Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Between Germany and Patagonia as Contribution to the Regional Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030

Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Between Germany and Patagonia as Contribution to the Regional Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Abstract Concerted efforts are required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. In our study, we intend to outline how valuable synergy effects can be obtained from bilateral cooperation between Germany and Patagonia in order to protect temperate forest ecosystems and to ensure long-term and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources. The additional benefit of this transcontinental and transhemispherical cooperation is that there are analogies between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, but also distinct differences that complement each other perfectly. We show in an exemplary way, how the challenges of Global Warming and the associated increased vulnerability to forest fires and other natural risks can be tackled. Knowledge transfer and common strategies will provide sound solutions for SDG 13 (urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts), SDG 15 (sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss) and SDG 17 (strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development).


Introduction
In order to achieve the UN Sustainability Goals 2030 (SDGs; Figure 1), a broad range of knowledge and expertise is required, as well as consensual quality standards and scientifically aligned ways. It represents an enormous challenge to achieve a sustainable land use, and at the same time, to stop biodiversity destruction associated to profound human impacts on Earth´s ecosystems [1].
Here, we have to consider not only the human direct impact, but also the effects of climate change on abiotic plant stress (SDG 13: Climate Action). The Sword of Damocles hanging over terrestrial biodiversity (SDG 15: Life on Land) is the imminent and ever-present peril of increasing risks of unpredictable hazards due to the climate change, e.g. desertification, forest fires, hurricanes, floodings, and different diseases. Undoubtedly, we need a worldwide cooperative scientific research and a global political challenge to tackle this issue (SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal). A fundamental aspect is to intensify cooperation and interface research for finding innovative solutions for achieving the SDGs. Research results have to be interconnected with a global knowledge transfer in order to transfer sustainable land-use knowledge, locally adapted to the regions where needed. Moreover, we need a rapid progress of this agenda to develop management, conservation, and restoration strategies that increase the forest resilience to these threats. Most notably, we have to support the creativity, fresh ideas and new skills of our students and junior researchers. They must be our priority, because as future experts and world citizens they carry our hope for the future. We are convinced that a dynamic interaction of local and transhemispheric networks offer a strong opportunity for proper solution approaches. (Figure 1

Transfer between Germany and Patagonia
Using four concrete case examples, we conducted a mini review on recent research, suitable to create synergistic results and innovation.

Primary Unmanaged Forests1
. Exchanging experiences from sustainably managed Fagus sylvatica forests (integrative multifunctional forest management to reconcile biodiversity conservation and timber production) in Germany [2,3].

Plantations1
. Learning from ecosystem services offered by low-mediumscale Pinus ponderosa plantations established on degraded grassland from Patagonia [11] (storage and sink of carbon [12], soil protection, pioneer shelter forests for future native species, additional income opportunities through cattle pasture and non-timber products, for example mushroom cultivation) [13].

1.
Ideas and concepts for risk diversification, resourceefficiency, transfer of technology, climate mitigation and climate-efficient land use [18].

3.
Developing efficient strategies against desertification of forest and agricultural landscapes and the erosion of valuable volcanic ash soils (soil conservation and clean water) [20].

5.
Cascade use to increase the efficiency of carbon storage [22].

6.
Life cycle assessment for timber forest products (cost and process optimization) [23].

7.
Inclusion of the treasure of experience of indigenous people and local communities in sustainable transformation research [24].

8.
Optimization of forest monitoring systems [25], The collaboration allows to define new silvicultural and conservation strategies (e.g. regeneration or habitat maintenance for different target species), models for adaptive forest management and promotes the agreement of a common agenda for management and conservation planning at landscape level. These topics are also closely related to the assemblage of terrestrial biodiversity (SDG 15: Life on Land) in productive lands (e.g. managed stands) and those forests left-aside of timber purposes (e.g. natural reserves).
During the last century, land degradation has continued, where biodiversity loss occurring at an alarming rate, mainly due to invasive species, which reduce the resilience of natural forests.
For this, new management strategies must be developed to protect the natural forests, ensuring long-term and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources. Finally, to achieve these tasks, a collective intelligence with a strong worldwide cooperative scientific research is required (SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal), where connection from developed to moderately or less developed countries is crucial. Enhanced international cooperation is needed to ensure that sufficient means of implementation exist to provide countries the opportunity to achieve the SDGs.