Abstract:
Species extinction rates 100 to 1000 pre-human levels are threatening the planet’s
biodiversity. The Amazon rainforests are of particular importance to protecting species
because of their extremely high levels of biodiversity. Faced with losses from
deforestation of 20% in the last 40 years and expecting to lose another 20% in the next 20
years, governments and conservationist organizations must begin planning in order to
mitigate species extinctions and the destruction of ecosystems.
This master’s project creates a GIS-based planning tool for conservation practitioners that
locates and prioritizes new protected areas in the Madre de Dios watershed in
southeastern Peru. The tool is based on distributions of bird and mammal species
endemic to Peru and Bolivia, ecological systems, and development threats. This study
(1) locates centers of high endemic species richness (2) locates centers of high endemic
species richness for threatened species falling in the IUCN Red List categories of
Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable (3) and models conservation values
based on (1) and (2) to identify and locate centers of conservation value, This study also
(4) identifies and locates ecological systems with less than 10% found in the Peruvian
parks system (gap analysis), (5) models threat values, (6) models conservation priorities
by overlaying the conservation values model (3) and the threats model (5) to produce a
model that prioritizes areas for conservation planning. Lastly, model (5) is overlain with
the gap analysis (4), to locate areas that are of both high conservation value and contain
underrepresented ecological systems.
The results indicated that the eastern slope of the Andes, at elevations between 2000 and
4000 meters hold the highest levels of both endemic species richness and
underrepresented ecological systems. These areas of high conservation value are well
protected in Manu National Park but lack protection further east and to the south of
Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. The results indicate an urgent need to create new
national parks in this area, prioritizing those watersheds that are under threat from
development, high in endemic species richness, and contain under protected ecological
systems. However, the likelihood of new parks is low since colonists live in this area and
new roads are being constructed. The pro-development political climate also presents
barriers. Taking into account the challenges, the unmatched levels of biodiversity and
accelerating development make this region one of the world’s top conservation priorities.
