National plans submitted ahead of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP16 in Colombia should prioritize action over empty ambition, and must integrate with other nations’ plans to constructively work towards global aims.

This Perspective charts the development of the Monitoring Framework for tracking progress towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including details on the process of indicator selection, and discusses what is still needed for implementation of the Monitoring Framework.

The Red List of Ecosystems is a headline indicator in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This Progress illustrates how the Red List of Ecosystems can be used by Parties to the Framework to contribute to its implementation and monitoring.

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and may have disproportionate effects on carbon cycling. Here, the authors quantify the impact of warm extreme occurrences on terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity over the past 40 years.

Uneven toxin production in giant centipedes due to morphological and physiological constraints has been evolutionarily exapted through neuromuscular innervation and neurotransmitter stimulation to provide behavioural control over venom composition.

Contrary to expectations from studies of birds, ecological radiation in crown bats is associated with strong trait integration both within and between forelimb and hindlimb.

Stable isotope analysis of zooarchaeological remains and pottery in a palaeo-environmental framework reveals that early Central European farmers utilized diverse regional pasturing strategies for cattle, including the use of forested environments for grazing and seasonal foddering.

Armed conflicts inflict a massive toll on people and nature, but hope exists in the recognition that lasting peace can be closely tied to ecosystem restoration

A dinosaur with a disputed name opened Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan’s eyes to the world of palaeobiology.

A palaeontologist of varied interests who realized biomineralized fauna were key to understanding early animal evolution

National plans submitted ahead of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP16 in Colombia should prioritize action over empty ambition, and must integrate with other nations’ plans to constructively work towards global aims.

Theoretical biologist who ‘tamed’ mathematicians and tested the theory of evolution.