Protected areas are intended to safeguard biodiversity in perpetuity, yet evidence suggests that widespread legal changes undermine protected area durability and efficacy. We documented these legal changes—protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) events—in the United States and Amazonian countries and compiled available data globally. Governments of the United States and Amazonian countries enacted 269 and 440 PADDD events, respectively. Between 1892 and 2018, 73 countries enacted 3749 PADDD events, removing 519,857 square kilometers from protection and tempering regulations in an additional 1,659,972 square kilometers; 78% of events were enacted since 2000. Most PADDD events (62%) are associated with industrial-scale resource extraction and development, suggesting that PADDD may compromise biodiversity conservation objectives. Strategic policy responses are needed to address PADDD and sustain effective protected areas.

The development of advanced technologies to enhance conservation science often outpaces the abilities of wildlife managers to assess and ensure such new tools are safely used in proximity to wild animals. Recently, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become more accessible to civilian operators and are quickly being integrated into existing research paradigms to replace manned aircraft. Several federal statutes require scientists to obtain research permits to closely approach protected species of wildlife, such as marine mammals, but the lack of available information on the effects of UAS operations on these species has made it difficult to evaluate and mitigate potential impacts. Here, we present a synthesis of the current state of scientific understanding of the impacts of UAS usage near marine mammals. We also identify key data gaps that are currently limiting the ability of marine resource managers to develop appropriate guidelines, policies, or regulations for safe and responsible operation of UAS near marine mammals. We recommend researchers prioritize collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on marine mammal responses to UAS when using the devices to better inform the scientific community, regulators, and hobbyists about potential effects and assist with the development of appropriate mitigation measures.

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Protected areas (PAs) are an essential tool for freshwater biodiversity conservation. Given past and expected future global increases in dams and impacts of dams on freshwater ecosystems, we document the number of dams existing or planned within PAs, their history, and the extent of PA downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) proximally caused by dams. Globally, at least 1,249 large dams are located within PAs; two‐thirds (907) were built before PA establishment. Additionally, 14% of planned geolocated hydropower dams (509 dams) are located within PAs. PADDD events have also legalized dam construction within existing PAs. Environmental safeguards should preclude development of dams within or adjacent to PAs and prioritize dams within PAs for possible removal and restoration.

The largest remaining populations of the endangered huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) are believed to be concentrated in the remote, rugged and largely uninhabited glacial valleys and fjords surrounding the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that lie within Chile's Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. On the Park's northwestern edge is Bernardo Fjord, an area home to the world's largest known breeding population of huemul. We present a demographic study of this population and examine its population trends since 2004. We conducted huemul transect surveys on-foot during 16 expeditions to Bernardo Fjord from October 2014 to March 2020, during which we spent a total of 254 days in the field and documented 284 observations of huemul. This coastal population of huemul exhibited higher female proportions (mean 0.64 AE SD 0.05), lower fawn:female ratios (mean 0.18 AE SD 0.23 in March and mean 0.22 AE SD 0.07 in November), and similar group sizes (mean 1.77 AE 1.06 SD individuals) to previous studies. Huemul densities in Bernardo Valley encountered from 2016 to 2019 were 60% lower than densities observed in a previous study from 2004 to 2008. We produce a 2019 huemul population estimate for Bernardo Fjord of 84 (AESD 7) individuals including 44 observed individuals and 40 (AESD 10) individuals estimated to be undetected by our surveys, which comprises 6-8% of the IUCN global population estimate. Two of the surveyed sectors -Bernardo Valley and Pampaare of critical conservation importance, given that the 5 km 2 Pampa is home to 42% of the total huemul population and 41% of the fawn population of Bernardo Fjord. We examine potential drivers of this population decline, which may include poor recruitment, predation and high incidences of foot disease exacerbated by climatic conditions, and we offer recommendations for the conservation, monitoring and management of this and other coastal huemul populations.Las mayores poblaciones remanentes del amenazado Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) se cree que est an concentradas en los remotos, accidentados y mayoritariamente inahabitados valles glaciares y fiordos que rodean el Campo de Hielo Patag onico Sur, la mayor parte del cual est a contenido en el Parque Nacional Bernardo O'Higgins en Chile. En el borde noroeste est a el Fiordo Bernardo, un area que alberga la poblaci on reproductiva m as grande conocida. Presentamos un estudio demogr afico de esta poblaci on y analizamos su tendencia poblacional desde 2004. Recorrimos a pie transectos de huemul durante 16 expediciones en el Fiordo Bernardo, desde Octubre de 2014 hasta Marzo de 2020, durante las cuales permanecimos un total de 254 d ıas en terreno y registramos 284 observaciones de huemules. Esta poblaci on costera de huemul mostr o una proporci on mayor de hembras (media 0.64 AE SD 0.05), una relaci on cr ıa:hembra menor (media 0.18 AE SD 0.23 en Marzo y media 0.22 AE SD 0.07 en Noviembre), y tamaños de grupo similares (media 1.77 AE SD 1.06 individuos), que en estudios previos. Las densidades de huemules que se encontraron para el Fior...