New Paradigms for Modern Biogeography Conservation

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is a relatively recent, synthetic field that applies the principles of ecology, biogeography, population genetics, economics, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and other theoretical disciplines to the maintenance of biodiversity worldwide. Conservation biogeography concerns the application of biogeographical principles, theories, and analyses, being those concerned with the distributional dynamics of taxonomic units individually and collectively up with their relevant limiting processes, to problems concerning biodiversity conservation. Systematic conservation planning is a comprehensive and scientifically sound method aimed at providing decision support for choices between alternate conservation actions. Spatially, it entails a set of stages for choosing, locating, configuring, and implementing conservation actions (protected areas in particular), such that the benefits of the actions therein exceed specified amounts of ideal protection of biodiversity features and processes. Optimization procedures are key in providing planners the very best efficient and effectiveness solutions. Aichi Target 11 refers to a global protected area coverage target, established under the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010. It states that, by 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and 10% of coastal and marine areas need to be protected through effective, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. For 2030 a new target is being developed with preliminary advices supporting a 30% protected area coverage for both terrestrial and coastal/marine realms. Global change entangles the worldwide impact of human activity on the key processes that govern the functioning of the biosphere. These include the climate system, stability of the ozone layer, cycles of elements and materials (such as nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, or water), the balance and distribution of species, and ecosystems and their underlying processes.