How to translate text using browser tools
1 January 2018 A Framework for Prioritizing Areas for Conservation in Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Claudia Hermes, Gernot Segelbacher, H. Martin Schaefer
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Tropical cloud forests are under severe distress, as deforestation leads to forest fragmentation and degradation. This represents a severe threat to small-ranged, forest-dependent species, as they are at risk of losing habitat and connectivity between populations. These detrimental effects are aggravated by upslope range shifts caused by climate change, as further habitat loss is expected. To mitigate these threats, the preservation of habitat and connectivity becomes necessary. Here, we present a novel framework for identifying future key areas offering highquality habitat and connectivity. The framework combines data on the composition of forests, their configuration in the landscape, as well as dispersal abilities and altitudinal range for several focal species. Importantly, the framework integrates projections of future range shifts. Thus, it prioritizes a network of areas with high-conservation value robust to climate change. We applied the framework to the cloud forest in Ecuador, using two endemic bird species to identify areas for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Our approach allows targeting reforestation measures effectively to areas of high-conservation value. The framework presented here can be applied to different ecosystems and geographical locations, and therefore contribute to making informed decisions about the implementation of robust conservation measures.

© 2017 Université Laval
Claudia Hermes, Gernot Segelbacher, and H. Martin Schaefer "A Framework for Prioritizing Areas for Conservation in Tropical Montane Cloud Forests," Ecoscience 25(1), 97-108, (1 January 2018). https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2017.1419787
Received: 15 December 2017; Accepted: 1 December 2017; Published: 1 January 2018
KEYWORDS
analyse de pistes de moindre coût
connectivité
connectivity
forest fragmentation
fragmentation
habitat quality
least-cost path
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top