Abstract
Connectivity of protected areas (PAs) is needed to ensure the long-term persistence of biodiversity and ecosystem service delivery. The Convention on Biological Diversity agreed in 2010 to have 17% of land covered by well-connected PA systems by 2020 (Aichi Target 11). We here globally assess, for all countries, the trends in terrestrial PA connectivity every other year from 2010 to 2018 using the ProtConn indicator, which quantifies how well the PA systems are designed to support connectivity. The percentage of protected connected land (ProtConn) has increased globally from 6.5% in 2010 to 7.7% in 2018. Oceania experienced the largest recent increase in PA connectivity, whereas Asia is the only content with a lower ProtConn in 2018 than in 2010. Globally, the relative increase in the percentage of protected connected land (ProtConn) is nearly twice that of the percentage of land under protection (PA coverage), due to clear improvements in the design of PA systems for connectivity in many regions. The connectivity of the PA networks has become more dependent on the permeability of the unprotected landscape matrix in between PAs and on the coordinated management of adjacent PAs with different designations and of transboundary PA linkages. The relatively slow recent increase in PA connectivity globally (2016–2018) raises doubt as to whether connectivity targets will be met by 2020, and suggests that considerable further action is required to promote better-connected PA systems globally, including the expansion of the PA systems to cover key areas for connectivity in many countries and regions.
Highlights
Protected areas (PAs) need to be connected to meet their conservation goals (Ervin et al, 2010; Magris et al, 2018; UNEP-WCMC et al, 2018; UNEP, 2019)
Asia was the only continent with a lower ProtConn in 2018 than in 2010 (Fig. 1), which was largely due to protected areas (PAs) degazettement in Western Asia (Fig. B.3)
The higher gains in PA connectivity (ProtConn) than in the area under protection suggest that newly declared PAs have been able to play a significant role as corridors or stepping stones between existing PAs
Summary
Protected areas (PAs) need to be connected to meet their conservation goals (Ervin et al, 2010; Magris et al, 2018; UNEP-WCMC et al, 2018; UNEP, 2019). Species in isolated PAs suffer from the risks of inbreeding, extinction debt and reduced opportunities to adapt to climate change, all of which negatively impact species and genetic diversity, ecosystem health, and the longterm persistence of the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by PAs (Newmark, 1996; DeFries et al, 2005; Heller and Zavaleta, 2009; Krosby et al, 2010; UNEP, 2019) This is well recognized in biodiversity and sustainability strategies and related targets at multiple levels (from local to global), such as the Aichi Targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 2010). Saura et al (2018) provided the first assessment of global progress towards Aichi Target 11 element on well-connected terrestrial PA systems, using the Protected Connected (ProtConn) indicator. The temporal trends in PA connectivity since the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity was adopted in 2010 have not been assessed at global, regional and national levels, limiting the ability to measure the rate of progress towards Aichi Target 11
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