Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar

Virginia E. García Millán (), David Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Amanda Martin Oncina, Aristide Andrianarimisa, Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa, Gabriel Martorell-Guerrero, Antonio Bóveda and Dania Abdul Malak
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Virginia E. García Millán: European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, Spain
David Rodríguez-Rodríguez: European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Amanda Martin Oncina: European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Aristide Andrianarimisa: Department Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of Science, University of Antananarivo, P.O. Box 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa: Madagascar National Parks, Lot AI C 10 Ambatobe, BP 1424, Antananarivo 103, Madagascar
Gabriel Martorell-Guerrero: European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Antonio Bóveda: Madagascar National Parks, Lot AI C 10 Ambatobe, BP 1424, Antananarivo 103, Madagascar
Dania Abdul Malak: European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis, University of Malaga, Ada Byron Research Building, C/Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 18, 29010 Malaga, Spain

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Forests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial criteria to identify and prioritise unprotected forest areas for the conservation of the eight critically endangered species of lemur belonging to the Lemuridae family in Madagascar. By combining spatial information layers on the distribution areas of the studied lemurs, forest extension and conservation status, and potential human impacts (such as roads, human settlements and agriculture lands), it was possible to identify the most appropriate sites for the expansion of the conservation areas of critically endangered lemur species. Seven new sites, totalling over 33,000 ha, were identified as priority sites for the protection of those species. All of them were adjacent to or inside (just one site) existing protected areas (PAs), which likely makes their protection both feasible and socioeconomically efficient by enlarging those PAs. Legally protecting these sites would not only take Madagascar one little step ahead for meeting oncoming global biodiversity targets for 2030 but could also make a substantial contribution to the mid-term survival of the studied lemur species.

Keywords: biodiversity hotspot; pressure; protected area; fragmentation; habitat (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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