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Local biodiversity is higher inside than outside terrestrial protected areas worldwide

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia L. Gray

    (School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex
    Present address: Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UK)

  • Samantha L. L. Hill

    (United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre
    Natural History Museum)

  • Tim Newbold

    (United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre
    Present address: Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK (T.N.).)

  • Lawrence N. Hudson

    (Natural History Museum)

  • Luca Börger

    (College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park)

  • Sara Contu

    (Natural History Museum)

  • Andrew J. Hoskins

    (CSIRO Land and Water)

  • Simon Ferrier

    (CSIRO Land and Water)

  • Andy Purvis

    (Natural History Museum
    Imperial College, London)

  • Jörn P. W. Scharlemann

    (School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex
    United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre)

Abstract

Protected areas are widely considered essential for biodiversity conservation. However, few global studies have demonstrated that protection benefits a broad range of species. Here, using a new global biodiversity database with unprecedented geographic and taxonomic coverage, we compare four biodiversity measures at sites sampled in multiple land uses inside and outside protected areas. Globally, species richness is 10.6% higher and abundance 14.5% higher in samples taken inside protected areas compared with samples taken outside, but neither rarefaction-based richness nor endemicity differ significantly. Importantly, we show that the positive effects of protection are mostly attributable to differences in land use between protected and unprotected sites. Nonetheless, even within some human-dominated land uses, species richness and abundance are higher in protected sites. Our results reinforce the global importance of protected areas but suggest that protection does not consistently benefit species with small ranges or increase the variety of ecological niches.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia L. Gray & Samantha L. L. Hill & Tim Newbold & Lawrence N. Hudson & Luca Börger & Sara Contu & Andrew J. Hoskins & Simon Ferrier & Andy Purvis & Jörn P. W. Scharlemann, 2016. "Local biodiversity is higher inside than outside terrestrial protected areas worldwide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12306
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12306
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