Journal article
Evaluating the efficacy of zoning designations for protected area management
Biological conservation, Vol.144(12), pp.3028-3037
12/01/2011
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.09.007
Abstract
Protected areas worldwide are facing increasing pressures to co-manage human development and biodiversity conservation. One strategy for managing multiple uses within and around protected areas is zoning, an approach in which spatial boundaries are drawn to distinguish areas with varying degrees of allowable human impacts. However, zoning designations are rarely evaluated for their efficacy using empirical data related to both human and biodiversity characteristics. To evaluate the effectiveness of zoning designations, we developed an integrated approach. The approach was calibrated empirically using data from Wolong Nature Reserve, a flagship protected area for the conservation of endangered giant pandas in China. We analyzed the spatial distribution of pandas, as well as human impacts (roads, houses, tourism infrastructure, livestock, and forest cover change) with respect to zoning designations in Wolong. Results show that the design of the zoning scheme could be improved to account for pandas and their habitat, considering the amount of suitable habitat outside of the core zone (area designated for biodiversity conservation). Zoning was largely successful in containing houses and roads to their designated experimental zone, but was less effective in containing livestock and was susceptible to boundary adjustments to allow for tourism development. We identified focus areas for potential zoning revision that could better protect the panda population without significantly compromising existing human settlements. Our findings highlight the need for evaluating the efficacy of zoning in other protected areas facing similar challenges with balancing human needs and conservation goals, not only in China but also around the world. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Evaluating the efficacy of zoning designations for protected area management
- Creators
- Vanessa Hull - Michigan State UniversityWeihua Xu - Research Center for Eco-Environmental SciencesWei Liu - Michigan State UniversityShiqiang Zhou - Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP)Andres Vina - Michigan State UniversityJindong Zhang - Research Center for Eco-Environmental SciencesMao-Ning Tuanmu - Michigan State UniversityJinyan Huang - Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP)Marc Linderman - University of IowaXiaodong Chen - Michigan State UniversityYan Huang - Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP)Zhiyun Ouyang - Research Center for Eco-Environmental SciencesHemin Zhang - Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP)Jianguo Liu - Michigan State University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biological conservation, Vol.144(12), pp.3028-3037
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.09.007
- ISSN
- 0006-3207
- eISSN
- 1873-2917
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- Wolong Nature Reserve administration State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) National Science Foundation (NSF) Michigan State University 40901289 / National Natural Science Foundation of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) William W. and Evelyn M. Taylor International Engagement Fellowship Program Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2011
- Academic Unit
- Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984259631802771
Metrics
21 Record Views