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Published on: December 29, 2021
Protected areas and the future of insect conservation
Shawan Chowdhury1, Michael D Jennions2, Myron P Zalucki3
1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department of Ecosystem Services, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Protected areas (PAs) are crucial for biodiversity, but insects are often overlooked in conservation. This study highlights knowledge gaps and proposes a research agenda to integrate insect conservation into PA planning.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Biology
- Entomology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Insect populations are declining globally due to anthropogenic pressures.
- Protected areas (PAs) are vital for vertebrate conservation but inadequately address insect needs.
- Current PA design and management strategies rarely prioritize insect conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effectiveness of PAs for insect conservation.
- To identify taxonomic and geographic gaps in insect conservation research within PAs.
- To propose a research agenda for integrating insects into global PA expansion efforts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on PA effectiveness for insect conservation.
- Analysis of research focus (species representation vs. threat assessment).
- Identification of knowledge gaps in PA design and management for insects.
Main Results:
- Significant taxonomic and geographic gaps exist in research on PAs for insect conservation.
- Most studies focus on species representation, with limited assessment of threats or management effectiveness.
- The role of effective PA management in insect conservation is understudied.
Conclusions:
- PAs are not effectively safeguarding insects due to a lack of targeted strategies.
- A comprehensive research agenda is needed to prioritize insects in conservation planning.
- Integrating insect conservation into PA networks is essential for global biodiversity goals.
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