Monitoring protected areas from space: A multi-temporal assessment using raptors as biodiversity surrogates.

ABSTRACT: Monitoring protected areas (PAs) is essential for systematic evaluation of their effectiveness in terms of habitat protection, preservation and representativeness. This study illustrates how the use of species distribution models that combine remote sensing data and information about biodiversity surrogates can contribute to develop a systematic protocol for monitoring PAs. In particular, we assessed the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 (N2000) network, for conserving and preserving the representativeness of seven raptor species in a highly-dynamic landscape in northwest Spain between 2001 and 2014. We also evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the N2000 network by using the total area under protection as a proxy for conservation costs. Overall, the N2000 network was found to poorly represen

SUBMITTER: Regos A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5524325 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature