Private protected areas and ecological connectivity in Chile

• Published in: Conservation science and practice 2024-12, Vol.6 (12), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Escobar Jackson, Alvaro F., Fuller, Richard A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Chile; connectivity; conservation planning; Ecosystem management; Ecosystem services; Endangered & extinct species; Indicators; Land conservation; Landscape ecology; Landscape preservation; National parks; private protected areas; Protected areas; Protected species; Software; Spatial data; Species extinction
• ISSN: 2578-4854; 2578-4854
• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.13257

Species extinction rates have accelerated despite the global growth of the protected area estate, and maintaining or restoring ecological connectivity across landscapes is a major challenge in conservation. To address shortfalls in statutory protected areas, the designation of private protected areas (PPA) has been encouraged. Here we assess the level of ecological connectivity in the National System of Protected Areas in Chile (SNASPE) and measure the contribution of PPAs to the connectivity of the system, using novel indicators derived from landscape ecology. In so doing, we demonstrate how countries could report progress towards achieving connectivity among protected areas, using three complementary indicators. Our results show that while SNASPE currently has a high level of ecological connectivity, it varies substantially from region to region, with more protected and connected land needed to enhance connectivity. When PPAs are considered alongside statutory protected areas, connectivity is improved slightly, but still falls well short of meaningful levels. We therefore conclude that substantial expansion of the formal protected area network in Chile needs to happen, guided by a scientific and systematic process that enables the strategic designation of new PAs that enhance the performance of the current PA system and achieves international conservation goals. Additionally, new approaches and frameworks to recognize and manage land outside protected areas for connectivity and other ecosystem services are required. We measure the contribution of private protected areas to connectivity among conservation areas in Chile. We find a high level of ecological connectivity in the existing reserve system, although it varies substantially from region to region. Private protected areas improve connectivity slightly, but it still falls well short of meaningful levels, highlighting the need for further expansion of the formal protected area network in Chile.