Terrestrial Mammal Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions for terrestrial mammals excluding bats and primates

Terrestrial Mammal Conservation provides a thorough summary of the available scientific evidence of what is known, or not known, about the effectiveness of all of the conservation actions for wild terrestrial mammals across the world (excluding bats and primates, which are covered in separate synopses). Actions are organized into categories based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifications of direct threats and conservation actions. Over the course of fifteen chapters, the authors consider interventions as wide ranging as creating uncultivated margins around fields, prescribed burning, setting hunting quotas and removing non-native mammals.This book is written in an accessible style and is designed to be an invaluable resource for anyone concerned with the practical conservation of terrestrial mammals.The authors consulted an international group of terrestrial mammal experts and conservationists to produce this synopsis. Funding was provided by the MAVA Foundation, Arcadia and National Geographic Big Cats Initiative.Terrestrial Mammal Conservation is the seventeenth publication in the Conservation Evidence Series, linked to the online resource www.ConservationEvidence.com. Conservation Evidence Synopses are designed to promote a more evidence-based approach to biodiversity conservation. Others in the series include Bat Conservation, Primate Conservation, Bird Conservation and Forest Conservation and more are in preparation. Expert assessment of the evidence summarised within synopses is provided online and within the annual publication What Works in Conservation

Terrestrial Mammal Conservation

"Terrestrial Mammal Conservation provides a thorough summary of the available scientific evidence of what is known, or not known, about the effectiveness of all of the conservation actions for wild terrestrial mammals across the world (excluding bats and primates, which are covered in separate synopses). Actions are organized into categories based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifications of direct threats and conservation actions. Over the course of fifteen chapters, the authors consider interventions as wide ranging as creating uncultivated margins around fields, prescribed burning, setting hunting quotas and removing non-native mammals. This book is written in an accessible style and is designed to be an invaluable resource for anyone concerned with the practical conservation of terrestrial mammals. The authors consulted an international group of terrestrial mammal experts and conservationists to produce this synopsis. Funding was provided by the MAVA Foundation, Arcadia and National Geographic Big Cats Initiative. Terrestrial Mammal Conservation is the seventeenth publication in the Conservation Evidence Series, linked to the online resource www.ConservationEvidence.com. Conservation Evidence Synopses are designed to promote a more evidence-based approach to biodiversity conservation. Others in the series include Bat Conservation, Primate Conservation, Bird Conservation and Forest Conservation and more are in preparation. Expert assessment of the evidence summarised within synopses is provided online and within the annual publication What Works in Conservation.

Carnivore Conservation: Evidence for the Effects of Habitat-Based Interventions

Terrestrial carnivores (Order Carnivora) are experiencing rapidly declining populations around the world. They face a myriad of threats, not least of which are threats to their habitat. Human population growth and development have destroyed, fragmented or degraded much of the land these charismatic species require to survive. Large carnivores in particular are affected by such threats due to their life history traits, such as low population density, solitary social structure and low fecundity. Many of these large mammalian carnivores are in urgent need of effective interventions to prevent their extinctions. However, the conservationists who are trying to save these species do not currently have access to an adequate evidence-base to inform their practices. Limited time, funds and experience in academic jargon can make it difficult for conservation practitioners to access and assess the scientific literature. This often forces conservationists to rely on common sense and expert opinion to choose strategies, making their decisions vulnerable to bias and lack of information. Conservation Evidence is a project started at Cambridge University to compile scientific evidence for conservation interventions into a concise and approachable package made freely available to the public. This study constitutes a portion of their upcoming synopsis of the evidence surrounding conservation strategies for terrestrial carnivores, focusing on habitat-based threats. While it is increasingly known that the conservation field requires a more evidence-based approach, this project shows there is a very limited amount of empirical evidence to support carnivore conservation efforts with respect to land use

How green is 'green' energy?

Renewable energy is an important piece of the puzzle in meeting growing energy demands and mitigating climate change, but the potentially adverse effects of such technologies are often overlooked. Given that climate and ecology are inextricably linked, assessing the effects of energy technologies requires one to consider their full suite of global environmental concerns. We review here the ecological impacts of three major types of renewable energy – hydro, solar, and wind energy – and highlight some strategies for mitigating their negative effects. All three types can have significant environmental consequences in certain contexts. Wind power has the fewest and most easily mitigated impacts; solar energy is comparably benign if designed and managed carefully. Hydropower clearly has the greatest risks, particularly in certain ecological and geographical settings. More research is needed to assess the environmental impacts of these 'green' energy technologies, given that all are rapidly expanding globally

3. Threat: Agriculture and aquaculture

All farming systems 3.1. Establish wild flower areas on farmland https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2359 • Four studies evaluated the effects of establishing wild flower areas on farmland on small mammals. Two studies were in Switzerland2,3, one in the UK1 and one in Germany4. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (4 STUDIES) • Abundance (4 studies): Three of four site comparison studies (including three replicated studies), in Switzerland2,3, the UK1 and Germany4, foun..

8. Threat: Natural system modifications

8.1. Use prescribed burning https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2388 • Thirty-seven studies evaluated the effects on mammals of using prescribed burning. Twenty-five studies were in the USA1,3,4,6–10,12–16,18,20–24,26,27,29–31,34, three each were in Canada2,5,25 and South Africa17,19,36, two each were in Spain11,37 and Tanzania28,35 and one each was in France32 and Australia33. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (2 STUDIES) • Richness/diversity (2 studies): A replicated, randomized, controlled study..

2. Threat: Residential and commercial development

2.1. Protect mammals close to development areas (e.g. by fencing) https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2324 • We found no studies that evaluated the effects of protecting mammals close to development areas (e.g. by fencing). ‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this intervention during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore, we have no evidence to indicate whether or not the intervention has any desirable or har..

12. Habitat protection

12.1. Legally protect habitat for mammals https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2559 • Seven studies evaluated the effects of legally protecting habitat for mammals. One study each was in Zambia1, the USA2, Tanzania3, Brazil4, Nepal6 and India7 and one was a systematic review of sites with a wide geographic spread5. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (7 STUDIES) • Abundance (7 studies): A systematic review of protected areas across the globe5 found that 24 of 31 studies..

14. Species management

14.1. Cease/reduce payments to cull mammals https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2349 • One study evaluated the effects of ceasing or reducing payments to cull mammals. This study was in Sweden and Norway1. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) • Survival (1 study): A before-and-after study in Sweden and Norway1 found that fewer brown bears were reported killed after the removal of financial hunting incentives. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES) BackgroundFinancial incentive..