Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Au...Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.展开更多
1.Introduction As global temperatures increase and weather patterns grow more er-ratic,the urgency of adopting climate-smart conservation strategies has intensified(Manyakaidze et al.,2024).Climate-smart conservation ...1.Introduction As global temperatures increase and weather patterns grow more er-ratic,the urgency of adopting climate-smart conservation strategies has intensified(Manyakaidze et al.,2024).Climate-smart conservation com-prises adaptive management practices aimed at bolstering the resilience of ecosystems and species amid climate variability(Birchall et al.,2021;Gabriel-Campos et al.,2021).展开更多
Infrastructure development within protected areas has become a critical concern in biodiversity conservation,particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park (TN Babul), Indone...Infrastructure development within protected areas has become a critical concern in biodiversity conservation,particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park (TN Babul), Indonesia. Thisstudy aims to evaluate the ecological, social, economic, institutional, and infrastructural sustainability of the Maros–Watampone road corridor that crosses TN Babul. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the research employed theMultidimensional Scaling (MDS) method supported by leverage and Monte Carlo analysis. Data were gathered fromkey stakeholders through purposive sampling and analyzed based on sustainability attributes across five dimensions.The findings reveal that environmental, institutional, and infrastructure dimensions scored in the "less sustainable"category, indicating high ecological risk and governance gaps. In contrast, economic and social dimensions weremoderately sustainable, reflecting emerging opportunities for inclusive growth. Sensitive attributes influencingsustainability include habitat fragmentation, road design, governance coordination, and community participation. Thestudy concludes that balancing development with conservation requires integrated, multi-stakeholder strategies andtargeted interventions that address the most vulnerable sustainability dimensions.展开更多
Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches...Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches to con-sidering the implications of climate change on the overall application and efficacy of protected areas management direction,including the achievement of the goals and objectives contained within management plans.Through a systematic and comprehensive content analysis approach,this study assesses the current extent to which climate change is considered in Canadian protected area management plans.Specifically,we evaluated 63 terrestrial protected area management plans against a set of climate robustness principles.Our content analysis revealed that climate change is currently not effectively factored into Canadian protected area management plans with an average climate robustness score of 18%.Climate robustness score was not found to be correlated with protected area size,International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)management classification,or jurisdictional authority.Certain climate robustness principles received higher scores across the management plans than oth-ers.For example,the principles of‘diverse knowledge sources’and‘addresses climate change’scored relatively highly whereas‘climate change vulnerability’and‘ecosystem integrity’received the lowest scores.The lack of integration of ecological integrity considerations in management plans was a particularly noteworthy deficiency considering that this guiding principle is the primary legislative objective of many national and sub-national protected areas in Canada.From this assessment,climate change needs to be more effectively and consistently integrated into protected area management plan development and coordinated across associated planning pro-cesses.We discuss the ways in which this can be achieved,for example,by integrating scenario planning into organizational management plan development processes.展开更多
Deforestation remains one of the most imminent threats to biodiversity in the tropics.As such,its causes and dynamics need to be studied and understood to put a halt to further forest loss and degradation.In tropical ...Deforestation remains one of the most imminent threats to biodiversity in the tropics.As such,its causes and dynamics need to be studied and understood to put a halt to further forest loss and degradation.In tropical countries such as Uganda,agricultural expansion and wood fuel demand are its leading drivers.While the establishment of protected areas is a key tool in conserving remaining forest biodiversity,results indicate that current management does not sufficiently provide alternatives to forest resources utilised by households and income provided from timber and non-timber forest products.Beyond safeguarding ecosystems,protected areas need to ensure the sustainable socioeconomic development of adjacent communities for effective biodiversity conservation–however,both management and research often neglect to consider all dimensions.In this study,we analysed five decades of forest cover change in the Mount Elgon region,Uganda,by conducting a remote sensing analysis of its protected areas using Landsat MSS and TM data from 1973-2023 in combination with literature and subsequent interview analysis to consider both the ecological and socioeconomic dimension.We applied a random forest approach to differentiate forest and non-forest areas and carried out a pixel-based change detection analysis to differentiate temporal and spatial changes.Throughout the study period of 50 years,forest cover has evolved dynamically within the boundaries of the protected areas of Mount Elgon.A significant decline was observed in both Mount Elgon National Park with a loss of-5.98%(-46.83km²)and Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve with a loss of-14.96%(-134.33km²).Our results showcase a cycle of deforestation and afforestation that could be tied to a series of development initiatives,re-demarcation of boundaries,changes in management and recurring evictions.Overall,the results lead to the conclusion that the lack of sustainable and efficient management and funding has fostered the rate of deforestation and accelerated ecological degradation in the region,but that existing problems are also rooted in the land tenure history of the region.We recommend the proper implementation of participatory and long-term management approaches on the ground and to address the land rights issue to contribute to both socioeconomic wellbeing and sustainable conservation outcomes.展开更多
Establishing and maintaining protected areas is a pivotal strategy for attaining the post-2020 biodiversity target. The conservation objectives of protected areas have shifted from a narrow emphasis on biodiversity to...Establishing and maintaining protected areas is a pivotal strategy for attaining the post-2020 biodiversity target. The conservation objectives of protected areas have shifted from a narrow emphasis on biodiversity to encompass broader considerations such as ecosystem stability, community resilience to climate change, and enhancement of human well-being. Given these multifaceted objectives, it is imperative to judiciously allocate resources to effectively conserve biodiversity by identifying strategically significant areas for conservation, particularly for mountainous areas. In this study, we evaluated the representativeness of the protected area network in the Qin ling Mountains concerning species diversity, ecosystem services, climate stability and ecological stability. The results indicate that some of the ecological indicators are spatially correlated with topographic gradient effects. The conservation priority areas predominantly lie in the northern foothills, the southeastern, and southwestern parts of the Qinling Mountain with areas concentrated at altitudes between 1,500-2,000 m and slopes between 40°-50° as hotspots. The conservation priority areas identified through the framework of inclusive conservation optimization account for 22.9 % of the Qinling Mountain. Existing protected areas comprise only 6.1 % of the Qinling Mountain and 13.18 % of the conservation priority areas. This will play an important role in achiev ing sustainable development in the region and in meeting the post-2020 biodiversity target. The framework can advance the different objectives of achieving a quadruple win and can also be extended to other regions.展开更多
The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau serves as an extensive gene pool for plateau species and a crucial focal point for global biodiversity conservation.Being a climate-sensitive region,the impacts of climate change have led to...The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau serves as an extensive gene pool for plateau species and a crucial focal point for global biodiversity conservation.Being a climate-sensitive region,the impacts of climate change have led to habitat loss,population extinction,and ecological imbalances,posing formidable challenges to the sustained ef-fectiveness of existing protected areas.Despite substantial advancements in understanding species distribution,assessing habitat changes,and evaluating the efficiency of protected areas in recent decades,comprehensive evaluations encompassing all protected species are lacking,impeding conservation strategies.In this study,we gathered 137,856 observations,encompassing 2,605 species,and utilized the MaxEnt model to simulate changes in the current distribution patterns of endangered species and suitable habitats under future scenarios.We further proposed a climate smart approach to optimize the boundaries of protected areas in response to climate change.Key findings indicate that(1)the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau harbors 2,605 endangered species,constituting 34.04%of the total endangered species catalog in China;(2)current high-adaptation habitats of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau cover a mere 7%of the plateau,showing minimal alteration in protected efficiency under climate change sce-narios(0.50%increase);(3)incorporating the effects of climate change in adjusting protected area boundaries enhances their efficiency by an average of 20.52%.Our proposed methodology holds promise for safeguard-ing endangered species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and offers significant implications for analogous regions worldwide.展开更多
Marine protected areas(MPAs)play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystem health,conserving biodiversity,and sustaining coastal livelihoods and socio-economic benefits.However,MPAs in China still face significa...Marine protected areas(MPAs)play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystem health,conserving biodiversity,and sustaining coastal livelihoods and socio-economic benefits.However,MPAs in China still face significant design and management limitations,including a lack of a robust scientific basis for boundary delineation,weak enforcement capacity,poor adaptability to environmental and socio-economic changes,and insufficient integration of the ocean’s three-dimensional characteristics.These limitations are particularly evident in the context of climate change,overexploitation of marine resources,and the complex dynamics of ecosystems.This study systematically reviews the current status and challenges of MPAs in China,with a specific focus on the need for and benefits of dynamic and threedimensional protected areas for marine conservation.Dynamic protected areas,supported by real-time monitoring and flexible boundary adjustments,can more effectively respond to the migratory patterns of marine species and seasonal distribution shifts along China’s coast.On the other hand,three-dimensional protected areas enhance ecosystem protection by incorporating vertical ecological gradients and ocean depth,offering a vital complement to the predominantly two-dimensional protection approach currently in use.The study indicates that,with current technological and data capabilities,effective implementation of these advanced approaches requires precision marine observations,advanced analysis methods,and coordinated efforts among diverse stakeholders.In response,the study synthesizes multiple case studies to illustrate the potential ecological,managerial,and policy-related outcomes of dynamic and three-dimensional MPAs.It proposes strategies for optimization,implementation pathways,and targeted policy recommendations.Ultimately,the study emphasizes the critical role of scientific planning and technological innovation in enhancing the effectiveness of MPAs in China.It calls upon policymakers and the broader society to increase attention and investment in dynamic and three-dimensional marine conservation approaches.This work not only provides a scientific foundation for more precise and efficient marine governance in China,but also lays crucial foundation for achieving ocean-related sustainable development goals aligned with China’s national context.展开更多
In this research,we examine how the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA),located in the southwest Mediterranean Sea,can be effectively monitored using the SeaExplorer glider—an advanced autonomous underwater vehicle...In this research,we examine how the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA),located in the southwest Mediterranean Sea,can be effectively monitored using the SeaExplorer glider—an advanced autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV)designed for long‑duration oceanographic missions.The study focuses on the glider’s ability to simultaneously observe a variety of environmental parameters,including temperature,conductivity,oxygen,and chlorophyll,during its deployment across multiple transects.The primary objective of the mission is to improve understanding of the vertical thermal structure and seasonal dynamics of the water column in this ecologically signiicant region.To achieve this,we apply Gaussian Process(GP)regression techniques to the glider‑derived temperature data.This statistical method enables the smoothing and interpolation of irregularly spaced in situ measurements,thereby improving the visibility and interpretation of stratiication patterns throughout the water column.Although the glider followed a predetermined course,the data‑driven analysis suggests that adaptive sampling strategies—such as adjustments based on real‑time outliers—could be valuable in future missions.Our results,which show distinct thermal layering and seasonal variability,are crucial for informing ecosystem function assessments and climate resilience planning.This study also discusses how integrating machine learning into glider‑based monitoring could enhance MPA observation systems and promote adaptive,evidence‑based management.展开更多
Establishment of Protected Areas （PAs）, in the face of rapid deforestation, forest degradation and climate change has been one of the key efforts in conservation of biodiversity worldwide in recent times. While Bang...Establishment of Protected Areas （PAs）, in the face of rapid deforestation, forest degradation and climate change has been one of the key efforts in conservation of biodiversity worldwide in recent times. While Bangladesh has gained a degree of prominence in the world for its successful social forestry programs, the concept of collaborative pro- tected area management is rather new in the country, initiated in 2004 by the Bangladesh Forest Department in five PAs with financial assistance from USAID. Based on empirical evidence from three of the pilot PAs, we examined the achievements and associated challenges and prospects for co-management. Our fieldwork revealed a number of challenges faced by co-management institutions： （1） institutions were dominated by the elite group, overshadowing the voice of the community people; （2） mutual trust and collective performance are key to good governance but had not taken root in the PAs; （3） encroachment onto forest land and subsequent conversion to agriculture remained a serious problem that discouraged forest-dependent people from participating actively in co-management initiatives; （4） legal provisions （including acts, rules and policies） were not clearly and adequately disseminated and understood at the community level; （5） there remained a degree of ambiguity regarding the roles and responsibilities of forest department （FD） and co-management committees （CMC） in field operations, and this was not enhancing transparency and accountability of the overall initiative; （6） the long-term sustainability of co-management institutions was another major concern, as the local intuitional structure was still in a nascent stage, and provisioning of resources （either internally or externally） remained somewhat uncertain. We offer recommendations for improve- ment.展开更多
Protected areas(PAs) have experienced explosive growth in Northwest China over the last three decades, but their effectiveness in representing regional ecological system diversity has not attracted considerable attent...Protected areas(PAs) have experienced explosive growth in Northwest China over the last three decades, but their effectiveness in representing regional ecological system diversity has not attracted considerable attention. Low effectiveness would exacerbate the conservation-development conflicts, particularly those that arise as a result of the Great Western Development Strategy(GWDS). Thus, an assessment of the effectiveness of the PA network has become quite important. We proposed natural vegetation communities to represent regional ecological system diversities, and proposed Global 200 Priority Ecoregions, Important Bird Areas, and ecosystem function regions to represent important conservation areas. To determine their effectiveness, we studied the extent to which ecological system diversities and important conservation areas are represented by the existing 96 PAs. Our results indicated that the total coverage of vegetation communities in PAs in Northwest China is not sufficiently comprehensive. As the PA system has expanded, the growth in the total area of the PAs has been greater than that of their vegetation community richness. While most of the important conservation areas are covered by PAs, some regions have not yet reached the 10% threshold; further, PAs are distributed unevenly and conservation gaps remain in the region. Therefore, these regions should receive more attention when planning new PAs. It is vital that more biodiversity datasets and assessment of ecosystem function regions are integrated in order to provide a basis for the government to formulate appropriate protection and development strategies.展开更多
Wetland is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the earth. The main purpose of establishing wetland protected area is to protect biodiversity, and the protection of ecosystem diversity and landscape diversity is t...Wetland is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the earth. The main purpose of establishing wetland protected area is to protect biodiversity, and the protection of ecosystem diversity and landscape diversity is the key to protect biodiversity. In order to protect regional ecosystem and landscape, it is a good way to establish wetland comprehensive protected area which connected wetland nature reserves by habitat corridors. The Sanjiang Plain as a study area, its landscape evaluation index system on wetland protected area was studied, and some problems on landscape planning and ecology construction were further approached in this paper.It showed that establishing wetland comprehensive protected area is very important to protect regional wetlands, to maintain ecological balance, and to improve the sustainable development of agriculture and industry in this region.展开更多
Remote-sensing data for protected areas in northern Togo, obtained in three different years （2007, 2000, and 1987）, were used to assess and map changes in land cover and land use for this drought prone zone. The nor...Remote-sensing data for protected areas in northern Togo, obtained in three different years （2007, 2000, and 1987）, were used to assess and map changes in land cover and land use for this drought prone zone. The normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI） was applied to the images to map changes in vegetation. An unsupervised classification, followed by classes recoding, filtering, identifications, area computing and post-classification process were applied to the composite of the three years of NDVI images. Maximum likelihood classification was applied to the 2007 image （ETM＋2007） using a supervised classification process. Seven vegetation classes were defined from training data sets. The seven classes included the following biomes： riparian forest, dry forest, flooded vegetation, wooded savanna, fallows, parkland, and water. For these classes, the overall accuracy and the overall kappa statistic for the classi- fied map were 72.5% and 0.67, respectively. Data analyses indicated a great change in land resources; especially between 1987 and 2000 proba- bly due to the impact of democratization process social, economic, and political disorder from 1990. Wide-scale loss of vegetation occurred during this period. However, areas of vegetation clearing and regrowth were more visible between 2000 and 2007. The main source of confusion in the contingency matrix was due to heterogeneity within certain classes. It could also be due to spectral homogeneity among the classes. This research provides a baseline for future ecological landscape research and for the next management program in the area.展开更多
A total of 19 protected areas （PAs） have been established in Bangladesh representing all the four forest types of the country. Apart from being the repository of biological diversity, these PAs serve as the source o...A total of 19 protected areas （PAs） have been established in Bangladesh representing all the four forest types of the country. Apart from being the repository of biological diversity, these PAs serve as the source of subsistence livelihoods to the local communities. While all the PAs are managed by the state Forest Department （FD）, with a view to ensure sustainability, a recent approach of co-management has been initiated in five PAs as a pilot project with an aid of development partners incorporating stakeholders＇ participation. Along with demonstrating a number of upbeat impacts, the initiatives exert some constraints which need to be addressed properly to ensure the success of participatory approach and enhance the ongoing conservation scheme. This paper reviews the published works, government and project documents to analyze the present status of PAs and suggest recommendations accordingly.展开更多
Global climate change poses a new challenge for species and can even push some species toward an extinction vortex. The most affected organisms are those with narrow tolerance to the climatic factors but many large ma...Global climate change poses a new challenge for species and can even push some species toward an extinction vortex. The most affected organisms are those with narrow tolerance to the climatic factors but many large mammals such as ungulates with a wider ecological niche are also being affected indirectly. Our research mainly used wild sheep in central Iran as a model species to explore how the suitable habitats will change under different climatic scenarios and to determine if current borders of protected areas will adequately protect habitat requirements. To create habitat models we used animal-vehicle collision points as an input for species presence data. We ran habitat models using Max Ent modeling approach under different climatic scenarios of the past, present and future(under the climatic scenarios for minimum(RCP2.6) and maximum(RCP8.5) CO2 concentration trajectories). We tried to estimate the overlap and the width of the ecological niche using relevant metrics. In order to analyze the effectiveness of the protected areas, suitable maps were concerted to binary maps using True Skill Statistic(TSS) threshold and measured the similarity of the binary maps for each scenario using Kappa index. In order to assess the competence of the present protected areas boundary in covering the distribution of species, two different scenarios were employed, which are ensemble scenario 1: an ensemble of the binary maps of the species distribution in Mid-Holocene, present, and RCP2.6;and ensemble scenario 2: an ensemble of binary suitability maps in Mid-Holocene, present, and RCP8.5. Then, the borders of modeled habitats with the boundaries of 23 existing protected areas in two central provinces in Iran were compared. The predicted species distribution under scenario 1(RCP2.6) was mostly similar to its current distribution(Kappa = 0.53) while the output model under scenario 2(RCP8.5) indicated a decline in the species distribution range. Under the first ensemble scenario, current borders of the protected areas in Hamedan province showed better efficiency to cover the model species distribution range. Analyzing Max Ent spatial models under the second climatic scenario suggested that protected areas in both Markazi and Hamedan provinces will not cover "high suitability" areas in the future. Modeling the efficiency of the current protected areas under predicted future climatic scenarios can help the related authorities to plan conservation activities more efficiently.展开更多
In 2000, the authors collected a great quantity of relevant data by investigating more than 50 nature reserves. Based on the analysis of development and management situation of the protected areas in China, the main p...In 2000, the authors collected a great quantity of relevant data by investigating more than 50 nature reserves. Based on the analysis of development and management situation of the protected areas in China, the main problems were put forward, such as, no unified management for income and managing activities, lack of special guideline and effective supervision, lack of income and investment, investing financial difference in different provinces. All these problems caused the lack of funds for construction, as well as the damage of resources and environment. Furthermore the conserving activities have to transmit to the profits in many protected areas. Combined with these problems, the primary solution programmers also were put forward.展开更多
The north-south transitional zone in China mainly consists of the Qinling-Daba Mountains. It is the most important West-East geo-ecological space in China, containing protected areas vital for biodiversity conservatio...The north-south transitional zone in China mainly consists of the Qinling-Daba Mountains. It is the most important West-East geo-ecological space in China, containing protected areas vital for biodiversity conservation and ecological security of China. The protection and rational development of its natural habitat is of great significance to China’s ecological security and integration of protected areas based on mountain forest ecosystems on a global scale. In this study, five important types of protected areas in the transitional zone were selected, and their spatial patterns were analysed. Spatial analysis methods, such as kernel density estimation and accessibility analysis, were employed for both point and areal data, and focused on four aspects: land use scale, shift in the centre of gravity, spatial agglomeration, and accessibility. In addition, policy background and evolution of spatial and temporal characteristics of the protected area system in the transitional zone from 1963 to 2017 were also examined. We analysed the characteristics and geographical significance of the West-east corridor using the spatial pattern of the protected area system from the perspective of ecological and economic spaces. We focused on spatial shape, type intersection, and key areas to analyse the spatial overlap of the protected areas. Protected area establishment was divided into three stages: initial(1956–1980), rapid development(1981–2013), and national park transformation(2014–present). These stages reflected the change in the concept of ‘simple protection—sustainable use—integration and upgrade’ for protected areas of China. The spatial centre of gravity of the protection zone system was located in the west Qinling-Daba Mountains, and its high-density core exhibited a relatively stable N-shaped structure composed of four gathering areas. Affected by factors such as geographic environment and socio-economic development density, the average access time for protected areas was high(1.56 h);wetland parks and scenic areas are located closer to the city centre. As the West-east corridor in the transitional zone extends from west to east, there is a clear spatial dislocation between the development of protected areas and the intensity of human activities. During development, differentiated goal orientation should be adopted based on the idea of zoning and classified governance. With the advancement of the construction of protected areas, the spatial overlap of protected areas in the transition zone has become more prominent. At present, the spatially overlapped protected areas in the transitional zone remain prominent, with inclusion overlap being the most common, and forest parks exhibiting the highest probability of overlap with other protected areas, we should focus on in the integration process of the corridor-type ecological space based on the mountain forest ecosystem.展开更多
The research reported in this paper investigated the role of identity construction in the emergence and escalation of conflict in the participatory management of protected areas in Benin. The study shows that social i...The research reported in this paper investigated the role of identity construction in the emergence and escalation of conflict in the participatory management of protected areas in Benin. The study shows that social identity salience was dynamic and played an important role in the emergence and escalation of conflict in the studied cases. Conflicts emerged when identities became salient as a result of the stake-holders’ framing of contextual factors as a threat to their identity. The conflicts escalated when decisions and actions undertaken in the management process were framed as top-down and as posing a threat to the identities of the stakeholders. We conclude that, although the government in the management of the protected areas introduced participation, unilateral decisions taken about the way the conflicts should be managed caused disappointment and distrust, and thus led to a greater distance between the parties involved and to conflict escalation.展开更多
These days, human activities in the savanna and the remaining dry and riparian forests of the Sudanian ecoregions continue to have their impact. These anthropogenic practices are still the main cause of disturbances i...These days, human activities in the savanna and the remaining dry and riparian forests of the Sudanian ecoregions continue to have their impact. These anthropogenic practices are still the main cause of disturbances in these areas. In order to investigate and assess the importance of these disturbances, caused by people bordering on protected areas and to determine the relation between these activities and the environment in which they are carried out, 220 samples were selected in the three main protected areas of northern Togo. The investigation was mainly qualitative, considering the floristic sampling of this drought area; any anthropogenic activities observed were recorded. A simple investigative questionnaire about the activities of rural people in the reserved areas was distributed to individuals encountered in the study area. Each sample in the investigation ended with a site description of its ecologi- cal characterization, i.e., soil features, topography, fauna footprints, dominant plant species and GPS position; we also took photo- graphs of the site. Data processing was entirely based on descriptive statistics and a factor analysis. The results show that eight kinds of human activities, i.e., the use of pastures, tree cutting, bush fires, charcoal production, harvesting of plant material, fanning, honey harvesting and hunting, were noted to be serious disturbances to the integrity of the ecosystems. Among these disturbances, three are recurrent in all the sampled areas of which the use of pastures accounts for 31.88%, tree cutting for 30.35% and bush fires for 30.13%. Fire and pasture disturbances are closely linked and are responsible for the current features of the savanna area of the region. Tree cutting is more a direct function of the need for the production of wood fuel, generally used by city populations. Hunting, farm- ing and honey production are of lesser importance in the area and therefore, do not pose a significantly negative effect on the growth of fauna and flora. Knowledge of these disturbances in the context of requalification and a renewed demarcation of protected areas in Togo is essential for their sustainable management.展开更多
A number of studies have reported in the last decades the presence of plastics in the Southern Ocean,which are liable to reach the coast and accumulate on the Antarctic Continent.Despite this,there are few data on the...A number of studies have reported in the last decades the presence of plastics in the Southern Ocean,which are liable to reach the coast and accumulate on the Antarctic Continent.Despite this,there are few data on the amount of plastic pollution on Antarctic beaches below 60°S.Here we provide valuable information about the presence of plastic debris in Byers Peninsula,Livingston Island,South Shetland Islands,an Antarctic Specially Protected Area(ASPA)and a hotspot for biodiversity.A total of 129 locations with between 1 and 5 items were recorded among the 3 survey sites on Byers Peninsula.Most of the observed items are likely to derive from fishing and local sources such as tourism and research activities.We discuss the potential impacts of their presence on local fauna and some of the consequences on the Antarctic ecosystem.From this survey of plastic accumulation in an ASPA,we propose the implementation of mitigation strategies,such as systematic monitoring of the abundance and distribution of plastic waste,in order to identify trends in marine debris and control the levels of plastic pollution in the Maritime Antarctic region.展开更多
文摘Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.
文摘1.Introduction As global temperatures increase and weather patterns grow more er-ratic,the urgency of adopting climate-smart conservation strategies has intensified(Manyakaidze et al.,2024).Climate-smart conservation com-prises adaptive management practices aimed at bolstering the resilience of ecosystems and species amid climate variability(Birchall et al.,2021;Gabriel-Campos et al.,2021).
文摘Infrastructure development within protected areas has become a critical concern in biodiversity conservation,particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park (TN Babul), Indonesia. Thisstudy aims to evaluate the ecological, social, economic, institutional, and infrastructural sustainability of the Maros–Watampone road corridor that crosses TN Babul. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the research employed theMultidimensional Scaling (MDS) method supported by leverage and Monte Carlo analysis. Data were gathered fromkey stakeholders through purposive sampling and analyzed based on sustainability attributes across five dimensions.The findings reveal that environmental, institutional, and infrastructure dimensions scored in the "less sustainable"category, indicating high ecological risk and governance gaps. In contrast, economic and social dimensions weremoderately sustainable, reflecting emerging opportunities for inclusive growth. Sensitive attributes influencingsustainability include habitat fragmentation, road design, governance coordination, and community participation. Thestudy concludes that balancing development with conservation requires integrated, multi-stakeholder strategies andtargeted interventions that address the most vulnerable sustainability dimensions.
基金supported by the Government of the Northwest Territories in Canada and the John McMurry Research Chair in Environmental Geography at Wilfrid Laurier University.
文摘Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches to con-sidering the implications of climate change on the overall application and efficacy of protected areas management direction,including the achievement of the goals and objectives contained within management plans.Through a systematic and comprehensive content analysis approach,this study assesses the current extent to which climate change is considered in Canadian protected area management plans.Specifically,we evaluated 63 terrestrial protected area management plans against a set of climate robustness principles.Our content analysis revealed that climate change is currently not effectively factored into Canadian protected area management plans with an average climate robustness score of 18%.Climate robustness score was not found to be correlated with protected area size,International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)management classification,or jurisdictional authority.Certain climate robustness principles received higher scores across the management plans than oth-ers.For example,the principles of‘diverse knowledge sources’and‘addresses climate change’scored relatively highly whereas‘climate change vulnerability’and‘ecosystem integrity’received the lowest scores.The lack of integration of ecological integrity considerations in management plans was a particularly noteworthy deficiency considering that this guiding principle is the primary legislative objective of many national and sub-national protected areas in Canada.From this assessment,climate change needs to be more effectively and consistently integrated into protected area management plan development and coordinated across associated planning pro-cesses.We discuss the ways in which this can be achieved,for example,by integrating scenario planning into organizational management plan development processes.
基金The financial support by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
文摘Deforestation remains one of the most imminent threats to biodiversity in the tropics.As such,its causes and dynamics need to be studied and understood to put a halt to further forest loss and degradation.In tropical countries such as Uganda,agricultural expansion and wood fuel demand are its leading drivers.While the establishment of protected areas is a key tool in conserving remaining forest biodiversity,results indicate that current management does not sufficiently provide alternatives to forest resources utilised by households and income provided from timber and non-timber forest products.Beyond safeguarding ecosystems,protected areas need to ensure the sustainable socioeconomic development of adjacent communities for effective biodiversity conservation–however,both management and research often neglect to consider all dimensions.In this study,we analysed five decades of forest cover change in the Mount Elgon region,Uganda,by conducting a remote sensing analysis of its protected areas using Landsat MSS and TM data from 1973-2023 in combination with literature and subsequent interview analysis to consider both the ecological and socioeconomic dimension.We applied a random forest approach to differentiate forest and non-forest areas and carried out a pixel-based change detection analysis to differentiate temporal and spatial changes.Throughout the study period of 50 years,forest cover has evolved dynamically within the boundaries of the protected areas of Mount Elgon.A significant decline was observed in both Mount Elgon National Park with a loss of-5.98%(-46.83km²)and Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve with a loss of-14.96%(-134.33km²).Our results showcase a cycle of deforestation and afforestation that could be tied to a series of development initiatives,re-demarcation of boundaries,changes in management and recurring evictions.Overall,the results lead to the conclusion that the lack of sustainable and efficient management and funding has fostered the rate of deforestation and accelerated ecological degradation in the region,but that existing problems are also rooted in the land tenure history of the region.We recommend the proper implementation of participatory and long-term management approaches on the ground and to address the land rights issue to contribute to both socioeconomic wellbeing and sustainable conservation outcomes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(Grant No.72349002).
文摘Establishing and maintaining protected areas is a pivotal strategy for attaining the post-2020 biodiversity target. The conservation objectives of protected areas have shifted from a narrow emphasis on biodiversity to encompass broader considerations such as ecosystem stability, community resilience to climate change, and enhancement of human well-being. Given these multifaceted objectives, it is imperative to judiciously allocate resources to effectively conserve biodiversity by identifying strategically significant areas for conservation, particularly for mountainous areas. In this study, we evaluated the representativeness of the protected area network in the Qin ling Mountains concerning species diversity, ecosystem services, climate stability and ecological stability. The results indicate that some of the ecological indicators are spatially correlated with topographic gradient effects. The conservation priority areas predominantly lie in the northern foothills, the southeastern, and southwestern parts of the Qinling Mountain with areas concentrated at altitudes between 1,500-2,000 m and slopes between 40°-50° as hotspots. The conservation priority areas identified through the framework of inclusive conservation optimization account for 22.9 % of the Qinling Mountain. Existing protected areas comprise only 6.1 % of the Qinling Mountain and 13.18 % of the conservation priority areas. This will play an important role in achiev ing sustainable development in the region and in meeting the post-2020 biodiversity target. The framework can advance the different objectives of achieving a quadruple win and can also be extended to other regions.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(Grant No.41925005)the National Key R&D Pro-gram of China(Grant No.2024YFF1306103)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2019QZKK0307).
文摘The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau serves as an extensive gene pool for plateau species and a crucial focal point for global biodiversity conservation.Being a climate-sensitive region,the impacts of climate change have led to habitat loss,population extinction,and ecological imbalances,posing formidable challenges to the sustained ef-fectiveness of existing protected areas.Despite substantial advancements in understanding species distribution,assessing habitat changes,and evaluating the efficiency of protected areas in recent decades,comprehensive evaluations encompassing all protected species are lacking,impeding conservation strategies.In this study,we gathered 137,856 observations,encompassing 2,605 species,and utilized the MaxEnt model to simulate changes in the current distribution patterns of endangered species and suitable habitats under future scenarios.We further proposed a climate smart approach to optimize the boundaries of protected areas in response to climate change.Key findings indicate that(1)the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau harbors 2,605 endangered species,constituting 34.04%of the total endangered species catalog in China;(2)current high-adaptation habitats of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau cover a mere 7%of the plateau,showing minimal alteration in protected efficiency under climate change sce-narios(0.50%increase);(3)incorporating the effects of climate change in adjusting protected area boundaries enhances their efficiency by an average of 20.52%.Our proposed methodology holds promise for safeguard-ing endangered species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and offers significant implications for analogous regions worldwide.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42176173.
文摘Marine protected areas(MPAs)play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystem health,conserving biodiversity,and sustaining coastal livelihoods and socio-economic benefits.However,MPAs in China still face significant design and management limitations,including a lack of a robust scientific basis for boundary delineation,weak enforcement capacity,poor adaptability to environmental and socio-economic changes,and insufficient integration of the ocean’s three-dimensional characteristics.These limitations are particularly evident in the context of climate change,overexploitation of marine resources,and the complex dynamics of ecosystems.This study systematically reviews the current status and challenges of MPAs in China,with a specific focus on the need for and benefits of dynamic and threedimensional protected areas for marine conservation.Dynamic protected areas,supported by real-time monitoring and flexible boundary adjustments,can more effectively respond to the migratory patterns of marine species and seasonal distribution shifts along China’s coast.On the other hand,three-dimensional protected areas enhance ecosystem protection by incorporating vertical ecological gradients and ocean depth,offering a vital complement to the predominantly two-dimensional protection approach currently in use.The study indicates that,with current technological and data capabilities,effective implementation of these advanced approaches requires precision marine observations,advanced analysis methods,and coordinated efforts among diverse stakeholders.In response,the study synthesizes multiple case studies to illustrate the potential ecological,managerial,and policy-related outcomes of dynamic and three-dimensional MPAs.It proposes strategies for optimization,implementation pathways,and targeted policy recommendations.Ultimately,the study emphasizes the critical role of scientific planning and technological innovation in enhancing the effectiveness of MPAs in China.It calls upon policymakers and the broader society to increase attention and investment in dynamic and three-dimensional marine conservation approaches.This work not only provides a scientific foundation for more precise and efficient marine governance in China,but also lays crucial foundation for achieving ocean-related sustainable development goals aligned with China’s national context.
文摘In this research,we examine how the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA),located in the southwest Mediterranean Sea,can be effectively monitored using the SeaExplorer glider—an advanced autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV)designed for long‑duration oceanographic missions.The study focuses on the glider’s ability to simultaneously observe a variety of environmental parameters,including temperature,conductivity,oxygen,and chlorophyll,during its deployment across multiple transects.The primary objective of the mission is to improve understanding of the vertical thermal structure and seasonal dynamics of the water column in this ecologically signiicant region.To achieve this,we apply Gaussian Process(GP)regression techniques to the glider‑derived temperature data.This statistical method enables the smoothing and interpolation of irregularly spaced in situ measurements,thereby improving the visibility and interpretation of stratiication patterns throughout the water column.Although the glider followed a predetermined course,the data‑driven analysis suggests that adaptive sampling strategies—such as adjustments based on real‑time outliers—could be valuable in future missions.Our results,which show distinct thermal layering and seasonal variability,are crucial for informing ecosystem function assessments and climate resilience planning.This study also discusses how integrating machine learning into glider‑based monitoring could enhance MPA observation systems and promote adaptive,evidence‑based management.
文摘Establishment of Protected Areas （PAs）, in the face of rapid deforestation, forest degradation and climate change has been one of the key efforts in conservation of biodiversity worldwide in recent times. While Bangladesh has gained a degree of prominence in the world for its successful social forestry programs, the concept of collaborative pro- tected area management is rather new in the country, initiated in 2004 by the Bangladesh Forest Department in five PAs with financial assistance from USAID. Based on empirical evidence from three of the pilot PAs, we examined the achievements and associated challenges and prospects for co-management. Our fieldwork revealed a number of challenges faced by co-management institutions： （1） institutions were dominated by the elite group, overshadowing the voice of the community people; （2） mutual trust and collective performance are key to good governance but had not taken root in the PAs; （3） encroachment onto forest land and subsequent conversion to agriculture remained a serious problem that discouraged forest-dependent people from participating actively in co-management initiatives; （4） legal provisions （including acts, rules and policies） were not clearly and adequately disseminated and understood at the community level; （5） there remained a degree of ambiguity regarding the roles and responsibilities of forest department （FD） and co-management committees （CMC） in field operations, and this was not enhancing transparency and accountability of the overall initiative; （6） the long-term sustainability of co-management institutions was another major concern, as the local intuitional structure was still in a nascent stage, and provisioning of resources （either internally or externally） remained somewhat uncertain. We offer recommendations for improve- ment.
基金Under the auspices of National Science&Technology Pillar Program During the Twelfth Five-year Plan Period(No.2011BAC09B08)
文摘Protected areas(PAs) have experienced explosive growth in Northwest China over the last three decades, but their effectiveness in representing regional ecological system diversity has not attracted considerable attention. Low effectiveness would exacerbate the conservation-development conflicts, particularly those that arise as a result of the Great Western Development Strategy(GWDS). Thus, an assessment of the effectiveness of the PA network has become quite important. We proposed natural vegetation communities to represent regional ecological system diversities, and proposed Global 200 Priority Ecoregions, Important Bird Areas, and ecosystem function regions to represent important conservation areas. To determine their effectiveness, we studied the extent to which ecological system diversities and important conservation areas are represented by the existing 96 PAs. Our results indicated that the total coverage of vegetation communities in PAs in Northwest China is not sufficiently comprehensive. As the PA system has expanded, the growth in the total area of the PAs has been greater than that of their vegetation community richness. While most of the important conservation areas are covered by PAs, some regions have not yet reached the 10% threshold; further, PAs are distributed unevenly and conservation gaps remain in the region. Therefore, these regions should receive more attention when planning new PAs. It is vital that more biodiversity datasets and assessment of ecosystem function regions are integrated in order to provide a basis for the government to formulate appropriate protection and development strategies.
文摘Wetland is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the earth. The main purpose of establishing wetland protected area is to protect biodiversity, and the protection of ecosystem diversity and landscape diversity is the key to protect biodiversity. In order to protect regional ecosystem and landscape, it is a good way to establish wetland comprehensive protected area which connected wetland nature reserves by habitat corridors. The Sanjiang Plain as a study area, its landscape evaluation index system on wetland protected area was studied, and some problems on landscape planning and ecology construction were further approached in this paper.It showed that establishing wetland comprehensive protected area is very important to protect regional wetlands, to maintain ecological balance, and to improve the sustainable development of agriculture and industry in this region.
基金supported by the Chinese Ministry of Sciences and Technology--the host of China-Africa Science and Technology Partnership Program(CASTEP)the National Special Research Program for Forestry Welfare of China(201104009)
文摘Remote-sensing data for protected areas in northern Togo, obtained in three different years （2007, 2000, and 1987）, were used to assess and map changes in land cover and land use for this drought prone zone. The normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI） was applied to the images to map changes in vegetation. An unsupervised classification, followed by classes recoding, filtering, identifications, area computing and post-classification process were applied to the composite of the three years of NDVI images. Maximum likelihood classification was applied to the 2007 image （ETM＋2007） using a supervised classification process. Seven vegetation classes were defined from training data sets. The seven classes included the following biomes： riparian forest, dry forest, flooded vegetation, wooded savanna, fallows, parkland, and water. For these classes, the overall accuracy and the overall kappa statistic for the classi- fied map were 72.5% and 0.67, respectively. Data analyses indicated a great change in land resources; especially between 1987 and 2000 proba- bly due to the impact of democratization process social, economic, and political disorder from 1990. Wide-scale loss of vegetation occurred during this period. However, areas of vegetation clearing and regrowth were more visible between 2000 and 2007. The main source of confusion in the contingency matrix was due to heterogeneity within certain classes. It could also be due to spectral homogeneity among the classes. This research provides a baseline for future ecological landscape research and for the next management program in the area.
文摘A total of 19 protected areas （PAs） have been established in Bangladesh representing all the four forest types of the country. Apart from being the repository of biological diversity, these PAs serve as the source of subsistence livelihoods to the local communities. While all the PAs are managed by the state Forest Department （FD）, with a view to ensure sustainability, a recent approach of co-management has been initiated in five PAs as a pilot project with an aid of development partners incorporating stakeholders＇ participation. Along with demonstrating a number of upbeat impacts, the initiatives exert some constraints which need to be addressed properly to ensure the success of participatory approach and enhance the ongoing conservation scheme. This paper reviews the published works, government and project documents to analyze the present status of PAs and suggest recommendations accordingly.
文摘Global climate change poses a new challenge for species and can even push some species toward an extinction vortex. The most affected organisms are those with narrow tolerance to the climatic factors but many large mammals such as ungulates with a wider ecological niche are also being affected indirectly. Our research mainly used wild sheep in central Iran as a model species to explore how the suitable habitats will change under different climatic scenarios and to determine if current borders of protected areas will adequately protect habitat requirements. To create habitat models we used animal-vehicle collision points as an input for species presence data. We ran habitat models using Max Ent modeling approach under different climatic scenarios of the past, present and future(under the climatic scenarios for minimum(RCP2.6) and maximum(RCP8.5) CO2 concentration trajectories). We tried to estimate the overlap and the width of the ecological niche using relevant metrics. In order to analyze the effectiveness of the protected areas, suitable maps were concerted to binary maps using True Skill Statistic(TSS) threshold and measured the similarity of the binary maps for each scenario using Kappa index. In order to assess the competence of the present protected areas boundary in covering the distribution of species, two different scenarios were employed, which are ensemble scenario 1: an ensemble of the binary maps of the species distribution in Mid-Holocene, present, and RCP2.6;and ensemble scenario 2: an ensemble of binary suitability maps in Mid-Holocene, present, and RCP8.5. Then, the borders of modeled habitats with the boundaries of 23 existing protected areas in two central provinces in Iran were compared. The predicted species distribution under scenario 1(RCP2.6) was mostly similar to its current distribution(Kappa = 0.53) while the output model under scenario 2(RCP8.5) indicated a decline in the species distribution range. Under the first ensemble scenario, current borders of the protected areas in Hamedan province showed better efficiency to cover the model species distribution range. Analyzing Max Ent spatial models under the second climatic scenario suggested that protected areas in both Markazi and Hamedan provinces will not cover "high suitability" areas in the future. Modeling the efficiency of the current protected areas under predicted future climatic scenarios can help the related authorities to plan conservation activities more efficiently.
文摘In 2000, the authors collected a great quantity of relevant data by investigating more than 50 nature reserves. Based on the analysis of development and management situation of the protected areas in China, the main problems were put forward, such as, no unified management for income and managing activities, lack of special guideline and effective supervision, lack of income and investment, investing financial difference in different provinces. All these problems caused the lack of funds for construction, as well as the damage of resources and environment. Furthermore the conserving activities have to transmit to the profits in many protected areas. Combined with these problems, the primary solution programmers also were put forward.
基金Under the auspices of National Science and Technology Basic Resource Investigation Program(No.2017FY100900)。
文摘The north-south transitional zone in China mainly consists of the Qinling-Daba Mountains. It is the most important West-East geo-ecological space in China, containing protected areas vital for biodiversity conservation and ecological security of China. The protection and rational development of its natural habitat is of great significance to China’s ecological security and integration of protected areas based on mountain forest ecosystems on a global scale. In this study, five important types of protected areas in the transitional zone were selected, and their spatial patterns were analysed. Spatial analysis methods, such as kernel density estimation and accessibility analysis, were employed for both point and areal data, and focused on four aspects: land use scale, shift in the centre of gravity, spatial agglomeration, and accessibility. In addition, policy background and evolution of spatial and temporal characteristics of the protected area system in the transitional zone from 1963 to 2017 were also examined. We analysed the characteristics and geographical significance of the West-east corridor using the spatial pattern of the protected area system from the perspective of ecological and economic spaces. We focused on spatial shape, type intersection, and key areas to analyse the spatial overlap of the protected areas. Protected area establishment was divided into three stages: initial(1956–1980), rapid development(1981–2013), and national park transformation(2014–present). These stages reflected the change in the concept of ‘simple protection—sustainable use—integration and upgrade’ for protected areas of China. The spatial centre of gravity of the protection zone system was located in the west Qinling-Daba Mountains, and its high-density core exhibited a relatively stable N-shaped structure composed of four gathering areas. Affected by factors such as geographic environment and socio-economic development density, the average access time for protected areas was high(1.56 h);wetland parks and scenic areas are located closer to the city centre. As the West-east corridor in the transitional zone extends from west to east, there is a clear spatial dislocation between the development of protected areas and the intensity of human activities. During development, differentiated goal orientation should be adopted based on the idea of zoning and classified governance. With the advancement of the construction of protected areas, the spatial overlap of protected areas in the transition zone has become more prominent. At present, the spatially overlapped protected areas in the transitional zone remain prominent, with inclusion overlap being the most common, and forest parks exhibiting the highest probability of overlap with other protected areas, we should focus on in the integration process of the corridor-type ecological space based on the mountain forest ecosystem.
文摘The research reported in this paper investigated the role of identity construction in the emergence and escalation of conflict in the participatory management of protected areas in Benin. The study shows that social identity salience was dynamic and played an important role in the emergence and escalation of conflict in the studied cases. Conflicts emerged when identities became salient as a result of the stake-holders’ framing of contextual factors as a threat to their identity. The conflicts escalated when decisions and actions undertaken in the management process were framed as top-down and as posing a threat to the identities of the stakeholders. We conclude that, although the government in the management of the protected areas introduced participation, unilateral decisions taken about the way the conflicts should be managed caused disappointment and distrust, and thus led to a greater distance between the parties involved and to conflict escalation.
基金supported by the Chinese and Togolese governments under the direction of Beijing Forestry University and Universitéde Lomé
文摘These days, human activities in the savanna and the remaining dry and riparian forests of the Sudanian ecoregions continue to have their impact. These anthropogenic practices are still the main cause of disturbances in these areas. In order to investigate and assess the importance of these disturbances, caused by people bordering on protected areas and to determine the relation between these activities and the environment in which they are carried out, 220 samples were selected in the three main protected areas of northern Togo. The investigation was mainly qualitative, considering the floristic sampling of this drought area; any anthropogenic activities observed were recorded. A simple investigative questionnaire about the activities of rural people in the reserved areas was distributed to individuals encountered in the study area. Each sample in the investigation ended with a site description of its ecologi- cal characterization, i.e., soil features, topography, fauna footprints, dominant plant species and GPS position; we also took photo- graphs of the site. Data processing was entirely based on descriptive statistics and a factor analysis. The results show that eight kinds of human activities, i.e., the use of pastures, tree cutting, bush fires, charcoal production, harvesting of plant material, fanning, honey harvesting and hunting, were noted to be serious disturbances to the integrity of the ecosystems. Among these disturbances, three are recurrent in all the sampled areas of which the use of pastures accounts for 31.88%, tree cutting for 30.35% and bush fires for 30.13%. Fire and pasture disturbances are closely linked and are responsible for the current features of the savanna area of the region. Tree cutting is more a direct function of the need for the production of wood fuel, generally used by city populations. Hunting, farm- ing and honey production are of lesser importance in the area and therefore, do not pose a significantly negative effect on the growth of fauna and flora. Knowledge of these disturbances in the context of requalification and a renewed demarcation of protected areas in Togo is essential for their sustainable management.
基金This work was supported by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación(AEI)Grant no.CTM2016-79741-R.PA is supported by a FPI-contract fellowship(Grant no.BES-2017080558)from Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competividad(MINECO)SG is supported by research group 2017-SGR-1102 from the Catalan Government and by the AEMET Antarctic Program from MINECO。
文摘A number of studies have reported in the last decades the presence of plastics in the Southern Ocean,which are liable to reach the coast and accumulate on the Antarctic Continent.Despite this,there are few data on the amount of plastic pollution on Antarctic beaches below 60°S.Here we provide valuable information about the presence of plastic debris in Byers Peninsula,Livingston Island,South Shetland Islands,an Antarctic Specially Protected Area(ASPA)and a hotspot for biodiversity.A total of 129 locations with between 1 and 5 items were recorded among the 3 survey sites on Byers Peninsula.Most of the observed items are likely to derive from fishing and local sources such as tourism and research activities.We discuss the potential impacts of their presence on local fauna and some of the consequences on the Antarctic ecosystem.From this survey of plastic accumulation in an ASPA,we propose the implementation of mitigation strategies,such as systematic monitoring of the abundance and distribution of plastic waste,in order to identify trends in marine debris and control the levels of plastic pollution in the Maritime Antarctic region.
