Global protected area expansion is compromised by projected land-use and parochialism

Abstract

Protected areas are one of the main tools for halting the continuing global biodiversity crisis [1][2][3][4] caused by habitat loss, fragmentation and other anthropogenic pressures [5][6][7][8] . According to the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the protected area network should be expanded to at least 17% of the terrestrial world by 2020 (http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets). To maximize conservation outcomes, it is crucial to identify the best expansion areas. Here we show that there is a very high potential to increase protection of ecoregions and vertebrate species by expanding the protected area network, but also identify considerable risk of ineffective outcomes due to land-use change and uncoordinated actions between countries. We use distribution data for 24,757 terrestrial vertebrates assessed under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 'red list of threatened species' 9 , and terrestrial ecoregions 10 (827), modified by land-use models for the present and 2040, and introduce techniques for global and balanced spatial conservation prioritization. First, we show that with a coordinated global protected area network expansion to 17% of terrestrial land, average protection of species ranges and ecoregions could triple. Second, if projected landuse change by 2040 (ref. 11) takes place, it becomes infeasible to reach the currently possible protection levels, and over 1,000 threatened species would lose more than 50% of their present effective ranges worldwide. Third, we demonstrate a major efficiency gap between national and global conservation priorities. Strong evidence is shown that further biodiversity loss is unavoidable unless international action is quickly taken to balance land-use and biodiversity conservation. The approach used here can serve as a framework for repeatable and quantitative assessment of efficiency, gaps and expansion of the global protected area network globally, regionally and nationally, considering current and projected land-use pressures.Habitat loss and fragmentation due to intensifying land-use is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss 7,8 . The global protected area (PA) network is one of the most important means to halt such loss [1][2][3][4] . Adoption of the strategic Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD; http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets) provides a unique opportunity for expanding the current PA network to cover 17% of the terrestrial areas by 2020. At present, global patterns in biodiversity and global priority areas for conservation at the regional scale are relatively well known 1,6,8,[12][13][14][15][16] , but spatial assessments are essential 13,14 to maximize global conservation outcomes from PA expansion.Here, we carried out a comprehensive assessment of priority areas for expanding the current global PA network, and quantified their potential contribution to global conservation. We present a prioritization of the global PA network expansion to 17% that shows...

Grand challenges in conservation research

“…Public protected areas, albeit imperfect, are still the single most effective conservation tool (Di Minin, 2013;Coetzee et al, 2014;Le Saout et al, 2014;Pouzols et al, 2014;Pressey et al, 2014;Sloan et al, 2014;Tranquilli et al, 2014). Approaches aiming to connect public protected areas through other land tenures, and provide resources through other stakeholders, can also provide a valuable complement to publicly funded parks systems.…”

“…Practical conservation is a social-ecological system involving government agencies, private enterprises, community organizations, and non-government organizations, as well as species and ecosystems (Karanth and deFries, 2010;Perrings et al, 2011;Balmford, 2012;McCarthy et al, 2012;Buckley and Pegas, 2014;Ferraro and Hanauer, 2014;Hauser et al, 2014;Pouzols et al, 2014;Schwitzer et al, 2014).…”

Human-Environmental Relations and African Natures

“…Compared with the history of the largest human empire, the British Empire, the current size and intended growth of terrestrial protected areas (United Nations, Millennium Development Goal 11) resembles British rule from about 1860 (Marchetti and Ausubel 2012). Power over humans and over "nature" is still measured in terms of area; with space being regarded as the "most effective tool in halting the biodiversity crisis" (Montesino-Pouzols et al 2014).…”

Spatio-temporal analysis of land use/land cover pattern changes in Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve: Iran

“…But if LUCC occur within or in close surrounding of these protected areas, their usefulness regarding conservation of biodiversity for the future generations will be severely threatened (Kharouba and Kerr 2010;Montesino Pouzols et al 2014;Overmars and Verburg 2005;Verburg et al 2006). BR is an area with terrestrial and coastal ecosystems and is designed to promote solutions to reconcile conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.…”