost to ecosystem conversion will affect the climate.”

“Our results suggest a significant opportunity for surf conservation to strengthen protection of climate-critical carbon stocks,” Bukoski said. “At the end of the day, we should be shredding waves, not ecosystem carbon.”

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DOI

10.1111/csp2.13193 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Co-occurrence of surf breaks and carbon-dense ecosystems suggests opportunities for coastal conservation

Article Publication Date

13-Aug-2024

COI Statement

Scott R. Atkinson, Marissa Anne S. Miller, Diego A. Sancho-Gallegos, and Mara Arroyo are employees of surf conservation organizations. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Surf spots are global ally in climate fight, study finds

Nearly 90 million metric tonnes of planet-warming carbon found surrounding surf breaks across the world; U.S., Australia, Indonesia, Brazil identified as conservation priorities

Conservation International

 

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Aerial Shot of Playa Del Ostional surf break in Costa Rica.

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Credit: Credit: Ryan Chachi Craig

 

ARLINGTON, Va. (Aug. 12, 2024) – A first-of-its-kind study, published today in Conservation Science and Practice, has found that the forests, mangroves and marshes surrounding surf breaks store almost 90 Mt (million metric tonnes) of climate-stabilizing “irrecoverable carbon,” making these coastal locations essential climate allies and ideal locations for conservation efforts. 

Just five countries account for nearly half the carbon stored: surf breaks in the U.S are the most carbon-rich, followed by Australia, Indonesia, Brazil and Panama.  

For the study, researchers – including scientists from Conservation International – analyzed more than 4,800 popular surf spots across 113 countries and found that immediately surrounding areas (within 1 kilometer of the waves) store over 88 Mt of irrecoverable carbon – that’s roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from 77 million gas-powered cars. When the surrounding area is expanded to 3 kilometers, the amount of carbon stored in the ecosystems more than doubles to 191.7 Mt. 

Irrecoverable carbon refers to the carbon-rich lands humanity must protect to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Conservation International scientists coined the term in 2020 and, in 2021, mapped all irrecoverable carbonaround the world Additional research also found irrecoverable carbon areas overlap with places containing high concentrations of biodiversity. 

This overlap proved true for surf breaks, with nearly a quarter (17.2 Mt) of the total 88.3 Mt of irrecoverable carbon found within Key Biodiversity Areas, areas that contribute significantly to the planet’s species richness and overall health. But only 3% of this 17.2 Mt – representing areas with high amounts of both carbon and biodiversity – are formally protected. Altogether, less than a third of all surf ecosystems worldwide are protected. 

Expanding protection of surf ecosystems could help keep climate-warming carbon from entering the atmosphere and play a role in halting and reversing biodiversity loss – the world’s two greatest environmental challenges. For example, Surf Protected Areas – which have been pioneered by Conservation International and Save The Waves Coalition, a partner on the study – work to establish legal protections for surf breaks and their surrounding areas from threats like irresponsible tourism and development, forest and mangrove cutting, coral and sand mining, destructive fishing and plastic pollution. 

“This research demonstrates the enormous role that protection of surf breaks and surrounding coastal areas can have in our global fight to reverse biodiversity loss and combat climate change,” said Scott Atkinson, a surfer, senior director of surf conservation at Conservation International and an author of the study. “Our study shows where, exactly, we must now focus on legally protecting these areas. Surfers across the world are fantastic allies for efforts like this – they love the ocean, know that it is threatened and are extremely motivated to protect it. They’ve been on board, so to speak, helping to lead the establishment of all the Surf Protected Areas we’ve partnered to create.”

To date, Conservation International has worked with partners to establish 30 Surf Protected Areas in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Peru. These Surf Protected Areas are centered on surf breaks which serve as an anchor and strong motivator to legally protect larger surrounding ecosystems including coastal forests, mangrove, beaches, seagrass, coral reefs and the waves themselves. Over half of these (23 Surf Protected Areas) have been established in Indonesia, which was used in the paper as a case study in creating an effective network of community-based protections. Collectively, the 23 locations form Indonesia’s initial Surf Protected Areas Network covering more than 60,000 hectares, which can be expanded to hundreds of world-class surf sites across the incredibly biodiverse and carbon-rich country. 

Atkinson also highlighted the positive impacts of the community-based Surf Protected Areas on Morotai Island in Indonesia, the focus of the paper’s case study: “They are protecting precious marine and coastal ecosystems and strengthening community bonds and cultural heritage. Local people on Morotai have surfed on handmade wooden boards since at least World War II and have a strong surf culture. Additionally, local surf and conservation-related livelihoods are starting to flourish, with eco-friendly tourism and sustainable fishing practices becoming the norm. The community's involvement in conservation efforts has fostered a sense of pride and ownership, showcasing the power of grassroots initiatives in achieving lasting environmental and social benefits.”

Jacob Bukoski, assistant professor at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry and the lead author of the study, said: “Our results suggest a significant opportunity for surf conservation to strengthen protection of climate-critical carbon stocks, including those found in blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and sea grasses. Expanded conservation of surf ecosystems – both their marine and onshore components – could provide a range of benefits in addition to biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.”

The report was produced by a team of scientists from Conservation International and its Surf Conservation program, Oregon State University, Save The Waves Coalition and California State University at Channel Islands. 

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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Save The Waves Coalition: Established in 2003, Save The Waves Coalition (STW) is an international nonprofit with a mission to protect surf ecosystems across the globe in partnership with local communities. To date, STW has 12 established World Surfing Reserves and their global conservation projects have led to the protection and preservation of surf breaks and coastlines from California to Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Portugal and beyond. Find more at www.savethewaves.org.

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Journal

Conservation Science and Practice

DOI

10.1111/csp2.13193 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Co-occurrence of surf breaks and carbon-dense ecosystems suggests opportunities for coastal conservation

Article Publication Date

13-Aug-2024

COI Statement

Scott R. Atkinson, Marissa Anne S. Miller, Diego A. Sancho-Gallegos, and Mara Arroyo are employees of surf conservation organizations. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.