Advances in conservation biogeography: towards protected area effectiveness under anthropogenic threats

Samuel Hoffmann

doi:10.21425/f5fbg49679

Abstract

This study endorses the main findings of a PhD thesis (Hoffmann 2020) and the manuscripts included intend to advance the success of protected areas in biodiversity conservation mediated through effective and efficient protected area management. The manuscripts provide missing scientific evaluations that modern conservation planning over large geographical extents requires: the comprehensive quantification of species diversity within and between protected areas; the development and application of efficient and effective in-situ monitoring and remote sensing of species diversity; and the assessment of anthropogenic climate change threats to protected areas. Moreover, the manuscripts aim at spreading conservation-minded data and knowledge by means of publishing open-access papers, open-source software and open data. This thesis synopsis is to stimulate a growing scientific and public debate on the effectiveness of protected areas and nature conservation under anthropogenic threats, which is necessary to stop nature’s decline and thus guarantee a sustainable future for the welfare of generations to come.

Highlights

I focus on biodiversity conservation from the species to the biome level via terrestrial protected areas, which is increasingly challenged by human land use and anthropogenic climate change
The manuscripts here assessed provide missing scientific evaluations that are advantageous to effective and efficient conservation planning over large geographical extents: the comprehensive quantification of species diversity within and between protected areas; the development and application of efficient and effective in-situ monitoring and remote sensing of species diversity; and the assessment of anthropogenic climate change threats to protected areas
We show that individual protected areas significantly vary in their species diversity, which is often not associated with protected area size (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Effective protected area management requires up-to-date information about states and trends of biodiversity and threats, and efficient tools to monitor them. I provide information about species diversity within and between protected areas of a continental estate, and about multiple dimensions of climate change threat to protected areas worldwide. I focus on biodiversity conservation from the species to the biome level via terrestrial protected areas, which is increasingly challenged by human land use and anthropogenic climate change.

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Results

Conclusion