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Agricultural expansion has been responsible for the large-scale modification of forest ecosystems globally. In many regions, this has resulted in the creation of heterogenous landscapes comprised of cleared agricultural lands, and semi-natural and natural wooded land uses such as agroforests and secondary forests. These wooded land uses can play an important role in supporting forest biodiversity. In a tropical agricultural landscape of Northeast India, we investigate how wooded land uses affect site use by forest specialist, forest generalist and open-country bird species, in comparison to a protected area. We also investigate the effects of site vegetation characteristics, surrounding forest cover and distance to the protected area. Using multi-species occupancy models, we found that wooded land uses support high site use of the three forest specialization groups. We attribute the high site use of forest species in wooded land uses to the similarity in site vegetation characteristics between these land uses and the protected area. In addition, high forest cover at, and neighbouring, our sampling sites, and habitat connectivity also contributed towards supporting high site use of forest species. However, for some species across the three groups, a few site vegetation characteristics and surrounding forest cover had a subtle influence. Our study showcases the supplementary role of low-intensity agricultural landscapes as habitat for forest birds, provided that wooded land uses outside protected areas are well maintained. In so doing, it contributes valuable insights into land management practices that support biodiversity in heterogeneous agricultural landscapes. • Wooded land uses can support biodiversity in farming landscapes of tropical India. • Secondary and agroforests supported many forest birds—specialists and generalists. • Some specialists partitioned habitat within land use type by vegetation structure. • With forest cover above 40–50 %, many forest specialists used the farmland mosaic. • Several rare forest specialists were only detected in protected forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wilderness loss is one of the main threats to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity proposes "retaining wilderness areas" in the first target of the 21 action-oriented targets for 2030. However, we know little about the spatiotemporal pattern of potential wilderness loss in the future. We conducted the global analysis of projected loss of wilderness area (PLWA) due to land use and land cover change (LUCC) by 2100. This analysis has a spatial resolution of 1 km*1 km and emphasizes the impact of cropland and urban expansion considering multiple SSP-RCP scenarios. We found that a total of 4.6 million km2 of wilderness is susceptible to cropland and urban expansion (1.3 times larger than India) by 2100. Alarmingly, >51 % of PLWA is concentrated in just ten countries, and >23 % of terrestrial protected areas are projected to experience some PLWA. We call for urgent conservation actions to prevent further wilderness loss which is essential to fulfilling the post-2020 global biodiversity conservation goals. • A total of 4.6 million km2 of wilderness might be threatened by cropland and urban expansion at global scale. • Wilderness areas adjacent to areas with high human impact require urgent conservation actions. • More than 23 % of terrestrial protected areas are projected to experience wilderness loss. • A "Warning List of Protected Areas" is created calling for wilderness conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global land use change has resulted in the loss and fragmentation of habitats and amplified the pace of species extinction. With carnivores being disproportionately at risk of range contraction, restoration is an important strategy to counter the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation. While protection of public lands has been the cornerstone of conservation, private lands can play an important supplementary role. India harbors 23 % of the global carnivore species, threatened by a rapidly growing economy and high human densities. Using a social-ecological systems approach, we prioritized private agricultural lands for agroforestry in the buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve. We applied systematic conservation planning tools and combined data on (1) habitat use of four carnivores (tiger, leopard, dhole, and sloth bear), (2) landowner willingness to modify land use through enrolment in an incentive-based program, and (3) monetary cost of program implementation, to identify priority areas for agroforestry based on their relative cost-effectiveness. Our integrated approach generated a configuration of priority areas that was markedly different than if we selected areas using ecological data only. Over an 8-year period, restoration of ~4900, ~8300 and ~12,000 acres through agroforestry was estimated to have a cumulative cost of USD 56 million, USD 95 million, and USD 140 million, respectively. Partnering with and incentivizing private landowners can expand the effective size of small and fragmented protected areas. Our approach can be applied to other shared landscapes, dominated by private ownership, to identify areas that deliver a compromise between ecological suitability, social acceptability, and economic viability. • Restoration can counter the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation. • We used a social-ecological systems approach to prioritize private agricultural lands. • We combined species distribution models, farmer willingness and economic data. • An integrated approach balanced trade-offs and yielded a more cost-effective solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connectivity is increasingly of conservation concern due to ongoing habitat fragmentation, land-use dynamics and climate change. Connectivity patterns result from interactions between dispersers and the environment. However, connectivity assessments often ignore responses of dispersers to matrix types or characterize matrix resistance using habitat-use, rather than movement, data. We compare conservation rankings for connectivity of forest fragments in Garo Hills, India, where matrix resistance was quantified based on (a) distance among fragments, (b) habitat use, and (c) movement constraints for the arboreal western hoolock gibbon Hoolock hoolock . We first quantified matrix resistance based on gibbon movement, in terms of gap-crossing behavior, as a function of canopy gap and tree height, which was estimated using focal scans on seven gibbon groups. Second, we estimated matrix resistance based on gibbon habitat use of major land-use types in the study landscape. We then compared rankings of forest fragments using patch connectivity indices from network analyses using these quantified matrix resistances and Euclidean distance among sites. We found that matrix resistances based on movement data suggested greater resistance of plantations than did habitat-use data. Conservation rankings based on movement data were uncorrelated with those based on Euclidean distance. Rankings derived from movement data were correlated with those obtained from location data; however, there were several discrepancies between rankings, which were explained by landscape heterogeneity in the neighborhood of fragments. Incorporating movement behavior into connectivity assessments can improve our understanding of dispersal and provide a mechanistic basis for conservation prioritization in heterogeneous landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Can strategic allocation of agro-pastoral landuses save threatened grassland fauna? [•] Florican and lizard numbers modeled on crop-cover and grazing intensity. [•] Contrasting choice of moderately tall (florican) vs. short (lizard) grassland. [•] Interspersed cropland and spared pasture (rotationally) optimized conservation. [•] Subsidized food rationing to curtail production rise in conservation areas proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Protected areas (PAs) often depend on landscapes surrounding them to maintain flows of organisms, water, nutrients, and energy. Park managers have little authority over the surrounding landscape although land use change and infrastructure development can have major impacts on the integrity of a PA. The need for scientifically-based regional-scale land use planning around protected areas is acute in human-dominated landscapes to balance conservation goals with livelihood needs for fuelwood, fodder, and other ecosystem services. As a first step, we propose the designation of a “zone of interaction” (ZOI) around PAs that encompasses hydrologic, ecological, and socioeconomic interactions between a PA and the surrounding landscape. We illustrate the concept by delineating the ZOI in three Indian PAs – Kanha, Ranthambore, and Nagarahole – using remote sensing, population census, and field data. The ZOI in Ranthambore is three times the size of the park and is largely defined by the socioeconomic interactions with surrounding villages. Ranthambore is located in headwaters and wildlife corridors are largely severed. In Nagarahole, the ZOI is more than seven times larger than the park and includes upstream watershed and elephant corridors. Kanha’s ZOI is approximately four times larger than the park and is mostly defined by contiguous surrounding forest. The three examples highlight the differing extents of ZOIs when applying equivalent criteria, even though all are located in densely-populated landscapes. Quantitative understanding of which activities (e.g. collection of forest products, grazing, road construction, tourism development) and which locations within the ZOI are most crucial to conservation goals will enable improved land use planning around PAs in human-dominated landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human-modified tropical landscapes under semi-natural or agro-ecosystems often harbor biodiversity of significant conservation value. In the Western Ghats of India, these ecosystems also provide connectivity between protected areas and other remnant forests. We investigated the conservation value of these landscapes and agro-ecosystems using results from 35 studies covering 14 taxonomic groups. Large, conspicuous taxonomic groups and tree-covered land-use types have received much focus in this area of research in the Western Ghats. We computed a response ratio defined as the log ratio of species richness in human land use to species richness in forest control site from 17 studies. In a meta-analysis, we investigated variation of this ratio across studies with respect to three variables: taxonomic group, the land-use type sampled and the extent of forest cover within the study landscape. Higher forest cover within the landscape emerged as a major positive influence on biodiversity in human-modified landscapes for vertebrates and vegetation while no patterns emerged for invertebrates. Our results suggest that loss of remnant forest patches from these landscapes is likely to reduce biodiversity within agro-ecosystems and exacerbate overall biodiversity loss across the Western Ghats. Conservation of these remnant forest patches through protection and restoration of habitat and connectivity to larger forest patches needs to be prioritized. In the densely populated Western Ghats, this can only be achieved by building partnerships with local land owners and stakeholders through innovative land-use policy and incentive schemes for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human land use and activity results in the loss of habitat and biodiversity, and alters how animals move through landscapes. Spatially explicit information on where animal movement is affected at large spatial scales is crucial for prioritizing conservation efforts. We evaluated landscape permeability to movement in two conservation priority landscapes in India, the Western Ghats (WG) and Central India (CI). Using an agent-based model we simulated movement and dispersal of five wide-ranging species in WG (elephant, gaur, leopard, sambar and sloth bear) and four in CI (gaur, leopard, sambar and sloth bear). For each species we compared movement in the presence and absence of land-use land-cover, infrastructure and human population to identify areas where movement is impeded and reduced due to high-resistance features; unrestricted due to relatively low-resistance features; and increased and channelled due to surrounding high-resistance areas. In both landscapes, median movement was reduced. Human land-use, human population and high linear infrastructure density contribute the highest to impeded movement for all species. Natural areas constitute only 20–55% and 50–70% of unrestricted, increased and channelled movement areas in WG and CI respectively. This suggests that a large percentage of the landscape crucial for maintaining movement is not completely permeable. Such areas are often neglected in conservation planning. Our spatially explicit results help identify and prioritize areas where restoration or mitigation should be planned to improve permeability to movement for large mammals. Our approach can be used for other landscapes where data on large mammal movement is lacking. • Median permeability to movement for all species in both landscapes was reduced. • Reduced movement is due to human land-use, human population and linear infrastructure. • Natural areas occupy only 20–55% of high permeability areas in WG and 50–70% in CI. • Thus permeability is not complete in areas crucial for movement. • Our spatially explicit results help prioritize restoration and mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]