Conservation Traps and Long‐Term Species Persistence in Human‐Dominated Systems

Abstract

Major conservation efforts in human-dominated systems, such as farmland, have focused on the establishment of subsidies and compensation promoting low-impact management practices to reverse the impacts of conservation threats in the short term (reactive approaches). In this study, we discuss how a different way of framing conservation policy (proactive approaches) could lead to fundamentally different long-term conservation outcomes. We define proactive approaches as those not necessarily including measures directly addressing the threats affecting biodiversity, but promoting transitions from current scenarios in which species are threatened to new states in which the threat is no longer present. We illustrate reactive and proactive approaches using as a case study two contrasting conservation frameworks for a vulnerable farmland bird, the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) in northeastern Spain. This example shows that reactive approaches can lead to "conservation traps," which we defined as situations where the application of biologically focused actions in response to conservation problems results in an unsustainable need to perpetuate the implementation of those actions. Our aim is to offer a fresh perspective on biodiversity conservation in human-dominated systems and to stimulate alternative, more holistic approaches in conservation promoting transitions to new states not requiring long-term active and costly conservation action.

From a conservation trap to a conservation solution: lessons from an intensively managed Montagu's harrier population

“…In the cases where long‐term economic sustainability cannot be ensured, maintaining the conservation program might not be feasible. As a consequence, some conservation programs may ultimately turn into conservation traps (Cardador et al ., ).…”

“…In Lleida (Catalonia, NE Spain), conservation actions based on paying farmers for delaying harvest of at least half a hectare around a harrier nest have been effective in reversing the negative population trend (Martínez & Such, ; Cardador et al ., ). In 2005, a strong drought rendered cereal crops too sparse and low to be attractive for breeding harriers, and harriers started nesting in irrigated crops, including fodder (Cardador et al ., ), which they have continued doing ever since. Because delaying harvest in irrigated crops is more expensive than in dry cereals, the recent shift in harriers nesting habitat, coupled with an expanding harrier population, has increased the overall annual protection costs.…”

“…Because delaying harvest in irrigated crops is more expensive than in dry cereals, the recent shift in harriers nesting habitat, coupled with an expanding harrier population, has increased the overall annual protection costs. The current program is thus potentially economically unsustainable for the regional administration, and may represent a conservation trap (Cardador et al ., ). An evaluation of alternative management scenarios would allow practitioners to guide management decisions and optimize conservation investments.…”

“…Cardador et al . () defined a conservation trap as a costly conservation strategy in human‐dominated landscapes that needs to be perpetually applied to have an effect; in such cases, even if the species extinction risk may be reduced (e.g. by increasing its survival and/or reproduction) in few generations, the program's high costs may render it financially unsustainable in the long‐term, and the species would return to its endangered status after management actions are terminated.…”

“…Cardador et al . () suggest shifting conservation actions from its reactionary short‐term vision toward a long‐term self‐sustainable system. In this sense, to avoid a conservation trap, species‐specific conservation programs must be based on actions that (1) prevent the species long‐term dependence on intensive management or (2) have high likelihood of being financially maintained in the long‐term (Cardador et al ., ).…”