The management effectiveness of protected areas is a critically important consideration for their... more The management effectiveness of protected areas is a critically important consideration for their conservation success. Over 40 different protected area management effectiveness (PAME) data collection tools have been developed to systematically assess protected area management effectiveness. Many of these assessments have recently been collated into the Global IUCN Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) database. We use the PAME database together with and the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) to assess current progress towards the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) 2010 and 2015 targets for PAME, which call for at least 30 per cent and 60 per cent of the total area of protected areas to have been assessed in terms of management effectiveness, respectively. We show that globally 29 per cent of the area protected has been assessed and 23 per cent of countries have reached the 60 per cent target. In addition 46 per cent of countries have reached the 30 per cent t...
Anthropogenic activities caused a severe loss of pristine habitats alongside with fragmentation o... more Anthropogenic activities caused a severe loss of pristine habitats alongside with fragmentation of remaining habitats and the deterioration of habitat quality. The Arabuko Sokoke forest represents the largest remnant of East African coastal forest. Despite conservation efforts to maintain biodiversity in this forest, populations of several species are declining, including flagship species like the endemic Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae. In this study, we assessed the presence of O. ireneae based on playback technique to identify the occurrence of this species across the forest. We then analysed habitat parameters at sites occupied and non-occupied by the owl species. Our data show that O. ireneae occurs restricted to one single forest type, the Cynometra woodland. Results obtained from parametric one-way ANOVA and structural equation modelling reveal that large old Cynometra webberi trees and dead wood are key requirements for the occurrence of this owl species. However, large C. webberi trees are currently illegally logged by the forest adjacent human population to produce timber, carvings, poles. Charcoal and dead wood represents a major energy source for households. Otus ireneae, being the smallest owl of East Africa may serve as a charismatic flag ship species to promote conservation of this endangered coastal forest, and furthermore as umbrella to conserve other forest species with similar habitat requirements.
The Arabuko Sokoke dryland coastal forest along the East African coastline provides a unique habi... more The Arabuko Sokoke dryland coastal forest along the East African coastline provides a unique habitat for many endangered endemic animal and plant species. High demographic pressure with subsequent land-splitting, soil depletion in combination with erratic rainfalls and the collapse of the tourism industry are negatively affecting food security and human livelihood quality in this region. Food crops were originally produced by subsistence farming, but have now to be purchased at local-and supermarkets , constituting a major financial burden for the local people. In consequence, overexploitation of natural resources from Arabuko Sokoke forest (illegal logging, charcoal burning, poaching of wild animals) increased during the past years. In this commentary we document ecosystem heterogeneity leading to high species richness. We discuss direct and indirect drivers of habitat degradation of the Arabuko Sokoke forest, and critically reflect current and future solutions. Key drivers of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss are (i) illegal timber logging and removal of woody biomass, (ii) poaching of bush-meat, (iii) exceeding Communicated by Peter Ashton.
32 Protected Area coverage has reached over 15% of the global land area. However, the quality of ... more 32 Protected Area coverage has reached over 15% of the global land area. However, the quality of 33 management of the vast majority of reserves remains unknown, and many are suspected to be 34 'paper parks'. Moreover, the degree to which management can be enhanced through targeted 35 conservation projects remains broadly speculative. Proven links between improved reserve 36 management and the delivery of conservation outcomes are even more elusive. In this paper we 37 present results on how management effectiveness scores change in protected areas receiving 38 conservation investment, using a globally expanded database of protected area management 39 effectiveness, focusing on the 'management effectiveness tracking tool' (METT). Of 1934 protected 40 areas with METT data, 722 sites have at least two assessments. Mean METT scores increased in 41 69.5% of sites while 25.1% experienced decreases and 5.4% experienced no change over project 42 periods (median 4 years). Low initial METT scores and longer implementation time were both 43 found to positively correlate with larger increases in management effectiveness. Performance 44 metrics related to planning and context as well as monitoring and enforcement systems increased 45 the most while protected area outcomes showed least improvement. Using a general linear mixed 46 model we tested the correlation between change in METT scores and matrices of 1) landscape and 47 protected area properties (i.e. topography and size), 2) human threats (i.e. road and human 48 population density), and 3) socio-economics (i.e. infant mortality rate). Protected areas under 49 greater threat and larger protected areas showed greatest improvements in METT. Our results 50 suggest that when funding and resources are targeted at protected areas under greater threat they 51 have a greater impact, potentially including slowing the loss of biodiversity. 52
Protected areas have long been regarded as an important tool for biodiversity conservation (e.g. ... more Protected areas have long been regarded as an important tool for biodiversity conservation (e.g. WCED, 1987), and are used as indicators of progress in the protection of biological diversity by a number of international agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets, agreed on by Parties to the Convention in October 2010, include the following target for protected areas:
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Mar 30, 2019
Keywords used in the workshop "Seeds" are innovative initiatives, practices and ideas that are pr... more Keywords used in the workshop "Seeds" are innovative initiatives, practices and ideas that are present in the world today, but are not currently widespread or dominant (Bennett et al., 2016 6 ; Lundquist et al., 2017 1). "Visions" are built on the different seed initiatives from which inspirational stories of sustainable, equitable futures can inspire us to move toward the values and ideals of a "good Anthropocene" (Bennett et al., 2016, Preiser et al., 2017 7). "Storylines" are qualitative narratives which provide the descriptive framework from which quantitative exploratory scenarios can be formulated (IPBES glossary 8).
The Nature Futures Framework (NFF) is a heuristic tool for co-creating positive futures for natur... more The Nature Futures Framework (NFF) is a heuristic tool for co-creating positive futures for nature and people. It seeks to open up a diversity of futures through mainly three value perspectives on nature – Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, Nature as Culture. In this paper, we describe how the NFF can be applied in modelling to support policy. First, it describes key building blocks of the NFF in developing qualitative and quantitative scenarios: i) multiple value perspectives on nature and the frontier representing their improvements, ii) incorporating mutual and key feedbacks of social-ecological systems, iii) indicators describing the evolution of social-ecological systems. We then present three approaches to modelling Nature Futures scenarios in review, screening and design phases of policy processes. This paper seeks to facilitate the integration of relational values of nature in models and to strengthen modelled linkages across biodiversity, nature’s contributions to peopl...
Species demanding specific habitat requirements suffer, particularly under environmental changes.... more Species demanding specific habitat requirements suffer, particularly under environmental changes. The smallest owl of Africa, the Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae), occurs exclusively in East African coastal forests. To understand the movement behaviour and habitat demands of O. ireneae, we combined data from radio-tracking and remote sensing to calculate Species Distribution Models across the Arabuko Sokoke forest in southern Kenya. Based on these data, we estimated the local population size and projected the distribution of current suitable habitats. We found that the species occurs only in Cynometra woodland with large old trees and dense vegetation. Based on home range sizes and the distribution of suitable forest habitats, the local population size was estimated at
The management effectiveness of protected areas is a critically important consideration for their... more The management effectiveness of protected areas is a critically important consideration for their conservation success. Over 40 different protected area management effectiveness (PAME) data collection tools have been developed to systematically assess protected area management effectiveness. Many of these assessments have recently been collated into the Global IUCN Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) database. We use the PAME database together with and the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) to assess current progress towards the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) 2010 and 2015 targets for PAME, which call for at least 30 per cent and 60 per cent of the total area of protected areas to have been assessed in terms of management effectiveness, respectively. We show that globally 29 per cent of the area protected has been assessed and 23 per cent of countries have reached the 60 per cent target. In addition 46 per cent of countries have reached the 30 per cent t...
Anthropogenic activities caused a severe loss of pristine habitats alongside with fragmentation o... more Anthropogenic activities caused a severe loss of pristine habitats alongside with fragmentation of remaining habitats and the deterioration of habitat quality. The Arabuko Sokoke forest represents the largest remnant of East African coastal forest. Despite conservation efforts to maintain biodiversity in this forest, populations of several species are declining, including flagship species like the endemic Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae. In this study, we assessed the presence of O. ireneae based on playback technique to identify the occurrence of this species across the forest. We then analysed habitat parameters at sites occupied and non-occupied by the owl species. Our data show that O. ireneae occurs restricted to one single forest type, the Cynometra woodland. Results obtained from parametric one-way ANOVA and structural equation modelling reveal that large old Cynometra webberi trees and dead wood are key requirements for the occurrence of this owl species. However, large C. webberi trees are currently illegally logged by the forest adjacent human population to produce timber, carvings, poles. Charcoal and dead wood represents a major energy source for households. Otus ireneae, being the smallest owl of East Africa may serve as a charismatic flag ship species to promote conservation of this endangered coastal forest, and furthermore as umbrella to conserve other forest species with similar habitat requirements.
The Arabuko Sokoke dryland coastal forest along the East African coastline provides a unique habi... more The Arabuko Sokoke dryland coastal forest along the East African coastline provides a unique habitat for many endangered endemic animal and plant species. High demographic pressure with subsequent land-splitting, soil depletion in combination with erratic rainfalls and the collapse of the tourism industry are negatively affecting food security and human livelihood quality in this region. Food crops were originally produced by subsistence farming, but have now to be purchased at local-and supermarkets , constituting a major financial burden for the local people. In consequence, overexploitation of natural resources from Arabuko Sokoke forest (illegal logging, charcoal burning, poaching of wild animals) increased during the past years. In this commentary we document ecosystem heterogeneity leading to high species richness. We discuss direct and indirect drivers of habitat degradation of the Arabuko Sokoke forest, and critically reflect current and future solutions. Key drivers of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss are (i) illegal timber logging and removal of woody biomass, (ii) poaching of bush-meat, (iii) exceeding Communicated by Peter Ashton.
32 Protected Area coverage has reached over 15% of the global land area. However, the quality of ... more 32 Protected Area coverage has reached over 15% of the global land area. However, the quality of 33 management of the vast majority of reserves remains unknown, and many are suspected to be 34 'paper parks'. Moreover, the degree to which management can be enhanced through targeted 35 conservation projects remains broadly speculative. Proven links between improved reserve 36 management and the delivery of conservation outcomes are even more elusive. In this paper we 37 present results on how management effectiveness scores change in protected areas receiving 38 conservation investment, using a globally expanded database of protected area management 39 effectiveness, focusing on the 'management effectiveness tracking tool' (METT). Of 1934 protected 40 areas with METT data, 722 sites have at least two assessments. Mean METT scores increased in 41 69.5% of sites while 25.1% experienced decreases and 5.4% experienced no change over project 42 periods (median 4 years). Low initial METT scores and longer implementation time were both 43 found to positively correlate with larger increases in management effectiveness. Performance 44 metrics related to planning and context as well as monitoring and enforcement systems increased 45 the most while protected area outcomes showed least improvement. Using a general linear mixed 46 model we tested the correlation between change in METT scores and matrices of 1) landscape and 47 protected area properties (i.e. topography and size), 2) human threats (i.e. road and human 48 population density), and 3) socio-economics (i.e. infant mortality rate). Protected areas under 49 greater threat and larger protected areas showed greatest improvements in METT. Our results 50 suggest that when funding and resources are targeted at protected areas under greater threat they 51 have a greater impact, potentially including slowing the loss of biodiversity. 52
Protected areas have long been regarded as an important tool for biodiversity conservation (e.g. ... more Protected areas have long been regarded as an important tool for biodiversity conservation (e.g. WCED, 1987), and are used as indicators of progress in the protection of biological diversity by a number of international agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets, agreed on by Parties to the Convention in October 2010, include the following target for protected areas:
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Mar 30, 2019
Keywords used in the workshop "Seeds" are innovative initiatives, practices and ideas that are pr... more Keywords used in the workshop "Seeds" are innovative initiatives, practices and ideas that are present in the world today, but are not currently widespread or dominant (Bennett et al., 2016 6 ; Lundquist et al., 2017 1). "Visions" are built on the different seed initiatives from which inspirational stories of sustainable, equitable futures can inspire us to move toward the values and ideals of a "good Anthropocene" (Bennett et al., 2016, Preiser et al., 2017 7). "Storylines" are qualitative narratives which provide the descriptive framework from which quantitative exploratory scenarios can be formulated (IPBES glossary 8).
The Nature Futures Framework (NFF) is a heuristic tool for co-creating positive futures for natur... more The Nature Futures Framework (NFF) is a heuristic tool for co-creating positive futures for nature and people. It seeks to open up a diversity of futures through mainly three value perspectives on nature – Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, Nature as Culture. In this paper, we describe how the NFF can be applied in modelling to support policy. First, it describes key building blocks of the NFF in developing qualitative and quantitative scenarios: i) multiple value perspectives on nature and the frontier representing their improvements, ii) incorporating mutual and key feedbacks of social-ecological systems, iii) indicators describing the evolution of social-ecological systems. We then present three approaches to modelling Nature Futures scenarios in review, screening and design phases of policy processes. This paper seeks to facilitate the integration of relational values of nature in models and to strengthen modelled linkages across biodiversity, nature’s contributions to peopl...
Species demanding specific habitat requirements suffer, particularly under environmental changes.... more Species demanding specific habitat requirements suffer, particularly under environmental changes. The smallest owl of Africa, the Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae), occurs exclusively in East African coastal forests. To understand the movement behaviour and habitat demands of O. ireneae, we combined data from radio-tracking and remote sensing to calculate Species Distribution Models across the Arabuko Sokoke forest in southern Kenya. Based on these data, we estimated the local population size and projected the distribution of current suitable habitats. We found that the species occurs only in Cynometra woodland with large old trees and dense vegetation. Based on home range sizes and the distribution of suitable forest habitats, the local population size was estimated at
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