Brind.
Part of Nick Lund, who works for Maine Audubon, is involved in discussions concerning the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the United Nations.

How could new research challenge the scientific integrity of Nature's biodiversity assessments?

Possible What happens if… A possibility worth considering, not a forecast.

The journal's biodiversity assessments may face questions regarding their accuracy and scope. Alice Hughes' study found that the number of plant and animal species in the wildlife trade is more than twice the previous estimate provided by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Yesterday
Effect
Mild negative
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The story
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How it reaches Nature

Reported by news outletsBrind's reasoning

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The facts so far

As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.

  • The wildlife trade study identified 107,356 species that are either in use or traded globallytheguardian.com
  • This figure is far higher than a previous estimate of about 50,000, which was made by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)theguardian.com
  • The study warns that past estimates have failed to keep up with changes such as the boom in the online exotic pet tradetheguardian.com

Why it matters

The scientific integrity of Nature's published work is at stake. If the foundational data used in major assessments, such as the species counts in the wildlife trade, is significantly flawed, it undermines the credibility of the scientific consensus and the policy recommendations derived from those reports.

This challenge is part of a broader debate concerning the under-regulation of the wildlife trade. Researchers note that efforts to meet global targets are hampered by a lack of systematic data about what is being sold and where it originated, forcing reliance on limited data points.

What we don't know yet

  • What specific methodological revisions will IPBES make to its biodiversity assessments?
  • How will the journal Nature respond to the critiques regarding the scope and accuracy of the IPBES data?

What would change this answer

IPBES formally acknowledges the "huge gaps" and commits to a major data overhaulThe negative impact on the scientific standing of Nature's published work will become more certain.
Nature publishes a rebuttal or follow-up study that validates the original IPBES methodologyThe challenge to the journal's published findings may fade.

Who else could feel it

Other possible ripples from the same event.

Reporting

Keep going

The full eventNew Study Finds Wildlife Trade Species Count More Than Double Previous Estimates Everything aboutNature

Brind's analysis is written by AI from the reporting linked above and can be wrong. This explainer is a possibility worth considering, not a forecast: steps marked as Brind's reasoning are not stated in the reporting. It is not investment advice; do your own research.