Transboundary Protected Areas Research Articles

A National Park split by an internal border. Analysing the case of Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain)

In countries characterized by a high degree of decentralization, the limits between their main administrative units – that is, their ‘internal borders’ – with jurisdiction over protected natural areas prove critical for their management. This article analyses a national park split by just such an internal border, its objective being to determine the extent to which this border compromises the classic notion of a national park and how it impacts its management. The case study described is that of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, located in the centre of Spain, straddling the autonomous regions or communities of Castile and León and the Community of Madrid. The study exploits qualitative techniques, specifically semi-structured interviews with prominent actors in this territory, which allow us to analyse their perceptions of the national park and the implications of the border between the two autonomous communities in which it lies. Our research shows that the effects of internal borders can be similar to those of a border between two States, and that in decentralized countries the concept of transboundary protected areas is valid at the intra-state level. Additionally, the important political role played by national parks at different scales is verified as is the fact that cooperation between Spain’s autonomous communities remains weak.

Importance of EU Integration for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation in Transboundary Protected Areas (TPAs) in the Western Balkan

There are many important protected areas in the Western Balkan region, which are shared between Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece. These areas have special importance based on their species density (mosses and higher plants) per surface unit. These transboundary ecosystems, which include mountainous massifs, lakes, and rivers, are biodiversity hotspots for the whole of Europe. Species and habitat densities are high compared to other countries in Southeast Europe. However, political borders fragment properly across two or three countries, which often have different approaches and rules for nature protection and the use of resources. Hence, in this short opinion piece, we stress common and cooperative transboundary protection and management in these countries. Furthermore, the European Union’s policy towards the Western Balkan countries in the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP), with the goal of their eventual EU membership, is crucial. Therefore, our appeal is addressed not only to the respective local communities and national governments but also to the European Commission and related EU institutions. We stress the importance of these cross-border ecosystems in the integration process.

The Future of Nature Conservation in Amazonia: Evidence From Transboundary Protected Areas

Biological diversity has been recognized as a global asset that is key to the well-being and survival of present and future generations. In response to massive destruction of the world’s ecosystems, the international community has agreed on several initiatives, most importantly, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992, which is the basis of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, and the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. A central instrument of these initiative are protected areas. The nine Amazonian countries alone, have designated 390 million hectares of protected forest areas, some of which are under very heavy pressure. As explicitly stated in Aichi Targets 11, 17, and 18, the effective governance and management of these protected areas requires the active participation of indigenous and other local resource user groups and respect for their traditional knowledge and customary practices. This manuscript analyzes to what extent and in which way these targets have been achieved by analyzing three transboundary protected areas in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia constituted of five national parks. The analysis shows that important progress has been made in terms of the local participation and the generation and sharing of economic benefits, mostly due to the engagement of non-governmental organization (NGOs) funded from overseas development assistance (ODA) sources. However, many of the established mechanisms show major shortcomings, such as power imbalances, lack of legitimacy of decision-makers, unclear responsibilities, unresolved logistical challenges, and the lack of financial support. In addition, the functionality of local governance structures is severely threatened by the vagaries of national policies that often put biodiversity conservation and economic development at loggerheads. In order to ensure the functionality of protected areas in the Amazon region, binding and sufficient commitments by national governments are needed for genuine and effective local governance.

Conservation planning on China's borders with Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.

Transboundary conservation is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining ecosystem integrity and halting biodiversity loss caused by anthropogenic activities. However, lack of information on species distributions in transboundary regions and understanding of the threats in these areas impairs conservation. We developed a spatial conservation plan for the transboundary areas between Yunnan province, southwestern China, and neighboring Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam in the Indo‐Burma biodiversity hotspot. To identify priority areas for conservation and restoration, we determined species distribution patterns and recent land‐use changes and examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of the connected natural forest, which supports most species. We assessed connectivity with equivalent connected area (ECA), which is the amount of reachable habitat for a species. An ECA incorporates the presence of habitat in a patch and the amount of habitat in other patches within dispersal distance. We analyzed 197,845 locality records from specimen collections and monographs for 21,004 plant and vertebrate species. The region of Yunnan immediately adjacent to the international borders had the highest species richness, with 61% of recorded species and 56% of threatened vertebrates, which suggests high conservation value. Satellite imagery showed the area of natural forest in the border zone declined by 5.2% (13,255 km2) from 1995 to 2018 and monoculture plantations increased 92.4%, shrubland 10.1%, and other cropland 6.2%. The resulting decline in connected natural forest reduced the amount of habitat, especially for forest specialists with limited dispersal abilities. The most severe decline in connectivity was along the Sino‐Vietnamese border. Many priority areas straddle international boundaries, indicating demand and potential for establishing transboundary protected areas. Our results illustrate the importance of bi‐ and multilateral cooperation to protect biodiversity in this region and provide guidance for future conservation planning and practice.

Fortress tourism: exploring dynamics of tourism, security and peace around the Virunga transboundary conservation area

This paper examines the role of tourism in promoting peace around transboundary protected areas (TBPA) in conflict-affected regions through a case study of the Virunga TBPA straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Also praised as ‘peace parks’, TBPAs embody the rationale that stimulating a tourism economy in shared conservation spaces will provide incentives for formerly antagonistic states and actors to cooperate. Virunga TBPA exemplifies this strategy by promoting high-end gorilla tourism in a region scarred by longstanding conflict. Drawing on twelve months of fieldwork, we found that these optimistic aspirations are contradicted by militarisation of the three National Parks constituting the TBPA, as well as prevalence of violence and political segregation among the countries. As park authorities sell ‘feelings of security’ by framing their neighbours as threats in order to attract visitors, intrastate competition and conflict intensifies. Peace tourism rhetoric and revenues allow the governments to justify and finance the militarisation as necessary to protect ‘their’ tourists while concealing their security interests in protecting national borders. This contradiction between tourism’s ostensive ‘peace dividend’ and the violence it generates within transboundary conservation efforts poses the question: what kind of ‘peace’ can be generated through tourism, and for whom?

Fronteras autonómicas y áreas protegidas: un análisis de tres reservas de la biosfera en la interfaz entre Galicia, Asturias y León

Durante las últimas décadas, se ha declarado un elevado número de áreas protegidas transfronterizas (APT). Una de las categorías más destacadas son las reservas de la biosfera transfronterizas. Estas APT suelen concebirse en el marco de las fronteras internacionales; sin embargo, estos instrumentos pueden ser también aplicados en el caso de fronteras internas —entendidas, en este estudio, como los límites administrativos que separan las comunidades autónomas (CCAA)–. Este artículo procura trasladar las bases teóricas de la conservación transfronteriza a tres reservas de la biosfera situadas en el límite entre Galicia, Asturias y León. Se trata de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Río Eo, Oscos y Terras de Burón; la Reserva de la Biosfera de Os Ancares Lucenses e Montes de Cervantes, Navia e Becerreá; y la Reserva de la Biosfera de los Ancares Leoneses. A través de técnicas de investigación cualitativas, mediante la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas a actores destacados de esos territorios, se analiza la percepción sobre el funcionamiento de esta figura. Esta investigación revela que la cooperación horizontal entre CCAA sigue siendo débil y que contar con dispositivos de gestión conjunta no garantiza el éxito en su funcionamiento.

The basin-landscape approach to the protection and condition optimization of the lakes of the national parks

The essence of the basin-landscape approach to the protection of the lakes of the national parks as an actual direction of research, which is formed at the junction of nature protection landscaping, hydrology and geoecology has been substantiated. The research algorithm, peculiarities of analysis and assessment of the status of the lake-basin system (LBS) have been found out, the factors that worsen the geo-ecological state in the lake and basin subsystems have been revealed, optimization measures in the objects of the nature reserve fund located within the natural reserve have been substantiated. The purpose of the study is to determine the parameters of the structure of lake-basin landscapes (on the example of Zasvitske lake, Nobel National Natural Park, Ukraine), liminary and landscape-metric indicators of the geo-ecological status of the LBS and the factors influencing it as an information and analytical basis for ensuring the protection and management of the LBS located in nature conservation area. The materials of the study were the long-term field landscape-limnological and geo-ecological studies of the authors within the Polesia region of Ukraine and, in particular, the LBS of the Nobel National Nature Park. The research methodology was based on complex physical-geographical methods, hydrological profiling and creation of bathymetric models of reservoirs, hydrochemical diagnostics of water masses of the lakes, geochemical analyses of bottom sediments, landscape mapping using GIS-technologies. The results of geo-ecological (landscape-ecological) researches of the lake-basin system of Zasvitske lake have been presented, in particular, original profiles and bathymetric model of the reservoir, landscape maps of the aqual complex and the lake catchment, limno- and landscape characteristics of the LBS have been shown. Considering the level of anthropogenic transformations of the LBS and the presence of a high proportion of ecologically-stabilizing lands (forests, reservoirs of natural origin), the level of sustainability of the LBS is estimated as high. An assessment of the hydrological characteristics of the reservoir and hydrochemical characteristics allows to attribute this lake to an oligotrophic type. The results of a comprehensive analysis of the geo-ecological parameters of the state of Zasvitske lake and its landscape-limnological functioning indicate the expediency of recreational specialization of nature management in the Nobel National Park, that includes this lake. Scientific novelty. The application of proposed landscape-basin approach and the algorithm of the LBS study increase the possibilities of functional zoning of national parks with high index of lakes, as well as solving the problems of nature protection and optimization of nature management. Practical importance. The created electronic landscape maps and the base of limnometric parameters can be used as reference documents for the certification and cadastral evaluation of the transboundary protected areas of Ramsar type, geo-ecological monitoring and an integrated management of lakes by the basin approach in conditions of intense climate change.

Transboundary protected areas

The degradation of ecosystems on sizable land and water area necessitates the protection and restoration of ecosystems, their efficient use, cessation and prevention of the degradation processes, and biodiversity preservation. Those activities are integral for The Concept of Sustainable Development currently accepted and used by the global community. One of the universally accepted mechanisms of ecological problem solving is the establishment and development of protected area (PA) systems. The complex, multifaceted and transboundary nature of ecological problems necessitates international cooperation. As a result of this cooperation, transboundary protected areas (TPAs) are formed according to international treaties. Research methods: abstract-logical, monographic, statistical, cartographic. The data base for the research consists of statistical and analytical materials of federal and regional executive bodies and the guides and reports written by scientific organizations in the field of environment preservation and land use planning. Results: analytical scrutiny of evidence and legal documents reveals the necessity of improvement of legislative and procedural guidelines for TPA formation.

Modelling stakeholders’ preferences to pinpoint conflicts in the planning of transboundary protected areas

In this paper, we propose a sequentially participative model for planning in transboundary protected areas based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process, Goal Programming and Monte Carlo simulation. The model was developed with two scenarios: one determinist and another with simulations that provide a multi-level ranking of the most relevant goals according stakeholders’ preferences to establish priorities in the planning of protected areas. Moreover, the proposed methodology is capable of identifying conflicts, providing a comparison between the most likely priorities and the most consistent group priorities associated with each planning goal. The model was tested in a Portuguese-Spanish Reserve called Meseta Ibérica and it permitted the identification of the highest conflicts in conservation, agroforestry, local development, fire prevention, wildlife conservation and certification of local products. Moreover, it found strong intercountry conflicts related to development and planning goals associated with governance at the most specific level.

Határokon átnyúló természetvédelmi területek lehetőségei és problémái

There are several regions of the world where protected areas or areas with natural values worthy of protection are adjacent to each other. Nowadays several national organizations, among others the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the EUROPARC Federation deal with the questions of these transboundary protected areas, of which connection is varying, having different degrees from the loose co-operation until the integrated organization. While the state borders in the Carpathian Basin are mostly artificial, dissecting uniform landscapes and physiognomic units, it is not surprising that Hungary and the neighbouring countries have several adjacent or transboundary protected areas. In some cases – eg. Neusiedler See–Seewinkel – Fertő–Hansag region and Aggtelek Karst – Slovak Karst region – transboundary UNESCO World Heritage sites, biosphere reserves, Ramsar wetlands and national parks can be found, as well, along the border. Regarding the latter karst region, the situation of the co-operation and the perspectives are analyzed in this paper, and similarly also the case of the transboundary Novohrad–Nograd Geopark. It can be stated that in spite of the good co-operation of the parties the different law, administration and financial assistance, as well the infrastructural backwardness owing to the peripheral lying causes difficulties in the unification. Nevertheless, these transboundary protected areas offer good opportunity for the local regional development especially due to the eco- and geotourism, therefore it is worth emphasising and broadening the transboundary co-operation based on the nature conservation.

Tigers in the Terai: Strong evidence for meta-population dynamics contributing to tiger recovery and conservation in the Terai Arc Landscape.

The source populations of tigers are mostly confined to protected areas, which are now becoming isolated. A landscape scale conservation strategy should strive to facilitate dispersal and survival of dispersing tigers by managing habitat corridors that enable tigers to traverse the matrix with minimal conflict. We present evidence for tiger dispersal along transboundary protected areas complexes in the Terai Arc Landscape, a priority tiger landscape in Nepal and India, by comparing camera trap data, and through population models applied to the long term camera trap data sets. The former showed that 11 individual tigers used the corridors that connected the transboundary protected areas. The estimated population growth rates using the minimum observed population size in two protected areas in Nepal, Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta National Park showed that the increases were higher than expected from growth rates due to in situ reproduction alone. These lines of evidence suggests that tigers are recolonizing Nepal’s protected areas from India, after a period of population decline, and that the tiger populations in the transboundary protected areas complexes may be maintained as meta-population. Our results demonstrate the importance of adopting a landscape-scale approach to tiger conservation, especially to improve population recovery and long term population persistence.

Factors of success and failure for transboundary environmental cooperation: projects in the Gulf of Aqaba

ABSTRACTAfter signing a peace accord in 1994, joint projects were initiated between Israel and Jordan aimed at enhancing environmental protection and resource management. This paper discusses the Red Sea Dead Sea Canal, the Eilat-Aqaba Municipal Cooperation initiative, the Joint Oil Spill Contingency Plan and the Red Sea Marine Peace Park (RSMPP). The latter is an exemplar of transboundary cooperation for planning of a marine protected area and therefore the main case study. Although the RSMPP never fully materialized, analysis of what transpired provides important lessons. We examine what happened in the 20 years since the attempt to establish the RSMPP began and focus on which of its goals were achieved. As a basis for analysis this paper presents factors identified as significant to the success of transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) and uses them to compare the RSMPP to the three other initiatives. In addition to factors reported in the literature that are known to be effective for TBPA success, we found two new factors as most relevant for the RSMPP case: a peripheral geographic location and intensive work among professionals, mostly marine scientists, on the ground operating under a low profile and with limited public attention.

Transboundary protected areas as ideal tools? Analyzing the Gerês-Xurés transboundary biosphere reserve

Transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) have expanded across the world. Academic research, handbooks and guidelines for developing TBPAs have multiplied during the last few years, although a lack of critical analysis as regards to their development is detected. The aim of this paper is to test the suitability of the TBPA framework, as defined by leading international institutions, by using a case-study analysis on the border between Portugal and Galicia (Spain)—the Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Park designated transboundary biosphere reserve (TBR) in 2009. An explanation of the TBPA mainstream model framework is followed by a description of the data collection methods used for the empirical research. The results are then presented through open-coding and discussed in light of the TBPA framework. Although the Gerês-Xurés TBR has followed the framework, the TBPA is not functioning as it should be, showing the continuing importance of the border in shaping the land-use planning and management of the area. The analysis also questions the funding components of the TBPA framework. The paper highlights how border studies literature might contribute to an improved understanding of TBPAs.

Transboundary Protected Areas als Instrument grenzüberschreitender Zusammenarbeit? Der Fall des Naturparks Írottkő-Geschriebenstein

Transboundary Protected Areas (TBPA) represent a potential strategy for sustainable cross-border development. Experts consider them to be versatile tools for cross-border co-operation in the areas of environmental protection and peace building. Against the backdrop of public planning of these protected areascapes, the chapter will analyse the case of a TBPA nature park located alongside the Austro-Hungarian border. Irottkő-Geschriebenstein Nature Park will serve as a model for discussing the framework conditions necessary for protected areas to play a role in cross-border co-operation at the interface of different political systems. Which mechanisms need to be considered for TBPA to act as stimuli or even models of regional development based on regional governance? Despite common ideas and statements in support of the cross-border nature park on the part of both Austria and Hungary, numerous barriers to co-operation seem to persist. From an analytical standpoint, trust, legal frameworks and jurisdictions, weak transfer links and bureaucracy, in addition to different manifestations of responsibilities as a civil society constitute those fields of action that are partly superimposed on the matters of content and need to be addressed on a deeper level in cross-border co-operation.

Assessing the benefits of Transboundary Protected Areas: A questionnaire survey in the Americas and the Caribbean

There are more than 3000 protected areas (PAs) situated on or near international boundaries, and amongst them there is an increasing trend towards the establishment of transboundary cooperation initiatives. Proponents of Transboundary PAs (TBPAs) highlight the potential for biodiversity protection through spatial, management and socio-economic benefits. However, there have been few formal studies that assess these benefits. It is possible that the relaxation of boundary controls to optimise transboundary connectivity may increase the risk of impacts from invasive species or illegal human incursion. We sought to investigate the validity of these proposed benefits and potential risks through a questionnaire survey of 113 PAs, of which 39 responded and met our inclusion criteria. 82% felt that transboundary cooperation has benefits for biodiversity and, across PAs, the self-reported level of transboundary communication was positively associated with some improved spatial, management and socio-economic benefits. However, 26% of PAs reported that they never communicated with their internationally adjoining protected area, indicating unrealised potential for greater gains.

Transboundary conservation and militarized interstate disputes

Advocates of transboundary conservation argue that borderlands can be a source of cooperation between neighboring states that previously engaged in conflict. It has been stated that, by opening negotiation channels based on environmental issues, jointly managed cross-border protected areas can promote and reinforce harmonious relations between contiguous states. We explore this assertion by empirically testing how transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) are related to militarized interstate disputes (MIDs) between contiguous states. Through the use of global data on protected areas and MIDs, we find that TBPAs tend to be established between countries that have previously been engaged in MIDs. We also find some evidence that TBPAs can be related to a more peaceful co-existence between neighboring countries in Africa, Middle East, and Asia.

Organisation of Transboundary Cooperation, an Excellent Opportunity for Sustainable Development

Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro make up a triangle on the map that each of them has multiple investment opportunities in tourism. This option gives the massive picturesque and attractive mountains “Bjeshkët e Nemuna" that lies in the territory of three countries. This paper discusses the strategic planning and importance of establishing large – scale trans-boundary protected areas, those of Bjeshket e Nemuna in Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro. An overall assessment of the authors is that harmonized transboundary cooperation between three countries deemed to be necessary in order to secure a sustainable development of this destination resort. A concrete proposed model to enhance cooperation between the three respective countries gives value to this paper. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n2p83

跨界保护区网络构建研究进展

跨界保护区网络是生物多样性保护网络的一种特殊形式，对保护国家或地区边界线附近丰富的生物多样性具有重要意义。构建跨界保护区网络已被列为《生物多样性公约》（Convention on Biological Diversity）框架下“保护区工作组”的一项战略任务，涉及生态、环境、经济、政治等多个领域，成为全球保护区研究领域的热点问题之一。然而，目前我国对跨界保护区的研究尚处于起步阶段，在如何构建不同尺度的跨界保护区网络等方面的研究仍有待进一步加强。在分析了全球、洲际、两个或多个国家和地区之间等不同尺度跨界保护区网络研究的基础上，综述了国内外基于“节点”-“廊道”模式的跨界保护区网络构建研究进展，并结合我国跨界保护区网络建设的实际情况，对我国未来跨界保护区网络构建研究进行了展望。;Current rate of biodiversity loss has been far greater than the natural rates from fossil record. The most common conservation strategy is the establishment of protected areas network. As a special form of biodiversity conservation networks, the transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) network is designed to protect key ecosystems and high biodiversity areas among different countries or regions. The establishment of TBPAs network had been listed as one of the major goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which concerned both ecological/environmental issues and social/political issues. The TBPAs network may span international, interprovincial, or regional boundaries, which is normally composed of transboundary nodes and corridors. However, the establishment mode of TBPAs network in different scales (e.g., the global scale, the continental scale, and among different countries or regions scale) is still poorly reviewed. And studies on TBPAs network in China is still in its initial stage. <br>In this paper, wereview related studies on TBPAs network in different scales, and methodological studies on the TBPAs network establishment based on the node - corridor mode. In general, the node of one TBPAs network should be areas with high conservation value, high species richness, more endangered species, or key biodiversity resources. And the development of transboundary corridor can connect different transboundary nodes into a TBPAs network, which can facilitate the flow of gene, energy, and substance. We also discuss the TBPAs network status across China, such as the TBPAs among China, Russia, and Mongolia in the northeast, the TBPAs among China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia in the northwest, and the TBPAs among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam in the southwest. Finally, we recommend potential studies on TBPAs network in China: 1) enhancing the TBPAs network studies in larger scales; 2) proposing TBPAs network method and management model suitable to China; 3) evaluating the effectiveness of TBPAs network; 4) studying new issues related to the TBPAs network; and 5) developing integrated policy and institution of the TBPAs.

Crossborder cooperation in transboundary conservation-development initiatives in southern Africa: The role of borders of the mind

Transboundary Protected Areas (TBPAs) are often characterised as a viable strategy in facilitating the participation of crossborder communities in crossborder nature-based tourism business partnerships. In southern Africa, the introduction of these expansive initiatives has however, not resulted in such developments. Extant attempts to investigate the reasons for this gap are dominated by a focus on the adequacy or otherwise, of physical infrastructural facilities that are usually deemed crucial to achieving successful crossborder cooperation. Useful as this approach is, its robustness is questionable especially because it seems wholly inspired by a conceptualisation of borders as essentially physical entities. However, there is a growing body of literature that subscribes to the idea that borders exist both in space and mind. In this context, through qualitative in-depth personal interviews, this study scrutinizes the Makuleke Community's border narratives and experiences to determine the extent to which interiorised cognitive borders are implicated in the manner in which they approach the idea of forging crossborder tourism business partnerships with their regional counterparts. One major finding is that there are significant cognitive barriers to cross-boundary cooperation. The study recommends the institutionalisation of diverse spatial socialisation programmes to build trust, social capital and intercultural awareness to encourage crossborder communities to exhibit approach rather than avoidance behaviour towards each other.

Governance in Transboundary Conservation: How Institutional Structure and Path Dependence Matter

Transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) have gained currency over the past decade because of their perceived (and highly disputed) effectiveness at achieving a wide array of goals ranging from improved biodiversity conservation to regional economic development to the promotion of peace between countries. However, few studies have analysed how institutional structures influence cross-border coordination across a range of issues in a transboundary park. This study uses two TBPAs in southern Africa-the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park-to look at issues of international governance in transboundary conservation. The bottom-up institutional development in the Kgalagadi has allowed ground-level officials to learn how to work together to adapt and respond to the day-to-day challenges they confront. By contrast, local-level collaboration in the Great Limpopo has emerged slowly due to the top-down imposition of the park on local-level communities and officials. The central premise is that the institutional beginnings to the two TBPAs result in differing capacities for effective collaboration. Initial institutional design also creates path dependencies, which may be difficult to overcome later. These findings can help practitioners in designing more robust, long-enduring institutions to better achieve their goals in future transboundary conservation projects.