BC3 Seminars: Understanding ecosystem responses under a mosaic of land sparing and sharing

BC3 Seminars
“Understanding ecosystem responses under a mosaic of land sparing and sharing “

PhD.  Maria Joao Ferreira dos Santos

Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University

Abstract

In an era when biodiversity is highly threatened by changes in climate and land use, it is unclear whether our past conservation efforts will remain effective, and we do not know whether they have been effective so far. Reconstructing conservation and restoration histories provide a framework to answer this question through the digital development of conservation and restoration actions, and subsequent analysis and interpretation of the process of conservation and management of natural resources. Here I present two case studies: (i) reconstructing California conservation history and (ii) Putting bison to work, which illustrate the process of conservation and restoration at two spatial scales. These two case studies also illustrate what have been the goals for conservation and restoration actions, which are the stressors and what external factors limit their success. The conclusion is that effective conservation and restoration is dependent on the legacy of policies and activities on the ground. It is important to ally conservation and restoration as while much area has been conserved, much still needs to be done once conservation status is attributed. Future conservation decisions are not independent of the history of the conservation practice, as conservation is influenced by what has already been accomplished.

Personal website of the lecturer

http://www.uu.nl/staff/MJFerreiraDosSantos .