Management resourcing and government transparency are key drivers of biodiversity outcomes in Southeast Asian protected areas

Victoria Graham*, Jonas Geldmann, Vanessa M. Adams, Alana Grech, Stefanie Deinetf, Hsing-Chung Chang

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    36 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Protected areas aim to conserve nature by providing safe havens for biodiversity. However, protection from habitat loss, poaching and other threats, is not guaranteed without adequate investment in their management. Here, we examine the relationship between management effectiveness using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) and trends of 79 populations of mammals and birds in 12 Southeast Asian protected areas from Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Despite the negative influence of corruption on species population change, we find evidence that adequate financial and human resourcing are important determinants in achieving good biodiversity outcomes. Management resourcing, national government transparency and body size collectively explain 29% of the variation in animal population trends in our model. Our paper contributes to a growing evidence base linking management resourcing shortfalls to declining biodiversity populations in protected areas. Our key findings are relevant to international funding agencies, governments and NGOs, to aid decision making around the allocation of conservation resources in Southeast Asia.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number108875
    Pages (from-to)1-7
    Number of pages7
    JournalBiological Conservation
    Volume253
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

    Keywords

    • Protected areas
    • Biodiversity
    • Animal population trends
    • Management effectiveness tracking tool
    • Government transparency
    • Living planet database
    • Southeast Asia

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