Towards an improved evidence‐based Natura 2000 management strategy

Animal Conservation, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 25(5), С. 612 - 613

Опубликована: Окт. 1, 2022

Язык: Английский

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A conservation policy as a conservation threat

Animal Conservation, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 25(5), С. 608 - 609

Опубликована: Сен. 21, 2022

The study by Kindvall et al. (2022) is an interesting contribution adding to the growing body of scholarship focusing on understanding how European policies affect biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation a policy objective Union (EU). It supported several legal instruments such as Birds Directive and Habitats Directive, having led creation network protected areas known Natura 2000 network. also intersects with Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) directly or indirectly affecting millions hectares in EU total budget 363 billion euros for 2014-2020, corresponding roughly 36% (Pe'er al., 2019) Efforts – albeit limited at making CAP more biodiversity friendly involve measures financial support grazing grasslands, implications which have assessed this current paper. Using endangered butterfly, marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), target species associated floral resources, authors examined un-grazed CAP-grazed differed. They found that had substantially (up 50 times) lower butterfly occurrence probability population density than non-grazed areas. Estimating these parameters was made possible impressive field effort, captured close 15,000 individual insects estimate differences abundance. abundance orchids other flowering plants There are important takeaways from results. First, address what usually believed be greenest part CAP. has two components, described pillars. largest one, pillar 1, corresponds direct payments given farmers based area farmed performs poorly environment 2017). smaller 2 Rural Development Programme contains agri-environment-climate measures, support, generally considered effective (Batáry 2015). performed evaluation example measure it threatened targeted worth noting here, failure preserve reveal appears genuine not consequence built greenwashing. For example, Pe'er (2019) recommended increasing share within (albeit (2020) stressed importance proper design). While one easy way perpetuate environmentally destroying activity re-label re-cast (Erjavec & Erjavec, 2015), does appear case illustrates good intentions may lead bad outcomes if properly designed monitored. Second, paper broader beyond particular Swedish study. Specifically, added value brought investigating impact In many countries, politically sensitive investigate overgrazing because issue polarise sheep farming industry. times when research supposed co-constructed collaboration relevant stakeholders, investigations become difficult: stakeholders whose business model contingent damaging unlikely topic (Andersson Westholm, 2019). Next, preserving keeping landscapes open point can mentioned debates about large carnivore conservation. rationale threatening economic viability livestock grazing, carnivores threaten grassland (Widman, Steen, Elofsson, focus landscape type obviously needed, (in direction scale) likely highly context dependent (Filazzola 2020). However, should their results display some generalisability, argument against would weaker. On contrary, depredations could viewed ecosystem service, where, through economically mediated trophic cascade, wolves favour insect plant decreasing intensity grazing. Similarly, removing only reduces sizes mammals, but reduce insects. Worth did necessary keep open. A follow-up whether recommendations propose (banning years) implemented. my opinion rather unlikely. Current evidence suggests matters little environmental public making, least, less relative political weight interest groups. context, path taken mirror international agreements Commitments loss announced, reality struggles match commitments (see 2014, 2019, 2020, Candel, Lakner, Pe'er, 2021 series papers suggesting improvements then expressing disappointments). existing balance power agricultural politics simply changes, although fine-scale analysis stakeholder dynamics needed demonstrate conclusively. If created niche group benefits sector payment, will easily removed mention need increased flexibility. This double-edged sword. hand, there rarely effective, one-size-fits-all (and help contexts). introducing flexibility practice start race bottom (Heinemann Weiss, 2018), opening loopholes enlarging ones. careful system unintended consequences required. opportunity opened proposal nature restoration Commission presented June 2022 (European Commission, 2022). aims regulation applicable all Member States cannot delayed diluted transposition national law happen directives (Sazatornil Binding targets might mean intended restore biodiversity, demonstrated opposite effect, adjusted without starting bottom. moment stage timely play informing fine-tuning future Europe.

Язык: Английский

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Rapid and continuing regional decline of butterflies in eastern Denmark 1993-2019

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 4, 2023

Abstract Many butterfly populations respond negatively to land-use intensification in human-dominated landscapes. However, networks of protected sites have been established with the aim halt species loss. We undertook annual surveys all 22 uncommon eastern Denmark during period 2014-2019 and compared a systematic atlas survey done 1989-1993, order assess trends regional occupancy species. Three out went regionally extinct between 1993 2015. One sustained single population through study period. Logistic regression for remaining 18 showed 10 be strong decline from 2015, two declining trend six had stable trends. For except one, continued 2015-2019. five species, was evident. In 1993, total count 565, which by 2019 declined 158 (a 72 % loss over 26 years). From 2015 2019, further shrank 200 21 just four Legal protection areas (Natura 2000 Danish Nature Protection Act §3) was, unexpectedly, not associated lower probability local extinction population. The observed across suggests an overall low efficiency network sites, probably due combination misguided management regimes payment debts past.

Язык: Английский

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Rapid and continuing regional decline of butterflies in eastern Denmark 1993-2019

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 284, С. 110208 - 110208

Опубликована: Июль 22, 2023

Many butterfly populations respond negatively to land-use intensification in human-dominated landscapes. Networks of protected sites have been established with the aim halt species loss. We undertook annual surveys all occurrence 22 uncommon eastern Denmark during period 2014–2019 and compared a systematic atlas survey done 1989–1993, order assess trends regional occupancy species. Three out went regionally extinct between 1993 2015. One sustained single population through study period. Logistic regression for remaining 18 showed 10 be strong decline from 2015, two declining trend six had stable trends. For except one, continued 2015–2019. five species, was evident. In 1993, total count 565, which by 2019 declined 158 (a 72 % loss over 26 years). From 2015 alone, shrank 200 21 just four Legal protection areas (Natura 2000 Danish Nature Protection Act §3) was, unexpectedly, not associated lower probability local extinction population. The observed across suggests an overall low efficiency network sites, probably due combination misguided management regimes payment debts past.

Язык: Английский

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Landscape properties and density dependence shape movement patterns of three threatened butterflies

Research Square (Research Square), Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Сен. 9, 2023

Context. Conservation of endangered species necessitates an in-depth understanding their ecological requirements. Particularly in landscape ecology, the behavioural tendencies threatened butterfly Gotland, a biodiversity-rich island Baltic Sea, become crucial. Objectives. The primary aim this study was to elucidate movement patterns three species—Euphydryas aurinia, Parnassius apollo, and Phengaris arion—in Gotland identify influence specific land characteristics on these patterns. Methods. conducted from 2017 2020 within 60 km² area Gotland. Data collection involved 29,584 captures, encompassing 16,223 distinct individuals. Variables such as open vegetated land, ground moisture index, forest cover were assessed. Results. Among 4821 arrivals 5083 departures documented, exhibited differential responses evaluated habitat features. Both E. aurinia and P. apollo displayed positive density-dependent dispersal, while arion's movements not significantly associated with any features examined. Landscape properties like index statistically influenced likelihood arrival departure. Conclusions. accentuates intricate relationship between subject species. It has broader implications for targeted management strategies that would benefit populations

Язык: Английский

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