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Road development in Asia: Assessing the range-wide risks to tigers
Neil Carter1, Alexander Killion1, Tara Easter1
1School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Science Advances
|June 5, 2020
Summary
Roads threaten endangered tigers (Panthera tigris) by impacting 43% of breeding areas and 57% of conservation landscapes. Future road development requires sustainable planning to aid tiger recovery.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Wildlife Management
Background:
- Road networks are expanding globally, posing significant threats to wildlife populations.
- The endangered tiger (Panthera tigris) serves as an umbrella species, indicating the health of its ecosystem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent and impact of road networks on tiger conservation landscapes (TCLs).
- To project future road development and its implications for tiger recovery.
Main Methods:
- Quantified existing road networks within the 1,160,000-km2 tiger range across 13 countries.
- Calculated the proportion of tiger breeding areas and TCLs within the road-effect zone.
- Analyzed planned road expansions, including those from China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Main Results:
- 134,000 km of roads were identified within TCLs, including protected areas.
- Roads impact 43% of tiger breeding areas and 57% of TCLs.
- Current roads may reduce tiger and prey populations by over 20%; 24,000 km of new roads are projected by 2050.
Conclusions:
- Road development presents a substantial future challenge for tiger conservation.
- Sustainable road development strategies are crucial for effective tiger recovery efforts.
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