Title
Assessing the Role of PAs in the Conservation of Vertebrates in latin America: On the Ground Data.
Author(s)
Forero-Medina, German; Marquez, Robert; Valenzuela, Leonor
Published
2017
Abstract
Protected Areas (PAs) are one of the main strategies for conservation of biodiversity worldwide. In Latin America, where rapid deforestation and ecosystem degradation continue to occur, PAs are established with the purpose of counteracting these threats and avoid species loss. However, most areas lack rigorous monitoring programs to assess the effectiveness for conservation. Recent studies have focused on remote sensing data and matching techniques to evaluate effectiveness of PAs in a quasi-experimental way. Fewer studies rely on the ground data to assess such impact for variables different than land cover. For example, many PAs are established with the purpose of ensuring persistence of populations of vertebrates. However, few studies are designed to evaluate the effect of PAs for the conservation of these species, using quantitative, quasi-experimental designs, like the ones implemented using remote sensors. Such experimental designs may allow for regional assessments of PAs effectiveness and an understanding of the factors that contribute to success. We present a set of examples with quantitative assessments of species populations, using occupancy estimation or distance sampling, conducted inside and outside of a particular PA. In some cases, PAs maintain the last remaining habitat of a species, in other cases there is habitat left outside the PA, but not of enough quality, like Selva de Florencia National Park and the Brown-Spider Monkey (Density in PA= 4,3 ind./ km2; outside=0). Other examples show the PA per se is not responsible for a higher occupancy, as for the Andean Bear in Tatamá National Park (Occupancy inside=0,64; outside=0,58, no effect). In other cases, a PA may show effect for some species but not for others. If conducted systematically, this approach would allow evaluation of effectiveness at large scales, in a similar fashion and additionally to the remote sensing analyses
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PUB26783