A small subset of protected areas are a highly significant source of carbon emissions

Murray B. Collins,Edward T. A. Mitchard

doi:10.1038/srep41902

Abstract

Protected areas (PAs) aim to protect multiple ecosystem services. However, not all are well protected. For the first time, using published carbon and forest loss maps, we estimate carbon emissions in large forest PAs in tropical countries (N = 2018). We found 36 ± 16 Pg C stored in PA trees, representing 14.5% of all tropical forest biomass carbon. However the PAs lost forest at a mean rate of 0.18% yr−1 from 2000–2012. Lower protection status areas experienced higher forest losses (e.g. 0.39% yr−1 in IUCN cat III), yet even highest status areas lost 0.13% yr−1 (IUCN Cat I). Emissions were not evenly distributed: 80% of emissions derived from 8.3% of PAs (112 ± 49.5 Tg CO2 yr−1; n = 171). Unsurprisingly the largest emissions derived from PAs that started with the greatest total forest area; accounting for starting forest area and relating that to carbon lost using a linear model (r2 = 0.41), we found 1.1% outlying PAs (residuals >2σ; N = 23), representing 1.3% of the total PA forest area, yet causing 27.3% of all PA emissions. These results suggest PAs have been a successful means of protecting biomass carbon, yet a subset causing a disproportionately high share of emissions should be an urgent priority for management interventions.

Highlights

‘Category Ib protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, Ib Wilderness retaining their natural character and influence without permanent or significant
This served as a visual verification from the raw datasets that such huge forest losses were occurring within the borders of the protected areas
We have provided the first estimate of carbon emissions from deforestation in protected areas across Non-Annex I countries, finding significant carbon emissions based on estimates of gross forest loss in the 21st century

Summary

Introduction

‘Category Ib protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, Ib Wilderness retaining their natural character and influence without permanent or significant. III Natural Monument or Feature ‘Category III protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a cave or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value’. V Protected Landscape an area of distinct character with significant, ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value: and where safeguarding the integrity of this interaction is vital to protecting and

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion