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Relevant Data and Information for a Comprehensive Conservation Planning in Small Islands

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Relevant Data and Information for a Comprehensive Conservation Planning in Small Islands Projecto SMARTPARKS PTDC/AAC-AMB/098786/2008 Report of Task 1 - Characterization and Diagnosis Relevant data and information for a comprehensive conservation planning in small islands João Paulo Fernandes 1, Nuno Guiomar 1, Marco Freire 2, Carlos Souto Cruz 3, Artur Gil 4 1 ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrícolas e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora 2 Departamento de Paisagem, Ambiente e Ordenamento, Universidade de Évora; e-GEO Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Planeamento Regional 3 Câmara Municipal de Lisboa 4 Azorean Biodiversity Group, CITA-A, Department of Biology Setembro 2013 Conteúdo 0 - Foreword .................................................................................................................................. 3 1 - Ecological characteristics and relevant conservation challenges in islands ............................ 4 2 - Societal factors in islands environments in relation to a systematic conservation praxis .... 10 2.1 - Ecosystem based management ...................................................................................... 10 2.2 - Multifunctionality and ecosystem based management ................................................. 12 2.3 - Development of governance systems and ecosystem based management ................... 15 2.4 - Implementing effective governance systems ................................................................. 18 3 - Systematic Conservation in islands - conceptual and practical approaches .......................... 22 3.1 - Systematic Conservation Planning .................................................................................. 22 3.2 - Ecosystem based management plan ............................................................................... 24 3.3 - Valuation and evaluation ................................................................................................ 27 3.3.1 - Valuation .................................................................................................................. 27 3.3.2 - Evaluation ................................................................................................................. 34 3.4 - Applying to small Islands ................................................................................................. 36 4 - Building an information framework for systematic conservation planning in an island context ........................................................................................................................................ 40 4.1 - Conceptual framework.................................................................................................... 40 4.2 - Application to the universe of small islands ................................................................... 43 4.3 - Building the characterization system .............................................................................. 48 5 - The Pico island context .......................................................................................................... 55 5.1 - The Macaronesian region (extracted with light adaptations from Condé et al . 2009) .. 55 5.1.1 - Introduction ............................................................................................................. 55 5.1.2 - Human historical influence ...................................................................................... 56 5.1.3 - Ecosystems and habitat types .................................................................................. 56 5.1.4 - General species richness and endemism ................................................................. 59 5.1.5 - Main pressures on biodiversity ................................................................................ 60 5.2 - The Pico Island ................................................................................................................ 62 5.2.1 - Study area ................................................................................................................ 62 5.2.2 - The present conservation policy - the concept of “Park Island” .............................. 64 5.3 - The characterization framework (following the ILA methodological approach) ............ 68 5.3.1 - The resource information layer ............................................................................... 69 5.3.2 - The reference information layer - Ecological reference units ................................. 89 5.4 - Valuation ......................................................................................................................... 97 5.5 - Evaluation of conservation values and management strategies .................................. 102 5.5.1 - Application framework........................................................................................... 102 5.5.2 - Results for conservation programs ........................................................................ 104 5.5.3 - Using Marxan to compare management scenarios ............................................... 106 1 5.6 - Final remarks ................................................................................................................. 115 6 - The evolution of the island park concept in the context of the systematic conservation approach - from the island to the archipelago ......................................................................... 117 7 - Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 119 7. 1 - The Regional Landscape Plan (PROTA ) ......................................................................... 119 7.2 - Building a contratualization framework for Pico .......................................................... 122 7.3 - Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 127 8 - References ............................................................................................................................ 130 2 Relevant data and information for a comprehensive conservation planning in small islands João Paulo Fernandes 1, Nuno Guiomar 1, Marco Freire 2, Carlos Souto Cruz 3, Artur Gil 4 1 ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrícolas e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora 2 Departamento de Paisagem, Ambiente e Ordenamento, Universidade de Évora; e-GEO Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Planeamento Regional 3 Câmara Municipal de Lisboa 4 Azorean Biodiversity Group, CITA-A, Department of Biology 0 - Foreword Islands build a particularly difficult challenge for nature conservation and sustainable development policies. This is due to the ecological isolation and the impossibility to ensure naturally the genetic exchanges that can ensure minimal viable populations for the different target species. Simultaneously the scarcity of economical resources (particularly space) puts a large pressure on natural areas and habitats endangering even more their survival due to direct destruction or fragmentation. Therefore nature conservation policies must search different approaches from those of the continent where ecological interactions and ecological restoration approaches have a much larger chance of success These approaches must be focused on two main perspectives: • integrated management of all classified areas • integration of that management concept in the frame of a consensual management of the entire island balancing all interests (social, economical and environmental) In an Island environment, with strictly limited resources, consensual management approaches are of critical importance. Therefore, the ability to sample all information in a coherent framework where all evaluation procedures can be lead in a reproducible way with a comprehensive system of reference, allows an active involvement of all stakeholders in the development of the best solutions for each site and moment and the permanent reevaluation of those solutions. It is critical that a conservation policy and conservation management do not build a burden to the inhabitants and economy of the island. On the contrary. This is only achievable with their active involvement trough knowledge and experience exchange as well as practical involvement in the management and improvement of the entire islands, ensuring their individual benefits and maintaining their autonomy, individuality and cultural particularities. 3 1 - Ecological characteristics and relevant conservation challenges in islands Islands are specific areas of land separated from a much larger mainland or other islands by a water barrier reducing accessibility and linkage, but also protecting islands biotas from certain mainland impacts such as predation, competition, and disease (Walter, 2004). They represent only 5% of the global land area, but include about one-third of the world threatened species. Island constitutes particular biotopes with very different ecological characteristics and dynamic patterns when compared with mainland ecosystems (Tab. 1.1). Tab. 1.1 - Main factors determining biotic existence on oceanic islands and contents (Walter, 2004, pp. 184 and 185) Oceanic Islands Continents Evolution in Oceanic islands Evolution in continents Isolation No or temporary geographic isolation Small size Huge connected area Protection Exposure to diffuse physical extinction factors of mainland Natural selection in island "theater" Exposure to diffuse biotic extinction factors of mainland Adaptation to island environment Natural selection
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