Establishment Of New Protected Areas Research Articles

Potential Distribution and Identification of Critical Areas for the Preservation and Recovery of Three Species of Cinchona L. (Rubiaceae) in Northeastern Peru

The genus Cinchona L. has important medicinal, cultural, and economic value and is the emblematic tree of Peru. The genus is mainly found in the cloud forests of the Andes. However, the expansion of agriculture and livestock farming in the department of Amazonas is degrading these ecosystems and has reduced the size of the genus’s populations. In this work, we model the potential distribution under current conditions of three Cinchona species (C. capuli L. Anderson, C. macrocalyx Pav. Ex DC., and C. pubescens Vahl.) to identify areas with a high likelihood of species presence and their key conservation and reforestation zones. We fitted a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model using nineteen bioclimatic variables, three topographic variables, nine edaphic variables, and solar radiation. Under current conditions, the potential distribution of C. capuli covers 17.22% (7243.98 km2); C. macrocalyx, 29.11% (12,238.91 km2); and C. pubescens, 22.94% (9647.63 km2) of the study area, which was mostly located in central and southern Amazonas. Only 24.29% (25.51% of C. capuli, 21.02% of C. macrocalyx, and 26.35% of C. pubescens) of the potential distributions are within protected areas, while 10,987.22 km2 of the surface area of the department of Amazonas is degraded, of which 29.80% covers the area of probable occurrence of C. capuli, 38.72% of C. macrocalyx, and 34.82% of C. pubescens. Consequently, it is necessary to promote additional conservation strategies for Cinchona, including the establishment of new protected areas and the recovery of degraded habitats, in order to protect this species.

Projected distribution of the westernmost subpopulation of Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis pelops) under climate change: conservation implications of a threatened population

Anthropogenic climate change can have a negative impact on the distribution of habitat specialist species with narrow distributional ranges. Among the many areas around the world affected by climate change, the Himalayan region in particular is experiencing marked effects of global warming on its climatic patterns and life forms. This study assessed the current distribution of Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) in western Nepal, and projected their likely distribution (via habitat suitability modeling) for the years 2050 and 2070 under the two most plausible greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP6.0). We recorded a total of 159 Assamese macaques belonging to 10 groups (nine of them residing outside of protected area networks) between 684m and 2550m asl in western Nepal. Climatic niche modeling predicted that 37.03% (25,114 km2) of the total area of western Nepal (67,813 km2) represented suitable habitat of the species, the majority of which ranged between 1000 m and 2000 m asl. Future projections of the current climatic niche of the Assamese macaques revealed a consistent decrease in the suitable habitat for 2050 and 2070 in both of the greenhouse emission scenarios tested. With the RCP6.0 scenario, almost 57% of the current highly suitable habitat would be lost by 2070 with remaining suitable habitat shifted towards higher elevations. The loss of habitat directly affects the species survival and the range shift towards higher elevation exposes them to new areas for conflict with humans. Therefore, the Assamese macaque population in western Nepal requires a high conservation priority with the establishment of new protected areas.

Climate change and land use threats to species of aapa mires, an EU priority habitat

Aapa mires are EU priority habitats that harbour unique biodiversity values but face increasing global change threats. Here, we investigate the exposure of red-listed aapa mire species inhabiting fen and flark fen habitats to the impacts of land use and climate change. Climate change-based threats were assessed across the aapa mire zone of Finland based on climate velocities (a metric describing the speed and direction of climate movement) measured for mean January temperature (TJan), growing degree days (GDD5) and mean annual water balance (WAB). Land use threats were assessed based on the cover of drainage ditches and three other adverse land use types around the species occurrences. Our results suggest that rapid changes in TJan may alter winter thermal conditions and thereby also species performance, particularly in the northernmost part of the aapa mire zone, where the most valuable concentrations of red-listed species are situated. The land use and GDD5 threats are highest in the southern regions where the red-listed aapa mire species occurrences are sparser but face severe risks to their persistence. In the central part of the aapa mire zone, a number of valuable aapa mires with red-listed species are exposed to both intermediately high TJan and GDD5 velocities and a spatially varying amount of ditching. Three conservation approaches to support the persistence of red-listed aapa mire species: (i) restoration, (ii) establishment of new protected areas, and (iii) monitoring of the key habitats, should be flexibly and complementarily applied to the preservation of aapa mires subject to accelerating climate change.

The first aerial survey to estimate abundance of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the breeding ground off Brazil (Breeding Stock A)

In the Southern Hemisphere, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were heavily exploited from both coastal stations and in pelagic waters in all major ocean basins. About 200,000 whales were taken after 1900, causing declines of populations to small percentages of their pre-exploitation levels. The study presented here aimed to investigate humpback whale abundance in the Brazilian coastal breeding ground, in order to provide information to support further analysis of the population recovery. Between 25 August and 2 September 2001, a fixed wing, flat window, aircraft was used to survey transect lines along the northern limit of Bahia State (12°10’S), to the southern limit of Espírito Santo State (20°42’S). All on-effort sightings were recorded and abundance was estimated according to standard distance sampling methodology (Burnham et al., 1980; Buckland et al., 1993). Group sizes of humpback whales ranged between 1-5 and the mean group size was 1.52 (±0.06). The model that best fitted the perpendicular distance data, based on the minimum Akaike Information Criterion, was the hazard rate model. The population size estimated using uncorrected data was 1,493 (CV=0.21) whales. Surface time was used to correct the estimates for gˆ(0), resulting in a correction factor of 0.67 (±0.15). The corrected analysis for each block and combined result, increased the population size estimate to 2,229 (CV=0.31) individuals. The data from this study could be used to identify new areas appropriate for whalewatching, to monitor the status and dynamics of the humpback whale population off the Brazilian coast and to provide information for the establishment of new protected areas.

Conservation of the Goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) under climate changes in Iraq

Climate is a vital factor that shapes habitat suitability for many species across space and time. Gazella subgutturosa (Goitered gazelle) is a globally vulnerable mammal already extinct in some areas of Armenia and Georgia and is highly threatened in other areas of its distribution. In this study, new data were gathered for 33 locations in north-eastern Iraq, and then together with literature data, Species Distribution Models (SDMs) were used to explore the geographical distribution of the gazelle under current and future climate change scenarios. We studied the relationship between seven climate variables and 43 occurrence records to predict habitat suitability of the gazelle under the current climate, and also under four future climate scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 for both 2050 and 2080). Annual precipitation and isothermality had the most influence on the distribution of Gazella subgutturosa. The most suitable habitat in both the current and future scenarios was located in north-eastern Iraq close to the Iranian border near the Zagros Mountains. There was no difference in habitat suitability for the gazelle inside Iraqi Protected Areas (PAs) compared to outside the PAs. Using the occurrence records and IUCN Red List national assessments, we found Iraqi Goitered gazelle populations to be classified as Endangered (EN). Our results suggest urgent conservation planning is needed to save this species, including the establishment of new PAs. These results contribute new baseline information, which was currently missing Goitered gazelle in about Iraq, to the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, which will hopefully aid with future global assessments and conservation.

No evidence of local deforestation leakage from protected areas establishment in Brazil's Amazon and Atlantic Forest

Establishing Protected areas (PAs) could displace or cause ‘leakage’ of deforestation into adjacent areas. Such leakage would potentially offset PAs' conservation effort by jeopardizing forest conservation goals and impeding financial mechanisms such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation - REDD+. Here we investigate forest loss inside PAs' borders and whether leakage occurred following the establishment of new PAs (n = 425) within the Amazon and the Atlantic forests in Brazil between 2004 and 2017. We applied a Before-After-Control-Intervention statistical design with a matching approach to evaluate deforestation leakage from PAs' establishment using a spatial (inside and outside PAs)– temporal (before and after PA establishment) measure of deforestation rates. We also used “Random Forest” to investigate the drivers of the effect of PAs' establishment on their surrounding areas. We found that when PAs' establishment led to reducing deforestation inside their boundaries, their surrounding also experienced a reduction in deforestation (“blockage”). Similarly, when PAs' establishment could not reduce deforestation inside their boundaries, their surroundings also experienced increased deforestation. Such a pattern was most common for Indigenous territories, especially in the deforestation arch in the Amazon. However, we did not find significant evidence for leakage as PAs' surroundings with a significant increase in deforestation were associated with PAs unable to significantly reduce deforestation within their boundaries. Therefore, “leakage” should not limit the establishment of new PAs. Instead, greater investments into reinforcement are needed for existing PAs, with high priority given to Indigenous Territories.

A National Park in the Making: Local Perceptions and Equity Implications around a Proposed National Park in Romania

Understanding local perceptions and equity concerns of new protected areas (PAs) is essential in ensuring support for conservation. We investigated local perceptions of a proposed national park (NP) in the Făgăraș Mountains (FM), Romania, to understand how PA perceptions can inform equitable establishment of new PAs. Using mixed methods (56 interviews, 644 questionnaires), we compared perceptions of locals near an existing private PA (n = 217) to locals in other parts of the FM (n = 427). Overall, locals perceive benefits and restrictions related to the proposed NP. Locals anticipate tourism benefits and increased environmental protection, but also increased human-wildlife conflicts. Understanding perceptions of proposed PAs can inform equitable planning and management, as local concerns can be identified and addressed. Our results show that a highly context-dependent, equitable approach to conservation, including early involvement of local populations and even distribution of benefits, is a critical point in building trust and good relations with locals.

Protected areas and extractive hegemony: A case study of marine protected areas in the Qikiqtani (Baffin Island) region of Nunavut, Canada

This article contributes to scholarly debates about the role of conservation in the reproduction of capitalist social relations with a case study on marine protected areas in the Canadian Arctic. Unlike historic parks in Canada, and modern parks in the Global South, new parks and protected areas in Canada are not cases of ‘primitive accumulation’ or ‘accumulation by dispossession’. Drawing on Gramscian historical materialism, we argue that their relationship to capital accumulation is primarily one of legitimization. Protected areas play a complex and contradictory role in the reproduction of capitalism in northern Canada. Because they protect important wildlife habitat and hunting grounds from extraction, and insofar as they usually entail support for fishing and hunting practices, the establishment of new protected areas can help reproduce Indigenous hunting and fishing economies. They therefore help maintain the conditions of possibility for a future anti-capitalist and decolonial social transformation. Moreover, because protected areas remove land from extractive capital’s sphere of activity, their establishment entails real material concessions to Indigenous communities from extractive capital. However, in the absence of a clearly articulated program for a broader social transformation, these concessions help create the conditions for Indigenous peoples to consent to an economy based on extraction and are therefore fundamental to the hegemony of extractive capital in Northern Canada. Thus, protected areas are part of an unstable equilibrium of compromises that extractive hegemony is premised on.

The arrangement of threatened plants in Mordovia: the role of biodiversity research centers

ABSTRACT Spatial conservation tools usually focus on identifying areas having species groups of interest. Consequently, there is a need to identify the main factors influencing the concentration of species (hotspots) and their locations. We asked: whether existing strictly protected areas are efficient to cover the main regional biodiversity hotspots; what characteristics are associated with hotspot arrangement; what is the minimal distance from a biodiversity research center needed to cover the main biodiversity amount. We analyzed factors influencing the spatial arrangement of 164 threatened plant species in the Republic of Mordovia (European Russia). To quantify species distribution, we used a grid mapping approach using 100 km2 quadrats. We identified four biodiversity research centers (BDRC) of threatened plant species in the study area, including two protected areas, the town of Saransk, and a regional key conservation area. About 50% of species and species locations were concentrated within a 24-km radius around BDRCs. From our results, buffer zones of protected areas should have a 5–10 km width and the establishment of new protected areas should be preceded by the identification of regional biodiversity hotspots. Additionally, the correctness of protected area arrangement with plant species richness in a region should be tested.

Ekologisten haittojen hyvittäminen suojelualueita ennallistamalla

Ihmistoiminnasta aiheutuvat ekologisesti haitalliset vaikutukset voidaan kompensoida tuottamalla luonnon kannalta hyötyjä, esimerkiksi ennallistamalla elinympäristöjä tai perustamalla uusia luonnonsuojelualueita. Elinympäristön ennallistaminen mahdollistaa elinympäristön palautumisen kohti luonnontilaa. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, voitaisiinko jo aiemmin suojelluilla alueilla tehtävällä ennallistamisella saavuttaa ekologisessa kompensaatiossa tarvittava luontohyöty. Voi ehkä vaikuttaa siltä, että tällä tavoin tuotetut hyödyt eivät ole luonnon kannalta lisäisiä, koska toimenpiteet kohdistuvat alueisiin, jotka ovat jo suojeltu. Suomessa on kuitenkin tällä hetkellä monia suojelualueita, joilla tehtävät ennallistamistoimet tuottaisivat luontohyötyjä, mutta joihin ei ole taloudellisia resursseja. Ihmisen toiminnasta aiheutuvia ekologisesti haitallisia vaikutuksia ei pääsääntöisesti kompensoida lainkaan. Näin ollen elämme tilanteessa, jossa vapaaehtoiset kompensaatiot olisivat joka tapauksessa lisäisiä, sillä vaihtoehtoisesti ennallistamista ei tehtäisi lainkaan. Tässä työssä esitetään myös laskentamalli suojelualueilla tuotettavien ennallistamishyötyjen arviointiin.

118 years of ornithological knowledge of a forgotten region of the Atlantic Forest near the largest city in South America

The Atlantic Forest in eastern South America harbors 849 bird species, of which 216 are endemic and 122 threatened with extinction. It is also one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots recognized throughout the world. Within this biome, the Serra do Mar stands out as an important area of endemism in South America. Nonetheless, ornithological knowledge of the Serra do Mar remains underestimated and incomplete. One lacunae of information for the Serra is a region called Curucutu, which is adjacent to the largest urban area in South America. The avifauna of Curucutu has been sampled occasionally since 1900, but all of the available data have yet to be published. Therefore, we compiled ornithological data published on Serra do Mar over the last 118 years and undertook a 16-year-long field inventory using 3 methods of data collection simultaneously (visual observations, point counts, and mist nets) for a total of 395 field days. Sampling was performed in forest and natural grasslands along an elevational gradient from 5 to 850 m.a.s.l. A total of 422 species of birds, 128 of which are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and 29 that are threatened with extinction, were documented, thereby illustrating the importance of this region. Of this total, 382 species occur in Núcleo Curucutu do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, demonstrating the importance of this reserve to the regional avifauna. We made several significant additions to the avifauna of the region, with only one species, the Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari), being considered regionally extinct because of a lack of records since 1900—thus representing a kind of poorly studied extinction that has yet to be investigated and may be happening with much greater frequency in large forested areas of Serra do Mar. Even though the region is partially protected, being a state reserve, its proximity to the largest urban area in South America automatically puts the area under threat, especially considering the disorganized urban growth that has been encroaching upon natural areas of the region. The expansion of current reserves, and the establishment of new protected areas in this region of Serra do Mar is essential for guaranteeing the integrity of this very rich and threatened bird community of the Atlantic Forest.

A global-level assessment of the effectiveness of protected areas at resisting anthropogenic pressures

One-sixth of the global terrestrial surface now falls within protected areas (PAs), making it essential to understand how far they mitigate the increasing pressures on nature which characterize the Anthropocene. In by far the largest analysis of this question to date and not restricted to forested PAs, we compiled data from 12,315 PAs across 152 countries to investigate their ability to reduce human pressure and how this varies with socioeconomic and management circumstances. While many PAs show positive outcomes, strikingly we find that compared with matched unprotected areas, PAs have on average not reduced a compound index of pressure change over the past 15 y. Moreover, in tropical regions average pressure change from cropland conversion has increased inside PAs even more than in matched unprotected areas. However, our results also confirm previous studies restricted to forest PAs, where pressures are increasing, but less than in counterfactual areas. Our results also show that countries with high national-level development scores have experienced lower rates of pressure increase over the past 15 y within their PAs compared with a matched outside area. Our results caution against the rapid establishment of new PAs without simultaneously addressing the conditions needed to enable their success.

GREEN BELT OF FENNOSCANDIA AS A FACTOR FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF BORDER AREAS

International cooperation is a distinctive feature of socio-economic development in the Green Belt of Fennoscandia (GBF). In this context, it is proposed to develop trilateral cooperation (Russia-Norway-Finland) on the conservation of intact areas and the establishment of new protected areas; biodiversity monitoring and longitudinal observations; scientific support to the development of nature-based tourism; study of the shared history of the three countries traversed by GBF; nomination of GBF for UNESCO World Heritage listing; ensuring wide public awareness of the unique features of GBF. The policy of sane nature management in GBF at the national level should be aimed at harmonizing sectoral strategies with international documents and treaties on the Arctic and strategies for environmental safety and development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, creating an ecosystem management system for Arctic territories. It is also important to work out and adopt a program to develop and strengthen the network of protected areas in the Murmansk Region and Republic of Karelia as stepping stones for tourism development and an action plan for the nomination of the Russian-Finnish-Norwegian border area as a UNESCO site. As part of the GBF development at the international level, the Government of the Russian Federation should reach an agreement with the Kingdom of Norway and adopt a document on the methodology for quantifying the damage from grazing of Norwegian reindeers in Russian territory and a compensation mechanism, as well as work out a mechanism to simplify the entry and stay of foreign tourists. At the national level in the Russian Federation, it is advisable to assign the ecological corridor status to the territory along the border with Finland and Norway, to which special nature management rules will apply. At the regional management level, it is necessary to develop regulatory mechanisms to motivate the logging industry to enter into long-term lease agreements with mandatory post-logging reforestation and sylviculture. The recommendations proposed in the article will improve the efficiency of environmental management in areas at the border with Finland and Norway, thus contributing to the economic development of the territories on the basis of the existing natural and cultural potential.

Evidence of forest restoration success and the conservation value of community-owned forests in Southwest China using dung beetles as indicators.

Protection of the world’s remaining forests and biodiversity is a matter of global concern. Yunnan, China is home to China’s only mainland tropical rainforests, and 20% of China’s total biodiversity. Despite restoration measures and establishment of new protected areas, this region is still experiencing biodiversity loss due to inadequate management and monitoring. We evaluate restoration success of China’s tropical forests in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve (XSBN-NNR), Yunnan, China using dung beetles as an indicator taxon. We sampled across a land-use gradient of human alteration: protected forest, restored forest, community owned forest, and rubber plantation. We collected 3,748 dung beetles from 21 species over a 3 month period. Multivariate analyses revealed unique assemblages in each land-use category, but with restored forest most similar to protected areas, suggesting restoration success in this region. Community forests were more diverse than plantations, suggesting that community forests may be a valuable and practical conservation tool in this region. Most species were generalists, although some had dietary and habitat preferences. Furthermore, dietary niche breadths were, on average, higher in disturbed areas, suggesting that disturbance may result in dietary changes. We show that restoration of tropical forests appears to be successful for a key ecological and biological indicator group- dung beetles. Furthermore, community-owned forests appear to be valuable and practical method of maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity in the region. Future management in this region would likely benefit from encouragement to maintain community-owned forests, economic incentives for restoring farmland to forest, and increased environmental monitoring across the land-use gradient.

<i>Callithrix aurita</i>: a marmoset species on its way to extinction in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest


 
 
 The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix aurita) is a small primate endemic to the montane regions of the southeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The species was formerly listed as “Vulnerable” (VU) on the Brazilian Official National List of Threatened Fauna Species, but in December 2014 it was re-classified as “Endangered” (EN) as a result of habitat loss, forest fragmentation and, especially, competition and hybridization with invasive marmosets (Callithrix spp.). This article gives an overview of the current conservation status of and field research on C. aurita that includes the objectives set forth by the C. aurita Conservation Project (spearheaded in December 2014 by a group of C. aurita researchers), and the related set of integrated conservation actions. These actions include expanded geographical surveys of C. aurita populations, improvements to a captive C. aurita breeding program, and the establishment of new protected areas as part of a C. aurita metapopulation management program. Despite these current efforts, however, the strengthening and consolidation of urgent conservation actions to protect the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset still depend on a variety of factors, including increased institutional collaboration and augmented financial support. Enhancing institutional and financial backing for C. aurita conservation will improve our understanding of the various challenges involved and, facilitate the rapid development of alternative strategies to mitigate ongoing threats to the species.
 
 

Assessing Shifts of Mediterranean and Arid Climates Under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 Climate Projections in Europe

The Mediterranean basin is the richest biodiversity region in Europe and a global hotspot of biological diversity. In spite of that, anthropogenic climate change is one of the most serious concerns for nature conservation in this region. One of the climatic threats is represented by shifts of the Mediterranean climate and expansion of the arid climate. In this paper, we present an assessment of changes in the spatial range of the Mediterranean climate in Europe and the conversion into arid climate under different greenhouse gas forcings, namely RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. We used 11 simulations in two future 30-year periods of state-of-the-art regional climate models from EURO-CORDEX. Our results indicate that by the end of the century under RCP8.5 the present Mediterranean climate zone is projected to contract by 16%, i.e. an area (~ 157,000 km2) equivalent to half the size of Italy. This compares with the less severe scenario RCP4.5 that projected only a 3% reduction. In addition, the Mediterranean climate zone is projected to expand to other zones by an area equivalent to 24 and 50% of its present extent under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. Our study indicates that expansion of the arid zone is almost always the cause for contraction of the Mediterranean zone. Under RCP8.5 the arid zone is projected to increase by more than twice its present extent, equivalent to three times the size of Greece. Results of this study are useful for identifying (1) priority zones for biodiversity conservation, i.e. stable Mediterranean climate zones, (2) zones requiring assisted adaptation, such as establishment of new protected areas, implementation of buffer zones around protected areas and creating ecological corridors connecting stable Mediterranean zones.

CROSS-SECTORAL COOPERATION IN MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL PARK UNA

UDK: 630*93:712.2(1-751.2)(497.6 Una)
 Protected areas have significant role in protection of biodiversity, social and cultural values followed by improvement of life standard of local population. As a country with economy in transition, Bosnia and Herzegovina is trying to follow globally increasing trends in nature protection. Yet, Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to the group of countries that have difficulties to meet European criteria for minimal percentage of protected areas. Although in the last two decades numerous initiatives for proclamation of protected areas have been launched, the percentage of protected areas is still far from the European average. Establishment of new protected areas is often followed with certain misunderstandings between interest groups, lack of participation, transparency and involvement of all interest groups. The concept of cross-sectoral cooperation imply interaction between different interest groups in specific area characterized by efforts, cooperation and responsibility in order to accomplish joint consensus about the improvement of management of natural resources. This paper is focusing on the concept of cross-sectoral cooperation through the analysis of its implementation in management of National park "Una", as the youngest proclaimed National park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The attitudes of interest groups related to cross-sectoral cooperation will be discussed together with proposal of several activities for improvement of cross-sectoral cooperation in National park "Una". Results could be useful for key decision makers in nature protection sector and institutions responsible for management of protected areas to recognize importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and promote its implementation and everyday practice.

Spatial patterns of carbon, biodiversity, deforestation threat, and REDD+ projects in Indonesia.

There are concerns that Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) may fail to deliver potential biodiversity cobenefits if it is focused on high carbon areas. We explored the spatial overlaps between carbon stocks, biodiversity, projected deforestation threats, and the location of REDD+ projects in Indonesia, a tropical country at the forefront of REDD+ development. For biodiversity, we assembled data on the distribution of terrestrial vertebrates (ranges of amphibians, mammals, birds, reptiles) and plants (species distribution models for 8 families). We then investigated congruence between different measures of biodiversity richness and carbon stocks at the national and subnational scales. Finally, we mapped active REDD+ projects and investigated the carbon density and potential biodiversity richness and modeled deforestation pressures within these forests relative to protected areas and unprotected forests. There was little internal overlap among the different hotspots (richest 10% of cells) of species richness. There was also no consistent spatial congruence between carbon stocks and the biodiversity measures: a weak negative correlation at the national scale masked highly variable and nonlinear relationships island by island. Current REDD+ projects were preferentially located in areas with higher total species richness and threatened species richness but lower carbon densities than protected areas and unprotected forests. Although a quarter of the total area of these REDD+ projects is under relatively high deforestation pressure, the majority of the REDD+ area is not. In Indonesia at least, first-generation REDD+ projects are located where they are likely to deliver biodiversity benefits. However, if REDD+ is to deliver additional gains for climate and biodiversity, projects will need to focus on forests with the highest threat to deforestation, which will have cost implications for future REDD+ implementation.Los Patrones Espaciales del Carbono, la Biodiversidad, la Amenaza de Deforestación y los Proyectos REDD+ en IndonesiaResumenActualmente hay preocupación por que las Emisiones Reducidas de la Deforestación y Degradación del Bosque (REDD+, en inglés) puedan fallar en la entrega de co–beneficios potenciales de la biodiversidad si se enfocan en áreas de alto carbono. Exploramos los traslapes espaciales entre los stocks de carbono, la biodiversidad, las amenazas proyectadas de deforestación y la ubicación de proyectos REDD+ en Indonesia, un país tropical a la vanguardia del desarrollo REDD+. Para la biodiversidad, reunimos datos sobre la distribución de vertebrados terrestres (hábitats de anfibios, mamíferos, aves y reptiles) y plantas (modelos de distribución de especies para ocho familia). Después investigamos la congruencia entre las diferentes medidas de la riqueza de la biodiversidad y los stocks de carbono en la escala nacional y sub–nacional. Finalmente mapeamos proyectos REDD+ activos e investigamos la densidad de carbono y la riqueza potencial de la biodiversidad y modelamos presiones de deforestación dentro de estos bosques en relación con áreas protegidas y no protegidas. Hubo poco traslape interno entre los diferentes hotspots (el 10% más rico de las celdas) de riqueza de especies. Tampoco hubo congruencia espacial consecuente entre los stocks de carbono y las medidas de la biodiversidad: una correlación negativa débil en la escala nacional enmascaró las relaciones altamente variables y no-lineales isla por isla. Los proyectos REDD+ actuales estuvieron ubicados preferencialmente en áreas con una riqueza total de especies y con una riqueza de especies amenazadas más altas pero con densidades de carbono más bajas que en las áreas protegidas y los bosques sin protección. Aunque un cuarto del área total de estos proyectos REDD+ está bajo una presión de deforestación relativamente alta, la mayoría del área REDD+ no lo está. Por lo menos en Indonesia, los proyectos REDD+ de primera generación están ubicados en donde tengan probabilidad de entregar beneficios para la biodiversidad. Sin embargo, si se espera que REDD+ entregue beneficios adicionales para el clima y la biodiversidad, los proyectos necesitarán enfocarse en los bosques con la mayor amenaza de deforestación, lo que tendrá implicaciones de costo para la implementación futura de REDD+.

South-Eastern Lesser Caucasus: the most important landscape for conserving the Leopard (Panthera pardus) in the Caucasus region (Mammalia: Felidae)

Between January 2013 and October 2014, camera-trapping and field tracking monitoring of the Leopard (Panthera pardus) in the southern part of the Caucasus resulted in 220 photos and 26 videos depicting leopards, and 4 verified leopard scat samples identified by mtDNA analysis. Based on unique coating markings, 5-6 individuals were identified. The main reasons for the increased visibility of the leopard include the rapid establishment of new protected areas during last 10 years in the southern Caucasus, as well as a hunting ban in the Nakhchyvan Region of Azerbaijan since 2001 and anti-poaching activities conducted in southern Armenia since 2003. The South-eastern Lesser Caucasus has been identified as a priority landscape for leopard conservation in the Caucasus.

Thresholds in the relationship between functional diversity and patch size for mammals in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

AbstractPatch size affects abundance and diversity of mammal species, but there is little information on threshold regarding this relationship or relating it to functional diversity. Therefore, we aimed with this study to (1) evaluate if the functional diversity of medium‐ and large‐sized mammal assemblages can be explained by patch size; (2) if this relationship is positive, evaluate whether it is linear (neutral hypothesis) or has critical thresholds (threshold hypothesis); (3) propose specific conservation strategies for each situation. We used primary and secondary mammal database for different forest remnants sizes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. We calculated functional diversity (FD), using an ecologically meaningful set of traits: body mass and locomotion form, behavioral and dietary traits, and environmental sensitivity of species. We compared linear models with threshold models using Akaike information criterion (AIC). FD values increased with patch size, possibly associated with the high complexity and heterogeneity of larger areas. The threshold model better explained the pattern between FD values and patch sizes than the linear one (delta AIC = 35.8), confirming our threshold hypothesis. Two thresholds (at 60 and 2050 ha) were identified. Our results highlight the need of compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code for assemblages in fragments lower than 60 ha. For assemblages in fragments between the two thresholds whose FD values significantly increased with patch size, we recommend improvements in conservation planning. For assemblages in fragments bigger than 2050 ha, we suggest the establishment of new protected areas, or at least, the maintenance of the existent ones. Our approach can serve as the basis for analysis with other taxonomic groups and ecosystems, increasing chances of maintaining faunal ecological functions, and improving species conservation.