Wilderness forms and their implications for global environmental policy and conservation

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Environmental Policy
• Global Ecology

Background:

• Wilderness protection is a new international policy target within the Convention on Biological Diversity's Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
• The global significance of wilderness in conservation necessitates an evaluation of its ecological characteristics and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the global construct of wilderness by examining its relationship with carbon stock, species richness, and proximity to urban centers.
• To understand the variability of wilderness areas in supporting global conservation objectives.

Main Methods:

• Overlaying global cumulative human pressure maps to delineate industry-free wilderness areas.
• Analyzing wilderness areas against data on carbon stocks, species richness, and travel time from urban centers.

Main Results:

• Wilderness areas exhibit diverse characteristics: 10% have high carbon and species richness, 20% have low carbon and species richness.
• 3% of wilderness areas are remote (>48 h travel), rich in carbon and species.
• Approximately 35% of remaining wilderness in 2013 was accessible within 24 hours of urban centers.

Conclusions:

• The construct of wilderness can secure conservation benefits but requires careful consideration of social and contextual factors.
• A nuanced understanding and application of the wilderness construct are essential for effective conservation communication and retention of its diverse forms.