Setting practical conservation priorities for birds in the Western Andes of Colombia.

dc.contributor.author

Ocampo-Peñuela, Natalia

dc.contributor.author

Pimm, Stuart L

dc.date.accessioned

2021-08-02T18:42:43Z

dc.date.available

2021-08-02T18:42:43Z

dc.date.issued

2014-10

dc.date.updated

2021-08-02T18:42:38Z

dc.description.abstract

We aspired to set conservation priorities in ways that lead to direct conservation actions. Very large-scale strategic mapping leads to familiar conservation priorities exemplified by biodiversity hotspots. In contrast, tactical conservation actions unfold on much smaller geographical extents and they need to reflect the habitat loss and fragmentation that have sharply restricted where species now live. Our aspirations for direct, practical actions were demanding. First, we identified the global, strategic conservation priorities and then downscaled to practical local actions within the selected priorities. In doing this, we recognized the limitations of incomplete information. We started such a process in Colombia and used the results presented here to implement reforestation of degraded land to prevent the isolation of a large area of cloud forest. We used existing range maps of 171 bird species to identify priority conservation areas that would conserve the greatest number of species at risk in Colombia. By at risk species, we mean those that are endemic and have small ranges. The Western Andes had the highest concentrations of such species-100 in total-but the lowest densities of national parks. We then adjusted the priorities for this region by refining these species ranges by selecting only areas of suitable elevation and remaining habitat. The estimated ranges of these species shrank by 18-100% after accounting for habitat and suitable elevation. Setting conservation priorities on the basis of currently available range maps excluded priority areas in the Western Andes and, by extension, likely elsewhere and for other taxa. By incorporating detailed maps of remaining natural habitats, we made practical recommendations for conservation actions. One recommendation was to restore forest connections to a patch of cloud forest about to become isolated from the main Andes.

dc.identifier.issn

0888-8892

dc.identifier.issn

1523-1739

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/23554

dc.language

eng

dc.publisher

Wiley

dc.relation.ispartof

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology

dc.relation.isversionof

10.1111/cobi.12312

dc.subject

Animals

dc.subject

Birds

dc.subject

Conservation of Natural Resources

dc.subject

Ecosystem

dc.subject

Biodiversity

dc.subject

Colombia

dc.subject

Animal Distribution

dc.subject

Geographic Mapping

dc.title

Setting practical conservation priorities for birds in the Western Andes of Colombia.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Pimm, Stuart L|0000-0003-4206-2456

pubs.begin-page

1260

pubs.end-page

1270

pubs.issue

5

pubs.organisational-group

Nicholas School of the Environment

pubs.organisational-group

Environmental Sciences and Policy

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Science & Society

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

pubs.organisational-group

Initiatives

pubs.organisational-group

Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

28

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
282 Ocampo-Peñuela and Pimm Con Biol 2014.pdf
Size:
1.69 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format