Journal Description
Conservation
Conservation
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on the biological, environmental, sociological, ethical, and economic and other transdisciplinary dimensions of conservation, published quarterly online by MDPI. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is affiliated with Conservation and its members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within ESCI (Web of Science), Scopus, and other databases.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 39.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 7.7 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
- Conservation is a companion journal of Sustainability.
Latest Articles
Using Citizen Science to Document Biodiversity on a University Campus: A Year-Long Case Study
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 533-546; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030032 (registering DOI) - 23 Sep 2024
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Citizen science is a rapidly growing field, particularly among young scientists. In this case study, we review a year-long citizen science initiative hosted at Western University, Canada, which aimed to document and highlight biodiversity on campus while simultaneously seeking to improve community engagement
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Citizen science is a rapidly growing field, particularly among young scientists. In this case study, we review a year-long citizen science initiative hosted at Western University, Canada, which aimed to document and highlight biodiversity on campus while simultaneously seeking to improve community engagement with the environment. Using the popular citizen science platform iNaturalist, we facilitated data collection and community engagement through a combination of informal field surveys, undergraduate-level course assignments, social media, and passive data submission. Throughout the first year of the initiative, nearly 300 community members submitted 3716 observations of 1225 species, including observations of 103 species documented on iNaturalist for the first time in the region, and other species of ecological significance. This citizen science project underscores the strengths and utility of citizen science and provides a framework for other higher education institutions to develop similar initiatives.
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Open AccessArticle
Predicting the Conservation Behaviour of Cat Owners: Involvement, Attitudes and Approach-Avoidance Conflict
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Geoff Kaine, Vic Wright and Zachary Turk
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 505-532; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030031 - 20 Sep 2024
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Cats, including companion cats, inflict extensive harm on wildlife. Using a national survey of 2000 households in New Zealand, we investigated the influence of involvement (an indicator of motivation) on the willingness of cat owners to keep their cats indoors at night. We
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Cats, including companion cats, inflict extensive harm on wildlife. Using a national survey of 2000 households in New Zealand, we investigated the influence of involvement (an indicator of motivation) on the willingness of cat owners to keep their cats indoors at night. We found that respondents’ intentions to protect wildlife, and the frequency with which respondents with cats kept them indoors at night, was influenced by their involvement with cat welfare and their involvement with protecting wildlife, in addition to their attitudes and subjective norms. We also found that keeping cats indoors at night could be characterised as involving approach-avoidance conflict. Our findings have implications for efforts to increase the adoption by cat owners of keeping cats inside at night regarding the attentiveness of cat owners to promotional activities. Our findings suggest that such activities will not be particularly effective in the absence of cat-friendly, inexpensive, practical, and easily maintained devices that enable cats to be kept inside. Importantly, when the adoption of keeping cats inside at night is appropriately characterised as approach-avoidance conflict, our results suggest that promotional activities seeking to persuade cat owners that pet cats cause much greater harm to wildlife than they might believe are most likely to have a limited and likely temporary effect and may even be counterproductive.
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing the Provisioning of Ecosystem Services Provided by the Relics Forest in Togo’s Mono Biosphere Reserve
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Kokouvi Gbétey Akpamou, Somiyabalo Pilabina, Hodabalo Egbelou, Kokou Richard Sewonou, Yvonne Walz, Luca Luiselli, Gabriel H. Segniagbeto, Daniele Dendi and Kouami Kokou
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 486-504; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030030 - 10 Sep 2024
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In most Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Togo, forest ecosystems provide ecosystem services to the local population. These ecosystem services are of vital importance to the local populations, who depend on the benefits derived from their use to meet their socio-economic needs. The
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In most Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Togo, forest ecosystems provide ecosystem services to the local population. These ecosystem services are of vital importance to the local populations, who depend on the benefits derived from their use to meet their socio-economic needs. The permanent dependence of these populations on ecosystem services is a major factor accelerating the degradation of natural resources, which are already under pressure from climatic factors. The present study assesses the provisioning of ecosystem services provided by the relics forest in the southeast region of the Mono Biosphere Reserve in Togo. Individual interviews and group discussions were carried out with 420 households in fourteen villages around the reserve to identify the current uses of woody species. The results show that 100% of the respondents cited plant species, such as Mitragyna inermis, Lonchocarpus sericeus, and Diospyros mespiliformis, as used for wood. Species, such as Mimusops andogensis and Triplohiton scleroxylon, were cited as exclusively used for wood by 94% and 86%, respectively. Other species, such as Vitex doniana and Dialium guineense, in addition to their use for wood (93% and 70%), were cited, respectively, by 97% and 98% of respondents as used for fruit, and by 82% and 90% for their leaves. The heavy daily use of these species compromises their sustainability. An analysis of Sorensen’s similarity index, according to gender, age, ethnic group, and sector of activity, revealed a variation in this index ranging from 0.6 to 1, reflecting households’ knowledge of the use of these seven species. The local populations are already feeling the effects of the low availability of these commonly used species. According to them, the depletion of these resources is caused mainly by agricultural clearing, illegal logging, and bushfires.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Biology, Management of Natural Resources, and Protected Areas Policies)
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Open AccessArticle
Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment
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Hamid Boubekraoui, Zineb Attar, Yazid Maouni, Abdelilah Ghallab, Rabah Saidi and Abdelfettah Maouni
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 452-485; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030029 - 19 Aug 2024
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This study assesses the conservation effectiveness of 21 protected areas (PAs) in Northern Morocco, comprising 3 parks and 18 Sites of Ecological and Biological Interest (SBEIs), against five major landscape pressures (LSPs): deforestation, infrastructure extension, agricultural expansion, fires, and population growth. We propose
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This study assesses the conservation effectiveness of 21 protected areas (PAs) in Northern Morocco, comprising 3 parks and 18 Sites of Ecological and Biological Interest (SBEIs), against five major landscape pressures (LSPs): deforestation, infrastructure extension, agricultural expansion, fires, and population growth. We propose a novel quantitative methodology using global remote sensing data and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA). Data were sourced from Global Forest Change (GFC), Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD), Burned Area Product (MODIS Fire_CCI51), and World Population datasets. The combined impact of the five LSPs was measured using a cumulative effect index (CEI), calculated with the Shannon–Wiener formula at a 1 km2 scale. The CEI was analyzed alongside the distance to the PAs’ network using Moran’s index, identifying four spatial association types: high–high (HH), high–low (HL), low–low (LL), low–high (LH), and non-significant (NS) cells. This analysis defined four zones: inner zone (IZ), potential spillover effect zone (PSEZ), statistically non-significant zone (SNSZ), and non-potential effect zone (NPEZ). Conservation effectiveness was quantified using the conservation ratio (CR), which compared the prevalence of LL versus HL units within IZs and PSEZs. Four disturbance levels (very high, high, medium, and low) were assigned to CR values (0–25%, 25–50%, 50–75%, 75–100%), resulting in sixteen potential conservation effectiveness typologies. Initial findings indicated similar deforestation patterns between protected and unprotected zones, with wildfires causing over half of forest losses within PAs. Conservation effectiveness results categorized the 21 PAs into nine typologies, from high conservation to very high disturbance levels. A significant positive correlation (71%) between CRs in both zones underscored the uniform impact of LSPs, regardless of protection status. However, protected natural area zones in the parks category showed minimal disruption, attributed to their advanced protection status. Finally, we developed a methodological framework for potential application in other regions based on this case study.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Species Diversity and Conservation)
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Open AccessArticle
Using Systematic Conservation Planning to Identify Climate Resilient Habitat for Endangered Species Recovery While Retaining Areas of Cultural Importance
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Christina R. Leopold, Lucas Berio Fortini, Jonathan Sprague, Rachel S. Sprague and Steven C. Hess
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 435-451; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030028 - 14 Aug 2024
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The effective management of at-risk species often requires fine-scale actions by natural resource managers. However, balancing these actions with concurrent land uses is challenging, particularly when compounded by the interplay of climate shifts, and escalating wildland–urban interface conflicts. We used spatial prioritization tools
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The effective management of at-risk species often requires fine-scale actions by natural resource managers. However, balancing these actions with concurrent land uses is challenging, particularly when compounded by the interplay of climate shifts, and escalating wildland–urban interface conflicts. We used spatial prioritization tools designed for biodiversity conservation to help resource managers on the Island of Lānaʻi prioritize mutually exclusive land use objectives: endangered species recovery and subsistence and recreational hunting. We weighed the current and anticipated future distributions of threatened and endangered plant species against the distribution of non-native game mammals to plan for species recovery more effectively. Prioritization results identified multiple footprints that could support recovery of all endangered species targets in climate resilient areas while retaining the majority of existing hunting areas. However, very little native vegetation was retained in conservation footprints without deliberate inclusion, which increased footprint area by 268%. Scenarios which prioritized contiguous conservation areas also dramatically increased conservation footprint area, although these scenarios may reduce associated fencing costs. This work demonstrates how spatial prioritization may guide localized species recovery efforts by supporting long-term conservation planning that addresses anticipated climate-driven increases in conflict between conservation and other land uses, with clear applicability beyond Lānaʻi.
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Open AccessReview
Charting the Future of Conservation in Arizona: Innovative Strategies for Preserving Its Natural Resources
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Matteo Bodini
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 402-434; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030027 - 9 Aug 2024
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The article explores future directions toward the conservation of the state of Arizona, aiming to preserve its multiple natural resources, including landscapes, wildlife, flora, unique ecosystems, and water resources. We evaluate the current governmental plans and laws focused on conservation, highlighting their impacts
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The article explores future directions toward the conservation of the state of Arizona, aiming to preserve its multiple natural resources, including landscapes, wildlife, flora, unique ecosystems, and water resources. We evaluate the current governmental plans and laws focused on conservation, highlighting their impacts and identifying the existing gaps. Then, by analyzing such gaps, we uncover the main open conservation challenges within the state, such as urban expansion, climate change, water resource management, spreading of invasive species, and uranium mining and related activities, discussing their potential impact on future conservation efforts. Finally, the article introduces targeted strategies to enhance conservation outcomes, focusing on the importance of collaborative governance, innovative conservation technologies, multidisciplinary solutions, and law revisions. By adopting a forward-looking and multidisciplinary approach, we outline multiple prospective pathways for ensuring the long-term sustainability of Arizona’s natural resources, contributing to the wide global discussion on environmental conservation.
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Open AccessBrief Report
A Synthetic Framework to Match Concepts and Approaches When Managing Anthropogenic Threats
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Corrado Battisti, Anna Testi, Giuliano Fanelli, Milvia Rastrelli, Pietro Giovacchini and Letizia Marsili
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 395-401; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030026 - 5 Aug 2024
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Anthropogenic threats impacting ecological targets should be mitigated and solved using fast and schematic tools useful in conservation strategies. Herein, we suggest a mixed and quick approach implementing coarse-grained (and expert-based) threat analysis with the fine-grained (and analytical) DPSIR (driving forces, pressure, status,
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Anthropogenic threats impacting ecological targets should be mitigated and solved using fast and schematic tools useful in conservation strategies. Herein, we suggest a mixed and quick approach implementing coarse-grained (and expert-based) threat analysis with the fine-grained (and analytical) DPSIR (driving forces, pressure, status, impact, and response) framework of indicators, all included in a single causal chain. Both approaches are largely used in conservation but never combined. A simulated example of the application of the set of indicators (status, pressure, impact, and response) on dune ecosystems (and nested targets represented by halo-psammophilous plants) has been included. Due to its schematic format, values as targets, pressures as threats, and responses as conservation strategies have been unified in a single conceptual framework. This synthetic framework can also be used to communicate to academic students the complexities of socio-ecological systems on the conservation front lines using a simplified cause–effect chain.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Biology, Management of Natural Resources, and Protected Areas Policies)
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Open AccessArticle
Evading the Ghost of Extinction: A Case Study for the Reintroduction of Ghost Bats (Macroderma gigas)
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Alba M. Arteaga Claramunt, Roberta Bencini and Peter R. Mawson
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 378-394; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030025 - 5 Aug 2024
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The ghost bat Macroderma gigas (Megadermatidae) is native to Australia. Its current distribution has dramatically contracted northwards in the past 150 years and the extant populations are scattered and isolated due to climatic and anthropogenic factors. To investigate the potential for reintroductions of
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The ghost bat Macroderma gigas (Megadermatidae) is native to Australia. Its current distribution has dramatically contracted northwards in the past 150 years and the extant populations are scattered and isolated due to climatic and anthropogenic factors. To investigate the potential for reintroductions of wild ghost bats into suitable habitats, we examined the potential for refuges located in the southern-most parts of the species’ former range to once again support populations. We identified Drovers Cave, located in Drovers Cave National Park in Western Australia, as a potential reintroduction site and used thermo-hygrochron iButtons to demonstrate that the microclimate conditions within the cave are suitable for ghost bats with temperatures close to 20 °C and 99% humidity throughout a ten-month period (December to September). We also showed that in the Pilbara region, ghost bats are opportunistic and flexible predators relying on small birds and mammal species. After comparing these data with the local fauna species list reported from Drovers Cave National Park, we concluded that the habitat at the proposed reintroduction site could provide sufficient diversity of potential prey species in terms of species richness, but we had no data on their relative abundance.
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Open AccessArticle
Modeling the Potential Habitat Gained by Planting Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
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Julie A. Heinrichs, Michael S. O’Donnell, Elizabeth K. Orning, David A. Pyke, Mark A. Ricca, Peter S. Coates and Cameron L. Aldridge
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 364-377; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030024 - 15 Jul 2024
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Many revegetation projects are intended to benefit wildlife species. Yet, there are few a priori evaluations that assess the potential efficiency of restoration actions in recovering wildlife habitats. We developed a spatial vegetation–habitat recovery model to gauge the degree to which field planting
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Many revegetation projects are intended to benefit wildlife species. Yet, there are few a priori evaluations that assess the potential efficiency of restoration actions in recovering wildlife habitats. We developed a spatial vegetation–habitat recovery model to gauge the degree to which field planting strategies could be expected to recover multi-factor habitat conditions for wildlife following wildfires. We simulated a wildfire footprint, multiple sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) planting scenarios, and tracked projected vegetation growth for 15 years post-fire. We used a vegetation transition framework to track and estimate the degree to which revegetation could accelerate habitat restoration for a Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus) population within the Great Basin, western United States. We assessed the amount of habitat 15 years post-fire to estimate the degree to which revegetation could be expected to accelerate habitat restoration. Our results highlight a potential disconnect between the expansive areas required by wide-ranging wildlife such as sage-grouse and the relatively small areas that planting treatments have created. Habitat restorations and planting strategies that are intended to benefit sage-grouse may only speed up localized habitat restoration. This study provides an example of how linked revegetation–habitat modeling approaches can scope the expected return on restoration investment for habitat improvements and support the strategic use of limited restoration resources.
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Open AccessOpinion
Conservation of Threatened Grassland Birds in the Mediterranean Region: Going Up or Giving Up?
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Mário Santos and José Lourenço
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 357-363; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030023 - 8 Jul 2024
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Grassland bird populations in the Mediterranean lowlands have declined dramatically over the past few decades. This decline is due to a combination of factors, including changes in land use and farming practices as well as the impacts of climate change. In particular, more
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Grassland bird populations in the Mediterranean lowlands have declined dramatically over the past few decades. This decline is due to a combination of factors, including changes in land use and farming practices as well as the impacts of climate change. In particular, more intensive agricultural methods have played a significant role in this reduction. However, in the higher-altitude uplands of the region, traditional practices like pastoralism and rotational low-intensity farming are still common, and these areas continue to support substantial populations of several threatened grassland bird species. In this viewpoint, we discuss the challenges that the uplands are facing and suggest rethinking regional development to better balance the needs of people and nature.
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Open AccessArticle
Illegal Activities for Survival: Understanding the Influence of Household Livelihood Security on Biodiversity Conservation in Tanzania
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Gasto Jerome Lyakurwa, Edwin Sabuhoro and Mercy Chepkemoi Chepkwony
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 339-356; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030022 - 30 Jun 2024
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Illegal access of resources within protected areas to meet basic needs plays a significant role in the interaction between individuals, protected areas, and neighboring communities in Africa. However, our understanding of how household livelihoods are linked to this type of illegal access at
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Illegal access of resources within protected areas to meet basic needs plays a significant role in the interaction between individuals, protected areas, and neighboring communities in Africa. However, our understanding of how household livelihoods are linked to this type of illegal access at a household level is limited. Additionally, research on poaching tends to focus on commercial poaching and wildlife trafficking. This study addresses this gap by examining the complex relationship between three types of livelihood security (i.e., food security, financial security, and educational security) and the likelihood of participating in illegal activities in communities surrounding Tanzania’s Mkomazi National Park. To gather data, we surveyed 267 heads of household in 8 villages that were randomly selected out of the 22 villages that border Mkomazi National Park. Structural modeling analysis was used to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that food security is the primary driver of engagement in illegal activities within the park; education security and financial security have limited influence on the likelihood of subsistence poaching when accounting for food security. Interestingly, we observed a correlation between financial security and increased illegal grazing, which can be attributed to individuals with greater financial means purchasing more cattle and thereby increasing the demand for fodder. Addressing food security should be prioritized in efforts to mitigate subsistence poaching within protected areas. Our research highlights the importance of developing sustainable alternatives to ensure food security and meet other essential needs in communities adjacent to Mkomazi National Park. By striking a balance between improving livelihoods and fostering conservation efforts, conservation and development organizations can work towards a sustainable future for both protected areas and people.
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Open AccessCase Report
Between Maroon Tradition and State Law in Jamaica: A Case Study of Challenges to Environmental Governance in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Tameka Samuels-Jones and Stephen Perz
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 319-338; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020021 - 18 Jun 2024
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In the quest for effective environmental governance, the integration of legal and cultural pluralism within conservation strategies emerges as a critical factor, especially in regions marked by rich ethnic diversity and complex historical legacies. This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between state conservation
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In the quest for effective environmental governance, the integration of legal and cultural pluralism within conservation strategies emerges as a critical factor, especially in regions marked by rich ethnic diversity and complex historical legacies. This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between state conservation efforts and the engagement of local communities, with a particular focus on the Indigenous Maroon communities in the Blue and John Crow Mountains (BJCMs) of Jamaica. It underscores the imperative of aligning conservation objectives with the aspirations and traditional practices of these communities to foster sustainable ecosystems and safeguard Indigenous autonomy. Central to this discourse is the development of collaborative frameworks that respect and incorporate the legal and cultural dimensions of pluralism, thereby facilitating a co-managed approach to environmental stewardship. This study emphasizes the role of collaboration and trust as pivotal elements in cultivating a mutual understanding of the interdependencies between state law and Indigenous law. This research advocates for a reciprocal exchange of knowledge between the state and community members, aiming to empower the latter with the resources necessary for effective environmental protection while respecting their legal autonomy. This approach not only enhances conservation initiatives overall, but also ensures that these efforts are informed by the rich cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge of the Maroon communities. By examining the conservation practices and governance challenges faced by the Maroons in the BJCMs, this paper reveals the nuanced dynamics of implementing state-led conservation laws in areas characterized by cultural and legal pluralism. The findings highlight the necessity for state regulatory frameworks to enable collaborative governance models that complement, rather than undermine, the traditional governance structures of the Maroons. This research contributes to the broader discourse on environmental governance by illustrating the potential of culturally informed conservation strategies to address environmental threats while respecting and reinforcing the social fabric of Indigenous communities.
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Open AccessReview
Biological and Conservation Aspects of Otter Mortality: A Review
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Andreia Garcês and Isabel Pires
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 307-318; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020020 - 11 Jun 2024
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The post mortem exam is important in diagnosing and investigating wildlife diseases. It is even more important to monitor the population of species that are not easily observed in the wild, such as otters. Of the 13 otter species, 11 are endangered due
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The post mortem exam is important in diagnosing and investigating wildlife diseases. It is even more important to monitor the population of species that are not easily observed in the wild, such as otters. Of the 13 otter species, 11 are endangered due to many factors, such as climate change, pollution, or urbanisation. The authors present a review of the patterns of mortality of free-ranging otters worldwide, aiming to improve the knowledge of otter mortality and the role of mortality studies in their conservation. The main cause of death in aquatic otters is vehicle collision; hence, sea otter deaths are associated with shark attacks and imprisonment in fishing gear. It is possible to conclude that humans and human activity play a significant role in the mortality of these animals. In the future, a more standardised analysis of otter carcasses is necessary to understand their threats and diseases and design significant measures to protect these species.
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Open AccessArticle
Predicting Community Participation in Passive Pest Surveillance
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Geoff Kaine, Vic Wright and Norman W. H. Mason
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 288-306; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020019 - 28 May 2024
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Predicting the willingness of people to engage in passive surveillance is crucial to the success of community-based efforts to manage invasive species and conserve native biodiversity. We draw on the marketing concept of involvement, which reflects the personal importance of an issue or
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Predicting the willingness of people to engage in passive surveillance is crucial to the success of community-based efforts to manage invasive species and conserve native biodiversity. We draw on the marketing concept of involvement, which reflects the personal importance of an issue or behaviour, to understand and measure the motivation of members of the public to engage in passive surveillance. The usefulness of this concept was tested by analysing the responses of householders to surveys about their willingness to engage in passive surveillance for a purely environmental pest, Red-eared Slider Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans), and their willingness to engage in passive surveillance for an economic and environmental pest, Argentine Ants (Linepithema humile), in New Zealand. We found that involvement influenced intentions, attitudes and surveillance behaviour for both invasive pests. We discussed the implications of these findings for (i) choosing between a surveillance strategy based on recruiting and training highly motivated members of the public and a strategy based on passive surveillance by any member of the public; (ii) growing the potential for passive surveillance by either increasing involvement with preventing the spread of a pest or increasing involvement with surveillance activities themselves; and (iii) determining the importance of convenient reporting mechanisms in promoting consistent reporting.
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Open AccessReview
The Recolonisation of the Piketberg Leopard Population: A Model for Human–Wildlife Coexistence in a Changing Landscape
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Jeannine McManus, Albertus J. Smit, Lauriane Faraut, Vanessa Couldridge, Jaco van Deventer, Igshaan Samuels, Carolyn Devens and Bool Smuts
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 273-287; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020018 - 21 May 2024
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Important metapopulation dynamics are disrupted by factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and human-induced mortality, culminating in isolated wildlife populations and threatening species survival. Source populations, where birth rates exceed mortality and connectivity facilitates dispersal, contrast with sink populations, where mortality outstrips
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Important metapopulation dynamics are disrupted by factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and human-induced mortality, culminating in isolated wildlife populations and threatening species survival. Source populations, where birth rates exceed mortality and connectivity facilitates dispersal, contrast with sink populations, where mortality outstrips births, risking localised extinction. Recolonisation by individuals from source populations is pivotal for species survival. The leopard is the last free-roaming apex predator in South Africa and plays an important ecological role. In the Eastern and Western Cape provinces in South Africa, leopard populations have low densities and fragmented population structures. We identified a leopard population that, after being locally extinct for a century, appeared to recolonise an ‘island’ of mountainous habitat. We aimed to understand potential factors driving this recolonisation using recent camera trapping surveys and historical statutory destruction permits. We employed spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) methods to estimate the leopard density and explore potential factors which best explain density. We found that the recently recolonised Piketberg population now exhibits some of the highest densities reported in the region (~1.8 leopards/100 km2; CI 1.4–2.5). Livestock, human presence, elevation, and the camera trap grid appeared to explain leopard detection rates. When considering the historic data, the re-emergence of leopards in the Piketberg coincided with the cessation of the extensive state-sponsored and state-enabled culling of the species, and the change in land use from livestock production to crop agriculture, which likely contributed to the recolonisation. Elucidating these factors deepens our understanding of leopard metapopulation dynamics in relation to land use and species management and highlights the crucial role of private land and state agencies and associated policies in species persistence.
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Open AccessArticle
Affective Dimensions of Compound Crises in Tourism Economies: The Intermountain Western Gateway Community of Nederland, Colorado
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Julia R. Branstrator and Christina T. Cavaliere
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 253-272; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020017 - 14 May 2024
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Affective economies align people and places according to identities and emotional capital, particularly during compound crises such as COVID-19. Through an embodied research approach, affect becomes an integral part of furthering knowledge production within crisis management to understand individual and community resilience. This
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Affective economies align people and places according to identities and emotional capital, particularly during compound crises such as COVID-19. Through an embodied research approach, affect becomes an integral part of furthering knowledge production within crisis management to understand individual and community resilience. This research explores how affective dimensions express individual and community resilience as part of crisis and disaster management of tourism-based economies. We contribute knowledge of sustainable destination management in the context of intermountain western gateway communities (IWGCs) to center residents as primary stakeholders within conservation and resilience planning. The IWGC of Nederland, Colorado, is presented as a microcosm of change through which the lived experiences of residents during COVID-19 are analyzed. This approach embraces the potential of affective scholarship for conservation and destination planning through creative qualitative methods of inquiry. Within a crystallization methodology guided by a feminist new materialist epistemology, we incorporate residents’ creative expressions to understand how affective dynamics influenced resilience throughout compound crises. Findings are presented via three themes including affective dimensions of resilience, identity, belonging and responsibility, and affective tourism economies. Affective knowledge centering resident experiences may inform future planning for crisis and disaster management across IWGCs and other gateway communities balancing tourism, conservation, and community planning.
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Open AccessArticle
Does Active or Informative Messaging Result in Greater Conservation Engagement?
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Lily T. Maynard, Jennifer R. Torchalski, Zachariah J. Gezon, Karlisa A. Callwood, M. Andrew Stamper, Mandi W. Schook and Claire Martin
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 236-252; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020016 - 8 May 2024
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Strategic communication can motivate target audiences to take conservation action. Yet, whether audiences are motivated by more information or more influential visuals is unclear. Using online surveys, we compared different visual communication strategies using text, graphics, and photographs for encouraging parrotfish-friendly conservation behaviors
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Strategic communication can motivate target audiences to take conservation action. Yet, whether audiences are motivated by more information or more influential visuals is unclear. Using online surveys, we compared different visual communication strategies using text, graphics, and photographs for encouraging parrotfish-friendly conservation behaviors to see which one yields greater emotion, interest, and intended action. Experiment 1 explored whether a scientific-oriented poster would be more or less effective in promoting conservation behaviors than a graphical poster using social marketing techniques. Experiment 2 contrasted the two posters with a photograph and graphic icons without text against a blank control. Results revealed how engaging visuals can inspire reactions and behavioral intentions. The posters both elicited positive reactions, but with less text and content to process, the social marketing poster more efficiently inspired the desired reactions. This work highlights that conservation communications can strategically use psychology and graphics to efficiently inspire desired actions.
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Open AccessArticle
A Case of the Guthi System in Nepal: The Backbone of the Conservation and Management of the Cultural Heritage
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Salik Ram Subedi and Sudha Shrestha
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 216-235; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020015 - 11 Apr 2024
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Guthi, deeply rooted in the social, cultural, and economic fabric of Nepal, has traditionally managed temples, shrines, festivals, and heritage sites since the Lichchhavi era (400–750). Since 1960, however, this system has been challenged by government land reforms, which have impacted its
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Guthi, deeply rooted in the social, cultural, and economic fabric of Nepal, has traditionally managed temples, shrines, festivals, and heritage sites since the Lichchhavi era (400–750). Since 1960, however, this system has been challenged by government land reforms, which have impacted its influence on sustainable heritage conservation. Nevertheless, there is compelling evidence that land nationalization and the guthi’s declining authority have harmed local heritage conservation. Nevertheless, the guthi system has endured, serving as an important informal means of heritage conservation and highlighting the adaptability of traditional institutions. These community-based trusts, originally established for social and religious purposes, have played a pivotal role in preserving cultural heritage for future generations. This article aims to demonstrate the central role of the guthi as the cornerstone of Nepal’s efforts to conserve and manage both tangible and intangible cultural treasures. Using observational techniques, case studies, and a qualitative approach, it explores the historical evolution of heritage conservation through the lens of the guthi, taking into account subjective, valued, and constructed realities. This paper concludes by urging policymakers to recognize the significant contribution of indigenous systems such as the guthi system in achieving the backbone of sustainable heritage conservation and management.
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Open AccessArticle
Visitors’ Willingness to Pay for Protected Areas: A New Conservation Donation in Aso Kuju National Park
by
Thomas Edward Jones, Duo Xu, Takayuki Kubo and Minh-Hoang Nguyen
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 201-215; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020014 - 10 Apr 2024
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) such as national parks face funding issues that undermine effective management. Therefore, many PAs are exploring new financial instruments, such as visitor donations, to supplement their conservation budgets. This paper investigates visitor perceptions of one such system, a new conservation
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Protected areas (PAs) such as national parks face funding issues that undermine effective management. Therefore, many PAs are exploring new financial instruments, such as visitor donations, to supplement their conservation budgets. This paper investigates visitor perceptions of one such system, a new conservation donation under consideration in Aso Kuju National Park, southwest Japan, is due to be introduced. Our on-site survey at two trailheads in autumn 2022 gauged visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) the expected JPY 500 donation. The analysis used Bayesian linear regression to look for significant predictors of WTP. Findings show that female, older, and higher-income visitors were more likely to pay the donation collectively rather than voluntarily. Prior knowledge of the donation system was also a significant predictor of WTP, but more frequent climbers were significantly less likely to pay the donation collectively, regardless of prior Kuju climbing experience, possibly due to the perceived increase in use costs. Moreover, visitors willing to pay the cooperation donation collectively are also willing to pay higher prices than those willing to pay voluntarily. The elicited WTP values confirm that the implementation of a new conservation donation could help to improve the long-term sustainable financing of PAs such as Aso Kuju while raising issues over price fairness.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Biology, Management of Natural Resources, and Protected Areas Policies)
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Open AccessPerspective
Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Australia: Key Considerations for Assessment and Implementation
by
James A. Fitzsimons, Thalie Partridge and Rebecca Keen
Conservation 2024, 4(2), 176-200; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020013 - 10 Apr 2024
Cited by 3
Abstract
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Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) have been a feature of global biodiversity targets since 2010 (Aichi Targets, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework), although the concept has only relatively recently been formally defined. Although uptake has been limited to date, there is much interest
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Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) have been a feature of global biodiversity targets since 2010 (Aichi Targets, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework), although the concept has only relatively recently been formally defined. Although uptake has been limited to date, there is much interest in identifying OECMs to contribute to the target of protecting at least 30% of terrestrial, freshwater and ocean areas by 2030, in conjunction with protected areas. Australia has a long history of protected area development across public, private and Indigenous lands, but consideration of OECMs in policy has recently begun in that country. We review principles proposed by the Australian Government for OECMs in Australia and highlight where these deviate from global guidance or established Australian area-based policy. We examined various land use categories and conservation mechanisms to determine the likelihood of these categories/mechanisms meeting the OECM definition, with a particular focus on longevity of the mechanism to sustain biodiversity. We identified that the number of categories/mechanisms that would meet the OECM definition is relatively small. A number of potentially perverse outcomes in classifying an area as an OECM are highlighted in order to guide proactive policy and program design to prevent such outcomes occurring.
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