No.11Space age conservation

RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE

Where science comes to life RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE

While the RSPB is well known for its wonderful, This case study forms part of a collection that aims wildlife-rich nature reserves, and for its annual Big to highlight RSPB science from the last decade. We Garden Birdwatch, it is far less well known for the have chosen these studies as they demonstrate great remarkable scientific work it undertakes behind the science, and have had, or are likely to have, a major scenes, in the UK and overseas. Yet, in reality, our impact on conservation. scientific programme is an amazing asset, matched by few other conservation organisations. Because our The first ten case studies originally featured as part of scientific work has had a low profile with the wider the report (shown above) about the RSPB Centre for public, many are unaware of the depth and breadth Conservation Science. of our scientific knowledge. And it is this knowledge that informs all of our conservation work. Be that the If you would like to recieve a copy of the report, please way we manage our reserves to make them better email: [email protected] for wildlife, the advice we provide to others, or the policies that we adopt and advocate to change hearts Alternatively, you can download a copy from our and minds in favour of nature conservation. website rspb.org.uk/science RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE No.11 Space age conservation

The use of remote sensing data collected by earth observation satellites in RSPB has increased considerably in the past decade, as these data are applied to measure land and water conditions where field surveys are impractical or unfeasible. These data have been particularly useful in extensive and remote habitats in the UK, such as moorlands and forests. Here, for example, we have identified that as forests mature, black grouse populations decline. Currently, we are using remotely-sensed images to quantify where and how moorland management for red grouse has changed.

But it is overseas, where capacity for field-based monitoring is limited, that remote sensing has arguably the greatest potential for conservation. We have shown that land cover changes that can be detected from remote sensing are the most prevalent threats to Important Areas (IBAs) in Africa, and RSPB (in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, and BirdLife) have helped develop a free and easy to use tool for rapid assessment of major changes in all land cover types on IBAs. When applying these methods to more than 100 IBAs, we have demonstrated that legal protection of IBAs is effective at reducing, but not halting, land cover change. Expanding the use of this or a similar tool is a priority, as it will allow land cover changes on IBAs to be detected, facilitating early interventions.

Similar approaches could be used to indirectly monitor ’ populations, particularly those on the IUCN Red List, and especially where they are poorly studied. This allows us to set conservation priorities, targeting species at greatest risk. For example, we used satellites to assess forest loss on the island of New Britain and found many species that occurred at low altitudes were particularly affected by expansion of palm oil plantations.

Satellite images of forest in New Britain in 1990 (left) and 2000 (right) showing extensive loss to palm oil development.

1990 2000 RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE

We have also used remotely-sensed land cover data in species’ distribution models. This has, for example, allowed us to map the potential distribution of the globally threatened Gurney’s pitta in Thailand and Mynmar, and has even contributed to the discovery of a new population of the equally threatened Liben lark in Ethiopia. RSPB regularly uses this approach now, such as in an ongoing study trying to determine the range of the stunning emerald from west Africa. We hope to be able to map the potential distributions of species that have not been recorded for many years, such as

Emerald starlingMonticelli – David Himalayan quail, to guide future survey work to relocate their remaining populations. We also use remote sensing to explain as well as to predict species’ distributions, as in the case of the enigmatic Ethiopian bush-crow. Our models revealed that this species’ curiously restricted distribution in southern Ethiopia is not due to its reliance on a scarce habitat type, but to the presence of an isolated bubble of cooler, dryer climate to which the species is confined, with obvious implications for its vulnerability to climate change.

We aim to expand the use of these data in future, to develop terrestrial monitoring systems for land cover change. Remotely-sensed data are also being used in our marine science, and no doubt will be increasingly so. We continue to be involved in a range of collaborative approaches, allowing us to help maximise the benefits of remote sensing to conservation.

Predicted distribution of Liben lark (Heteromirafra archeri), based on records from the Liben Plain, indicating potentially suitable habitat near Jijiga, an area close to where a population of Liben lark has been found. RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE

Acknowledgements We have not worked alone in this field, and our outputs are a result of collaboration between many partners and funders. These include the Institute for Environment and Sustainability, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, BirdLife International, Cambridge University’s Department of Zoology, UNEP-WCMC, the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, Defra’s Darwin initiative, and the International Foundation for Science. References Bastin L, Buchanan G, Beresford A, Pekel J and Dubois G (2013) Open-source mapping and services for web- based land-cover validation. Ecological Informatics 14: 9-16 Beresford AE, Eshiamwata GW, Donald PF, Balmford A, Bertzky B, Brink AB, Fishpool LDC, Mayaux P, Phalan B, Simonetti D and Buchanan GM (2013) Protection reduces loss of natural land-cover at sites of conservation importance across Africa. PLoS ONE 8: e65370 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065370 Buchanan GM, Butchart SHM, Dutson G, Pilgrim JD, Steininger MK, Bishop KD and Mayaux P (2008) Using remote sensing to inform assessment: estimates of recent deforestation rates on New Britain and the impacts upon endemic . Biological Conservation 141: 56-66. Buchanan GM, Donald PF, Fishpool LDC, Arinaitwe J, Balman M and Mayaux P (2009) An assessment of land cover and threats in Important Bird Areas in Africa. Bird Conservation International 19: 49–61. Donald PF, Aratrakorn S, Htun TW, Eames JC, Hla H, Thunhikorn S, Sribua-Rod K, Tinun P, Aung SM, Zaw SM and Buchanan GM (2009) Population, distribution, habitat use and breeding of Gurney’s Pitta in Myanmar and Thailand. Bird Conservation International 19: 353-366. Donald PF, Buchanan GM, Collar NJ, Abebe YD, Gabremichael MN, Mwangi MAK, Ndang’ang’a PK, Spottiswoode CN and Wondafrash M (2010 )Rapid declines in habitat quality and population size of the Liben (Sidamo) Lark Heteromirafra sidamoensis necessitate immediate conservation action. Bird Conservation International 20: 1 – 12. Donald, PF, Gedeon, K, Collar, NJ, Spottiswoode, CN, Wondafrash, M & Buchanan, GM 2012. The restricted range of the Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni is a consequence of high reliance on modified habitats within narrow climatic limits. Journal of Ornithology, 153: 1031-1044. Pearce-Higgins JW, Grant MC, Robinson MC and Haysom S (2007) The role of forest maturation in causing the decline of Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix. Ibis 149: 143-155. Turner W, Buchanan G, Rondinini C, Dwyer J, Herold M, Koh LP, Leidner A, Leimgruber P, Mora B, Pettorelli N, Szantoi Z, Taubenboeck H, Wegmann M and Wikelski M (2013) Satellites: make data freely accessible. Nature 498: 37.

Author Dr Graeme Buchanan Senior Conservation Scientist Contact: [email protected]

I use remote sensing and other spatial data to inform global conservation, meaning I do fun things with maps. This approach allows us to track land cover change, predict where species might occur, and assess whether conservation activities are successful in places where field monitoring data are non-existent or tricky to collect; we forget how lucky we are in the UK. I collaborate closely with others across the world, including the BirdLife Partnership. Prior to joining the international team, I worked on upland bird research for RSPB, where fieldwork in the uplands (=rain) was a part of the job. I still spend a lot of time in the uplands, but mainly in my spare time either on foot or bike. These days, field work is non-existent, but I am still an active birder, whether it's my local patch, nipping down the coast, or on my annual pilgrimage to Shetland or abroad. The RSPB

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