Management plans for Protected Areas in Brazil reveal similarity between specific objectives and mammals as the main focus of conservation

Abstract

Protected Areas, including conservation units (UCs), are among the main strategies for maintaining biodiversity worldwide. Their management plans are an essential instrument for the suitable functioning of these areas. In this context, the present study analyses the Brazilian management plans to identify differences between their goals, and to investigate target biological groups for conservation. We identified 2544 Protected Areas in Brazil, of which only 496 (19.5%) have management plans. However, only 62% of these management plans (307) were fully available. The category with the fewest management plans is the Wildlife Refuge (only 5.95% of the Protected Areas with management plans) and the least represented biome, in terms of a number of management plans, is the Caatinga one, with 10.35% of Protected Areas with management plans. Among the categories of UCs, the Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) stands out, with 85 units with management plan. This category is among the most recently established UCs, and also presents most updated plans. There were no differences in the specific goals by category of UC and by biome between Protected Areas with management plans. Mammals and birds were the main umbrella species, sheltering the high diversity of species. Therefore, we have identified that only 20% of the UCs in Brazil have management plans. In relation to UCs without management plans, even if their main goals are ecological and have mammals as focal species, which globally present positive results as umbrella species, it is necessary to update the management plans periodically.