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Orchidaceae is one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants in the world but also one of the most threatened. Climate change is a global driver of plant distribution and may be the cause of their disappearance in some regions. Forest orchids are associated with specific biotic and abiotic environmental factors, that influence their local presence/absence. Changes in these conditions can lead to significant differences in species distribution. We studied three forest orchids belonging to different genera (Cephalanthera, Epipactis and Limodorum) for their potential current and future distribution in a protected area (PA) of the Northern Apennines. A Habitat Suitability Model was constructed for each species based on presence-only data and the Maximum Entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) was used for the modelling. Climatic, edaphic, topographic, anthropogenic and land cover variables were used as environmental predictors and processed in the model. The aim is to identify the environmental factors that most influence the current species distribution and the areas that are likely to contain habitats suitable for providing refuge for forest orchids and ensuring their survival under future scenarios. This will allow PA authorities to decide whether to invest more resources in conserving areas that are potential refuges for threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchidaceae is one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants in the world but also one of the most threatened. Climate change is a global driver of plant distribution and may be the cause of their disappearance in some regions. Forest orchids are associated with specific biotic and abiotic environmental factors, that influence their local presence/absence. Changes in these conditions can lead to significant differences in species distribution. We studied three forest orchids belonging to different genera (Cephalanthera, Epipactis and Limodorum) for their potential current and future distribution in a protected area (PA) of the Northern Apennines. A Habitat Suitability Model was constructed for each species based on presence-only data and the Maximum Entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) was used for the modelling. Climatic, edaphic, topographic, anthropogenic and land cover variables were used as environmental predictors and processed in the model. The aim is to identify the environmental factors that most influence the current species distribution and the areas that are likely to contain habitats suitable for providing refuge for forest orchids and ensuring their survival under future scenarios. This will allow PA authorities to decide whether to invest more resources in conserving areas that are potential refuges for threatened species.

Understanding local perceptions is essential to ensure the good functioning of co-management in protected areas (PAs). However, more research is required quantitatively to assess the extent locals are empowered. This paper seeks to investigate the effects of varied participation types and levels on perceived performance in a centralized co-management regime in Giant Panda National Park, China. Using 353 survey questionnaires, we identified six co-management subtypes that were classified into four empowerment levels: instruction, consultation, agreement, and cooperation. Notably, our analysis suggests that involvement at the cooperation level was not clearly linked with more favorable local perceptions of conservation. In contrast, local residents engaged in the instruction level of co-management (support, training, and employment subtypes) were more inclined to develop positive perceptions across the ecological, social, and livelihood dimensions. This study suggests the conclusion that merely empowering locals might not facilitate favorable perceptions of conservation. Instruction co-management intended to enhance social well-being if it is tailored to the needs of local residents.

Aim: Although protected areas (PAs) are assumed to reduce natural threats within boundaries, their spillover effects remain equivocal. It is necessary to determine whether PAs truly achieve conservation targets and whether they promote or inhibit natural habitat degradation in adjacent areas by blockage or leakage spillover. This study aims to choose 54 nature reserves (NRs) focusing on forest protection as a case study to assess PA conservation effectiveness and spillover prevalence. Location: PAs on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). Methods: We used matching methods to compare deforestation rates inside PAs and their 20 km buffer zones with matched control areas based on the Global Forest Change dataset from 2001 to 2019. We contrasted the effects of NRs with different management levels, ages and areas. We designed five concentric buffer zones to assess spillover change with distance and estimated potential drivers of the spillover effect to explain its directions and magnitudes. Results: 75.9% of the NRs were effective in preventing deforestation within their boundaries. NRs with different properties showed similar performance on forest conservation. Spillover effects were heterogeneous around NRs. One hundred and twenty‐two buffer zones had positive spillover ranging from 0.1% to 5.3%. One hundred and nineteen buffer zones had leakages from −8.84% to −0.1%. Blockages slightly outnumbered leakages at different distances, while leakages happened more frequently when we treated buffer zones as a whole spillover area. The linear model indicated NR age and population density of buffer zones were the most relevant predictors to spillover value. Main conclusions: Most PAs performed well in forest conservation. Leakages could undermine or offset PA conservation efforts and were related to multiple natural or socio‐economic factors. We recommend considering the plurality of PAs as well as spillover effect and incorporating a social‐ecological framework in further PA establishment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to propose a conservation network that contains suitable habitat and connectivity corridors for mitigation due to habitat transformation and fragmentation of Yunnan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti). Further, we also aim to understand the effects of land‐use changes on the conservation network of R. bieti from 1990 to 2020. Location: Three Parallel Rivers Region (TPRR) on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) of China. Methods: We used a GIS‐based niche model to predict habitat suitability and extracted highly suitable habitats with an area above 30 km2 as potential core habitats (PCH patches). We designed a normalized importance value index (NIVI) to select PCH patches with the top 5 NIVI values designated as priority protection habitats (PPHs), and we selected a circuit model to build connectivity corridors among PPHs and five protected areas (PAs) from 1990 to 2020. Results: Unsuitable areas and lowly suitable habitats increased 69.3 and 46.8 km2, respectively, from 1990 to 2020. In particular, the area of PPHs dramatically decreased from 212.1 km2 in 1990 to 101.6 km2 in 2020. Average length of connectivity corridors among PCH patches and PPHs decreased from 75.9 km in 1990 to 56.8 km in 2020. Main conclusion: Habitat loss and fragmentation are common phenomena as evidenced by decreasing in highly and moderately suitable habitats of R. bieti and increasing in lowly suitable habitats and unsuitable areas. Five PAs are central to build a conservation network and to protect populations and wild groups of R. bieti. Land use changes the conservation network of R. bieti in the past 30 years. Based on re‐planning boundaries of PAs to incorporate all protection network of R. bieti, it has practical significance to re‐adjust the system of PAs that conservation network of R. bieti should be as fundamental management unit for PA development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate is a vital factor that shapes habitat suitability for many species across space and time. Gazella subgutturosa (Goitered gazelle) is a globally vulnerable mammal already extinct in some areas of Armenia and Georgia and is highly threatened in other areas of its distribution. In this study, new data were gathered for 33 locations in north-eastern Iraq, and then together with literature data, Species Distribution Models (SDMs) were used to explore the geographical distribution of the gazelle under current and future climate change scenarios. We studied the relationship between seven climate variables and 43 occurrence records to predict habitat suitability of the gazelle under the current climate, and also under four future climate scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 for both 2050 and 2080). Annual precipitation and isothermality had the most influence on the distribution of Gazella subgutturosa. The most suitable habitat in both the current and future scenarios was located in north-eastern Iraq close to the Iranian border near the Zagros Mountains. There was no difference in habitat suitability for the gazelle inside Iraqi Protected Areas (PAs) compared to outside the PAs. Using the occurrence records and IUCN Red List national assessments, we found Iraqi Goitered gazelle populations to be classified as Endangered (EN). Our results suggest urgent conservation planning is needed to save this species, including the establishment of new PAs. These results contribute new baseline information, which was currently missing Goitered gazelle in about Iraq, to the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, which will hopefully aid with future global assessments and conservation.

Traditional agricultural industries in protected areas (PAs) provide opportunities for both nature conservation and the wellbeing of local residents. However, knowledge about the synergies between nature conservation and traditional agricultural industries is still limited. This research takes the traditional tea industry in Wuyishan National Park as a case to identify and examine the synergistic mechanism between forest conservation and industrial development, why traditional agricultural industries are necessary to the regional economy, and how they secure local livelihoods as well as achieve conservation goals. We conducted literature research and semi-structured interviews with Wuyishan National Park Authority, local government administrations, enterprises and small-scale farmers. The results were obtained through a two-stage mixed method of grounded theory and system dynamics. The findings revealed that: (1) Traditional agricultural industries in PAs were resilient and adaptable in the face of external changes, in which traditional culture and ecological awareness played an important role. (2) Small-scale agri-industries were vulnerable to external shocks, but they also have advantages in terms of moderate agglomeration and standardization, risk perception and response, and market-based diversification of production. (3) The synergetic process of traditional agricultural industries and conservation is mainstreaming biodiversity by cooperation among the government, the park agency, and local people. Thus, we suggested that the local government should work together with the PA management agencies to re-evaluate the existence of traditional agricultural industries for their necessity in the regional economy and the feasibility of improving local livelihoods.

Currently, there is a great challenge for the Global South to strengthen protected areas for conservation, as there remain debates on the trade-off and synergies between conservation and human well-being. Differing from existing knowledge generated from individual case-studies with local specificities, this research applied Q methodology to capture the diversity and wideness of opinions from a broad range of conservationists by using China as an example, where a new National Parks (NPs) policy is currently implementing. By situating discussion on the debatable aspects, including National Parks’ function, governance, and operation as well as local community involvements, the research aims to provide insights to a broader understanding of developing NPs system from conservationists’ perspective on the discussion between conservation and development in the Global South. The results indicated three divergent primary NPs systems for conservation: state-led systems to achieve win-win outcomes, inclusive governance for a trade-offs, and ambiguity of governance and outcome, while the introduction of market instruments was not seen as a favorable pathway for the NPs System. Policy implications drawn from this research call for considering conservation as a priority in the context of neoliberal conservation, and further research is required with expanded involvement from social scientists to conservation science in the Chinese context.

Although numerous studies have explored the role of government, conservation managers and local residents in the governance of protected areas, little attention has been paid to the role of tourists. Based on a field survey and a network-based content analysis of tourists' perceptions and expectations of Wuyishan National Park, this research sought to promote the governance of national parks by strengthening the tourists' influence. The results showed that: (1) tourists had a changing, but still narrow understanding of the national park's functions, (2) tourists' expectations of tourism and recreational functions are growing more diversified, and (3) lack of information restrained them from making an effective contribution to conservation. The results suggest that tourists can be effective in conservation governance with the aid of better publicity and closer interactions with other stakeholders. This study has theoretical and managerial implications for understanding the role of tourists in the governance of national parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management is an important consideration for developments within protected areas (PAs). With the growing demand for mainly tourism-related infrastructure in PAs, more urgent and innovate ways of dealing with waste management are required. Internationally environmental impact assessment (EIA) is considered a key policy instrument to inform waste management-related decision-making for new developments. The EIA process makes provision for the identification of waste-related impacts and mitigation measures during the construction-, operation- and decommissioning phases of a development. However, there has been scant reflection on the role of EIA in dealing with waste management decision-making in PAs. Therefore, this research aims to review the extent to which waste management measures are considered in EIAs for developments in PAs. The results show that waste management measures are, for the most part, poorly considered. For example, EIAs failed to provide estimates of expected waste types and quantities and mostly failed to consider the waste management hierarchy. Recommendations are made towards improving the consideration of waste management measures in EIAs for developments within PAs. These include the drafting of guidelines for waste management in protected areas; training relevant roleplayers on waste management measures; and promoting specialist input on waste-related matters for EIAs in PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of alien and invasive alien species (IAS) in the plant cover of protected areas (PAs) of Ukraine becomes a new trend of research, especially when invasions have turned into biological hazards for natural biodiversity, thus threatening its structure and ecosystems functioning. Taking into consideration the increasing spreading potential of IAS as well as the connection with their triggering environmental driving forces, even more current methods arose, mainly focusing on current distribution and its trends, abundance and its dynamics, potential impact on the environment and on some types of biotopes within PAs. In this study, a review of methods of field investigation of alien species is proposed for their inventory, monitoring, etc. and particularly for assessment of their impact within Ukrainian PAs. The choice of methods is determined in each case by the purpose and objectives of the study, taking into account the measures of management of PAs and some other factors, such as history, fragmentation of the object’s territory, etc. Some methods focus on both complex and specialised research. Some of the methods were used earlier in studies of weeds, plant cover, biology or ecology of plants, etc. Other methods are new for the study of alien species in Ukraine. All of them are analysed and short adapted schemes or templates for plots are proposed. Some re-marks about issues of their use are discussed. A few methods have been used for continuous monitoring of invasions of alien plants in PAs and can be integrated to the national Program of the Chronicle of Nature for Nature Reserves and National Nature Parks. All methods can be used for the study of alien, native and species with mixed status. The effectiveness of most of the methods depends on the sequence of execution, preparation, available resources of the researchers and PAs. The use of these methods will help to summarise data, record new finds, predict the spread of dangerous IAS, develop effective control measures and management of PAs, and integrate research results into databases of different levels.

Although numerous studies have explored the role of government, conservation managers and local residents in the governance of protected areas, little attention has been paid to the role of tourists. Based on a field survey and a network-based content analysis of tourists’ perceptions and expectations of Wuyishan National Park, this research sought to promote the governance of national parks by strengthening the tourists’ influence. The results showed that: (1) tourists had a changing, but still narrow understanding of the national park’s functions, (2) tourists’ expectations of tourism and recreational functions are growing more diversified, and (3) lack of information restrained them from making an effective contribution to conservation. The results suggest that tourists can be effective in conservation governance with the aid of better publicity and closer interactions with other stakeholders. This study has theoretical and managerial implications for understanding the role of tourists in the governance of national parks.

The dramatic increase in anthropogenic activity severely threatens the biodiversity and life-support services that underpin human well-being. The broadened focus of protecting ecosystem services (ESs) better aligns the interests of people and biodiversity conservation. In this study, we used species richness as a surrogate for biodiversity and mapped the key ESs in East Africa with the goal to assess the spatial congruence between biodiversity and ESs, and evaluate the representation of current protected areas (PAs) network for biodiversity and ESs. The results showed that PAs well represented for species richness and regulating services but underrepresented for provisioning services. The PAs network occupies 10.96% of East Africa's land surface, and captures 20.62–26.37% of conservation priorities for vertebrate and plant species. It encompasses more than 16.23% of priority areas for three regulating services, but only 6.17% and 5.22% for crop and livestock production, respectively. Strong correlations and high overlaps exist between species richness and regulating services, particularly for carbon storage, water yield and plants. Thus, we believe that actions taken to conserve biodiversity also will protect certain ESs, which in turn will create new incentives and funding sources for the conservation of biodiversity. Overall, our results have wide-ranging policy implications and can be used to optimize conservation strategies for both biodiversity and multiple ESs in East Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data are presented on the number and spatial coverage of various categories of protected areas (PAs) in Norway, Sweden, Finland and six regions in the European North of Russia (Murmansk, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, Vologda Regions, Republic of Karelia and Komi Republic). The specific features of their geographic distribution and protection regimes are described. The conclusion drawn from a comparative assessment of the PA systems is that the Russian territories in question stand out quite advantageously against the neighbor countries. Even if only part of protective forests is included, the share of PAs here by far exceeds the target (17 %) set at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Nagoya, Japan, 2010). We argue that the spatial scope (% of total territory) of protected areas and sites cannot be universal for all countries and even regions. The main determinant is the scope of anthropogenic transformation and, hence, the degree to which the natural condition of the ecosystems has been preserved. National and regional PA systems should be built upon the principle of landscape representativeness. Of primary importance in the analysis of the situation is assessment of the adequacy of PAs for conserving the natural environment to secure the survival of the biota – species and populations, first of all red-listed ones and the onesmost vulnerable to human impact.

• Locations of biodiversity hotspots of alpine grasslands are explored. • Spatial incongruence between biodiversity hotspots and protected areas is high. • Re-planning protection network is vital based on location of biodiversity hotspots. Human activities such as livestock overgrazing, are the main reasons for the degradation of alpine grasslands and biodiversity loss on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China. With an aim toward maintaining sustainable development of alpine grasslands, protected areas (PAs) are important for biodiversity protection and to reduce the negative impacts of human activities. This study was conducted in the east of the QTP to clarify the distribution of plant-based biodiversity hotspots of alpine grasslands and to identify gaps between biodiversity hotspots protection and the effectiveness of PAs. We found that biodiversity hotspots of alpine grasslands were located in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garzê (TAPG) and the Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Ngawa (TQAPN) in Sichuan Province, and their buffer zones were to the west of the biodiversity hotspots. PAs protected 25.93% (29.09 km2) of biodiversity hotspots and 29.17% (50.36 km2) of their buffer zones, respectively. Therefore, there was a substantial gap between the protection of biodiversity hotspots of alpine grasslands and the effectiveness of the PAs. According to distributions of the biodiversity hotspots and their buffer zones, re-planning the boundaries of the PAs to improve their protection effectiveness would be useful for biodiversity conservation and mitigation of alpine grassland degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of improper soil erosion empowered by water is constantly adding more risk to the natural resource mitigation scenarios, especially in developing countries. The demographical pattern and the rate of growth, in addition to the impairments of the rainfall pattern, are consequently disposed to adverse environmental disturbances. The current research goal is to evaluate soil erosion triggered by water in the coastal area of Kenya on the district level, and also in protected areas. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was exercised to estimate the soil loss in the designated study area. RUSLE input parameters were functionally realized in terms of rainfall and runoff erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), slope length and gradient factor (LS), land cover management factor (C) and slope factor (P). The realization of RUSLE input parameters was carried out using different dataset sources, including meteorological data, soil/geology maps, the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and processing of satellite imagery. Out of 26 districts in coastal area, eight districts were projected to have mean annual soil loss rates of >10 t·ha−1·y−1: Kololenli (19.709 t·ha−1·y−1), Kubo (14.36 t·ha−1·y−1), Matuga (19.32 t·ha−1·y−1), Changamwe (26.7 t·ha−1·y−1), Kisauni (16.23 t·ha−1·y−1), Likoni (27.9 t·ha−1·y−1), Mwatate (15.9 t·ha−1·y−1) and Wundanyi (26.51 t·ha−1·y−1). Out of 34 protected areas at the coastal areas, only four were projected to have high soil loss estimation rates >10 t·ha−1·y−1: Taita Hills (11.12 t·ha−1·y−1), Gonja (18.52 t·ha−1·y−1), Mailuganji (13.75.74 t·ha−1·y−1), and Shimba Hills (15.06 t·ha−1·y−1). In order to mitigate soil erosion in Kenya’s coastal areas, it is crucial to regulate the anthropogenic disturbances embedded mainly in deforestation of the timberlands, in addition to the natural deforestation process caused by the wildfires.

Protected areas (PAs) have been established worldwide for achieving long-term goals in the conservation of nature with the associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Globally, 15% of the world’s terrestrial lands and inland waters, excluding Antarctica, are designated as PAs. About 4.12% of the global ocean and 10.2% of coastal and marine areas under national jurisdiction are set as marine protected areas (MPAs). Protected lands and waters serve as the fundamental building blocks of virtually all national and international conservation strategies, supported by governments and international institutions. Some of the PAs are the only places that contain undisturbed landscape, seascape and ecosystems on the planet Earth. With intensified impacts from climate and environmental change, PAs have become more important to serve as indicators of ecosystem status and functions. Earth’s remaining wilderness areas are becoming increasingly important buffers against changing conditions. The development of remote sensing platforms and sensors and the improvement in science and technology provide crucial support for the monitoring and management of PAs across the world. In this editorial paper, we reviewed research developments using state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies, discussed the challenges of remote sensing applications in the inventory, monitoring, management and governance of PAs and summarized the highlights of the articles published in this Special Issue.

The article is devoted to the problem of conservation of the curly (Karelian) birch and the role of protected areas (PAs) in this effort. Data on curly birch numbers and distribution across PAs of various categories in the Republic of Karelia are reported. In view of its limited resources, curly birch has been recognized as a specially protected variety since the very beginning of its systematic studies (early 1930’s). The history of establishment of the network of PAs featuring curly birch is briefly described, and their current state is assessed. It is shown that in spite of the lack of actual control and tending in the PAs, on the whole they have secured the preservation of more than 90 % of the regionally red-listed curly birch resources. All natural curly birch populations are concentrated within four botanical reserves (“Anisimovschina”, “Spasogubsky”, “Kakorovsky” and “Karelian birch near the village of Tsarevichi”), which collectively occupy no more than 0.01 % of the total area of protected areas. The main reasons for the sharp reduction of curly birch resources, as well as the negative consequences associated with its decline are discussed. Using microsatellite markers, it was shown that a decrease in the total and effective population of the curly birch caused by its prolonged exploitation (including illegal logging) has led to a change in its genetic structure and increased inbreeding. The observed processes have resulted in a decline of the genetic diversity and depletion of the gene pool of the curly birch, as well as a nearly total absence of its viable undergrowth. Nevertheless, PAs established in Karelia have played and continue to play an important role in preserving the gene pool of the curly birch, and its elite trees remain the main target for various scientific studies and practical work for the reproduction and re-introduction of the curly birch.

Protected areas (PAs) are one way of conserving biodiversity, and ecosystem services and human well-being and are now recognized as an integral part of sustainable development strategies. Over the past four decades there has been a ten-fold increase in the number of protected areas globally. Increasingly however, park management agencies do not have sufficient funds to finance their conservation management activities, and most governments do not fund PA budgets fully. Furthermore, efforts to determine how much money is spent or required for PA financing has been hampered by significant data shortages, especially in the most underfunded countries as many are still unable to quantify the relative adequacy of their levels of conservation finance. This research assesses the extent to which tourism contributes towards biodiversity financing for PA management in southern African countries. It analyzes Fifth National Country Reports (produced in 2014/2015) submitted to the Convention for Biological Diversity produced for all southern African countries to determine the actual contribution of tourism to overall PA financing. It highlights that although tourism is a significant revenue source for PA authorities in southern Africa, how it is retained and reinvested back into conservation management remains ambiguous. The incompleteness and inconsistency of national level reporting presents a missed opportunity for justifying greater financing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the perceptions of 420 residents living, working, or running their own business in Puszcza Notecka, one of the largest Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in Poland. The questionnaire survey shows differences in ecological awareness among three different groups in the local community: residents, administrators, and entrepreneurs. According to participants in the questionnaire, the community has not become familiar with or fully understood the objectives for which this form of nature protection, Natura 2000, was created. They would like to familiarize themselves with the protected area (PA) development strategy and the meaning of actions relating to the protection of such areas, but the lack of clear information and transparent decision making has amplified the misunderstanding and conflict around environmental conservation. Understanding the benefits and losses to people who live in and around PAs is fundamental to balancing conservation goals with the needs of local human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Exploring win-win approaches to ecological conservation and community development goals is a central issue in the management of PAs. Achieving sustainable management of ESs in PAs is more of a social governance issue, requiring the SES managers to understand the diverse tradeoffs among ESs and well-beings and design management plans with supportive governance processes and institutions. To solve this issue, ESs importance was chosen as the entry point, which is good at "understanding" but weak in "designing" in most cases. We proposed a "KESs-based PAs management plans formulating framework," which is born out of the ESs importance analysis and knowledge for win-win management in PAs. Through the six steps and two tools ("Identification Methodology for PAs KESs" and the "Standard Strategies for PAs KESs Management") embedded in the framework, the win-win management plan for dual goals could be formulated. By applying the framework in the Shennongjia National Park in China, we obtained three directions for adjusting strategies and eight directions for adjusting measures for the National Park Services to formulate management plans. The framework promotes the sustainable management of ESs in PAs by making up for the gap in applying ESs importance in designing feasible, specific, and systematic management plans with policies and institutions. • Design policies and institutions with ESs importance. • Propose an analysis framework for formulating PAs management plans. • Promotes the sustainable management of ESs in PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas (PAs) have been considered as an effective measure of ecological conservation. Existing studies have shown that developing countries are faced with more ecological pressure than developed countries, and suggested the priority for strengthening ecological conservation in developing countries, but the rationality of designation and conservation effectiveness of PAs still remain unclear. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), covering Asia, Europe and Africa, mainly consisting of developing countries, is highly overlapped with ecological conservation priorities with high biodiversity values or facing the risk of ecological degradation. Here we assessed the rationality of PA designation by comparing them with the internationally recognized Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and then analyzed the conservation effectiveness from the perspective of human pressure using the data of land cover and population density. The results showed that both the rationality of designation and conservation effectiveness of PAs have a decrease with the declining Human Development Index (HDI) of countries, reflecting that the PA construction level largely depends on the national comprehensive strength. This study calls for more conservation efforts in PA construction in developing countries of the BRI, including improving the coverage rate with KBAs and reducing human pressure within the PAs, so as to make full use of PAs to avoid ecological degradation and enlarging ecological gap with developed countries. • The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) region includes many conservation hotspots. • Establishing protected areas (PAs) is surely effective for ecological conservation. • Rationality of PAs was assessed using the overlap with Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). • Conservation effectiveness was assessed from the perspective of human pressure. • The PA construction level largely depends on the national comprehensive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have identified threats that originate in areas surrounding protected areas (PAs). While there have been various efforts to integrate PAs with their surroundings, considerable challenges remain. Here we summarize these efforts to date, discuss their effectiveness, and provide recommendations for future research. Based on a broad literature review of theoretical and applied approaches, we have outlined 68 models for balancing conservation and sustainable development in PAs. We comprehensively analyzed 23 of these models for integrating PAs with their surroundings. They were divided into two categories: area-oriented and process-oriented approaches. This review reveals the absolute necessity of combining these two approaches for future conservation and sustainable development of PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate is a vital factor that shapes habitat suitability for many species across space and time. Gazella subgutturosa (Goitered gazelle) is a globally vulnerable mammal already extinct in some areas of Armenia and Georgia and is highly threatened in other areas of its distribution. In this study, new data were gathered for 33 locations in north-eastern Iraq, and then together with literature data, Species Distribution Models (SDMs) were used to explore the geographical distribution of the gazelle under current and future climate change scenarios. We studied the relationship between seven climate variables and 43 occurrence records to predict habitat suitability of the gazelle under the current climate, and also under four future climate scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 for both 2050 and 2080). Annual precipitation and isothermality had the most influence on the distribution of Gazella subgutturosa . The most suitable habitat in both the current and future scenarios was located in north-eastern Iraq close to the Iranian border near the Zagros Mountains. There was no difference in habitat suitability for the gazelle inside Iraqi Protected Areas (PAs) compared to outside the PAs. Using the occurrence records and IUCN Red List national assessments, we found Iraqi Goitered gazelle populations to be classified as Endangered (EN). Our results suggest urgent conservation planning is needed to save this species, including the establishment of new PAs. These results contribute new baseline information, which was currently missing Goitered gazelle in about Iraq, to the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, which will hopefully aid with future global assessments and conservation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Highlights: [•] We found that most breeding birds in Israel are inadequately covered by existing protected areas. [•] We compared three strategies for expanding the target species’ habitat coverage. [•] The strategies were establishing new reserves, improving agro-systems for conservation, and a combined strategy. [•] The combined strategy, which focused on both natural and agricultural sites, was most beneficial. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Understanding local attitudes towards human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is key to developing successful conflict mitigation strategies. In this paper, in-depth interview and questionnaire data about resolution of HWC in Uttarakhand, India are examined from both qualitative and quantitative approaches ( n = 70). Responses are differentiated between and within three subgroups: gender, literacy status, and relative wealth. Overall, the plurality of respondents said that fencing is the best solution, that the Forest Department should take leadership, and that villagers would be willing to participate in a cooperative management institution. However, cooperative action was only actively supported by 27.4% of respondents, suggesting that comanagement of this protected area will require significant capacity building and trust building activities. Intragroup differences show that all three factors are significant, and underscore the importance of addressing gender differences in attitudes about HWC in particular. Women were less likely than men to support compensation, more likely to prefer that the village take leadership, and less willing to participate in a cooperative management institution. The study illustrates the value of mixed-method research, and suggests a number of specific entry points for action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We classified tree species of South American savanna into seven forms of rarity. • Of the 2203 tree species, 49.25% were rare, 40.35% stenochoric, 14.12% stenoecious and 56.15% had a scarce population. • Of the 2203 species, 6.44% species only occurred inside PAs, 83.79% in and outside PAs and 9.75% only outside PAs. • Species which do not occur in protected areas are mostly geographically restricted with ecoregion specialists, and have small population sizes. The interest in quantifying rare species has been increasing, but less attention has been paid to analysing their conservation status. Here, we used the Rabinowitz method based on geographical range, habitat specificity and population size to classify 2,203 tree species of South American savannas (SAS). We considered species with narrow (stenochoric) or wide (eurychoric) geographic range respectively occurring in up to 10% or over of the latitudinal belts in the SAS, specialist (stenoecious) or generalist (euryoecious) species occurring in one or more ecoregions, respectively, and locally scarce or abundant populations of species with low or high numbers of records within a grid cell of 1° latitude by 1° longitude, respectively. We then quantified species which only occur inside protected areas (PAs), in and outside PAs, or only outside PAs. Of the 2,203 species, 49.25% were rare, 40.35% stenochoric, 14.12% stenoecious and 56.15% had a scarce population. The Cerrado (433) followed by Caatinga (259), Campos Rupestres montane savanna (256), Bahia interior forests (189) and Guiana savanna (154) had the highest number of rare species. Only 6.44% species only occurred inside PAs, 83.79% in and outside PAs and 9.75% only outside PAs. Unprotected species are mostly geographically restricted with ecoregion specialists, and have small population sizes. The number of protected species are is positively correlated with the number of records within them. The establishment of PAs should focus on both core and disjunct savannas to encompass all ecoregions in order to ensure the conservation of species and the range of evolutionary processes in SAS. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Payment for wetland ecosystems services increased habitat values for Grus nigricollis. • High occurrence probability of cranes in farmland, indicating potential risk of relocation program. • Roost-centered distribution pattern was detected for wintering G. nigricollis. Understanding the ecological consequences of conservation policies on wildlife is critical for species conservation and policy implementation. China began to call for establishing a national park system in 2013 and used national parks as the predominant feature for its system of protected areas in 2019. Payment for ecosystem services (PES) and relocation constitute two important management strategies in new Chinese national parks and protected area system. To better understand the potential outcomes of such programs, we studied the winter foraging distribution of the threatened Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), a flagship species of plateau wetlands, in Dashanbao Protected Area, SW China. Field survey data were combined with environmental variables and land use maps to model winter foraging habitat with respect to human settlements subject to PES and relocation. High suitability for foraging was mapped in the core zone around crane roosting sites, villages, and far from disturbance (e.g. main roads). Aiming at converting farmland to wetland, the payment for ecosystem services programs increased probability of occurrence of cranes by changing land cover in appropriate areas relative to crane roosts and other spatially distributed variables. Surprisingly, areas within 1 km of villages were recognized as highly suitable foraging habitats for cranes, which depend on waste grain in farmland in winter, revealing the potential risk of relocation-induced food shortage for wintering cranes. We argue that as an effective strategy in improving wildlife habitat, PES should be encouraged and relocation programs that change the existing long-term established human-wildlife interactions should be implemented only under full understanding of these relationships. As a pioneer study of the effects of conservation policy on wetland ecosystems in China, this study could shed light on conservation management for such ecosystem and species showing high dependence on a human modified environment. Future work should also focus on the social effects of these conservation strategies, especially relocation, during national park planning in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities are taking active roles in conservation. However, the basic modes and content of community participatory approach are seldom summarised or reflected on in China, leaving the use of terms confused and their links to practice disconnected. By reviewing the literature, we traced back to the protected area-community relations from the perspective of features of rural communities, namely knowledge accumulation, social bond, collective actions, and risk-aversion, and reflected on changing roles of community conservation through recognition of these features. Combining case studies and our own research experience, we focused on the de facto practices behind the somewhat casual use of several terms and re-classified community participation in conservation to three modes of community participatory management, community co-management, and community dominant management, along a continuum in which, from low to high level, conservation is more a means rather than an end for the community to be empowered for their own resource management. We argued that the success of community participation must ensure stable and flexible land tenure so that the right to benefit can be guaranteed, and the collective action in managing resources can be achieved by empowerment. In practice, further institutional changes of improvement in the legislation and optimisation in benefit sharing and compensation are needed to promote community participation in a broader social participation context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas (PAs) have been established worldwide for achieving long-term goals in the conservation of nature with the associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Globally, 15% of the world's terrestrial lands and inland waters, excluding Antarctica, are designated as PAs. About 4.12% of the global ocean and 10.2% of coastal and marine areas under national jurisdiction are set as marine protected areas (MPAs). Protected lands and waters serve as the fundamental building blocks of virtually all national and international conservation strategies, supported by governments and international institutions. Some of the PAs are the only places that contain undisturbed landscape, seascape and ecosystems on the planet Earth. With intensified impacts from climate and environmental change, PAs have become more important to serve as indicators of ecosystem status and functions. Earth's remaining wilderness areas are becoming increasingly important buffers against changing conditions. The development of remote sensing platforms and sensors and the improvement in science and technology provide crucial support for the monitoring and management of PAs across the world. In this editorial paper, we reviewed research developments using state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies, discussed the challenges of remote sensing applications in the inventory, monitoring, management and governance of PAs and summarized the highlights of the articles published in this Special Issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their valuable landscape and natural characteristics, protected areas (PAs) distinguish themselves from other green spaces. Studies that survey individuals on the perceived capacity of PAs to provide health benefits are very limited. However, the importance of PAs for societal health could emphasize the necessity to preserve them. In addition, studies of cross-country comparisons of nature-based activities show strong cultural differences with regard to the importance of wild nature and landscape preferences. Cross-country comparisons of the perception of PAs as a resource for personal well-being and health are lacking. An extensive survey with face-to-face questionnaires was conducted in PAs in Poland, Austria, and Italy with an overall sample size of 1390 people. It examined both emotional and physical personal well-being in the context of a stay in a PA. In general, the results showed that between the three countries, different perceptions of the capacity of PAs to contribute to personal health and well-being exist. Both diverse emotional and physical benefits were associated with a stay in a PA. Moreover, respondents from the three countries assessed the perceived capacity of a PA to reduce negative physical symptoms, such as muscular pain or tension, and negative emotional symptoms, such as depression or stress.