Effectiveness of China's nature reserves in representing ecological diversity

Wu, Ruidong; Zhang, Shuang; Yu, Douglas W.; Zhao, Peng; Li, Xinhai; Wang, Longzhu; Yu, Qian; Ma, Jian; Ai, Chen; Long, Yongcheng

doi:10.1890/100093

Cited by 166 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In response to the projected loss of the bamboo forests, an important climate change adaptation strategy for giant panda conservation is to secure their future food source, the bamboo forests. Most of the panda feeding bamboo species are scattered in the lower regions of subalpine forests (Zhang et al, 2011). Protecting the forests, especially the old-growth natural forests, is critical to maintaining suitable habitats for various bamboo species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another independent dataset of 1820 records on seven bamboo species in the Daxiangling Mountains from a most recent field survey was also used for the model evaluation. To explore the change of bamboo distribution within panda reserves under climate change, the boundaries of 40 nature reserves were supplemented by data from Wu et al (2011), resulting in 59 nature reserves in total (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Study Area and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change‐induced decline in bamboo habitats and species diversity: implications for giant panda conservation

Wong

et al. 2014

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim Conservation strategies must anticipate how climate change may alter the geographic distributions of limited food resources for highly specialized species. Here, we use bamboo as a case study to investigate climate change-induced changes in species diversity and discuss how to protect the critical food species for giant pandas.Location Giant panda habitats.Methods Using a niche-based model and the most updated climate projections, we projected the current and future distribution of 16 bamboo species under no and universal dispersal assumptions. We then assessed the impact of climate change on bamboo forests and their alpha and beta diversities in the giant panda habitats and reserves.Results Under both dispersal assumptions and three RCPs, six bamboo species are projected to vanish from panda habitats as climate change progresses, resulting in a great loss of the current bamboo forests. Although about half of the bamboo species may potentially colonize new climatically suitable areas under universal dispersal, the other species would experience significant habitat loss. Consequently, climate change would reduce both the alpha and beta diversity of bamboo species in panda habitats. Meanwhile, the proportion of single-species bamboo forests would significantly increase. The decline in bamboo forests and diversity would be most drastic in Qinling, Daxiangling and Qionglaishan Mountains, whereas those in the north-west of Minshan Mountains and Liangshan Mountains may increase.Main conclusions Climate change-induced decline in bamboo habitats and species diversity would pose a severe challenge to the food availability of giant pandas. We posit that human-assisted adaptation and increasing bamboo species diversity are critical to ensuring food security of the giant panda in a changing climate. Our results indicate that conservation planning should not only incorporate species range shifts but also diversity patterns in communities under climate change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Area and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change‐induced decline in bamboo habitats and species diversity: implications for giant panda conservation

Wong

et al. 2014

Diversity and Distributions

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101

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“…A total of 5981 presence points were selected and used to explore the relationships between these bamboo species and bioclimatic variables. The boundaries of 40 nature reserves were supplemented by data from Wu et al (2011). Using this supplementary data we were able to analyze a total of 59 nature reserves.…”

Section: Study Area and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change threatens giant panda protection in the 21st century

Wong

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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a b s t r a c tIt is increasingly recognized that biotic interactions could play a significant role in species distribution modelling. To assess the conservation effectiveness of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reserves in a changing climate, we combined both biotic variables (food availability) and abiotic (climatic and geographic) to project the potential changes of distribution and quality of giant panda habitats using the most recent IPCC-CMIP5 climate scenarios. Our results suggested that climate change would adversely affect giant pandas through habitat degradation, in that: (1) 52.9-71.3% of the current habitats could be lost; (2) the giant panda habitats could become more fragmented and isolated; and (3) both the quantity and quality of habitats in the current giant panda reserves could substantially contract, and approximately 20% of the reserves could lose all habitat representations in this century. Additionally, we found that climate change would make it increasingly necessary to translocate small populations of pandas from the southwestern to the northwestern part of the current distribution range to ensure population viability. Our results suggest the need for immediate change in current conservation policies and formulating adaptation plans for giant panda conservation in a changing climate.

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“…This unauthorized use has contributed to criticism and examination of potential negative impacts (Fan et al 2013;Zhao & Dang 2011). Protected areas form the cornerstone of most global conservation strategies (Wu et al 2011), and the primary legal mandate in China is to safeguard endangered species and ecological integrity. Tourism activities in protected areas are usually restricted to areas where environmental impact can be minimized, and the use of protected areas is often zoned.…”

Section: Backpacker Tourism In Chinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and management issues associated with backpacker tourism in mountainous protected areas, China

Wu¹,

Shen²,

Hou³

et al. 2015

ecomont

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Backpacking is an increasingly popular, but sometimes controversial, activity in protected areas. Very few studies have examined the impacts associated with backpacker tourism in environmentally sensitive regions of China. Using data collected from a survey of backpackers visiting Mt Taibai in the Qinling Mountains, this paper analyses the environmental and management challenges posed by travellers in a protected area. We observed that many backpackers gained unauthorized access to the study area, sometimes even to the most fragile sections of natural reserves. This unauthorized use of protected areas poses serious risk of injury and has environmental implications, including damage to vegetation and soils, pollution and wildlife habitat disturbance. But most respondents had little awareness of their environmental impacts and held negative attitudes toward restricted activities in the non-tourist district of protected areas. To promote environmentally responsible attitudes, reduce the risk of accidents and alleviate pressure on reserve managers, we recommend strengthening regulations as well as developing a multi-department management system, expanding community participation and improving environmental education. In a way, this study provides a strategic plan for improved accessibility and land management practices in mountainous protected areas.

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Effectiveness of China's nature reserves in representing ecological diversity

Cited by 166 publications

References 14 publications

Climate change‐induced decline in bamboo habitats and species diversity: implications for giant panda conservation

Climate change‐induced decline in bamboo habitats and species diversity: implications for giant panda conservation

Climate change threatens giant panda protection in the 21st century

Environmental and management issues associated with backpacker tourism in mountainous protected areas, China

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