Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas against habitat fragmentation and loss: A long-term multi-scalar analysis in a mediterranean region

Abstract

Landscape fragmentation and human-induced land-cover changes are two of the main current threats to nature conservation. To face such challenges, the development of networks of Protected Areas (PAs) has become a central element of nature conservation policies. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs against long-term natural habitat fragmentation and loss at a regional scale in a South West European context (Andalusia, Spain). A multiscalar approach –covering the entire region, the regional PAs network, the complete set of Andalusian Nature Parks and ten individual Parks– has been adopted for the analysis of four landscape metrics. The study covers a time span of approximately 50 years (1956–2007) divided into two periods (1956–1984 and 1984–2007), which allows for the assessment of the effects of PAs development in the region. The results show that habitat loss has a relatively low incidence and is distributed very irregularly throughout the region under study. In contrast, habitat fragmentation has a strong incidence at all scales of analysis. The loss of habitat continuity is mainly located in non-protected areas. Small losses of natural cover in key areas located outside PAs may lead to a strong increase in habitat fragmentation at the regional scale and indirectly affect valuable natural areas under protection. According to the results, it is highly advisable to reinforce the ecological connections between large PAs and adopt a more ecologically sound and proactive landscape planning approach in non-protected environments.