Changes in the Global Distribution of Protected Areas, 2003–2012

Abstract

Between 2003 and 2012, the terrestrial area protected for conservation increased slightly, from 11.9 to 12.2 percent globally. Using data from the World Database on Protected Areas and Olson et al.'s (2001) ecological regionalization scheme, we examined the changing distribution of nationally designated protected areas. Over this period, the distribution of protected areas became slightly more even by realm, but biases increased across biomes. Current biases perpetuate long-standing trends, favoring more biodiverse ecosystems (especially tropical rainforests) at the expense of the “less lush” (particularly dry forests and deserts). Ecosystems of high agricultural value, especially temperate grasslands, also remain underrepresented.

2003 年与 2012 年之间, 全球的陆地保育面积从百分之十一点九, 小幅增长至百分之十二点二。我们运用保护地区的世界数据集, 以及欧森等学者 (Olson et al. 2011) 的生态区域化方案, 检视国家指定的保护区的分佈变迁。在此期间, 保护区的分佈范围略微变得平均, 但各生物群落之间的偏好却有所增加。当前的偏好延续了长期的趋势, 意即支持更具生物多样性的生态系统 (特别是热带雨林), 但却偏废 “较不丰富” 的生态系统 (特别是乾燥林与沙漠)。具有高度农业价值的生态系统, 特别是温带草原, 同样未被充分再现。

El área terrestre de conservación protegida se incrementó en cierto grado entre 2003 y 2012, pasando globalmente del 11.9 al 12.2 por ciento. A partir de información de la Base de Datos Mundial sobre Áreas Protegidas y del esquema de regionalización ecológica de Olson et al. (2001), nosotros examinamos la cambiante distribución de las áreas protegidas determinadas nacionalmente. Durante este período, la distribución de las áreas protegidas se presenta ligeramente más equitativa por reino natural, aunque los sesgos se ven incrementados a través de los biomas. Los sesgos perpetúan en la actualidad tendencias ya establecidas, favoreciendo ecosistemas más biodiversificados (especialmente las selvas pluviales tropicales) a expensas de los “menos exuberantes” (particularmente bosques secos y desiertos). Los ecosistemas con alto valor agrícola, en especial las praderas templadas, también permanecen sub-representados.

Key Words::

• biome
• conservation
• protected area
• realm
• representativeness

关键词::

• 生物群落
• 保育
• 保护地区
• 范围
• 再现性。

Palabras clave::

• bioma
• conservación
• área protegida
• reino
• representatividad

Notes

¹Clear concerns persist regarding the expansion of conservation territories into peopled landscapes and the often limited role of local communities in conservation decisions. Although these concerns are legitimate, they are outside the purview of this article.

²Olson et al. (2001) recognized 867 ecoregions in their original work; today the WWF reports 825 ecoregions (WWF 2012).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Peter Anthamatten

PETER ANTHAMATTEN is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Auraria Campus, North Classroom Building, Room 3621, Campus Box 172, PO Box 173364, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80217. E-mail: [email protected]. His research interests include children's health and the environment, conservation policy, and spatial thinking.

Helen Hazen

HELEN HAZEN is an environmental and health geographer and is currently a research scholar in the Department of Geography at Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105. E-mail: [email protected]. Her research interests include environmental conservation policy and the influence of environment on human health.