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The Convention on Biological Diversity's post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) includes targets to formally protect thirty percent of Earth by 2030 and stimulate financialization of biodiversity conservation. This paper foregrounds potential risks and limitations of the GBF in Thailand. It examines the historical context of state-run protected areas, including their role in facilitating state territorialization and dispossession, political and cultural persecution, and deleterious economic agendas. It then shows that implementation in Thailand could displace residents of more than 200 villages and supplant roughly forty percent (3,951 square kilometers) of all state-registered community forest lands, which provide various livelihood, cultural, and conservation benefits. The paper challenges three assumptions: that parties to the Convention will recognize the rights and agency of Indigenous Peoples and local communities; that state-run protected areas are managed for biodiversity conservation and not for economic growth; and that perpetual economic growth and modernization are compatible with conservation. Effective and equitable conservation in Thailand and elsewhere requires more socially and ecologically responsive community rights-based approaches that empower (rather than supersede) customary institutions and transcend unsustainable political-economic imperatives for privatization and perpetual economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine and critique adaptive management (AM) practices for protected areas (PAs), in pursuit of practices that can account for more-than-human relations. Engaging with empirical research from Australian PAs, we reflect on the formation of PAs as "exceptional places" where Nature is implicitly/explicitly to be controlled. We find that AM practices harness the spatial and temporal characteristics of the PAs to deliberatively construct a static and timeless scene, creating a particular vision of Nature. This metaphoric vision is captured "like a postcard." It reinforces and justifies static protectionism as Nature conservation, arraigning a series of material objects that are meant to assist with maintaining that image: that "reality." Using sentipensar as an exemplar, we explore and highlight relational and everchanging human-nonhuman engagements to contest the ontological dimensions of a static Nature and ideas of control and power associated with the binaries of Nature and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses two interlinked problems in sustainable development and suggests a methodology to resolve them. The first is the reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide. The second is the maintenance of biodiversity. Current carbon financing and environmental stewardship mechanisms underwhelm, often diluting intended positive effects. Most existing carbon credits do not have protection after 40 years, placing projects substantially beneath the C02 radiative forcing cycle. This paper presents the 'Balance' approach to sustainable development, including contractual principles ensuring C02 reduction, biodiversity enhancement and financial accountability. We describe two novel measures: a carbon calculator for commercial entities, and a new metric, the Balance Unit, combining biodiversity creation with carbon credits. A case study, spanning over 20 years at the Forest of Marston Vale, is then presented. It finds an increase in tree cover, CO2 sequestration, reduction in agricultural GHG emissions, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter absorption, and annual local economic benefits totalling £UK12.83 million. Expository detail regarding the 'Planting Principles' practised at Marston Vale is also provided. We argue that the Balance methodology, especially the Balance Unit, enables greater measurement reliability and long-term efficacy for maintaining biodiversity and reducing GHG emissions than current carbon financing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global biodiversity crisis and constantly growing human impact on the natural environment call for more evidence where conservation actions are the most urgent. As the agricultural lands are under increased pressure of growing human food needs here the literature survey on farmland bird conservation (FBC) was conducted to reveal geographical distribution in research intensity, the topics addressed and to identify potential drivers for the worldwide scientific effort. The Scopus database search has revealed 2290 papers dedicated to FBC from the period 1990-2020. The distribution was spatially uneven with most papers published in Western Europe and North America. Scientific collaboration was also spatially biased in favor of countries located close to each other and having high scientific capacity. The analysis also revealed 139 terms representing main topics raised in FBC research. The number of FBC papers per country was positively correlated with Gross Domestic Production (GDP), the total number of scientific papers, and number of threatened species, and negatively with the GDP from agricultural production, whereas it was not related to area of agricultural lands or bird species richness. Spatial and thematic biases in studies of farmland birds may have important consequences since uneven scientific evidence constrains development of proper conservation solutions and limits their implementation. We conclude that research on FBC should be globally coordinated and flexible enough to undertake burning conservation problems adjusted to regional differences in agriculture, socio-economy, and bird diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on animal ethics in tourism has gained traction but posthumanist approaches to wildlife (eco)tourism remain sparse. There has never been a more urgent need to redress this paucity in theory and practice. More than 60% of the world's wildlife has died-off in the last 50 years, 100 million-plus nonhuman animals are used for entertainment in wildlife tourist attractions (WTAs), more than one billion "wildlife" live in captivity, and some scholars argue that earth has entered its sixth mass extinction event known as the Anthropocene. This paper presents a posthumanist multispecies livelihoods framework (MLF) based on an applied ethnographic study of 47 wildlife ecotourism (WE) operators and wildlife researchers in protected area WTAs across four countries. Like any framework, it is a snapshot of the authors' thinking at a particular time and must be improved upon. The MLF does not purport to solve the negative treatment of nonhumans that can occur in tourism settings, but rather responds to calls in the tourism literature to acknowledge our effects on other species and advocates for equitable human-nonhuman livelihoods. This paper argues that we have a moral responsibility to nonhumans and the environment, and the authors hope to generate reflexive discourse concerning the role tourism can play in redressing the ecological crisis and improving the treatment of individual nonhumans to foster wildlife-human coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is generally applauded globally for 'best-practice' water management. The notion of 'best practice' is fluid, informed by constant learning from what works and what does not. The Plan's 10-year anniversary in 2022 provides a pivotal point to reflect on practical lessons learnt throughout its implementation and incorporate those into contemporised 'best practice'. This paper explores the emerging paradigm of participatory approaches with private landholders in the conservation and biodiversity fields, and its applicability to water management 'best practice'. Through an original framework and case studies, we explore the opportunity that these practical exemplars offer to refine contemporary theoretical notions of best practice. A case is ultimately presented in which a contemporised paradigm – based on co-operation, co-benefit outcomes and participatory partnerships – offers significant potential for future management in the Basin, especially to overcome deeply entrenched trust deficits among communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even if there is an increasing public awareness of biodiversity loss, there still is the need to improve individuals' behaviours in favour of biodiversity conservation, such as composting or buying pollinator-friendly plants. Why do individuals who know about the risks of biodiversity loss, not change their lifestyles to promote biodiversity? The main aim of this paper is to empirically identify the psychological barriers to biodiversity conservation behaviours, with a specific attention to individuals' perception of the psychological distance of biodiversity loss. To this purpose, 270 individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire. Data demonstrated that six main psychological barriers prevent behavioural change, depending on individuals' perceived psychological distance as well as on the specific features of the behaviour considered. Our findings constitute a significant theoretical complement to previous research on behavioural change to respond to environmental threats, as it specifically investigates the psychological barriers resulting in citizens' inaction with regard to biodiversity loss. Furthermore, our paper offers advice for policy-makers, deciding bodies, and associations involved in biodiversity conservation on the cognitive barriers that they might be confronted to when addressing citizens and promoting their engagement in individual and collective actions in favour of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection and mitigation of biodiversity are essential within land-use planning; highlighted by the increased importance of nature during the global pandemic and the fight against climate change. Currently, the character of both the land and decision-makers can influence the weight biodiversity is ascribed within planning processes. Through analysis of semi-structured interviews, with various actors within the Northamptonshire planning system, this research explored the opportunities and challenges around promoting biodiversity across brownfield sites; the motivations for conservation by different planning actors; and what this means for the future of urban habitats on previously developed land. This research found that brownfield sites continue to be undervalued for their biodiversity potential, predominantly due to the downplaying of ecological expertise in decision-making. With England's proposed planning reforms, this paper argues that tensions between brownfield redevelopment and biodiversity conservation stand to be further exacerbated as the government intends to "scythe through red tape" (Johnson 2020b). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private engagement has always been central to biodiversity conservation. Recently, the role of private enterprises in (eco)tourism have increased, and private lands play a pivotal role in expanding protected areas within societies throughout the world. This paper contributes to discussions of private engagement in conservation and its relation to tourism (recreation generally), with novel insight on how the conservation-tourism nexus on private land is approached in different geographical contexts. We present a systematic literature review that results in five thematic clusters characterized by different conservation approaches to tourism in Global North and South. Research concerning Global South tends to emphasize (eco)tourism as a main inducement for conservation, while research concerning Global North emphasizes expansion of private protected areas where access for tourist-recreational use has to be compensated. We propose a future research agenda to exploring environmentally and socially just approaches to conservation and recreation in both Global North and South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poaching represents one of the most important issues in wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. In this paper, we analyzed effects of socioeconomic, institutional, and locational characteristics of villages in the periphery of the W Reserve in West Africa on poaching. We used a reduced form model and unique data from 93 villages. Our empirical results showed that population size and distance of the villages to the reserve were related to poaching in the reserve. Villages with larger populations and in closer proximity to the reserve were associated with greater poaching in the reserve. Overall, these results suggest that policies to reduce poaching in the reserve must be considered in a comprehensive framework and include migration incentives for villages with larger populations and are closer to the reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses upon the role that science-based interventions allied to effective regulatory regimes can play in reducing the threat posed by inappropriate harvesting of wild flora. A Vulnerability Index (VI) has been developed for 150 natural fynbos species that exist on South Africa's Agulhas Plain, where intensive wildflower harvesting occurs. The methodology underpinning the generation of the VI is outlined and justified in this paper. The VI comprises a range of characteristics relating to species distribution and biology that are likely to influence vulnerability to harvesting. The VI is proving to be an important tool for regulating the harvesting of wild fynbos and maintaining the resilience of natural ecosystems threatened by climate change. Furthermore, economic development and livelihood stability are promoted by protecting the resource base of marketable species. The paper discusses issues that have arisen relating to the application and rollout of the VI in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the often-cited challenges in biodiversity conservation is financing. But publications on financing are mostly confined to specific financial mechanisms, regions and actors. Fewer attempts have been made to find overall trends. Through a thematic review of 64 peer-reviewed articles, covering different disciplines and published since 2010, this study found three dominant themes recurring around the topic of biodiversity financing: underfunding, inefficient funding distribution and the pursuit for innovative financial mechanisms. Estimates of the funding gap are much higher than previously calculated and continuously increasing given the acceleration of new threats. Proposals for better targeting of available finances advocate for the use of priority protocols focussed on objectivity and efficiency. However, in practice funding allocation does not seem to follow objective indicators and remains quite inconsistent with conservation needs. This analysis shows that at the core of innovative financial mechanisms are new strategic networks between governments, civil society and businesses. Understanding these new networks is crucial for better capturing the patterns of pooling, mixing and directing financial flows, and the subsequent implications for policy and prioritization criteria. This paper argues that theories focusing on networks and flows could present a useful perspective for future studies on biodiversity financing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctica is home to numerous species that are vulnerable to environmental change, and assessing species responses requires long-term monitoring. However, Antarctica's extreme nature presents limitations to conducting the type of long-term or broad-scale studies necessary for understanding changes in community composition. In this paper, we evaluate the potential for the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) methods in expanding scientific research efforts for biodiversity monitoring and conservation genetics in Antarctica. Through a systematic literature review, we identify that most Antarctic eDNA studies have focused on microbial metabarcoding using samples from soil, sediment, snow, and water. Few eDNA studies in Antarctica have focused on vertebrate biodiversity or population genetics, but we highlight several examples that have effectively and creatively used eDNA to study vertebrates. We highlight the potential for the use of portable sequencing technologies in the future of Antarctic eDNA research. We conclude that eDNA could be a valuable tool for researchers in their efforts to assess, monitor, and conserve biodiversity in the Antarctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and conservation assessments rise and fall with taxonomic accuracy. An example of a still largely unresolved taxonomy is found in the Gastropoda of the Caspian Sea. The present paper clarifies the taxonomy of the genus Abeskunus and its three species of anomalohaline gastropods endemic to the Caspian Sea. Based on material from Pleistocene, Holocene, and (sub-)recent deposits from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan we discuss species discriminations, synonyms, systematic position, as well as uncertainties regarding the type species. Given the apparent loss of all type material, we designate neotypes for all three species. Despite our efforts to collect and analyse new material and available material housed in museum collections, molecular data, and soft-part anatomy are unavailable precluding a firm systematic classification. Overall shell morphology and protoconch microsculpture are indicative of the family Lithoglyphidae. Comparison with Miocene and Pliocene fossils attributed to the genus Zagrabica suggests it to be a likely ancestor of Abeskunus, tracing back the lineage to the late Miocene Lake Pannon. Although the recent literature lists all three species of Abeskunus among the extant Pontocaspian fauna, two of the three species have never been found living and the third one not since the nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Galapagos, as elsewhere, tourism is promoted as a means of reconciling biodiversity conservation interests with the economic aspirations of local populations. However, the rapid expansion of tourism has triggered concerns about both social and biophysical impacts that may threaten sustainable development of the islands. These concerns, coupled with mounting constraints imposed by conservation regulations, have particular significance for two locally important resource-based livelihoods: fishing and agriculture. This paper examines recent patterns of livelihood diversification within these two sectors, and explores reasons behind livelihood decisions that people make, either to maintain existing resource-based activities or to transition into emergent livelihood opportunities. We examine drivers and inhibitors of diversification, focusing particularly on opportunities associated with tourism growth. Through a mixed-methods approach, we explore the perceptions, motivations, and actions of those still engaged in farming and fishing on the Galapagos' three most populated islands. Results show that many are drawn to tourism, but there are notable differences in the appeal of, and the obstacles to, diversification. Considering the importance of both conservation and tourism in this iconic destination, these findings have significant implications for the role of sustainable tourism on the islands, and for the optimization of the conservation-tourism alliance elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ilha Grande Bay is considered an area of extreme biological importance for the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity. While monitoring the macroinvertebrate ascidian-dwellers around Ilha Grande Bay, an undescribed commensal species of the amphipod family Leucothoidae was discovered. In this paper, we describe the new species of Leucothoe, associated with the ascidiacean Phallusia nigra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When reading ethnographic literature on nature conservation, one may wonder: where has nature gone? Social anthropologists have written nuanced ethnographies of how the environmental projects of governments and transnational NGOs encounter, dispossess, clash culturally with, and try to govern native people across the world. Yet, these diverse ethnographies often say little about what motivates those encounters firstly: local and global nature, especially wildlife, plants, and the planet’s ecological crisis. Thus, this paper seeks ways how ethnographic writing on conservation practice could better reflect that the planet’s many self-willed, struggling, and valued non-humans, too, enter conservation’s encounters. To find paths toward such a ‘wild-ing’ of ethnography, the paper locates and reviews disparate materials from across the social-anthropological literature on biodiversity conservation. The review is structured through three questions: How does and could the ethnography of conservation represent nature’s value? How can it show that animals, plants, and other nature make and meet worlds? How can it incorporate natural science data about non-human worlds and ecological crisis? Altogether, we understand nature conservation clearer through the interdisciplinary and more-than-human ethnography of world-making encounters. Such wilder ethnography may also better connect people’s suffering and nature’s vanishing - as problems both for anthropology and conservation science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem services (ES) is an important approach to biodiversity protection in political rhetoric and policy practice, but it is also highly contested. This paper analyzes the introduction of ES in Swedish environmental policy and how it is contested by key stakeholders and discusses its implications for biodiversity governance. The results show that although ES is widely accepted on an abstract and conceptual level, critical features and functions are highly contested. These primarily concern the valuation of nature, appropriateness of different policy instruments, and institutional structures. The paper concludes that while the controversy surrounding ES fills an important role by reinvigorating debate and stimulating reflections on biodiversity loss, it also illustrates how ES is used to further particular values and beliefs and to challenge traditional biodiversity-protecting strategies. Understanding these policy controversies is central to addressing the challenges of transforming the promises of ES into practical policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services(IPBES) strengthens the science-policy interface by producing scientific assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services to inform policy. IPBES fosters knowledge exchange across disciplines, between researchers and other knowledge holders, practitioners, societal actors and decision makers working at different geographic scales. A number of avenues for participation of stakeholders across the four functions if IPBES exist. Stakeholders come from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, businesses, and non-governmental organization. They represent multiple sources of information, data, knowledge, and perspectives on biodiversity. Stakeholder engagement in IPBES seeks to 1. communicate, disseminate, and implement the findings of IPBES products; 2. Develop guidelines for biodiversity conservation within member countries; and 3. create linkages between global policy and local actors – all key to the implementation of global agreements on biodiversity. This paper reflects on the role of stakeholders in the first work programme of IPBES (2014–2018). It provides an overview of IPBES processes and products relevant to stakeholders, examines the motivation of stakeholders to engage with IPBES, and explores reflections by the authors (all active participants on the platform) for improved stakeholder engagement and contributions to future work of the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a conservation tool designed to adequately manage and protect marine resources threatened by human activity by addressing both biological and socioeconomic needs. The Irish Sea is a busy waterway under the jurisdiction of six entities (Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, England, and Wales). Within this body of water there are almost 200 conservation designations across 111 MPA sites, with many sites having multiple designations (national, EU, and international). Data is lacking on the effectiveness of these protected areas in reaching their conservation objectives due to sites being inadequately monitored. The race to meet the 10% marine protected area target set by the Conservation on Biological Diversity, however, may be compromising effective planning. Do multiple designations ensure better protection of the marine environment, or is the Irish Sea home to paper parks, offering little protection? Metadata compiled from the World Database on Protected Areas and conservation reports from MPA managers were used to investigate this question. The results show a positive correlation between the number of designations of a site and the existence of a publicly available management plan. The presence of a management plan was also linked to whether or not site assessments were conducted by the relevant authorities, and sites having multiple designations was weakly correlated with favourable assessment outcomes. The results of this study highlight the need to better understand the requirements of national, regional and international-level conservation designations and how they interact with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to understand the procedural effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of urban planning in Australia. The SEA has been practiced in Australia over the last two decades under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act of 1999. After the reform of EPBC Act in 2006, the application of SEA in urban sector has been widened. By evaluating the procedural practice of SEA of Melbourne Urban Extension Plan using a set of evaluation criteria, the study shows that most of the procedural requirements were confirmed by the SEA of the plan. There were some shortcomings including, among others, inadequate consideration of cumulative impacts, socio-economic impacts and the analysis of alternatives at different stages of SEA. The possible reasons behind these shortcomings were explained based on the context of SEA in Australia. Furthermore, this study explored some key features of SEA system in Australia those may influence the SEA practice. The findings of the study can be useful to the application of SEA of urban planning in addition to practitioners, academics and policy makers in Australia or elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the Nigerian environment, once rich in biodiversity with a healthy conservation status, has been witnessing increasing degradation. This situation broadly suggests that, among other factors, there is low public compliance with the existing state-based environmental regulatory instruments which presently dominate the environmental governance landscape in the country. However, there was, and still is, better public compliance with traditional African norms and practices on environmental governance which – especially when these norms held sway in the pre-colonial era – provided better protection for the environment. This paper provides evidence to support this assertion and ultimately seeks to unravel the qualities of traditional environmental governance – including effective public access to information, decision-making processes and justice in environmental matters – that ensured meaningful public compliance with environmental standards. It further seeks to demonstrate how those qualities of traditional environmental governance systems might be adapted and applied to improve compliance with the contemporary environmental regulatory regime in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper exploits World Development Indicators and IUCN Red-List data to empirically assess the socio-economic and environmental drivers of conservation efforts. In addition to spatial spillovers, our results first indicate that forest cover, income level along with good political institutions positively drive protected area (PA), while human population growth conflicts with nature conservation efforts. Second, indicators of biodiversity (species richness and extinction risk) are found to be non-significant predictors of PA share, suggesting that species-rich countries are not predominantly the ones sheltering the largest PA share. Although species-poor forests matter as well, in addition to ecosystem-centered approaches, our results encourage conservation practitioners to further account for species richness and extinction risks in global conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services(IPBES) strengthens the science-policy interface by producing scientific assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services to inform policy. IPBES fosters knowledge exchange across disciplines, between researchers and other knowledge holders, practitioners, societal actors and decision makers working at different geographic scales. A number of avenues for participation of stakeholders across the four functions if IPBES exist. Stakeholders come from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, businesses, and non-governmental organization. They represent multiple sources of information, data, knowledge, and perspectives on biodiversity. Stakeholder engagement in IPBES seeks to 1. communicate, disseminate, and implement the findings of IPBES products; 2. Develop guidelines for biodiversity conservation within member countries; and 3. create linkages between global policy and local actors – all key to the implementation of global agreements on biodiversity. This paper reflects on the role of stakeholders in the first work programme of IPBES (2014–2018). It provides an overview of IPBES processes and products relevant to stakeholders, examines the motivation of stakeholders to engage with IPBES, and explores reflections by the authors (all active participants on the platform) for improved stakeholder engagement and contributions to future work of the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfrontier peace parks are seized with the challenge of creating a more inclusive and sustainable conservation agenda in the officially designated peaceparks in southern Africa. The quest for inclusivity and sustainability has witnessed sustained lobbying from the local communities calling for more meaningful involvement in the conservation and tourism industry value chain in the peaceparks. Against this background it is therefore imperative to understand the limits of inclusivity and sustainability in the peaceparks. This is important as this may help in gaining insights into improving stakeholder relations and to better manage expectations and perceptions of local communities affected by the establishment of the peaceparks. Understanding the limits of inclusivity and sustainability may help to develop beneficial stakeholder relations as positive relations have been understood to result in better biodiversity conservation and management strategies of the transboundary resources. This paper aims to share insights into the limits of inclusivity and sustainability of the GLTP focusing on the practical experiences of the local people in southeastern lowveld Zimbabwe. The study adopted a qualitative approach and leaned on the interpretivist research philosophy with major research participants drawn from the community members and key role players. A total of 180 community members drawn across the Sengwe community participated in the study. Research material was generated between October 2013 and April 2015. The results based on community interviews show that the stakeholder relations in the GLTFCA are currently strained and do not give the optimism and confidence to achieve meaningful inclusivity of the local communities and overall sustainability of the peacepark initiatives in southern lowveld Zimbabwe. The major challenges to inclusivity include poor governance, threats to livelihoods and negative stakeholder relations. Thus, there is a need to continuously review the governance processes, improve stakeholder relations and support community livelihood coping strategies in more tangible ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nanjishan Wetland National Nature Reserve (NWNNR) encompasses the southern part of Poyang Lake and is the largest wetland reserve on Poyang Lake. Few systematic and specific studies to map the Nanjishan wetland and assess wetland changes have been conducted. Therefore, this paper discusses methods of wetland classification mapping and an analysis of wetland seasonal changes in the flood and dry seasons in the Nanjishan wetland, providing a qualitative description of the causes of seasonal wetland changes. In this paper, two remote sensing images (Gaofen One [GF-1]) typical of the flood and dry seasons were collected and preprocessed. Decision trees (DCs) are computationally fast, make no statistical assumptions and can handle data that are represented on different measurement scales. In this study, a decision tree was proposed to extract wetlands from GF-1 images of the Nanjishan wetland. The decision tree classification (DTC) method yielded the highest overall accuracies, which were 96.12% and 92.76%. The change detection results indicated that the water, marsh and low-density meadow areas changed significantly in conjunction with remarkable transformations between the other wetland cover types. The results discussed in this paper will provide fundamental information to local governments for the protection and restoration of the ecosystem of the Nanjishan wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a comprehensive framework for analysing formal rules regulating the involvement of various actors in protected areas decision-making over time and apply it to Poland. Based on the analysis of legal acts and policy documents, we suggest that since the democratic transition started in 1989, the governance of Polish protected areas has been increasingly multi-level and participatory. However, different designations indicate different levels of involvement by non-state actors, with Natura 2000 standing out from the traditional protected areas. Regarding governance issues, establishing and taking management decisions were characterised by the greatest changes in actors’ involvement. While participation of non-public actors is still limited mostly to information and consultation, the involvement of non-state public actors of various levels increased significantly. The paper highlights the importance of a systematic analysis of legal rules as a starting point for empirical investigation of the governance of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This special issue reviews the state of biodiversity conservation in New Zealand, following the establishment of the Department of Conservation (DOC) in 1987. Here we summarise events that led to the formation of DOC, and the unprecedented series of changes in how biodiversity conservation has been viewed and conducted. Subsequent papers in this issue outline the successes, failures and key technological shifts in biodiversity conservation in New Zealand in the past 30 years; how visionary people and institutions have instigated conservation at landscape scales and in urban areas; the growing roles of Māori and non-Māori communities; and audacious new goals that reflect continuing attitudinal changes to the conservation of native biodiversity alongside the global and local implications of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although biomonitoring of freshwater bodies is important in East Africa as a result of increasing environmental threats, the identification guides of benthic macroinvertebrates used to generate data for developing metrics for this purpose are mainly not regionally specific. This casts doubt on the reliability and utility of generated data, given varying macroinvertebrate taxa in biogeographical regions. This review examined literature on freshwater macroinvertebrate studies and focused on the types of identification guides that are in use in East Africa, with a view of developing local ones for the region, to enable reliable and effective data collection and usage. The literature examined included peer-reviewed papers, books, dissertations, and un-refereed reports. Currently, it is mainly macroinvertebrate identification guides from temperate and other regions that are used in East Africa. Therefore, there is a need to develop identification guides that are based on local benthic macroinvertebrate species of East Africa. To achieve this, both lotic and lentic freshwater macroinvertebrates in various localities of East Africa should be collected through standardised protocols, taxonomically characterised and documented. Molecular phylogenetic tools, coupled with creation of a database should be considered to aid species identification of macroinvertebrates and freshwater biomonitoring in East Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is recognized that protected areas are important for biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing, governments struggle to establish and/or enlarge protected areas. Land acquisition and the challenges encountered by governing institutions in funding protected area systems expansion is discussed in this paper using the Capital Regional District (CRD) Land Acquisition Fund as a case study. We briefly discuss land acquisition in British Columbia and in the CRD, and offer an overview of the CRD Land Acquisition Fund and the public participation process that led to its establishment. We emphasize the importance of developing political and citizen support, and a shared vision about expanding protected areas systems - a key element for nearly doubling the parkland base of CRD Regional Parks in less than 20 years. We conclude by offering the lessons learned through the case study and provide guidance for policy and governance directions with regard to land acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexploitation of wild animals, increasing recognition of pharmacological value of animals and the growing need to protect traditional knowledge and cultural environmental resources, have recently exacerbated the world's interest in zootherapy. In this paper, we provided information on the wild animal species traded for traditional medicine in markets across Accra, the capital of Ghana, their therapeutic values, conservation implications, and zoonoses risk. A total of 43 species of animals were recorded with 47% associated with the treatment of medical afflictions while 70% were connected to spiritual connotations in the form of charms meant for money rituals, protection, spiritual eyesight for prophesying and decoration of shrines. Approximately 15% of the traded species were of conservation concern including the Critically Endangered hooded vulture. The sale and use of the Straw-colored fruit bat, mice, and rats for traditional medicine raised concerns of zoonotic disease transmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoos and aquariums are popular visitor destinations, with around 30 million visits made to them annually throughout the UK and Ireland. The role and mission of modern zoos have evolved, with the conservation of world’s remaining biodiversity now being their major purpose. They seek to aid biodiversity through a combination of public education,in situandex situconservation programmes, and applied scientific research. Directly relevant to this paper, they are also institutions that actively recruit, attract and utilise volunteers. However, the impacts of volunteering in zoos and aquariums, on the volunteers themselves, are under-researched. Here we show that, in a survey of more than 500 volunteers at 19 different zoological collections in the UK, zoo volunteers report positive impacts, specifically in relation to increases in their human and social capital. We also found that these benefits were more pronounced in younger volunteers, and with those volunteers who received more initial training. We conclude that while volunteering in UK zoos correlates with significant personal benefits to individuals, zoos could aim higher and should seek to do more to maximise the positive effects of connecting volunteers with the wildlife and nature found in zoo settings, as well as tailoring their volunteer training programmes for different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aims of this paper are to debate and raise awareness about the use of systematic, interconnected approaches for biodiversity collection curation by exploring the multi-disciplinary relevance of quality management tools developed by clinical biobanks. An appraisal of their best practices indicated the need for improved sample and process chain annotation as a significant number of historical collections used in medical research were of inadequate quality. This stimulated the creation of a new discipline, biospecimen science to develop quality management tools for clinical biobanks, two of which,BiospecimenReporting forImprovedStudyQuality (BRISQ) and theStandardPRE-analyticalCode (SPREC) report critical information about samples and process chain variables. Unprecedented advances in molecular-genetic andin silicotechnologies applied across the tree of life require international conservation networks to generate and share knowledge. This is used in biodiversity and systematics research, and to address the accelerating loss of species, including the sustainable use of bioresources. This review investigates the application of BRISQ and SPREC for biodiversity research and conservation using natural history, museum and living culture collections as case studies. The distinction between preservation and conservation is discussed with regard to process and storage treatments and how they impact on the usability of biospecimens and cultures. We conclude: (i) more rigorous approaches are needed for the quality management of biospecimens, bioresources and their associated sample and processing data to assure their fitness-for-purpose; and (ii) biospecimen science tools developed by clinical biobanks can be adapted to future-proof the quality of biodiversity collections and the reliability of molecular data generated from their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our demands on natural systems outweigh the capacity of those systems to support us. This paper calls for an approach to development that consistently delivers 'net benefit' for biodiversity or 'ecological enhancement'. Examples of enhancement are presented through four case studies in India undertaken between 2005 and 2010. Actions focus on improving the overall ecological structure, composition and functions of sites; strengthening ecological networks by creating new habitats and buffer areas; and improving the services provided by the ecosystems, without jeopardizing biodiversity. While recognizing the importance of quantitative metrics of impacts and mitigation measures to determine outcomes, such measures were not available in these cases; enhancement is evaluated primarily in relation to pre-project conditions. The paper emphasizes the importance of considering alternatives that satisfy the mitigation hierarchy, and proposes a number of criteria for evaluating ecological enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological diversity is an abstract, scientific concept and both evaluating its condition and, to great extent, justifying its conservation requires expert knowledge. Accordingly, regulating and managing biological diversity presupposes standardisation and methods for managing uncertainty. To be acted on, the concept must be promoted, passing, in this process, through various institutions, such as intergovernmental organisations and national administrations. This paper examines how the principle of biological diversity conservation is defined, focusing on the values of biological diversity and how this notion has 'travelled the world'. The paper includes a study of how the principle of biological diversity was applied in a specific case of insect control in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper first explores the shift now occurring in the science that provides the theoretical basis for forest conservation and management. The paper then presents the concepts of traditional ecological knowledge and traditional management systems and practise to provide background for two case studies that examine traditional knowledge and forest management practices of tribal communities in the Sariska region (Rajasthan, India) and of the indigenous Mapuche Pewenhce communities in the Andean mountains of southern Patagonia in Chile, underlining the special relationship these tribal and indigenous communities maintain with the forest and their usefulness in community-based native forest conservation. These examples of traditional ecological knowledge and traditional management systems suggest that it is important to focus on managing ecological processes, instead of products, and to use integrated ecosystem management. Recommendations to move forest management paradigms beyond the current view of 'timber' or 'reserves' and toward one of truly integrated use that adapt conservation approaches to local cultural representations of the environment are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western Cape province of South Africa contains globally unique biodiversity, to which pressure for economic growth and development poses a significant threat. Legal and planning frameworks support biodiversity conservation and biodiversity offsets. Biodiversity plans at different scales provide a clear indication of spatial priorities for conservation. In this context, a draft guideline for biodiversity offsets in the Western Cape has been developed (DEA&DP, 2007) which introduces biodiversity offsets as an integral part of the regulatory environmental impact assessment and development authorization process. The approach focuses on area- and monetary-based compensation to secure and manage priority areas in the long term. The emphasis is on adding priority habitats to the conservation estate, rather than on achieving 'no net loss' in the strictest sense. This paper explains how the context of the Western Cape has shaped its approach to biodiversity offsets: the political, socioeconomic and institutional characteristics are as important in designing a guideline for offsets as biodiversity considerations. The paper notes key challenges facing the province in implementing the guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines approaches to biodiversity assessment for environmental impact assessment in the context of an increasing emphasis on the conservation of biodiversity beyond the confines of protected sites, and the role of ecosystem services in sustainable development. The paper argues that while the matrix approach adopted in the UK for environmental impact assessment has some value in providing a consistent national framework, for ecological impact assessments it lacks sensitivity and focuses attention on notified sites and species. It therefore under-values those ecological resources at local scales. Three case studies are briefly considered where evaluation employed local assessment criteria, including an appraisal of the impacts on ecosystem integrity and the functioning of ecological networks. Attention is drawn to the importance of national and local biodiversity action plan habitats and species where trend data provide one of the key criteria for inclusion in the action plans and the England Biodiversity List. Evaluations based on the presence of such habitats and species need to take ecological and geographical context into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of Ghana's forest cover has been lost to deforestation. Although the Tallensi-Nabdam district has suffered deforestation, portions of the biosphere called sacred groves have survived. The purpose of this study was to explore the particular reasons why the groves have thrived by articulating precise sacred grove taboos, many of which are gender specific. Our enquiry led to a compendium of taboos categorized into environmental, social and regulatory conventions. We found that the adherence to taboo and fear of repercussions, including barrenness and even death, plays a role in the continued preservation of the sacred groves. Also, people who do not adhere to traditional religions still stayed away from sacred groves to avoid dealing with traditional authorities. The paper indicates that in spite of modernization, taboos serve useful purposes in the conservation of biodiversity within sacred groves. The paper extends the argument that biodiversity conservation is linked with cultural preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) is a transboundary protected area that straddles the borders of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The park's development was partly motivated by the ecological objective of re-establishing traditional migratory wildlife routes once fences between the three countries are dismantled. Besides biodiversity conservation benefits, the park may also provide a basis to generate revenue for conservation and local economic development through tourism. This paper describes current state and private sector tourism within the GLTP and planning initiatives that may promote responsible tourism, and describes the achievements by community-based tourism enterprises and public–private partnerships in generating economic, social and environmental benefits. The livelihoods of people living in the park are outlined in relation to government policies on land redistribution, resettlement and options for the future, and progress in biodiversity conservation and responsible nature-based tourism development within the GLTP over the past five years is evaluated.1Research Fellow, Transboundary Protected Areas Research Initiative, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. This research was supported by the BMW Chair for Sustainability, University of the Witwatersrand and the Transboundary Protected Areas Research Initiative (TPARI), an IUCN-SA programme funded through the Centre for the Integrated Study of the Human Dimensions of Global Change, Carnegie Mellon University, by way of a co-operative agreement with the National Science Foundation (SBR-9521914). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendation expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or Carnegie Mellon. The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers who commented on a draft of this paper. This paper is largely drawn from Spenceley (2005); the full paper is available at http://www.anna.spenceley.co.uk/files/Tourism%20InvestmentGLTFCAMar05.pdf [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory research involves members of interested communities who work with researchers to apply their joint skills and experience to explore issues of mutual concern. There is an increasingly explicit federal mandate for participatory research efforts involving stakeholder groups in public land management. This paper presents a case study of one effort ongoing in the Hayfork Adaptive Management Area (AMA) on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity national forests of northern California. There, a network of U.S. Forest Service staff, scientists, local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nontimber forest product harvesters (wildcrafters) has been working to address ecological, economic, and social aspects of harvesting nontimber forest products (NTFP) from public land. This paper discusses the challenges of NTFP management on public lands and analyzes participatory research as an approach for addressing some of these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This review article represents an attempt at highlighting the important research conducted by geographers in rural areas of South Africa. Acknowledging the challenges facing many review articles on broad disciplines or sub-disciplines such as rural geography, the paper mostly focuses on selected research that took place over the last two and a half decades or so, that covers the areas of land rights, biodiversity conservation and justice, rural development and livelihoods. The conclusion is that rural geography research in South Africa is of major significance in South Africa’s attempts to fulfil many of the post-apartheid goals of improving the lives of the marginalized. It is also argued that research conducted under the rural geography banner can grow in the same pace as the new challenges emerge, including being in positive interaction with other sub-disciplines (e.g. urban geography) in addressing challenges such as urban–rural fringe and urban sprawl. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Climate drives ecosystem processes and impacts biodiversity. Biodiversity patterns over large areas, such as Canada's boreal, can be monitored using indirect indicators derived from remotely sensed imagery. In this paper, we characterized the historical space–time relationships between climate and a suite of indirect indicators of biodiversity, known as the Dynamic Habitat Index (DHI) to identify where climate variability is co-occurring with changes in biodiversity indicators. We represented biodiversity using three indirect indicators generated from 1987 to 2007 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer images. By quantifying and clustering temporal variability in climate data, we defined eight homogeneous climate variability zones, where we then analyzed the DHI. Results identified unique areas of change in climate, such as the Hudson Plains, that explain significant variations in DHI. Past variability in temperatures and growing season index had a strong influence on observed vegetation productivity and seasonality changes throughout Canada's boreal. Variation in precipitation, for most of the area, was not associated with DHI changes. The methodology presented here enables assessment of spatial–temporal relationships between biodiversity and climate variability and characterizes distinctive zones of variation that may be used for prioritization and planning to ensure long-term biodiversity conservation in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ponds are recognized worldwide as biodiversity hotspots; nevertheless in Patagonia studies are still needed that reveal the composition and status of their communities. This paper analyses the temporal patterns of aquatic invertebrates and assesses the environmental factors that best predict the variation in community structure at three small intermittent ponds, subjected to ranching practices (summer stocking) in the Patagonian steppe. Variables identified as important in structuring community assemblages were related to environmental conditions (rainfall and water temperature), chemical features (conductivity and pH) and biotic factors (macrophyte coverage). During the connected phase only a small number of invertebrate species were present, in contrast to the 11 taxa that were frequent and abundant during the isolated period (Eucyclops chilensis, Hyalella curvispinaandRhionaeschnasp. were dominant). In this sequence the submersedMyriophyllum quitenseandLilaeopsis maclovianaplayed a crucial role offering habitat and food resources. The present study provides valuable information that can contribute to minimizing the environmental damage and the development of strategies for the conservation of Patagonian wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jackal is renowned for its cleverness in predating on livestock. Jackal hunting became an institutionalised practice at a time when most of Namibia’s agricultural lands were fenced under the colonial administration. By keeping the socio-ecological history of colonialism in mind, this paper introduces hunting in southern Namibia as a game of territoriality in which the jackal and the hunter always try to outmaneuver each other. Jackal hunting is also analysed as a site for social and racial differentiation, cultural capital and an embodied practice that illustrates the many contradictions embedded in the postcolonial scheme for community development through biodiversity conservation. Together these considerations attempt to introduce rural postcolonial Namibia as a biopolitical landscape in which the logics of power are shown to be manifest in the technologies involved with animal governance and killing, the semiotic currencies of animality and labour, and the agency of the notorious jackal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how Australian land use plans incorporate provisions for sustainable urban form, design, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Despite the long-standing sustainability objectives in state policy frameworks, a survey of 291 comprehensive plans finds implementation within local instruments is far from universal. Differences in patterns of policy adoption, as well as potential explanations for these differences, including geographical location, patterns of residential growth, the socio-economic composition of local communities, political forces, and policy evolution over time, are explored. Overall, areas experiencing more intensive growth tend to have newer plans, which in turn, contain more sustainability provisions, suggesting a responsive rather than repressive relationship between development pressures and regulatory development control. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Biodiversity is one of the most important concepts in contemporary biology, with a broad range of applications. In November 1995, South Africa ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Signatories are obligated to develop a strategic plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. To meet the requirements of the CBD, the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) was initiated in 1997. This national project has several aims: to document and describe the arachnid fauna of South Africa; to consolidate all the available data on South African arachnids into one relational database and to make this biodiversity information available to science; and to address issues concerning their conservation and sustainable use. Extensive sampling took place and the SANSA database contains a wealth of biodiversity data that are used to provide answers to ecological questions. Presently 71 spider families, 471 genera and 2170 species are known from South Africa, representing approximately 4.8% of the world fauna. This paper presents the current state of spider biodiversity information and how it is managed. It demonstrates the importance of running a national inventory; emphasises the significance of using a good database application; and the importance of capacity development to improve the quality and integration of biodiversity information. Further, it shows the role SANSA has played in unifying and strengthening arachnid research, with the major thrust to discover the spider diversity in South Africa. We discuss the present status of knowledge, constraints to improving this, and the future directions for research. SANSA has provided the foundations for a more integrative approach to spider diversity research. Future research should build on this legacy by linking taxonomic diversity with that of functional diversity, predicting the response of this diversity to global change drivers. Functional approaches will link these studies to ecosystem processes. Global collaborative studies at several sites following standardised sampling protocols and focused research questions would add value to the SANSA collection and the importance of spiders for the health of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is a great pleasure for me to announce the winner of the outstanding paper published in I Systematics and Biodiversity i during 2018, which is: Hussam Zaher, Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz, Miguel T. Rodrigues, Roberta Graboski, Fabio A. Machado, Marco Altamirano-Benavides, Sandro L. Bonatto & Felipe G. Grazziotin (2018) Origin and hidden diversity within the poorly known Galápagos snake radiation (Serpentes: Dipsadidae), I Systematics and Biodiversity, 16 i , 614-642, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2018.1478910. The Associate Editors of I Systematics and Biodiversity i were asked to nominate papers and the most nominated papers (8) were considered by the Editor, who made the final selection. For 2018, I Systematics and Biodiversity i had an Impact Factor of B 2.356 b and the journal is ranked 20/58 or the upper B 30% b in the JCR category: Biodiversity and Conservation (© I Thomson Reuters i ). [Extracted from the article]

There are many proposals for the assessment of plant communities, based on different criteria, but very few proposals for categorization of the risk of extinction of plant communities (syntaxa). In this paper, concepts related to extent of occurence (EOO), area of occupancy (AOO), extinction and regeneration of plant communities are defined. Also, we propose and define several ranks of extinction risk based on quantitative criteria of the EOO, AOO and processes of decline. The proposals are global, for application to any type of cormophytic vegetation, without geographical restrictions. To check the adequacy of the proposed ranks and its thresholds, the method has been applied to the vegetation of the Iberian Peninsula based on the EOO (122 plant communities) and the AOO (2224 plant communities). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With parks and protected areas insufficient to sustain global biodiversity, the role of private land in biodiversity conservation is becoming increasingly significant. This paper reviews global voluntary and involuntary strategies for private land conservation. Involuntary strategies can achieve effective conservation outcomes, but often lack social acceptability. In contrast, voluntary strategies enjoy greater social acceptance but may not achieve sufficient uptake to have meaningful conservation objectives. Based on the review, we propose a classification system for private land conservation as a complement to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN's) classification of global protected areas. The classification system provides a framework for identifying and describing conservation strategies on private land on the dimension of tenure and security. It also identifies opportunities and vulnerabilities in achieving conservation on private land while emphasising the need for systematic data collection similar to IUCN's efforts for protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]