1
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Blanluet A, Game ET, Dunn DC, Everett JD, Lombard AT, Richardson AJ. Evaluating ecological benefits of oceanic protected areas. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:175-187. [PMID: 37778906 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Oceans beyond the continental shelf represent the largest yet least protected environments. The new agreement to increase protection targets to 30% by 2030 and the recent United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty try to address this gap, and an increase in the declaration of oceanic Marine Protected Areas (oMPAs) in waters beyond 200 m in depth is likely. Here we find that there is contradictory evidence concerning the benefits of oMPAs in terms of protecting pelagic habitats, providing refuge for highly mobile species, and potential fisheries benefits. We discover a mismatch between oMPA management objectives focusing on protection of pelagic habitats and biodiversity, and scientific research focusing on fisheries benefits. We suggest that the solution is to harness emerging technologies to monitor inside and outside oMPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Blanluet
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
| | - Daniel C Dunn
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Jason D Everett
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda T Lombard
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Anthony J Richardson
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
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2
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Abstract
Two concurrent trends are contributing towards a much broader view of forest conservation. First, the appreciation of the role of forests as a nature-based climate solution has grown rapidly, particularly among governments and the private sector. Second, the spatiotemporal resolution of forest mapping and the ease of tracking forest changes have dramatically improved. As a result, who does and who pays for forest conservation is changing: sectors and people previously considered separate from forest conservation now play an important role and need to be held accountable and motivated or forced to conserve forests. This change requires, and has stimulated, a broader range of forest conservation solutions. The need to assess the outcomes of conservation interventions has motivated the development and application of sophisticated econometric analyses, enabled by high resolution satellite data. At the same time, the focus on climate, together with the nature of available data and evaluation methods, has worked against a more comprehensive view of forest conservation. Instead, it has encouraged a focus on trees as carbon stores, often leaving out other important goals of forest conservation, such as biodiversity and human wellbeing. Even though both are intrinsically connected to climate outcomes, these areas have not kept pace with the scale and diversification of forest conservation. Finding synergies between these 'co-benefits', which play out on a local scale, with the carbon objective, related to the global amount of forests, is a major challenge and area for future advances in forest conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Buřivalová
- The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Natalie Yoh
- The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | | | - H S Sathya Chandra Sagar
- The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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3
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Simmonds JS, Suarez-Castro AF, Reside AE, Watson JEM, Allan JR, Atkinson SC, Borrelli P, Dudley N, Edwards S, Fuller RA, Game ET, Linke S, Maxwell SL, Panagos P, Puydarrieux P, Quétier F, Runting RK, Santini T, Sonter LJ, Maron M. Retaining natural vegetation to safeguard biodiversity and humanity. Conserv Biol 2023; 37:e14040. [PMID: 36424859 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Global efforts to deliver internationally agreed goals to reduce carbon emissions, halt biodiversity loss, and retain essential ecosystem services have been poorly integrated. These goals rely in part on preserving natural (e.g., native, largely unmodified) and seminatural (e.g., low intensity or sustainable human use) forests, woodlands, and grasslands. To show how to unify these goals, we empirically derived spatially explicit, quantitative, area-based targets for the retention of natural and seminatural (e.g., native) terrestrial vegetation worldwide. We used a 250-m-resolution map of natural and seminatural vegetation cover and, from this, selected areas identified under different international agreements as being important for achieving global biodiversity, carbon, soil, and water targets. At least 67 million km2 of Earth's terrestrial vegetation (∼79% of the area of vegetation remaining) required retention to contribute to biodiversity, climate, soil, and freshwater conservation objectives under 4 United Nations' resolutions. This equates to retaining natural and seminatural vegetation across at least 50% of the total terrestrial (excluding Antarctica) surface of Earth. Retention efforts could contribute to multiple goals simultaneously, especially where natural and seminatural vegetation can be managed to achieve cobenefits for biodiversity, carbon storage, and ecosystem service provision. Such management can and should co-occur and be driven by people who live in and rely on places where natural and sustainably managed vegetation remains in situ and must be complemented by restoration and appropriate management of more human-modified environments if global goals are to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Simmonds
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andres Felipe Suarez-Castro
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - April E Reside
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - James E M Watson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - James R Allan
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Pasquale Borrelli
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Stephen Edwards
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, Switzerland
| | - Richard A Fuller
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Simon Linke
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
- CSIRO Land & Water, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean L Maxwell
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Panos Panagos
- Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | | | | | - Rebecca K Runting
- School of Geography, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Talitha Santini
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Laura J Sonter
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martine Maron
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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4
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Burivalova Z, Maeda TM, Rayadin Y, Boucher T, Choksi P, Roe P, Truskinger A, Game ET. Loss of temporal structure of tropical soundscapes with intensifying land use in Borneo. Sci Total Environ 2022; 852:158268. [PMID: 36058325 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Conservation and sustainable management efforts in tropical forests often lack reliable, effective, and easily-communicated ways to measure the biodiversity status of a protected or managed landscape. The sounds that many tropical species make can be recorded by pre-programmed devices and analysed to yield measures of biodiversity. Interpreting the resulting soundscapes has developed along two paths: analysing the whole soundscape using acoustic indices, used as a proxy of biodiversity, or focusing on individual species that can be either manually or automatically recognized from the soundscape. Here we develop an intermediate approach to divide the soundscape into frequency categories belonging to broad taxonomic groups of vocalizing animals. While the method was unable to distinguish between amphibian and mammal communities, it was successful in assigning parts of the soundscape as likely produced by birds and insects. Applying the approach in Borneo revealed that, with increasing land use intensity, i) the spectral saturation of the soundscape, a proxy of species richness, loses dawn and dusk peaks, ii) bird acoustic communities lose recurrent diurnal patterns, becoming less synchronized across sites, and that iii) insect Soundscape Saturation increases at night. If soundscapes are partitioned similarly in different regions, our method could be used to bridge soundscape-level and individual-species level analyses. Regaining dawn and dusk peaks, the synchrony of bird acoustic communities, and losing nocturnal dominance of insect could be used as a set of simple indicators of tropical forest retaining high levels of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Burivalova
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - T M Maeda
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Y Rayadin
- Ecology and Conservation Centre for Tropical Studies (ECOSITROP), East Kalimantan, Indonesia
| | - T Boucher
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - P Choksi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - P Roe
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - A Truskinger
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - E T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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5
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Stark K, Adams V, Brown CJ, Chauvenet A, Davis K, Game ET, Halpern BS, Lynham J, Mappin B, Selkoe K, Watson JEM, Possingham HP, Klein CJ. Importance of equitable cost sharing in the Convention on Biological Diversity's protected area agenda. Conserv Biol 2022; 36:e13812. [PMID: 34288104 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Keila Stark
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vanessa Adams
- School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Christopher J Brown
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coasts and Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alienor Chauvenet
- School of Environment and Science, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katrina Davis
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Science, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Benjamin S Halpern
- The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - John Lynham
- Department of Economics, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Bonnie Mappin
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kim Selkoe
- National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - James E M Watson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carissa J Klein
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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6
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Skroblin A, Carboon T, Bidu G, Taylor M, Bidu N, Taylor W, Taylor K, Miller M, Robinson L, Williams C, Chapman N, Marney M, Marney C, Biljabu J, Biljabu L, Jeffries P, Samson H, Charles P, Game ET, Wintle B. Developing a two‐way learning monitoring program for
Mankarr
(Greater Bilby) in the Western Desert, Western Australia. Eco Management Restoration 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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7
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Wolff NH, Zeppetello LRV, Parsons LA, Aggraeni I, Battisti DS, Ebi KL, Game ET, Kroeger T, Masuda YJ, Spector JT. The effect of deforestation and climate change on all-cause mortality and unsafe work conditions due to heat exposure in Berau, Indonesia: a modelling study. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e882-e892. [PMID: 34774222 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00279-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies focusing on urban, industrialised regions have found that excess heat exposure can increase all-cause mortality, heat-related illnesses, and occupational injuries. However, little research has examined how deforestation and climate change can adversely affect work conditions and population health in low latitude, industrialising countries. METHODS For this modelling study we used data at 1 km2 resolution to compare forest cover and temperature conditions in the Berau regency, Indonesia, between 2002 and 2018. We used spatially explicit satellite, climate model, and population data to estimate the effects of global warming, between 2002 and 2018 and after applying 1·0°C, 1·5°C, and 2·0°C of global warming to 2018 temperatures, on all-cause mortality and unsafe work conditions in the Berau regency, Indonesia. FINDINGS Between 2002 and 2018, 4375 km2 of forested land in Berau was cleared, corresponding to approximately 17% of the entire regency. Deforestation increased mean daily maximum temperatures by 0·95°C (95% CI 0·97-0·92; p<0·0001). Mean daily temperatures increased by a population-weighted 0·86°C, accounting for an estimated 7·3-8·5% of all-cause mortality (or 101-118 additional deaths per year) in 2018. Unsafe work time increased by 0·31 h per day (95% CI 0·30-0·32; p<0·0001) in deforested areas compared to 0·03 h per day (0·03-0·04; p<0·0001) in areas that maintained forest cover. With 2·0°C of additional future global warming, relative to 2018, deforested areas could experience an estimated 17-20% increase in all-cause mortality (corresponding to an additional 236-282 deaths per year) and up to 5 h of unsafe work per day. INTERPRETATION Heat exposure from deforestation and climate change has already started affecting populations in low latitude, industrialising countries, and future global warming indicates substantial health impacts in these regions. Further research should examine how deforestation is currently affecting the health and wellbeing of local communities. FUNDING University of Washington Population Health Initiative. TRANSLATION For the Bahasa translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luke A Parsons
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ike Aggraeni
- Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia
| | - David S Battisti
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kristie L Ebi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Yuta J Masuda
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA, USA.
| | - June T Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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8
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, Asia Pacific Resource Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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9
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Skroblin A, Carboon T, Bidu G, Chapman N, Miller M, Taylor K, Taylor W, Game ET, Wintle BA. Including indigenous knowledge in species distribution modeling for increased ecological insights. Conserv Biol 2021; 35:587-597. [PMID: 31216076 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Indigenous knowledge systems hold detailed information on current and past environments that can inform ecological understanding as well as contemporary environmental management. Despite its applicability, there are limited examples of indigenous knowledge being incorporated in species distribution models, which are widely used in the ecological sciences. In a collaborative manner, we designed a structured elicitation process and statistical framework to combine indigenous knowledge with survey data to model the distribution of a threatened and culturally significant species (greater bilby or mankarr [Macrotis lagotis]). We used Martu (Aboriginal people of the Australian western deserts) occurrence knowledge and presence data from track-based surveys to create predictive species distribution models with the Maxent program. Predictions of species distribution based on Martu knowledge were broader than those created with survey data. Together the Martu and survey models showed potential local declines, which were supported by Martu observation. Both data types were influenced by sampling bias that appeared to affect model predictions and performance. Martu provided additional information on habitat associations and locations of decline and descriptions of the ecosystem dynamics and disturbance regimes that influence occupancy. We concluded that intercultural approaches that draw on multiple sources of knowledge and information types may improve species distribution modeling and inform management of threatened or culturally significant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Skroblin
- National Environmental Science Program-Threatened Species Recovery Hub, School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Tracy Carboon
- Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, P.O. Box 504, Newman, WA, 6753, Australia
| | - Gladys Bidu
- Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, P.O. Box 504, Newman, WA, 6753, Australia
| | | | - Minyawu Miller
- Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, P.O. Box 504, Newman, WA, 6753, Australia
| | - Karnu Taylor
- Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, P.O. Box 504, Newman, WA, 6753, Australia
| | - Waka Taylor
- Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, P.O. Box 504, Newman, WA, 6753, Australia
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Brendan A Wintle
- National Environmental Science Program-Threatened Species Recovery Hub, School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
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10
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Masuda YJ, Garg T, Anggraeni I, Ebi K, Krenz J, Game ET, Wolff NH, Spector JT. Warming from tropical deforestation reduces worker productivity in rural communities. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1601. [PMID: 33707454 PMCID: PMC7952402 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21779-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The accelerating loss of tropical forests in the 21st century has eliminated cooling services provided by trees in low latitude countries. Cooling services can protect rural communities and outdoor workers with little adaptive capacity from adverse heat exposure, which is expected to increase with climate change. Yet little is still known about whether cooling services can mitigate negative impacts of heat on labor productivity among rural outdoor workers. Through a field experiment in Indonesia, we show that worker productivity was 8.22% lower in deforested relative to forested settings, where wet bulb globe temperatures were, on average, 2.84 °C higher in deforested settings. We demonstrate that productivity losses are driven by behavioral adaptations in the form of increased number of work breaks, and provide evidence that suggests breaks are in part driven by awareness of heat effects on work. Our results indicate that the cooling services from forests have the potential for increasing resilience and adaptive capacity to local warming. It is expected that tropical deforestation and related increases in heat exposure have negative impacts on labour productivity, but the size of the effect is not well known. Here, the authors show that deforestation reduces productivity by 8.22% in rural Indonesia and causes behavioural adaptation responses like more work breaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta J Masuda
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, TX, USA.
| | - Teevrat Garg
- School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn, Germany.
| | - Ike Anggraeni
- Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia
| | - Kristie Ebi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Washington, USA.,Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer Krenz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Washington, USA
| | - Edward T Game
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, TX, USA
| | | | - June T Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Washington, USA
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11
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McGowan J, Weary R, Carriere L, Game ET, Smith JL, Garvey M, Possingham HP. Prioritizing debt conversion opportunities for marine conservation. Conserv Biol 2020; 34:1065-1075. [PMID: 32424907 PMCID: PMC8129986 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Incentivized debt conversion is a financing mechanism that can assist countries with a heavy debt burden to bolster their long-term domestic investment in nature conservation. The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation-based nongovernmental organization, is adapting debt conversions to support marine conservation efforts by small island developing states and coastal countries. Prioritizing debt conversion opportunities according to their potential return on investment can increase the impact and effectiveness of this finance mechanism. We developed guidance on how to do so with a decision-support approach that relies on a novel threat-based adaptation of cost-effectiveness analysis. We constructed scenarios by varying parameters of the approach, including enabling conditions, expected benefits, and threat classifications. Incorporating both abatable and unabatable threats affected priorities across planning scenarios. Similarly, differences in scenario construction resulted in unique solution sets for top priorities. We show how environmental organizations, private entities, and investment banks can adopt structured prioritization frameworks for making decisions about conservation finance investments, such as debt conversions. Our guidance can accommodate a suite of social, ecological, and economic considerations, making the approach broadly applicable to other conservation finance mechanisms or investment strategies that seek to establish a transparent process for return-on-investment decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer McGowan
- The Nature Conservancy4245 Fairfax Dr #100ArlingtonVA22203U.S.A.
| | - Rob Weary
- NatureVestThe Nature Conservancy4245 Fairfax Dr #100ArlingtonVA22203U.S.A.
| | - Leah Carriere
- NatureVestThe Nature Conservancy4245 Fairfax Dr #100ArlingtonVA22203U.S.A.
| | - Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy48 Montague RoadSouth BrisbaneQld4101Australia
| | - Joanna L. Smith
- Nature UnitedThe Nature Conservancy366 Adelaide Street East, Suite 331TorontoONM5A 3X9Canada
| | - Melissa Garvey
- The Nature Conservancy4245 Fairfax Dr #100ArlingtonVA22203U.S.A.
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12
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Sayre R, Karagulle D, Frye C, Boucher T, Wolff NH, Breyer S, Wright D, Martin M, Butler K, Van Graafeiland K, Touval J, Sotomayor L, McGowan J, Game ET, Possingham H. An assessment of the representation of ecosystems in global protected areas using new maps of World Climate Regions and World Ecosystems. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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13
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Masuda YJ, Kelly AC, Robinson BE, Holland MB, Bedford C, Childress M, Game ET, Ginsburg C, Hilhorst T, Lawry SW, Miteva DA, Musengezi J, Naughton‐Treves L, Sunderlin WD, Veit P. How do practitioners characterize land tenure security? Conservat Sci and Prac 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuta J. Masuda
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy Arlington Virginia
| | | | | | - Margaret B. Holland
- Department of Geography, University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland
| | | | | | - Edward T. Game
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy Brisbane Australia
| | - Chloe Ginsburg
- Rights and Resources Initiative Washington District of Columbia
| | - Thea Hilhorst
- Development Research Group, The World Bank Washington District of Columbia
| | - Steven W. Lawry
- Equity, Gender and Tenure research program, CIFOR Bogor Indonesia
| | - Daniela A. Miteva
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio
| | | | | | - William D. Sunderlin
- Center for International Forestry Research and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse New York
| | - Peter Veit
- Land and Resource Rights Initiative, World Resources Institute Washington District of Columbia
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Burivalova Z, Purnomo, Wahyudi B, Boucher TM, Ellis P, Truskinger A, Towsey M, Roe P, Marthinus D, Griscom B, Game ET. Using soundscapes to investigate homogenization of tropical forest diversity in selectively logged forests. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Burivalova
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs Princeton University Princeton NJ USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin – Madison Madison WI USA
| | - Purnomo
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara Jakarta Indonesia
| | | | | | | | - Anthony Truskinger
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Australia
| | - Michael Towsey
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Australia
| | - Paul Roe
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Australia
| | - Delon Marthinus
- The Governor’s Climate and Forests Task Force Boulder CO USA
| | | | - Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy South Brisbane Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Australia
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McCarthy MA, Burgman MA, Wei F, Jarrad FC, Rondinini C, Murcia C, Marsh HD, Akçakaya HR, Esler KJ, Game ET, Schwartz MW. Plan S and publishing: reply to Lehtomäki et al. 2019. Conserv Biol 2019; 33:1203-1204. [PMID: 31323693 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A McCarthy
- Associate Editor, Conservation Biology, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Mark A Burgman
- Editor in Chief, Conservation Biology, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 1NE, U.K
| | - Fuwen Wei
- Regional Editor, Conservation Biology, Key Lab of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Frith C Jarrad
- Managing Editor, Conservation Biology, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Carlo Rondinini
- Regional Editor, Conservation Biology, Global Mammal Assessment Programme, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Murcia
- Regional Editor, Conservation Biology, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, 760031, Colombia
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, U.S.A
| | - Helene D Marsh
- Regional Editor, Conservation Biology, Division of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 48111, Australia
| | - H Resit Akçakaya
- Regional Editor, Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, U.S.A
| | - Karen J Esler
- Regional Editor, Conservation Biology, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Edward T Game
- Editor in Chief, Conservation Letters, The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
- The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Mark W Schwartz
- Editor in Chief, Conservation Science and Practice, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, 1 Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, U.S.A
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Suter MK, Miller KA, Anggraeni I, Ebi KL, Game ET, Krenz J, Masuda YJ, Sheppard L, Wolff NH, Spector JT. Association between work in deforested, compared to forested, areas and human heat strain: An experimental study in a rural tropical environment. Environ Res Lett 2019; 14:084012. [PMID: 31485260 PMCID: PMC6724538 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab2b53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With climate change, adverse human health effects caused by heat exposure are of increasing public health concern. Forests provide beneficial ecosystem services for human health, including local cooling. Few studies have assessed the relationship between deforestation and heat-related health effects in tropical, rural populations. We sought to determine whether deforested compared to forested landscapes are associated with increased physiological heat strain in a rural, tropical environment. METHODS We analyzed data from 363 healthy adult participants from ten villages who participated in a two-by-two factorial, randomized study in East Kalimantan, Indonesia from 10/1/17 to 11/6/17. Using simple randomization, field staff allocated participants equally to different conditions to conduct a 90-minute outdoor activity, representative of typical work. Core body temperature was estimated at each minute during the activity using a validated algorithm from baseline oral temperatures and sequential heart rate data, measured using chest band monitors. We used linear regression models, clustered by village and with a sandwich variance estimator, to assess the association between deforested versus forested conditions and the number of minutes each participant spent above an estimated core body temperature threshold of 38.5°C. RESULTS Compared to those in the forested condition (n=172), participants in the deforested condition (n=159) spent an average of 3.08 (95% CI 0.57, 5.60) additional minutes with an estimated core body temperature exceeding 38.5°C, after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and experiment start time, with a larger difference among those who began the experiment after 12 noon (5.17 [95% CI 2.20, 8.15]). CONCLUSIONS In this experimental study in a tropical, rural setting, activity in a deforested versus a forested setting was associated with increased objectively measured heat strain. Longer durations of hyperthermia can increase the risk of serious health outcomes. Land use decisions should consider the implications of deforestation on local heat exposure and health as well as on forest services, including carbon storage functions that impact climate change mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K. Suter
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Kristin A. Miller
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Ike Anggraeni
- Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia
| | - Kristie L. Ebi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Edward T. Game
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States
| | - Jennifer Krenz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Yuta J. Masuda
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States
| | - Lianne Sheppard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Nicholas H. Wolff
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States
| | - June T. Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
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Smith RJ, Bennun L, Brooks TM, Butchart SHM, Cuttelod A, Di Marco M, Ferrier S, Fishpool LDC, Joppa L, Juffe‐Bignoli D, Knight AT, Lamoreux JF, Langhammer P, Possingham HP, Rondinini C, Visconti P, Watson JEM, Woodley S, Boitani L, Burgess ND, Silva N, Dudley N, Fivaz F, Game ET, Groves C, Lötter M, McGowan J, Plumptre AJ, Rebelo AG, Rodriguez JP, Scaramuzza CADM. Synergies between the key biodiversity area and systematic conservation planning approaches. Conserv Lett 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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19
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Gallo-Cajiao E, Archibald C, Friedman R, Steven R, Fuller RA, Game ET, Morrison TH, Ritchie EG. Crowdfunding biodiversity conservation. Conserv Biol 2018; 32:1426-1435. [PMID: 29802734 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Raising funds is critical for conserving biodiversity and hence so is scrutinizing emerging financial mechanisms that may help achieve this goal. Anecdotal evidence indicates crowdfunding is being used to support activities needed for biodiversity conservation, yet its magnitude and allocation remain largely unknown. To help address this knowledge gap, we conducted a global analysis based on conservation-focused projects extracted from crowdfunding platforms. For each project, we determined the funds raised, date, country of implementation, proponent characteristics, activity type, biodiversity realm, and target taxa. We identified 72 relevant platforms and 577 conservation-focused projects that raised $4,790,634 since 2009. Although proponents were based in 38 countries, projects were delivered across 80 countries, indicating a potential mechanism of resource mobilization. Proponents were affiliated with nongovernmental organizations (35%) or universities (30%) or were freelancers (26%). Most projects were for research (40%), persuasion (31%), and on-the-ground actions (21%). Projects were more focused on species (57.7%) and terrestrial ecosystems (20.3%), and less focused on marine (8.8%) and freshwater ecosystems (3.6%). Projects focused on 208 species, including a disproportionate number of threatened birds and mammals. Crowdfunding for biodiversity conservation is a global phenomenon and there is potential for expansion, despite possible pitfalls (e.g., uncertainty about effectiveness). Opportunities to advance conservation through crowdfunding arise from its capacity to mobilize funds spatially and increase steadily over time, inclusion of overlooked species, adoption by multiple actors, and funding of activities beyond research. Our findings pave the way for further research on key questions, such as campaign success rates, effectiveness of conservation actions, and drivers of crowdfunding adoption. Even though crowdfunding capital raised has been modest relative to other conservation-finance mechanisms, its contribution goes beyond funding research and providing capital. Embraced with due care, crowdfunding could become an important financial mechanism for biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Carla Archibald
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Rachel Friedman
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Rochelle Steven
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Edward T Game
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Tiffany H Morrison
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Euan G Ritchie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
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20
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Game ET, Tallis H, Olander L, Alexander SM, Busch J, Cartwright N, Kalies EL, Masuda YJ, Mupepele AC, Qiu J, Rooney A, Sills E, Sutherland WJ. Cross-discipline evidence principles for sustainability policy. Nat Sustain 2018; 1:452-454. [PMID: 32064360 PMCID: PMC7021250 DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0141-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Evidence-based approaches to sustainability challenges must draw on knowledge from the environment, development and health communities. To be practicable, this requires an approach to evidence that is broader and less hierarchical than the standards often applied within disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Lydia Olander
- Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Steven M. Alexander
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD, USA
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Environmental Change and Governance Group, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Jonah Busch
- Center for Global Development, Washington DC, USA
| | - Nancy Cartwright
- Philosophy Department, Durham University, Durham DH1 3HN, UK
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Anne-Christine Mupepele
- Department of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jiangxiao Qiu
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Florida, FL, USA
| | - Andrew Rooney
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Erin Sills
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - William J. Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Deichmann JL, Acevedo‐Charry O, Barclay L, Burivalova Z, Campos‐Cerqueira M, d'Horta F, Game ET, Gottesman BL, Hart PJ, Kalan AK, Linke S, Nascimento LD, Pijanowski B, Staaterman E, Mitchell Aide T. It's time to listen: there is much to be learned from the sounds of tropical ecosystems. Biotropica 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Deichmann
- Center for Conservation and Sustainability Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute National Zoological Park Washington DC USA
| | - Orlando Acevedo‐Charry
- Sieve Analytics San Juan PR USA
- Colección de Sonidos Ambientales Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt Bogotá Colombia
| | - Leah Barclay
- Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre Griffith University Nathan Qld Australia
| | - Zuzana Burivalova
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs Princeton University Princeton NJ USA
| | | | - Fernando d'Horta
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology INPA Manaus AM Brazil
| | - Edward T. Game
- Global Science The Nature Conservancy Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Benjamin L. Gottesman
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University West Lafayette IN USA
| | - Patrick J. Hart
- Department of Biology University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo HI USA
| | - Ammie K. Kalan
- Department of Primatology Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany
| | - Simon Linke
- Australian Rivers Institute Griffith University Nathan Qld Australia
| | - Leandro Do Nascimento
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan UT USA
| | - Bryan Pijanowski
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University West Lafayette IN USA
| | - Erica Staaterman
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Office of Environmental Programs Sterling VA USA
- Beneath the Waves, Inc. Herndon VA USA
| | - T. Mitchell Aide
- Sieve Analytics San Juan PR USA
- Department of Biology University of Puerto Rico San Juan PR USA
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22
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Lipsett-Moore GJ, Wolff NH, Game ET. Emissions mitigation opportunities for savanna countries from early dry season fire management. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2247. [PMID: 29884858 PMCID: PMC5993717 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04687-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Savanna fires produce significant emissions globally, but if managed effectively could provide an important mitigation opportunity, particularly in African least developed countries. Here we show global opportunities for emissions reductions through early dry season burning for 37 countries including: 29 countries in Africa (69.1 MtCO2-e yr-1), six countries in South America (13.3 MtCO2-e yr-1), and Australia and Papua New Guinea (6.9 MtCO2-e yr-1). Emissions reduction estimates are based on the successful approach developed in Australia to reduce emissions from savanna fires using global-scale, remotely sensed estimates of monthly emissions. Importantly, 20 least developed countries in Africa account for 74% of the mitigation potential (60.2 MtCO2-e yr-1). More than 1.02 million km2 of savanna dominated protected areas within these countries could be used as pilot sites to test and advance a regional approach to mitigation efforts for savanna fires in Africa. Potential versus actual abatement opportunities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey J Lipsett-Moore
- The Nature Conservancy, Asia Pacific Resource Centre, 48 Montague Road, Level 1, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.
| | - Nicholas H Wolff
- The Nature Conservancy, Global Science, 14 Maine Street, Suite 401, Brunswick, ME, 04011, USA
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, Asia Pacific Resource Centre, 48 Montague Road, Level 1, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.,University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Fidler
- School of BioSciences; University of Melbourne; Australia
- School of Historical and Philosophical Studies; University of Melbourne; Australia
| | - Hannah Fraser
- School of BioSciences; University of Melbourne; Australia
| | | | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy; South Brisbane Australia
- University of Queensland; St. Lucia Australia
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Qiu J, Game ET, Tallis H, Olander LP, Glew L, Kagan JS, Kalies EL, Michanowicz D, Phelan J, Polasky S, Reed J, Sills EO, Urban D, Weaver SK. Evidence-Based Causal Chains for Linking Health, Development, and Conservation Actions. Bioscience 2018; 68:182-193. [PMID: 29988312 PMCID: PMC6019009 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainability challenges for nature and people are complex and interconnected, such that effective solutions require approaches and a common theory of change that bridge disparate disciplines and sectors. Causal chains offer promising approaches to achieving an integrated understanding of how actions affect ecosystems, the goods and services they provide, and ultimately, human well-being. Although causal chains and their variants are common tools across disciplines, their use remains highly inconsistent, limiting their ability to support and create a shared evidence base for joint actions. In this article, we present the foundational concepts and guidance of causal chains linking disciplines and sectors that do not often intersect to elucidate the effects of actions on ecosystems and society. We further discuss considerations for establishing and implementing causal chains, including nonlinearity, trade-offs and synergies, heterogeneity, scale, and confounding factors. Finally, we highlight the science, practice, and policy implications of causal chains to address real-world linked human-nature challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangxiao Qiu
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center at the University of Florida, in Davie, Florida
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, in Arlington, Virginia
- University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia
| | - Heather Tallis
- The Nature Conservancy, in Arlington, Virginia
- University of California, in Santa Cruz, California
| | - Lydia P Olander
- Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - James S Kagan
- Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University, in Corvallis
- Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon
| | | | - Drew Michanowicz
- Department of Environmental Health at Harvard University, in Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer Phelan
- National Atmospheric Deposition Program—Critical Loads of Atmospheric Deposition, at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, and Research Triangle Institute International, in North Carolina
| | - Stephen Polasky
- College of Biological Sciences and Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul
| | - James Reed
- Center for International Forestry Research, in Bogor, Indonesia, and with the Lancaster Environment Centre at the University of Lancaster, in the United Kingdom
| | - Erin O Sills
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh
| | - Dean Urban
- Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina
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Burivalova Z, Towsey M, Boucher T, Truskinger A, Apelis C, Roe P, Game ET. Using soundscapes to detect variable degrees of human influence on tropical forests in Papua New Guinea. Conserv Biol 2018; 32:205-215. [PMID: 28612939 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
There is global concern about tropical forest degradation, in part, because of the associated loss of biodiversity. Communities and indigenous people play a fundamental role in tropical forest management and are often efficient at preventing forest degradation. However, monitoring changes in biodiversity due to degradation, especially at a scale appropriate to local tropical forest management, is plagued by difficulties, including the need for expert training, inconsistencies across observers, and lack of baseline or reference data. We used a new biodiversity remote-sensing technology, the recording of soundscapes, to test whether the acoustic saturation of a tropical forest in Papua New Guinea decreases as land-use intensity by the communities that manage the forest increases. We sampled soundscapes continuously for 24 hours at 34 sites in different land-use zones of 3 communities. Land-use zones where forest cover was fully retained had significantly higher soundscape saturation during peak acoustic activity times (i.e., dawn and dusk chorus) compared with land-use types with fragmented forest cover. We conclude that, in Papua New Guinea, the relatively simple measure of soundscape saturation may provide a cheap, objective, reproducible, and effective tool for monitoring tropical forest deviation from an intact state, particularly if it is used to detect the presence of intact dawn and dusk choruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Burivalova
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 406 Robertson Hall, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A
| | - Michael Towsey
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Tim Boucher
- The Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, U.S.A
| | - Anthony Truskinger
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Cosmas Apelis
- The Nature Conservancy, Boroko, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
| | - Paul Roe
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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Robinson BE, Masuda YJ, Kelly A, Holland MB, Bedford C, Childress M, Fletschner D, Game ET, Ginsburg C, Hilhorst T, Lawry S, Miteva DA, Musengezi J, Naughton-Treves L, Nolte C, Sunderlin WD, Veit P. Incorporating Land Tenure Security into Conservation. Conserv Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy; South Brisbane QLD Australia 4101
| | - Chloe Ginsburg
- Rights and Resources Initiative; Washington DC USA 20007
| | | | - Steven Lawry
- The Center for International Forestry Research; Bogor Barat Indonesia 16115
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Veit
- World Resources Institute; Washington DC USA 20002
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27
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Annis GM, Pearsall DR, Kahl KJ, Washburn EL, May CA, Franks Taylor R, Cole JB, Ewert DN, Game ET, Doran PJ. Designing coastal conservation to deliver ecosystem and human well-being benefits. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172458. [PMID: 28241018 PMCID: PMC5328270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation scientists increasingly recognize that incorporating human values into conservation planning increases the chances for success by garnering broader project acceptance. However, methods for defining quantitative targets for the spatial representation of human well-being priorities are less developed. In this study we employ an approach for identifying regionally important human values and establishing specific spatial targets for their representation based on stakeholder outreach. Our primary objective was to develop a spatially-explicit conservation plan that identifies the most efficient locations for conservation actions to meet ecological goals while sustaining or enhancing human well-being values within the coastal and nearshore areas of the western Lake Erie basin (WLEB). We conducted an optimization analysis using 26 features representing ecological and human well-being priorities (13 of each), and included seven cost layers. The influence that including human well-being had on project results was tested by running five scenarios and setting targets for human well-being at different levels in each scenario. The most important areas for conservation to achieve multiple goals are clustered along the coast, reflecting a concentration of existing or potentially restorable coastal wetlands, coastal landbird stopover habitat and terrestrial biodiversity, as well as important recreational activities. Inland important areas tended to cluster around trails and high quality inland landbird stopover habitat. Most concentrated areas of importance also are centered on lands that are already conserved, reflecting the lower costs and higher benefits of enlarging these conserved areas rather than conserving isolated, dispersed areas. Including human well-being features in the analysis only influenced the solution at the highest target levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gust M. Annis
- The Nature Conservancy, Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | - James B. Cole
- The Nature Conservancy, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David N. Ewert
- The Nature Conservancy, Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy, West End Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Patrick J. Doran
- The Nature Conservancy, Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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Game ET, Bremer LL, Calvache A, Moreno PH, Vargas A, Rivera B, Rodriguez LM. Fuzzy Models to Inform Social and Environmental Indicator Selection for Conservation Impact Monitoring. Conserv Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy; South Brisbane QLD 4101 Australia
- The University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4067 Australia
| | - Leah L. Bremer
- The Natural Capital Project, Woods Institute for the Environment; Stanford University; 371 Serra Mall Stanford California 94305
| | - Alejandro Calvache
- The Nature Conservancy; Northern Andes Conservation Program; Bogotá Colombia
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McDonald-Madden E, Sabbadin R, Game ET, Baxter PWJ, Chadès I, Possingham HP. Using food-web theory to conserve ecosystems. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10245. [PMID: 26776253 PMCID: PMC4735605 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Food-web theory can be a powerful guide to the management of complex ecosystems. However, we show that indices of species importance common in food-web and network theory can be a poor guide to ecosystem management, resulting in significantly more extinctions than necessary. We use Bayesian Networks and Constrained Combinatorial Optimization to find optimal management strategies for a wide range of real and hypothetical food webs. This Artificial Intelligence approach provides the ability to test the performance of any index for prioritizing species management in a network. While no single network theory index provides an appropriate guide to management for all food webs, a modified version of the Google PageRank algorithm reliably minimizes the chance and severity of negative outcomes. Our analysis shows that by prioritizing ecosystem management based on the network-wide impact of species protection rather than species loss, we can substantially improve conservation outcomes. The influence of species conservation on food webs is less well understood than the effects of species loss. Here, the authors test several indices against optimal food web management and find no current metrics are reliably effective at identifying species conservation priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- E McDonald-Madden
- School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - R Sabbadin
- Unité de Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées, Toulouse, INRA UR 875, BP 27 F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - E T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Science, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
| | - P W J Baxter
- Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - I Chadès
- CSIRO, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - H P Possingham
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.,School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy Conservation Science 48 Montague Road South Brisbane QLD 4101 Australia
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science Centre University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Mark W. Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Andrew T. Knight
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London Silwood Park Campus Ascot Berkshire SL5 0NX UK
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Environmental Decisions University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
- Department of Botany Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Port Elizabeth, P.O. Box 77000 Port Elizabeth 6031 South Africa
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Anthony KRN, Marshall PA, Abdulla A, Beeden R, Bergh C, Black R, Eakin CM, Game ET, Gooch M, Graham NAJ, Green A, Heron SF, van Hooidonk R, Knowland C, Mangubhai S, Marshall N, Maynard JA, McGinnity P, McLeod E, Mumby PJ, Nyström M, Obura D, Oliver J, Possingham HP, Pressey RL, Rowlands GP, Tamelander J, Wachenfeld D, Wear S. Operationalizing resilience for adaptive coral reef management under global environmental change. Glob Chang Biol 2015; 21:48-61. [PMID: 25196132 PMCID: PMC4310291 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Cumulative pressures from global climate and ocean change combined with multiple regional and local-scale stressors pose fundamental challenges to coral reef managers worldwide. Understanding how cumulative stressors affect coral reef vulnerability is critical for successful reef conservation now and in the future. In this review, we present the case that strategically managing for increased ecological resilience (capacity for stress resistance and recovery) can reduce coral reef vulnerability (risk of net decline) up to a point. Specifically, we propose an operational framework for identifying effective management levers to enhance resilience and support management decisions that reduce reef vulnerability. Building on a system understanding of biological and ecological processes that drive resilience of coral reefs in different environmental and socio-economic settings, we present an Adaptive Resilience-Based management (ARBM) framework and suggest a set of guidelines for how and where resilience can be enhanced via management interventions. We argue that press-type stressors (pollution, sedimentation, overfishing, ocean warming and acidification) are key threats to coral reef resilience by affecting processes underpinning resistance and recovery, while pulse-type (acute) stressors (e.g. storms, bleaching events, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks) increase the demand for resilience. We apply the framework to a set of example problems for Caribbean and Indo-Pacific reefs. A combined strategy of active risk reduction and resilience support is needed, informed by key management objectives, knowledge of reef ecosystem processes and consideration of environmental and social drivers. As climate change and ocean acidification erode the resilience and increase the vulnerability of coral reefs globally, successful adaptive management of coral reefs will become increasingly difficult. Given limited resources, on-the-ground solutions are likely to focus increasingly on actions that support resilience at finer spatial scales, and that are tightly linked to ecosystem goods and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R N Anthony
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB3, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
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Moon K, Adams VM, Januchowski-Hartley SR, Polyakov M, Mills M, Biggs D, Knight AT, Game ET, Raymond CM. A multidisciplinary conceptualization of conservation opportunity. Conserv Biol 2014; 28:1484-1496. [PMID: 25381959 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An opportunity represents an advantageous combination of circumstances that allows goals to be achieved. We reviewed the nature of opportunity and how it manifests in different subsystems (e.g., biophysical, social, political, economic) as conceptualized in other bodies of literature, including behavior, adoption, entrepreneur, public policy, and resilience literature. We then developed a multidisciplinary conceptualization of conservation opportunity. We identified 3 types of conservation opportunity: potential, actors remove barriers to problem solving by identifying the capabilities within the system that can be manipulated to create support for conservation action; traction, actors identify windows of opportunity that arise from exogenous shocks, events, or changes that remove barriers to solving problems; and existing, everything is in place for conservation action (i.e., no barriers exist) and an actor takes advantage of the existing circumstances to solve problems. Different leverage points characterize each type of opportunity. Thus, unique stages of opportunity identification or creation and exploitation exist: characterizing the system and defining problems; identifying potential solutions; assessing the feasibility of solutions; identifying or creating opportunities; and taking advantage of opportunities. These stages can be undertaken independently or as part of a situational analysis and typically comprise the first stage, but they can also be conducted iteratively throughout a conservation planning process. Four types of entrepreneur can be identified (business, policy, social, and conservation), each possessing attributes that enable them to identify or create opportunities and take advantage of them. We examined how different types of conservation opportunity manifest in a social-ecological system (the Great Barrier Reef) and how they can be taken advantage of. Our multidisciplinary conceptualization of conservation opportunity strengthens and legitimizes the concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Moon
- Institute for Applied Ecology/Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy; Conservation Science; West End Queensland 4101 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Erik Meijaard
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
- People and Nature Consulting International; Jakarta Indonesia
- Center for International Forestry Research; Bogor Indonesia
| | - Douglas Sheil
- Center for International Forestry Research; Bogor Indonesia
- Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation; Mbarara University of Science and Technology; PO Box 44 Kabale Uganda
- School of Environmental Science and Management; Southern Cross University; PO Box 157 Lismore NSW 2480 Australia
| | - Eve McDonald-Madden
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; Ecosciences Precinct; 41 Boggo Rd Dutton Park Queensland 4102 Australia
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Abstract
A vast number of prioritization schemes have been developed to help conservation navigate tough decisions about the allocation of finite resources. However, the application of quantitative approaches to setting priorities in conservation frequently includes mistakes that can undermine their authors' intention to be more rigorous and scientific in the way priorities are established and resources allocated. Drawing on well-established principles of decision science, we highlight 6 mistakes commonly associated with setting priorities for conservation: not acknowledging conservation plans are prioritizations; trying to solve an ill-defined problem; not prioritizing actions; arbitrariness; hidden value judgments; and not acknowledging risk of failure. We explain these mistakes and offer a path to help conservation planners avoid making the same mistakes in future prioritizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T Game
- Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy, 245 Riverside Drive, West End, QLD, 4101, Australia.
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Abstract
Background Understanding the evolution of species limits is important in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. Despite its likely importance in the evolution of these limits, little is known about phenotypic covariance in geographically marginal populations, and the degree to which it constrains, or facilitates, responses to selection. We investigated phenotypic covariance in morphological traits at species’ borders by comparing phenotypic covariance matrices (P), including the degree of shared structure, the distribution of strengths of pair-wise correlations between traits, the degree of morphological integration of traits, and the ranks of matricies, between central and marginal populations of three species-pairs of coral reef fishes. Results Greater structural differences in P were observed between populations close to range margins and conspecific populations toward range centres, than between pairs of conspecific populations that were both more centrally located within their ranges. Approximately 80% of all pair-wise trait correlations within populations were greater in the north, but these differences were unrelated to the position of the sampled population with respect to the geographic range of the species. Conclusions Neither the degree of morphological integration, nor ranks of P, indicated greater evolutionary constraint at range edges. Characteristics of P observed here provide no support for constraint contributing to the formation of these species’ borders, but may instead reflect structural change in P caused by selection or drift, and their potential to evolve in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Julian Caley
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB # 3, Townsville MC, Queensland QLD 4810, Australia.
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Ban NC, Bax NJ, Gjerde KM, Devillers R, Dunn DC, Dunstan PK, Hobday AJ, Maxwell SM, Kaplan DM, Pressey RL, Ardron JA, Game ET, Halpin PN. Systematic Conservation Planning: A Better Recipe for Managing the High Seas for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use. Conserv Lett 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C. Ban
- School of Environmental Studies; University of Victoria; PO Box 3060 STN CSC Victoria BC V8W 3R4 Canada
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Nicholas J. Bax
- CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship; GPO Box 1538 Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Kristina M. Gjerde
- IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme and World Commission on Protected Areas; 28 Rue Mauverney 1196 Gland Switzerland
| | - Rodolphe Devillers
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Department of Geography; Memorial University of Newfoundland; St. John's, NL A1B 3X9 Canada
| | - Daniel C. Dunn
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab; Duke University; Beaufort NC 28516 USA
| | - Piers K. Dunstan
- CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship; GPO Box 1538 Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Alistair J. Hobday
- CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship; GPO Box 1538 Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Sara M. Maxwell
- Marine Conservation Institute; 4010 Stone Way N, Suite 210 Seattle WA 98103 USA
- Hopkins Marine Station; Stanford University; 120 Oceanview Blvd Pacific Grove CA 93950 USA
| | - David M. Kaplan
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD); UMR 212 EME (IRD/Ifremer/Univ. Montpellier II); Avenue Jean Monnet BP171, 34203 Sète cedex France
| | - Robert L. Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Jeff A. Ardron
- Marine Conservation Institute; 4010 Stone Way N, Suite 210 Seattle WA 98103 USA
- Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies; Berliner Str. 30, 14467 Potsdam Germany
| | - Edward T. Game
- The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Science; South Brisbane QLD 4101 Australia
| | - Patrick N. Halpin
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab; Duke University; Beaufort NC 28516 USA
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Abstract
The outcomes of systematic conservation planning (process of assessing, implementing, and managing conservation areas) are rarely reported or measured formally. A lack of consistent or rigorous evaluation in conservation planning has fueled debate about the extent to which conservation assessment (identification, design, and prioritization of potential conservation areas) ultimately influences actions on the ground. We interviewed staff members of a nongovernmental organization, who were involved in 5 ecoregional assessments across North and South America and the Asia-Pacific region. We conducted 17 semistructured interviews with open and closed questions about the perceived purpose, outputs, and outcomes of the ecoregional assessments in which respondents were involved. Using qualitative data collected from those interviews, we investigated the types and frequency of benefits perceived to have emerged from the ecoregional assessments and explored factors that might facilitate or constrain the flow of benefits. Some benefits reflected the intended purpose of ecoregional assessments. Other benefits included improvements in social interactions, attitudes, and institutional knowledge. Our results suggest the latter types of benefits enable ultimate benefits of assessments, such as guiding investments by institutional partners. Our results also showed a clear divergence between the respondents' expectations and perceived outcomes of implementation of conservation actions arising from ecoregional assessments. Our findings suggest the need for both a broader perspective on the contribution of assessments to planning goals and further evaluation of conservation assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine C Bottrill
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia.
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McDonald-Madden E, Baxter PW, Fuller RA, Martin TG, Game ET, Montambault J, Possingham HP. Should we implement monitoring or research for conservation? Trends Ecol Evol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Grantham HS, Game ET, Lombard AT, Hobday AJ, Richardson AJ, Beckley LE, Pressey RL, Huggett JA, Coetzee JC, van der Lingen CD, Petersen SL, Merkle D, Possingham HP. Accommodating dynamic oceanographic processes and pelagic biodiversity in marine conservation planning. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16552. [PMID: 21311757 PMCID: PMC3032775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pelagic ecosystems support a significant and vital component of the ocean's productivity and biodiversity. They are also heavily exploited and, as a result, are the focus of numerous spatial planning initiatives. Over the past decade, there has been increasing enthusiasm for protected areas as a tool for pelagic conservation, however, few have been implemented. Here we demonstrate an approach to plan protected areas that address the physical and biological dynamics typical of the pelagic realm. Specifically, we provide an example of an approach to planning protected areas that integrates pelagic and benthic conservation in the southern Benguela and Agulhas Bank ecosystems off South Africa. Our aim was to represent species of importance to fisheries and species of conservation concern within protected areas. In addition to representation, we ensured that protected areas were designed to consider pelagic dynamics, characterized from time-series data on key oceanographic processes, together with data on the abundance of small pelagic fishes. We found that, to have the highest likelihood of reaching conservation targets, protected area selection should be based on time-specific data rather than data averaged across time. More generally, we argue that innovative methods are needed to conserve ephemeral and dynamic pelagic biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedley S Grantham
- The Ecology Centre and Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
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Lourival R, Drechsler M, Watts ME, Game ET, Possingham HP. Planning for reserve adequacy in dynamic landscapes; maximizing future representation of vegetation communities under flood disturbance in the Pantanal wetland. DIVERS DISTRIB 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00722.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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McDonald-Madden E, Baxter PW, Fuller RA, Martin TG, Game ET, Montambault J, Possingham HP. Monitoring does not always count. Trends Ecol Evol 2010; 25:547-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2010.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2010] [Revised: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Game ET, Lipsett-Moore G, Hamilton R, Peterson N, Kereseka J, Atu W, Watts M, Possingham H. Informed opportunism for conservation planning in the Solomon Islands. Conserv Lett 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263x.2010.00140.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Klein CJ, Ban NC, Halpern BS, Beger M, Game ET, Grantham HS, Green A, Klein TJ, Kininmonth S, Treml E, Wilson K, Possingham HP. Prioritizing land and sea conservation investments to protect coral reefs. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12431. [PMID: 20814570 PMCID: PMC2930002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 07/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coral reefs have exceptional biodiversity, support the livelihoods of millions of people, and are threatened by multiple human activities on land (e.g. farming) and in the sea (e.g. overfishing). Most conservation efforts occur at local scales and, when effective, can increase the resilience of coral reefs to global threats such as climate change (e.g. warming water and ocean acidification). Limited resources for conservation require that we efficiently prioritize where and how to best sustain coral reef ecosystems. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we develop the first prioritization approach that can guide regional-scale conservation investments in land- and sea-based conservation actions that cost-effectively mitigate threats to coral reefs, and apply it to the Coral Triangle, an area of significant global attention and funding. Using information on threats to marine ecosystems, effectiveness of management actions at abating threats, and the management and opportunity costs of actions, we calculate the rate of return on investment in two conservation actions in sixteen ecoregions. We discover that marine conservation almost always trumps terrestrial conservation within any ecoregion, but terrestrial conservation in one ecoregion can be a better investment than marine conservation in another. We show how these results could be used to allocate a limited budget for conservation and compare them to priorities based on individual criteria. Conclusions/Significance Previous prioritization approaches do not consider both land and sea-based threats or the socioeconomic costs of conserving coral reefs. A simple and transparent approach like ours is essential to support effective coral reef conservation decisions in a large and diverse region like the Coral Triangle, but can be applied at any scale and to other marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carissa J Klein
- The Ecology Centre, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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Game ET, Grantham HS, Hobday AJ, Pressey RL, Lombard AT, Beckley LE, Gjerde K, Bustamante R, Possingham HP, Richardson AJ. Pelagic MPAs: The devil you know. Trends Ecol Evol 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2009.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Game ET, Bode M, McDonald-Madden E, Grantham HS, Possingham HP. Dynamic marine protected areas can improve the resilience of coral reef systems. Ecol Lett 2009; 12:1336-46. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01384.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Game ET, Grantham HS, Hobday AJ, Pressey RL, Lombard AT, Beckley LE, Gjerde K, Bustamante R, Possingham HP, Richardson AJ. Pelagic protected areas: the missing dimension in ocean conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2009; 24:360-9. [PMID: 19324450 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2009.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2008] [Revised: 01/23/2009] [Accepted: 01/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Fewer protected areas exist in the pelagic ocean than any other ecosystem on Earth. Although there is increasing support for marine protected areas (MPAs) as a tool for pelagic conservation, there have also been numerous criticisms of the ecological, logistical and economic feasibility of place-based management in the dynamic pelagic environment. Here we argue that recent advances across conservation, oceanography and fisheries science provide the evidence, tools and information to address these criticisms and confirm MPAs as defensible and feasible instruments for pelagic conservation. Debate over the efficacy of protected areas relative to other conservation measures cannot be resolved without further implementation of MPAs in the pelagic ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia.
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Game ET, McDonald-Madden E, Puotinen ML, Possingham HP. Should we protect the strong or the weak? Risk, resilience, and the selection of marine protected areas. Conserv Biol 2008; 22:1619-1629. [PMID: 18759769 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01037.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
It is thought that recovery of marine habitats from uncontrollable disturbance may be faster in marine reserves than in unprotected habitats. But which marine habitats should be protected, those areas at greatest risk or those at least risk? We first defined this problem mathematically for 2 alternate conservation objectives. We then analytically solved this problem for both objectives and determined under which conditions each of the different protection strategies was optimal. If the conservation objective was to maximize the chance of having at least 1 healthy site, then the best strategy was protection of the site at lowest risk. On the other hand, if the goal was to maximize the expected number of healthy sites, the optimal strategy was more complex. If protected sites were likely to spend a significant amount of time in a degraded state, then it was best to protect low-risk sites. Alternatively, if most areas were generally healthy then, counterintuitively, it was best to protect sites at higher risk. We applied these strategies to a situation of cyclone disturbance of coral reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. With regard to the risk of cyclone disturbance, the optimal reef to protect differed dramatically, depending on the expected speed of reef recovery of both protected and unprotected reefs. An adequate consideration of risk is fundamental to all conservation actions and can indicate surprising routes to conservation success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T Game
- The Ecology Centre and Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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Bottrill MC, Joseph LN, Carwardine J, Bode M, Cook C, Game ET, Grantham H, Kark S, Linke S, McDonald-Madden E, Pressey RL, Walker S, Wilson KA, Possingham HP. Is conservation triage just smart decision making? Trends Ecol Evol 2008; 23:649-54. [PMID: 18848367 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2008.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 436] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2008] [Revised: 06/18/2008] [Accepted: 07/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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McDonald-Madden E, Bode M, Game ET, Grantham H, Possingham HP. The need for speed: informed land acquisitions for conservation in a dynamic property market. Ecol Lett 2008; 11:1169-1177. [PMID: 18713271 DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01226.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Land acquisition is a common approach to biodiversity conservation but is typically subject to property availability on the public market. Consequently, conservation plans are often unable to be implemented as intended. When properties come on the market, conservation agencies must make a choice: purchase immediately, often without a detailed knowledge of its biodiversity value; survey the parcel and accept the risk that it may be removed from the market during this process; or not purchase and hope a better parcel comes on the market at a later date. We describe both an optimal method, using stochastic dynamic programming, and a simple rule of thumb for making such decisions. The solutions to this problem illustrate how optimal conservation is necessarily dynamic and requires explicit consideration of both the time period allowed for implementation and the availability of properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve McDonald-Madden
- Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, AustraliaCentre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, Department of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, AustraliaCentre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, Department of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
| | - Edward T Game
- Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, AustraliaCentre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, Department of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
| | - Hedley Grantham
- Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, AustraliaCentre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, Department of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, AustraliaCentre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, Department of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
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Game ET, Watts ME, Wooldridge S, Possingham HP. Planning for persistence in marine reserves: a question of catastrophic importance. Ecol Appl 2008; 18:670-680. [PMID: 18488626 DOI: 10.1890/07-1027.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale catastrophic events, although rare, lie generally beyond the control of local management and can prevent marine reserves from achieving biodiversity outcomes. We formulate a new conservation planning problem that aims to minimize the probability of missing conservation targets as a result of catastrophic events. To illustrate this approach we formulate and solve the problem of minimizing the impact of large-scale coral bleaching events on a reserve system for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. We show that by considering the threat of catastrophic events as part of the reserve design problem it is possible to substantially improve the likely persistence of conservation features within reserve networks for a negligible increase in cost. In the case of the Great Barrier Reef, a 2% increase in overall reserve cost was enough to improve the long-run performance of our reserve network by >60%. Our results also demonstrate that simply aiming to protect the reefs at lowest risk of catastrophic bleaching does not necessarily lead to the best conservation outcomes, and enormous gains in overall persistence can be made by removing the requirement to represent all bioregions in the reserve network. We provide an explicit and well-defined method that allows the probability of catastrophic disturbances to be included in the site selection problem without creating additional conservation targets or imposing arbitrary presence/absence thresholds on existing data. This research has implications for reserve design in a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T Game
- Ecology Centre and Centre for Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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