Conception Island is a remote island bank in the central Bahamas, the entirety of which is encompassed within the Conception Island National Park. Conception Island is of vital importance to numerous threatened and critically endangered wildlife species, but tracking visitation is considered challenging as there is no warden and not all vessels follow registration rules. To augment understanding of park visitation, we obtained daily satellite imagery from Dove CubeSat® satellites managed by the company Planet® to characterise diurnal marine vessel traffic around Conception Island between 2016 and 2021. We obtained a total of 888 observable days, which yielded 1,197 vessel detections. Using these remote observations, we were able to geolocate vessels that visited Conception Island National Park over this period, as well as estimate the length overall of each vessel to within 10 m. We found that peak visitation to the National Park occurs in the spring, a time that corresponds to when migrating songbirds arrive at the island, when the critically endangered Silver Boa is mating, when White-tailed Tropicbirds are using the island for mating, and when Green Turtles are starting to lay eggs. This study provides the first analysis of marine vessel visitation to Conception Island National Park and we believe that these data show that the park is visited far more frequently than was appreciated.
{"title":"Characterisation of visitation of the remote Conception Island National Park using daily satellite imagery","authors":"R. G. Reynolds, Austin Cone","doi":"10.2305/rzya2073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/rzya2073","url":null,"abstract":"Conception Island is a remote island bank in the central Bahamas, the entirety of which is encompassed within the Conception Island National Park. Conception Island is of vital importance to numerous threatened and critically endangered wildlife species, but tracking visitation is considered challenging as there is no warden and not all vessels follow registration rules. To augment understanding of park visitation, we obtained daily satellite imagery from Dove CubeSat® satellites managed by the company Planet® to characterise diurnal marine vessel traffic around Conception Island between 2016 and 2021. We obtained a total of 888 observable days, which yielded 1,197 vessel detections. Using these remote observations, we were able to geolocate vessels that visited Conception Island National Park over this period, as well as estimate the length overall of each vessel to within 10 m. We found that peak visitation to the National Park occurs in the spring, a time that corresponds to when migrating songbirds arrive at the island, when the critically endangered Silver Boa is mating, when White-tailed Tropicbirds are using the island for mating, and when Green Turtles are starting to lay eggs. This study provides the first analysis of marine vessel visitation to Conception Island National Park and we believe that these data show that the park is visited far more frequently than was appreciated.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"207 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139304362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rugged topography, harsh climate and limited livelihood options have resulted in pastoralism being the predominant land use in the Himalayan landscape. To identify the most significant sites in this landscape, we employed the concept of ‘High Conservation Value Areas’ (HCVAs) in Thanpattan, one of the largest pastureland in Lahaul-Spiti. We have examined this region as a potential HCVA, providing information on biological diversity, pastoralism and related threats. The Gaddi community of Chamba and Bharmour districts relies on these pastures for their livelihoods, and several threatened flora and fauna species also call the area home. We found that Thanpattan fulfils all six criteria for HCVAs and is undoubtedly an HCVA due to its biodiversity values and the dependency of the indigenous communities on the region.
{"title":"Identifying conservation values: a case study in trans-Himalayan region of Thanpattan, Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh","authors":"Nidhi Singh, Shiv Narayan Yadav, Salvador Lyngdoh","doi":"10.2305/ihya2043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/ihya2043","url":null,"abstract":"The rugged topography, harsh climate and limited livelihood options have resulted in pastoralism being the predominant land use in the Himalayan landscape. To identify the most significant sites in this landscape, we employed the concept of ‘High Conservation Value Areas’ (HCVAs) in Thanpattan, one of the largest pastureland in Lahaul-Spiti. We have examined this region as a potential HCVA, providing information on biological diversity, pastoralism and related threats. The Gaddi community of Chamba and Bharmour districts relies on these pastures for their livelihoods, and several threatened flora and fauna species also call the area home. We found that Thanpattan fulfils all six criteria for HCVAs and is undoubtedly an HCVA due to its biodiversity values and the dependency of the indigenous communities on the region.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139303156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Qumsiyeh, Duaa Hussein, Natalia Boulad, I. M. Albaradeiya, Mohammad Mahasnah, Mohammad Abusarhan, Mohammed Najajrah, Banan Al-Shaikh, E. Handal, Z. Amr
The Protected Area Network (PAN) in Palestine has undergone a comprehensive evaluation and revision to ensure its effectiveness in conserving biodiversity. This re-evaluation was necessary as the previous PAN lacked clear rationale and included areas designated for non-biological reasons. The evaluation process involved analysing the 50 areas in the previous PAN, as well as conducting Marxan analysis and incorporating new data based on IUCN criteria. The evaluation process led to eliminating, combining and adjusting areas, resulting in a revised PAN consisting of 28 areas. This updated PAN represents all vegetation types and phytogeographical zones in Palestine, effectively protecting key ecoregions in the Mediterranean hotspot. The revision of the PAN has increased the total protected land mass from 9 per cent to 9.98 per cent. This expansion provides additional areas where biodiversity can thrive undisturbed, ensuring the long-term survival of species and ecosystems. The updated PAN was adopted at the highest level of government, signifying the importance and commitment to biodiversity conservation in Palestine. This achievement demonstrates the progress made by Palestine in safeguarding its natural heritage.
对巴勒斯坦的保护区网络（PAN）进行了全面评估和修订，以确保其在保护生物多样性方面的有效性。重新评估是必要的，因为之前的 PAN 缺乏明确的理论依据，其中包括出于非生物原因而指定的区域。评估过程包括分析前一个 PAN 中的 50 个区域，进行 Marxan 分析，并根据 IUCN 标准纳入新数据。在评估过程中，对一些区域进行了剔除、合并和调整，最终形成了由 28 个区域组成的修订版 PAN。更新后的 PAN 代表了巴勒斯坦的所有植被类型和植物地理区，有效保护了地中海热点地区的主要生态区。对 PAN 的修订使受保护土地总面积从 9% 增加到 9.98%。这一扩大为生物多样性提供了更多不受干扰的生长区域，确保了物种和生态系统的长期生存。更新后的 PAN 获得了政府最高层的通过，表明了巴勒斯坦对生物多样性保护的重视和承诺。这一成就表明巴勒斯坦在保护其自然遗产方面取得了进展。
{"title":"Updating and enhancing the Protected Areas Network of Palestine: A step towards biodiversity conservation","authors":"M. Qumsiyeh, Duaa Hussein, Natalia Boulad, I. M. Albaradeiya, Mohammad Mahasnah, Mohammad Abusarhan, Mohammed Najajrah, Banan Al-Shaikh, E. Handal, Z. Amr","doi":"10.2305/ubea6691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/ubea6691","url":null,"abstract":"The Protected Area Network (PAN) in Palestine has undergone a comprehensive evaluation and revision to ensure its effectiveness in conserving biodiversity. This re-evaluation was necessary as the previous PAN lacked clear rationale and included areas designated for non-biological reasons. The evaluation process involved analysing the 50 areas in the previous PAN, as well as conducting Marxan analysis and incorporating new data based on IUCN criteria. The evaluation process led to eliminating, combining and adjusting areas, resulting in a revised PAN consisting of 28 areas. This updated PAN represents all vegetation types and phytogeographical zones in Palestine, effectively protecting key ecoregions in the Mediterranean hotspot. The revision of the PAN has increased the total protected land mass from 9 per cent to 9.98 per cent. This expansion provides additional areas where biodiversity can thrive undisturbed, ensuring the long-term survival of species and ecosystems. The updated PAN was adopted at the highest level of government, signifying the importance and commitment to biodiversity conservation in Palestine. This achievement demonstrates the progress made by Palestine in safeguarding its natural heritage.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139292012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Within two decades, social media has profoundly changed modern society. The various effects of this rapid development are increasingly the subject of interdisciplinary research. For protected areas, the focus has so far been on the possibilities of social media as a means of visitor communication and monitoring. This is an exploratory study identifying case studies of protected areas where visitors’ use of social media has contributed to negative environmental effects. Furthermore, potential measures to address these challenges are provided. Data collection was conducted with a selective review of academic and non-academic literature using a global research framework and EU-wide qualitative email interviews with staff from 44 national parks. The research results were structured using the DPSIR framework of the European Environment Agency. Social media trend-driven mass tourism and dissemination of nature-damaging behaviour via social media appear to be the most pressing issues. To implement conservation measures successfully and ensure long-term conservation goals, protected area management must consider the potential negative effects of social media. As digitisation progresses, the urgency of corresponding studies and measures increases. The enhancement of digital skills and digital visitor guidance by nature conservation actors may help to counteract future negative environmental effects.
{"title":"Social media as a contributor to conflicts in protected areas: experiences, problems, and potential solutions","authors":"Saskia Arndt","doi":"10.2305/ulmj5060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/ulmj5060","url":null,"abstract":"Within two decades, social media has profoundly changed modern society. The various effects of this rapid development are increasingly the subject of interdisciplinary research. For protected areas, the focus has so far been on the possibilities of social media as a means of visitor communication and monitoring. This is an exploratory study identifying case studies of protected areas where visitors’ use of social media has contributed to negative environmental effects. Furthermore, potential measures to address these challenges are provided. Data collection was conducted with a selective review of academic and non-academic literature using a global research framework and EU-wide qualitative email interviews with staff from 44 national parks. The research results were structured using the DPSIR framework of the European Environment Agency. Social media trend-driven mass tourism and dissemination of nature-damaging behaviour via social media appear to be the most pressing issues. To implement conservation measures successfully and ensure long-term conservation goals, protected area management must consider the potential negative effects of social media. As digitisation progresses, the urgency of corresponding studies and measures increases. The enhancement of digital skills and digital visitor guidance by nature conservation actors may help to counteract future negative environmental effects.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139293008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Increasing demand for Elaeis guineensis (African Oil Palm) products both for domestic and industrial use has led to its continuous expansion. The influence of oil palm plantation establishment on the economic well-being of communities and ecosystems cannot be over-emphasised. The study focuses on the rapid expansion of oil palm plantations within all protected areas and forest reserves in the lowland rainforests of Ondo State, Nigeria using. Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) was used to map oil palm expansion using 10-metre resolution Sentinel-2A images for 2015 and 2020 in Google Earth Engine (GEE). We found expansion of both smallholder and commercial oil palm plantations within eight of the thirteen protected areas with three protected areas (Ipele, Onisere and Akure Ofosu) showing a significant increase in oil palm plantation establishment. The use of object-based classification techniques, which combines contextual information within the image domain to discriminate landscape features such as oil palm canopy features, was effective in delineating oil palm from the forest canopy and other crops. While Google Earth Engine, a server-based remote sensing domain with petabytes of data, is effective for monitoring large-scale tropical forests.
{"title":"Mapping oil palm expansion within the protected lowland rainforest of Nigeria using Google Earth engine","authors":"Ralph Adewoye, P. Ukoha, Stephen Okonkwo","doi":"10.2305/vjsb2292","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/vjsb2292","url":null,"abstract":"Increasing demand for Elaeis guineensis (African Oil Palm) products both for domestic and industrial use has led to its continuous expansion. The influence of oil palm plantation establishment on the economic well-being of communities and ecosystems cannot be over-emphasised. The study focuses on the rapid expansion of oil palm plantations within all protected areas and forest reserves in the lowland rainforests of Ondo State, Nigeria using. Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) was used to map oil palm expansion using 10-metre resolution Sentinel-2A images for 2015 and 2020 in Google Earth Engine (GEE). We found expansion of both smallholder and commercial oil palm plantations within eight of the thirteen protected areas with three protected areas (Ipele, Onisere and Akure Ofosu) showing a significant increase in oil palm plantation establishment. The use of object-based classification techniques, which combines contextual information within the image domain to discriminate landscape features such as oil palm canopy features, was effective in delineating oil palm from the forest canopy and other crops. While Google Earth Engine, a server-based remote sensing domain with petabytes of data, is effective for monitoring large-scale tropical forests.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139298632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Growing attention is being given to protected areas and the ability of their natural capital assets to provide a varied and long-term stream of benefits to individuals and society in general. These areas are often heralded for ensuring natural capital assets persist, but value is often limited to the economic impact of visitor expenditures and the associated effects on regional and national economies. Few studies have attempted to quantify the economic value of natural capital assets in protected areas, especially in Canada. This study uses a benefit transfer approach to produce an initial estimate of the potential economic value of ecosystem services and natural capital associated with the terrestrial and marine environments in Canada’s federal system of national parks and national marine conservation areas. The results suggest that the economic value of these assets ranges between CA$ 156 billion and CA$ 588 billion annually.
{"title":"The value of natural capital in Canada’s national parks and national marine conservation areas","authors":"Dan Mulrooney, Brenda Jones","doi":"10.2305/eknn8645","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/eknn8645","url":null,"abstract":"Growing attention is being given to protected areas and the ability of their natural capital assets to provide a varied and long-term stream of benefits to individuals and society in general. These areas are often heralded for ensuring natural capital assets persist, but value is often limited to the economic impact of visitor expenditures and the associated effects on regional and national economies. Few studies have attempted to quantify the economic value of natural capital assets in protected areas, especially in Canada. This study uses a benefit transfer approach to produce an initial estimate of the potential economic value of ecosystem services and natural capital associated with the terrestrial and marine environments in Canada’s federal system of national parks and national marine conservation areas. The results suggest that the economic value of these assets ranges between CA$ 156 billion and CA$ 588 billion annually.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139292419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The increasing human population which promotes the conversion of secondary forests into other land use types has resulted in the decrease of forest areas in Nigeria. This study examined the causes of secondary forest loss in Osho Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) were assessed using Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI/TC images for four timelines over a period of 38 years (1984, 2013, 2017 and 2022). Results showed an increase in area of plantations, bare land and farmland, leading to a decrease in secondary forest cover. Farmland increased from 731 ha to 859 ha at the rate of 3.7 ha yr-1, bare land increased from 314 ha to 523 ha at 5.5 ha yr-1, plantations increased from 1,105 ha to 1,495 ha at 10.3 ha yr-1,while secondary forest drastically reduced from 1,132 ha to 405 ha at 19.1 ha yr-1. At this rate, secondary forest is estimated to be lost in the study area by 2050.. Osho Forest Reserve requires immediate management interventions driven by updated laws and policies, silvicultural treatment, community engagement and ecosystem rehabilitation. In addition, implementation of sustainable forest management would enhance secondary forest recovery.
{"title":"Causes of secondary forest loss in a lowland rainforest of Nigeria","authors":"Farhan Jimba Moshood, Samuel O. Olajuyigbe","doi":"10.2305/bivx7649","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/bivx7649","url":null,"abstract":"The increasing human population which promotes the conversion of secondary forests into other land use types has resulted in the decrease of forest areas in Nigeria. This study examined the causes of secondary forest loss in Osho Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) were assessed using Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI/TC images for four timelines over a period of 38 years (1984, 2013, 2017 and 2022). Results showed an increase in area of plantations, bare land and farmland, leading to a decrease in secondary forest cover. Farmland increased from 731 ha to 859 ha at the rate of 3.7 ha yr-1, bare land increased from 314 ha to 523 ha at 5.5 ha yr-1, plantations increased from 1,105 ha to 1,495 ha at 10.3 ha yr-1,while secondary forest drastically reduced from 1,132 ha to 405 ha at 19.1 ha yr-1. At this rate, secondary forest is estimated to be lost in the study area by 2050.. Osho Forest Reserve requires immediate management interventions driven by updated laws and policies, silvicultural treatment, community engagement and ecosystem rehabilitation. In addition, implementation of sustainable forest management would enhance secondary forest recovery.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139302182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Uzma Khan, N. Dudley, Daphne Willems, Michael Baltzer, S. Stolton, M.K.S. Pasha, Hannah L. Timmins, Diane Walkington, Paul André Van Damme
This paper introduces the inaugural rapid evaluation of river dolphin habitats, coinciding with managed sites in Asia and South America. Covering all six river dolphin species (including the sole freshwater porpoise worldwide), each is classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Conservation Assured | River Dolphin Standards (CA|RDS) offer tailored guidelines for the proficient oversight of protected areas for river dolphins. The abbreviated CA|RDS version, termed CA|RDS Lite, involves a questionnaire-based survey conducted by managers and stakeholders at 40 sites across 10 of the 14 countries within the river dolphin range. Both continents face river dolphin endangerment from fishing and climate change. In Asia, risks are more diverse, with smaller populations compared to South America. Insufficient funding and management capacity emerge as significant hurdles. Inadequate collaboration with areas outside the protected area boundary impedes effective river dolphin population management. Encouragingly, the survey highlights active involvement of local communities and stakeholders in site management. CA|RDS Lite offers a quick overview of site management efficacy, pinpointing crucial management requirements and urgent river dolphin sites necessitating intervention. It also sets the stage for the complete application of CA|RDS standards and their use as an accreditation and management instrument.
{"title":"CA|RDS Lite: A rapid assessment of site management against the Conservation Assured | River Dolphin Standards","authors":"Uzma Khan, N. Dudley, Daphne Willems, Michael Baltzer, S. Stolton, M.K.S. Pasha, Hannah L. Timmins, Diane Walkington, Paul André Van Damme","doi":"10.2305/thyc4522","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/thyc4522","url":null,"abstract":"This paper introduces the inaugural rapid evaluation of river dolphin habitats, coinciding with managed sites in Asia and South America. Covering all six river dolphin species (including the sole freshwater porpoise worldwide), each is classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Conservation Assured | River Dolphin Standards (CA|RDS) offer tailored guidelines for the proficient oversight of protected areas for river dolphins. The abbreviated CA|RDS version, termed CA|RDS Lite, involves a questionnaire-based survey conducted by managers and stakeholders at 40 sites across 10 of the 14 countries within the river dolphin range. Both continents face river dolphin endangerment from fishing and climate change. In Asia, risks are more diverse, with smaller populations compared to South America. Insufficient funding and management capacity emerge as significant hurdles. Inadequate collaboration with areas outside the protected area boundary impedes effective river dolphin population management. Encouragingly, the survey highlights active involvement of local communities and stakeholders in site management. CA|RDS Lite offers a quick overview of site management efficacy, pinpointing crucial management requirements and urgent river dolphin sites necessitating intervention. It also sets the stage for the complete application of CA|RDS standards and their use as an accreditation and management instrument.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139301345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-05-01DOI: 10.2305/iucn.ch.2023.parks-29-1aa.en
Amjad Ali, Arshad Ali Shedayi, Haider Raza, E. Hussain, Syed Asar ul Hasnain
Communities in high-altitude regions are particularly dependent on ecosystem services for their survival. Understanding the economic value of ecosystem services is crucial for sustainable management of mountain ecosystems and associated policy development. This study estimated the economic value of selected ecosystem services provided by the Qurumber National Park (QNP) using data collected from 393 local households. This value was estimated as PKR 738.37 million (US$ 4.28 million 1 ) per year, corresponding to PKR 615,308 (US$ 3569 1 ) per household per year. Provisioning services contributed PKR 706.828 million (US$ 4.01 million 1 ) per year which constituted 96 per cent of the ecosystem service value. This study argues that given the lack of economic opportunities and high poverty rate in the valley communities, pressure on the park’s resources is increasing, resulting in depletion of important ecosystem services in the park, thereby posing a key challenge for conservation efforts. This study recommends a need to better recognise the ecosystem services provided by the park in policy decisions. An efficient institutional mechanism should be developed to provide alternative livelihood options for the local community to minimise pressure on the park’s natural resources. The findings of this study serve as baseline information for both researchers and policymakers to maintain this vitally important mountain national park.
{"title":"Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services of Qurumber National Park in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan","authors":"Amjad Ali, Arshad Ali Shedayi, Haider Raza, E. Hussain, Syed Asar ul Hasnain","doi":"10.2305/iucn.ch.2023.parks-29-1aa.en","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.ch.2023.parks-29-1aa.en","url":null,"abstract":"Communities in high-altitude regions are particularly dependent on ecosystem services for their survival. Understanding the economic value of ecosystem services is crucial for sustainable management of mountain ecosystems and associated policy development. This study estimated the economic value of selected ecosystem services provided by the Qurumber National Park (QNP) using data collected from 393 local households. This value was estimated as PKR 738.37 million (US$ 4.28 million 1 ) per year, corresponding to PKR 615,308 (US$ 3569 1 ) per household per year. Provisioning services contributed PKR 706.828 million (US$ 4.01 million 1 ) per year which constituted 96 per cent of the ecosystem service value. This study argues that given the lack of economic opportunities and high poverty rate in the valley communities, pressure on the park’s resources is increasing, resulting in depletion of important ecosystem services in the park, thereby posing a key challenge for conservation efforts. This study recommends a need to better recognise the ecosystem services provided by the park in policy decisions. An efficient institutional mechanism should be developed to provide alternative livelihood options for the local community to minimise pressure on the park’s natural resources. The findings of this study serve as baseline information for both researchers and policymakers to maintain this vitally important mountain national park.","PeriodicalId":37571,"journal":{"name":"Parks","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42152892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-05-01DOI: 10.2305/iucn.ch.2023.parks-29-1mbq.en
M. Qumsiyeh, Roubina Bassous-Ghattas, E. Handal, Mohammed A. Abusarhan, M. Najajreh, I. Albaradeyia
Palestine is part of the Fertile Crescent and known to be rich in faunal and floral biodiversity relative to its latitude. The South Jerusalem hills with their ancient villages (collectively called the Al-Arqoub cluster) provide ideal areas for conservation within the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. The area was listed on an emergency basis as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. This study assessed the biodiversity and threats, and the data was used to designate it a protected area by the Environment Quality Authority (EQA). We documented 417 plant species, 15 fungi, 105 birds, 3 amphibians, 12 reptiles and 31 mammals. Threats to this rich biodiversity included harmful agricultural practices, overexploitation, construction of Israeli settlements, urbanisation, habitat loss, land fragmentation and limited enforcement of laws. Management plans were established and began to be implemented for the site with the aim of biocultural conservation. Four marginalised communities around the valley system (Al-Walaja, Battir, Husan and Beit Jala) benefited through: a) environmentally friendly agricultural production for 81 farmers, b) developing and empowering women in eco-friendly production and marketing, c) enhancing ecotourism, d) implementing an ecosystem restoration model and e) education and capacity building leading to behaviour change. Based on IUCN criteria, we consider ‘Al-Arqoub’ as a vulnerable ecosystem worthy of enhanced protective status and, based on our studies, the EQA designated it as a protected area category VI (protected with sustainable use of natural resources). Protected area management in Palestine follows the new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2023–2030) in line with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This grassroots, cross-disciplinary endeavour to protect this area serves as a model for other protections in a region with economic and political instability.
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