Abstract
This study examines whether there is a biodiversity benefit (“dividend”) associated with the existence and management of conservation reserves in the extensive and largely natural landscape of northern Australia. Species richness and abundance of vertebrate fauna and the intensity of a range of disturbance factors were compared across a set of 967 sampled quadrats, located either in pastoral lands, Indigenous lands or conservation reserves, with all sampled quadrats within a single vegetation type (open forests and savannah woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus miniata and/or E. tetrodonta). The relationships with land tenure varied between major taxonomic groups, but generally (and particularly for threatened species) values were highest for conservation reserves. This “biodiversity dividend” associated with conservation reserves is considered to be due to the effects of management rather than because conservation reserves were established on lands supporting atypically high conservation values. The impact of weeds and (unsurprisingly) livestock was greatest on pastoral lands, and pig impact was greatest in conservation reserves. Although pastoral and Indigenous lands supported lower biodiversity tallies than reserved lands, the conservation values of reserved lands in this region are probably substantially supported by the maintenance of relatively intact ecological systems across all lands.
Highlights
Across much of the world, land tenure markedly delineates and influences biodiversity conservation values, typically with residual intact biotic communities most persistent in conservation reserves, whereas lands of contrasting use and tenure have biotic communities of substantially modified composition
In landscapes characterised by far less transformation, such as much of the world’s tropical savannahs, other land tenure types may make a contribution to biodiversity conservation that more nearly equals that provided by conservation reserves
The exceptions were for mammal richness and amphibian richness, both of which were marginally higher in pastoral lands than in conservation reserves (Figure 2)
Summary
Across much of the world, land tenure markedly delineates and influences biodiversity conservation values, typically with residual intact biotic communities most persistent in conservation reserves, whereas lands of contrasting use and tenure have biotic communities of substantially modified composition. In landscapes characterised by far less transformation, such as much of the world’s tropical savannahs, other land tenure types may make a contribution to biodiversity conservation that more nearly equals (and/or provides a necessary buffer and complement to) that provided by conservation reserves. Notwithstanding their recognised or assumed significance for biodiversity conservation and some obligation to demonstrate that reserve management investments produce conservation outcomes, there has been relatively little systematic consideration of the effectiveness of reserves compared with lands of other tenures [2,3,4,5,6]. The most substantial supportive study [9] may be an insecure basis for such a claim, given that it focused on one relatively small area and lacked controlled comparison with lands subjected to contrasting management
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
