Conservation Literature Research Articles

Opportunities to enhance conservation success for sharks

Sharks, rays, and chimaeras are among the most threatened vertebrate lineages. Despite considerable conservation efforts, the extinction risk of sharks continues to rise. We present a quantitative analysis of the shark conservation literature, exploring trends and interconnectivities in key topics using a machine learning approach. We show that shark conservation research is a well interconnected, coherently structured, and rapidly expanding field centred around a conservation nexus linking human-wildlife interactions to species use and management. Shark conservation research is increasingly interdisciplinary and is well prioritised toward key threats that drive the decline of shark populations, both of which are key to effective management. However, we also identify opportunities to further strengthen research and management. These include improved integration of key research topics, enhancing the understanding of combined threats, and greater consideration for the role of sub-lethal impacts. Lastly, we stress that meaningful integration of research topics, rather than simple contextualisation, is essential to building the comprehensive and nuanced understanding necessary to inform effective conservation actions. By leveraging the strengths of the field and addressing its remaining weaknesses, there is hope for a future where sharks thrive and contribute to healthy, resilient marine ecosystems.

Of ponds and people: Governance to balance biodiversity conservation and carp pond farming in Central Europe.

Due to the loss of many natural water bodies, artificially created ponds often serve as refuge for numerous endangered species. The history of pondscapes in Central Europe is closely tied to the introduction of the common carp. Changing political, social, and climatic conditions, along with the increasing threat from fish-eating species, make the economic viability of pond aquaculture increasingly fragile. However, maintaining these pondscapes is crucial to meet societal demands for landscape and nature conservation. This article addresses the neglect of pondscapes in conservation literature and contributes to the ongoing discussion on the importance of cultural landscapes for biodiversity conservation. Lusatia, one of Europe's largest pondscapes, faces challenges that reflect those encountered in other European pondscapes. In this study, we present these challenges along with the governance approaches implemented in Lusatia, using this analysis to outline potential solutions for conserving European pondscapes more broadly.

Bullseye! The Importance of Using Imaging Reference Targets to Accurately Capture and Interpret Reflectance Images Captured with the VSC8000

ABSTRACT The integration of Video Spectral Comparators (VSC) into the field of conservation has greatly enhanced the study and analysis of works of art on paper. VSCs increase access of multiband imaging techniques to conservation labs as all radiation sources and filter sets are contained in one easy to use, automated, desktop instrument. During preparation for an exhibition at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, discrepancies between adjusted and unadjusted reflectance images prompted an investigation of the accurate calibration of images taken with the VSC8000. As reflected in published conservation literature, VSC users seem to rely solely on the automated settings and are not using standard imaging reference targets to check or adjust the exposure values of images taken with the instrument. According to the AIC Guide to Digital Photography and Conservation Documentation guidelines for exposure values, the reflected infrared and reflected ultraviolet images taken using the automated settings on the VSC8000 fall outside of the acceptable range, while the visible reflectance images taken using the automated settings fall within the acceptable range. Including an imaging reference target in the images allows for appropriate exposure adjustment so images captured using the VSC8000 can be compared to existing conservation imaging literature.

Rubondo Island National Park: Overlooked World’s Largest Tropical Lake Island Protected Area in Tanzania

Rubondo Island National Park in Tanzania is a biodiverse conservation area situated within the complex Lake Victoria Regional Mosaic. While other islands have been modified by human activities, Rubondo Island remains a unique model for island conservation, characterized by diverse ecosystems and endangered species like chimpanzees. This makes it an ideal location for research on wildlife behaviour, species conservation, and human-wildlife coexistence. However, little effort has been made to explore the research potential of this island, and it is underrepresented in conservation literature. Existing studies are limited in scope, often focusing on specific species or isolated ecological features, without providing a comprehensive understanding of the island’s biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and broader conservation value on regional and global scales. This review addresses this gap by undertaking a comparison analysis of lake island sizes and synthesizing available research. Literature on Rubondo Island was searched in academic databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus using relevant and specific keywords related to Rubondo Island and its biodiversity. Among the world's lake islands, Rubondo is distinguished as the largest fully protected tropical lake island, free from human habitation or consumptive activities. The island hosts key native species such as sitatunga antelopes (Tragelaphus spekii), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), vervet (Cercopithecus aethiops), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious), spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis), African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), and marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus), avian, amphibians and reptiles such as crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Some of the introduced species, including elephant (Loxodonta africana), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), colobus monkey (Colobus guereza), suni antelope (Neotragus moschatus), have been successfully integrated into the ecosystem. The island is an Important Bird Area (IBA), hosting over 194 bird species, and is home to 19 reptiles and 11 amphibian species, contributing to ecosystem balance. Its primary lowland Congolese forest is the only intact remnant of this forest type in the Lake Victoria and western Tanzania region. Rubondo also protects vital fish breeding grounds critical for sustaining native and endangered fish populations. Historically inhabited by the Banyarubondo subgroup of the Zinza people, the island retains cultural and spiritual landmarks that warrant preservation. Future research should focus on chimpanzee behaviour, elephant ecosystem roles, avian and fish species updates, vegetation surveys, herpetofauna diversity, and crocodile adaptations to environmental changes

Endangered species lack research on the outcomes of conservation action

Abstract Given widespread biodiversity declines, there is an urgent need to ensure that conservation interventions are working. Yet, evidence regarding the effectiveness of conservation actions is often lacking. Using a case study of 209 terrestrial species listed as Endangered in Canada, we conducted a literature review to collate the evidence base on conservation actions to: (1) explore the outcomes of actions documented for each species and (2) identify knowledge gaps. Action‐oriented research constituted only 2% of all peer‐reviewed literature across target species, and for 61% of species, we found no literature investigating outcomes of conservation actions. Protected areas, habitat creation, artificial shelter, and alternative farming practices were broadly beneficial for most species for which these actions were assessed. Habitat restoration actions were most frequently studied, but 38% of these actions were harmful, ineffective, or demonstrated mixed results. The effectiveness of prescribed burns, alternative timber harvesting approaches, and vegetation control was examined for the greatest number of species, yet 17%–30% of these actions demonstrated negative effects. Our synthesis demonstrates a lack of published evidence for many actions implemented for the recovery of species at risk of extinction, highlighting an alarming gap in the conservation literature.

Integrating conservation strategies into archaeological research: insights from the Early Pleistocene site of Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Spain)

Stone tools and faunal remains are abundant in the archaeological record, serving as key focal points for research and important features of museum exhibitions. Nevertheless, they are under-represented in the conservation literature. This article reports on the conservation of over 2,000 finds from the Early Pleistocene site of Barranc de la Boella (Spain) recovered during field seasons 2007-2023. It focuses on osteological remains, lithic artefacts and coprolites (fossil faeces), detailing the workflow from the fieldwork to the laboratory, specifying the criteria and techniques employed for each group of materials. In the absence of clear guidelines, the archaeological study approaches adopted for each group of finds helped define the conservation strategies. Therefore, conservation treatments are naturally aligned with the research aims, making conservation an integral part of the research project. We conclude by emphasising the importance of sharing conservation practices to inspire innovation in conservation techniques.

Transformation of Organized Violence from a Natural Resource Management Perspective

In this article, we examine the impact of informal arrangements between a non-state actor, the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) —a Non-Government Organization (NGO), pastoral communities and the state actors, We focus on a comparative analysis of Samburu and Isiolo counties in Northern Kenya because these cases demonstrate a different effect of NRT on NRM. The article benefits from interviews collected from Samburu and Isiolo counties, and key informants in the two counties, NRT offices, government representatives and civil societies between 2018 to 2021, with a follow-up in October 2022 to March 2023, and January October 2023 to March 2024. The interviews are then triangulated with the vast conservation literature and government documents. We show how the partnership between NRT, pastoral communities, and national/local governments impacts NRM in Northern Kenya through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. Our analysis affirms that PPP initiatives between NRT and the government are secretive and can only be witnessed from their effects. We further show that privatization and legitimization of the use of excessive force control and influence, —organized violence is applied in the conservation agenda, exacerbating conflict/violence.

Considerations in Acquisition of 3D-Printed Art

ABSTRACT 3D printing (also known as Rapid Prototyping or Additive Manufacture) is increasingly common and technically sophisticated, and is utilized in art and design, industry, and consumer applications. Museums and collectors are now acquiring works made using this technology though their preservation needs are not fully understood. This article provides an overview of the technology and related terminology, review of related conservation literature, and introduction to current efforts for the care of these works. Discussion includes the formulation of collaborative working practices, documentation during acquisition, and consideration of periodic reprinting. Case studies include a pre-accession checklist developed at SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) and the reprinting of select components from Altar/Engine (2015) by Tauba Auerbach at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York. Though 3D-printed works may be found in science, history, and other collections, this study will focus on works of contemporary art and design.

Understanding author choices in the current conservation publishing landscape

Conservation literature addresses a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary questions and benefits. Conservation science benefits most when a diverse range of authors are represented, particularly those from countries where much conservation work is focused. In other disciplines, it is well known that barriers and biases exist in the academic publishing sphere, which can affect research dissemination and an author's career development. We used a discrete choice experiment to determine how 7 journal attributes affect authors’ choices of where to publish in conservation. We targeted authors directly by contacting authors published in 18 target journals and indirectly via communication channels for conservation organizations. We only included respondents who had previously published in a conservation‐related journal. We used a multinomial logit model and a latent class model to investigate preferences for all respondents and distinct subpopulations. We identified 3 demographic groups across 1038 respondents (older authors from predominantly middle‐income countries, younger authors from predominantly middle‐income countries, and younger authors from high‐income countries) who had published in conservation journals. Each group exhibited different publishing preferences. Only 2 attributes showed a consistent response across groups: cost to publish negatively affected journal choice, including authors in high‐income countries, and authors had a consistent preference for double‐blind review. Authors from middle‐income countries were willing to pay more for society‐owned journals, unlike authors from high‐income countries. Journals with a broad geographical scope that were open access and that had relatively high impact factors were preferred by 2 of the 3 demographic groups. However, journal scope and open access were more important in dictating journal choice than impact factor. Overall, different demographics had different preferences for journals and were limited in their selection based on attributes such as open access policy. However, the scarcity of respondents from low‐income countries (2% of respondents) highlights the pervasive barriers to representation in conservation research. We recommend journals offer double‐blind review, reduce or remove open access fees, investigate options for free editorial support, and better acknowledge the value of local‐scale single‐species studies. Academic societies in particular must reflect on how their journals support conservation and conservation professionals.

Addressing coordination problems in residential buyouts: Experimental evidence for managed retreat in the face of climate change-related threats

Addressing coordination problems in residential buyouts: Experimental evidence for managed retreat in the face of climate change-related threats

The scientific councils of natural protected areas as a window on the epistemic landscape of the conservation knowing-doing space

In environmental management, like in other applied operational domains, concrete actions are often at odds with state-of-the-art theoretical knowledge. Institutional settings organizing the way scientific knowledge is applied in environmental management practice play an active role in structuring such knowledge-action discrepancies. Scientific councils of protected areas are key institutions playing this role. Their two main missions are (1) to design, monitor, and evaluate the production of knowledge inside protected areas, and (2) to advise managers as to designing and implementing conservation actions. This article explores a database gathering information on scientific councils in France. The case of this country is exemplary because the existence of scientific councils is systematic in its protected areas, and their structure is streamlined by regulatory requirements. We use this database to investigate the publication records of the members of these scientific councils. This enables us to shed a quantitative light on the “epistemic landscape” (i.e., the kinds of knowledge and knowledge-holders that play a key role in interactions between science and practice) that scientific councils materialize. Our findings suggest that this epistemic landscape is poorly connected to the concerned protected areas. Moreover, some prominent topics in academic research (functional ecology, invasion biology and conservation planning) appear to be neglected in the recollected publication records. Such results prompt the question of whether the composition of SCs should be adjusted to reinforce the role of scientists tackling research questions applied to the PA at issue, and to better reflect scientific priorities in the conservation literature. Though results solely based on bibliometric analysis should be interpreted with due caution, they are useful to open debates on how to improve the design of institutions structuring knowing-doing spaces, beyond the specific case of French scientific councils.

Assessing the influence of landscape conservation and protected areas on social wellbeing using random forest machine learning

The urgency of interconnected social-ecological dilemmas such as rapid biodiversity loss, habitat loss and fragmentation, and the escalating climate crisis have led to increased calls for the protection of ecologically important areas of the planet. Protected areas (PA) are considered critical to address these dilemmas although growing divides in wellbeing can exacerbate conflict around PAs and undermine effectiveness. We investigate the influence of proximity to PAs on wellbeing outcomes. We develop a novel multi-dimensional index of wellbeing for households and across Africa and use Random Forest Machine Learning techniques to assess the importance score of households’ proximity to protected areas on their wellbeing outcomes compared with the importance scores of an array of other social, environmental, and local and national governance factors. This study makes important contributions to the conservation literature, first by expanding the ways in which wellbeing is measured and operationalized, and second, by providing additional empirical support for recent evidence that proximity to PAs is an influential factor affecting observed wellbeing outcomes, albeit likely through different pathways than the current literature suggests.

Landscape fragmentation overturns classical metapopulation thinking

Habitat loss and isolation caused by landscape fragmentation represent a growing threat to global biodiversity. Existing theory suggests that the process will lead to a decline in metapopulation viability. However, since most metapopulation models are restricted to simple networks of discrete habitat patches, the effects of real landscape fragmentation, particularly in stochastic environments, are not well understood. To close this major gap in ecological theory, we developed a spatially explicit, individual-based model applicable to realistic landscape structures, bridging metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology. This model reproduced classical metapopulation dynamics under conventional model assumptions, but on fragmented landscapes, it uncovered general dynamics that are in stark contradiction to the prevailing views in the ecological and conservation literature. Notably, fragmentation can give rise to a series of dualities: a) positive and negative responses to environmental noise, b) relative slowdown and acceleration in density decline, and c) synchronization and desynchronization of local population dynamics. Furthermore, counter to common intuition, species that interact locally ("residents") were often more resilient to fragmentation than long-ranging "migrants." This set of findings signals a need to fundamentally reconsider our approach to ecosystem management in a noisy and fragmented world.

The scope of empowerment for conservation and communities.

Conservationists increasingly position conservation that is mutually beneficial to people and biodiversity on the promise of empowerment of people through participatory discourse, metrics, processes, and outcomes. Empowerment represents multidimensional concepts and theories that permeate the interlinking levels of power, from the psychological to the political, and social scales in which conservation operates. The multifaceted nature of empowerment makes it challenging to understand, pursue, and evaluate as a central philosophical commitment and goal-oriented practice in conservation. Moreover, definitional and methodological uncertainty may disempower interested and affected groups because they can foster conceptual assumptions that reinforce institutionalized barriers to systemic changes. Despite these complexities, there are no targeted reviews of empowerment in conservation. We conducted a scoping review of the conservation literature to synthesize the meanings and uses of empowerment in the field. We reviewed 121 of the most cited conservation articles that invoked or assessed empowerment from 1992 to 2017 to document geographic, conceptual, and methodological trends in the scales and theories of empowerment deployed by conservationists. Research claiming or assessing empowerment through conservation often focused on communities in the Global South. Most studies relied on qualitative and mixed methods (78%) collected largely from male or non-Indigenous participants. Few studies (30%) defined the 20 types of empowerment they referenced. Fewer studies (3%) applied empowerment theories in their work. Our findings show that empowerment discourse of local and Indigenous communities permeates the discourse of people-centered conservation. Yet, overreliance on empowerment's rhetorical promise and minimal engagement with theory (e.g., postcolonial theory) risks disempowering people by obscuring empowerment's foundational value to conservation and communities and oversimplifying the complex realities of people-centered conservation. Lasting change could come from more meaningful engagement with empowerment, including coproducing definitions and measures with and for disempowered social groups to tackle widespread power disparities in conservation today.

Exploring elucidation of red dye mixtures on woolen historical textiles via non-destructive spectroscopic analysis and multivariate cluster analysis

One of the foremost challenges facing analysis of historical textiles is that the gold standard technique—high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)—is inherently destructive. This is especially problematic considering many historical textiles are exceptionally fragile, be it from age, poor care over time, etc. One proposed solution to this is the implementation of non-destructive, namely spectroscopic, techniques, such as diffuse reflectance (Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy, FORS). In this work, 204 well-provenanced red Norwich textiles were measured with FORS and analyzed to attempt to determine chromophore combinations used to dye the original textiles. To these ends, cluster analysis algorithms and spectroscopic domain knowledge were coupled with selective HPLC validation to assess overall ability of FORS to discern changes in chromophore combinations. It was found that the near infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum contained little meaningful information in multivariate space, while the VIS region, particularly 380–469 nm, showed a narrow visible region that was primarily responsible for clustering behavior that correlates with HPLC-validated samples. This indicates that FORS shows promise for discerning chromophores in textile swatches. Additionally, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was used to confirm that the observed FORS spectral inflection point shift in the 600 nm region did not correlate with the presence or type of mordant used when dying these textiles. From this work, three main conclusions can be drawn: (1) FORS adequately identifies visual infon, which shows reasonable correlation to HPLC-validated dye recipes, warranting further investigation, and indicating utility for cois or use for those with visual impairments; (2) XRF analysis confirms that the ~ 600 nm inflection point shift and mordant are not correlated when measuring dyed textiles, unless mordant is present below analytical detection limits or not present at all; (3) many documented structural-to-spectral relationships established in the conservation literature are too weak in dyed textiles for statistical analysis and, by extension, expert spectral identification.

The living religious heritage of displaced communities: conservation problematics and use-related challenges

PurposePlaces of worship have historically been maintained using traditional building management techniques, including regular monitoring, upkeep and maintenance provided by their religious communities. This paper examines the conservation issues arising after the forced displacement of the traditional custodians, which is a significant concern in conflict-ridden environments.Design/methodology/approachAs a unique example of a long-term conflict, the divided Cyprus provides this research with illustrative cases to derive the data. The research employs content analysis of official documents, physical observations and interviews with conservation professionals.FindingsThis research demonstrates the human and environmental factors impacting the conservation of the material fabric and the use-related challenges stemming from the intangible significance of the religious legacy belonging to displaced communities. It highlights the urgency to formulate more effective mechanisms and regulatory frameworks to address vulnerability issues promptly.Originality/valuePreservation problems on religious heritage buildings arising from the loss of traditional custodians after conflicts are an under-researched area in conservation literature. Drawing on research that was conducted several decades after the displacement of Cypriot communities, this paper reveals new insights into the magnitude of the conservation problems and the use-related complexities that need to be addressed to formulate mutually acceptable solutions for a sustainable future.

Trends and biases in research efforts for primate conservation: threatened species are not in the spotlight

Trends and biases in research efforts for primate conservation: threatened species are not in the spotlight

Operationalizing the biocultural perspective part II: A review of biocultural action principles since The Declaration of Belém

In part 1 of our review of the biocultural conservation literature - conducted in 2019 - we utilized a rapid appraisal approach to determine that while the biocultural perspective was born within the action-oriented and Indigenous People and Local Community (IPLC)-Centered Declaration of Belém, the subsequent scientific discussion remained largely in a conceptual holding pattern. In Part 2, we reengage the literature later in time - mid-2021 - and with a more intensive qualitative analysis methodology to pursue the trends we observed and to more deeply perceive and comprehend the operating principles of the most impactful biocultural action research, which we define as research that fulfills the clear prescriptions of the Declaration of Belém. Toward these ends, we develop and utilize a systematic review methodology including thematic analysis, appreciative inquiry, and collaborative analysis. Our findings not only show an increasing concentration of action-orientation in the emerging literature, but identify and increase comprehension of the core operating principles for biocultural action. We determine that biocultural studies adhered to the following principles: 1) honor IPLC place attachment; 2) rigorously engage with IPLC's; 3) valorize cultural survival and continuity; 4) invert power dynamics; and 5) cultivate new insights. Our results represent a one-of-a-kind diagnostic on the fulfillment of the Declaration of Belém's prescriptions in conservation scholarship and practice, as well as a roadmap for practicing scholars and policy-makers intent on guaranteeing IPLC environmental leadership. These newly forged resources further point the way toward understanding and operationalizing the biocultural perspective as a strategic vision.

Status of African authorship among conservation research output from sub‐Saharan Africa: An African perspective

Abstract The effectiveness of science to address conservation issues is linked to the inclusivity and diversity of its practitioners, but scientists from biodiverse tropical countries remain underrepresented in the conservation science literature. To assess the status of sub‐Saharan Africa‐based authorship in conservation science between 2015 and 2021, we analyzed the affiliations of primary authors of research conducted in sub‐Saharan Africa as published in 10 selected conservation journals representative of a range of conservation literature: from high‐impact international journals to Africa‐specific regional journals. Out of 1176 articles, we found that approximately one‐third of the primary authors were based at a sub‐Saharan African institution. African primary authors had a higher output in African than global conservation journals, which corresponded with relatively low overall impact factors and citations for studies led by African authors. African authors were significantly underrepresented in large, multicountry studies, accounting for only 6% of primary authors and 66% of these publications contained no African author. We discuss possible limitations and solutions for African participation and representation in the international conservation literature from the perspective of African conservation scientists.

Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene

Abstract The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence‐based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian declines, there remain knowledge gaps and disconnects between science and action that hamper our ability to advance conservation efforts. Using input from participants at the ninth World Congress of Herpetology, a U.S. Geological Survey Powell Center symposium, amphibian on‐line forums for discussion, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Gamete Biobanking group, and respondents to a survey, we developed a list of 25 priority research questions for amphibian conservation at this stage of the Anthropocene. We identified amphibian conservation research priorities while accounting for expected tradeoffs in geographic scope, costs, and the taxonomic breadth of research needs. We aimed to solicit views from individuals rather than organizations while acknowledging inequities in participation. Emerging research priorities (i.e., those under‐represented in recently published amphibian conservation literature) were identified, and included the effects of climate change, community‐level (rather than single species‐level) drivers of declines, methodological improvements for research and monitoring, genomics, and effects of land‐use change. Improved inclusion of under‐represented members of the amphibian conservation community was also identified as a priority. These research needs represent critical knowledge gaps for amphibian conservation although filling these gaps may not be necessary for many conservation actions.