Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar
Forests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial c...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1455 |
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| author | Virginia E. García Millán David Rodríguez-Rodríguez Amanda Martin Oncina Aristide Andrianarimisa Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa Gabriel Martorell-Guerrero Antonio Bóveda Dania Abdul Malak |
| author_facet | Virginia E. García Millán David Rodríguez-Rodríguez Amanda Martin Oncina Aristide Andrianarimisa Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa Gabriel Martorell-Guerrero Antonio Bóveda Dania Abdul Malak |
| author_sort | Virginia E. García Millán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Forests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial criteria to identify and prioritise unprotected forest areas for the conservation of the eight critically endangered species of lemur belonging to the <i>Lemuridae</i> family in Madagascar. By combining spatial information layers on the distribution areas of the studied lemurs, forest extension and conservation status, and potential human impacts (such as roads, human settlements and agriculture lands), it was possible to identify the most appropriate sites for the expansion of the conservation areas of critically endangered lemur species. Seven new sites, totalling over 33,000 ha, were identified as priority sites for the protection of those species. All of them were adjacent to or inside (just one site) existing protected areas (PAs), which likely makes their protection both feasible and socioeconomically efficient by enlarging those PAs. Legally protecting these sites would not only take Madagascar one little step ahead for meeting oncoming global biodiversity targets for 2030 but could also make a substantial contribution to the mid-term survival of the studied lemur species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:26:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3663bf903d494825b9d8b17b7113ed22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:26:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-3663bf903d494825b9d8b17b7113ed222023-11-23T17:17:20ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-09-01119145510.3390/land11091455Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of MadagascarVirginia E. García Millán0David Rodríguez-Rodríguez1Amanda Martin Oncina2Aristide Andrianarimisa3Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa4Gabriel Martorell-Guerrero5Antonio Bóveda6Dania Abdul Malak7European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, SpainEuropean Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, SpainEuropean Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, SpainDepartment Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of Science, University of Antananarivo, P.O. Box 906, Antananarivo 101, MadagascarMadagascar National Parks, Lot AI C 10 Ambatobe, BP 1424, Antananarivo 103, MadagascarEuropean Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, SpainMadagascar National Parks, Lot AI C 10 Ambatobe, BP 1424, Antananarivo 103, MadagascarEuropean Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, SpainForests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial criteria to identify and prioritise unprotected forest areas for the conservation of the eight critically endangered species of lemur belonging to the <i>Lemuridae</i> family in Madagascar. By combining spatial information layers on the distribution areas of the studied lemurs, forest extension and conservation status, and potential human impacts (such as roads, human settlements and agriculture lands), it was possible to identify the most appropriate sites for the expansion of the conservation areas of critically endangered lemur species. Seven new sites, totalling over 33,000 ha, were identified as priority sites for the protection of those species. All of them were adjacent to or inside (just one site) existing protected areas (PAs), which likely makes their protection both feasible and socioeconomically efficient by enlarging those PAs. Legally protecting these sites would not only take Madagascar one little step ahead for meeting oncoming global biodiversity targets for 2030 but could also make a substantial contribution to the mid-term survival of the studied lemur species.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1455biodiversity hotspotpressureprotected areafragmentationhabitat |
| spellingShingle | Virginia E. García Millán David Rodríguez-Rodríguez Amanda Martin Oncina Aristide Andrianarimisa Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa Gabriel Martorell-Guerrero Antonio Bóveda Dania Abdul Malak Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar Land biodiversity hotspot pressure protected area fragmentation habitat |
| title | Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar |
| title_full | Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar |
| title_fullStr | Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar |
| title_short | Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar |
| title_sort | identification of priority forest conservation areas for critically endangered lemur species of madagascar |
| topic | biodiversity hotspot pressure protected area fragmentation habitat |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1455 |
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