Researchers identify important conservation areas - Spiegel Online

scientists have listed the most important protected areas for the conservation of biodiversity – and found that half of their total area does not have the status of a Unesco World Heritage Site. The researchers classified 78 regions with a total of 137 protected areas in 34 states as a particularly relevant, as they report in the journal “Science”. The areas contain the majority of the global population of more than 600 species of birds, amphibians and mammals. More than half of these species are considered endangered in their existence.

The scientists studied a total of 173 463 nature reserves on their importance for the protection of animals that are on the “Red List of Threatened Species.” “We have identified a total of 137 protected areas covering an area of ??1.7 million square kilometers and it is irreplaceable for biodiversity our planet,” the team writes. Geographical priorities are rainforests, islands and mountains in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. European protected areas are not on the list.

problems in national parks

the irreplaceable reserves the scientists include the famous because of their unique amphibian diversity, belonging to Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Peru’s Manu National Park and the mountain range of the Western Ghats in India.

are already classified as a Unesco World Heritage While these regions do not have other essential protection areas far beyond that status. According to the researchers include the Udzungwa Mountains National Park in Tanzania and the National Park in the Colombian Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range.

“These exceptional places were all compelling candidate for World Heritage status,” Soizic Le Saout Fonctionnelle from the Centre d’Ecologie et Evolutive in Montpellier highlights. “Such recognition would guarantee the effective protection of the unique biodiversity in these areas, because there it is the rigorous rules for world heritage sites would apply.”

management in many national parks criticize the scientists as often ineffective. Reasons for this are small budgets, too few staff, little support from politicians and big problem with poachers.

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