scholarly journals Identification of ecological networks for land-use planning with spatial conservation prioritization

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Jalkanen ◽  
Tuuli Toivonen ◽  
Atte Moilanen
Keyword(s):  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Ecological Networks ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Conservation Prioritization ◽  
Connectivity Restoration ◽  
Reserve Network ◽  
Spatial Conservation Prioritization

Abstract Context Spatial conservation prioritization (SCP) has most often been applied to the design of reserve network expansion. In addition to occurrences of species and habitats inside protected area candidate sites, one may also be interested about network-level connectivity considerations. Objectives We applied SCP to the identification of ecological networks to inform the development of a new regional plan for the region of Uusimaa (South-Finland, including the Finnish capital district). Methods Input data were 59 high-quality layers of biotope and species distribution data. We identified ecological networks based on a combination of a Zonation balanced priority ranking map and a weighted range size rarity map, to account for both relative and absolute conservation values in the process. We also identified ecological corridors between protected areas and other ecologically high-priority areas using the corridor retention method of Zonation. Furthermore, we identified candidate sites for habitat restoration. Results We found seven large ecological networks (132–1201 km2) which stand out from their surrounding landscape in terms of ecological value and have clear connectivity bottlenecks between them. Highest restoration needs were found between large high-priority sites that are connected via remnant habitat fragments in comparatively highly modified areas. Conclusions Land conversion should be avoided in areas of highest ecological priorities and network-level connectivity. Restoration should be considered for connectivity bottlenecks. Methods described here can be applied in any location where relevant spatial data are available. The present results are actively used by the regional council and municipalities in the region of Uusimaa.

scholarly journals Spatial conservation prioritization of Finnish forests for more sustainable land use planning

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninni Mikkonen ◽  
Niko Leikola ◽  
Ari Lahtinen ◽  
Joona Lehtomäki ◽  
Panu Halme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Conservation Prioritization ◽  
Spatial Conservation Prioritization

Effects of preference heterogeneity among landowners on spatial conservation prioritization

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 675-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Sofie Elberg Nielsen ◽  
Niels Strange ◽  
Hans Henrik Bruun ◽  
Jette Bredahl Jacobsen
Keyword(s):  
Preference Heterogeneity ◽  
Conservation Prioritization ◽  
Spatial Conservation Prioritization

scholarly journals Divergencias y convergencias para asegurar la actividad agrícola en Ecuador: análisis de la parroquia Chuquiribamba (Loja) / Divergences and convergences to ensure agriculture in Ecuador: analysis of the Chuquiribamba Parrish (Loja)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica Iñiguez-Gallardo ◽  
Renato Serrano-Barbecho ◽  
Fabián René Reyes Bueno
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Spatial Variables ◽  
The People ◽  
Family Economy ◽  
Southern Ecuador ◽  
Parcel Size

La regulación de uso del suelo es un continuo debate en el proceso de planificación territorial, sobre todo en Ecuador, donde la agricultura a pequeña escala es uno de los pilares de la economía familiar para un amplio porcentaje de habitantes del sector rural. Por esta razón, identificar las variables requeridas para mantener la actividad agrícola es una necesidad y obligación. El objetivo principal de este artículo es identificar las variables espaciales que inciden sobre la probabilidad de mantener la actividad agrícola, de acuerdo con las expectativas de la gente y las características del territorio. Para ello, se comparan datos de percepción de los pobladores sobre variables tales como superficie predial, distancia a carretera, a canales de riego y a mercados, con datos espaciales de estas mismas variables. El área de estudio es la Parroquia Chuquiribamba, perteneciente al cantón Loja, al sur del Ecuador, por ser una de las principales fuentes agrícolas del sector. Los resultados sugieren convergencias entre las percepciones de la gente y las variables espaciales necesarias para asegurar la actividad agrícola, así como divergencias respecto a la normativa que regula el tamaño mínimo predial.  Abstract Land-use regulation is an ongoing debate in the process of land-use planning. This is particularly true for a country such as Ecuador, where small-scale agriculture is one of the pillars of the family economy for a large percentage of inhabitants of the rural sector.  In this context, identifying the necessary variables for ensuring agricultural activities is a need and an obligation. The main objective of this article is to identify the spatial variables that affect the probability of maintaining agricultural activity, according to the expectations of the people and the characteristics of the territory. We compare data regarding the perceptions of the people of variables such as parcel size, road, irrigation and market proximity, with spatial data of the same variables. The area of study is the Chuquiribamba Parish, located in Canton Loja, in southern Ecuador. We selected it due to its agricultural importance in the Canton. The results suggest convergences between the perceptions of the people and the spatial variables necessary to safeguard agriculture, as well as divergences with the normative regulating the minimum parcel-size. 

scholarly journals Annual and Seasonal Variation in Shorebird Abundance in the St. Lawrence River Estuary during Fall Migration

2018 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Turcotte ◽  
Jean-Francois Lamarre ◽  
Joel Bety
Keyword(s):  
General Trend ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Reserve Network ◽  
Semipalmated Sandpiper ◽  
Peak Abundance ◽  
Effective Conservation ◽  
St Lawrence River

Many north American shorebird populations are declining. it is therefore urgent to identify major sites used during their annual cycle to achieve effective conservation measures. our objective was to expand some aspects of the knowledge base needed to assess the ecological value of the St. Lawrence River Estuary for shorebird conservation. Here, we present the results of the most intensive shorebird survey ever conducted in the St. Lawrence River Estuary during fall migration. Surveys were conducted between St-Jean-Port-Joli and St-Simon-sur-Mer, Quebec, Canada, in 2011 and 2012, from late June/early July through late november, corresponding to the migration period of all species potentially present in the study area. The Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) was one of the two most abundant species during both years of our study (most abundant species, followed by Dunlin [Calidris alpina] and Black-bellied Plover [Pluvialis squatarola] in 2011; second to Blackbellied Plover in 2012). Considering the entire shorebird community, abundance of individuals peaked in early September. Peak abundance occurred earlier for adults than for juveniles. For most species, juveniles largely outnumbered adults. Juveniles were relatively less abundant in 2012 than in 2011. This reflected a general trend observed in northeastern north America between those years, suggesting a lower breeding success in 2012. Given its importance as a staging site for juvenile birds (study area used annually by up to a few hundred thousand shorebirds) and therein, its conservation value, we recommend that the St. Lawrence River Estuary should be included within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve network.

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