Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Charles A. Cunningham, Chris D. Thomas, Mike D. Morecroft, Humphrey Q. P. Crick, Colin M. Beale
Summary: Protected Areas (PAs) are important for biodiversity conservation, but the study found that landscapes with low PA coverage were more representative, yet less resilient to landscape-scale pressures. Many species distributions have declined since 1974, with declining and priority species showing similar trends in landscapes containing PAs. Despite the positive impact of PAs on some declining and priority species, landscapes with high PA coverage were more likely to retain priority species and resist colonization by expanding species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexandra S. Gardner, David J. Baker, Jonathan R. Mosedale, Kevin J. Gaston, Ilya M. D. Maclean
Summary: Protected areas (PAs) are essential for global biodiversity conservation. This study examines the impact of the United Kingdom's PA portfolio on local extinctions of breeding birds and considers the influence of different PA designations on conservation outcomes. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of PAs is similar to that of the wider landscape, indicating that PAs may be too small or not adequately managed for biodiversity outcomes. To achieve the ambitious global targets for expanding PA coverage, countries need to monitor and ensure the effectiveness of PAs.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Payal Shah, Kathy Baylis, Jonah Busch, Jens Engelmann
Summary: Over 15% of global terrestrial area is protected, with a goal to increase coverage to 30% by 2030. Evaluation of national PA networks established between 2000 and 2012 shows they reduced deforestation by 72%, with strictly protected PAs performing better. Lower agricultural activity, higher economic growth, and better governance are factors most strongly associated with greater country-level PA effectiveness.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yinqiu Ji, Christopher C. M. Baker, Viorel D. Popescu, Jiaxin Wang, Chunying Wu, Zhengyang Wang, Yuanheng Li, Lin Wang, Chaolang Hua, Zhongxing Yang, Chunyan Yang, Charles C. Y. Xu, Alex Diana, Qingzhong Wen, Naomi E. Pierce, Douglas W. Yu
Summary: This study estimated the distribution of vertebrates in the Ailaoshan reserve in China using environmental DNA from leeches. The researchers found that species richness is related to elevation and distance to the reserve edge.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lynda Donaldson, Jonathan J. Bennie, Robert J. Wilson, Ilya M. D. Maclean
Summary: Research suggests that prioritizing protected area networks is an effective way to conserve multiple species. Prioritizing habitat quality achieves the highest levels of persistence and population size for individual species, while considering habitat connectivity is the most effective strategy to conserve multiple species in the same network.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rosalie Champagne-Cote, Jean-Michel Beaudoin, Louis Belanger, Marc St-Onge, Hugo Asselin, Pauline Suffice
Summary: Conservation initiatives led by Indigenous peoples are gaining momentum globally, including in Canada. This study evaluated the Akumunan Biodiversity Reserve in Quebec, focusing on the approach of the Essipit Innu First Nation (EIFN) Band Council, their vision for the reserve, and the role they want to play in its governance. The study identified various challenges faced by EIFN, such as administrative hurdles, cultural differences, lack of funding, and disregard for the Indigenous people's connection to the land. The findings highlight the importance of respecting the vision of EIFN, which includes the continuation of traditional activities in protected areas.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anne Boothroyd, Vanessa Adams, Karen Alexander, Nicole Hill
Summary: Establishing representative Marine Protected Area networks is crucial for conserving marine biodiversity. This study shows that a bioregional planning approach can protect representative environments in the Southern Ocean, but it requires political will to adapt existing protected areas.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Carlos Carroll, Justina C. Ray
Summary: Global commitments to expand protected areas should prioritize protecting climate refugia and ecosystems that store high levels of unrecoverable carbon as effective responses to biodiversity loss and climate change. Despite being responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, the US and Canada have initiated processes for expanding protected areas and recognizing nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation. Coordinated national and regional policies are needed to ensure that new protected areas maximize biodiversity-focused adaptation and nature-based mitigation opportunities.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emin Zeki Baskent
Summary: This paper evaluates the protected area management plans for three protected areas in Turkey and proposes improvements. The assessment shows that the plans are comprehensive and reputable, but also have some limitations. Suggestions for improvement include effective protection and expansion of steppe ecosystems, long-term strategic planning and scenario analysis, active involvement of stakeholders, and resolution of property issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Azadeh Karimi, Hossein Yazdandad, April E. Reside
Summary: In order to achieve Iran's goal of increasing the protected area coverage from 11% to 20%, we used a systematic conservation planning approach to identify areas that complement existing protected areas. Through the use of distribution maps and four different methods of weighting species and locations, we found that certain regions in Iran consistently ranked as important for conservation. Protecting 20% of the country's land area, as constrained by existing protected areas, would effectively conserve biodiversity in the majority of their distribution.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Heitor Schulz Macedo, Rodrigo Pereira Medeiros
Summary: This paper analyses the governance of the Environmental Protected Area of Anhatomirim in southern Brazil, finding that the 2013 management plan brought significant improvements and better incentives for stakeholders. However, the lack of inter-institutional and cross-scale connections remains a major weakness in achieving conservation objectives.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jule Marie Huber, Jens Newig, Jacqueline Loos
Summary: Protected areas are crucial for conserving ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide. To improve environmental equality and outcomes, involving local stakeholders in decision-making processes is important. A systematic literature review of 52 empirical case studies shows that genuine devolution of power, diverse actor involvement, long-term external support, and devolution of rights are linked to the success of protected areas. These findings provide evidence for designing more effective participatory conservation interventions that benefit both biodiversity and human well-being.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katharina Teschke, Rebecca Konijnenberg, Hendrik Pehlke, Thomas Brey
Summary: This study compares different reserve configurations used in the process of designing a Weddell Sea MPA in Antarctica using univariate and multivariate statistics. The results show that different target level settings for conservation features significantly affect the configuration of the solutions. The mixed-target scenario was found to be the most flexible and well balanced, providing multiple options for consideration.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Arash Ghoddousi, Jacqueline Loos, Tobias Kuemmerle
Summary: The study recommends using the term "effectiveness" solely for assessing outcomes of protected areas and proposes a multidimensional conceptual framework to evaluate effectiveness along ecological, social, and social-ecological dimensions. By evaluating effectiveness indicators against contextual and management elements, comparability across protected areas can be improved to ensure they make real contributions towards conservation and sustainability goals.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chris Brown, Gabby N. Ahmadia, Dominic A. Andradi-Brown, Nur Arafeh-Dalmau, Christina A. Buelow, Max D. Campbell, Graham J. Edgar, Jonas Geldmann, David Gill, Rick D. Stuart-Smith
Summary: Well-resourced marine protected areas (MPA) are better managed and achieve improved ecological outcomes. This study investigates whether fees charged for entry into MPAs are associated with enhanced fish biomass and the effectiveness of MPA management. The findings suggest that entry fees are linked to greater fish biomass, particularly in MPAs with lower scores for management effectiveness. Additionally, the study indicates that entry fees contribute to budget security and staff capacity for critical management activities in MPAs.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Miquel Torrents-Tico, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Daniel Burgas, Mar Cabeza
Summary: This study compared abundance and trend proxies of threatened carnivores in northern Kenya derived from scientific knowledge and Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK), finding convergences highlighting the need for conservation action and divergences suggesting limitations in scientific ecological sampling or underlying socio-psychological phenomena. Overall, combining scientific knowledge and ILK can enrich understanding of carnivore status and trends, as well as human-carnivore relationships.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Adria Lopez-Baucells, Paul M. Velazco, Arun Gyawali, Ricardo Rocha, Julien Terraube, Mar Cabeza
Summary: This study reveals the potential role of Indigenous Peoples in Amazonian bat conservation and emphasizes the contribution of their stewardship for maintaining the ecosystems in which some of the most rare and unique bat species are found.
PERSPECTIVES IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Irene Conenna, Luca Santini, Ricardo Rocha, Ara Monadjem, Mar Cabeza, Danilo Russo
Summary: The study found that bats exhibit changes in functional traits such as wing morphology, echolocation, and body size along a global aridity gradient, suggesting that traits favoring mobility and larger body size are advantageous in arid environments.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Ricardo Rocha, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Adria Lopez-Baucells, Santatra F. M. Andriamitandrina, Zo Emmanuel Andriatafika, Eric Marcel Temba, Laura Torrent, Daniel Burgas, Mar Cabeza
Summary: The study in rural Madagascar revealed different perceptions and attitudes towards bats, with most considering bats not dangerous but some expressing concerns over disease transmission and discomfort associated with bat roosts. A portion of respondents reported consuming bats or using bat guano as fertilizer, while cultural taboos restricting hunting and consumption of bats were also acknowledged. The findings highlight the complex social-ecological dynamics of human-bat relationships and offer insights for conservation strategies in similar communities across humid tropics.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Teemu Koskimaki, Johanna Eklund, Gabriel M. Moulatlet, Hanna Tuomisto
Summary: Protecting tropical forests from deforestation is crucial to mitigate biodiversity loss and human-induced climate change. A study in Acre, Brazil, found that individual protected areas varied significantly in their impacts, pressures, and emissions, emphasizing the need for more research comparing multiple protected areas at the individual level in the Amazon and beyond.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aina Brias-Guinart, Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki, Mar Cabeza
Summary: Education plays a crucial role in enhancing human-environment relationships in conservation efforts. This research conducted interviews with practitioners from 15 conservation organizations in Madagascar to explore the assumptions and pathways of change associated with education. The findings reveal that education can drive change through increasing knowledge, emotional connections, cultural practices, leadership development, outcome diversification, and community and societal influence.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Abolfazl Sharifian, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Hussein T. Wario, Zsolt Molnar, Mar Cabeza
Summary: Traditional ecological knowledge plays a crucial role in enabling pastoralists to cope with social-ecological changes. However, there is limited research on the extent and dynamics of pastoral traditional ecological knowledge at a global level. The existing literature focuses mainly on knowledge erosion, while knowledge retention, adaptation, and hybridization are understudied. Factors such as social-cultural changes, formal education, abandonment of pastoral activities, and transition to a market economy are reported as the main drivers of knowledge transition.
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Andre Braga Junqueira, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Miquel Torrents-Tico, Paul Lokono Haira, Job Guol Nasak, Daniel Burgas, Sara Fraixedas, Mar Cabeza, Victoria Reyes-Garcia
Summary: The fast and widespread environmental changes are disproportionately impacting Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, especially those reliant on water resources. The Daasanach people's local perceptions highlight the synergistic effects of climate change and infrastructure projects on water resources, leading to cascading impacts on biophysical elements and local livelihoods. Local Ecological Knowledge plays a crucial role in enhancing understanding of complex social-ecological issues and should be considered in governance to address the impacts of environmental change.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Strona, Pieter S. A. Beck, Mar Cabeza, Simone Fattorini, Francois Guilhaumon, Fiorenza Micheli, Simone Montano, Otso Ovaskainen, Serge Planes, Joseph A. Veech, Valeriano Parravicini
Summary: Remote areas may be safe havens for biodiversity due to reduced local extinction risk, but isolation and reduced anthropogenic disturbance can increase vulnerability to diversity loss. Therefore, even remote areas are not safe for biodiversity, highlighting the importance of reconsidering global conservation priorities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Johanna Eklund, Julia P. G. Jones, Matti Rasanen, Jonas Geldmann, Ari-Pekka Jokinen, Adam Pellegrini, Domoina Rakotobe, O. Sarobidy Rakotonarivo, Tuuli Toivonen, Andrew Balmford
Summary: There is little quantitative evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the extinction crisis. This study in Madagascar shows that the suspension of on-site protected-area management due to the pandemic corresponded with an increase in fires inside protected areas.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Julia Patricia Gordon Jones, Megan Barnes, Johanna Eklund, Paul J. Ferraro, Jonas Geldmann, Johan A. Oldekop, Judith Schleicher
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, Johanna Eklund, Nikolas Merten, Jeremy Brooks, Daniel C. Miller
Summary: Understanding which conservation interventions work to improve biodiversity outcomes and in what circumstances is crucial. Experimental and quasi-experimental methods are commonly used to establish causal inference, but they have limitations in providing insights into the implementation of interventions for improved biodiversity outcomes. This article introduces 5 qualitative attribution methods that can fill this gap, including contribution analysis, process tracing, realist evaluation, qualitative comparative analysis, and most significant change. Through a case study of community conservancies in Namibia, the article demonstrates how these methods can advance knowledge of effective interventions in biodiversity conservation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Miquel Torrents-Tico, Femke Broekhuis, Daniel Burgas, Mar Cabeza, Emmanuel Miliko, Thomas Titiay Komoi, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares
Summary: Living alongside carnivores can have both positive and negative outcomes. Positive outcomes can promote coexistence, while negative relations can lead to the killing of carnivores and undermine their conservation efforts. Market-based instruments for carnivore conservation have mixed effectiveness and potential consequences, as seen in two pastoral systems in Kenya. Understanding the opportunities and pitfalls of these instruments is crucial for maintaining positive human-carnivore relations.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Harriet Downey, Tatsuya Amano, Marc Cadotte, Carly N. Cook, Steven J. Cooke, Neal R. Haddaway, Julia P. G. Jones, Nick Littlewood, Jessica C. Walsh, Mark Abrahams, Gilbert Adum, Munemitsu Akasaka, Jose A. Alves, Rachael E. Antwis, Eduardo C. Arellano, Jan Axmacher, Holly Barclay, Lesley Batty, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Joseph R. Bennett, Maureen J. Berg, Sandro Bertolino, Duan Biggs, Friederike C. Bolam, Tim Bray, Barry W. Brook, Joseph W. Bull, Zuzana Burivalova, Mar Cabeza, Alienor L. M. Chauvenet, Alec P. Christie, Lorna Cole, Alison J. Cotton, Sam Cotton, Sara A. O. Cousins, Dylan Craven, Will Cresswell, Jeremy J. Cusack, Sarah E. Dalrymple, Zoe G. Davies, Anita Diaz, Jennifer A. Dodd, Adam Felton, Erica Fleishman, Charlie J. Gardner, Ruth Garside, Arash Ghoddousi, James J. Gilroy, David A. Gill, Jennifer A. Gill, Louise Glew, Matthew J. Grainger, Amelia A. Grass, Stephanie Greshon, Jamie Gundry, Tom Hart, Charlotte R. Hopkins, Caroline Howe, Arlyne Johnson, Kelly W. Jones, Neil R. Jordan, Taku Kadoya, Daphne Kerhoas, Julia Koricheva, Tien Ming Lee, Szabolcs Lengyel, Stuart W. Livingstone, Ashley Lyons, Grainne McCabe, Jonathan Millett, Chloe Montes Strevens, Adam Moolna, Hannah L. Mossman, Nibedita Mukherjee, Andres Munoz-Saez, Nuno Negroes, Olivia Norfolk, Takeshi Osawa, Sarah Papworth, Kirsty J. Park, Jerome Pellet, Andrea D. Phillott, Joshua M. Plotnik, Dolly Priatna, Alejandra G. Ramos, Nicola Randall, Rob M. Richards, Euan G. Ritchie, David L. Roberts, Ricardo Rocha, Jon Paul Rodriguez, Roy Sanderson, Takehiro Sasaki, Sini Savilaakso, Carl Sayer, Cagan Sekercioglu, Masayuki Senzaki, Grania Smith, Robert J. Smith, Masashi Soga, Carl D. Soulsbury, Mark D. Steer, Gavin Stewart, E. F. Strange, Andrew J. Suggitt, Ralph R. J. Thompson, Stewart Thompson, Ian Thornhill, R. J. Trevelyan, Hope O. Usieta, Oscar Venter, Amanda D. Webber, Rachel L. White, Mark J. Whittingham, Andrew Wilby, Richard W. Yarnell, Veronica Zamora, William J. Sutherland
Summary: The next generation of conservation practitioners and managers need to be critical thinkers with a deep understanding of evidence-based decision-making and synthesis. Providing online teaching materials in multiple languages can improve global understanding across different subject areas.
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pablo Manzano, Daniel Burgas, Luis Cadahia, Jussi T. Eronen, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Slimane Bencherif, Oystein Holand, Oula Seitsonen, Bayarmaa Byambaa, Mikael Fortelius, Maria E. Fernandez-Gimenez, Kathleen A. Galvin, Mar Cabeza, Nils Chr Stenseth
Summary: The article proposes a transdisciplinary research approach to understand pastoralist transitions using social, economic, and environmental dimensions, diverse geographic contexts and scales, and timescales from the distant past to the present. Developing indicators within a social-ecological resilience analytical framework helps improve understanding of system transitions and supports better-informed decision making. The need for a paradigm shift in pastoralism science and policy is urgent, and the research approach, including participatory methods, can provide the necessary solutions.
