Biodiversity Conservation Measures Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION AND INVENTORY OF ACTIVITY ON INCREASE OF CAPACITY BUILDING OF CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN

Work performed under the GEF / UNEP "Self-assessment of the needs of national potential to manage the global environment" (2009). We present the problems and offer measures for conservation of biodiversity in Dagestan Republic.

Интегральная оценка перспективности интродуцентов хвойных пород в условиях дендросада Сабинского учебно-опытного лесхоза РТ

The peculiarity of the chosen theme is the necessity to increase the resource potential of forests and forest parks in the Republic of Tatarstan, by introducing the prospective types of coniferous introducers. The arboreal and shrubby plantations play an important role in the urban ecosystem. They perform many functions, such as: aesthetic, sanitary and hygienic and other functions. Many of introduced woody plants are the basis of landscaping. The paper discusses the coniferous introducers, its status, survival in dendrological garden of Saby forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as inventory was held on. The measures for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainability of coniferous woods were described in the paper.

Poor historical data drive conservation complacency: The case of mammal decline in south-eastern Australian forests

Forested ecosystems of south-eastern Australia now differ physically, compositionally and functionally from their condition prior to European settlement. Understanding these changes, and how native species and entire ecosystems have responded, is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Here I argue that a combination of limited historical information and a knowledge base biased towards modern ecological studies has resulted in a distorted perception of ecosystem condition, hindering the instigation of effective biodiversity conservation measures. This argument is based on recently obtained information about changes to the non-volant mammal community, which reveals relatively recent but underreported ecological changes, including major declines in species distribution and abundance, shifts in niche utilization and associated disruption of ecosystem functions. Ultimately, many mammal species are being denied the capacity to function to the extent they did historically. Following this re-assessment, it is evident that current forest management does not adequately address contemporary conservation dilemmas posed by detrimental ecosystem changes. This is especially salient when most of the factors responsible for causing changes to the mammal community are still active and include forest management and utilization activities. Therefore, additional conservation measures are essential to meet forest stewardship and biodiversity conservation obligations. For the health, functionality and sustainability of forested ecosystems, native mammal species must be capable of functioning to their ecological potential and occupy their original niche. This will be facilitated by the suppression of threatening processes (primarily exotic species), ensuring ecologically sensitive fire regimes and the reintroduction/translocation of missing species. The recovery or restoration of forest functionality based on mammal conservation should have wide-scale benefits for biodiversity conservation.

Predicting land-use change for biodiversity conservation and climate-change mitigation and its effect on ecosystem services in a watershed in Japan

Potential conflicts between biodiversity conservation and climate-change mitigation can result in trade-offs in multiple-use land management. This study aimed to detect possible changes in land-use patterns in response to biodiversity conservation and climate-change mitigation measures and the effects on ecosystem services across a watershed. We analyzed land-cover change based on past and future scenarios in the rural Kushiro watershed in northern Japan. The analysis showed that if no conservation measures were implemented and the timber and agricultural industry remained small until 2060, supporting and provisioning services would decline due to less land management. Although biodiversity conservation measures are predicted to improve three of the ecosystem services that we studied, carbon sequestration and timber production would be improved to a greater degree by climate-change mitigation measures. The greatest land-cover changes are likely to occur in the unprotected area around the middle reaches of the Kushiro River, and such changes could affect the provision of ecosystem services throughout the entire watershed. Thus, our findings indicate that landuse decisions for the middle reaches of the watershed are particularly important for managing the integrated ecosystem services of the entire watershed for the future.

Historical evidence for nature disconnection in a 70-year time series of Disney animated films

The assumed ongoing disconnection between humans and nature in Western societies represents a profoundly challenging conservation issue. Here, we demonstrate one manifestation of this nature disconnection, via an examination of the representation of natural settings in a 70-year time series of Disney animated films. We found that natural settings are increasingly less present as a representation of outdoor environments in these films. Moreover, these drawn natural settings tend to be more and more human controlled and are less and less complex in terms of the biodiversity they depict. These results demonstrate the increasing nature disconnection of the filmmaking teams, which we consider as a proxy of the Western relation to nature. Additionally, because nature experience of children is partly based on movies, the depleted representation of biodiversity in outdoor environments of Disney films may amplify the current disconnection from nature for children. This reduction in exposure to nature may hinder the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures.

Agglomeration payment, agglomeration bonus or homogeneous payment?

When designing compensation payments for biodiversity conservation measures setting appropriate incentives so that landowners select spatially connected land parcels for conservation is of key importance for many species. The proposition of an agglomeration bonus, where landowners receive a homogeneous payment and a bonus on top if the spatial allocation of conserved land benefits biodiversity, has been widely discussed. Here, we compare for various ecological and economic parameters the cost-effectiveness and budget efficiency of an agglomeration bonus with a spatially homogeneous payment (where landowners receive the same payment regardless of the spatial allocation of conserved land) and an agglomeration payment (where landowners receive money only if conserved land parcels are spatially connected). Key results include that whether side payments between participants take place plays an important role in the relative performance of the payment options, and that the performance of the agglomeration bonus is either clearly dominated by one of the two other options, but never by both, or very close to the better performing option.

Safeguarding ecosystem services and livelihoods: Understanding the impact of conservation strategies on benefit flows to society

Society has always benefited from ecosystems through the provision of ecosystem services. To ensure a continuous flow of these benefits, different strategies aimed at safeguarding ecosystem services are proposed. In this paper we explore how biodiversity conservation measures, particularly protected areas, influence the flow of ecosystem services to different members of society. We highlight the impact of these measures on the poorer members of society because of their strong dependence on ecosystem services to sustain their livelihood. For the Democratic Republic of Congo we mapped five ecosystem services (food production, tourism, carbon, timber and fuel wood production) using spatial landscape indicators, within and outside protected areas, and identified their direct beneficiaries. This illustration was used to feed a round-table discussion on the impact of different conservation strategies on society, held with ecosystem services professionals during the 4th Ecosystem Service Partnership Conference in the Netherlands. The discussion highlighted the need for spatial methods to assess ecosystem service trade-offs, as well as the main challenges for conservation measures to contribute to both livelihood improvement and conservation gains. We argue that, ecosystem services maps can play a crucial role in understanding and managing the trade-offs in ecosystem service flows resulting from conservation strategies.

Environmental Awareness, Literacy and Biodiversity Conservation Practices of Freshmen Students in Bukidnon State University, Philippines

The teaching of biodiversity conservation in the university level is a laudable effort of teachers. The study ascertained the environmental awareness, literacy and biodiversity conservation practices of college freshmen students in Bukidnon State University (BukSU), Malaybalay City, S.Y. 2012-2013. Data on the students' level of awareness were gathered using the survey questionnaire on environmental awareness. Generally, the BukSU college freshmen students were "very much aware" of the environmental concepts on balance of nature, pollution, stewardship, finiteness of resources, change, interdependence, diversity and stability. The freshmen students are "moving towards mastery" on environmental knowledge, environmental attitudes and values and environmental application and decision making skills. The students "often" practice biodiversity conservation measures at home, in school and in the community.

Can Birds Be Used as Tools To Inform Resilient Farming and Environmental Care in the Development of Biodiversity-Friendly Market Accreditation Systems? Perspectives of New Zealand Sheep and Beef Farmers

Birds were used as a proxy for wider agroecosystem biodiversity and to examine attitudes and actions of New Zealand sheep and beef farmers toward biodiversity. Farmer interviews were complemented by analysis of a national farmer survey. Analysis of survey and interview responses indicate that farmers regard birds as components of a larger, complex system and bird presence as evidence of a healthy, robust farm environment. Willingness to shoulder responsibility for encouraging birds was linked to the financial constraints of doing so. Market accreditation systems were suggested as the most likely mechanism through which biodiversity conservation measures could be introduced.

The social in change: property rights contradictions in Finland

The concept of social sustainability is occasionally used in fisheries political argumentation, but practical policies are typically guided by ecological and economic arguments rather than the social. On the other hand, social justice and moral acceptability are general prerequisites for successful fisheries governance. This paper studies the changing social dimensions in Finnish fisheries where interactions between the water-owner-based management system and various user groups have produced enduring contradictions. Along with a shift towards recreational fishing, the national and international levels of fisheries governance have largely replaced the local owner-based management system. Consequently, increasing numbers of new interest groups, rural–urban relations, management measures and governance institutions have become part of the fisheries complex. Contradictions typically culminate in fishing rights and the power to decide over access to fishing waters. The biodiversity and wildlife conservation measures have often underrated the social, as well as economic, aspects of fishing.

Effects of intensified forestry on the landscape-scale extinction risk of dead wood dependent species

In the future, a significant proportion of Northern forests may become intensively managed through the planting of monospecific stands of native or introduced trees, and the use of multiple silvicultural treatments such as forest fertilization. Such an intensification of management in selected parts of the landscape is suggested by different zoning models, for example the Triad approach, which is under evaluation in some regions of North America. In this study, based on Fennoscandian conditions, we predicted landscape-scale extinction risks of five hypothetical model insect species dependent on fresh dead wood from Norway spruce (Picea abies), by simulating colonizations and local extinctions in forest stands. Intensified forestry applied to 50% of the spruce stands led to strongly increased extinction risks of all species during the following 150 years. For one species—the sun-exposure specialist—there were strong effects already after 50 years. The negative effects of intensive plantation forestry could be compensated for by taking greater biodiversity conservation measures in other managed forests or by setting aside more forests. This is consistent with the Triad model, which is according to our analyzes an effective way to decrease extinction risks, especially for the short-dispersing species and the species associated with closed forest. A zoning of forest land into intensive forestry, conventional forestry, and set asides may be better at combining increased timber production and maintenance of biodiversity in comparison to landscapes where all production forests are managed in the same way.

Agricultural landscapes and biodiversity in China

Looking back at a history of more than 7000 years of agricultural production, Chinese agriculture had succeeded in supporting China's ever-increasing human population without changing the stability of the agro-landscape. The traditional biodiversity-friendly management of agricultural landscapes incorporated various elaborate techniques such as the use of organic manure, traditional integrative farming approaches like dyke–pond and rice–fishery systems, crop rotations and intercropping as well as the preservation of traditional agricultural landscapes including diverse natural and semi-natural elements. These systems were developed to maintain landscapes with healthy soil quality, a complex structure and diverse habitat composition, which favoured the sustenance of diverse species and a stable ecosystem functioning. While many biodiversity-friendly elements of traditional agriculture have been maintained, further developed or extended in modern agricultural practices in some regions, the biodiversity conservation in the agricultural landscapes is generally lacking of efficient policy support. Challenges and potential measures for biodiversity conservation in the context of Chinese agricultural landscapes are discussed.

Alien plant species dominate the vegetation in a city of Sub-Saharan Africa

Although many African cities are confronted to an important population growth, there are almost no studies describing their vegetation and how it is affected by the urbanization process. We present here the description of the spontaneous vegetation of the capital city of Burundi, Bujumbura, through the analysis of 437 vegetation plots. Ruderal plant assemblages dominate in the most urbanized areas while in the outskirts of the city, the vegetation shows similarities to natural plant assemblages in the region. The variability of the plant assemblages is further influenced by the degree of shade, the presence of a permanent source of humidity and trampling by humans and cattle. Over the 404 species recorded in the plots, 57% are native and 43% are introduced. Sixty percent of the 173 introduced species originate from tropical America. It is very likely that in the future, if no biodiversity conservation measures are taken, the urbanization process will lead to the homogenisation of the vegetation in favour of ruderal plant assemblages and introduced species. Similarly to what is done in temperate countries, urban planners in African cities should take measures to preserve the last patches of semi-natural vegetation, not only for their conservation value, but also for the diversity of services they offer to the population.

Diameter of downed woody debris does matter for saproxylic beetle assemblages in temperate oak and pine forests

Deadwood is widely recognized to be an important issue for biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems. Establishing guidelines for its management requires a better understanding of relationships between woody debris characteristics and associated species assemblages. Although deadwood diameter has been identified as an important factor predicting occurrence of many saproxylic species, the boundary between small and large diameter has not yet been precisely defined. In commercial forests, it is also of critical importance to know which diameter is large enough to host the beetle species associated with large logs in order to ensure cost-effectiveness of biodiversity conservation measures. We investigated the differences in saproxylic beetle assemblages among four different diameter classes of downed woody oak and maritime pine debris, in France. Beetles were sampled using in situ emergence traps. The diameter of deadwood pieces ranged from 1 to 40 cm. No patterns of nestedness associated with the gradient of diameter size were identified for either tree species. More indicator saproxylic species were observed in large logs and branches than in small logs. A clear distinction appeared in assemblage composition around the 5-cm diameter threshold whereas no similar pattern occurred around the 10 cm value, i.e. the classical threshold used in forestry to distinguish fine woody debris from coarse woody debris. For both tree species, the mean body length of beetles increased with the diameter of deadwood suggesting that the quantity of available resources per piece may constitute a limiting factor for large beetle species. This study confirms that not only large deadwood pieces are relevant for saproxylic biodiversity conservation but also the smallest pieces. Therefore, forest managers would be well advised to maintain a high diversity of deadwoods to maintain saproxylic biodiversity.

Securing the Conservation of Biodiversity across Administrative Levels and Spatial, Temporal, and Ecological Scales – Research Needs and Approaches of the SCALES Project

Biodiversity conservation measures and biological processes often do not match in scale. The EU funded project SCALES (Securing the Conservation of biodiversity across Administrative Levels and spatial, temporal, and Ecological Scales) is intended to solve this challenge. SCALES analyses how selected pressures (climate change, habitat loss, fragmentation, disturbance), their drivers, and their impacts on biodiversity change with spatial and temporal scale. The project develops methods for a better understanding of scaling properties of biological processes from the genetic level to populations, communities, and ecosystem functions. SCALES also seeks ways to integrate the issue of scale into policy, decision-making, and biodiversity management, focusing on networks of protected areas, regional connectivity, and biodiversity monitoring.

Confronting the costs and conflicts associated with biodiversity

1 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway 2 Department of Economics, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada 3 Department of Biology, The University of Mississippi University, MS, USA 4 Marine Mammal Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada 5 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Claremont, South Africa 6 Animal Demography, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa 7 American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, USA 8 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA 9 Division of Economics, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK 10 University of Lyon I, Villeurbanne, France 11 Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Hull, Hull, UK 12 CSIRO Davies Laboratory, Aitkenvale, Qld, Australia 13 University of Stellenbosch, Bellville, South Africa 14 Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen & Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen, UK 15 Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK

Reconciling Conservation and Development: Are Landscapes the Answer?

ABSTRACTThe landscape approach is being used for initiatives that have the dual objectives of conserving biodiversity and alleviating poverty. However, working at such landscape scales greatly expands the level of ambition of conservation organizations and requires them to use skills that differ from those that they have traditionally deployed. Influencing landscape change requires major commitments for long periods of time and since there is still little evidence for the success of such approaches they should be used cautiously. Landscape programmes must be based on a comprehensive understanding of landscape dynamics and of the underlying drivers of social, economic and ecological change. Just as in any other investment in conservation it is important to set objectives in clear and measurable terms. Landscape approaches should therefore complement and not replace more conventional biodiversity conservation measures. They should be guided by scenarios agreed by concerned stakeholders, should be constructivist and in most cases their success will require major changes in the behavior of local people.

Strategic studies on the biodiversity sustainability in Yunnan Province, Southwest China

With an area of 394,000 km2 (4.1% of China’s total area) and specific diversified geographical environments, Yunnan houses over 18,000 species of higher plants (51.6% of China’s total), 1,836 vertebrate species (54.8% of China’s total) and multitudinous species of rare, endemic and epibiotic wildlife, ranking first in species richness value and endemicity rate of China’s biodiversity, thus becoming a rare gene bank of wildlife species with the most concentrated distribution of important wildlife taxa and a key terrestrial biodiversity region of global significance. Despite its evident abundance and endemism, however, the biodiversity is faced with threats of ecological fragility and human disturbances in socioeconomic development resulting in attenuation of biodiversity, degradation of ecosystems and serious loss of species, thus, it needs to be carefully studied for its sustainability. Based on the analyses of the geographical diversity, the macro material bases of Yunnan’s biodiversity were reviewed and six characteristics of the provincial biodiversity were described in the ecosystems, forest types, species compositions, endemic species, genetic resources, etc. By appraising the present status of the provincial biodiversity conservation, the facts that the biodiversity coexisted with fragility were revealed so that eight key disadvantageous factors in the provincial ecological fragility causing serious biodiversity loss were summarized and described in this paper. In order to satisfy the two-fold needs of biodiversity sustainability and socioeconomic development, eight strategies for the sustainable development were intensively elaborated by borrowing certain theories in modern conservation biology, recycling economics and some successful innovations, and by giving comprehensive consideration to the ecological fragility mechanism, nature reserve construction, environmental protection and the exploitability of resources for biodiversity sustainability and socioeconomic development. Accordingly, relevant targets, principles, tactics and measures for effective biodiversity conservation and sustainability were suggested to lay a solid theoretical foundation and reliable scientific basis for the biodiversity and socioeconomic sustainable development.

Biosphere reserves—An attempt to form sustainable landscapes: A case study of three biosphere reserves in the Czech Republic

Established under the UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, biosphere reserves represent protected areas intended to demonstrate well-balanced relationship between conservation of biodiversity and an appropriate local development. They can be thus considered as an attempt to form sustainable landscape. As sustainable development is a human-centred concept the article contributes primarily to the discussion on social part of the nature–social relationship, namely on quality of life of local population and problems of social acceptance of biodiversity conservation measures. Triangulation approach was applied as a fundamental frame for empirical data analysis, combining analysis of official statistical data, content analysis of regional media, semi-standardized interviews with key personalities and extensive questionnaire survey. Three Czech biosphere reserves were used as model areas. Based on results gained it is possible to state that the concept of biosphere reserve itself can be used as a model when we try to implement ideas of sustainable landscape in practice. However, while quality of life did not seem to be much affected by the fact that people lived in protected areas, full harmonization of biodiversity protection and socio-economic development were hindered by constraints of formal and legislative nature.

The effectiveness of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) follow‐up with regard to biodiversity conservation in Azerbaijan

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of the EIA adopted by the construction industry during the construction of the BTC Oil Pipeline Project in Azerbaijan from 2003‐2005. The focus of the study is to examine the performance of the Biodiversity conservation measures on the Territory of Gobustan Area. The area is considered as bad land and environmentally sensitive. The environmental impacts and the corresponding mitigation measures are to be highlighted.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a pre‐entry survey as a bench mark against which mitigation measures, for restoring biodiversity to project pre‐construction conditions. The Pre‐entry survey identifies the biodiversity inventory of the study area. The implementation of mitigation measures with respect to biodiversity is used to examine the extent of compliance with environmental requirements. The extent of compliance is based on field observations, specialist interviews and reviewing reports published by independent bodies.FindingsThe paper finds that the reasons behind compliance or non‐compliance with environmental requirements as outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement are explored. In other words, the factors that shape the EIA follow‐up process are highlighted.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the establishment of an integrated environmental monitoring system is central to the success of the EIA follow‐up. Environmental best practices can be adopted successfully despite the fact that the national environmental system is not yet well established.Originality/valueThe studied case in the paper, which is based on observation and thorough analysis of the practical work, can serve as an example for emerging environmental governance system.