EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird
Background Few studies have assessed the effectiveness of the Protected Area networks on the conservation status of target species. Here, we assess the effectiveness of the Portuguese Natura 2000 (the European Union network of protected areas) in maintaining a species included in the Annex I of the...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/4284.pdf |
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| author | João P. Silva Ricardo Correia Hany Alonso Ricardo C. Martins Marcello D’Amico Ana Delgado Hugo Sampaio Carlos Godinho Francisco Moreira |
| author_facet | João P. Silva Ricardo Correia Hany Alonso Ricardo C. Martins Marcello D’Amico Ana Delgado Hugo Sampaio Carlos Godinho Francisco Moreira |
| author_sort | João P. Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Few studies have assessed the effectiveness of the Protected Area networks on the conservation status of target species. Here, we assess the effectiveness of the Portuguese Natura 2000 (the European Union network of protected areas) in maintaining a species included in the Annex I of the Bird Directive, namely the population of a priority farmland bird, the little bustard Tetrax tetrax. Methods We measured the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 by comparing population trends across time (2003–2006 and 2016) in 51 areas, 21 of which within 12 Special Protection Areas (SPA) that were mostly designated for farmland bird conservation and another 30 areas without EU protection. Results Overall, the national population is estimated to have declined 49% over the last 10–14 years. This loss was found to be proportionally larger outside SPA (64% decline) compared to losses within SPA (25% decline). However, the absolute male density decline was significantly larger within SPA . Discussion In spite of holding higher population densities and having prevented habitat loss, we conclude that Natura 2000 was not effective in buffering against the overall bustard population decline. Results show that the mere designation of SPA in farmland is not enough to secure species populations and has to be combined with agricultural policies and investment to maintain not only habitat availability but also habitat quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:54:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0cc417e046d24f7294b10017d3cdb7e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:54:47Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-0cc417e046d24f7294b10017d3cdb7e72023-12-03T10:05:00ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-01-016e428410.7717/peerj.4284EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland birdJoão P. Silva0Ricardo Correia1Hany Alonso2Ricardo C. Martins3Marcello D’Amico4Ana Delgado5Hugo Sampaio6Carlos Godinho7Francisco Moreira8REN Biodiversity Chair, CIBIO/InBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, PortugalInstitute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, BrazilCIBIO/InBIO—Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Pólo de Évora, University of Évora, Évora, PortugalREN Biodiversity Chair, CIBIO/InBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, PortugalREN Biodiversity Chair, CIBIO/InBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, PortugalCEABN/InBIO—Centre for Applied Ecology “Prof Baeta Neves”, Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalSPEA—Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Lisbon, PortugalICAAM—Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Laboratório de Ornitologia, Évora, PortugalREN Biodiversity Chair, CIBIO/InBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, PortugalBackground Few studies have assessed the effectiveness of the Protected Area networks on the conservation status of target species. Here, we assess the effectiveness of the Portuguese Natura 2000 (the European Union network of protected areas) in maintaining a species included in the Annex I of the Bird Directive, namely the population of a priority farmland bird, the little bustard Tetrax tetrax. Methods We measured the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 by comparing population trends across time (2003–2006 and 2016) in 51 areas, 21 of which within 12 Special Protection Areas (SPA) that were mostly designated for farmland bird conservation and another 30 areas without EU protection. Results Overall, the national population is estimated to have declined 49% over the last 10–14 years. This loss was found to be proportionally larger outside SPA (64% decline) compared to losses within SPA (25% decline). However, the absolute male density decline was significantly larger within SPA . Discussion In spite of holding higher population densities and having prevented habitat loss, we conclude that Natura 2000 was not effective in buffering against the overall bustard population decline. Results show that the mere designation of SPA in farmland is not enough to secure species populations and has to be combined with agricultural policies and investment to maintain not only habitat availability but also habitat quality.https://peerj.com/articles/4284.pdfFarmland birdsEffectivenessLittle bustardNatura 2000Protected area network |
| spellingShingle | João P. Silva Ricardo Correia Hany Alonso Ricardo C. Martins Marcello D’Amico Ana Delgado Hugo Sampaio Carlos Godinho Francisco Moreira EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird PeerJ Farmland birds Effectiveness Little bustard Natura 2000 Protected area network |
| title | EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird |
| title_full | EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird |
| title_fullStr | EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird |
| title_full_unstemmed | EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird |
| title_short | EU protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird |
| title_sort | eu protected area network did not prevent a country wide population decline in a threatened grassland bird |
| topic | Farmland birds Effectiveness Little bustard Natura 2000 Protected area network |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/4284.pdf |
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