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Pandey HP, Maraseni TN, Apan A, Aryal K. Unlocking the tapestry of conservation: Navigating ecological resettlement policies in Nepal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174335. [PMID: 38960179 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Conservation initiatives involve a complex interplay of various ecological, socio-political, and economic factors. Ecological resettlement (ER), implemented within the context of nature conservation policies, stands as one of the most contested issues worldwide. This study aims to navigate the domain of ER policy in conservation through discursive institutionalism and a policy arrangement approach. Focusing on Nepal's conservation policy pathways over the last seven decades, we critically analyze policy ideas and narratives, trends, patterns of policy development, institutional arrangements, driving factors, and responses to contemporary ER policies. Methods involved a systematic literature review (n = 271), a comprehensive review of policy documents and project reports (n > 150), and expert interviews (n = 20). Over the past 50 years, >7600 households in Nepal have been displaced in the name of ER and are still persisting despite the rhetoric of participatory conservation. With changes in political regimes, conservation policy has shifted from a hunting-focused approach to landscape-level and transboundary conservation. Initially influenced by internal factors such as economic and political governance, conservation policies were later shaped by international conservation discourse. Also, the operational sphere of such policy ideas and narratives - including actors, resources, discourses, and rules - along with trends, priorities, institutional arrangements, and driving factors of ER policies, has changed over time. Further, the exclusion of deprived communities and the capture of conservation benefits by elites have undermined conservation values. This research stresses the importance of a judicious balance between people's welfare and nature's integrity, emphasizing community-based natural resource management models accredited to a conservation standard. We further urge the revision of displacement-oriented conservation policies to secure the rights of Indigenous people and traditional landholders, thereby ensuring conservation and sustainable development at both national and global levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari Prasad Pandey
- University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Tek Narayan Maraseni
- University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Armando Apan
- University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Kishor Aryal
- University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests and Environment, Sudurpaschim Province, Dhangadhi, Nepal
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Heck N, Goldberg L, Andradi-Brown DA, Campbell A, Narayan S, Ahmadia GN, Lagomasino D. Global drivers of mangrove loss in protected areas. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14293. [PMID: 38766900 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite increasing efforts and investment in mangrove conservation, mangrove cover continues to decline globally. The extent to which protected area (PA) management effectively prevents mangrove loss globally across differing management objectives and governance types is not well understood. We combined remote sensing data with PA information to identify the extent and the drivers of mangrove loss across PAs with distinct governance types and protection levels based on categories developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Mangrove loss due to storms and erosion was prevalent across all governance types and most IUCN categories. However, the extent of human-driven loss differed across governance types and IUCN categories. Loss was highest in national government PAs. Private, local, shared arrangement, and subnational government agencies had low human-driven mangrove loss. Human-driven loss was highest in PAs with the highest level of restrictions on human activities (IUCN category I) due to mangrove conversion to areas for commodity production (e.g., aquaculture), whereas PAs that allowed sustainable resource use (e.g., category VI) experienced low levels of human-driven mangrove loss. Because category I PAs with high human-driven loss were primarily governed by national government agencies, conservation outcomes in highly PAs might depend not only on the level of restrictions, but also on the governance type. Mangrove loss across different governance types and IUCN categories varied regionally. Specific governance types and IUCN categories thus seemed more effective in preventing mangrove loss in certain regions. Overall, we found that natural drivers contributed to global mangrove loss across all PAs, whereas human-driven mangrove loss was lowest in PAs with subnational- to local-level governance and PAs with few restrictions on human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Heck
- Department of Coastal Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Liza Goldberg
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Anthony Campbell
- Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Siddharth Narayan
- Department of Coastal Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gabby N Ahmadia
- Ocean Conservation, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA
| | - David Lagomasino
- Department of Coastal Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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Dabalà A, Dahdouh-Guebas F, Dunn DC, Everett JD, Lovelock CE, Hanson JO, Buenafe KCV, Neubert S, Richardson AJ. Priority areas to protect mangroves and maximise ecosystem services. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5863. [PMID: 37735160 PMCID: PMC10514197 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41333-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities threaten global biodiversity and ecosystem services. Yet, area-based conservation efforts typically target biodiversity protection whilst minimising conflict with economic activities, failing to consider ecosystem services. Here we identify priority areas that maximise both the protection of mangrove biodiversity and their ecosystem services. We reveal that despite 13.5% of the mangrove distribution being currently strictly protected, all mangrove species are not adequately represented and many areas that provide disproportionally large ecosystem services are missed. Optimising the placement of future conservation efforts to protect 30% of global mangroves potentially safeguards an additional 16.3 billion USD of coastal property value, 6.1 million people, 1173.1 Tg C, and 50.7 million fisher days yr-1. Our findings suggest that there is a pressing need for including ecosystem services in protected area design and that strategic prioritisation and coordination of mangrove conservation could provide substantial benefits to human wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvise Dabalà
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- Systems Ecology and Resource Management Research Unit (SERM), Department of Organism Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB, Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, CPi 264/1, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
- Ecology & Biodiversity, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB, Pleinlaan 2, VUB-APNA-WE, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Farid Dahdouh-Guebas
- Systems Ecology and Resource Management Research Unit (SERM), Department of Organism Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB, Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, CPi 264/1, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Ecology & Biodiversity, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB, Pleinlaan 2, VUB-APNA-WE, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Mangrove Specialist Group (MSG), Species Survival Commission (SSC), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Zoological Society of London, London, UK
- Interfaculty Institute of Social-Ecological Transitions, Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB, Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniel C Dunn
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jason D Everett
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation (CMSI), The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Mangrove Specialist Group (MSG), Species Survival Commission (SSC), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | | | - Kristine Camille V Buenafe
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Sandra Neubert
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Institute of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anthony J Richardson
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Evaluation of Protected Areas in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, West Africa, Using a Remote Sensing-Based Approach. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11050720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses the representation of defined ecoregions, slope profiles, and species richness of threatened mammals in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-listed protected areas in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. It also evaluates the exposure of protected area categories to the cumulative degree of human modification and their vulnerability to future agricultural expansion. Spatial gap and statistical analyses were performed using quantitative data from publicly available online global databases. Analyses indicated key conservation priorities for both countries: (1) to increase the protection of the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic, West Sudanian savanna, and Eastern Guinean forests, especially of the Eastern Guinean forests’ ecoregion associated with the Guinean forests of the West Africa biodiversity hotspot; (2) to increase the protected area coverage of flat lands and low slopes; and (3) to enhance the size and connectivity of existing protected areas, including restoring degraded habitats. The study emphasizes that improving the ability of tropical protected areas to conserve nature and mitigate anthropogenic threats should be a global conservation priority. Improving the data quality and detail within the World Database on Protected Areas and ground-truthing them are recommended urgently to support accurate and informative assessments.
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Biber MF, Voskamp A, Hof C. Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13822. [PMID: 34490662 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias F Biber
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Alke Voskamp
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian Hof
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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Elleason M, Guan Z, Deng Y, Jiang A, Goodale E, Mammides C. Strictly protected areas are not necessarily more effective than areas in which multiple human uses are permitted. AMBIO 2021; 50:1058-1073. [PMID: 33159259 PMCID: PMC8035376 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies protected areas into six categories, ranging from strict nature reserves to areas where multiple human uses are permitted. In the past, many researchers have questioned the effectiveness of multiple-use areas, fueling an unresolved debate regarding their conservation value. The literature so far has been inconclusive: although several studies have found that strictly protected areas are more effective, others have found the opposite, and yet others that the two types do not differ. To help resolve this debate, we reviewed the literature on protected areas and conducted our own analysis using > 19 000 terrestrial protected areas worldwide. We found that the differences between strictly protected areas and areas in which multiple human uses are permitted are often small and not statistically significant. Although the effectiveness of protected areas worldwide varies, other factors, besides their assigned IUCN category, are likely to be driving this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses Elleason
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Zhuoli Guan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Yiming Deng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Aiwu Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Eben Goodale
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Christos Mammides
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004 China
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Guibrunet L, Gerritsen PRW, Sierra‐Huelsz JA, Flores‐Díaz AC, García‐Frapolli E, García‐Serrano E, Pascual U, Balvanera P. Beyond participation: How to achieve the recognition of local communities’ value‐systems in conservation? Some insights from Mexico. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Louise Guibrunet
- Instituto de Geografía Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad Universitaria Ciudad de México Mexico
| | | | - José Antonio Sierra‐Huelsz
- People and Plants International Bristol VT USA
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales Universidad VeracruzanaZona Centro Veracruz Mexico
| | - Adriana Carolina Flores‐Díaz
- Centro Transdisciplinar Universitario para la SustentabilidadUniversidad Iberoamericana Lomas de Santa Fe Mexico
| | - Eduardo García‐Frapolli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y SustentabilidadUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Morelia Mexico
| | | | - Unai Pascual
- Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3) Scientific Campus of the University of the Basque Country Leioa Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science Bilbao Spain
- Centre for Development and Environment University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Patricia Balvanera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y SustentabilidadUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Morelia Mexico
- Unidad Académica de Estudios TerritorialesUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Oaxaca Mexico
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8
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de la Fuente B, Weynants M, Bertzky B, Delli G, Mandrici A, Garcia Bendito E, Dubois G. Land productivity dynamics in and around protected areas globally from 1999 to 2013. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0224958. [PMID: 32756568 PMCID: PMC7406014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tracking changes in total biomass production or land productivity is an essential part of monitoring land transformations and long-term alterations of the health and productive capacity of land that are typically associated with land degradation. Persistent declines in land productivity impact many terrestrial ecosystem services that form the basis for sustainable livelihoods of human communities. Protected areas (PAs) are key to globally conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services that are critical for human well-being, and cover about 15% of the land worldwide. Here we globally assess the trends in land productivity in PAs of at least 10 km2 and in their unprotected surroundings (10 km buffers) from 1999 to 2013. We quantify the percentage of the protected and unprotected land that shows stable, increasing or decreasing trends in land productivity, quantified as long-term (15 year) changes in above-ground biomass derived from satellite-based observations with a spatial resolution of 1 km. We find that 44% of the land in PAs globally has retained the productivity at stable levels from 1999 to 2013, compared to 42% of stable productivity in the unprotected land around PAs. Persistent increases in productivity are more common in the unprotected lands around PAs (32%) than within PAs (18%) globally, while about 14% of the protected land and 12% of the unprotected land around PAs has experienced declines in land productivity. Oceania has the highest percentage of land with stable productivity in PAs (57%), whereas Europe has the lowest percentage (38%) and also the largest share of protected land with increasing land productivity (32%). We discuss the observed differences between PAs and unprotected lands, and between different parts of the world, in relation to different types and levels of human activities and their impact on land productivity. Our assessment of land productivity dynamics helps to characterise the state, pressures and changes in and around protected areas globally. Further research may focus on more detailed analyses to disentangle the relative contribution of specific drivers (from climate change to land use change) and their interaction with land productivity dynamics and potential land degradation in different regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña de la Fuente
- ETSI Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Bastian Bertzky
- Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Giacomo Delli
- Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Andrea Mandrici
- Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Grégoire Dubois
- Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra, Italy
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10
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Stevenson SL, Woolley SNC, Barnett J, Dunstan P. Testing the presence of marine protected areas against their ability to reduce pressures on biodiversity. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:622-631. [PMID: 31667866 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are the preferred tool for preventing marine biodiversity loss, as reflected in international protected area targets. Although the area covered by MPAs is expanding, there is a concern that opposition from resource users is driving them into already low-use locations, whereas high-pressure areas remain unprotected, which has serious implications for biodiversity conservation. We tested the spatial relationships between different human-induced pressures on marine biodiversity and global MPAs. We used global, modeled pressure data and the World Database on Protected Areas to calculate the levels of 15 different human-induced pressures inside and outside the world's MPAs. We fitted binomial generalized linear models to the data to determine whether each pressure had a positive or negative effect on the likelihood of an area being protected and whether this effect changed with different categories of protection. Pelagic and artisanal fishing, shipping, and introductions of invasive species by ships had a negative relationship with protection, and this relationship persisted under even the least restrictive categories of protection (e.g., protected areas classified as category VI under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a category that permits sustainable use). In contrast, pressures from dispersed, diffusive sources (e.g., pollution and ocean acidification) had positive relationships with protection. Our results showed that MPAs are systematically established in areas where there is low political opposition, limiting the capacity of existing MPAs to manage key drivers of biodiversity loss. We suggest that conservation efforts focus on biodiversity outcomes and effective reduction of pressures rather than prescribing area-based targets, and that alternative approaches to conservation are needed in areas where protection is not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone L Stevenson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
- School of Geography, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Skipton N C Woolley
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, 3-4 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Jon Barnett
- School of Geography, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Piers Dunstan
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, 3-4 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
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Mercado Malabet F, Peacock H, Razafitsalama J, Birkinshaw C, Colquhoun I. Realized distribution patterns of crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) within a human-dominated forest fragment in northern Madagascar. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23125. [PMID: 32202661 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Due to the impact of anthropogenic activities on forest extent and integrity across Madagascar, it is increasingly necessary to assess how endangered lemur populations inhabiting human-dominated forest fragments can effectively sustain themselves ecologically. Our research addresses this concern by exploring how the distribution patterns of a small population of crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus), occupying a degraded forest fragment at Oronjia Forest New Protected Area in northern Madagascar, are impacted by the availability of key ecological and anthropogenic factors. We hypothesize that the distribution of E. coronatus within the fragment is limited by the availability of critical ecological resources and conditions and the intensity of anthropogenic features and activities. To examine this, we used MaxEnt to develop a species distribution model using presence-only occurrence records and 10 independent background covariates detailing the site's ecological and anthropogenic aspects. The results indicate that the realized distribution patterns of E. coronatus within human-dominated forest fragments are strongly associated with sections of forest that contain sparsely and sporadically distributed resources, such as freshwater and continuous hardwood vegetation. We conclude that the distribution of E. coronatus at Oronjia is shaped by their need to maximize foraging opportunities in a degraded forest landscape where they are subject to both environmental and anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Mercado Malabet
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Environment & Sustainability, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather Peacock
- Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Ian Colquhoun
- Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Environment & Sustainability, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Blanco J, Bellón B, Fabricius C, de O Roque F, Pays O, Laurent F, Fritz H, Renaud PC. Interface processes between protected and unprotected areas: A global review and ways forward. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:1138-1154. [PMID: 31597213 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Land-use changes and the expansion of protected areas (PAs) have amplified the interaction between protected and unprotected areas worldwide. In this context, 'interface processes' (human-nature and cross-boundary interactions inside and around PAs) have become central to issues around the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This scientific literature review aimed to explore current knowledge and research gaps on interface processes regarding terrestrial PAs. At first, 3,515 references related to the topic were extracted through a standardized search on the Web of Science and analyzed with scientometric techniques. Next, a full-text analysis was conducted on a sample of 240 research papers. A keyword analysis revealed a wide diversity of research topics, from 'pure' ecology to sociopolitical research. We found a bias in the geographical distribution of research, with half the papers focusing on eight countries. Additionally, we found that the spatial extent of cross-boundary interactions was rarely assessed, preventing any clear delimitation of PA interactive zones. In the 240 research papers we scanned, we identified 403 processes that were studied. The ecological effects of PAs were well documented and appeared to be positive overall. In contrast, the effects of PAs on local communities were understudied and, according to the literature focusing on these, were very variable according to local contexts. Our findings highlight key research advances on interface processes, especially regarding the ecological outcomes of PAs, the influence of human activities on biodiversity, and PA governance issues. In contrast, main knowledge gaps concern the spatial extent of interactive zones, as well as the interactions between local people and conservation actions and how to promote synergies between them. While the review was limited to terrestrial PAs, its findings allow us to propose research priorities for tackling environmental and socioeconomic challenges in the face of a rapidly changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Blanco
- UMR CNRS 6554 LETG-Angers, UFR Sciences, University of Angers, Angers, France
| | - Beatriz Bellón
- UMR CNRS 6554 LETG-Angers, UFR Sciences, University of Angers, Angers, France
| | - Christo Fabricius
- World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA
- Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Fabio de O Roque
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, Australia
| | - Olivier Pays
- UMR CNRS 6554 LETG-Angers, UFR Sciences, University of Angers, Angers, France
- LTSER France, CNRS, Hwange National Park, Dete, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Hervé Fritz
- Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- LTSER France, CNRS, Hwange National Park, Dete, Zimbabwe
- UCBL, UMR CNRS 5558, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Pierre-Cyril Renaud
- UMR CNRS 6554 LETG-Angers, UFR Sciences, University of Angers, Angers, France
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13
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Shafer CL. Arguments for and against IUCN protected area management category VI with a review of state versus community governance. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Baldi G, Schauman S, Texeira M, Marinaro S, Martin OA, Gandini P, Jobbágy EG. Nature representation in South American protected areas: country contrasts and conservation priorities. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7155. [PMID: 31304056 PMCID: PMC6611075 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background South America faces strong environmental pressures as a result of agriculture and infrastructure expansion and also of demographic growth, demanding immediate action to preserve natural assets by establishing protected areas. Currently, 7.1% of the (sub)continent is under strict conservation categories (I to IV, IUCN), but the spatial distribution of these 1.3 × 106 km2 is poorly understood. We evaluated the representation of nature within the networks of protected areas, map conservation priorities and assess demographic, economic or geopolitical causes of existing protection patterns. Methods We characterized nature representation by looking at two components: the extent and the equality of protection. The first refers to the fraction of territory under protection, while the second refers to the homogeneity in the distribution along natural conditions of this protected fraction. We characterized natural conditions by either 113 biogeographical units (specifically, ecoregions) or a series of limited and significant climatic, topographic and edaphic traits. We analyzed representation every ten years since 1960 at national and continental levels. In the physical approach, histograms allowed us to map the degree of conservation priorities. Finally, we ranked the importance of different economic or geopolitical variables driving the observed distributions with a random forest technique. Results Nature representation varied across countries in spite of its priority in conservation agendas. In Brazil, Peru and Argentina there are still natural conditions with no formal protection, while in Bolivia and Venezuela, protected areas incorporate the natural diversity in a more balanced manner. As protected networks have increased their extent, so did their equality across and within countries over time. Our maps revealed as top continental priorities the southern temperate, subhumid and fertile lowland environments, and other country-specific areas. Protection extent was generally driven by a low population density and isolation, while other variables like distance to frontiers, were relevant only locally (e.g., in Argentina). Discussion Our description of the spatial distribution of protected areas can help societies and governments to improve the allocation of conservation efforts. We identified the main limitations that future conservation efforts will face, as protection was generally driven by the opportunities provided by low population density and isolation. From a methodological perspective, the physical approach reveals new properties of protection and provides tools to explore nature representation at different spatial, temporal and conceptual levels, complementing the traditional ones based on biodiversity or biogeographical attributes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Baldi
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada San Luis, Universidad Nacional de San Luis & CONICET, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Santiago Schauman
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada San Luis, Universidad Nacional de San Luis & CONICET, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Marcos Texeira
- Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de información, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura, Universidad de Buenos Aires & CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofía Marinaro
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET, Horco Molle, Argentina
| | - Osvaldo A Martin
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada San Luis, Universidad Nacional de San Luis & CONICET, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Patricia Gandini
- Instituto Ciencias del Ambiente, Sustentabilidad y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral & CONICET, Puerto Deseado, Argentina
| | - Esteban G Jobbágy
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada San Luis, Universidad Nacional de San Luis & CONICET, San Luis, Argentina
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Muñoz Brenes CL, Jones KW, Schlesinger P, Robalino J, Vierling L. The impact of protected area governance and management capacity on ecosystem function in Central America. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205964. [PMID: 30335845 PMCID: PMC6193709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) are a prominent approach to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services. A critical question for safeguarding these resources is how PA governance processes and management structures influence their effectiveness. We conduct an impact evaluation of 12 PAs in three Central American countries to assess how processes in management restrictions, management capacity, and decentralization affect the annual change in the satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI varies with greenness that relates to plant production, biomass, and important ecosystem functions related to biodiversity and ecosystem services such as water quality and carbon storage. Any loss of vegetation cover in the form of deforestation or degradation would show up as a decrease in NDVI values over time and gains in vegetation cover and regeneration as an increase in NDVI values. Management restriction categories are based on international classifications of strict versus multiple-use PAs, and capacity and decentralization categories are based on key informant interviews of PA managers. We use matching to create a counterfactual of non-protected observations and a matching estimator and regression to estimate treatment effects of each sub-sample. On average, strict and multiple-use PAs have a significant and positive effect on NDVI compared to non-protected land uses. Both high and low decentralized PAs also positively affect NDVI. High capacity PAs have a positive and significant effect on NDVI, while low capacity PAs have a negative effect on NDVI. Our findings advance knowledge on how governance and management influence PA effectiveness and suggest that capacity may be more important than governance type or management restrictions in maintaining and enhancing NDVI. This paper also provides a guide for future studies to incorporate measures of PA governance and management into impact evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos L. Muñoz Brenes
- Department of Natural Resources and Society, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
- Economics and Environment for Development Research Program–EfD Central America, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica
- * E-mail:
| | - Kelly W. Jones
- Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Peter Schlesinger
- Department of Natural Resources and Society, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
- Postgraduate School, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica
| | - Juan Robalino
- Economics and Environment for Development Research Program–EfD Central America, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica
- School of Economics, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Lee Vierling
- Department of Natural Resources and Society, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
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Kremen C, Merenlender AM. Landscapes that work for biodiversity and people. Science 2018; 362:362/6412/eaau6020. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aau6020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 417] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
How can we manage farmlands, forests, and rangelands to respond to the triple challenge of the Anthropocene—biodiversity loss, climate change, and unsustainable land use? When managed by using biodiversity-based techniques such as agroforestry, silvopasture, diversified farming, and ecosystem-based forest management, these socioeconomic systems can help maintain biodiversity and provide habitat connectivity, thereby complementing protected areas and providing greater resilience to climate change. Simultaneously, the use of these management techniques can improve yields and profitability more sustainably, enhancing livelihoods and food security. This approach to “working lands conservation” can create landscapes that work for nature and people. However, many socioeconomic challenges impede the uptake of biodiversity-based land management practices. Although improving voluntary incentives, market instruments, environmental regulations, and governance is essential to support working lands conservation, it is community action, social movements, and broad coalitions among citizens, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies that have the power to transform how we manage land and protect the environment.
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Tropical protected areas reduced deforestation carbon emissions by one third from 2000-2012. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14005. [PMID: 29070820 PMCID: PMC5656627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14467-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical deforestation is responsible for around one tenth of total anthropogenic carbon emissions, and tropical protected areas (PAs) that reduce deforestation can therefore play an important role in mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. While the effectiveness of PAs in reducing deforestation has been estimated, the impact on global carbon emissions remains unquantified. Here we show that tropical PAs overall reduced deforestation carbon emissions by 4.88 Pg, or around 29%, between 2000 and 2012, when compared to expected rates of deforestation controlling for spatial variation in deforestation pressure. The largest contribution was from the tropical Americas (368.8 TgC y−1), followed by Asia (25.0 TgC y−1) and Africa (12.7 TgC y−1). Variation in PA effectiveness is largely driven by local factors affecting individual PAs, rather than designations assigned by governments.
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