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Publicatie

Systematic conservation planning in the high Andes of Bolivia

Boek - Dissertatie

Ondertitel:application of modelling tools for integrative management of natural areas
Effective management of protected areas is necessary to ensure they deliver socio-economic benefits to local communities while conserving the biodiversity they contain. In this thesis, we use targeted monitoring and remote sensing data combined with modeling tools to generate scientifically-based management recommendations designed to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the delivery of ecosystem services in the Tunari National Park (TNP) in Bolivia. More specifically, we aimed to (1) investigate which characteristics of the remaining Polylepis fragments of the Southern Slope of the TNP are associated with bird species richness and the presence of species of conservation concern, (2) study habitat selection patterns for the most common forest-dependent bird species occurring in a mosaic landscape made of Polylepis fragments, agricultural fields and exotic plantations on the Southern Slope of the TNP, (3) identify, using species distribution models, the areas of highest priority for the conservation of the avifauna occurring in Polylepis forests of the Southern Slope and especially for conservation concern species and (4) use the conservation planning software Marxan with Zones to generate optimal land use plans that maximize the conservation of several bird species, including species of conservation concern, while minimizing opportunity cost for the local communities on the Southern Slope of the TNP. We then use these plans to explore the potential trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and the delivery of water-related ecosystem services, a limited resource in the area and important source of conflicts. Finally, we formulate scientifically-based management recommendations for the conservation of the avifauna of the Polylepis remnants in the TNP and especially on the Southern Slope. We confirm the importance of the Polylepis patches of the Tunari National Park and especially of its Southern Slope to support rare and/or threatened Andean species. We conclude that, while it is crucial to protect the biodiversity-rich Polylepis patches, managing the entire landscape in which these patches occur is necessary to meet conflicting conservation and socio-economic demands for the Southern Slope of the TNP. Therefore, conservation management should focus on (1) conserving and/or restoring existing Polylepis fragments, (2) establishing a reforestation scheme and (3) promoting agroforestry and silvopastoralism. We make spatially-explicit recommendations of where to prioritize conservation, restoration and reforestation and promote agroforestry and pastoralism to best support biodiversity, ecosystem services delivery and local livelihoods in a tropical protected area.
Aantal pagina's: 213
Jaar van publicatie:2019
Trefwoorden:Doctoral thesis
Toegankelijkheid:Closed