Effectiveness of the system of protected areas of Lombardy (Northern Italy) in preserving breeding birds

Abstract

SummaryNetworks of protected areas (PAs) where human activities are allowed at different degrees are fundamental to ensure the long-term conservation of biological diversity and ecological processes. However, studies aimed at assessing their effectiveness, focusing on several species simultaneously are scarce. We assessed the effectiveness of the system of protected areas (PAs) of Lombardy, Northern Italy, in conserving bird populations by comparing the changes from 1992 to 2013 in the occurrence of 54 breeding bird species censused in areas classified in different protection categories, namely Nature Reserves (NRs), areas designed predominantly for the protection of nature; Regional Parks (RPs), naturally valuable areas where human activities, including intensive agriculture, are allowed; and non-protected areas (NPAs). Overall, occurrence of common birds increased in Lombardy in the last 20 years and farmland and long-distance migrants (LDMs), which suffered sharp declines at a continental scale, showed stable and increasing trends, respectively. These trends were, however, the balance between those of species whose occurrence markedly increased, and those of species that dramatically declined. Species occurred more often in PAs than in NPAs, while temporal trends in occurrence were significantly more positive in RPs than in both NRs and NPAs. Hence, PAs seemed effective in preserving common bird communities. Occurrence of woodland and short-distance migrant species was higher in PAs than in NPAs, while occurrence of farmland species and LDMs was similar in all protection categories. PAs of Lombardy appear therefore effective only in protecting some categories of birds. Farmland and LDM birds would benefit more from ecologically sustainable land-use policies aiming at improving agro-ecosystem biodiversity than from protected areas.

Winners and losers: How the elevational range of breeding birds on Alps has varied over the past four decades due to climate and habitat changes

“…In conclusion, how can we promptly and effectively counteract the negative trend showed by edge and open habitat birds in mountain areas? The conservation of open mountain habitats (grassland and prairies) is strictly linked to local ad hoc management practices that should also be implemented through several economic activities (e.g., marketing of local typical products, recreational outdoor activities, and food services) that depend on open habitats, even within the wide system of protected areas of the Central Italian Alps (Sicurella et al, ). Of course, these for‐profit activities should be addressed toward sustainable forms by adequate governance policies, in order to maintain a viable mountain economy in the long‐term, which should also be perceived as an attractive employment opportunity and produce a positive and broader perception in terms of ecosystem services (Schermer et al, ).…”

“…For each species showing a significant elevational range change, we assessed the association of each pattern of elevational range change with the (a) breeding habitat, (b) the migration habit, and (c) the range change driver. The breeding habitat (open, edge, or forest species) and migration habit (long‐distance migrant [ldm], short‐distance migrant [sdm] or resident [res]) were assigned according to Sicurella, Orioli, Pinoli, Ambrosini, and Bani () and integrated by the authors where necessary. The association between each pair of categorical variables was assessed performing a log‐linear analysis (Agresti, ) on the observed bird species’ frequencies from a contingency table obtained by crossing the pattern of elevational range change, the breeding habitat, the migration habit, and the drivers of range change.…”

“…In order to assess the contribution of both environmental covariates (habitat and climate), we adopted a hierarchical partitioning approach (Chevan & Sutherland, 1991), using the ecospat package Sicurella, Orioli, Pinoli, Ambrosini, and Bani (2017) and integrated by the authors where necessary. The association between each pair of categorical variables was assessed performing a log-linear analysis (Agresti, 1996) on the observed bird species' frequencies from a contingency table obtained by crossing the pattern of elevational range change, the breeding habitat, the migration habit, and the drivers of range change.…”

Soil management of olive groves has contrasting effects on nest densities and reproductive success of tree-nesting passerines

“…There is an ongoing debate about whether agro-environmental management practices mainly benefit common species or if their effects favor rare and declining species (Sicurella et al 2018). Castro-Caro et al (2014a showed that, in olive groves in southern Spain, the presence of herbaceous cover and hedges had a positive effect on two birds with unfavorable conservation status (BirdLife International 2004), the Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas galactotes and the Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator, classified respectively as endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) in Spain (Madroño et al 2004).…”

Temporal Variation of Ecological Factors Affecting Bird Species Richness in Urban and Peri-Urban Forests in a Changing Environment: A Case Study from Milan (Northern Italy)

“…This information can be used in conservation practices aimed at enhancing species richness in those urban landscapes where other options (e.g., extension of the size patches, creation of other proximate UPUFs) are not as feasible. Of course, this last result can be, in part, explained by considering that when reserves are designed they are usually located in areas characterized by more suitable habitats [65] where maintenance of biodiversity is favoured [66].…”