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Wildlife population trends in protected areas predicted by national socio-economic metrics and body size

Author

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  • Megan D. Barnes

    (School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management, the University of Queensland
    Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, the University of Queensland)

  • Ian D. Craigie

    (Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University)

  • Luke B. Harrison

    (Redpath Museum, McGill University)

  • Jonas Geldmann

    (Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen
    Conservation Science Group, University of Cambridge)

  • Ben Collen

    (Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London)

  • Sarah Whitmee

    (Indicators and Assessment Unit, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park)

  • Andrew Balmford

    (Conservation Science Group, University of Cambridge)

  • Neil D. Burgess

    (Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen
    United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC))

  • Thomas Brooks

    (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 28 rue Mauverney
    World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), University of the Philippines Los Baños
    School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania)

  • Marc Hockings

    (School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management, the University of Queensland
    United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
    International Union for Conservation of Nature, 28 rue Mauverney)

  • Stephen Woodley

    (Woodley and Associates)

Abstract

Ensuring that protected areas (PAs) maintain the biodiversity within their boundaries is fundamental in achieving global conservation goals. Despite this objective, wildlife abundance changes in PAs are patchily documented and poorly understood. Here, we use linear mixed effect models to explore correlates of population change in 1,902 populations of birds and mammals from 447 PAs globally. On an average, we find PAs are maintaining populations of monitored birds and mammals within their boundaries. Wildlife population trends are more positive in PAs located in countries with higher development scores, and for larger-bodied species. These results suggest that active management can consistently overcome disadvantages of lower reproductive rates and more severe threats experienced by larger species of birds and mammals. The link between wildlife trends and national development shows that the social and economic conditions supporting PAs are critical for the successful maintenance of their wildlife populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Megan D. Barnes & Ian D. Craigie & Luke B. Harrison & Jonas Geldmann & Ben Collen & Sarah Whitmee & Andrew Balmford & Neil D. Burgess & Thomas Brooks & Marc Hockings & Stephen Woodley, 2016. "Wildlife population trends in protected areas predicted by national socio-economic metrics and body size," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12747
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12747
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    Cited by:

    1. Cláudio C. Maretti & Sueli Angelo Furlan & Marta de Azevedo Irving & Yasmin Xavier Guimarães Nasri & Camila Gonçalves de Oliveira Rodrigues & Beatriz Barros Aydos & Rodrigo Martins dos Santos & Erika , 2023. "Collaborative Conservation for Inclusive, Equitable, and Effective Systems of Protected and Conserved Areas—Insights from Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-32, December.
    2. Edward Amara & Hari Adhikari & Janne Heiskanen & Mika Siljander & Martha Munyao & Patrick Omondi & Petri Pellikka, 2020. "Aboveground Biomass Distribution in a Multi-Use Savannah Landscape in Southeastern Kenya: Impact of Land Use and Fences," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-24, October.
    3. Ziqi Meng & Jinwei Dong & Erle C. Ellis & Graciela Metternicht & Yuanwei Qin & Xiao-Peng Song & Sara Löfqvist & Rachael D. Garrett & Xiaopeng Jia & Xiangming Xiao, 2023. "Post-2020 biodiversity framework challenged by cropland expansion in protected areas," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(7), pages 758-768, July.
    4. Thomas F. Johnson & Nick J. B. Isaac & Agustin Paviolo & Manuela González-Suárez, 2023. "Socioeconomic factors predict population changes of large carnivores better than climate change or habitat loss," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Mihai Mustățea & Ileana Pătru-Stupariu, 2021. "Using Landscape Change Analysis and Stakeholder Perspective to Identify Driving Forces of Human–Wildlife Interactions," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.

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