Management resourcing and government transparency are key drivers of biodiversity outcomes in Southeast Asian protected areas. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Graham, Victoria; Geldmann, Jonas; Adams, Vanessa M.; Grech, Alana; Deinet, Stefanie; Chang, Hsing-Chung
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 253(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Protected areas -- Biodiversity -- Animal population trends -- Management effectiveness tracking tool -- Government transparency -- Living planet database -- Southeast Asia; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108875
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Protected areas aim to conserve nature by providing safe havens for biodiversity. However, protection from habitat loss, poaching and other threats, is not guaranteed without adequate investment in their management. Here, we examine the relationship between management effectiveness using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) and trends of 79 populations of mammals and birds in 12 Southeast Asian protected areas from Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Despite the negative influence of corruption on species population change, we find evidence that adequate financial and human resourcing are important determinants in achieving good biodiversity outcomes. Management resourcing, national government transparency and body size collectively explain 29% of the variation in animal population trends in our model. Our paper contributes to a growing evidence base linking management resourcing shortfalls to declining biodiversity populations in protected areas. Our key findings are relevant to international funding agencies, governments and NGOs, to aid decision making around the allocation of conservation resources in Southeast Asia. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Management resourcing, corruption and body size explain one-third of the variation in population trends of protected mammals and birds The level of management resourcing of protected areas has a positive association with animal population trends Specially, financial and human resourcing, and equipment have the strongest positive associations with animal population trends Our model did not detect a clear relationship between animal population trends and forest cover loss