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Expansión de la Red Global de Áreas Protegidas para Salvar al Bioma Mediterráneo en Peligro
Author(s) -
UNDERWOOD EMMA C.,
KLAUSMEYER KIRK R.,
COX ROBIN L.,
BUSBY SYLVIA M.,
MORRISON SCOTT A.,
SHAW M. REBECCA
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01072.x
Subject(s) - biome , shrubland , biodiversity , geography , mediterranean climate , mediterranean basin , vegetation (pathology) , woodland , ecology , protected area , ecosystem , convention on biological diversity , gap analysis (conservation) , agroforestry , environmental resource management , environmental science , biology , archaeology , medicine , pathology
Global goals established by the Convention on Biological Diversity stipulate that 10% of the world's ecological regions must be effectively conserved by 2010. To meet that goal for the mediterranean biome, at least 5% more land must be formally protected over the next few years. Although global assessments identify the mediterranean biome as a priority, without biologically meaningful analysis units, finer‐resolution data, and corresponding prioritization analysis, future conservation investments could lead to more area being protected without increasing the representation of unique mediterranean ecosystems. We used standardized analysis units and six potential natural vegetation types stratified by 3 elevation zones in a global gap analysis that systematically explored conservation priorities across the mediterranean biome. The highest levels of protection were in Australia, South Africa, and California‐Baja California (from 9–11%), and the lowest levels of protection were in Chile and the mediterranean Basin (<1%). Protection was skewed to montane elevations in three out of five regions. Across the biome only one of the six vegetation types—mediterranean shrubland—exceeded 10% protection. The remaining vegetation types—grassland, scrub, succulent dominated, woodland, and forest—each had <3% protection. To guard against biases in future protection efforts and ensure the protection of species characteristic of the mediterranean biome, we identified biodiversity assemblages with <10% protection and subject to >30% conversion and suggest that these assemblages be elevated to high‐priority status in future conservation efforts.