Conservation Prioritization of Native Forests in Argentina Using Species Distributions and Human Footprint Data
Abstract
Protecting forest biodiversity by nations requires identifying areas with low human influence and high number of indicator (key or flag) species. However, detailed nation-wide information on human influence and species distributions is typically lacking, particularly in developing countries. Here, we integrate information on human footprint and species distribution models to identify forests with low human influence and high numbers of species of conservation concern, across the country of Argentina. We modeled the distribution of 59 species (mostly birds and mammals) of conservation concern (i.e., endemic, endangered, indicator, etc.) using remotely sensed (i.e., dynamic habitat indices from MODIS, and phenology and temperature from Landsat) and climatic (WorldClim) predictors, and combined this information with low human influence areas obtained from a human-footprint map that depicts human activities (i.e., land use, roads, energy infrastructure, etc.) across the forested landscapes. From these data we identified priority conservation areas, corresponding to areas with the lowest human influence and highest number of species of conservation concern, within the major forest regions of Argentina (Andean-Patagonian, Atlantic, Chaco, Espinal, and Yungas; see example for Chaco in associated figure). Finally, we intersected these areas with the current land-use zoning of Argentinas forest, a key policy instrument for conserving the nations forests, to assess potential threats and opportunities for conservation. The data generated here provides straightforward information for advancing forest conservation in Argentina in the context of the current land-use zoning and policy efforts, and represents a key step towards reducing the research-implementation gap.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021AGUFM.B25E1494M