The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i>
Protected areas are a critical tool to conserve biodiversity in the face of the global crisis of species extinction. Here, we present the first ever management effectiveness assessment of Pakistan’s Protected Areas (PAs). We link these assessments to the delivery of conservation outcomes focusing on...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/680 |
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| author | Muhammad Naeem Awan Jonas Geldmann Francis Buner Zafeer Saqib Arshid Pervez Qaisar Mahmood Abeer Hashem Al-Bandari Fahad Al-Arjani Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah Tahir Ali Akbar |
| author_facet | Muhammad Naeem Awan Jonas Geldmann Francis Buner Zafeer Saqib Arshid Pervez Qaisar Mahmood Abeer Hashem Al-Bandari Fahad Al-Arjani Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah Tahir Ali Akbar |
| author_sort | Muhammad Naeem Awan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Protected areas are a critical tool to conserve biodiversity in the face of the global crisis of species extinction. Here, we present the first ever management effectiveness assessment of Pakistan’s Protected Areas (PAs). We link these assessments to the delivery of conservation outcomes focusing on the threatened Western Tragopan (<i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i>) endemic to Pakistan and India. We used two approaches, first mapping the spatial distribution of potential habitat coverage using machine learning ensemble models and second, an assessment of the management effectiveness of protected areas. Our results show that only Machiara National Park scored just above 40% (indicating relatively weak management), 22 of the PAs fell within the 25–50% quantile (indicating weak management), and 3 scored below 25% (indicating poor management). PAs within the species distributional range covered 92,387 ha which is only 2% of the total potential habitat of the Tragopan. Scoring of Planning element was insufficient both in term of the site and species. Likewise, inputs (e.g., research and monitoring program, staff numbers, staff training, current budget, security of budget, and management after process) were also inadequate. Finally, we recommend the establishment of more protected areas within the species potential habitat and inclusion of species-specific plans in Pakistan’s PAs management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:40:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ffb888c28407412baac09ffea0b35cb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:40:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ffb888c28407412baac09ffea0b35cb42023-12-03T12:25:28ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-03-0111368010.3390/ani11030680The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i>Muhammad Naeem Awan0Jonas Geldmann1Francis Buner2Zafeer Saqib3Arshid Pervez4Qaisar Mahmood5Abeer Hashem6Al-Bandari Fahad Al-Arjani7Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi8Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah9Tahir Ali Akbar10Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University, Abbottabad Campus, KPK, Islamabad 22010, PakistanConservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UKGame and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge SP6 1EF, UKGIS & Ecoinformatics Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad 46000, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University, Abbottabad Campus, KPK, Islamabad 22010, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University, Abbottabad Campus, KPK, Islamabad 22010, PakistanBotany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaBotany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaPlant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaPlant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University, Abbottabad Campus, KPK, Islamabad 22010, PakistanProtected areas are a critical tool to conserve biodiversity in the face of the global crisis of species extinction. Here, we present the first ever management effectiveness assessment of Pakistan’s Protected Areas (PAs). We link these assessments to the delivery of conservation outcomes focusing on the threatened Western Tragopan (<i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i>) endemic to Pakistan and India. We used two approaches, first mapping the spatial distribution of potential habitat coverage using machine learning ensemble models and second, an assessment of the management effectiveness of protected areas. Our results show that only Machiara National Park scored just above 40% (indicating relatively weak management), 22 of the PAs fell within the 25–50% quantile (indicating weak management), and 3 scored below 25% (indicating poor management). PAs within the species distributional range covered 92,387 ha which is only 2% of the total potential habitat of the Tragopan. Scoring of Planning element was insufficient both in term of the site and species. Likewise, inputs (e.g., research and monitoring program, staff numbers, staff training, current budget, security of budget, and management after process) were also inadequate. Finally, we recommend the establishment of more protected areas within the species potential habitat and inclusion of species-specific plans in Pakistan’s PAs management.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/680western tragopanprotected areas managementconservationwestern himalayaPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Naeem Awan Jonas Geldmann Francis Buner Zafeer Saqib Arshid Pervez Qaisar Mahmood Abeer Hashem Al-Bandari Fahad Al-Arjani Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah Tahir Ali Akbar The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i> Animals western tragopan protected areas management conservation western himalaya Pakistan |
| title | The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i> |
| title_full | The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i> |
| title_short | The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan <i>Tragopan melanocephalus</i> |
| title_sort | effectiveness of protected areas in conserving globally threatened western tragopan i tragopan melanocephalus i |
| topic | western tragopan protected areas management conservation western himalaya Pakistan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/680 |
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