The emergence of private land conservation in scientific literature: A review. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cortés Capano, Gonzalo; Toivonen, Tuuli; Soutullo, Alvaro; Di Minin, Enrico
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 237(2019)
• Page Start: 191
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Biodiversity -- Conservation easements -- Conservation actions -- Policy instruments -- Private land conservation -- Stakeholders; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.07.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Private land conservation (PLC) is an important means for achieving global conservation targets. We reviewed peer-reviewed literature focussing on PLC to summarize past scientific evidence and to identify research trends and gaps to direct future research. We carried out an in-depth review of 284 scientific articles and analysed where, when and in what context PLC has been studied. Specifically, we (i) assessed where and when PLC studies took place and which topics they covered; (ii) identified the most addressed conservation actions and policy instruments, and (iii) investigated whether stakeholders' engagement during research processes was reported or not. We found that (i) there has been an increase in the number of scientific PLC publications over time; (ii) 78% of the articles in scientific journals focussed on four countries only (United States of America, Australia, South Africa and Canada); (iii) literature content focussed mostly on easements, programs and landowners and showed both geographical and temporal differences; (iv) land/water protection, law and policy and livelihood, economic and other incentives were the most addressed conservation actions; (v) property rights, particularly conservation easements, were the most addressed policy instrument; and (vi) half of the articles did not report the engagement of any stakeholder sector and cross-sector stakeholders' engagement was often missing. Overall, our results highlight the need for future studies on PLC to cover currently underrepresented regions; to assess the effectiveness of more conservation actions and policy instruments; and to test how engaging different stakeholders can potentially promote legitimate and equitable PLC policies across contexts. Highlights: First global review studying trends and gaps in private land conservation research. Most private land conservation research was conducted in only four countries. Conservation easements were the most addressed policy instrument in research. Half of the studies did not report any stakeholders' engagement in research. There is need to cover more regions, actions, policy instruments and include stakeholders in PLC research.