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Procapra picticaudata is an ungulate endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and is widely distributed in the Three-River-Source region. Predicting the seasonal variations in habitat suitability and understanding the effects of environmental variables on habitat use by this species will help formulate effective conservation strategies and clarify its niche characteristics. Based on point records of the occurrence collected during repeated field surveys in winter (January 2019) and summer (August 2019), we used MaxEnt model to predict the differences in habitat suitability and the distribution pattern of the P. picticaudata in the Three-River-Source region using eight preselected environmental variables. We further explored the influence of those variables on the P. picticaudata' distribution pattern using environmental response curves. The results showed that the average area under the receiving operator curve values in winter and summer was 0.901 ±0.023 and 0.882±0.024, respectively, with a good accuracy of fitness. The total area of suitable habitat for P. picticaudata in winter and summer was 6. 83 X 104 and 9. 78 X 104 km2, respectively. The area of suitable habitats in summer increased significantly compared with winter. There was a tendency for P. picticaudata to spread to the south of the Yangtze River Source Park and the Yellow River Source Park in summer. The spatial patterns of habitat suitability in both winter and summer took Three-River-Source National Park as the high-value center and decreased around it. The seasonal average temperature, altitude, population density, and slope were the main environmental variables affecting the distribution of P. picticaudata both in winter and summer. The higher temperatures in summer allowed the suitable P. picticaudata habitats to extend into areas above 5000 m in altitude, and to areas with slopes of less than 25°, compared with winter. The expansion of human activities in summer encroached on the suitable habitat of P. picticaudata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the protected area (PA) covers >15% of the planet's terrestrial land area and continues to expand, factors determining its effectiveness in conserving endangered species are being debated. We investigated the links between direct anthropogenic pressures, socioeconomic settings, and the coverage of vertebrate taxa by China's PA network, and indicated that high socioeconomic status and low levels of human pressure correlate with high species coverage, with threatened mammals more effectively conserved than reptiles or amphibians. Positive links between conservation outcomes and socioeconomic progress appear linked to local livelihood improvements triggering positive perceptions of local PAs—aided further by ecological compensation and tourism schemes introduced in wealthy areas and reinforced by continued positive conservation outcomes. Socioeconomic development of China's less developed regions might assist regional PA efficiency and achievement of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while also addressing potential shortcomings from an insufficient past focus on socioeconomic impacts for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The Amur tiger and leopard, once roaming over the Eurasian continent, are now endangered and confined to the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, Russia-a landscape that has been increasingly fragmented due to human activities. The ultimate fate of these big cats depends on whether they can resettle in their previous main historical range in NE China. Recent sightings of these animals along the China-Russia border have aroused new hope, but direct evidence is lacking. Objectives: The main objectives of our study were (1) to determine the abundance and spatiotemporal patterns of tigers, leopards, and primary prey; (2) to investigate factors influencing the resettlement of the two big cats; and (3) to propose a landscape-scale conservation plan to secure the long-term sustainability of the Amur tiger and leopard. Methods: We monitored the two felids, their prey, and human activities, with 380 camera-trap stations, for a total of 175,127 trap days and over an area of 6000 km in NE China. We used the constraint line method to characterize cattle grazing and human influences on tigers, leopards, and their prey species. Results: Our results show that, unexpectedly, at least 26 tigers and 42 leopards are present within China, which are confined primarily to a narrow area along the border with Russia. We have further identified that cattle grazing and human disturbances are the key hurdles to the dispersal of the tigers and leopards farther into China where suitable habitat is potentially available. Conclusions: Amur tigers and leopards are returning to China, indeed, but their long-term resettlement is not likely without active and timely conservation efforts on landscape and regional scales. To overcome the hurdles to the resettlement of tigers and leopards in China, we propose a 'Tiger and Leopard Resettlement Program' that will engage the government, local communities, and researchers, so that the long-term sustainability of the Amur tigers and leopards can be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]