Research shows that protected areas conserve biodiversity

© RFsole – za.fotolia.com

Dr Bernard Coetzee, a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University and formerly from the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University, said protecting an area from human exploitation made common sense. However, up until now there had been little evidence to determine whether these conservation areas actually protected biodiversity.

"Our work has now shown that protected areas have significant biodiversity benefits. In general, plant and animal populations are larger and more species are found inside rather than outside protected areas. In other words, protected areas are doing their job."

Setting land aside

The researchers said national parks, nature reserves and other ways of setting land aside to protect species had long been a key strategy in the conservation of biodiversity. However, there was a lot of controversy about the effectiveness of protected areas in conserving biodiversity. Some studies showed that fewer species and lower populations of key species were found inside, compared to outside reserves. Others showed just the opposite.

Dr Coetzee said the level of conflicting evidence was worrying as it made political decisions to protect new areas, often at significant cost, problematic. "This research now shows that protecting areas does work in conserving biodiversity, and it should remain a key strategy for conservation going forward."

The researchers say the research helps justify the international focus on protected areas, which is a welcome message with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's World Parks Congress 2014 to be held in Sydney later this year.

"This research means that protecting areas and spending hard-contested budgets on their maintenance are worthwhile for all governments. It also shows that achieving the Convention on Biodiversity's 2020 Aichi Target 11 to increase protected area coverage to 17% of land and inland water areas will really help protect biodiversity," Dr Coetzee said.

"We now know it works, but we need more action to ensure increased coverage and better safeguards for their long term maintenance."