Value of Unprotected Habitats

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1 Department of Biology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Fall 2009

2 Importance of Unprotected Areas 10% of area protected: insufficient to meet needs Canada: 6.3% Costa Rica: 23.4% Indonesia: 12.5% Mexico: 5% Papua New Guinea: 1.6% USA: 15.8%

3 Importance of Unprotected Areas Dramatic increase in protected areas impossible in many cases No available public land Private land too expensive to purchase outright Example: Florida panther: Felis concolor coryi current range: 400,000 ha of south Florida (Figure 18.2) 50% of range on private land, which may be better habitat cost of acquisition: $2 billion management costs: $30 million annually

4 Florida Panther

5 Importance of Unprotected Areas Biological value not delimited by protected areas all species do not have the same habitat requirements therefore, all species do not have same range boundaries unprotected areas retain value Potential impacts on reserves from surrounding lands pollution edge effects: predatation, exotics increased population size Buffered land use continuum: natural multi-use agriculture urban

6 Valuable Unprotected Habitats Roadside rights-of-way Texas: major fraction of state s public land

7 Valuable Unprotected Habitats Roadside rights-of-way Power line rights-of-way: over 2 million ha Military reservations: over 10 million ha White Sands Missile Range: 1 million ha

8 Valuable Unprotected Habitats Roadside rights-of-way Power line rights-of-way: over 2 million ha Military reservations: over 10 million ha Urban areas raptors bats limited potential for anything other than at least moderate human comensals with restricted home ranges

9 Valuable Unprotected Habitats Roadside rights-of-way Power line rights-of-way: over 2 million ha Military reservations: over 10 million ha Urban areas Agricultural areas organic farms woodlots and hedge rows specific agricultural practices mixed community: e.g., shade coffee plantations in Costa Rica

10 Valuable Unprotected Habitats Roadside rights-of-way Power line rights-of-way: over 2 million ha Military reservations: over 10 million ha Urban areas Agricultural areas Multiple-use habitat management for multiple use: USFS, US BLM throughout western US multiple use does not necessarily include biodiversity, etc.

11 Multi-use Land in Western U.S.

12 Valuable Unprotected Habitats Roadside rights-of-way Power line rights-of-way: over 2 million ha Military reservations: over 10 million ha Urban areas Agricultural areas Multiple-use habitat Others?

13 Integrating Habitats Across Landscapes Ecosystem management integrates scientific knowledge of ecological relationships within a complex sociopolitical and values framework toward the general goal of protecting native ecosystem integrity over the long term (page 415) Coordination across stakeholders among management agencies with private landowners NGOs scientists Management goal: shift from maximum production to sustainability

14 Malpai Borderlands

15 Republic of Namibia

16 Namibia: Involvement of Local and Global Communities in Conservation General information: CIA World Factbook Population: 2,088,669 (based on excess mortality due to AIDS; 21.3% adults infected with HIV (2003 estimate)) Area: 825,418 km 2, slightly larger than Alaska Irrigated (2003): 80 km 2, slightly larger than Las Cruces First country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution Some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

17 Namibian Community Based Natural Resource Management Conservancies General aspects of the CBNRM Programme A natural resource management and conservation programme it promotes wise and sustainable management of natural resources, and encourages biodiversity conservation by creating the necessary conditions for sustainable use A rural development programme it seeks to devolve rights and responsibilities over wildlife and tourism to rural communities, thereby creating opportunities for enterprise development and income generation An empowerment and capacity-building programme it encourages and assists communities and their local institutions to develop the skills and experience to sustainable develop and pro-actively pilot their own futures

18 Namibian Community Based Natural Resource Management Conservancies General principles People must be consulted and their ideas included in tourism planning and legislation. Legislation should assist and support tourism development. The informal tourism sector should be organised and recognised as representing community interests. Large businesses operating on communal land should involve and benefit local residents, who often gain little from wildlife and tourism on their land.

19 Namibian Community Based Natural Resource Management Conservancies Legal requirements (1996): a defined membership composed of: a representative management committee a legally recognized constitution defined boundaries Status: 2003 members: 38,063 area: 74,052 km 2 / 825,418 km 2 (9.0%) (total area of Namibia slightly larger than Alaska)

20 Namibian Community Based Natural Resource Management Conservancies

21 Rise in Wildlife Numbers in Namibias Rural Areas

22 Conservancy, Household and In-kind Benefits to Communities and Conservancies

23 Integrating Habitats Across Landscapes Important Themes Coordinated plan for sustainability based upon quality science components: biological, economic, social shared by: government, business, conservation groups, citizens goals viable populations of all species representative examples of communities healthy ecosystem functions Based upon understanding connections among levels Adaptive management based on good monotoring

24 Adaptive Management