Effects of protected area downsizing on habitat fragmentation in Yosemite National Park (USA), 1864 - 2014

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) has been documented worldwide, but its impacts on biodiversity are poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, we reviewed historical documents to identify legal changes that altered the boundaries of Yosemite National Park. We identified two downsizes and five additions between 1905 and 1937 that reduced the size of Yosemite National Park by 30%. To examine the effects of these downsizing events on habitat fragmentation by roads, we compared protected, never-protected, and downsized lands at three spatial scales using four habitat fragmentation metrics: road density, fragment (land surrounded by roads) area-to-perimeter ratio, fragment area, and fragment density. In general, lands that were removed from protection, e.g., downsized, were more highly fragmented than protected lands and indistinguishable from never-protected lands. Lands where downsizes were reversed were less fragmented than lands where downsizes were not reversed. These results suggest that protected area downsizing may exacerbate habitat fragmentation, a key contributor to biodiversity loss globally. Furthermore, the case study in Yosemite National Park demonstrates that iconic protected areas in developed countries are not immune to downsizing. These findings underscore the need to account for PADDD and governance histories in ecological research, monitoring, and evaluation. As we move toward more evidence-based conservation policy, a rigorous understanding of PADDD is essential to ensure that protected areas fulfill their promise as a strategy for conserving global biodiversity

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) in marine protected areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are foundational to global marine biodiversity conservation efforts. Recently, countries have rapidly scaled up their MPA networks to meet targets established by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). While MPA networks are intended to permanently safeguard marine ecosystems, evidence points to widespread legal changes that temper, reduce, or eliminate protected areas, known as protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD). Research on PADDD to-date has focused on terrestrial PAs, leaving fundamental questions about PADDD in MPAs unanswered. To address this knowledge gap and provide a foundation for understanding the conservation implications of PADDD in marine ecosystems, we documented patterns, trends, and proximate causes of PADDD in MPAs globally. At least six countries have enacted 44 PADDD events in MPAs, most of which were in Australian MPAs. Globally, PADDD events in MPAs have affected an area of at least 1,198,774 square kilometers, approximately the size of South Africa. Most PADDD events in MPAs (67%) are associated with industrial-scale resource use, extraction, and development, suggesting that PADDD may undermine the conservation objectives of MPAs. Additional research, transparency, and proactive policy responses are needed to address PADDD to better safeguard marine ecosystems

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement as a threat to iconic protected areas

Abstract: Protected areas (PAs) are expected to conserve nature and provide ecosystem services in perpetuity, yet widespread protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) may compromise these objectives. Even iconic protected areas are vulnerable to PADDD, although these PADDD events are often unrecognized. We identified 23 enacted and proposed PADDD events within World Natural Heritage Sites and examined the history, context, and consequences of PADDD events in 4 iconic PAs (Yosemite National Park, Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Yasun´ı National Park, and Virunga National Park). Based on insights from published research and international workshops, these 4 cases revealed the diverse pressures brought on by competing interests to develop or exploit natural landscapes and the variety of mechanisms that enables PADDD. Knowledge gaps exist in understanding of the conditions through which development pressures translate to PADDD events and their impacts, partially due to a lack of comprehensive PADDD records. Future research priorities should include comprehensive regional and country-level profiles and analysis of risks, impacts, and contextual factors related to PADDD. Policy options to better govern PADDD include improving tracking and reporting of PADDD events, establishing transparent PADDD policy processes, coordinating among legal frameworks, and mitigating negative impacts of PADDD. To support PADDD research and policy reforms, enhanced human and financial capacities are needed to train local researchers and to host publicly accessible data. As the conservation community considers the achievements of Aichi Target 11 and moves toward new biodiversity targets beyond 2020, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers need to work together to better track, assess, and govern PADDD globally

The uncertain future of protected lands and waters

Las áreas protegidas están destinadas a salvaguardar la biodiversidad a perpetuidad, sin embargo, la evidencia sugiere que los cambios legales generalizados socavan la durabilidad y eficacia de las áreas protegidas. Documentamos estos cambios legales (eventos de degradación, reducción y eliminación de clasificación de áreas protegidas (PADDD)) en los Estados Unidos y los países amazónicos y compilamos los datos disponibles a nivel mundial. Los gobiernos de los Estados Unidos y los países amazónicos promulgaron 269 y 440 eventos PADDD, respectivamente. Entre 1892 y 2018, 73 países promulgaron 3749 eventos PADDD, eliminando 519,857 kilómetros cuadrados de las regulaciones de protección y templado en 1,659,972 kilómetros cuadrados adicionales; El 78% de los eventos se promulgaron desde 2000. La mayoría de los eventos PADDD (62%) están asociados con la extracción y el desarrollo de recursos a escala industrial, lo que sugiere que PADDD puede comprometer los objetivos de conservación de la biodiversidad. Se necesitan respuestas de políticas estratégicas para abordar la PADDD y mantener áreas protegidas efectivas.Protected areas are intended to safeguard biodiversity in perpetuity, yet evidence suggests that widespread legal changes undermine protected area durability and efficacy. We documented these legal changes—protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) events—in the United States and Amazonian countries and compiled available data globally. Governments of the United States and Amazonian countries enacted 269 and 440 PADDD events, respectively. Between 1892 and 2018, 73 countries enacted 3749 PADDD events, removing 519,857 square kilometers from protection and tempering regulations in an additional 1,659,972 square kilometers; 78% of events were enacted since 2000. Most PADDD events (62%) are associated with industrial-scale resource extraction and development, suggesting that PADDD may compromise biodiversity conservation objectives. Strategic policy responses are needed to address PADDD and sustain effective protected areas.Q1Reflexión Económica, Administrativa y Contable (REAC

El futuro incierto de las tierras y aguas protegidas

Las áreas protegidas están destinadas a salvaguardar la biodiversidad a perpetuidad, sin embargo, la evidencia sugiere que los cambios legales generalizados socavan la durabilidad y eficacia de las áreas protegidas. Documentamos estos cambios legales (eventos de degradación, reducción y eliminación de clasificación de áreas protegidas (PADDD)) en los Estados Unidos y los países amazónicos y compilamos los datos disponibles a nivel mundial. Los gobiernos de los Estados Unidos y los países amazónicos promulgaron 269 y 440 eventos PADDD, respectivamente. Entre 1892 y 2018, 73 países promulgaron 3749 eventos PADDD, eliminando 519,857 kilómetros cuadrados de las regulaciones de protección y templado en 1,659,972 kilómetros cuadrados adicionales; El 78% de los eventos se promulgaron desde 2000. La mayoría de los eventos PADDD (62%) están asociados con la extracción y el desarrollo de recursos a escala industrial, lo que sugiere que PADDD puede comprometer los objetivos de conservación de la biodiversidad. Se necesitan respuestas de políticas estratégicas para abordar la PADDD y mantener áreas protegidas efectivas.Protected areas are intended to safeguard biodiversity in perpetuity, yet evidence suggests that widespread legal changes undermine protected area durability and efficacy. We documented these legal changes-protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) events-in the United States and Amazonian countries and compiled available data globally. Governments of the United States and Amazonian countries enacted 269 and 440 PADDD events, respectively. Between 1892 and 2018, 73 countries enacted 3749 PADDD events, removing 519,857 square kilometers from protection and tempering regulations in an additional 1,659,972 square kilometers; 78% of events were enacted since 2000. Most PADDD events (62%) are associated with industrial-scale resource extraction and development, suggesting that PADDD may compromise biodiversity conservation objectives. Strategic policy responses are needed to address PADDD and sustain effective protected areas.Q1Reflexión Económica, Administrativa y Contable (REAC

Equitable and effective area‐based conservation: Towards the conserved areas paradigm

In 2018, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a decision on protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). It contains the definition of an OECM and related scientific and technical advice that has broadened the scope of governance authorities and areas that can be engaged and recognised in global conservation efforts. The voluntary guidance on OECMs and protected areas, also included in the decision, promotes the use of diverse, effective and equitable governance models, the integration of protected areas and OECMs into wider landscapes and seascapes, and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation across sectors. Taken as a whole, the advice and voluntary guidance provides further clarity about the CBD Parties’ understanding of what constitutes equitable and effective area-based conservation measures within and beyond protected areas and provides standardised criteria with which to measure and report areas’ attributes and performance. This policy perspective suggests that this CBD decision represents further evidence of the evolution from the ‘new paradigm for protected areas’ to a broader ‘conserved areas paradigm’ that embodies good governance, equity and effective conservation outcomes and is inclusive of a diversity of contributions to conservation within and beyond protected areas