Geographic distribution,conservation effectiveness,and gaps for national key protected wild plants in China

National key protected wild plants (NKPWPs) are species with important conservation value based on genetics, ecology, culture, and/or scientific research, which are also confronted with serious threats. However, their geographical distribution patterns and conservation status remain unclear. In this study, we compiled 1032 species of NKPWPs. We measured the diversity to identify hotspots of NKPWPs based on species richness, weighted range size rarity and a complementarity-based analysis. Comparing the distribution and hotspots of NKPWPs with the coverage of Chinese nature reserves (NRs), we assessed conservation effectiveness and identified conservation gaps. The results identified 13 diversity hotspots; only 9.5% of them were covered by NRs with >30% of the grid cell area, and even 19.5% were not covered at all by NRs. Overall, 44.7% of NKPWPs were effectively protected by national NRs. Despite this success, 571 species in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Guangdong, southern Hainan, Taiwan, and northern Xinjiang remain unprotected by NRs. The protected proportion of plants with first-level protection was lower than that of plants with second-level protection. The low overall proportion of protected hotspots indicates that the conservation outlook for NKPWPs is not optimistic. This study identifies priority conservation areas and conservation gaps and provides a scientific reference for the conservation of wild plants in China.     

Socio-economic and ecological prospects for multiple use of protected areas in Africa

Largely triggered by the Bali debate, conservation literature over the last decade has seen increasing realization of man's responsibility in ensuring survival of the world's protected areas. In African terms, there has been an overwhelming number of pilot projects which have the people label. Whereas this trend has been ecouraging, the overall conservation picture has not been very bright as the wildlife resources have continued to dwindle under surmounting human pressure. The problem does not seem to be awareness of the necessity for protected areas any more but rather whether it is feasible under the present prevailing circumstances.     

贵州省国家重点保护野生植物物种丰富度分布特征及保护优先区分析

该研究以国家重点保护野生植物为指示物种,结合贵州各县(市、区)的国家重点保护野生植物调查统计信息,基于GIS技术,分析了贵州省国家重点保护野生植物物种丰富度分布特征;应用Dobson算法筛选识别贵州国家重点保护野生植物的保护优先区,并利用全省已建自然保护区信息评价分析所筛选的保护优先区的保护现状。结果表明:(1)在贵州国家重点保护野生植物的物种丰富度分布上,总体来说全省南部地区高于北部地区,环省界区域往内陆延伸的物种丰富度明显呈现减少趋势。(2)在75%和100%的国家重点保护野生植物物种保护水平上,筛选识别出了荔波县等4个和17个县域为保护优先区,其中分别有1个和9个国家重点保护野生植物保护优先区内涵盖的自然保护区面积低于5%,且涉及的自然保护区中68.26%的面积是市/县级。(3)贵州国家重点保护野生植物物种较丰富的区域和全省生物多样性热点区域与所筛选识别的保护优先区有较好的空间对应关系。(4)贵州国家重点保护野生植物的就地保护应以国家重点保护野生植物地理分布丰富的区域结合本研究筛选的保护优先区为重点,进行优先保护。     

Importance of traditional protected areas for the collection of medicinal plants,Kongo‐Central (DRC)

The Mbanza‐Ngungu region (Kongo‐Central province, DRC) currently faces continued forest deterioration. Many of these forests were traditionally protected areas of which to date, only traces are left. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the importance of forest remnants and other components of the landscape for the collection of medicinal plants in the Mbanza‐Ngungu Region, DRC. Between February 2009 and May 2012, semi‐structured interviews and participatory observations were conducted in this region with 51 traditional healers selected by means of the ‘snowball method’. Local importance of medicinal plants was determined by the medicinal Use Value parameter. Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS 20.0 and based on chi‐square test, analysis of variance and post hoc comparison of means. Our results show that the forest remnants remain the main medicinal species provider: 68 species against 62 for agro‐ecosystems. However, the total number of citations for medicinal species uses is higher for agro‐ecosystems (293) than for forest remnants (233), and this difference is significant (P < 0·05). This could be explained, among others, by the fact that some forest remnants are respected or protected by the villagers for religious and ritual purposes (Sangi). This also points to the importance of agro‐ecosystems and secondary vegetation as provider of medicinal plants around rural villages, as seen elsewhere in the tropics.     

Imperfect detection alters the outcome of management strategies for protected areas

Designing protected area configurations to maximise biodiversity is a critical conservation goal. The configuration of protected areas can significantly impact the richness and identity of the species found there; one large patch supports larger populations but can facilitate competitive exclusion. Conversely, many small habitats spreads risk but may exclude predators that typically require large home ranges. Identifying how best to design protected areas is further complicated by monitoring programs failing to detect species. Here we test the consequences of different protected area configurations using multi‐trophic level experimental microcosms. We demonstrate that for a given total size, many small patches generate higher species richness, are more likely to contain predators, and have fewer extinctions compared to single large patches. However, the relationship between the size, number of patches, and species richness was greatly affected by insufficient monitoring, and could lead to incorrect conservation decisions, especially for higher trophic levels.     

中国主要河流鱼类分布及其种类多样性与流域特征的关系

对中国13条主要河流淡水鱼类分布进行的系统聚类分析结果表明,分异最小的是闽江与九龙江。瓯江与钱塘江、淮河与黄河、东北的水系分别较早聚为一类。相异系数在0.60～0.69时分为三类: 东北的水系、黄河到珠江间的水系和云南的元江。淡水鱼种类数与流域特征的相关和回归分析揭示了：鱼种数分别与河流流域面积、年平均流量呈显著或极显著的正相关,单位干流长和单位流域面积的鱼种类数分别与河流径流深、比降呈显著或极显著的正相关, 而与河流平均纬度呈显著负相关。主成分分析得到的第一和第二主成分分别综合反映了河流鱼种类数和相对种类数与河流特征值的关系。     

加拿大自然保护区规划的启迪

为了更好地国际接轨,搞好自然保护区的管理工作,我们需要学习其他国家的先进经验,本文重点介绍加拿大自然保护区规划方面的典型经验,包括系统规划,综合管理规划,资源管理规划,服务规划,行动规划,以及各种规划之间的关系,并提出了对我们的启迪与可借鉴之处。     

The distribution of amphibian species richness in protected areas of Chiapas,Mexico

Due to the current environmental crisis, many animal species face extinction problems. Amphibian populations have been affected by this crisis. Our goal is to study amphibian species diversity in Chiapas, which has 7.6% of the endemic amphibians in Mexico and 53 protected areas. Only 58% of the protected areas have management plans or information on their resident amphibians. We aim to determine the extent of protection provided by the network of natural areas for the conservation of amphibian species in the state and to discuss the effectiveness of this protection. Therefore, we compiled a georeferenced database of 112 amphibian species in Chiapas to create each distribution model. In addition, we carried out representativeness, beta diversity, and species richness analyses. As a result, we obtained a high degree of representativeness for the records and species distribution models. However, we found a decrease in the richness of amphibians involving 20% of total species, 13% of endemics, 18% threatened according to NOM-059, and 31% threatened according to IUCN between 1800 and 2020 and 1980–2020. We also identified two biodiversity hotspots in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and the Northern Highlands physiographic regions. Finally, based on potential distributions, we found more endemic and threatened species outside protected natural areas than inside them. Our results give a broader picture of how amphibian richness is distributed in Chiapas. This information can help to prioritize conservation efforts toward those areas rich in threatened or endemic species, such as the Northern Mountains Hotspot we identified in northern Chiapas.     

Best practices for improved governance of coral reef marine protected areas

Coral reef marine protected areas (MPA) are widely distributed around the globe for social and ecological reasons. Relatively few of these MPAs are well managed. This review examines the governance of coral reef MPAs and the means to improve coral reef MPA management. It highlights common governance challenges, such as confused goals, conflict, and unrealistic attempts to scale up beyond institutional capacity. Recommendations, based on field experience and empirical evidence from around the world, are made for best practices at various stages of MPA implementation.

秦岭重点保护植物丰富度空间格局与热点地区

秦岭地区物种资源丰富,是我国重要的生物多样性热点地区之一。以秦岭山系涉及的43个行政县为研究区域,基于重点保护植物的县级分布,并结合垂直分布和生境类型信息获得物种分布区范围,探讨重点保护植物的丰富度空间格局和热点地区。研究结果表明:该地区共包括重点保护植物200种,其中国家一级保护植物20种,国家二级保护植物180种;秦岭重点保护植物丰富度空间格局总体随山体呈东西向递减的条带状分布,东段随着山岭与盆地相间的地形呈扫帚状展开,南坡物种丰富度高于北坡;通过丰富度空间格局确定了3个热点地区,分别是:(1)伏牛-熊耳山地;(2)太白-佛坪山地;(3)天水东南部山地。将热点地区与国家级自然保护区叠加后鉴别出保护空缺地,可为下一步实施科学的生物多样性保护规划提供基础资料。     

No-take areas for sustainability of harvested species and a conservation invariant for marine reserves

Various kinds of no-take areas (refuges, reserves) are gaining attention as conservation tools. The efficacy of reserves can be considered from the perspectives of providing baseline data sets, protecting the stock, maximizing yield to the fishery, or some combination of these. Regardless of the measure of effectiveness of a reserve, practical application requires the development of techniques for settling operational and policy questions such as how large a reserve should be. A simple model, involving population growth and harvest, is used to explore how the fraction of habitat assigned to a reserve affects the sustainability of a take and to frame the trade-off between control of harvest outside of the reserve and the size of the reserve. This exploration also leads to the discovery of a robust conservation invariant for reserves.     

The under-financing of protected areas in the Congo Basin: so many parks and so little willingness-to-pay

Protected areas in the Congo Basin cover approximately 6% of the landscape, and several international NGOs are proposing substantial additions to the present network of parks and reserves. Yet, chronic under-funding has long precluded effective management of most parks and reserves resulting in their progressive ecological impoverishment, and the loss of biodiversity. Furthermore, not only are the indebted nations of the Congo Basin not in a position to contribute significantly to cover the recurring costs of protected area management, the growing opportunity costs of setting aside protected areas is increasing the incentives to local communities and national governments to 'illegally' exploit economically valuable resources within parks and reserves. If the global value of the biodiversity contained within the Congo Basin is considered worth preserving then donors and international NGOs must work with national governments to reach consensus on an optimal protected area network that (a) contains a representative assemblage of forest species; (b) is composed of forest blocks that are sufficiently large, intact, and likely to persist; (c) contains zones of active speciation (e.g. ecotones), and (d) can expect to receive sufficient long-term financial support to ensure effective management. Given the 'need to eat today' reality of economies in the Congo Basin, the international community must decide to shoulder most of the costs of conservation of globally important biodiversity. If donors continue to under-finance protected areas rather than make the hard choices associated with prioritizing protected area spending then most if not all protected areas within the Congo Basin will continue to exhibit reductions in the biomass of individual species, and risk the extirpation or extinction of large, slow reproducing species, and rare endemics.     

Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas: paradoxes call for pluralism in evaluating conservation performance

Aim  To highlight and examine apparent paradoxes in assessing the effectiveness of different forms of land-use for biodiversity conservation.
Location  Tanzania.
Methods  We compare and contrast the findings of two recent and seemingly conflicting studies on the effectiveness of conservation protection strategies in Tanzania. We evaluate these studies in the context of a wider body of evidence relating to the problem of determining protected area performance.
Results  We highlight the importance of landscape-scale management approaches for biodiversity conservation; establishing clear management and monitoring objectives in advance; the interrelation between the choice of target species and the appropriate spatial scale over which to measure their fate; and differences between snapshot and longitudinal scales in assessing the effectiveness of conservation strategies.
Main conclusions  Protected area assessments should not promote an isolated focus on particular conservation targets or methods of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation strategies. Instead we argue for a more pluralistic approach to evaluating conservation performance that can help to reveal where potential synergies in tackling different objectives exist, and clarifying the trade-offs when they do not.     

论保护地分类与以国家公园为主体的中国保护地建设

中国正在开展一场以国家公园为龙头的保护地建设, 面临着一个跨领域、跨行业、全空间的保护地分类管理难题。世界各国建立了各种各样的保护地, 这些保护地存在着“同物异名、同名异物、一物多名”现象。IUCN提出了一个保护地分类系统, 以期将所有的保护地纳入一个体系。人们试图按照IUCN的保护地分类系统对现有保护地分类, 但是IUCN保护地分类系统的定义模糊, 无量化标准, 而保护地的属性常常存在非唯一属性等问题。保护地分类是一个学术问题, 可以自由探讨, 百家争鸣; 而保护地的管理是行政问题, 必须有章可依, 有法可循。中国现有10多种不同的保护地类型, 本身就是一种分类体系, 有的保护地, 如自然保护区、风景名胜区、地质公园等已经有相应的行政法规和管理经验。中国国家公园应整合优化而不是取代现有的其他类型保护地。以国家公园为龙头的中国保护地体系需要顶层设计和专门立法。保护地应当推动当地社区人与自然协调发展。     

Distribution patterns of threatened endemic plants in Turkey: A quantitative approach for conservation

Documenting the basic patterns of biodiversity and accurately determining the priority areas are the first steps for conservation studies. Threatened species and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red Lists are among the widely used tools to identify protected areas. Turkey is one of the most important biodiversity centres in the world. The plant diversity of Turkey with over 30% endemic species of approximately 12000 natural vascular plant taxa is well documented through use of a Grid System. However, Turkey has suffered heavy anthropogenic effects having been a settlement for many civilisations throughout the history of humankind. Therefore, Turkey needs a quantitative evaluation of the importance of different grid squares for conserving plant diversity. This paper offers a quantitative approach for aiding the identification of priority areas for biodiversity conservation by analysing the threatened plants in each grid square in terms of endemism, risk categories and distribution characteristics. The grid squares (nearly 220 x 170 km²) were then classified within four different groups in terms of their conservation importance. This national-level information can be used for further research and decision-making processes for conservation planning.     

多类型保护地生态承载力核算模型及应用

生态承载力核算是进行保护地科学保护和有效利用的重要基础。多类型保护地是多种类型的保护地分布集中、相邻相连、交叉重叠的地理空间。研究将多类型保护地功能空间与生态系统服务相对应,划分为生态空间、生产空间、生活空间和游憩空间,在此基础上将多类型保护地生态承载力定义为生态系统在这四类空间中维持其重要生态系统服务功能的能力,并将其划分为自然基础承载力、社会经济活动承载力以及游憩承载力,构建了适用于多类型保护地的生态承载力核算框架模型。以三江源国家公园黄河源园区为案例区,进行了生态承载力核算。研究能够为多类型保护地经济建设规模、结构与布局优化调控研究提供科学依据。