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Selecting priority areas for the conservation of endemic trees species and their ecosystems in Madagascar considering both conservation value and vulnerability to human pressure

Biodiversity and Conservation volume 29, pages 1841–1854 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Madagascar is one of the most biodiverse countries in Africa, due to its level of endemism and species diversity. However, the pressure of human activities threatens the last patches of natural vegetation in the country and conservation decisions are undertaken with limited data availability. In this study, we use free online datasets to generate distribution models of 1539 endemic trees and prioritise for conservation and restoration considering threat, alongside conservation value and cost. Threats considered include illegal logging, forest degradation and agriculture or slash and burns activities. We found that the areas with the highest potential concentration of species are along the north and south-east of the country where more than 400 tree species can be found. Most scenarios identify a common conservation and restoration priority area along the north east of the country. Our findings guide managers, conservation organizations or governments in decisions about where to invest their limited conservation resources.

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Acknowledgements

The Global Trees Campaign team at Madagasikara Voakajy and Fauna & Flora International provided the original idea of this study. Botanic Gardens Conservation International and Missouri Botanical Gardens researchers provided advice and knowledge about Madagascar and its endemic trees. This study has been completed under direction and support of the Life Science Department Imperial College London. Finally, thanks to Malin Rivers and Chris Birkinshaw for their insights on Madagascar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecoacsa, Reserva de La Biodiveridad, Fundadores St Nº 25 Flat 3 Door C, 28028, Madrid, Spain

    Jesus Carrasco

  2. Vision Wild Ltd., Cambridge, UK

    Victoria Price

  3. British Columbia University, Vancouver, Canada

    Vivitskaia Tulloch

  4. Imperial College London, London, UK

    Morena Mills

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  1. Jesus Carrasco
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  2. Victoria Price
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  3. Vivitskaia Tulloch
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  4. Morena Mills
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Correspondence to Jesus Carrasco.

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Carrasco, J., Price, V., Tulloch, V. et al. Selecting priority areas for the conservation of endemic trees species and their ecosystems in Madagascar considering both conservation value and vulnerability to human pressure. Biodivers Conserv 29, 1841–1854 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01947-1

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Keywords

  • Systematic conservation planning
  • Madagascar endemic Trees
  • Marxan
  • MaxEnt
  • Species distribution modelling
  • GBIF
  • Marxan with probabilities