Conservation Goals Research Articles

Integrated Methodological Approach for the Balance Between Conservation and Traditional Use in a Protected Area

Protected Natural Areas often impose restrictions that require a delicate balance between conservation and the traditional uses upheld by local communities. This study presents a novel integrated methodological approach using anthropo-natural landscapes as the primary unit of analysis. The methodology evaluates natural suitability for various appropriate uses within the protected area, considering legal compatibility, environmental sustainability, socioeconomic benefits, and technical-financial feasibility. Our case study of the Pico Azul – La Escalera Environmental Protection Zone reveals that 59.2% of the territory is primarily suited for conservation activities, 38.3% for the rehabilitation of degraded areas, and only 2.5% for extensive livestock farming and rainfed agriculture. Additionally, 24% of the area, comprising mainly non-degraded sectors, is designed for the sustainable use of non-timber forest resources. Furthermore, alternative tourism is identified as a viable secondary use in 10.2% of the most preserved landscapes. This research underscores the importance of a comprehensive and balanced approach to managing protected areas, ensuring both conservation goals and the livelihoods of local communities are met.

Mapping cultural diversity conservation networks to enhance cultural sustainability in rural Southwest China

Cultural diversity conservation is crucial for global sustainability, especially in rural areas facing challenges such as shrinking settlements and integration into nature reserves. However, existing research lacks discussion on how to establish cultural diversity conservation areas while considering the trade-offs with nature reserves. To address this gap, we employ the SCP method to develop a planning framework that balances ecosystem service benefits for nature conservation with the effectiveness of cultural diversity conservation, applied in rural Southwest China. Our findings indicate that overly ambitious or conservative conservation goals hinder cultural diversity conservation, whereas a value-based scenario enhances conservation effectiveness and reduces conflicts with rural natural ecosystems. We propose rural cultural diversity conservation networks comprising 9 cultural diversity areas, 33 core conservation areas, and 233 subcatchments. Compared with existing systems, our new conservation networks improve effectiveness by 29.62% and reduce the impact on the ecosystem service benefits of ecological conservation by 23.65%. These findings provide guidance for global cultural diversity conservation planning and sustainable development across various regions and scales.

Improving Public Governance: The Relationship among Logistics Management, Transparency and Accountability in the Peruvian Public Sector

This research addressed deficiencies in logistics management and transparency in the Peruvian public sector, focusing specifically on the municipality studied. The research revealed critical problems in the supplier selection and contracting stages, as well as in the updating of the transparency portal, highlighting the erosion of integrity and fairness in public procurement. The study methodology combined quantitative approaches such as surveys and document analysis, which allowed for a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the problem. Through data triangulation, detailed insights crucial to the development of effective interventions were obtained. The results highlight a significant correlation between effective logistics management practices and high levels of transparency and accountability. Specific practices within Group 3 are identified that could serve as a model for governance reform. This study not only addresses a gap in the existing literature, but also provides a solid foundation for the development of more effective and transparent public policies. By addressing the shortcomings of logistics management, the study contributed to the empowerment of the civil community and the creation of a more open and fair government, indirectly supporting the goals of environmental sustainability and conservation.

Strengthening Anoa (Bubalus spp.) Conservation Based on Social and Cultural Community Values in Wallacea Bioregion, Indonesia

This study explored the local wisdom of the Pinogu community in the Wallacea bioregion concerning the conservation of the endangered anoa species, with a focus on social and cultural values. In-depth interviews were conducted with 150 households, and the data were categorized into social and cultural themes. Regarding social values, the findings revealed that the community predominantly had a moderate level of knowledge about the anoa (52.0%), while 35% had high knowledge, and 13% had low knowledge. Results from the binary logistic analysis showed that participation in anoa conservation was influenced by three key factors. Those were knowledge of the species, involvement in forestry extension programs, and past participation in conservation initiatives. In the terms of cultural values, although no traditional rules were directly associated with anoa conservation, there were existing regulations that focused on forest protection around Pinogu area and core zone of the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. Based on these findings, it is recommended that extension and conservation education programs be intensified for the younger generation in Pinogu community, with active involvement of the community. This approach could ensure long-term sustainability by aligning with forest conservation efforts, benefiting both the local community and broader conservation goals.

Incentivizing water conservation in agriculture: A case study of the great salt lake watersheds

Abstract Conserving agricultural water resources is crucial for sustainable development, yet, developing effective policies is challenging due to limited site-specific information. We present a framework combining economic models and remote-sensing data to spatially explicitly assess willingness-to-accept payments to irrigators and unit water-saving costs. Applied to three major tributary watersheds of the Great Salt Lake, this frame- work identifies areas with the highest conservation potential and cost-effectiveness. We find that an annual water conservation goal of 581 million m3, necessary to restore the lake within 30 years, can be met by fallowing irrigated alfalfa fields. With 95% certainty, this goal would be fully achieved with annual payments of US$325 million under site-specific payments or US$376 million under county-level payments, or at least 84% achieved with US$341 million under watershed-level payments. This framework can be applied to explore policy priorities and the economic viability of land-based natural resource protection, informing funding decisions and achieving conservation goals in various contexts.

Assessing the sustainability of Pacific walrus harvest in a changing environment

AbstractHarvest sustainability is a primary goal of wildlife management and conservation, and in a changing world, it is increasingly important to consider environmental drivers of population dynamics alongside harvest in cohesive management plans. This is particularly pertinent for harvested species that acutely experience effects of climate change. The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), a crucial subsistence resource for Indigenous communities, is simultaneously subject to rapid habitat loss associated with diminishing sea ice and an increasing anthropogenic footprint in the Arctic. We developed a theta‐logistic population modeling‐management framework to evaluate various harvest scenarios combined with 4 potential climate and disturbance scenarios (ranging from optimistic to pessimistic, based largely on sea ice projections from general circulation models) to simulate Pacific walrus population dynamics to the end of the twenty‐first century, focusing on the independent‐aged female subset of the population. We considered 2 types of harvest strategies: 1) state‐dependent harvest scenarios wherein we calculated harvest as a percentage of the population and updated annual harvests at set intervals as the population was reassessed, and 2) annually consistent harvest scenarios wherein annual harvest levels remain consistent into the future. All climate and disturbance scenarios indicated declines of varying severity in Pacific walrus abundance to the end of the twenty‐first century, even in the absence of harvest. However, we found that a state‐dependent annual harvest of 1.23% of the independent‐aged female subset of the population (e.g., 1,280 independent‐aged females harvested in 2020, similar to contemporary harvest levels) met our criterion for sustainability under all climate and disturbance scenarios, considering a medium risk tolerance level of 25%. This indicates that the present rate of Pacific walrus harvest is sustainable and will continue to be—provided the population is assessed at regular intervals and harvest is adapted to match changes in population dynamics. Our simulations indicate that a sustainable annually‐consistent harvest is also possible but only at low levels if the population declines as expected. Applying a constant annual harvest of 1,280 independent‐aged females failed to meet our criterion for sustainability under 3 of the 4 climate and disturbance scenarios we evaluated and had a higher probability of quasi‐extinction than an equivalent state‐dependent harvest scenario (1.23%). We highlight the importance of state‐dependent management strategies and suggest our modeling framework is useful for managing harvest sustainability in a changing climate.

Connecting young people to Country through marine turtle conservation: exploring three case studies in Western Australia’s Pilbara region

The world’s oceans are confronting many challenges, which are affecting threatened species such as marine turtles. To address these challenges, it is imperative that pro-environmental behaviors are cultivated in the wider community, and young people are provided opportunities to overcome socio-economic and geographical barriers to meaningfully experience nature. In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Aboriginal Traditional Custodians share a deep connection and caring relationship with Country. Collaboration and partnership between Traditional Custodians and conservation programs are essential for empowering Aboriginal young people as future conservation leaders and to achieve long-term conservation goals. Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a government department, has been working with schools and community organisations across the Pilbara to support access to remote Sea Country and marine turtle conservation experiences for Aboriginal young people. By examining three case studies demonstrating the collaboration among the North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program, West Pilbara Turtle Program, Waalitj Foundation, Onslow School and Roebourne District High School, this article explores the importance of building partnerships, providing additional on-Country opportunities for young people, and enabling future pathways for the longevity of long-term conservation programs and the health of the environment and communities.

Conservation in agricultural landscapes: Impact of privately managed interventions on habitat condition and woody cover

Agricultural landscapes often overlap with areas of high biodiversity. Conservation efforts in these areas have the potential to play a pivotal role in mitigating biodiversity loss and supporting global conservation targets. This study investigates the effectiveness of private conservation interventions established in an agricultural landscape and biodiversity hotspot of Tasmania, Australia. Using a synthetic control design, we assessed two interventions: conservation covenants, which limit disturbances, and a stewardship program emphasizing active management. Our analysis, segmented by dominant vegetation group, examines both habitat condition and woody cover. Results indicate substantial variability both within and between programmes. The stewardship programme generally improved habitat conditions for native grasslands and grassy woodlands, although increased woody cover in native grasslands was a negative outcome. Conservation covenants had positive effects on grassy woodlands and modified agricultural land but were less effective in native grasslands. The study highlights challenges in private conservation, such as balancing landowner engagement with conservation goals and ensuring consistent monitoring. Long-term monitoring and adaptive management are crucial for sustainable ecological benefits, and integrating privately managed conservation efforts with public reserves has the potential to help achieving global biodiversity targets. Insights from this research can guide future conservation strategies, promoting effective management practices in working landscapes.

Restoration of degraded seagrass meadows: Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation on Zostera marina growth, rhizosphere microbiome and ecosystem functionality

The utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) holds great promise for the restoration of damaged terrestrial plant ecosystems. However, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the application of PGPR in rehabilitating aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we conducted a mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of Raoultella ornithinolytica F65, Pantoea cypripedii G84, Klebsiella variicola G85, Novosphingobium profundi G86, and Klebsiella pneumoniae I109 on eelgrass (Zostera marina L.), which is a crucial marine angiosperm. The application of these strains resulted in a significant increase in the new leaf area of eelgrass, with improvements of 55.4%, 14.4%, 39.1%, 20.6%, and 55.7% observed, respectively. Moreover, PGPR inoculation enhanced shoot biomass, rhizome elongation, leaf carbon and nitrogen content, as well as photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, it stimulated enzymatic activities within the rhizosphere soil and positively influenced its physicochemical properties. The Illumina Miseq sequencing results revealed a positive shift in the bacterial community, leading to an enrichment of functional groups associated with nitrogen fixation and degradation of aromatic compounds. These findings underscore the significant potential of PGPR as a transformative tool for enhancing seagrass growth and survival, offering innovative strategies for the restoration of degraded seagrass meadows. This research not only advances our understanding of microbial-plant interactions in aquatic ecosystems but contributes to the broader goals of ecosystem revitalization and biodiversity conservation.

Optimizing Conservation Planning: An Integrated Approach to Cost-Effective Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration Management in Yunnan Province, China

This study introduces an innovative, integrated approach to optimizing conservation planning in Yunnan Province, China. By maximizing the synergistic benefits of threatened species protection and carbon sequestration while minimizing economic costs, the research identifies regions with the highest conservation cost-effectiveness. This is achieved by combining species distribution models (SDMs) for threatened species, carbon sequestration capacity estimates, and local economic data through an input-output (I-O) model at 1 kilometer resolution. The study highlights key regions within Yunnan—particularly in the northwestern areas of Shangri-la and Nujiang prefectures—as offering significant ecological benefits at relatively low opportunity costs. These findings provide a scalable framework for policymakers to prioritize regions for protected area (PA) expansion, thus enhancing conservation outcomes while minimizing financial expenditures. The proposed methodology improves conservation investments' cost-effectiveness and supports broader conservation and sustainable land management goals. This research underscores the necessity of integrating multiple ecological and economic factors to address the urgent challenges of biodiversity loss.

Assessing South Africa’s marine protected area quality and progress towards conservation goals: An application of The MPA Guide framework

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a widely used area-based conservation tool for preventing or reversing the loss of marine biodiversity and sustaining the social-ecological systems that it underpins. Global targets for ocean protection typically track the extent of ocean area within MPAs. However, understanding the effectiveness of protection is crucial, as the level of protection and associated benefits for biodiversity and human wellbeing can vary among different types of MPAs. In South Africa, 41 MPAs currently protect 5.4 % of the country’s mainland exclusive economic zone (EEZ), each with varied conservation goals and unique zonation. We evaluated all 41 MPAs using the MPA Guide assessment framework to clarify levels of protection, expected conservation outcomes, and meaningful progress towards meeting national protection targets. We also compared types of site-specific management goals to the assessed level of protection for each MPA to understand whether MPAs are likely to achieve their stated goals. We found that all MPAs are at least Implemented, with most coverage Fully or Highly Protected (70.1 % of total MPA area; 3.8 % of EEZ). We also found that 40 MPAs have levels of protection that are likely to support all types of site-specific management goals. Our results indicate that South Africa’s MPA network has strong potential to deliver positive conservation benefits if MPA funding and capacity constraints, as well as other socio-economic factors, are addressed. Future protection initiatives should consider these factors prior to anticipated MPA expansion.

Attaining conservation goals for quinoa: Implications for public policy in Peru and beyond.

Worldwide many crop varieties are considered seriously threatened while management strategies are still lacking. Goals and indicators relevant to the conservation of agrobiodiversity also remain to be developed. Here we present the results of three expert workshops in Peru designed to prioritise for conservation crops with high infra-specific diversity, along with the establishment of in-situ on-farm conservation goals and indicators. Analysing the results of a series of agrobiodiversity-related Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) interventions realised between 2010 and 2021, "gaps" between current conservation status and the conservation goals are established. The identification of such gaps within the Peruvian regulatory framework is indispensable for justifying long-term government funding. Furthermore, the goal and indicator development processes initiated in Peru could also form a template for other countries, with a view to supporting the implementation of a range of international treaties, conventions and development goals.

Stakeholder perceptions of mangrove ecosystem services across scales of conservation focus.

Conservation faces a chronic shortage of resources, including time, funding, mental capacity, and human capital. Efforts to make the expenditure of these resources more efficient should, therefore, support more equitable and effective conservation prioritization. To achieve this, it is necessary to ensure the integration of the knowledge and perceptions of local stakeholders into larger scale conservation decisions. We used fuzzy cognitive mental modeling to assess the perceptions of mangroves and the prioritization of ecosystem services across 3 groups of stakeholders: representatives from 3 coastal Fijian villages, the national office of an international nongovernmental organization (NGO), and the US office of that same NGO. We found different topologies and valuations among the resultant mental models, with the US NGO office having the most terms. However, when comparing models from local villages with the US NGO office, scale-dependent perceptions shifted, including the relative devaluation of locally important cultural valuations of mangroves. Despite these variations in perceptions, however, 3 key components of the mental models-women's livelihoods, men's livelihoods, and fisheries supplementation-all appeared as consistently important in multiple models, suggesting areas around which potential collaboration among stakeholders could be forged. By focusing on system-wide, rather than stakeholder-specific, optimal solutions within the system, new opportunities for collaboration may emerge. In doing so, these system-wide solutions may increase efficiency and collaboration. Moreover, we found that boundary-spanning organizations, such as the national-level conservation organizations, played a role in facilitating information transfer and mediating conservation goals in a culturally appropriate fashion. Finally, although the specific example used here is mangrove conservation, our methodologies and findings are broadly applicable across a variety of conservation scenarios.

Identifying Major Factors for Success and Failure of Conservation Programs in Europe.

In Europe, various conservation programs adopted to maintain or restore biodiversity have experienced differing levels of success. However, a synthesis about major factors for success of biodiversity-related conservation programs across ecosystems and national boundaries, such as incentives, subsidies, enforcement, participation, or spatial context, is missing. Using a balanced scorecard survey among experts, we analyzed and compared factors contributing to success or failure of three different conservation programs: two government programs (Natura 2000 and the ecological measures of the Water Framework Directive) and one conservation program of a non-governmental organization (NGO; Rewilding Europe), all focusing on habitat and species conservation. The experts perceived the NGO program as more successful in achieving biodiversity-related aims than governmental conservation legislation. Among the factors perceived to influence the success of biodiversity conservation, several stood out: Biodiversity-damaging subsidies, external economic interests competing with conservation goals or policies conflicting with biodiversity conservation were recognized as major factors for the lack of conservation success. Outreach to raise societal interest and awareness as well as stakeholder involvement were perceived as closely related to the success of programs. Our expert survey demonstrated that external factors from economy and policy often hinder success of conservation programs, while societal and environmental factors rather contribute to it. This study implies that conservation programs should be designed to be as inclusive as possible and provides a basis for developing a standardized methodology that explicitly considers indirect drivers from areas such as economy, policy and society.

Habitat management interventions for a specialist mid- successional grassland butterfly, the Lulworth Skipper

Evidence-based management is needed to reverse declines in insect abundance. The Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon is a range-restricted and declining species in the UK and northern Europe associated with mid-successional grassland, which presents management challenges because interventions are necessary to prevent long-term habitat deterioration but can result in short-term reductions in quality. In addition, site management should be compatible for the focal species and for wider plant and insect diversity. We conducted factorial experimental management trials to understand effects of cutting and rotovation on the height and structure of vegetation containing the larval host plant Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre. We monitored vegetation height, B. rupestre cover and plant diversity, and T. acteon larval presence over four years. Rotovation and cutting differed in their effects on habitat structure and larval occupancy relative to controls. Vegetation height and host plant cover, the most important components of habitat quality for T. acteon, were faster to recover to suitable levels on cut plots. However, larval occupancy increased more quickly on rotovated plots, where plant species diversity was also higher. Results suggest that due to initial negative impacts of interventions on T. acteon occupancy, low frequency or low-intensity management, such as managing sections of a site every three years, is advisable. Our results show that rotovation or cutting the sward can be suitable for mid-successional grassland species such as Lulworth Skipper on sites where grazing might be problematic. Rotational grazing or rotovation can maintain suitable conditions for habitat specialist insects requiring a range of different grassland conditions, serving wider conservation goals.

Economic Values for Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in Florida

Florida’s coral reef is the third-largest barrier reef system in the world and provides valuable ecosystem services, such as recreation and tourism, erosion protection, and other services. Florida’s reefs have been declining due to impacts from climate change, pollution, and other pressures. In response, various conservation strategies have been implemented, including education and outreach, growing corals in nurseries and transplanting them to degraded reef sites, and deploying artificial reefs. However, few studies have estimated an explicit value for different strategies to attain conservation goals. Understanding economic values for reef restoration and enhancement is needed to help inform decision-making and support marine policy. This study conducted a stated preference choice experiment survey to examine the way U.S. residents make economic trade-offs among different restoration strategies, including increasing coral cover, deploying artificial reefs, and limiting visitor access to reef sites. The results suggest that, on average, the economic value of increasing coral cover is about twice as high as the value of increasing the number of artificial reef sites. Economic values for reducing visitation were similar to values for increasing the number of artificial reefs. These results provide essential information to policy analysts concerning reef use, reef importance, and economic values for reef restoration.

Optimizing Forest Management: Balancing Environmental and Economic Goals Using Game Theory and Multi-Objective Approaches

Forests are complex ecosystems that require integrated management to balance economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Conflicting objectives among stakeholders make optimal decision-making particularly challenging. This study seeks to balance the economic gains of forest harvesting with the goals of environmental conservation, with a focus on the Shafarood forest in Northern Iran. We applied multi-objective optimization and game theory to maximize the net present value (NPV) of forest harvesting while enhancing carbon sequestration. The research utilized data on stumpage prices, harvesting costs, tree density, volume per ha, growth rates, interest rates, carbon sequestration, and labour costs. Applying the epsilon-constraint method, we derived Pareto optimal solutions for a bi-objective model, and game theory was applied to negotiate between economic and environmental stakeholders. In the fifth round of bargaining, a Nash equilibrium was achieved between the two players. At this equilibrium point, the economic player achieved NPV from forest harvesting of 9001.884 (IRR 10,000/ha) and amount of carbon sequestration of 159.9383 tons/ha. Meanwhile, the environmental player achieved NPV from forest harvesting of 7861.248 (IRR 10,000/ha), along with a carbon sequestration of 159.9731 tons/ha. Results indicate significant trade-offs but reveal potential gains for both economic and environmental goals. These findings provide a robust framework for sustainable forest management and offer practical tools to support informed decision-making for diverse stakeholders.

Energy Scheduling and Low-carbon and Water Conservation Optimization for Electricity-Heat-Cooling-Gas Multi-Region Integrated Energy System

As global demand for green and clean energy grows, integrated energy systems (IESs) capable of integrating renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics and wind power are considered as a key approach to solve the energy crisis. These systems can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce the use of fossil fuels. This article proposes an energy dispatch and low-carbon optimization method for a multi-region electricity-heat-cooling-gas IES. The method considers traditional energy flows such as electricity and natural gas, while further introducing cooling and heating loads, energy storage technologies (e.g., battery storage and thermal storage), and demand response strategies to more comprehensively simulate the operational characteristics and interactions of energy systems across different regions. Through multi-region collaborative optimal scheduling, the IES achieves energy complementarity and balance between regions, and can flexibly respond to changes in different load demands, thereby enhancing the reliability and resilience of the system. Simulation results show that the proposed method not only improves energy utilization but also significantly reduces operating costs and carbon emissions. Especially with the integration of renewable energy sources, it effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global environmental protection and sustainable development goals. In addition, by incorporating efficient water management strategies into the multi-region IES, the system further supports environmental protection through reduced water consumption, aligning with both energy and water conservation goals.

Energy-saving research on the separation of isopropyl acetate and isopropanol azeotrope using pressure-swing distillation based on phase equilibrium

In high purity thioglycolic acid production, isopropyl acetate is used to extract the acid from intermediates, but it hydrolyzes and forms azeotrope with isopropanol under acidic conditions. To achieve environmental conservation, resource utilization, and clean production goals, the design of economically profitable separation processes becomes imperative. Pressure-swing distillation (PSD) with process intensification is employed after derived binary interaction parameters from VLE data at lower pressures, and sequential iteration simplified optimization is performed. Further to overcome the high energy consumption encountered in traditional PSD, heat integration and steam recompression technology were incorporated, resulting in four energy-saving PSD designs. And temperature-enthalpy diagrams were utilized to assess their energy consumption. Based on evaluation indicators of total annual cost (TAC), total energy consumption (TEC), and CO2 emissions, all improved PSD processes significantly reduced TAC and CO2 emissions. Among them, heat pump (HP-PSD) demonstrating the highest economy and eco-friendliness with a 30.1 % and 82.4 % reduction in TAC and CO2 emissions. Heat pump assisted heat integration (HP-HIPSD) also attracted significant attention of reducing TAC by 16.3 %. A longer payback period is expected to yield higher cost savings from all enhanced designs. This study provides invaluable insights for the separation and sustainable development of alcohol ester azeotropes.

Participatory mapping of uses and ecosystem services as a useful tool for the identification of conflicts in Marine Protected Areas: The case of the Cíes Islands archipelago (NW Spain)

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) aim to preserve marine natural capital and reduce marine biodiversity loss. However, due to the diversity of objectives in marine planning, their management involves the resolution of conflicts on current uses and ecosystem services. Participatory mapping is a useful technique in MPA's management that uses local knowledge to map ecosystem services and associated conflicts and threats. The goal of this study was to analyse the stakeholders' perception on uses and ecosystem services in the Cíes Islands archipelago, located in the National Park of the Galician Atlantic Islands. Results from semi-structured questionnaires conducted with different stakeholders, indicated that landscape values and marine research were the most valued ecosystem services, although slight differences were found between fishers and other sectors. The activities exerting the highest pressure on the protected area were fishing and tourism. Conflicts were mainly associated with the co-existence of activities within the MPA, potentially threatening conservation goals. Participatory mapping helped to identify MPA management actions to achieve conservation objectives while maintaining current uses and activities in the future.