TY - JOUR

T1 - Remotely sensed effectiveness assessments of protected areas lack a common framework

T2 - A review

AU - Gohr, Charlotte

AU - von Wehrden, Henrik

AU - May, Felix

AU - Ibisch, Pierre L.

N1 - This study was funded by Biosphere Reserves Institute and the Innovation and Career Center “ProBio‐LaB” by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the federal state of Brandenburg. Pierre L. Ibisch holds a Research Professorship for Ecosystem‐based Sustainable Development by Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable contributions.

PY - 2022/4/1

Y1 - 2022/4/1

N2 - Effective protected areas reflect socio-ecological values, such as biodiversity and habitat maintenance, as well as human well-being. These values, which safeguard ecosystem services in protected areas, are treated as models for the sustainable preservation and use of resources. While there is much research on the effectiveness of protected areas in a variety of disciplines, the question is whether there is a common framework that uses remote sensing methods. We conducted a qualitative and a quantitative analysis of 44 peer-reviewed scientific papers utilizing remote sensing data in order to examine the effectiveness of protected areas. Very few studies to date have a wide or even a global geographical focus; instead, most quantify the effectiveness of protected areas by focusing on local-scale case studies and single indicators such as forest cover change. Methods that help integrate spatial selection approaches, to compare a protected area's characteristics with its surroundings, are increasingly being used. Based on this review, we argue for a multi-indicator-based framework on protected area effectiveness, including the development of a consistent set of socio-ecological indicators for a global analysis. In turn, this will allow for globally applicable use, including a concrete evaluation that considers the diversity of regional parameters, biome-specific variables, and political frameworks. Ideally, such a framework will enhance the monitoring and evaluation of global strategies and conventions.

AB - Effective protected areas reflect socio-ecological values, such as biodiversity and habitat maintenance, as well as human well-being. These values, which safeguard ecosystem services in protected areas, are treated as models for the sustainable preservation and use of resources. While there is much research on the effectiveness of protected areas in a variety of disciplines, the question is whether there is a common framework that uses remote sensing methods. We conducted a qualitative and a quantitative analysis of 44 peer-reviewed scientific papers utilizing remote sensing data in order to examine the effectiveness of protected areas. Very few studies to date have a wide or even a global geographical focus; instead, most quantify the effectiveness of protected areas by focusing on local-scale case studies and single indicators such as forest cover change. Methods that help integrate spatial selection approaches, to compare a protected area's characteristics with its surroundings, are increasingly being used. Based on this review, we argue for a multi-indicator-based framework on protected area effectiveness, including the development of a consistent set of socio-ecological indicators for a global analysis. In turn, this will allow for globally applicable use, including a concrete evaluation that considers the diversity of regional parameters, biome-specific variables, and political frameworks. Ideally, such a framework will enhance the monitoring and evaluation of global strategies and conventions.

KW - effectiveness

KW - protected areas

KW - remote sensing

KW - socio-ecological indicators

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129069921&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/e1c03f6d-e38d-3376-a3ff-eae736374c2d/

U2 - 10.1002/ecs2.4053

DO - 10.1002/ecs2.4053

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:85129069921

VL - 13

JO - Ecosphere

JF - Ecosphere

SN - 2150-8925

IS - 4

M1 - e4053

ER -