New policy directions for global pond conservation

Matthew J Hill,Nisikawa Usio,Noriko Takamura,Paul J Wood,Beat Oertli,Belinda J Robson,Christopher Hassall,Jeremy Biggs,Lenore Fahrig,Michael J Samways,Jagdish Krishnaswamy

doi:10.1111/conl.12447

Abstract

AbstractDespite the existence of well‐established international environmental and nature conservation policies (e.g., the Ramsar Convention and Convention on Biological Diversity) ponds are largely missing from national and international legislation and policy frameworks. Ponds are among the most biodiverse and ecologically important freshwater habitats, and their value lies not only in individual ponds, but more importantly, in networks of ponds (pondscapes). Ponds make an important contribution to society through the ecosystem services they provide, with effective conservation of pondscapes essential to ensuring that these services are maintained. Implementation of current pond conservation through individual site designations does not function at the landscape scale, where ponds contribute most to biodiversity. Conservation and management of pondscapes should complement current national and international nature conservation and water policy/legislation, as pondscapes can provide species protection in landscapes where large‐scale traditional conservation areas cannot be established (e.g., urban or agricultural landscapes). We propose practical steps for the effective incorporation or enhancement of ponds within five policy areas: through open water sustainable urban drainage systems in urban planning, increased incentives in agrienvironment schemes, curriculum inclusion in education, emphasis on ecological scale in mitigation measures following anthropogenic developments, and the inclusion of pondscapes in conservation policy.

Highlights

INTRODUCTIONLongstanding international environmental and nature conservation policies (such as the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the European Water Framework Directive [WFD]) are important for protecting species and habitats, in the face of growing anthropogenic pressures (Dudgeon et al, 2006)
Longstanding international environmental and nature conservation policies are important for protecting species and habitats, in the face of growing anthropogenic pressures (Dudgeon et al, 2006)
The significant contribution of pondscapes to local and regional aquatic biodiversity can be attributed to: (1) the small catchments of individual ponds, resulting in idiosyncratic environmental conditions and habitat complexity, leading to landscape scale habitat heterogeneity (Davies et al, 2008b), (2) the value of anthropogenic ponds for increasing the area of freshwater habitat available for wildlife, and (3) the provision of refuge habitats for aquatic communities, especially where natural wetlands have been largely converted into farm ponds or paddy fields (Chester & Robson, 2013; Takamura, 2012)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Longstanding international environmental and nature conservation policies (such as the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the European Water Framework Directive [WFD]) are important for protecting species and habitats, in the face of growing anthropogenic pressures (Dudgeon et al, 2006). There has been a significant increase in recognition of the importance of ponds and pondscapes to biodiversity and ecosystem services by scientific and nonscientific communities. These small waterbodies remain largely outside the remit of international, and in many cases national, conservation and environmental legislation

CURRENT CONSERVATION STATUS OF PONDS

Patch-network conservation

Monitoring ecological condition

POLICY-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION