Biodiversity Conservation Measures Research Articles

Мониторинг интродукционных ресурсов Кулундинского дендрария и выделение ценного генофонда для защитного лесоразведения

On the example of the Kulunda arboretum the materials of monitoring of introduction resources of trees and bushes are given. The success of their introduction into the culture of protective afforestation is based on a detailed study of ecological and biological features, the experience of introduction in new conditions. Due to the increased anthropogenic load in recent years, the range of woody plants used in the protective forest plantations of arid areas requires updating. The problem statement includes the allocation of a valuable gene pool for the creation of seed bases and the cultivation of adapted planting material. It is shown that in the conditions of the Kulunda steppe the introduced species in the protective afforestation are not widely used yet, the range of tree species is poor (Betula pendula Roth., Populus balsamifera L., Pinus sylvestris L., Larix sibirica Ledeb., Salix fragilis L.). Accompanying woody plants are presented by Acer negundo L., Malus pallasiana Juz., Ulmus pumila L. Other tree species are used in protective afforestation on a limited scale. The purpose of the evaluation introduction the sustainability of the gene pool of Salted arboretum on the basis of a comprehensive monitoring and study their biological features under conditions of Kulundinskaya steppe for protective afforestation. Kulundinsky arboretum was established in 1977, it is located on the territory of the West Siberian agroforestry experimental station (plot 49098 m2, cadastral number 22:23:010003:0014). Type of soil – chestnut, light-loamy. The main reserves of humus are concentrated in the upper horizon and with a depth decrease from 2.7 to 0.6%, the depth of groundwater 5-6 m. It was revealed that the species composition of trees and shrubs of the Kulundinsky arboretum includes 143 taxa from 52 genera and 25 families. Among the economically valuable generic complexes are representatives of the family Rosaceae. It is established that the representatives of the family Rosaceae, as an introduction resource for the enrichment of forest reclamation complexes and the formation of comfortable living conditions of the population, is one of the largest in taxonomic composition of wood species and important for multifunctional use. Methodical approaches to carrying out monitoring of introduction of resources, the proposed method of calculation introduction the resistance of plants to new conditions including the characteristics group (winter hardiness, drought tolerance, pobegoobrazovatelnost ability, growth in height, generative development, possible method of propagation in culture) and the ratio of collection Fund on indicators and the dimensions of the scales. Materials on monitoring of introduction resources of the Kulundinsky arboretum of the Federal CENTER of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences on assessment of the adapted gene pool for protective afforestation will be used to develop measures for biodiversity conservation and rational use of economically valuable plants; based on the data obtained, promising species for the enrichment of protective forest plantations of the kulundin steppe were selected.

Understanding the impacts of human resettlement and projected land use dynamics in Chimanimani district of Zimbabwe

Land cover change has been identified as a major driver of global environmental change. In agricultural landscapes that are undergoing land cover conversions, there is need to investigate the nature, extent and pattern of these conversions. This helps to assess the resultant forest cover changes and their consequences, as well as to help inform sustainable biodiversity conservation measures. This study tests whether and in what way agricultural expansion drives land cover change in resettled landscapes of Zimbabwe now and in the future. Classified Landsat Thematic Mapper images of 2000, 2009, and Landsat 8 image of 2013 were analyzed, using the widely used Markov modelling framework, to determine land use and land cover changes between the year 2000 and 2013, as well as future land cover dynamics in the area of interest. Specifically, land cover data was used to simulate land cover transitions up to 2050, using Markov chain model. Historic land cover modelling and future spatial predictions revealed increases in cropland accompanied by decreases in plantation and forests. This study concludes that agriculture is a major driver of land cover changes, especially forest cover changes in newly resettled agricultural landscapes.

Disentangling Distance and Country Effects on the Value of Conservation across National Borders

Coordination of conservation policies and conservation actions between countries is expected to reduce overall costs and increase effectiveness. It rests on the assumption that, as a global public good, the provision of biodiversity conservation is independent of geographical and political jurisdictions. However, from a welfare economic perspective this assumption requires testing and justification. Indeed, distance may matter, as may the country of provision. This study applies a choice experiment to estimate individuals' marginal willingness to pay for comparable biodiversity conservation measures and outcomes across country borders, and with different distances from their place of residence to conservation locations in Denmark and in Southern Sweden. The case is designed to distinguish the effect of distance from the effect of country of residence versus country of provision. We find a clear and distinguishable effect of both location and country of provision. We find distance-related attributes to reflect bridge tolls and per-kilometre transport costs, and Swedes and Danes to prefer provision in their own country, over provision in the neighbouring country. The results of this study may be useful in discussing cooperation on regional and even global biodiversity conservation efforts.

Marine Technology Transfer under a BBNJ Treaty: A Case for Transnational Network Cooperation

Our ability to protect and sustainably use the high seas is ultimately subject to our ability to understand this vast and remote environment. The success of an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) will depend, in part, on utilizing technology to access ocean life, to analyze it, and to implement measures for its conservation and sustainable use. Indeed, technology, broadly defined, is integral to meeting the ILBI's objectives: not just the mandate to address “capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology,” but also the sustainable use and conservation of marine genetic resources, the implementation of environmental impact assessments, and biodiversity conservation measures such as area-based management tools. To maximize marine technology deployment to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, transferring technology to developing countries will be critical. Provisions for the transfer of technology, generally from developed to developing countries, are included in many international environmental agreements and declarations, but these provisions have often proven difficult to implement. Part of the difficulty is that the relevant technology is dispersed among states; universities, research institutes and other nonstate actors; and private industry. The particular challenge in crafting an ILBI is, as the European Union has identified, to avoid repeating existing provisions and instead to “focus on added value.” One opportunity for an ILBI to add value on technology transfer is to further develop a network model to facilitate marine technology transfer.

Implementation of Forest Policy in Greece in Relation to Biodiversity and Climate Change

This is a review article based on literature (national and international) and empirical approach. A general overview on research priority areas on biodiversity and approaches and tools to provide information for forest policy implementation on biodiversity are briefly summarized. Challenges for biodiversity research and related policy in Europe and Greece are depicted. General information on forests, protected areas and forest management in Greece is also presented. Major actions and measures for conservation of forest biodiversity in Greece are described and analysed. The implementation of forest policy in Greece (including the adoption of International constitutional frame) in relation to biodiversity protection and climate change is also analysed. Priorities identified by the Strategic Plan of Rural Development 2007-2013 in Greece in order to adapt to climate change, are also presented. Furthermore, the National institutional framework (Legislation) and strategic targets for biodiversity conservation in Greece are synoptically presented. Finally, major conclusions and future challenges are highlighted.

Comparative Assessment of Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation Measures in Indian Smart Cities: A City Biodiversity Index Approach

Comparative Assessment of Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation Measures in Indian Smart Cities: A City Biodiversity Index Approach

Synergies among climate change and biodiversity conservation measures and policies in the forest sector: A case study of Southeast Asian countries

Forest conservation contributes to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity/ecosystem conservation. To enhance the co-benefits of forest conservation, it is important to promote synergies among the three measures—mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity/ecosystem conservation—in the forest sector and eliminate the overlaps among the three measures. However, limited research exists on the analysis of their synergies. This study explores the potential for synergy among the three forest sector measures, utilizing: 1) indicators that assess enabling conditions for synergies among the three measures at the different institutional levels of policies and strategies, institutional arrangements, and financing and programs/projects; and 2) case studies of five countries in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Cambodia.This analysis shows that the five countries all require various changes at different institutional levels in order to enhance their synergy potentials. The findings indicate the importance of national actors, financial mechanisms, programs, and projects in addressing the three measures. In terms of national actors, Thailand has the highest synergy potential due to its national-level committees and a single ministry that addresses all three measures. To enhance their synergy potentials, the other countries need to create national-level committees that address the three measures, and/or they need to enhance collaboration between the various ministries that represent the environment and forestry issues. At the financing and program/project aspects, Vietnam has the highest synergy potential. The other four countries need to develop common national funds that finance the three measures and/or develop joint programs and projects that address the three measures simultaneously.

Patterns of cerambycid beetle species composition in relation to geographic features, climate and/or silvicultural treatments on different scales

Characterising geographic patterns of biodiversity generated by intrinsic distributions of organisms is essential for designing effective biodiversity conservation plans on both the project and sub-national to national scales. Species composition is generally similar within the same types of ecosystems located close to one another, but similarity also depends on the focal organism(s) as well as the scale of the analysis. To facilitate decision-making for environmental compensation projects such as “biodiversity offsets”, we examined whether Japanese ecoregions based on vegetation are correlated with the distribution of cerambycid beetles, using existing cerambycid data collected from Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands in both natural and plantation forests over 1 year in each area. At the national level, the species compositions of beetles were quite distinct in Hokkaido and the Nansei Islands but less so in other areas. The overall pattern of the observed sampling data fit that obtained by previously accumulated local inventories. At the area level (including plantation forests under different management regimes/successional stages and in some cases naturally regenerated mature to old growth forests), no consistent beetle composition patterns were observed, although compositions in natural forests and closed canopy/thinned/old growth plantation forests were sometimes distinct. Therefore, we conclude that when ecoregions are considered during decision-making for “no net-loss or net-gain” biodiversity conservation measures, it is important to examine multiple organisms on various scales using scientific approaches from several perspectives.

Beyond Biodiversity Conservation: Why Policy Needs Social Theory, Social Theory Needs Justice, and Justice Needs Policy

Beyond Biodiversity Conservation: Why Policy Needs Social Theory, Social Theory Needs Justice, and Justice Needs Policy

The cost-effective length of contracts for payments to compensate land owners for biodiversity conservation measures

Payments to compensate land owners for land use measures which are beneficial to biodiversity conservation but costly to them have become a prominent policy instrument. A key question in the design of such payment schemes is for how long the land owners shall commit themselves to carry out biodiversity-enhancing land use measures, i.e. the length of contracts. From an ecological perspective, longer contracts seem better as they ensure that an area stays a suitable habitat for a longer time. However, with longer contracts land owners are likely to demand a higher annual compensation payment if they give up for a longer time their right to manage their land in a way they prefer. We analyse with a conceptual ecological-economic model how the cost-effectiveness of short versus long contract lengths depends on different ecological and economic parameters. We demonstrate the practical relevance of the model by applying it to the case of butterfly conservation in a region in Germany. Our results suggest that for the case study a 5-year contract is more cost-effective than a 10-year contract. Overall, we find that when deciding about the contract length economic parameters (for example the budget size where high budgets favour long contract lengths) and ecological parameters (for example species colonisation rates where high rates favour short contract lengths) need to be considered.

Mapping conservation priorities and connectivity pathways under climate change for tropical ecosystems

Climate change and land use conversion are global threats to biodiversity. Protected areas and biological corridors have been historically implemented as biodiversity conservation measures and suggested as tools within planning frameworks to respond to climate change. However, few applications to national protected areas systems considering climate change in tropical countries exist. Our goal is to define new priority areas for biodiversity conservation and biological corridors within an existing protected areas network. We aim at preserving samples of all biodiversity under climate change and facilitate species dispersal to reduce the vulnerability of biodiversity. The analysis was based on a three step strategy: i) protect representative samples of various levels of terrestrial biodiversity across protected area systems given future redistributions under climate change, ii) identify and protect areas with reduced climate velocities where populations could persist for relatively longer periods, and iii) ensure species dispersal between conservation areas through climatic connectivity pathways. The study was integrated into a participatory planning approach for biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica. Results showed that there should be an increase of 11 % and 5 % on new conservation areas and biological corridors respectively. Our approach integrates climate change into the design of a network of protected areas for tropical ecosystems and can be applied to other biodiversity rich areas to reduce the vulnerability of biodiversity to global warming.

A quantitative assessment of policy options for no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the European Union

The Biodiversity Strategy of the European Union includes a target to “ensure no-net-loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2020”. Many policy options can be envisioned to achieve such a no-net-loss target, mainly acting on land use and land management. To assess the effectiveness of such policies at a European Union (EU) scale, we simulated land use changes and their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services indicators. We analysed a Business–as-Usual scenario, and three no-net-loss scenarios. The no-net-loss scenarios included measures that aim to reduce negative impacts of land use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services, by better implementation of existing biodiversity conservation measures (Scenario 1); and enhancement of existing measures (Scenario 2); and offsetting residual impacts on areas of high biodiversity and ecosystem service value (Scenario 3).Results show that none of the scenarios achieved overall no-net-loss. Compared to a Business-as-Usual scenario, the no-net-loss scenarios reduced the overall degree of land cover change at EU level, hence reducing impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services in large parts of the EU. The more comprehensive no-net-loss scenarios resulted in a gain of natural land cover. Moreover, natural areas became better connected, especially in peri-urban areas as a result of impact avoidance and offsetting. Richness of farmland bird species was projected to increase. Measures included in the no-net-loss scenarios had net positive effects on pollination and carbon sequestration, neutral effects on crop production, erosion prevention and flood regulation, and negative effects on nature-based recreation, compared to Business-as-Usual. In particular circumstances policy measures invoked displacement effects in land use allocation, reducing the effectiveness of the measures. This was primarily the case for flood regulation services throughout the EU.This study differentiates the potential effectiveness of a no-net-loss policy framework in three manners: (i) considering biodiversity and ecosystem services simultaneously; (ii) in the light of existing policies and land use pressures; and (iii) in different land use contexts across the EU. Taken together, we conclude that achieving no-net-loss for biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout the EU remains challenging given high land use demands. Nevertheless, in large parts of Europe there appears room for improvement for certain kinds of biodiversity and ecosystem services compared to Business-as-Usual, while still meeting other land use demands.

Environmental predictors of species richness in forest landscapes: abiotic factors versus vegetation structure

AbstractAimTo investigate the performance and relative importance of abiotic and biotic predictors of species richness of three taxa in forest‐dominated landscapes across an environmentally heterogeneous mountain region.LocationSwitzerland (central Europe).MethodsWe used a broad set of nationally available environmental predictors grouped into (1) climate, (2) topography and soil and (3) 3‐D vegetation structure derived from airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to spatially predict the forest species richness of vascular plants, butterflies and breeding birds. We used presence data of 212 plant, 157 butterfly and 92 bird species from multiple transect samples in > 220 1 km2 squares at elevations between 261 and 2123 m a.s.l. across 41,248 km2. We applied an ensemble modelling approach consisting of five modelling techniques and evaluated their predictive performance using the cross‐validated percentage of explained variance of each predictor group separately and the combinations thereof. We investigated the relative importance and response of each predictor and partitioned the variation into independent and shared components per variable group.ResultsClimate performed best in predicting forest species richness across taxa. Vegetation structure particularly improved the predictions of butterfly and bird species richness, while soil pH was an important predictor for forest plant species richness. Climate appeared to be mainly indirectly related to butterfly species richness, via correlations with habitat type and structure. The strength and direction of the relationships between the predictors and species richness were taxon‐specific with low cross‐taxon congruence.Main conclusionsThe growing availability of LiDAR data offers powerful new tools for describing vegetation structure and associated animal habitat quality across large areas. This will further our understanding of niche‐driven assembly processes in forest landscapes. Although climate was the dominant factor controlling species richness across taxa from different trophic levels, the taxon‐specific distributional pattern and response to environmental conditions emphasize the difficulty of accounting for a range of taxa in prioritising biodiversity conservation measures.

Sustainability of Marine Food Resources-An Ecological and Fishery Approach

The present viewpoint summarizes the major threats to the sustainability of marine food resources from an applied ecological and fishery approach. Threats include unsustainable activities related to fisheries, aquaculture, urban and tourism development, marine traffic, introduced and spread of non-native species, other human industrial actions, as well as climate change, invasive alien species, and inadequate policies and legislation. This contribution still aims to identify main key elements concerned in the sustainable use of these resources; six groups are identified: (1) identification of main exploited commercial species, differentiation from other similar resources, and normalization of their common names; (2) ecosystem-based management of coastal ocean waters; (3) biodiversity, taxonomic biogeography and oceanographic forces; (4) responsible fish consumption; (5) ‘‘Mediterranean diet”; (6) fisheries biology studies, mainly with an ecosystem approach. A comparison between most-consumed native fishing products in Spanish Mediterranean and Canary Islands shows high similarity in seafood, putting in evidence the broad presence of the “Mediterranean diet” in both regions. This paper also aims to be a baseline to support and identify ongoing/further measures for conservation of associate biodiversity and main exploited commercial species. Some remarks on fisheries biology studies, as a useful tool for assessment, management and conservation of marine food resources are made; these are related to: regulations of fishing gear and fishing activity; assessments of their impact as well as of the commercial fish stocks potentiality; improvement of the statistical control of fish landings; marine protected areas; application of the ecosystem approach; and awareness of responsible fish consumption.

The Strategy of Use, Protection and Reproduction of Biological Resource Potential of the Black Sea

The forms of international cooperation in the fi eld of use and protection of biological resources of the Black Sea (the second half of the 20th century – early 21st century) is analyzed. It is concluded that now the Black Sea countries do not have the single legal base for exploitation of bioresource potential, including development of fi shery sector of economy, fi shery regulation and enforcement of environmental protection measures for conservation of biodiversity of the Black Sea ecosystem. The characteristics of present (after demise of the Soviet Union) situation in the context of exploitation and protection of biological resources of the Black Sea by fi shery industry of the Russian Federation are given. Some proposals regarding necessary strategy of marine natural resource management in the studied basin for the purpose of sustainable development are formulated. At that, the special attention is paid to development of commercial marine aquaculture.

Divergent effects of forest edges on host distribution and seed disperser activity influence mistletoe distribution and recruitment

Summary Species interactions define functional diversity and community stability across ecosystems, and depend on the spatial distribution, the habitat requirements and the sensitivity to disturbances of all interacting partners. Hence, assessing the effects of such anthropogenic disturbances on multi‐species interactions may be essential to improve adaptation and mitigation measures for biodiversity conservation. We determined the importance of edge effects on the interaction and distribution of three keystone species in South American temperate rain forests: the hemiparasitic mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus, its main host (the liana Campsidium valdivianum) and its only seed disperser (the marsupial Dromiciops gliroides). The discordant impacts of forest edges on host (positive) and seed disperser (negative) affected mistletoe distribution at large spatial scales, owing to the combined effects of increased dispersal limitation and decreased host availability. More importantly, marsupial abundance had contrasting effects on mistletoe abundance at small and large spatial scales – suggesting a potential trade‐off between local and long‐distance dispersal. We found the number of adult mistletoes per host increased with host size, which likely indicates that mistletoe colonization accumulated over the host's lifespan. However, the number of juveniles found per host peaked at medium‐sized hosts, increased with marsupial abundance and host availability and showed a negligible response to edges. Synthesis. The lack of spatial congruence between host and seed disperser probably explains the scarcity of mistletoes in the study area, although the discordant drivers of juvenile and adult distributions suggest that there is a trade‐off between recruitment patterns but also potential dispersal limitation at small scales. In essence, the interdependence amongst species linked by (mutualistic and antagonistic) interactions makes them more sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance, exacerbating its impact on the diversity and functioning of forest ecosystems.

Relative importance of habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales for wood-dependent beetles in boreal forest

Species distributions are influenced by habitat conditions and ecological processes at multiple spatial scales. An understanding of the importance of habitat characteristics at different spatial scales is important when developing biodiversity conservation measures. We investigated the effect of habitat characteristics or amount at three spatial scales on the occurrence of saproxylic (=dead wood-dependent) beetles. Saproxylic beetles were sampled under the bark of dead wood in a managed forest landscape in central Sweden. We modelled the occurrence probability in dead wood items of 44 species (all species occurring in >2 % of the items), based on dead wood item characteristics, forest stand characteristics, and habitat connectivity (i.e. area of potentially suitable forest stands in the surrounding of each stand), using hierarchical Bayesian regression. For the majority of species, dead wood item characteristics (especially tree species and whether standing or downed) were more important than measured stand characteristics and habitat connectivity. Whether the stands were clear-cuts, mature forests, or reserves affected some species, whereas the stand-level amount of dead wood per hectare was not important for any species. Habitat connectivity improved the occurrence models for about a half of the species, but there were both positive and negative relationships, and they were generally weak. Forest management should include creation and retention of a high diversity of dead wood to sustain habitat for all species. In a forest-dominated landscape, the spatial distribution of dead wood is of little importance for common saproxylic beetle species.

A systematic approach for assessing spatially and temporally differentiated opportunity costs of biodiversity conservation measures in grasslands

Biodiversity loss in Europe is caused to a large extent by agricultural intensification. To halt this loss, agri-environment schemes have been introduced to compensate farmers for (costly) biodiversity conservation measures. Current agri-environment schemes often consider only a few conservation measures which is insufficient to conserve all endangered biodiversity in an agricultural region. This problem is particularly pertinent in grasslands where many different mowing and grazing dates are required to protect the variety of species breeding in the grassland at different times. A key requirement to design agri-environment schemes for grassland conservation is therefore to offer specific compensation for more measures based on a systematic approach that calculates farmers' opportunity costs in relation to the timing of grassland use which is still lacking. This will at best attract more farmers and offer compensation calculated in line with EU requirements for co-financed measures through the Rural Development Programme. We fill this gap by developing a systematic approach to assess the costs of different mowing and grazing dates. Our approach is general enough to be applicable on a large spatial scale but can still sensitively differentiate among different timings. Moreover it is straightforward and time-saving enough to be suitable for implementation in regional scale optimisation procedures. We demonstrate this by applying the systematic cost assessment in the decision support software DSS-Ecopay using the example of grassland biodiversity conservation measures in the German federal state of Saxony.

Connectivity dynamics of Araucaria forest and grassland surrounding Passo Fundo National Forest, southern Brazil

Changes in the structure of natural habitats surrounding Protected Areas interfere with biodiversity conservation measures. The goals of this research were to analyze the fragmentation and loss of vegetation in three landscape levels surrounding Passo Fundo National Forest, RS, Brazil, in 1986, 1997, and 2011, and to identify the degree of isolation/connectivity of these patches. These analyses were based on landscape metrics, in levels of classes and patches. The area occupied by vegetation increased for three landscape levels, from 1986 to 2011, accompanied by a reduction of the distances between remnants of the forest. Forest coverage was higher in the Protected Area in the other two levels of landscape. This scenario suggests a reduction of agricultural expansion in the region and an attenuation in the process of habitat loss and fragmentation. However, the current proportion (19%) of vegetation outside the Protected Area is still critical for many species.

SPIDERS (ARANEI) OF VOLGOGRAD SITY AND ITS ENVIRONS

Aim. Fauna of spiders of Volgograd Region is researched uncompletely. Only 149 species of 19 families were listed in previous references. Complete listing of spiders of this large region was the aim of our investigation. Location. Volgograd Region, Russia. Methods. Material was collected in Volgograd City with environs and Volga-Don area in 2009–2013. Areas with minimum of anthropogenic influence within the city, artificial ecosystem of park type, plots of native vegetation along the Varvarovskoe water reservoir and natural steppe on banks of Don River were investigated. The main method of spiders’ collection were pitfall traps, which exposed from April to October. Results and main conclusions. As a result 235 species of spiders from 26 families (including 195 species from 23 families within the city) were found. One hundred fifty five species are new for Volgograd Region. Spiders of families Atypidae, Corinnidae, Dysderidae, Eresidae, Liocranidae, Sparassidae, Zodariidae were not found in Volgograd Region earier. Trichoncus villius Tanasevitch et Piterkina, 2007 is the first record for Russia. Totally 304 species of spiders are known from Volgograd Region after our study including literature data. New data about fauna of spiders with summarized check-list are very significant for future faunistic and biogeographic investigations. Study of river islands with minimum anthropogenic influence inside Volgograd City allow to develop measures for biodiversity conservation.