Human Activities Impose Wildlife Impact in Protected Zones, Study Finds

If the (30 by 30) initiative, which has garnered support from over 100 countries, achieves its goals, approximately 30% of both land and ocean ecosystems will be designated as protected areas by 2030. These areas are intended to preserve biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change.

However, a groundbreaking study conducted by Rice University ecologist Lydia Beaudrot and her colleagues has revealed that even within protected areas, tropical mammals are not immune to the impacts of human activity occurring outside the boundaries of these protected zones.

This study, which involved the largest camera-trap wildlife survey to date, provides valuable insights into the effects of anthropogenic stressors such as human population density and habitat fragmentation on 159 mammal species across 16 protected areas in three biogeographic regions. The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, has the potential to inform decision-making regarding biodiversity policies for participants of the “30 by 30” initiative.

A Collaborative Endeavor

The study relied on millions of images captured over several years from over 1,000 camera-trap sites. These images were collected through a collaborative effort between Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Smithsonian Institution, involving a network of research stations that adhered to a consistent data-collection protocol.

According to Beaudrot, the assistant professor of biosciences at Rice University, the dataset compiled for this study is remarkable and represents an unprecedented and monumental endeavor.

The findings of the research indicate that specialist species, which are restricted to specific habitats, thrive when habitat fragmentation is minimal. However, they are more susceptible to the adverse impacts of human activities like hunting and land use compared to generalist species, which can adapt to various habitats.

Therefore, specialist species such as the white-bellied pangolin in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are more likely to fare better if they inhabit areas closer to the center of the protected zone, as specialists tend to be more resilient farther away from the edge of a protected area.

Asunción Semper-Pascual, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the Norwegian University for Life Sciences, explains that the edge of a protected area typically exhibits a greater diversity of habitats, with variations between forest cover and open landscapes used for agriculture, among other purposes.

Generalists and Resource Access

Generalist species thrive in these diverse settings as they provide access to a range of resources. For instance, the tayra, an omnivorous species in the weasel family, can inhabit both forested areas and grasslands or croplands, but their success near the edge of protected areas depends on low human population density in those regions.

Understanding how different species respond to various anthropogenic stressors can aid in setting conservation priorities and guiding the management of protected areas. This knowledge can inform local initiatives by focusing on the most vulnerable species within a particular region and contribute to global efforts by highlighting how landscape-scale factors affect biodiversity beyond the boundaries of protected areas.

Beaudrot emphasizes the importance of taking a holistic approach to conservation and working in collaboration with local communities to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for both people and wildlife.

Semper-Pascual concludes that as the establishment of protected areas continues, it is crucial to consider the factors that influence biodiversity both within and outside these areas.

Read The Original Article on PHYS.

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