Priorities of action and research for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services in continental Ecuador. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kleemann, J.; Koo, H.; Hensen, I.; Mendieta-Leiva, G.; Kahnt, B.; Kurze, C.; Inclan, D.J.; Cuenca, P.; Noh, J.K.; Hoffmann, M.H.; Factos, A.; Lehnert, M.; Lozano, P.; Fürst, C.
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 265(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: BES Biodiversity and ecosystem services -- CBD Convention on Biological Diversity -- CICES Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services -- CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora -- ES Ecosystem services -- INABIO National Institute of Biodiversity of Ecuador (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad) -- IPBES Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services -- IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature -- MAATE Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of Ecuador (renamed in 2021) -- MAE Ministry of Environment of Water of Ecuador -- PA Protected Area -- SNAP National System of Protected Areas (Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas) -- SBP Socio Bosque Program; Climate change -- Conservation -- Impact -- IPBES -- Land use change -- South America; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109404
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Ecuador belongs to the megadiverse countries of the world. However, the high diversity in species, ecosystems and their services are under threat by land use changes, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution and climate change. There is a need to monitor, manage, protect and improve biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) in Ecuador; however, Ecuador is marginally represented in the international policy-science interface for the protection of BES. We analyzed 266 international peer-reviewed papers that were published between 2000 and 2020 to assess the current impact of human disturbance and climate change on BES in continental Ecuador. We found that there were more studies available on the impact of human disturbance on BES than on climate change effects. Birds represented the most studied taxon in Ecuador (70 studies), whereas the total amount of available international scientific publications for other Ecuadorian plant and animal taxa were rather low (< 34 studies) and spatially and thematically scattered. Among ecosystem services, water provision was analyzed relatively often. Our literature review revealed that there is a need to conduct more studies on impacts of human disturbance and climate change on BES. Further research is needed; particularly in the coastal hinterland, in the central Andes and in the Amazon. We suggest that the investment of time, resources and effort into the documentation, standardization, sharing, and publishing of data are key towards supporting the monitoring and maintenance of BES. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Analyses of 266 papers on human and climatic impacts on Ecuadorian biodiversity More studies available on the impact of human disturbance than on climate change More studies on fauna than on flora; birds in particular Studies vary in impact, scale, location, species focus, and context. Documentation, standardization, publishing, and sharing of data needed