Protected Areas and Reserve Design

1. Protected Areas and Reserve Design

2. Outline • Current protection • Definitions • History • Principles of Reserve Design • Corridors • How much is enough? • Methods of Reserve Design

3. What is a protected area? • IUCN “an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective measures”. • What % of earth is currently protected?

4. Cumulative growth in protected areas from 1872–2003

5. What is a reserve system and how does it differ from a protected area? • Who categorizes protected areas? • What are some of the areas in the world with the greatest % of protected areas?

6. Global Protected Areas

7. (DellaSalla et al. 2001)

8. History of Protected Areas Tribal peoples set aside some areas for protection First national park? 1962 First World Parks Congress 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity - each signee must first establish a system of protected areas 1992 Fourth Congress on National Parks and Protected areas set a goal of at least 10% protection of each major biome by 2000

9. Historical Reserve Selection

10. “Ad hoc approaches to conservation planning have resulted in a system of conservation areas that are biased towards areas of high elevation, steeper slopes, and poorer soils.” (Robert L. Pressey)

12. Biological Objectives of Reserves(Soule & Simberloff 1986) • Preservation of ecosystems • Preservation of biodiversity • Focal species of interest • Perpetuation of plants and animals for harvest • Goals will affect reserve design

13. Critical Issues In Reserve Success(Groom et al 2007) • Size • Heterogeneity • Landscape Context • Connectivity • Buffer Zones • Humans must be included

14. Size • Bigger is better - Why? • SLOSS debate (Burkley 1989)

15. Heterogeneity and Dynamics • More heterogeneity is desired - Why? Important related principles • Minimum dynamic area • Patch dynamics (‘shifting mosaic’) • Climate Change

16. Buffers • Developing multiple buffer zones can be a critical tool - Biosphere model • Mum Model • Buffer may need to be gradual or abrupt • What circumstances do we want gradual? • What circumstances for abrupt?

17. Landscape Context • Patch dynamics inside are influenced by outside (Buechner 1987) • Boundaries are critical (Schonewald-Cox and Bayless 1986) • Ties in with: • Matrix considerations, Edge effects, • Necessary buffer depends on focal species and research is needed

18. Connectivity • Corridors are needed within and between reserves • Why? • Structural vs functional components? • Weaknesses of Corridors?

19. Corridors • Must determine target species and objective or they can become sink • Landscape context also important in determining size and shape • Nodes/Networks/MUM model (Noss and Harris 1986) • Linkage Zones

20. Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y)

21. Corrales and Balestro 2001

22. The MBC is defined as: "A system of land-use planning that features areas under various administrative arrangements including core natural areas, buffer zones, multiple use zones, and corridor areas. These are organized and consolidated in a manner that offers environmental benefits and services to Central America and the world. The MBC will provide opportunities for people to participate and promote investment in the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The purpose is to improve the quality of life of the Mesoamericans" (WRI, 2001).

23. Human Component • Must work with people and include humans in process • “Paper parks” • Concept of “biocultural restoration” (involve local people in all aspects) • Biosphere reserve model

24. Reserve Design GAP analysis Boundary Model MUM Model Biosphere Reserve Model

25. Advanced Tools for Conservation Planning What private organization has the largest system of reserves? How do they select reserve areas?

26. What individual and university research program created GAP analysis?

27. 1st GAP analysis

28. Gap analysis

29. How Much is Enough?

30. What is special about 10%? 1992 Fourth Congress on National Parks and Protected areas set a goal of at least 10% protection of each major biome by 2000 2003reached 11.5% and 10% in 9 out of 13 biomes

31. Global Gap Analysis ProjectRodriques et al 2004 Overlay two main databases World Database on protected areas Distributional data for 11,633 species Mammals, amphibians, freshwater turtles, tortoises, birds Main findings 1424 species not protected at all (804 threatened) Amphibians had lowest representation 46% of PA in tropics but 76% of world’s species

32. Conclusions • 10% will not achieve conservation goals • Biodiversity is not evenly distributed across the globe • Need more protected areas in the tropics • Suggest level of threat and irreplaceability could guide conservation planning

36. Multiple-use Model (MUMs)Harris 1984, Harris and Noss 1986

37. Noss and Harris 1986

38. Biosphere Reserves • (482 in 102 countries) • UNESCO man in the biosphere program started 1977 • Representative of a major biogeographic area - Contain landscapes, ecosystems or animal and plant species which need to be conserved • Functions: 1) biodiversity conservation, 2) environmentally sound sustainable development, 3) support research, monitoring and education

39. Biosphere Reserves

40. http://www.unesco.org/mab/nutshell.htm#BR?

41. 932 km2 (360 sq miles)